Attachment: 10-K


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Exhibit – 4.5

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DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT’S SECURITIES

REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 OF THE

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

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As of December 31, 2021, Agree Realty Corporation (“Agree”, “the Company”, “we”, “our” and “us”) had two classes of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), as follows:

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(i)common stock, par value $.0001 per share (the “common stock”), listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the trading symbol “ADC”;
(ii)depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000 of a share of 4.250% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, listed on the NYSE under the trading symbol “ADCPrA.”

 

The following description of the general terms and conditions of our capital stock is a summary and does not purport to be complete. It is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable provisions of the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), our charter (the “Charter”) and our amended and restated bylaws, as amended (the “Bylaws”), each of which is incorporated herein by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), of which this Exhibit 4.5 is a part.  We encourage you to read our Charter, our Bylaws and the applicable provisions of the MGCL for additional information. 

 

General

 

We have the authority to issue 94,000,000 shares of capital stock, par value $.0001 per share, of which 90,000,000 shares are classified as shares of common stock, par value $.0001 per share, and 4,000,000 shares are classified as shares of preferred stock, par value $.0001 per share. As of February 21, 2022, we had outstanding 71,285,311 shares of common stock and no shares of preferred stock. 

 

Description of Common Stock

 

Dividends

 

Subject to preferential rights with respect to any outstanding preferred stock, holders of our common stock will be entitled to receive dividends when, as and if authorized by our board of directors and declared by us, out of assets legally available therefor. Upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of common stock will be entitled to share equally and ratably in any assets available for distribution to them, after payment or provision for payment of our debts and other liabilities and the preferential amounts owing with respect to any of our outstanding preferred stock.

 

Voting Rights

 

The common stock will possess voting rights in the election of directors and in respect of certain other corporate matters, with each share entitling the holder thereof to one vote. Holders of shares of common stock will not have cumulative voting rights in the election of directors.

 

Other Rights

 

The common stock will, when issued in exchange for the consideration therefor, be fully paid and nonassessable. Holders of shares of the common stock generally have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or appraisal rights and have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities. Subject to the provisions of the Charter regarding restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, shares of our common stock will each have equal distribution, liquidation and other rights.

 

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

 

For us to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), not more than 50% of the value of our issued and outstanding Equity Stock (as defined below) may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities) during the last half of a taxable year, and the Equity Stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months or during a proportionate part of


a shorter taxable year. In addition, certain percentages of our gross income must be from particular activities. Our Charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of shares of Equity Stock to enable us to qualify as a REIT.

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Subject to certain exceptions specified in our Charter, our Charter provides that no holder, other than an excepted holder, may beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the attribution provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% (in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of our common stock, or more than 9.8% (in value) of the aggregate of the outstanding shares of all classes and series of our stock (collectively, the “Equity Stock”). We refer to each of these restrictions as an “Ownership Limit” and collectively as the “Ownership Limits.” Our board of directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, prospectively or retroactively, waive either or both of the Ownership Limits with respect to a particular stockholder or establish a different limit on ownership (an “excepted holder limit”), which excepted holder limit is subject to adjustment from time to time, if our board of directors makes certain determinations set forth in our Charter. As a condition of any such exemption, our board of directors may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service (“IRS”) or an opinion of counsel satisfactory to our board of directors in its sole and absolute discretion, as specified in our Charter, in order to determine or ensure our status as a REIT, or such representations and/or undertakings from the person requesting the waiver as our board of directors may require in its sole and absolute discretion to make such determinations. Notwithstanding the receipt of any such ruling or opinion, our board of directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such an exception. Subject to the provisions of our Charter, our Charter provides that an underwriter or placement agent that participates in a public offering or a private placement of our Equity Stock, or an initial purchaser of our Equity Stock in a transaction reliant upon Rule 144A, may beneficially own or constructively own shares of Equity Stock in excess of the Ownership Limits, but only to the extent necessary to facilitate such public offering, private placement or Rule 144A transaction. The foregoing restrictions on transferability and ownership will not apply if the board of directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT. In addition, our Charter provides that no person may beneficially or constructively own shares of Equity Stock to the extent that such ownership would result in our being closely held within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code or which would otherwise result in our failing to qualify as a REIT. If shares of Equity Stock which would cause us to be beneficially owned by less than 100 persons are issued or transferred to any person, our Charter provides that such issuance or transfer shall be void ab initio, and the intended transferee would acquire no rights to the stock; however, the board of directors may waive this transfer restriction if it determines that such transfer would not adversely affect our ability to continue to qualify as a REIT. Our Charter provides that shares transferred in excess of the Ownership Limits and shares transferred that would cause us to be closely held or otherwise fail to qualify as a REIT will be automatically transferred to one or more trusts for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries. Such transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the purported transfer. Our Charter further provides that the Prohibited Owner (as defined herein) will have no rights in the shares held by the trustee and will not benefit economically from ownership of any such shares held in trust by the trustee, will have no rights to dividends or other distributions and will not possess any rights to vote or other rights attributable to such shares held in trust. While these shares are held in trust, the trustee will be entitled to vote and to share in any dividends or other distributions with respect to shares of Equity Stock held in trust, which rights will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary. Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that shares of Equity Stock have been transferred to the trust, the trustee will sell the shares to any person who may hold such shares without violating the limitations on ownership and transfer set forth in our Charter. Upon such sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate, and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the person who owned the shares of Equity Stock in violation of the Ownership Limits or the other ownership restrictions described above (the “Prohibited Owner”), who will receive the lesser of  (1) the price paid by the Prohibited Owner for the shares or, if the Prohibited Owner did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust, the market price of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust and (2) the price per share received by the trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares held in the trust. The trustee will reduce the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions that have been paid to the Prohibited Owner and are owed by the Prohibited Owner to the trustee and will pay any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the Prohibited Owner to the charitable beneficiary. In addition, such shares of Equity Stock held in trust are purchasable by us until the trustee has sold the shares at a price equal to the lesser of the price paid for the stock in the transaction that resulted in such transfer to the trust and the market price for the stock on the date we determine to purchase the stock.

 

All certificates representing shares of Equity Stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.

 

In order for us to comply with our record keeping requirements, our Charter requires that each beneficial or constructive owner of Equity Stock and each person (including stockholders of record) who holds stock for a beneficial or constructive owner, shall provide to us such information as we may request in order to determine our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Ownership Limits. Our Charter also requires each owner of a specified percentage of Equity Stock to provide, no later than January 30 of each year, written notice to us stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of Equity Stock beneficially owned, and a description of how such shares are held. In addition, each such stockholder must provide such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such stockholder’s beneficial ownership of Equity Stock on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the Ownership Limits.

 

These Ownership Limits may have the effect of precluding acquisition of control of our company by a third party unless the board of directors determines that maintenance of REIT status is no longer in our best interest. No restrictions on transfer will preclude the settlement of transactions entered into through the facilities of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”).


 

Transfer Agent and Registrar

 

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is Computershare Trust Company, N.A.

 

Listing

 

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “ADC.”

 

Description of 4.5% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares

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General    

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The outstanding 4.25% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares (“Series A Preferred Shares”) are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. Our board of directors may, without notice to or the consent of holders of Series A Preferred Shares, authorize the issuance and sale of additional Series A Preferred Shares from time to time. For purposes of this section “Description of 4.5% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares,” terms that are defined in this section have such meanings in this section only.

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Ranking   

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The Series A Preferred Shares will rank, with respect to distribution rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding-up:

●senior to all classes or series of common shares, and to any other class or series of shares expressly designated as ranking junior to the Series A preferred shares;
●on parity with any class or series of shares expressly designated as ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Shares; and
●junior to any other class or series of shares expressly designated as ranking senior to the Series A Preferred Shares.

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The Series A Preferred Shares rank junior to all our existing and future indebtedness.

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Distribution Rate and Payment Date    

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Holders of the Series A Preferred Shares will be entitled to receive cumulative cash distributions on the Series A Preferred Shares from and including the date of original issue, payable monthly in arrears on the first business day of each month of each year, commencing on October 1, 2021, at the rate of 4.250% per annum of the $25,000.00 liquidation preference per share (equivalent to an annual amount of $1.0625 per depositary share). Distributions on the Series A Preferred Shares will accrue whether or not we have earnings, whether or not there are funds legally available for the payment of such distributions and whether or not such distributions are authorized or declared.

