8-K
SUN COMMUNITIES INC false 0000912593 0000912593 2023-01-17 2023-01-17

 

 

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report: January 17, 2023

(Date of earliest event reported)

 

 

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Maryland   1-12616   38-2730780

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(IRS Employer

Identification No.)

 

27777 Franklin Rd.  
Suite 300  
Southfield, Michigan   48034
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)   (Zip Code)

(248) 208-2500

(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

 

 

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

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

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

 

Title of each class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of each exchange

on which registered

Common Stock, $0.01 par value   SUI   New York Stock Exchange

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

  Emerging growth company

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

 

 

 


Item 1.01

Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

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

 

Item 2.03

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

On January 17, 2023, Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), a Michigan limited partnership and subsidiary of Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”, and, together with the Operating Partnership, the “Obligors”), completed an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of $400 million in aggregate principal amount of its 5.700% Notes due 2033 (the “Notes”).

The Operating Partnership intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering of approximately $395.3 million after deducting the underwriting discount and estimated expenses related to the Offering payable by the Operating Partnership, to repay borrowings outstanding under its senior credit facility, to fund possible future acquisitions of properties, and for working capital and general corporate purposes.

The Notes are fully and unconditionally guaranteed by the Company. The terms of the Notes are governed by an indenture, dated as of June 28, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Operating Partnership and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by a Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 17, 2023, by and among the Obligors and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture,” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Indenture contains covenants that limit the ability of the Operating Partnership and its subsidiaries to (a) consummate a merger, consolidation or sale of all or substantially all of their assets; and (b) incur secured and unsecured indebtedness. The Indenture also contains covenants regarding (i) provision of financial information, (ii) maintenance of properties, (iii) payment of taxes and other claims, and (iv) insurance.

Pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement among the Obligors and the underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”) filed as Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on January 10, 2023, the purchase price paid by the Underwriters for the Notes was 99.079% of the principal amount thereof. The Notes are the Operating Partnership’s senior unsecured obligations and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Operating Partnership’s other existing and future senior unsecured indebtedness. The Notes are effectively subordinated in right of payment to: (i) all of the Obligors’ existing and future secured indebtedness; (ii) all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities, whether secured or unsecured of the Obligors’ subsidiaries; and (iii) all preferred equity not owned by the Obligors, if any, in their respective subsidiaries. Interest on the Notes will accrue at the rate of 5.700% per annum and will be payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15, beginning on July 15, 2023. The Notes will mature on January 15, 2033.

The Operating Partnership may, at its option, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at any time or from time to time prior to October 15, 2032, at a redemption price equal to the greater of:

 

   

100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed; or

 

   

a “make-whole” amount as defined and calculated in accordance with the Indenture;

plus, in each case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date.

On or after October 15, 2032, the Operating Partnership may, at its option, redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes being redeemed, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the applicable redemption date.

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

 

   

failure to pay interest on the Notes when due, continued for 30 days;

 

   

failure to pay principal of, or premium, if any, on, the Notes when due;

 

   

failure by the Operating Partnership or the Company for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of the other agreements of the Operating Partnership or the Company, respectively, in the Indenture with respect to the Notes;

 

   

failure to pay any debt (other than non-recourse debt) (a) of the Operating Partnership, the Company or any subsidiary of the Operating Partnership or the Company and (b) in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $75,000,000, at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable grace period, which debt is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within 60 days after written notice to the Operating Partnership from the Trustee (or to the Operating Partnership and the Trustee from holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes);

 

   

certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of the Operating Partnership or the Company or any significant subsidiary of either the Operating Partnership or the Company or all or substantially all of their respective property; or

 

   

except as permitted by the Indenture, any guarantee of the Notes is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any guarantor of the Notes, or any person acting on their behalf, denies or disaffirms the obligations of a guarantor of the Notes, except, in each case, by reason of the release of such guarantee of the Notes in accordance with provisions of the Indenture.

If an event of default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Notes outstanding may declare the principal amount of the Notes to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal amount will become due and payable immediately. If an event of default relating to certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization with respect to the Company occurs and is continuing, the principal amount of the Notes outstanding will become immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the trustee or any holders of the Notes. Under certain circumstances, the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes outstanding may rescind any such acceleration with respect to the Notes and its consequences.


The foregoing description does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the form of Note, which are filed as Exhibits 4.1, 4.2, and 4.3, respectively, to this Form 8-K and incorporated by reference herein.

 

Item 9.01

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits:

 

Exhibit
No.
   Description
  4.1    Indenture, dated as of June 28, 2021 by and between Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership and UMB Bank, N.A. as trustee (incorporated by reference to Sun Communities, Inc.’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed June 28, 2021)
  4.2    Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 17, 2023 by and among Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, Sun Communities, Inc., and UMB Bank, N.A. as trustee
  4.3    Form of Global Note for 5.700% Notes due 2033 (included in Exhibit 4.2 above)
  5.1    Opinion of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
  5.2    Opinion of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a professional corporation
  5.3    Opinion of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP
23.1    Consent of Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)
23.2    Consent of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a professional corporation (included in Exhibit 5.2)
23.3    Consent of Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP (Included in Exhibit 5.3)
104    Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the inline XBRL document)


SIGNATURES

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

 

    SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
Dated: January 17, 2023     By:  

/s/ Fernando Castro-Caratini

      Fernando Castro-Caratini, Executive Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
EX-4.2

Exhibit 4.2

 

 

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

as the Company

SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.

as Guarantor

and

UMB BANK, N.A.

as Trustee

FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

Dated as of January 17, 2023

to

INDENTURE

Dated as of June 28, 2021

5.700% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2033

 

 

 


TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

         Page  
ARTICLE ONE Relation to Indenture; Definitions    1  

SECTION 1.01.

  Relation to Indenture      1  

SECTION 1.02.

  Definitions      1  

SECTION 1.03.

  General References      1  
ARTICLE TWO The Series of Securities    1  

SECTION 2.01.

  The Form and Title of the Securities      1  

SECTION 2.02.

  Amount      2  

SECTION 2.03.

  Stated Maturity; First Issuance      2  

SECTION 2.04.

  Interest and Interest Rates      2  

SECTION 2.05.

  Place of Payment      2  

SECTION 2.06.

  Optional Redemption      2  

SECTION 2.07.

  Defeasance and Discharge; Covenant Defeasance      3  

SECTION 2.08.

  Global Securities      3  

SECTION 2.09.

  SUI Guarantee      3  
ARTICLE THREE Amendments to Original Indenture    3  

SECTION 3.01.

  Defined Terms      3  

SECTION 3.02.

  Events of Default      9  

SECTION 3.03.

  Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale      10  

SECTION 3.04.

  Notice of Redemption      12  

SECTION 3.05.

  Releases of Securities Guarantees      12  
ARTICLE FOUR Additional Covenants    13  

SECTION 4.01.

  Limitations on Debt      13  

SECTION 4.02.

  Provisions of Financial Information      15  

SECTION 4.03.

  Maintenance of Properties      16  

SECTION 4.04.

  Payments of Taxes and Other Claims      16  

SECTION 4.05.

  Insurance      16  

SECTION 4.06.

  Future Guarantors      17  
ARTICLE FIVE Miscellaneous    17  

SECTION 5.01.

  Certain Trustee Matters      17  

SECTION 5.02.

  Continued Effect      17  

SECTION 5.03.

  Governing Law      18  

SECTION 5.04.

  Counterparts      18  

SECTION 5.05.

  Effect of Headings      18  

EXHIBITS

 

Exhibit A:    Form of Note
Exhibit B:    Form of Supplemental Indenture to be entered into by Subsidiary Guarantor


FOURTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of January 17, 2023 (this “Supplemental Indenture”), by and among SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the Michigan (the “Company”), SUN COMMUNITIES, INC., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Maryland (“SUI”), and UMB BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (in such capacity, the “Trustee”).

RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore entered into an Indenture dated as of June 28, 2021 (the “Original Indenture”) (the Original Indenture, as supplemented from time to time, including without limitation pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, being referred to herein as the “Indenture”); and

WHEREAS, under the Original Indenture, a new series of Securities may at any time be established by an indenture supplemental to the Original Indenture; and

WHEREAS, the Company proposes to create under the Indenture a new series of Securities; and

WHEREAS, SUI proposes to fully and unconditionally guarantee such new series of Securities; and

NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises, agreements and obligations set forth herein and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Notes (as defined below), as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

RELATION TO INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01. Relation to Indenture.

With respect to the Notes, this Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.

SECTION 1.02. Definitions.

For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Original Indenture.

SECTION 1.03. General References.

Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references in this Supplemental Indenture to Articles and Sections refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the terms “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and any other word of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE TWO

THE SERIES OF SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01. The Form and Title of the Securities.

There is hereby established a new series of Securities designated as the Company’s “5.700% Senior Notes due 2033” to be issued under the Indenture (such Securities being referred to herein as the “Notes”).

 

      Fourth Supplemental Indenture


The Notes shall be substantially in the form attached as Exhibit A hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by the Indenture, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the Company may deem appropriate or as may be required or appropriate to comply with any laws or with any rules made pursuant thereto or with the rules of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Notes may be listed or traded, or to conform to general usage, or as may, consistently with the Indenture, be determined by the officers executing such Notes, as evidenced by their execution thereof. The Notes shall be in denominations of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof.

The Notes shall be executed, authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of, and shall in all respects be subject to, the terms, conditions and covenants of the Original Indenture as supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto (the terms of which are incorporated in and made a part of this Supplemental Indenture for all intents and purposes)).

SECTION 2.02. Amount.

The aggregate principal amount of the Notes that may be authenticated and delivered pursuant hereto is unlimited. The Trustee shall initially authenticate and deliver Notes for original issue in an initial aggregate principal amount of up to $400,000,000 upon delivery to the Trustee of a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Notes. The aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be issued hereunder may be increased at any time hereafter and the series of Securities encompassing the Notes may be reopened for issuances of Additional Notes, upon Company Order, without the consent of any Holder and without any further supplement or amendment to the Original Indenture or this Supplemental Indenture. The Notes issued on the date hereof and any such Additional Notes that may be issued hereafter shall be part of the same series of Securities for all purposes under the Indenture.

SECTION 2.03. Stated Maturity; First Issuance.

The Stated Maturity of the Notes shall be January 15, 2033. The Notes may be issued on any Business Day on or after January 17, 2023.

SECTION 2.04. Interest and Interest Rates.

The rate or rates at which the Notes shall bear interest, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the Regular Record Date for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date, in each case, shall be as set forth in the form of Note attached as Exhibit A hereto.

SECTION 2.05. Place of Payment.

As long as any Notes are Outstanding, the Company shall maintain an office or agency in the United States of America where Notes may be presented for payment. Such office or agency shall initially be the office or agency of the Trustee in Houston, Texas.

SECTION 2.06. Optional Redemption.

At its option, the Company may redeem the Notes, in whole or in part, in principal amounts of $2,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, at any time or from time to time, at the applicable Redemption Price determined as set forth in the form of Note attached hereto as Exhibit A, in accordance with the terms set forth in the Notes and in accordance with Article Eleven of the Original Indenture. No Notes of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

 

   2    Fourth Supplemental Indenture


SECTION 2.07. Defeasance and Discharge; Covenant Defeasance.

Article Thirteen of the Original Indenture (as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture) shall apply to the Notes. Furthermore, each of the covenants set forth in Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture, and the Events of Default specified in clauses (c) and (d) of Section 5.1 of the Original Indenture (as amended by this Supplemental Indenture) shall, in each case, constitute “Additional Defeasible Provisions” (as such term is used in the Original Indenture).

SECTION 2.08. Global Securities.

The Notes shall initially be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities. Such Global Securities (i) shall be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, which shall act as Depositary with respect to the Notes, (ii) shall bear the legends applicable to Global Securities set forth in Sections 2.2 and 2.4 of the Original Indenture, (iii) may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive form upon the terms and subject to the conditions provided in Section 3.5 of the Original Indenture and in this Supplemental Indenture and (iv) shall otherwise be subject to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

SECTION 2.09. SUI Guarantee.

Article Fourteen of the Original Indenture (as amended and supplemented by this Supplemental Indenture, including without limitation Section 3.05 hereof) shall apply to the Notes. For the purposes of the Indenture and the Notes (including without limitation the provisions of the Original Indenture to the extent applicable thereto), SUI hereby agrees to be bound by a Securities Guarantee with respect to the Notes and that SUI shall be a Guarantor of the Notes in accordance with Article Fourteen of the Indenture; provided, however, that such Securities Guarantee granted hereby (i) shall be subject to release as set forth in Article Fourteen of the Indenture and (ii) shall not apply to any obligations under any series of Securities other than the Notes. Such Securities Guarantee of the Notes by SUI will remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any failure to endorse on each Note any notation of such Securities Guarantee.

ARTICLE THREE

AMENDMENTS TO ORIGINAL INDENTURE

With respect to the Notes, the Original Indenture is hereby amended as set forth below in this Article Three; provided, however, that each such amendment shall apply only to the Notes and not to any other series of Securities issued under the Indenture.

SECTION 3.01. Defined Terms.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Three of this Supplemental Indenture, Section 1.1 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended by inserting or restating, as the case may be, each of the following defined terms in its appropriate alphabetical position:

“Acquired Debt” means Debt of a Person (a) existing at the time such Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or becomes a Subsidiary of, the Company, or (b) assumed by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with the acquisition of assets from such Person. Acquired Debt shall be deemed to be incurred on the date the acquired Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or becomes a Subsidiary of, the Company or the date of the related acquisition, as the case may be.

 

   3    Fourth Supplemental Indenture


“Annual Debt Service Charge” of any Person means, for any period, the interest expense of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Board of Directors” means:

(a) with respect to a corporation, the board of directors of the corporation or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such board;

(b) with respect to a partnership, the board of directors of the general partner of the partnership;

(c) with respect to a limited liability company, the board of managers thereof or if there is no such board, the managing member or members or any controlling committee of managing members thereof; and

(d) with respect to any other Person, the board or committee of such Person serving a similar function.

“Capital Stock” means:

(a) in the case of a corporation, corporate stock;

(b) in the case of an association or business entity, any and all shares, interests, participations, rights or other equivalents (however designated) of corporate stock;

(c) in the case of a partnership or limited liability company, partnership interests (whether general or limited) or membership interests; and

(d) any other interest or participation that confers on a Person the right to receive a share of the profits and losses of, or distributions of assets of, the issuing Person, but excluding from all of the foregoing any debt securities convertible into Capital Stock, regardless of whether such debt securities include any right of participation with Capital Stock.

“Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service” of any Person for any period means Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period, plus amounts that have been deducted and minus amounts that have been added for, without duplication:

(a) interest expense on Debt;

(b) provision for taxes based on income;

(c) amortization of debt discount, premium and deferred financing costs;

(d) impairment losses and gains on sales or other dispositions of properties and other investments;

(e) property depreciation and amortization;

(f) amortization of right-of-use assets associated with finance leases of property;

(g) credit losses recognized on financial assets and certain other instruments not measured at fair value;

 

   4    Fourth Supplemental Indenture


(h) the effect of any non-recurring, non-cash items;

(i) the effect of any non-cash charge resulting from a change in accounting principles in determining Consolidated Net Income of such Person for such period;

(j) amortization of deferred charges;

(k) gains or losses on early extinguishment of Debt;

(l) gains or losses on derivative financial instruments;

(m) gains or losses on sales of investments; and

(n) acquisition expenses; and

(o) with regard to unconsolidated real estate joint ventures, plus amounts which have been deducted and minus amounts which have been added for the activity types referred to above (excluding interest expense) included in arriving at equity in income of unconsolidated entities;

all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Consolidated Net Income” of a Person for any period means the amount of net income (or loss) of such Person and its Subsidiaries for such period determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Debt” means, without duplication, with respect to any Person, any indebtedness of such Person in respect of:

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

(b) indebtedness secured by any Lien on any property or asset owned by such Person, but only to the extent of the lesser of (i) the amount of indebtedness so secured and (ii) the Fair Market Value of the property subject to such Lien;

(c) reimbursement obligations, contingent or otherwise, in connection with any letters of credit actually issued or amounts representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any property except any such balance that constitutes an accrued expense or trade payable; or

(d) any lease of property by such Person as lessee that is required to be reflected on such Person’s balance sheet as a finance lease in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that in the case of this clause, Debt excludes operating lease liabilities on a Person’s balance sheet in accordance with GAAP.