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Liquidation Preference    

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In the event of a liquidation, dissolution or winding up, holders of the Series A Preferred Shares will have the right to receive $25,000.00 per share (equivalent to $25.00 per Depositary Share), plus accrued and unpaid distributions (whether or not earned or declared) up to but excluding the date of payment, before any payment is made to holders of the common shares and any other class or series of shares ranking junior to the Series A Preferred Shares as to liquidation rights. The rights of holders of Series A Preferred Shares to receive their liquidation preference will be subject to the proportionate rights of any other class or series of shares ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Shares as to liquidation.

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Optional Redemption

    

The Series A preferred shares may not be redeemed prior to September 17, 2026, except in limited circumstances to preserve our status as a REIT and pursuant to the special optional redemption right described below. On and after September 17, 2026, the Series A preferred shares will be redeemable at our option, in whole or in part at any time or from time to time, for cash at a redemption price of $25,000.00 per share (equivalent to $25.00 per Depositary Share), plus accrued and unpaid distributions (whether or not authorized or declared) up to but excluding the redemption date. However, unless full cumulative distributions on the Series A Preferred Shares for all past distribution periods have been, or contemporaneously are, paid or an amount in cash sufficient for the payment thereof is set apart, no Series A Preferred Shares may be redeemed unless all outstanding Series A Preferred Shares are simultaneously redeemed; provided, that the foregoing restriction does not prevent us from taking action necessary to preserve its status as a REIT. Any partial redemption will be on a pro rata basis or by lot as we determine.

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Special Optional Redemption   

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Upon the occurrence of a change of control (as defined in our charter), we may, at our option, redeem the Series A Preferred Shares, in whole or in part within 120 days after the first date on which such change of control occurred, by paying $25,000.00 per share (equivalent to $25.00 per Depositary Share), plus any accrued and unpaid distributions to, but not including, the date of redemption. If, prior to the change of control conversion date, we exercise any of our redemption rights relating to the Series A Preferred Shares (whether our optional redemption right or our special optional redemption right), the holders of Series A Preferred Shares will not have the conversion right described below.

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No Maturity, Sinking Fund or Mandatory Redemption    

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The Series A Preferred Shares do not have a stated maturity date and we will not be required to redeem the Series A Preferred Shares at any time. Accordingly, the Series A Preferred Shares will remain outstanding indefinitely, unless we decide, at our option, to exercise our redemption right or, under circumstances where the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares have a conversion right, such holders decide to convert the Series A Preferred Shares into common shares. The Series A Preferred Shares are not subject to any sinking fund.

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Voting Rights   

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Holders of the Series A Preferred Shares generally have no voting rights. However, if we are in arrears on distributions on the Series A Preferred Shares for 18 or more monthly periods, whether or not consecutive, holders of the Series A Preferred Shares (voting together as a class with the holders of all other classes or series of parity preferred shares upon which like voting rights have been conferred and are exercisable) will be entitled to vote at a special meeting called upon the written request of at least 33% of such holders or at the next annual or special meeting of shareholders and each subsequent annual or special meeting of shareholders for the election of two additional directors to serve on our board of directors until all unpaid distributions with respect to the Series A Preferred Shares and any other class or series of parity preferred shares have been paid or declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set aside for payment. In addition, we may not make certain material and adverse changes to the terms of the Series A Preferred Shares without the affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding Series A Preferred Shares and all other shares of any class or series ranking on parity with the Series A Preferred Shares that are entitled to similar voting rights (voting together as a single class).

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Conversion    

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Upon the occurrence of a change of control, each holder of Series A Preferred Shares will have the right (unless, prior to the change of control conversion date, we have provided or provide notice of our election to redeem the Series A Preferred Shares) to convert some or all of the Series A Preferred Shares held by such holder on the date the Series A Preferred Shares is to be converted, which we refer to as the change of control conversion date, into a number of shares of common shares per share of the Series A Preferred Shares to be converted equal to the lesser of:

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●the quotient obtained by dividing (i) the sum of (x) the $25,000.00 liquidation preference per Agree Series A preferred share (equivalent to $25.00 per Depositary Share) to be converted, plus (y) the amount of any accrued and unpaid distributions to but not including the change of control conversion date (unless the change of control conversion date is after a distribution record date (as defined in our charter) and prior to the corresponding distribution payment date (as defined in our charter), in which case no additional amount for such accrued and unpaid distribution will be included in such sum), by (ii) the common share price (as defined below) (we refer to such quotient as the “conversion rate”); and
●0.6803 (the “Share Cap”);

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subject, in each case, to provisions for the receipt of alternative consideration as described in our charter.

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The common share price shall be (i) if the consideration to be received in the change of control by holders of common shares is solely cash, the amount of cash consideration per common share, and (ii) if the consideration to be received in the change of control by holders of common shares is other than solely cash, the average of the closing price per common share on the ten consecutive trading days immediately preceding, but not including, the effective date of the change of control.

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If, prior to the change of control conversion date, we have provided or provide a redemption notice, whether pursuant to its special optional redemption right in connection with a change of control or its optional redemption right, holders of Series A Preferred Shares will not have any right to convert the Series A Preferred Shares into shares of our common shares in connection with the change of control and any Series A Preferred Shares selected for redemption that have been tendered for conversion will be redeemed on the related date of redemption instead of converted on the change of control conversion date.


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Except as provided above in connection with a change of control, the Series A Preferred Shares are not convertible into or exchangeable for any other securities or property.

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Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer   

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For information regarding restrictions on ownership and transfer of the Series A Preferred Shares, see “Description of Common Stock-Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” above.

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Notwithstanding any other provision of the Series A Preferred Shares, no holder of the Series A Preferred Shares will be entitled to convert any Series A Preferred Shares into our common shares to the extent that receipt of our common shares would cause such holder or any other person to exceed the ownership limits contained in our charter.

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Description of Depositary Shares, each Representing 1/1,000 of a Series A Preferred Share

General

The following is a brief description of the terms of our depositary shares, each representing 1/1,000 of a 4.5% Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Share (“Series A Depositary Shares”) which does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the provisions of the Deposit Agreement relating to the Series A Preferred Shares (the “Deposit Agreement”), which is included as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.2 is a part. Our Series A Depositary Shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) under the symbol “ADCPrA.”

The Series A Preferred Shares are deposited with Computershare Trust Company, N. A., as Depositary (the “Preferred Shares Depositary”), under a Deposit Agreement among the Company, the Preferred Shares Depositary and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts (the “Depositary Receipts”) issued by the Preferred Shares Depositary under the Deposit Agreement. The Depositary Receipts evidence the Series A Depositary Shares. Each holder of a Depositary Receipt evidencing a Series A Depositary Share is entitled, proportionately, to all the rights and preferences of, and subject to all of the limitations of, the interest in the Series A Preferred Shares represented by the Series A Depositary Share (including dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights and preferences).

Ownership Restrictions

For a discussion of ownership limitations that apply to the Series A Depositary Shares, see “Description of Common Stock—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”

Distributions

The Preferred Shares Depositary will distribute all cash distributions or other cash distributions received in respect of the Series A Preferred Shares to the record holders of Depositary Receipts in proportion to the number of Depositary Shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date, which will be the same date as the record date fixed by us for the Series A Preferred Shares. In the event that the calculation of such amount to be paid results in an amount which is a fraction of one cent, the amount the Preferred Shares Depositary shall distribute to such record holder shall be rounded to the next highest whole cent if such fraction of a cent is equal to or greater than $0.005.

In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the Preferred Shares Depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of Depositary Receipts entitled thereto, in proportion, as nearly as may be practicable, to the number of Series A Depositary Shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date, unless the Preferred Shares Depositary determines (after consultation with us) that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the Preferred Shares Depositary may (with our approval) adopt any other method for such distribution as it deems equitable and appropriate, including the sale of such property (at such place or places and upon such terms as it may deem equitable and appropriate) and distribution of the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.

Liquidation Preference

In the event of the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary, the holders of each Series A Depositary Share will be entitled to 1/1000th of the liquidation preference accorded each Series A Preferred Share.

Redemption

Whenever we redeem any Series A Preferred Shares held by the Preferred Shares Depositary, the Preferred Shares Depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of Series A Depositary Shares representing the Series A Preferred Shares so


redeemed. The Preferred Shares Depositary will publish a notice of redemption of the Series A Depositary Shares containing the same type of information and in the same manner as our notice of redemption and will mail the notice of redemption promptly upon receipt of such notice from us and not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption of the Series A Preferred Shares and the Series A Depositary Shares to the record holders of the Depositary Receipts. In case less than all the outstanding Series A Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the Series A Depositary Shares to be so redeemed shall be determined pro rata or by lot in a manner determined by the board of directors.