“Debt” also includes, to the extent not otherwise included, any non-contingent obligation of such Person to be liable for, or to pay, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise (other than for purposes of collection in the ordinary course of business), Debt of the types referred to above of another Person (provided that Debt shall be deemed to be incurred by such Person whenever such Person shall create, assume, guarantee (on a non-contingent basis) or otherwise become liable in respect thereof). Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company, the term “Debt” shall not include Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantees of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company until such time as they become primary obligations of, and payments are due and required to be made thereunder by, the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company.

 

   5    Fourth Supplemental Indenture


“Fair Market Value” means, with respect to any asset or property, the price which could be negotiated in an arm’s-length, free market transaction, for cash, between an informed and willing seller and an informed and willing buyer, neither of whom is under undue pressure or compulsion to complete the transaction.

“Fourth Supplemental Indenture” means the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 17, 2023 by and among the Company, SUI, and the Trustee, which amends and supplements the Indenture dated as of June 28, 2021 and establishes the Notes as a series of Securities thereunder.

“Issue Date” means the first date on which any Notes are issued.

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

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

“Notes Guarantee” means any guarantee of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and this Indenture (with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) by SUI or any Subsidiary Guarantor, pursuant to Article Fourteen of this Indenture.

“Notes Guarantor” means each Person bound by a Notes Guarantee, pursuant to Article Fourteen of this Indenture.

“Notes” means the Securities designated as “5.700% Senior Notes due 2033” and issued by the Company, in each case, pursuant to the Indenture dated as of June 28, 2021 by and between the Company and the Trustee, as amended and supplemented pursuant to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture.

“Permitted Non-Recourse Guarantees” of any Person means customary completion or budget guarantees or indemnities (including by means of separate indemnification agreements and carve-out guarantees) provided under Non-Recourse Debt in the ordinary course of business by such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person in financing transactions that are directly or indirectly secured by real estate assets or other real estate-related assets (including equity interests) of a Subsidiary of such Person (or entity in which such Person is the general partner or managing member), in each case that is the borrower in such financing, but is non-recourse to such Person or

 

   6    Fourth Supplemental Indenture


any of such Person’s other Subsidiaries, except for customary completion or budget guarantees or indemnities (including by means of separate indemnification agreements or carve-out guarantees) as are consistent with customary industry practice (such as environmental indemnities and recourse triggers based on violation of transfer restrictions and other customary exceptions to nonrecourse liability).

“Secured Debt” of any Person means Debt secured by a Lien on any property or assets of such Person or any of its Subsidiaries.

“Senior Credit Facility” means the credit facility governed by the Fourth Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of June 14, 2021, by and among the Company, the lenders party thereto, and Citibank, N.A., as administrative agent, including any related notes, guarantees, collateral documents, instruments and agreements executed in connection therewith, and, in each case, as amended, restated, modified, renewed, refunded, replaced in any manner (whether upon or after termination or otherwise) or refinanced in whole or in part from time to time.

“Significant Subsidiary” of any specified Person means any Subsidiary of such Person in which such Person or any of its Subsidiaries has invested at least $50,000,000 in capital.

“Subsidiary” means, with respect to any specified Person:

(a) any corporation, association or other business entity (other than a partnership or a limited liability company) of which more than 50% of the total voting power of its Voting Stock is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by that Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person (or a combination thereof); and

(b) any partnership or limited liability company of which (i) more than 50% of the capital accounts, distribution rights, total equity and voting interests or general and limited partnership interests, as applicable, are owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by such Person or one or more of the other Subsidiaries of that Person or a combination thereof, whether in the form of membership, general, special or limited partnership interests or otherwise, and (ii) such Person or any Subsidiary of such Person is a controlling general partner or otherwise controls such entity.

Unless the context otherwise clearly requires, any reference to a “Subsidiary” is a reference to a Subsidiary of the Company.

“Subsidiary Guarantee” means the guarantee of the obligations of the Company under the Notes and the Indenture (with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) by any of the Subsidiary Guarantors as set forth in Article Fourteen of the Indenture.

“Subsidiary Guarantor” means each Subsidiary of the Company or SUI that, after the Issue Date, executes a supplemental indenture pursuant to which such Subsidiary of the Company or SUI agrees to be obligated under a Subsidiary Guarantee and bound by the terms of the Indenture as a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Notes; provided, however, that any Person constituting a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Notes as described above shall cease to constitute a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Notes when its Subsidiary Guarantee is released in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.

“SUI” means Sun Communities, Inc., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Maryland, and any successor of such Person.

“Total Assets” of a Person means the sum of, without duplication of:

 

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(a) Undepreciated Real Estate Assets of such Person; and

(b) all other assets (other than accounts receivables, right-of-use assets relating to operating leases and non-real estate intangibles) of such Person and its Subsidiaries,

all determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP.

“Total Debt” of any Person means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Debt of such Person and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, after eliminating all offsetting debits and credits between such Person and its Subsidiaries and all other items required to be eliminated in the course of the preparation of consolidated financial statements of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

“Total Secured Debt” of any Person means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Secured Debt of such Person and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, after eliminating all offsetting debits and credits between such Person and its Subsidiaries and all other items required to be eliminated in the course of the preparation of consolidated financial statements of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

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

“Total Unsecured Debt” of a Person means, as of any date of determination, the aggregate outstanding principal amount of all Unsecured Debt of such Person and its Subsidiaries outstanding on such date, after eliminating all offsetting debits and credits between such Person and its Subsidiaries and all other items required to be eliminated in the course of the preparation of consolidated financial statements of such Person and its Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP.

“Undepreciated Real Estate Assets” of a Person as of any date means the cost (original cost plus capital improvements) of real estate assets, right-of-use assets associated with leases of property required to be reflected as finance leases on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP, and related intangibles of such Person and its Subsidiaries on such date, before depreciation and amortization charges, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP; provided, however, that “Undepreciated Real Estate Assets” shall not include right-of-use assets associated with leases of property required to be reflected as operating leases on the balance sheet of such Person in accordance with GAAP.

“Unsecured Debt” of a Person means Debt that is not secured by a Lien on any property or assets of such Person.

“Voting Stock” of any specified Person as of any date means the Capital Stock of such Person entitling the holders thereof (whether at all times or only so long as no senior class of Capital Stock has voting power by reason of any contingency) to vote in the election of members of the Board of Directors of such Person; provided that with respect to a limited partnership or other entity which does not have a Board of Directors, Voting Stock means the Capital Stock of the general partner of such limited partnership or other business entity with the ultimate authority to manage the business and operations of such Person.

 

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SECTION 3.02. Events of Default.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Three of this Supplemental Indenture, Section 5.1 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated as set forth below):

“Event of Default,” wherever used in this Indenture with respect to the Notes, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

(a) failure to pay interest on any Note when due, continued for 30 days; or

(b) failure to pay the principal of, or premium, if any, on, any Note when due; or

(c) failure by the Company or SUI for 60 days after written notice from the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes to comply with any of the other agreements of the Company or SUI, respectively, in this Indenture (with respect to the Notes); or

(d) failure to pay any Debt (other than Non-Recourse Debt) (a) of SUI, the Company or any Subsidiary of SUI or the Company and (b) in an outstanding principal amount in excess of $75,000,000, at final maturity or upon acceleration after the expiration of any applicable grace period, which Debt is not discharged, or such default in payment or acceleration is not cured or rescinded, within 60 days after written notice to the Company from the Trustee (or to us and the Trustee from Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes); or

(e) the Company or SUI or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or SUI, pursuant to or within the meaning of Bankruptcy Law (i) commences a voluntary case, (ii) consents to the entry of an order for relief against it in an involuntary case, (iii) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for all or substantially all of its property, or (iv) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors; or

(f) a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree under any Bankruptcy Law that (i) is for relief against the Company or SUI or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or SUI, in an involuntary case, (ii) appoints a Custodian of the Company or SUI or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or SUI or for all or substantially all of the property of the Company or SUI or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or SUI, or (iii) orders the liquidation of the Company or SUI or any Significant Subsidiary of the Company or SUI; and, in each case, the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 consecutive days; or

(g) except as permitted by this Indenture, any Notes Guarantee is held in any judicial proceeding to be unenforceable or invalid or ceases for any reason to be in full force and effect, or any Notes Guarantor, or any Person acting on behalf of any Notes Guarantor, denies or disaffirms the obligations of a Notes Guarantor under its Notes Guarantee, except, in each case, by reason of the release of such Notes Guarantee in accordance with provisions of this Indenture.