Voting

Promptly upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares are entitled to vote, the Preferred Shares Depositary will mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the Depositary Receipts as of the record date for such meeting. Each such record holder of Depositary Receipts will be entitled to instruct the Preferred Shares Depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of Series A Preferred Shares represented by such record holder’s Series A Depositary Shares. The Preferred Shares Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote such Series A Preferred Shares represented by such Series A Depositary Shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to take all action which may be deemed necessary by the Preferred Shares Depositary in order to enable the Preferred Shares Depositary to do so. The Preferred Shares Depositary will abstain from voting any of the Series A Preferred Shares to the extent that it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of Depositary Receipts.

Withdrawal of Series A Preferred Shares

Upon surrender of Depositary Receipts at the principal office of the Preferred Shares Depositary, upon payment of any unpaid amount due the Preferred Shares Depositary, and subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, the owner of the Series A Depositary Shares evidenced thereby is entitled to delivery of the number of whole Series A Preferred Shares and all money and other property, if any, represented by such Series A Depositary Shares. Partial Series A Preferred Shares will not be issued. If the Depositary Receipts delivered by the holder evidence a number of Series A Depositary Shares in excess of the number of Series A Depositary Shares representing the number of whole Series A Preferred Shares to be withdrawn, the Preferred Shares Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new Depositary Receipt evidencing such excess number of Series A Depositary Shares. Holders of Series A Preferred Shares thus withdrawn will not thereafter be entitled to deposit such shares under the Deposit Agreement or to receive Depositary Receipts evidencing Series A Depositary Shares therefor.

Amendment and Termination of Deposit Agreement

The form of Depositary Receipt evidencing the Series A Depositary Shares and any provision of the Deposit Agreement may at any time and from time to time be amended by agreement between us and the Preferred Shares Depositary. However, any amendment which materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders (other than any change in fees) of Series A Depositary Shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the Series A Depositary Shares then outstanding. No such amendment may impair the right, subject to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, of any owner of any Series A Depositary Shares to surrender the Depositary Receipt evidencing such Series A Depositary Shares with instructions to the Preferred Shares Depositary to deliver to the holder the Series A Preferred Shares and all money and other property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with mandatory provisions of applicable law. The Deposit Agreement may be terminated by us or the Preferred Shares Depositary only if (i) all outstanding Series A Depositary Shares have been redeemed or (ii) there has been a final distribution in respect of the Series A Preferred Shares in connection with any dissolution of the Company and such distribution has been made to all the holders of Series A Depositary Shares.

Charges of Preferred Shares Depositary

We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the Preferred Shares Depositary in connection with the initial deposit of the Series A Preferred Shares and the initial issuance of the Series A Depositary Shares, and redemption of the Series A Preferred Shares and all withdrawals of Series A Preferred Shares by owners of Series A Depositary Shares. Holders of Depositary Receipts will pay transfer, income and other taxes and governmental charges and certain other charges as are provided in the Deposit Agreement to be for their accounts. In certain circumstances, the Preferred Shares Depositary may refuse to transfer Series A Depositary Shares, may withhold distributions and distributions and sell the Series A Depositary Shares evidenced by such Depositary Receipt if such charges are not paid.

Miscellaneous

The Preferred Shares Depositary will forward to the holders of Depositary Receipts all reports and communications from us which are delivered to the Preferred Shares Depositary and which we are required to furnish to the holders of the Series A Preferred Shares. In addition, the Preferred Shares Depositary will make available for inspection by holders of Depositary Receipts at the principal office of the Preferred Shares Depositary, and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports and communications received from the Company which are received by the Preferred Shares Depositary as the holder of Series A Preferred Shares.


Neither the Preferred Shares Depositary nor any Depositary’s Agent (as defined in the Deposit Agreement), the Registrar (as defined in the Deposit Agreement) nor the Company assumes any obligation or will be subject to any liability under the Deposit Agreement to holders of Depositary Receipts other than for its gross negligence, willful misconduct or bad faith. Neither the Preferred Shares Depositary, any Depositary’s Agent, the Registrar nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the Deposit Agreement. The Company and the Preferred Shares Depositary are not obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any Series A Depositary Shares, Depositary Receipts or Series A Preferred Shares unless reasonably satisfactory indemnity is furnished. The Company and the Preferred Shares Depositary may rely on written advice of counsel or accountants, on information provided by holders of Depositary Receipts or other persons believed in good faith to be competent to give such information and on documents believed to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties.

Resignation and Removal of Preferred Shares Depositary 

The Preferred Shares Depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the Preferred Shares Depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Preferred Shares Depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor Preferred Shares Depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice for resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.

Additional Classes and Series of Stock

 

Our board of directors is authorized to establish one or more classes and series of stock, including series of preferred stock, from time to time, and to establish the number of shares in each class or series and to fix 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, without any further vote or action by the stockholders, unless such action is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. As of the date hereof, no shares of preferred stock or any class or series of capital stock other than common stock were issued or outstanding.

 

The issuance of additional classes or series of capital stock may have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of our company without further action of the stockholders. The issuance of additional classes or series of capital stock with voting and conversion rights may adversely affect the voting power of the holders of our capital stock, including the loss of voting control to others. The ability of our board of directors to authorize the issuance of additional classes or series of capital stock, while providing flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions or other corporate purposes, could have the effect of making it more difficult for a third party to acquire, or of discouraging a third party from acquiring, a majority of our outstanding voting stock, even where such an acquisition may be beneficial to us or our stockholders. The issuance of additional classes or series of capital stock could also result in the reduction of the amount otherwise available for payments of dividends on our common stock; restrict the payment of dividends or making of distributions on, or the purchase or redemption of, our common stock; and restrict the rights of holders of our common stock to share in our assets upon liquidation until satisfaction of any liquidation preference granted to the holders of other classes or series of capital stock. Our board of directors may not classify or reclassify any authorized but unissued shares of our common stock into shares of our preferred stock or any class or series thereof.

 

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer

 

See “Description of Common Stock — Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” above for a discussion of the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of capital stock necessary for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code.

 

Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and our Charter and Bylaws

 

The following summary of certain provisions of the MGCL and of our Charter and Bylaws does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to the MGCL and our Charter and Bylaws.

 

Classification of Board of Directors, Vacancies and Removal of Directors

 

Our board of directors is divided into three classes of directors, serving staggered three-year terms. At each annual meeting of stockholders, the class of directors to be elected at the meeting generally will be elected for a three-year term and the directors in the other two classes will continue in office. Subject to the rights of any class or series to elect directors, a director may only be removed for cause by the affirmative vote of the holders of 80% of our outstanding shares of common stock entitled to vote generally in the election of directors, voting together as a single class. We believe that the classified board will help to assure the continuity and stability of our board of directors and our business strategies and policies as determined by our board of directors. The use of a staggered board may delay or defer a change in control of us or the removal of incumbent management.

 

Our Charter and Bylaws provide that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock, and unless the board of directors otherwise determines, any vacancies may be filled by a vote of the stockholders or a majority of the remaining directors, though less than a quorum,


except vacancies created by the increase in the number of directors, which only may be filled by a vote of the stockholders or a majority of the entire board of directors. In addition, our Charter and Bylaws provide that, subject to any rights of holders of preferred stock to elect additional directors under specified circumstances, only a majority of the board of directors may increase or decrease the number of persons serving on the board of directors. These provisions could temporarily prevent stockholders from enlarging the board of directors and from filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

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Advance Notice Provisions for Stockholder Nominations and Stockholder Proposals

 

Our Charter and Bylaws establish an advance notice procedure for stockholders to make nominations of candidates for director or bring other business before an annual meeting of stockholders.

 

Our Bylaws provide that (i) only persons who are nominated by, or at the direction of, the board of directors, or by a stockholder who has given timely written notice containing specified information to our secretary prior to the meeting at which directors are to be elected, will be eligible for election as directors and (ii) at an annual meeting, only such business may be conducted as has been brought before the meeting by, or at the direction of, the board of directors or by a stockholder who has given timely written notice to our secretary of such stockholder’s intention to bring such business before such meeting. In general, for notice of stockholder nominations or proposed business (other than business to be included in our proxy statement under SEC Rule 14a-8) to be conducted at an annual meeting to be timely, such notice must be received by us not less than 120 days nor more than 150 days prior to the first anniversary of the date of mailing of the notice for the previous year’s annual meeting. Our Bylaws also establish similar advance notice procedures for stockholders to make nominations of candidates for director at a special meeting of stockholders at which directors are to be elected.