 

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SECTION 3.03. Consolidation, Amalgamation, Merger and Sale.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Three of this Supplemental Indenture, Article Eight of the Original Indenture is hereby amended and restated as set forth below:

ARTICLE EIGHT

CONSOLIDATION, AMALGAMATION, MERGER AND SALE

Section 8.1. Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

The Company shall not convert into, or consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to any other Person, unless:

(a) either: (i) the Company is the surviving Person; or (ii) the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation, amalgamation or merger or resulting from such conversion (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made is a corporation, limited liability company or limited partnership organized or existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia;

(b) the Person formed by or surviving any such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or the Person to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition has been made assumes by an indenture supplemental to this Indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on all the Notes and the performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(d) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such conversion, consolidation, amalgamation, merger, sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition and such supplemental indenture comply with this Article Eight and that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction have been complied with.

Section 8.2. SUI May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

SUI shall not consolidate, amalgamate or merge with or into any other Person or sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of SUI and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis to any other Person (other than SUI or any Notes Guarantor), unless:

(a) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(b) either:

(i) SUI is the surviving Person of such consolidation, amalgamation or merger; or

 

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(ii) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale, conveyance, assignment, lease or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than SUI) assumes all the obligations of SUI under this Indenture with respect to its Notes Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee; or

(iii) such transaction or series of transactions results in the release and discharge of SUI’s Notes Guarantee, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14.4 hereof.

Section 8.3 Subsidiary Guarantors May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

No Subsidiary Guarantor may sell, convey, assign, transfer, lease or otherwise dispose of, in one or more related transactions, all or substantially all of its properties or assets to, or consolidate with or merge with or into (regardless of whether such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person), another Person (other than the Company or another Notes Guarantor), unless:

(a) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no Default or Event of Default exists; and

(b) either:

(i) such Subsidiary Guarantor is the surviving Person of such consolidation or merger; or

(ii) the Person acquiring the properties or assets in any such sale or other disposition or the Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) unconditionally assumes all the obligations of such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture with respect to its Subsidiary Guarantee pursuant to a supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee; or

(iii) such transaction or series of transactions results in the release and discharge of the Subsidiary Guarantee of such Subsidiary Guarantor, pursuant to the provisions of Section 14.4 hereof.

Section 8.4. Successors Substituted.

(a) Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person or any sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with Section 8.1, the successor or resulting Person formed by or resulting upon such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as the Company in this Indenture, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Notes.

(b) Upon any consolidation, amalgamation or merger of SUI with or into any other Person or any sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of SUI and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with Section 8.2, the successor or resulting Person formed by or resulting upon such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than SUI) or to which such sale, conveyance,

 

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assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, SUI under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as SUI in this Indenture (with respect to its Notes Guarantee), and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture (with respect to its Notes Guarantee).

(c) Upon any consolidation or merger of a Subsidiary Guarantor with or into any other Person or any sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties and assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor and its Subsidiaries on a consolidated basis in accordance with the first paragraph of this covenant, the successor or resulting Person formed by or resulting upon such consolidation, amalgamation or merger (if other than such Subsidiary Guarantor) or to which such sale, conveyance, assignment, transfer, lease or other disposition is made shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, such Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor Person had been named as such Subsidiary Guarantor in this Indenture, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Company shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under this Indenture (with respect to its Securities Guarantee of the Notes).

SECTION 3.04. Notice of Redemption.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Three of this Supplemental Indenture, Section 11.4 of the Original Indenture is hereby amended by (i) substituting the number “10” for the number “30” in the first paragraph of such Section and (ii) deleting clause (g) from the second paragraph of such Section.

SECTION 3.05. Releases of Securities Guarantees.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Three of this Supplemental Indenture, Article Fourteen of the Original Indenture is hereby amended by adding the following Section 14.4 thereto:

Section 14.4 Releases of Securities Guarantees.

(a) SUI will be released and relieved of any obligations under its Notes Guarantee immediately upon (i) Legal Defeasance with respect to the Notes in accordance with Article Thirteen of this Indenture or satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect to the Notes in accordance with Article Four of this Indenture or (ii) the merger of SUI with and into the Company.

(b) Each Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will be released immediately, automatically and unconditionally at such time when both (a) no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and (b) such Subsidiary Guarantor does not guarantee any Debt of the Operating Partnership or any Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership under the Senior Credit Facility. Furthermore, each Subsidiary Guarantee of a Subsidiary Guarantor will be released immediately, automatically and unconditionally upon:

(i) consummation of any sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of the properties or assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor, by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise, to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Operating Partnership, the Company, or a Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership or of the Company;

 

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(ii) consummation of any sale or other disposition of the Capital Stock of such Subsidiary Guarantor (by way of merger, consolidation or otherwise) to a Person that is not (either before or after giving effect to such transaction) the Operating Partnership, the Company, or a Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership or of the Company, if such Subsidiary Guarantor ceases to be a Subsidiary of the Operating Partnership or of the Company as a result of the sale or other disposition;

(iii) liquidation or dissolution of such Subsidiary Guarantor;

(iv) such Subsidiary Guarantor consolidating with, merging into or transferring all of its properties or assets to another Notes Guarantor, and as a result of, or in connection with, such transaction such Subsidiary Guarantor dissolves or otherwise ceases to exist; or

(v) the occurrence of Legal Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance with respect to the Notes (as provided in Article Thirteen of the Indenture) or satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture with respect to the Notes (as provided in Article Four of the Indenture).

(c) The Trustee shall deliver to the Company and any Guarantor an appropriate instrument evidencing and confirming the release of such Guarantor from its Securities Guarantee, upon receipt of a request by the Company or such Guarantor accompanied by an Officers’ Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, which taken together, state that all conditions precedent in this Section 14.4 to the release of such Securities Guarantee by such Guarantor have been complied with.

ARTICLE FOUR

ADDITIONAL COVENANTS

With respect to the Notes, Article Ten of the Original Indenture is hereby amended as set forth below in this Article Four; provided, however, that each such amendment shall apply only to the Notes and not to any other series of Securities issued under the Indenture.

SECTION 4.01. Limitations on Debt.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture, Article Ten of the Original Indenture is hereby further amended by adding the following Section 10.6 thereto:

Section 10.6 Limitations on Debt.

(a) Aggregate Debt Test. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and the application of the proceeds of the Debt on a pro forma basis, the Company’s Total Debt would be greater than 60% of the sum (without duplication) of:

(i) the Company’s Total Assets as of the last day of the then most recently ended fiscal quarter covered in SUI’s annual or quarterly report most recently furnished or made available to Holders of the Notes or filed with the SEC, as the case may, be prior to the incurrence of such Debt; and

(ii) the aggregate purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the aggregate amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such fiscal quarter, including the proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such Debt.

 

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(b) Debt Service Test. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Debt if the ratio of the Company’s Consolidated Income Available for Debt Service to the Company’s Annual Debt Service Charge for the four consecutive fiscal quarters most recently ended prior to the date on which such Debt is to be incurred would be less than 1.5 to 1.0, calculated on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the incurrence of such Debt and to the application of the proceeds therefrom, and calculated on the assumptions that:

(i) such Debt and any other Debt (including, without limitation, Acquired Debt) incurred by the Company or its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four quarter period and the application of the proceeds therefrom, including to refinance other Debt since the first day of such period, had occurred as of the first day of such four quarter period;

(ii) the repayment or retirement of any other Debt by the Company or its Subsidiaries since the first day of such four quarter period had been repaid or retired as of the first day of such period (except that, in making such computation, the amount of Debt under any revolving credit facility, line of credit or similar facility shall be computed based upon the average daily balance of such Debt during such period);

(iii) in the case of Acquired Debt or Debt incurred by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries in connection with any acquisition since the first day of such four quarter period, the related acquisition had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition being included in such pro forma calculation; and

(iv) in the case of any acquisition or disposition by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of any asset or group of assets with a Fair Market Value in excess of $1.0 million since the first day of such four quarter period, including, without limitation, by merger, stock purchase or sale, or asset purchase or sale, such acquisition or disposition and any related repayment of Debt had occurred as of the first day of such period with the appropriate adjustments with respect to such acquisition or disposition being included in such pro forma calculation.

If the Debt giving rise to the need to make the calculation described in this Section 10.6 or any other Debt incurred after the first day of the relevant four-quarter period bears interest at a floating rate (to the extent such Debt has been hedged to bear interest at a fixed rate, only the portion of such Debt, if any, that has not been so hedged), then, for purposes of calculating the Annual Debt Service Charge, the interest rate on such Debt shall be computed on a pro forma basis as if the average interest rate that would have been in effect during the entire such period had been the applicable rate for the entire such period.