 

The purpose of requiring stockholders to give us advance notice of nominations and other business is to afford our board of directors a meaningful opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposed business and, to the extent deemed necessary or desirable by our board of directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations about such nominees or business, as well as to ensure an orderly procedure for conducting meetings of stockholders. Although our Charter and Bylaws do not give the board of directors power to block stockholder nominations for the election of directors or proposal for action, they may have the effect of discouraging a stockholder from proposing nominees or business, precluding a contest for the election of directors or the consideration of stockholder proposals if procedural requirements are not met and deterring third parties from soliciting proxies for a non-management slate of directors or proposal, without regard to the merits of such slate or proposal.

 

Relevant Factors to be Considered by the Board of Directors

 

Our Charter provides that, in determining what is in our best interest in a business combination or certain change of control events, each of our directors shall consider the interests of our stockholders and, in his or her discretion, also may consider all relevant factors, including but not limited to (i) the interests of our employees, suppliers, creditors and tenants; and (ii) both the long-term and short-term interests of our company and our stockholders, including the possibility that these interests may be best served by the continued independence of our company. Pursuant to this provision, our board of directors may consider subjective factors affecting a proposal, including certain nonfinancial matters, and on the basis of these considerations may oppose a business combination or other transaction which, evaluated only in terms of its financial merits, might be attractive to some, or a majority, of our stockholders.

 

Business Combinations

 

Maryland law prohibits “business combinations” between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, an asset transfer or issuance or transfer of equity securities, liquidation plan or reclassification of equity securities. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:

 

●any person or entity who beneficially owns 10% or more of the voting power of our stock; or

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●an affiliate or associate of ours who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of our then outstanding voting stock.

 

A person is not an interested stockholder if our board of directors approves in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. However, in approving a transaction, our board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by our board of directors.

 

After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between us and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder generally must be recommended by our board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

 

●80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our then-outstanding shares of voting stock; and

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●two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of our voting stock other than stock held by the interested stockholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or stock held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

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These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if our common stockholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its stock.

 

The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are approved or exempted by the board of directors before the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Our board of directors has exempted from these provisions of the MGCL any business combination with Mr. Richard Agree or any other person acting in concert or as a group with Mr. Richard Agree.

 

Control Share Acquisitions

 

Maryland law provides that holders of  “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights with respect to the control shares, except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror or by officers or by directors who are our employees are excluded from the shares entitled to vote on the matter. “Control shares” are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other shares of stock currently owned by the acquiring person, or in respect of which the acquiring person is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiring person to exercise voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges of voting power:

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●one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

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●one-third or more but less than a majority; or

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●a majority or more of all voting power.

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Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition of control shares, subject to certain exceptions. A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel our board of directors to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, we may present the question at any stockholders meeting.

 

If voting rights are not approved at the stockholders meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver the statement required by Maryland law, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, we may redeem any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved, for fair value. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of stockholders at which the voting rights of the shares were considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares for purposes of these appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition. The control share acquisition statute does not apply to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if we are a party to the transaction, nor does it apply to acquisitions approved by or exempted by our Charter or Bylaws.

 

Our Bylaws contain a provision exempting from the control share acquisition statute any member of the Agree-Rosenberg Group, as defined therein, our officers, our employees, any of the associates or affiliates of the foregoing and any other person acting in concert or as a group with any of the foregoing and any other person, as determined by our board of directors.

 

Maryland Unsolicited Takeovers Act

 

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect to be subject, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:

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●a classified board;

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●a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;

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●a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of directors;

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●a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining directors and for the remainder of the full term of the directorship in which the vacancy occurred; and
●a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

 

Through provisions in our Charter and Bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we (1) have a classified board, (2) require an 80% vote for the removal of any director from the board, (3) vest in the board the exclusive power to fix the number of directorships and (4) provide that unless called by our chairman of our board of directors, our president or our board of directors, a special meeting of stockholders may only be called by our secretary upon the written request of the stockholders entitled to cast not less than a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting who comply with the stockholder requested meeting provisions set forth in our Bylaws.

 

Limitation of Liability and Indemnification

 

The MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision limiting the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from:

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●actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services; or

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●active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and which is material to the cause of action.

 

Our Charter contains such a provision that eliminates directors’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law. These limitations of liability do not apply to liabilities arising under the federal securities laws and do not generally affect the availability of equitable remedies such as injunctive relief or rescission.

 

Our present and former officers and directors are and will be indemnified under Maryland law and our Charter and Bylaws against certain liabilities.  Our Charter and Bylaws require us to indemnify our directors and officers, and, without requiring a preliminary determination of the ultimate entitlement to indemnification, to pay to our directors and officers or reimburse reasonable expenses of our directors and officers in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding, in each case to the fullest extent permitted from time to time by the laws of the State of Maryland. We may, with the approval of our board of directors, provide such indemnification and advance for expenses to a person who served a predecessor of us as a director or officer and any employee or agent of ours or of a predecessor of ours. 

 

Maryland law requires a corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our Charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made, or threatened to be made, a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

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●the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (1) was committed in bad faith or (2) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

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●the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

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●in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

 

However, under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis of that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of:

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●a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and

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●a written undertaking by him or her on his or her behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met.

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We maintain liability insurance for each director and officer for certain losses arising from claims or charges made against them while acting in their capacities as our directors or officers.


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Insofar as the foregoing provisions permit indemnification of directors, executive officers or persons controlling us for liability arising under the Securities Act, we have been informed that, in the opinion of the SEC, this indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is therefore unenforceable.



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Exhibit – 10.6

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SUMMARY OF COMPENSATION FOR

THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

(Effective as of February 3, 2022)

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Annual Board Member Retainer:

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Non-Employee Director:$132,000

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Audit Committee Chair:$6,000 (in addition to non-employee retainer)

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Lead Independent Director: $6,000 (in addition to non-employee retainer)

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50% of the above amounts are payable in restricted stock awards with one year vesting. The remaining 50% of the above amounts are payable, at each director’s election, either quarterly in cash or in additional restricted stock awards with one year vesting.

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Other:

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Directors traveling from outside the Bloomfield Hills, Michigan area are reimbursed for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with attending meetings of the Board or any committees thereof.

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Directors who are employees or officers of the Company do not receive any compensation for serving on the Board or any committees thereof.



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Exhibit – 10.30

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AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

70 East Long Lake Road

Bloomfield Hills, Michigan 48304

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January 5, 2022

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Mr. Peter Coughenour

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Re:Letter Agreement of Employment for Peter Coughenour (“Employee” or “You” or “Your”)

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Dear Mr. Coughenour:

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This Letter Agreement (“Letter Agreement”) sets forth the terms and conditions by which Agree Realty Corporation (“ADC” or the “Company”) retains Your services.

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Position:

You will serve as the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company, effective December 7, 2021 (the “Start Date”), reporting directly to Joel N. Agree, President and Chief Executive Officer of ADC.  ADC has its sole and exclusive discretion to change, extend or to curtail the precise services and duties You are to perform.

Best Efforts:

All duties rendered by You for and on behalf of ADC shall be of the highest professional standards.  You shall devote Your full time, energies and talents to the success of ADC.  You shall use Your best efforts to promote and shall during and after the expiration of this Letter Agreement, do nothing to reduce or injure the reputation of ADC.  You must also comply with ADC’s stock ownership guidelines for similarly situated executives.  If you are not in compliance with those guidelines, you may not sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of ADC stock owned by You until such time as you are in compliance with those guidelines.

Employment At-Will:

You agree to be an “at-will” employee and acknowledge that there is no guaranty that Your employment by ADC is for any period of time and that Your employment may be terminated for any reason whatsoever or for no reason and with or without cause.  Upon Your separation from employment, regardless of reason, You shall be deemed to have automatically resigned from all elected and/or appointed positions with ADC and its affiliates.

Annual Base Salary:

$350,000.00 payable semi-monthly in accordance with ADC’s normal payroll practices and subject to all required withholdings and deductions.  The annual base salary may be adjusted in subsequent years as recommended by the Chief Executive Officer of ADC, subject to the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.

Incentive Compensation:

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For 2022, You will be eligible to receive an annual incentive award with a target of 100% of Your base salary and a long-term incentive award with a target of 114% of Your base salary, in each case  subject to the performance hurdles determined by the Compensation Committee of the Company’s Board of Directors and in accordance with ADC’s existing programs for such awards, including ADC’s 2022 Executive Incentive Plan.  The long-term incentive compensation will be awarded in restricted stock and performance awards in accordance with the Company’s 2020 Omnibus


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Incentive Plan. Incentive compensation amounts and performance hurdles for future years shall be determined by the Company in its sole discretion.  Any such incentive compensation will be paid at the same time that similar incentive compensation is paid to other ADC executives.  You must employed with ADC on the payment date to be eligible to receive the incentive compensation payments.