(c) Maintenance of Total Unencumbered Assets. The Company will not permit at any time its Total Unencumbered Assets to be less than 150% of its Total Unsecured Debt.

 

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(d) Secured Debt Test. The Company will not, and will not permit any of its Subsidiaries to, incur any Secured Debt if, immediately after giving effect to the incurrence of such Secured Debt and the application of the proceeds therefrom on a pro forma basis, Total Secured Debt of the Company is greater than 40% of the sum (without duplication) of:

(i) Total Assets of the Company as of the last day of the then most recently ended fiscal quarter covered in SUI’s annual or quarterly report most recently furnished or made available to Holders of the Notes or filed with the SEC, as the case may, be prior to the incurrence of such Secured Debt; and

(ii) the aggregate purchase price of any real estate assets or mortgages receivable acquired, and the aggregate amount of any securities offering proceeds received (to the extent such proceeds were not used to acquire real estate assets or mortgages receivable or used to reduce Debt), by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries since the end of such fiscal quarter, including those proceeds obtained in connection with the incurrence of such Secured Debt.

For purposes of the covenants set forth in this Section 10.6, Debt shall be deemed to be “incurred” by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, whenever the Company or such Subsidiary shall create, assume, guarantee or otherwise become liable in respect thereof.

Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary, nothing in the covenants set forth in this Section 10.6 shall prevent the incurrence by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of Debt between or among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries.

SECTION 4.02. Provisions of Financial Information.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture, Article Ten of the Original Indenture is hereby further amended by adding the following Section 10.7 thereto:

Section 10.7 Provisions of Financial Information.

(a) Regardless of whether the Company is subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision, the Company will deliver to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes, (i) all quarterly and annual reports of the Company that would be required (pursuant to applicable rules and regulations of the SEC) to be filed with the SEC on Forms 10-Q and 10-K if the Company were subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision (or in lieu of any such report on either such form for any period, the report for such period of SUI on such form) and (ii) all current reports of the Company that would be required (pursuant to applicable rules and regulations of the SEC) to be filed with the SEC on Form 8-K if the Company were subject to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or any successor provision (or in lieu of any such report on such form, the report of SUI on such form), in each case within 15 days after the Company files such reports with the SEC or would be required to file such reports with the SEC pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations of the SEC, whichever is earlier.

(b) Reports (i) filed by the Company or SUI with the SEC (and publicly available via the SEC’s EDGAR system) or (ii) publicly available via a website (which may be password protected) hosted by the Company or SUI or a third party, and available to beneficial holders of Notes, shall be deemed to be delivered to the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes as of the time such filing is publicly available via EDGAR or on such website for purposes of this covenant.

 

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(c) The Trustee shall have no obligation whatsoever to determine whether such reports have been filed or are publicly available via EDGAR or on any website. Delivery of such reports to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including its compliance with any of its covenants relating to the Notes (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).

SECTION 4.03. Maintenance of Properties.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture, Article Ten of the Original Indenture is hereby further amended by adding the following Section 10.8 thereto:

Section 10.8 Maintenance of Properties.

The Company will maintain and keep, or cause to be maintained and kept, its properties and the properties of each of its Significant Subsidiaries in good condition, repair, and working order (normal wear and tear, casualty and condemnation excepted) and supplied with all necessary equipment, and will cause to be made all necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments, and improvements as the Company judges necessary to carry on the business of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries in connection with such properties; provided, however, that the Company and each of its Subsidiaries may (a) remove permanently any property that has been condemned or suffered casualty loss, (b) discontinue any maintenance or operation of any property if, in the reasonable judgment of the Company, such removal is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes, or (c) sell or otherwise dispose of any of such properties for value in the ordinary course of business.

SECTION 4.04. Payments of Taxes and Other Claims.

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture, Article Ten of the Original Indenture is hereby further amended by adding the following Section 10.9 thereto:

Section 10.9 Payments of Taxes and Other Claims.

The Company will pay or discharge (or, if applicable, cause to be transferred to bond or other security) or cause to be paid or discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, all material taxes, assessments and governmental charges levied or imposed on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or the income, profits or property of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; provided, that the Operating Partnership shall not be obligated by this Section 10.9 to pay or discharge (or transfer to bond or other security), or to cause to be paid or discharged, any tax, assessment or charge (a) (i) the applicability or validity of which is being contested in good faith by the Operating Partnership or any of its Subsidiaries, through appropriate proceedings and (ii) for which the Operating Partnership has established adequate reserves in accordance with GAAP or (b) if the failure to effect such payment or discharge (or to so transfer to bond or other security) is not, in the Operating Partnership’s reasonable judgment, adverse in any material respect to the Holders of the Notes.

SECTION 4.05. Insurance

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture, Article Ten of the Original Indenture is hereby further amended by adding the following Section 10.10 thereto:

 

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Section 10.10 Insurance.

The Company will, and will cause each of its Significant Subsidiaries to, keep in force insurance policies upon all properties and operations of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries with financially sound and reputable carriers in industry customary amounts and risk coverage, in accordance with prevailing market conditions and availability.

SECTION 4.06. Future Guarantors

Subject to the limitations set forth in the preamble to Article Four of this Supplemental Indenture, Article Ten of the Original Indenture is hereby further amended by adding the following Section 10.11 thereto:

Section 10.11 Future Guarantors.

If any Subsidiary of the Company or SUI that is not a Subsidiary Guarantor guarantees any Debt of the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or SUI under the Senior Credit Facility, then SUI or the Company shall cause such Subsidiary to become obligated as a Subsidiary Guarantor under a Subsidiary Guarantee of the Notes within 30 days after the date that such Subsidiary guarantees such Debt under the Senior Credit Facility. If required to become a Subsidiary Guarantor pursuant to the immediately preceding sentence, SUI or the Company shall cause such Subsidiary to execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture to this Indenture, substantially in the form set forth as Exhibit B to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, pursuant to which such Subsidiary shall fully and unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and this Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in this Indenture, including without limitation in Article 14 of this Indenture.

ARTICLE FIVE

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 5.01. Certain Trustee Matters.

The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.

The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or any Securities Guarantee or the proper authorization or the due execution hereof or thereof by the Company.

Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall alter the duties, rights or obligations of the Trustee set forth in the Original Indenture.

SECTION 5.02. Continued Effect.

Except as expressly supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Original Indenture shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof, and the Original Indenture (as supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture) is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Supplemental Indenture and all its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Original Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

 

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SECTION 5.03. Governing Law.

This Supplemental Indenture and the Notes shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 5.04. Counterparts.

This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of signed copies of this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile transmission or emailed portable document format (pdf) shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto, and such copies may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes other than authentication of Notes by the Trustee.

SECTION 5.05. Effect of Headings.

The Article and Section headings in this Supplemental Indenture and the Table of Contents hereof are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank)

 

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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first written above.

 

THE COMPANY:
SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   Sun Communities, Inc.,
  its general partner
By:   /s/ Fernando Castro-Caratini
  Name: Fernando Castro-Caratini
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer
GUARANTOR:
SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
By:   /s/ Fernando Castro-Caratini
  Name: Fernando Castro-Caratini
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer, Secretary and Treasurer

 

   Signature Page to Fourth Supplemental Indenture


TRUSTEE:
UMB BANK, N.A.
By:   /s/ Jully Jiang
Name:   Jully Jiang

Title:

 

Authorized Officer

 

   Signature Page to Fourth Supplemental Indenture


EXHIBIT A

[FORM OF FACE OF NOTE]

[If a Global Security, insert—THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED TO, OR REGISTERED OR EXCHANGED FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF, ANY PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE THEREOF AND NO SUCH TRANSFER MAY BE REGISTERED, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE. EVERY SECURITY AUTHENTICATED AND DELIVERED UPON REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER OF, OR IN EXCHANGE FOR OR IN LIEU OF, THIS SECURITY SHALL BE A GLOBAL SECURITY SUBJECT TO THE FOREGOING, EXCEPT IN SUCH LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES.]