Benefits:

You will be entitled to the same employee benefits, on generally the same terms, as those made available to other ADC employees at Your level.    

Paid Time Off:

You will be entitled to paid time off in accordance with the Company’s Paid Time Off policy.

Severance:

You will not be eligible for any severance upon a termination of employment with the Company except as set forth herein.  

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If Your employment is terminated without Cause (as defined below) due to or within one year following a Change in Control (as defined below), You will receive either (1) a cash amount equal to the sum of (i) 200% of Your current annual base salary, (ii) 200% of Your Annual Cash Incentive Award for the previous fiscal year and (iii) any Long-Term Incentive Compensation for the year in which the termination occurs will be considered earned at the target level and immediately vested, or (2) in the event Your employment is terminated due to a Change in Control which occurs during the first fiscal year of employment, a cash amount equal to the sum of (i) 200% of Your current annual base salary plus $200,000, (ii) 200% of Your projected Threshold Annual Cash Incentive Award, and (iii) Your Threshold Long-Term Incentive Compensation will be considered as earned at the target level and immediately vested.  The values for items (1) (i) and (ii) and (2) (i) and (ii) shall be automatically adjusted down from 200% to 100% after the two-year anniversary of the Start Date.  “Change in Control” shall have the same meaning as set forth in the ADC’s 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, there shall be no Change in Control severance in the event You are retained by a successor organization for one year substantially on the same terms as set forth herein.  

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If Your employment is terminated by ADC for Cause or by You without Good Reason, You will not be entitled to any severance payments, and You will forfeit any unvested securities of ADC.

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If Your employment is terminated by the Company without Cause or by You with Good Reason, You will (i) receive a severance amount equal to 100% of Your annual base salary, (ii) be deemed to have vested in a pro rata portion of the restricted stock set forth above as part of your Incentive Compensation, including any restricted shares awarded at the end of a performance period, based on the number of completed years of service after the Start Date, and (iii) be released from Your post-employment non-competition covenant set forth below.  

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Subject to the Delay Period, if required to comply with Section 409A, any severance payments shall be payable in equal semi-monthly installments over the twelve (12) month period following Your termination in accordance with ADC’s normal payroll practices, on its standard payroll dates, and subject to all required withholdings and deductions.  All of the foregoing severance entitlements shall be conditioned on (i) Your delivery, within thirty (30) days after Your last date of employment, of a signed and irrevocable release agreement in a form prepared by ADC and (ii) Your strict compliance with Your post-employment obligations.  Subject to the Delay Period, if required to comply with Section 409A, the severance payments will commence on first payroll date occurring more than 60 days after the termination of Your


employment, with the first payment covering the time period from the termination date through the payment date.  

Cause:

For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “Cause” shall mean the occurrence of one or more of the following, as determined by ADC: (a) Your failure or refusal to observe or perform any term, covenant or provision of this Letter Agreement or any reasonably assigned duties requested by ADC; (b) a breach Your fiduciary duties to Agree; (c) You being (i) under investigation by a government authority or by the Company, based on its reasonable suspicion, for committing, (ii) charged with, and/or (iii) convicted of, a felony or any other crime which might cause clients to question the business practices or reputation of ADC; (d) Your commission of any act of theft, embezzlement, fraud, dishonesty or disloyalty with respect to ADC; (e) Your use of alcohol in an unprofessional fashion, non-prescribed narcotics or contraband during working hours or on ADC premises; (f) Your engaging in insubordination or otherwise disruptive actions; or (g) Your inability to perform Your assigned job duties in an effective manner or to ADC’s reasonable satisfaction.

Good Reason

For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “Good Reason” shall mean, without Your consent, (i) a material and adverse change in Your title or (ii) a material reduction in Your base salary; provided that, prior to terminating employment for Good Reason, You must provide written notice to ADC within thirty (30) days after the initial existence of the condition constituting Good Reason and provide ADC a period of thirty (30) days to remedy such condition; and provided further that if ADC fails to cure such condition, You must resign Your employment within thirty (30) days following ADC’s failure to remedy the condition constituting Good Reason.

Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Obligations:

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(a)  Confidential Information.  The relationship with ADC will be one of trust and confidence and there will be available to You certain confidential and proprietary business and financial information, related trade secrets and proprietary information of ADC which includes, but may not be limited to, the records and information of ADC dealing with income, investments, investment or development opportunities, customer or tenant lists, rent rolls, project lists, investor lists, investor identities, investment returns, business strategies, business methods, business practices, services, financial information, leasing information, access codes, business strategies, all information contained in or on the computer hard drives and/or servers of ADC, customer or tenant contact information including telephone numbers, addresses and e-mail information, business methods, marketing methods, and other items relative thereto (herein collectively and individually referred to as the “Confidential Information”).  The Confidential Information is an extremely valuable and important asset of ADC and the unauthorized use of the Confidential Information would cause irreparable economic and business injury to ADC.  You shall hold the Confidential Information in strict confidence and in trust for ADC and, except in the good faith performance of Your job duties for ADC, shall not disclose, use or otherwise communicate, provide or reveal in any manner whatsoever any of the Confidential Information to any person or entity without the prior written consent of ADC.  Upon termination of employment, You shall return to ADC, without demand from ADC, any Confidential Information disclosed or provided to You, including, but not limited to, all originals, copies, reproductions, notes, facsimiles, samples, models and products thereof, whether, the same is in digital or document form.  The return of the Confidential Information shall also include but not be limited to the return of all the following items to ADC immediately upon the termination of employment: automobile, keys, calculators, tapes, clipboards, computers, computer programs, documents, customer and tenant lists, addresses, telephone numbers, computer discs, notebooks, drawings, manuals,


and such or all other recorded, written or printed materials and supplies relating to research or business of the ADC.  The Confidential Information, regardless of form, is, and shall always remain, the sole and exclusive property of ADC.

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(b)  Employees.  During the term of Your employment with ADC and for a period of two (2) years following the termination of Your employment (“Period”), You shall not, directly, indirectly for Your own benefit or for the benefit of any other person, firm or business organization Solicit for purposes of employment or association any employee or agent of ADC, or induce any employee or agent of ADC to terminate such employment or association for purposes of becoming employed or associated elsewhere, or hire or otherwise engage any employee or agent of ADC as an employee of a business with whom You may be affiliated or permit such hiring to the extent You have the authority to prevent same, or otherwise interfere with the relationship between ADC and its employees and agents.  For purposes of this Letter Agreement, an employee or agent shall mean an individual employed or retained by ADC during the term of this Letter Agreement and/or who terminates such association with ADC within a period of six (6) months either prior to or after Your termination hereunder.  For purposes of this Letter Agreement, the phrase “Solicit” shall mean any contact, communication, dialogue or undertaking whether the same is initiated by You or by an investor, business prospect, referral source or employee of ADC.

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(c)  Business Prospects.  During the Period, You shall not, directly, indirectly, for Your own benefit or for the benefit of any other person, firm or business organizations, Solicit for purposes of transacting business, any business prospect of ADC or induce any business prospect of ADC to terminate such association with ADC for proposes of transacting business elsewhere or becoming associated elsewhere or otherwise attempting to divert any business prospect from ADC, except where, (i) any firm or business organization for which You are subsequently employed, has an existing verifiable business relationship with such business prospect; and (ii) transacting business with such business prospect has no adverse effect on ADC; and (iii) You are not engaged in providing services or support to such business prospect during the Period.  You shall prevent such solicitation to the extent You have authority to prevent same and shall otherwise not interfere with the relationship between ADC and its business prospects.  For purposes of this Letter Agreement, the term “business prospects” shall mean any individual and/or business entity with whom ADC has undertaken to transact business or whom has been targeted for purposes of transacting business.  For the avoidance of doubt, the term “business prospects” shall not include third parties engaged in providing loans and investment capital.

(d)  Non-Competition.  You shall not, directly, indirectly, for Your own benefit or for the benefit of any other person, firm or business organizations, engage in the following activities: (i) for the three-year period from the Start Date, work in any capacity for any other Real Estate Investment Trust (“REIT”); and (ii) if Your employment ends more than three years after the Start Date, act as a Chief Financial Officer (or in a similar capacity) for any triple net publicly-traded REIT during Your employment and for a period of one (1) year thereafter.

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(e) Conduct. You shall not, directly, indirectly, for Your own benefit or for the benefit of any other person, firm or business organizations,

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(i)
Advice.  You shall during the term of Your employment with ADC and at all times after the termination of the relationship by either party with or without advance notice or Cause, remain available to advise and at all times after the termination of the relationship by either party with or without

advance notice or Cause, You shall remain available to advise ADC in areas which include, but are not limited to assisting ADC with customer or business matters in which You were involved and advise ADC as to the status of various matters and follow up requirements related to tasks performed by You.

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(ii)
No Disparagement.  You shall not during the term of Your employment with ADC and at all times after the termination of the relationship by either party with or without advance notice or Cause, communicate, orally or in writing, or by any other matter whatsoever to any third party, any claim, remark, allegation, statement, opinion, innuendo, or information of any kind or nature whatsoever, the effect or intention of which is to cause embarrassment, damage or injury to the reputation or standing in the local, state, national, or international community of ADC, its officers, directors, shareholders, members or employees, whether any such communication is or may be true or founded in facts.  

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(iii)
Systems. You acknowledge and agree that You have no expectation of privacy with respect to ADCs telecommunications, networking, or information processing systems, (including, without limitation, stored company files, email messages, text messages, and voice messages) and that Your activities and any files or messages or use of any of those systems may be monitored and or intercepted at any time without notice and You consent to such monitoring and interception.  You further agree that any property situated on ADC’s premises and owned by ADC, including, disks, and other storage media, filing cabinets and other work areas is subject to inspection by ADC without notice.  

(f)  Interpretation.  If the provisions of this Letter Agreement are deemed overly restrictive, the court having jurisdiction may alter such provisions to provide for the maximum protection of ADC which is deemed reasonable under State law.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, You acknowledge that all of the provisions hereof are reasonable, and waive any defense on such basis.  You further acknowledge and agree that the obligations set forth in this Section are independent of the other obligations of this Letter Agreement, such that they will remain in effect notwithstanding any claim of a prior breach of this Letter Agreement or any other agreement or obligation.

(g)  Limitations.  Nothing in this Letter Agreement shall prohibit You from participating, testifying, or assisting in any investigation, hearing, whistleblower proceeding or other proceeding before any federal, state, or local government agency or pursuant to a lawfully issued subpoena, nor does anything herein preclude, prohibit, or otherwise limit, in any way, Your rights and abilities to contact, communicate with, report matters to, or otherwise participate in any whistleblower program administered by any such agencies.  Further, You acknowledge that under the Defend Trade Secrets Act of 2016, 18 U.S.C. § 1836(B), an individual shall not be held criminally or civilly liable under any federal or state trade secret law for the disclosure of a trade secret that is (i) made in confidence to a federal, state, or local government official or to an attorney solely for the purpose of reporting or investigating a suspected violation of law; or (ii) made in a complaint or other document filed in a lawsuit or other proceeding, if such filing is made under seal.  An individual who files a lawsuit for retaliation by an employer for reporting a suspected violation of law may disclose the trade secret to the attorney of the individual and use the trade secret information in the court proceeding, if the individual files any document containing the trade secret under seal; and does not disclose the trade secret, except pursuant to court order.


Modification:

Provided such modifications are uniformly applied to similarly situated ADC executives, ADC has the right to and may unilaterally modify the terms and conditions of employment including, by way of illustration and not limitation, job descriptions, rules and regulations, benefit packages and compensation as it deems appropriate in its sole and exclusive discretion.  All benefits packages, salary and incentive compensation awards shall be subject, on an annual basis, to the approval of the Compensation Committee of ADC.

Arbitration:

Except for as set forth below, the parties shall arbitrate any and all disputes relative to the employment relationship and/or termination from ADC that otherwise would be resolved by judicial or administrative proceeding or are in any way related to any alleged wrongful acts on the part of ADC or its employees, officers and/or directors, whether such disputes are based on alleged statutory violations or otherwise (i.e., age, race, gender, religion or any other form of protected class discrimination or harassment), contractual breaches or otherwise, exclusively through the Procedures and Policies of the American Arbitration Association, unless other procedures are agreed upon in writing between the parties.  Venue for any such hearings shall be Oakland County, Michigan.  All substantive rights provided under any applicable statute and/or law, the right to representation by counsel, an opportunity for reasonable discovery, a neutral arbitrator, a fair arbitral hearing, and a written arbitral award containing findings of facts and conclusions of law shall be available in the arbitration.  You shall not disclose or announce to third parties, except Your attorneys and retained professionals, that the proceedings are taking place and You shall keep the nature and substance of the proceedings confidential and not disclose the same to third parties. The determination of the arbitrator shall be binding and final upon all parties.  The award of the arbitrator may be filed with the Clerk of the Circuit Court for the County of Oakland, Michigan, and judgment may be rendered by the Court upon the arbitration award and execution may be issued upon the judgment.  The cost for arbitration shall be split equally between ADC and You.

Limitations:

Any arbitration or judicial proceeding arising out of a dispute relative to Your employment, shall not be brought by You unless the same is commenced within the applicable statute of limitations or One Hundred Eighty (180) days following the incident giving rise to such dispute, whichever is shorter.  If You fail to commence such a proceeding within such period, any rights You may have to prosecute such a claim shall be extinguished and terminated.  In the event a court of competent jurisdiction determines this provision is overly restrictive, then the court having jurisdiction may alter such provision to that deemed reasonable under State law.

Enforcement:

Those portions of this Letter Agreement that, by their nature, survive the termination of this Letter Agreement shall remain enforceable and survive the expiration or termination of the employment relationship and shall not be deemed merged or extinguished by any act absent the specific written intention of the parties to do so.  The undertakings contained herein relate to matters which are of a special, unique and extraordinary importance to ADC and, that without such covenants, ADC would be unwilling to employ You.  A violation of any of the terms hereof would cause irreparable injury to ADC, the amount of which may be impossible to estimate or determine and which may not be compensated adequately.  Notwithstanding the arbitration provision set for herein, ADC may, at its sole option and in its exclusive discretion, file an action in court seeking all available equitable and monetary remedies in the event of a breach or threatened breach of Your Confidentiality and Restrictive Covenant Obligations.  In any action for injunctive relief or a restraining order, ADC shall not be obligated to post a bond or any security as a condition to obtain the issuance of a restraining order, injunction or other equitable relief.  


Attorney Fees:

In the event that ADC should bring any action or claim arising out of this Letter Agreement against You, or You bring any action or claim against ADC, the prevailing party shall be entitled to any and all costs incurred in enforcing the terms of this Letter Agreement, including actual attorney fees, court costs, arbitrator costs and fees and all other costs associated with such action.

Section 409A:

This Letter Agreement is intended to comply with Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Section 409A”) or an exemption thereunder, and shall be construed and administered in accordance with Section 409A.  Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Letter Agreement, payments provided under this Letter Agreement may only be made upon an event, and in a manner, that complies with Section 409A or an applicable exemption.  Any payment under this Letter Agreement that may be excluded from Section 409A shall be excluded from Section 409A to the maximum extent possible.  For purposes of Section 409A, each installment payment provided under this Letter Agreement shall be treated as a separate payment.  Any payment to be made under this Letter Agreement upon termination of employment shall only be made upon a “separation from service” under Section 409A.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, ADC makes no representations that the payments and benefits provided under this Letter Agreement are exempt from or comply with Section 409A and in no event shall ADC be liable for any portion of any taxes, penalties, interest or other expenses that may be incurred by You on account of non-compliance with Section 409A.  All reimbursements provided under this Letter Agreement shall be made or provided in accordance with the requirements of Section 409A to the extent that such reimbursements are subject to Section 409A, including, where applicable, the requirements that (i)  the amount of expenses eligible for reimbursement during a calendar year may not affect the expenses eligible for reimbursement in any other calendar year, (ii) the reimbursement of an eligible expense will be made on or before the last day of the calendar year following the year in which the expense is incurred and (iii) the right to reimbursement is not subject to set off or liquidation or exchange for any other benefit. Notwithstanding any other payment date or schedule provided in this Letter Agreement to the contrary, if on the date of your separation from service You are a “specified employee” (within the meaning of Section 409A and the regulations thereunder), to the extent required under Section 409A any payment subject to Section 409A that is owing to You on account of and within six months after Your separation from service shall instead be made on the date which is the earlier of (i) the first Company payroll date after the six month anniversary of the date of Your separation from service or (ii) the first Company payroll date after Your death (the “Delay Period”); upon expiration of the Delay Period, all payments so delayed shall be paid to You in a lump sum, and all remaining payments due hereunder shall be paid to you on the normal payment dates set forth in this Letter Agreement.