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

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

5.700% Senior Note due 2033

 

No. _________    U.S.$_____________    

CUSIP: 866677 AJ6

ISIN: US866677AJ62

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP., a Michigan limited partnership (herein called the “Company”, which term includes any successor or resulting Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to ____________________, or registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________________________ United States Dollars on January 15, 2033, and to pay interest thereon from January 17, 2023, or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on January 15 and July 15 in each year, commencing on ____________________, at the rate of 5.700% per annum, until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment and at the rate of 5.700% per annum on any overdue principal and premium and on any overdue installment of interest (to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable). The amount of interest payable for any period shall be computed on the basis of twelve 30-day months and a 360-day year. The amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months and the days elapsed in any partial month. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a Business Day, then a payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) with the same force and effect as if made on the date the payment was originally payable. A “Business Day” shall mean, when

 

   A-1   


used with respect to any Place of Payment, each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law, executive order or regulation to close. The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the “Regular Record Date” for such interest, which shall be the January 1 or July 1 (regardless of whether a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice of which shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange or automated quotation system on which the Securities of this series may be listed or traded, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange or automated quotation system, all as more fully provided in such Indenture.

[If a Global Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made by transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account in the United States of America designated by the Holder in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.]

[If a Definitive Security, insert—Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and any such interest on this Security will be made at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, the City and State of New York, in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts or subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such Paying Agent, at the offices of _________________ in the Borough of Manhattan, The City and State of New York, or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, by United States Dollar check drawn on, or transfer to a United States Dollar account maintained by the payee with, a bank in The City of New York (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing at least 10 days prior to the payment date); provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by United States Dollar check mailed to the addresses of the Persons entitled thereto as such addresses shall appear in the Security Register or by transfer to a United States Dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in The City of New York (so long as the applicable Paying Agent has received proper transfer instructions in writing by the Record Date prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date).]

Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Security set forth on the reverse hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as if set forth at this place.

Unless the certificate of authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee referred to on the reverse hereof by manual signature, this Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

 

   A-2   


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly executed.

Dated: ______________, ____

 

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By: Sun Communities, Inc.,
its general partner
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

This is one of the Securities of the series designated 5.700% Senior Notes due 2033 referred to in the within-mentioned Indenture.

 

UMB BANK, N.A.,
as Trustee
By:    
  Authorized Signatory

 

   A-3   


[REVERSE OF NOTE]

SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP

5.700% Senior Note due 2033

This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company, issued and to be issued in one or more series under an Indenture, dated as of June 28, 2021, between the Company and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, as Trustee (the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor trustee under the Indenture), as amended and supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of January 17, 2023 by and among the Company, Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation, and the Trustee (such Indenture, as so amended and supplemented being referred to herein as the “Indenture”), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof.

This Security is the general, unsecured, unsubordinated obligation of the Company and is guaranteed pursuant to a guarantee by each Person named as a Guarantor in the Indenture. The Securities Guarantee of each such Guarantor is the general, unsecured, unsubordinated obligation of such Guarantor.

This Security is redeemable, in whole or in part, at the Company’s option at any time and from time to time prior to maturity. Prior to October 15, 2032 (three months prior to their Maturity) (the “Par Call Date”), the Company may redeem the Securities of this series at its option, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount and rounded to three decimal places) equal to the greater of:

(1) (a) the sum of the present values of the remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the Redemption Date (assuming the Securities of this series matured on the Par Call Date) on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Rate plus 35 basis points less (b) interest accrued to the date of redemption, and

(2) 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series to be redeemed,

plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

On or after the Par Call Date, the Company may redeem the Securities of this series, in whole or in part, at any time and from time to time, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Securities of this series being redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the Redemption Date.

“Treasury Rate” means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the yield determined by the Company in accordance with the following two paragraphs.

The Treasury Rate shall be determined by the Company after 4:15 p.m., New York City time (or after such time as yields on U.S. government securities are posted daily by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System), on the third business day preceding the notice of the Redemption Date based upon the yield or yields for the most recent day that appear after such time on such day in the most recent statistical release published by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System designated as “Selected Interest Rates (Daily)—H.15” (or any successor designation or publication) (“H.15”) under the caption “U.S. government securities–Treasury constant maturities–Nominal” (or any successor caption or

 

   A-4   


heading) (“H.15 TCM”). In determining the Treasury Rate, the Company shall select, as applicable: (1) the yield for the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to the Par Call Date (the “Remaining Life”); or (2) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 exactly equal to the Remaining Life, the two yields – one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately shorter than and one yield corresponding to the Treasury constant maturity on H.15 immediately longer than the Remaining Life – and shall interpolate to the Par Call Date on a straight-line basis (using the actual number of days) using such yields and rounding the result to three decimal places; or (3) if there is no such Treasury constant maturity on H.15 shorter than or longer than the Remaining Life, the yield for the single Treasury constant maturity on H.15 closest to the Remaining Life. For purposes of this paragraph, the applicable Treasury constant maturity or maturities on H.15 shall be deemed to have a Maturity equal to the relevant number of months or years, as applicable, of such Treasury constant maturity from the Redemption Date.

If on the third business day preceding the notice of the Redemption Date, H.15 TCM or any successor designation or publication is no longer published, the Company shall calculate the Treasury Rate based on the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, on the second business day preceding the notice of such Redemption Date of the United States Treasury security maturing on, or with a maturity that is closest to, the Par Call Date, as applicable. If there is no United States Treasury security maturing on the Par Call Date but there are two or more United States Treasury securities with a Maturity equally distant from the Par Call Date, one with a Maturity preceding the Par Call Date and one with a Maturity following the Par Call Date, the Company shall select the United States Treasury security with a Maturity preceding the Par Call Date. If there are two or more United States Treasury securities maturing on the Par Call Date or two or more United States Treasury securities meeting the criteria of the preceding sentence, the Company shall select from among these two or more United States Treasury securities the United States Treasury security that is trading closest to par based upon the average of the bid and asked prices for such United States Treasury securities at 11:00 a.m., New York City time. In determining the Treasury Rate in accordance with the terms of this paragraph, the semi-annual yield to maturity of the applicable United States Treasury security shall be based upon the average of the bid and asked prices (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) at 11:00 a.m., New York City time, of such United States Treasury security, and rounded to three decimal places.

The Company’s actions and determinations in determining the Redemption Price shall be conclusive and binding for all purposes, absent manifest error.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Redemption Date falls after a record date and on or prior to the corresponding interest payment date, the Company will pay the full amount of accrued and unpaid interest, if any (plus additional interest, if applicable), on such interest payment date to the holder of record at the close of business on the corresponding record date (instead of the holder surrendering its Securities for redemption).

Unless the Company defaults in payment of the applicable Redemption Price for Securities of this series or fails to pay the Redemption Price and accrued interest as a result of any failure of any condition to which such redemption is subject to be satisfied or waived, on and after the Redemption Date, interest will cease to accrue on this Security or the portions hereof called for redemption.

In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

If less than all of the Securities of this series are to be redeemed at any time, selection of such Securities for redemption will be made by the Trustee in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange, if any, on which the Securities of this series are listed, or, if the Securities of

 

   A-5   


this series are not so listed, on a pro rata basis, by lot or by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate, or, when the Securities of this series are in the form of Global Notes, pursuant to the applicable procedures of Depositary; provided that no Securities of $2,000 or less shall be redeemed in part.

The Indenture contains provisions for defeasance at any time of (1) the entire indebtedness of this Security or (2) certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this Security, in each case upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in the Indenture.

If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.

The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and each Guarantor and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and each Guarantor and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities at the time Outstanding of each series to be affected (with each series voting as a separate class). The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company and each Guarantor with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, regardless of whether notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

No Holder of this Security shall have any right to institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the Indenture, or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy hereunder, unless (a) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Securities of this series, (b) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series shall have made written request to the Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its own name as Trustee hereunder, (c) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee indemnity satisfactory to it against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in compliance with such request, (d) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding and (e) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given to the Trustee during such 60-day period by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of this series; it being understood and intended that no one or more of such Holders shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other of such Holders, or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other of such Holders or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all such Holders.

No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Security or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and any premium and interest on this Security at the times, place(s) and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.

[If a Global Security, insert—This Global Security or portion hereof may not be exchanged for Definitive Securities of this series except in the limited circumstances provided in the Indenture. The holders of beneficial interests in this Global Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Definitive Securities except as described in the Indenture and will not be considered the Holders thereof for any purpose under the Indenture.]

 

   A-6   


[If a Definitive Security, insert—As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registerable in the Security Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in The City of New York, or, subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto and to the right of the Company (limited as provided in the Indenture) to rescind the designation of any such transfer agent, at the offices of _________________ in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York or at such other offices or agencies as the Company may designate, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.]