Section 280G

If any payment or benefit (including payments and benefits pursuant to this Agreement) You would receive in connection with a Change in Control from the Company or otherwise (the “Payment”) would (i) constitute a “parachute payment” within the meaning of Section 280G of the Code, and (ii) but for this paragraph, be subject to the excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), then the Company shall pay only a part of the Payment so that You receive the largest payment possible without the imposition of the Excise Tax.  If a reduced Payment is made, You shall have no rights to any additional payments and/or benefits constituting the Payment.  Any reduction in payments as a result of this provision shall be made in the reverse chronological order in which such payments would otherwise be due.


Entire Agreement:

This Letter Agreement represents the entire agreement between You and ADC and supersedes and cancels any prior or contemporaneous arrangements, understandings or agreements, whether written or oral, by and between You and ADC relative to the subject matter hereof.  Any amendments hereto shall be in writing and executed by both parties.  In the event of a conflict between this Letter Agreement and any other agreement or plan including the agreement and plan attached hereto, this Letter Agreement shall govern and control.

Governing Law:

This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the United States of America and the State of Michigan.  Without limiting the applicability of the Arbitration provisions contained herein, exclusive venue and jurisdiction for resolution of all disputes shall lie with the state and/or federal courts having jurisdiction over Oakland County, Michigan, and the parties irrevocably submit to the personal jurisdiction of such courts.

Peter, if You agree with the terms and conditions contained herein, please sign and return a copy of this Letter Agreement to the undersigned.

​

Very truly yours,

​

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

By: /s/ Joey Agree _____________________________

Joey Agree

Its: President & Chief Executive Officer

​

​

AGREED TO AND ACCEPTED BY:

​

PETER COUGHENOUR

​

​

/s/Peter Coughenour _

(Employee Signature)

​

Date: ____________________



​

Exhibit – 10.31

​

​

​

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

2020 OMNIBUS INCENTIVE PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK NOTICE

​

This RESTRICTED STOCK NOTICE dated as of _________, 20__, sets forth the terms of a grant of Restricted Stock by Agree Realty Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), to the Grantee named below.

WHEREAS, the Company has adopted the Agree Realty Corporation 2020 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “Plan”) to provide incentives and awards to employees, directors and consultants of the Company and its Affiliates, by encouraging their ownership of stock and to aid the Company and its Affiliates in retaining such employees, directors and consultants, upon whose efforts the Company’s success and future growth depends, and attracting other such individuals; and

WHEREAS, the Committee has determined to grant to the Grantee an award of Restricted Stock (the “Award”) as provided herein to encourage the Grantee’s efforts toward the continuing success of the Company.

The Company grants to the Grantee an Award on the following terms and subject to the following conditions:

SECTION 1.Grant by the Company.  This Award shall be construed in accordance and consistent with, and subject to, the provisions of the Plan (the provisions of which are hereby incorporated by reference) and, except as otherwise expressly set forth herein, the capitalized terms used in this Award shall have the same definitions as set forth in the Plan.

AWARD SUMMARY

​

Name of Grantee:_________________

Number of Shares of Restricted Stock:_________________

Share Price at Grant Date:_________________

Grant Date:_____________, 20__

​

SECTION 2.Issuance of Restricted Stock.  

2.1As soon as practicable after receipt from the Grantee of this executed Award, the Company shall issue in the name of the Grantee book entry shares or stock certificates representing the total number of shares of Restricted Stock, and any such certificates shall remain in the


possession of the Company until the Restricted Stock represented thereby is free of the restrictions set forth in Section 3 hereof.  

​

SECTION 3.Restrictions.

3.1The Restricted Stock may not be sold, assigned, transferred, pledged or otherwise encumbered or disposed of prior to the applicable Expiration Date as provided in Section 3.2 hereof.  

3.2Unless terminated earlier pursuant to Section 4 hereof, the restrictions set forth in Section 3.1 hereof shall expire on the first anniversary of _________ (the “Expiration Date”).  As soon as practicable after the Expiration Date, the Company shall either (i) deliver certificate(s) representing the shares of Common Stock no longer subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 3.1 as of such Expiration Date to the Grantee or its designee (and such certificate shall be registered in the name of the Grantee), (ii) have the appropriate number of shares of Common Stock credited to the Grantee in book-entry form, or (iii) have the shares of Common Stock held pursuant to instructions provided by the Grantee.

SECTION 4.Termination.  Except as determined by the Committee at any time, upon the Grantee ceasing to be a director of the Company for any reason (other than death) through the Expiration Date, the restrictions set forth in Section 3.1 shall lapse as to the number of Restricted Stock based on the number of days starting with the date set forth in Section 3.2 above (the “Start Date”) through the date such Grantee ceases to be a director of the Company (the “Termination Date”) and the number of days starting on the Start Date through the Expiration Date.  As soon as practicable after the Termination Date, shares of Common Stock shall be issued in accordance with Section 3.2 above.  All other Restricted Stock shall be forfeited by the Grantee to the Company without the payment of any consideration by the Company as of the Termination Date.  Upon forfeiture, the Company shall cancel, or cause the transfer agent to cancel, the stock certificate or book-entry relating to the forfeited Restricted Stock. Notwithstanding the foregoing, all Restricted Stock shall cease to be subject to forfeiture under this Section 4 (and shall cease to be subject to the restrictions set forth in Section 3.1) in the event the Grantee ceases to be a director of the Company on account of the Grantee’s death.

SECTION 5.Construction.  This Award is made and granted pursuant to the Plan and is in all respects limited by and subject to the terms of the Plan. In the event of any conflict between the provisions of this Award and the terms of the Plan, the terms of the Plan shall be controlling. To the extent not prohibited by applicable law or the Plan, the terms of any employment, severance or change in control agreement between the Grantee and the Company shall supersede the terms and definitions under the Plan and this Award with respect to the Restricted Stock awarded hereunder. All decisions of the Committee with respect to any question or issue arising under the Plan or this Award shall be conclusive and binding on all persons having an interest in the Award.

SECTION 6.Transfer of Personal Data.  The Grantee authorizes, agrees and unambiguously consents to the transmission by the Company (or any of its Affiliates) of any personal data information related to the Restricted Stock awarded under this Award for legitimate


business purposes (including, without limitation, the administration of the Plan).  This authorization and consent is freely given by the Grantee.

SECTION 7.Compliance with Laws.  The issuance of the Restricted Stock or unrestricted shares pursuant to this Award shall be subject to, and shall comply with, any applicable requirements of any foreign and U.S. federal and state securities laws, rules and regulations (including, without limitation, the provisions of the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and in each case any respective rules and regulations promulgated thereunder) and any other law or regulation applicable thereto. The Company shall not be obligated to issue the Restricted Stock or any of the shares pursuant to this Award if any such issuance would violate any such requirements.  

SECTION 8.Notices.  Any notice to be given to the Company hereunder shall be in writing and shall be addressed to the Company at 70 E. Long Lake Rd, Bloomfield Hills, MI 48304, attention: General Counsel, or at such other address as the Company may hereafter designate to the Grantee by written notice as provided herein.  Any notice to be given to the Grantee hereunder shall be addressed to the Grantee at the address set forth beneath his signature hereto, or at such other address as he may hereafter designate to the Company by written notice as provided herein.  Notices hereunder shall be deemed to have been duly given: (i)  when personally delivered, (ii) three (3) days after having been mailed by registered or certified mail to the party entitled to receive the same, (iii) one (1) day after having been mailed by a nationally recognized overnight courier or (iv) upon receipt when sent by electronic transmission.

SECTION 9.  Section 83(b) Election.  The Grantee may make a timely Code section 83(b) election with respect to the portion of the Restricted Stock that are unvested as of the date of this Grant Date by filing the form attached hereto as Appendix A with the Internal Revenue Service within thirty (30) days following the Grant Date. If the Grantee decides to file a Code section 83(b) election in respect of the Grantee’s Restricted Stock, the Grantee must provide the Company with a copy of such Code section 83(b) election simultaneously with filing it with the Internal Revenue Service. The Grantee should consult with and rely upon the advice of the Grantee’s personal tax advisor regarding whether or not it is appropriate for the Grantee to make a Code section 83(b) election in respect of the Grantee’s Restricted Stock. In no event shall the Company have any liability or obligation with respect to the making of or failure to make any such Code Section 83(b) election.

SECTION 10.  Entire Statement of Award.  This Award and the terms and conditions of the Plan constitute the entire understanding between the Grantee and the Company and its Affiliates, and, except as set forth in Section 6, supersede all other agreements, whether written or oral, with respect to the Award.

SECTION 11.Resolution of Disputes.  Any dispute or disagreement which may arise under, or as a result of, or in any way relate to, the interpretation, construction or application of this Award shall be determined by the Committee. Any determination made hereunder shall be final, binding and conclusive on the Grantee, the Grantee’s heirs, executors, administrators and successors, and the Company and its Affiliates for all purposes.

[Signature Page Follows]


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has executed this Award as of _________.

​

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

​

​

By: _____________________________

Joey Agree

Title: President and Chief Executive Officer

​

​

​

​

​


APPENDIX A

​

Election to Include Value of Property in Gross

Income in Year of Transfer Under Code Section 83(b)

​

CERTIFIED MAIL

RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED

​

____________________ ______, 20___

​

Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

[●]

​

Re:IRC Section 83(b) Election

​

Dear Sir/Madam:

​

Enclosed please find the undersigned taxpayer’s Election to Include in Gross Income in Year of Transfer of Property Pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code.  

​

Very Truly Yours,

​

​

​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​

​

Name: ​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​

​

(Taxpayer I.D. No. _____________)

​

cc: Agree Realty Corporation

​


Election to Include in Gross Income in Year of Transfer of Property Pursuant

to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended

​

The undersigned hereby elects pursuant to Section 83(b) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with respect to the property described below and supplies the following information in accordance with the regulations promulgated thereunder:

​

1.The name, address and taxpayer identification number of the undersigned are:

​
​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​
​​

2. This election is made with respect to [●] shares of the common stock of Agree Realty Corporation (the “Company”).

​

3.The date on which the property was transferred is _________________ _____, 2020.

​

4.The nature of the restriction(s) to which the property is subject are: the property is nontransferable and is subject to forfeiture upon the undersigned’s termination of services to the Company and its subsidiaries.

​

5.The fair market value at the time of transfer (determined without regard to any “lapse restriction,” as defined in Section 1.83-3(i)) of the property is $_____ .

​

6.The amount paid for property by the undersigned is $_____.

​

7.Furnishing statement to Company:

​

A copy of this statement has been furnished to the Company that receives services from the undersigned.

​

Dated: _______________________, ________

​

​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​ ​​

Name:



Exhibit 21

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

Subsidiaries of the Registrant as of December 31, 2021

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

​

Subsidiary

​

Jurisdiction of Organization

Agree Limited Partnership

​

Delaware

20639 Center Ridge Road, LLC

​

Delaware

ADC Express, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree 117 Mission, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree 2016, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Beecher, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree Bristol & Fenton Project, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree Central, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Chapel Hill NC, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Columbia SC, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Construction Management, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Convenience No. 1, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Corunna, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree CW, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Dallas Forest Drive, LLC

​

Texas

Agree Development, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree DT Jacksonville NC, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Eastern, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Farmington NM, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Fort Walton Beach, LLC

​

Florida

Agree Grandview Heights OH, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Greenwich CT, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Lebanon NH, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Littleton CO, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree M-59, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree Madison AL, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree Marietta, LLC

​

Georgia

Agree MCW, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Mena AR, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree NJ, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Onaway MI, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Orange CT, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Oxford Commons AL, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Paterson NJ, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Portfolio, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Realty Services, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Realty South-East, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree Roseville CA, LLC

​

California

Agree SB, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Secaucus NJ, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Shelf ES PA, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Shelf PA, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Southfield, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree Spring Grove, LLC

​

Illinois

Agree St Petersburg, LLC

​

Florida

Agree Stores, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Tallahassee, LLC

​

Florida

Agree TK, LLC

​

Delaware


Agree Van Nuys CA, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Walker, LLC

​

Michigan

Agree Wawa Baltimore, LLC

​

Maryland

Agree Western, LLC

​

Delaware

Agree Wilmington, LLC

​

North Carolina

DD 71, LLC

​

Delaware

Lunacorp, LLC

​

Delaware

Mt. Pleasant Shopping Center, LLC

​

Michigan

Pachyderm Chattanooga TN, LLC

​

Delaware

Pachyderm Marietta GA, LLC

​

Delaware

Pachyderm Myrtle Beach SC, LLC

​

Delaware

Pachyderm Philadelphia PA, LLC

​

Delaware

Safari Properties, LLC

​

Delaware

​



Exhibit 22

AGREE REALTY CORPORATION

List of Guarantor Subsidiaries

The 2030 Senior Unsecured Public Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by Agree Realty Corporation and the following wholly owned subsidiaries of the Operating Partnership as of February 22, 2022:

​

​

Guarantor

​

Jurisdiction of Organization

20639 Center Ridge Road

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 Eastern, LLC

Agree Farmington NM, LLC

Agree Grandview Heights OH, LLC

Agree Greenwich CT, 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 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 Western, LLC

Agree TK, LLC

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

Mt. Pleasant Shopping Center, L.L.C.

Agree MCW, LLC

Agree Lebanon NH, LLC

​

Delaware

Michigan

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Michigan

Florida

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Delaware

Michigan

Delaware

Delaware

​

​

​

​



Exhibit 23.1

​

CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM

​

We have issued our reports dated February 22, 2022, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and internal control over financial reporting included in the Annual Report of Agree Realty Corporation on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021. We consent to the incorporation by reference of said reports in the Registration Statements of Agree Realty Corporation on Forms S-3 (File No. 333-238729 and File No. 333-218476) and on Forms S-8 (File No. 333-238728, File No. 333-197096, and File No. 333-141471).

/s/ GRANT THORNTON LLP

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

February 22, 2022



Exhibit 31.1

​

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

​

I, Joel N. Agree, certify that:

​

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 of Agree Realty Corporation;

​

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

​

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

​

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

​

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

​

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

​

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

​

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

​

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

​

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

​

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

​

Date:   February 22, 2022

    

/s/ Joel N. Agree

 

 

Name:

Joel N. Agree

​

​

Title:

President and Chief Executive Officer

​



Exhibit 31.2

​

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO SECTION 302 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

​

I, Peter Coughenour, certify that:

​

1. I have reviewed this Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 of Agree Realty Corporation;

​

2. Based on my knowledge, this report does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements made, in light of the circumstances under which such statements were made, not misleading with respect to the period covered by this report;

​

3. Based on my knowledge, the financial statements, and other financial information included in this report, fairly present in all material respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the registrant as of, and for, the periods presented in this report;

​

4. The registrant's other certifying officer and I are responsible for establishing and maintaining disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) and internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(f) and 15d-15(f)) for the registrant and have:

​

a) Designed such disclosure controls and procedures, or caused such disclosure controls and procedures to be designed under our supervision, to ensure that material information relating to the registrant, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to us by others within those entities, particularly during the period in which this report is being prepared;

​

b) Designed such internal control over financial reporting, or caused such internal control over financial reporting to be designed under our supervision, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles;

​

c) Evaluated the effectiveness of the registrant's disclosure controls and procedures and presented in this report our conclusions about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures, as of the end of the period covered by this report based on such evaluation; and

​

d) Disclosed in this report any change in the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting that occurred during the registrant’s most recent fiscal quarter (the registrant’s fourth fiscal quarter in the case of an annual report) that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the registrant’s internal control over financial reporting; and

​

5. The registrant's other certifying officer and I have disclosed, based on our most recent evaluation of internal control over financial reporting, to the registrant's auditors and the audit committee of the registrant's board of directors (or persons performing the equivalent functions):

​

a) All significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which are reasonably likely to adversely affect the registrant's ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and

​

b) Any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the registrant's internal control over financial reporting.

​

Date:   February 22, 2022

    

/s/ Peter Coughenour

 

 

Name:

Peter Coughenhour

 

 

Title:

 Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

​



Exhibit 32.1

​

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

​

Based on a review of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 of Agree Realty Corporation (the “Company”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Joel N. Agree, Chief Executive Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

​

1.    The Report, containing the financial statements, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

​

2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

​

/s/ Joel N. Agree

 

Joel N. Agree

 

President and Chief Executive Officer

 

 

 

February 22, 2022

 

​



Exhibit 32.2

​

CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350, AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002

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Based on a review of the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2021 of Agree Realty Corporation (the “Company”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on the date hereof (the “Report”), I, Peter Coughenour, Chief Financial Officer of the Company, certify, pursuant to 18 U.S.C. Section 1350, as adopted pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, that:

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1.    The Report, containing the financial statements, fully complies with the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934; and

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2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the Company.

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/s/ Peter Coughenour

 

Peter Coughenour

 

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary

 

 

 

February 22, 2022

 

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adc-20211231.xsd
Attachment: EX-101.SCH


adc-20211231_cal.xml
Attachment: EX-101.CAL


adc-20211231_def.xml
Attachment: EX-101.DEF


adc-20211231_lab.xml
Attachment: EX-101.LAB


adc-20211231_pre.xml
Attachment: EX-101.PRE