The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of U.S. $2,000 and any integral multiple of U.S. $1,000 in excess thereof. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

Prior to due presentment of this Security for registration of transfer, the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, a Guarantor or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this Security is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, regardless of whether this Security be overdue, and none of the Company, any Guarantor, the Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

No recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of or contained in the Indenture or of or contained in any Security, or the Securities Guarantee endorsed thereon, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect thereof, or in any Security or in the Securities Guarantee, or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, shareholder, member, officer, manager or director, as such, past, present or future, of the Company or any Guarantor or of any successor Person, either directly or through the Company or any Guarantor or any successor Person, whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment, penalty or otherwise; it being expressly understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released by the acceptance hereof and as a condition of, and as part of the consideration for, the execution of the Indenture and the issuance of the Securities.

This Security shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

All terms used in this Security that are defined in the Indenture shall have the respective meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

 

   A-7   


[If a Definitive Security, insert as a separate page

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto _____________________________________ (Please Print or Typewrite Name and Address of Assignee) the within instrument of SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, and does hereby irrevocably constitute and appoint ________________________ Attorney to transfer said instrument on the books of the within-named corporation, with full power of substitution in the premises.

Please Insert Social Security or

Other Identifying Number of Assignee:

 

               
Dated:              
      (Signature)  
Signature         Guarantee:
_______________________________________________________________________________________  

(Participant in a Recognized Signature

Guaranty Medallion Program)

NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must correspond with the name as written upon the face of the within instrument in every particular, without alteration or enlargement or any change whatsoever.

 

   A-8   


[If a Global Security, insert as a separate page

SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES

IN GLOBAL SECURITY

The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made:

 

Date of Exchange

 

Amount of
Decrease in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Security

 

Amount of
Increase in
Principal
Amount of this
Global Security

  

Principal
Amount of this
Global Security
Following Such
Decrease (or
Increase)

  

Signature of Authorized
Officer of
Trustee or
Depositary

 

   A-9   


NOTATION OF SECURITIES GUARANTEE

Each Guarantor (which term includes any successor Person in such capacity under the Indenture) has fully, unconditionally and absolutely guaranteed, to the extent set forth in the Indenture and subject to the provisions in the Indenture, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities of this series and all other amounts due and payable under the Indenture and the Securities of this series by the Company.

The obligations of each Guarantor to the Holders of Securities of this series and to the Trustee pursuant to the Securities Guarantee and the Indenture are expressly set forth in Article Fourteen of the Indenture and reference is hereby made to the Indenture for the precise terms of the Securities Guarantee.

 

 

Guarantor(s):
SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
By:    
Name:  
Title:  

 

   A-10   


EXHIBIT B

[FORM OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE TO BE ENTERED INTO BY SUBSIDIARY GURANTORS]

SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), dated as of ________ __, 20__, among __________________ (the “Guaranteeing Subsidiary”), a subsidiary of SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, a limited partnership duly organized and existing under the laws of the Michigan (the “Company”), the other Guarantors (as defined in the Indenture referred to herein), and UMB BANK, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee under the Indenture referred to below (in such capacity, the “Trustee”).

W I T N E S S E T H

WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee have heretofore entered into an Indenture dated as of June 28, 2021 (the “Original Indenture”) providing for the issuance from time to time of Securities in one or more series;

WHEREAS, the Company, SUN COMMUNITIES, INC., a corporation incorporated under the laws of Maryland (“SUI”), and the Trustee have heretofore entered into a Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 17, 2023 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), amending and supplementing the Original Indenture and establishing a series of Securities designated as the Company’s “5.700% Senior Notes due 2033 (the “Notes”);”

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, provides that under certain circumstances the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall execute and deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture pursuant to which the Guaranteeing Subsidiary shall fully and unconditionally guarantee all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and conditions set forth in the Indenture;

WHEREAS, the Original Indenture, as supplemented from time to time, including without limitation pursuant to this Supplemental Indenture, is referred to herein as the “Indenture;” and

WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 9.1 of the Original Indenture, the Trustee is authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture;

NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the foregoing and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the Guaranteeing Subsidiary and the Trustee mutually covenant and agree for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of Notes as follows:

ARTICLE ONE

RELATION TO INDENTURE; DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.01 Relation to Indenture.

With respect to the Notes, this Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral part of the Indenture.

SECTION 1.02 Definitions.

For all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture, capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings assigned thereto in the Original Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented.

 

   B-1   


SECTION 1.03 General References.

Unless otherwise specified or unless the context otherwise requires, (i) all references in this Supplemental Indenture to Articles and Sections refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture and (ii) the terms “herein”, “hereof”, “hereunder” and any other word of similar import refer to this Supplemental Indenture.

ARTICLE TWO

SUBSIDIARY GUARANTEE

SECTION 2.01 Agreement To Guarantee.

The Guaranteeing Subsidiary hereby fully and unconditionally guarantees all of the Company’s obligations under the Notes and the Indenture (but only with respect to the Notes, and not with respect to any other series of Securities) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Indenture, including without limitation in Article 14 of the Indenture.

ARTICLE THREE

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 3.01. Certain Trustee Matters.

The recitals contained herein shall be taken as the statements of the Company and the Guaranteeing Subsidiary, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.

The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture or the Notes or any Securities Guarantee or the proper authorization or the due execution hereof or thereof by the Company.

Except as expressly set forth herein, nothing in this Supplemental Indenture shall alter the duties, rights or obligations of the Trustee set forth in the Original Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented.

SECTION 3.02. Continued Effect.

Except as expressly supplemented and amended by this Supplemental Indenture, the Original Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, shall continue in full force and effect in accordance with the provisions thereof, and the Original Indenture, as heretofore amended and supplemented, is in all respects hereby ratified and confirmed. This Supplemental Indenture and all its provisions shall be deemed a part of the Indenture, in the manner and to the extent herein and therein provided.

SECTION 3.03. Governing Law.

This Supplemental Indenture shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 3.04. Counterparts.

This Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument. The exchange of signed copies of this Supplemental Indenture by facsimile transmission or emailed portable document format (pdf) shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto, and such copies may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or portable document format (pdf) shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes other than authentication of Notes by the Trustee.

 

   B-2   


SECTION 3.05 Effect of Headings.

The Article and Section headings in this Supplemental Indenture are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

(Remainder of Page Intentionally Left Blank)

 

   B-3   


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed and delivered, all as of the date first written above.

 

GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY:
[NAME OF GUARANTEEING SUBSIDIARY]
By:    
Name:

Title:

COMPANY:
SUN COMMUNITIES OPERATING
LIMITED PARTNERSHIP
By:   Sun Communities, Inc.,
  its general partner
By:    
  Name:
 

Title:

GUARANTORS:
SUN COMMUNITIES, INC.
By:    
  Name:
 

Title:

[OTHER EXISTING GUARANTORS]
By:    
  Name:
 

Title:

TRUSTEE:
UMB BANK, N.A., as Trustee
By:    
  Authorized Signatory

 

   B-4   
EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO     

HUNTON ANDREWS KURTH LLP

600 TRAVIS, SUITE 4200

HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-2929

 

TEL  713 • 220 • 4200

FAX  713 • 220 • 4285

January 17, 2023

Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 300

Southfield, Michigan 48034

 

  Re:

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership – $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.700% Senior Notes due 2033.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as counsel to Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership (the “Issuer”), in connection with the public offering of $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 5.700% Senior Notes due 2033 (the “Notes”). The Issuer is issuing the Notes under the Indenture dated as of June 28, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), among the Issuer and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture thereto dated as of January 17, 2023 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), among the Issuer, Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation and the general partner of the Issuer (the “Guarantor” and together with the Issuer, the “Obligors”), and the Trustee. The Base Indenture, as amended and supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, is referred to herein as the “Indenture.” The Notes are being guaranteed by the Guarantor pursuant to the guarantee included in the Indenture, and are being sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement dated as of January 9, 2023 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), among the (i) Obligors, (ii) Citigroup Global Markets Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities LLC and BofA Securities, Inc. (collectively, the “Representatives”), and (iii) the other underwriters named therein for which the Representatives are acting as representatives.

This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”).

In connection with this opinion, we have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following:

(i) the registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration Nos. 333-255020 and 333-255020-01) filed by the Obligors with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 2, 2021 (such registration statement, including the form of prospectus included therein and the documents incorporated by reference therein, being referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”);

 

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Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

January 17, 2023

Page 2

 

(ii) the prospectus dated April 2, 2021, included in the Registration Statement (the “Base Prospectus”);

(iii) the preliminary prospectus supplement dated January 9, 2023, relating to the Notes, in the form filed on January 9, 2023 with the SEC, pursuant to Rule 424(b)(3) under the Securities Act (such prospectus supplement, together with the Base Prospectus, being referred to herein as the “Preliminary Prospectus”);

(iv) the pricing term sheet relating to the Notes, filed on January 9, 2023 with the SEC as a free writing prospectus, pursuant to Rules 164 and 433 under the Securities Act;

(v) the prospectus supplement dated January 9, 2023, relating to the Notes, in the form filed on January 10, 2023 with the SEC, pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) under the Securities Act (such prospectus supplement, together with the Base Prospectus, being referred to herein as the “Prospectus”);

(vi) the Underwriting Agreement;

(vii) the Base Indenture;

(viii) the Fourth Supplemental Indenture;

(ix) the form of the Notes attached to the form of the Fourth Supplemental Indenture; and

(x) the global note (the “Global Note”) executed by the Issuer pursuant to the Indenture, in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000, representing the Notes purchased and sold pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement.

We have also examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records of the Obligors and such agreements, certificates of public officials, certificates of officers or other representatives of the Obligors and others, and such other documents, certificates and records as we have deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinions set forth herein. In our examination, we have assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as certified, conformed or photostatic copies. In making our examination of executed documents, we have assumed the valid existence and good standing of each of the parties thereto and that such parties had or will have the power, corporate, limited partnership, or other, to enter


Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

January 17, 2023

Page 3

 

into and perform all obligations thereunder, and we have also assumed the due authorization by all requisite action, corporate, limited partnership, or other, and except as set forth below, the due execution and delivery by such parties of such documents and the validity and binding effect of such documents on such parties. As to any facts material to the opinions expressed herein that we have not independently established or verified, we have relied upon statements and representations of officers and other representatives of the Obligors and others.

We express no opinion other than as to the laws of the State of New York, as in effect and existing on the date hereof, that are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes.

Based upon the foregoing and subject to the limitations, qualifications, exceptions and assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion that (i) to the extent that due execution and delivery of each of the Base Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Global Note constitute matters of contract law of the State of New York, (x) each of the Base Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Global Note has been duly executed and delivered by the Issuer and (x) the Fourth Supplemental Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Guarantor, (ii) the Notes constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer and (iii) the guarantee of the Notes included in the Indenture constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of the Guarantor.

Our opinion above is subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfer or conveyance), reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in equity or at law), including, without limitation, (a) the possible unavailability of specific performance, injunctive relief or any other equitable remedy and (b) concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and we express no opinion herein with respect to provisions relating to severability or separability. Our opinion, insofar as it pertains to the choice of law provision of the Notes and the Indenture, is rendered solely in reliance upon New York General Obligations Law Section 5-1401, and is expressly conditioned upon the assumption that the legality, validity, binding effect and enforceability of said provision will be determined by a court of the State of New York or a United States federal court sitting in New York and applying New York choice of law rules, including said Section 5-1401. We express no opinion as to any constitutional limitations upon said Section 5-1401 or their effect, if any, upon any opinion herein expressed.

In rendering the opinion expressed above with respect to the Notes, we have assumed that the form and terms of such Notes, the issuance, sale and delivery thereof by the Issuer, and the incurrence and performance by the Obligors of their respective obligations thereunder or in respect thereof (including, without limitation, the Issuer’s obligations under the Indenture with respect to the Notes and the Guarantor’s obligations under the Indenture with respect to the guarantee of the Notes included in the Indenture) in accordance with the terms thereof, comply with, and do not violate, any applicable order, judgment, decree or award, or any contract,


Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

January 17, 2023

Page 4

 

indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument, in each case, binding upon either of the Obligors, or to which the issuance, sale and delivery of such Notes or such guarantee, or the incurrence and performance of such obligations, may be subject.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the SEC as an exhibit to a Current Report of the Guarantor on Form 8-K and to the reference to this firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are included in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the SEC. This opinion is expressed as of the date hereof, and we disclaim any undertaking to advise you of any subsequent changes in the facts stated or assumed herein, or of any subsequent changes in law.

 

Very truly yours,

/s/ Hunton Andrews Kurth LLP
EX-5.2

Exhibit 5.2

 

LOGO     

100 LIGHT STREET

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND 21202

 

PHONE: 410-685-1120

FAX:       410-547-0699

   www.bakerdonelson.com

January 17, 2023

Sun Communities, Inc.

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 300

Southfield, Michigan 48034

 

  Re:

Sun Communities, Inc. – Registration Statement on Form S-3

(File No: 333-255020) (the “Registration Statement”)

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as special Maryland counsel to Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration of the offer and sale of $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 5.700% Senior Notes due 2033 (the “Notes”) by Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership of which the Company is the general partner (“SCOLP”), and the guarantee of the Notes by the Company (the “Guarantee”), pursuant to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed by the Company and SCOLP with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on April 2, 2021, File Nos. 333-255020 and 333-255020-01 (the “Registration Statement”), pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). You have requested our opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.

In our capacity as special Maryland counsel to the Company and for purposes of this opinion, we have reviewed the originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following documents (the documents referenced in (i)-(xiii) below being referred to herein as the “Reviewed Documents”):

(i) the fully-executed Indenture, dated as of June 28, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), by and among SCOLP, the Guarantors (as defined therein), and UMB Bank, N.A., a national banking association, as trustee (the “Trustee”);

(ii) the Fourth Supplemental Indenture to the Base Indenture (which includes the Guarantee) dated as of January 17, 2023, by and among SCOLP, the Company, and the Trustee, establishing the form and terms of the Notes (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”);


Sun Communities, Inc.

January 17, 2023

Page 2

 

(iii) the Registration Statement, including the base prospectus dated April 2, 2021, that is a part of the Registration Statement (the “Base Prospectus”);

(iv) the Company’s preliminary prospectus supplement, dated January 9, 2023, as filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on January 9, 2023 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”);

(v) the Company’s final prospectus supplement, dated January 9, 2023, as filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on January 10, 2023 (the “Final Prospectus Supplement”);

(vi) the charter of the Company, certified on the date hereof as being a true, correct, and complete copy thereof by the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company;

(vii) the Third Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, certified on the date hereof as being a true, correct, and complete copy thereof by the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company;

(viii) the written consent of the Board of Directors of the Company pursuant to which the Board of Directors adopted resolutions with respect to, among other things, the Supplemental Indenture, the filing of prospectus supplements, and the transactions contemplated thereby, and the written consent of the Public Offering Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors setting the terms and conditions of the Notes, each certified on the date hereof as being a true, correct, and complete copy thereof by the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company;

(ix) the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of SCOLP, as amended, as currently in effect, certified on the date hereof as being a true, correct, and complete copy thereof by the Chief Financial Officer and Secretary of the Company;

(x) a copy of the fully-executed global note, dated as of January 17, 2023, registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company’s nominee Cede & Co., representing the Notes (the “Global Note”);

(xi) a certificate of the Company regarding certain matters related to, among other things, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the Final Prospectus Supplement, and certain other factual matters (the “Certificate”);

(xii) a certificate of the Maryland State Department of Assessments and Taxation (“SDAT”) dated January 9, 2023, to the effect that the Company is duly incorporated and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing and duly authorized to transact business in the State of Maryland (the “Good Standing Certificate”); and

(xiii) such other documents, corporate records, and instruments as we have deemed necessary and appropriate, in our professional judgment, to render this opinion letter, subject to the limitations, assumptions, and qualifications contained herein.


Sun Communities, Inc.

January 17, 2023

Page 3

 

With respect to questions of fact material to our opinions, without undertaking to verify the same by independent investigation, we have relied exclusively upon the Reviewed Documents, the representations, warranties, statements, and information set forth in such documents, certain statements of officers or other representatives of the Company, including, without limitation, statements contained in the Certificate, and the additional matters recited or assumed in this opinion letter, all of which we assume to be true, complete, and accurate in all respects. We make no representation as to the scope or sufficiency of our review for your purposes.

In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry:

A. The genuineness of all signatures and the legal capacity of all individuals who have executed any of the Reviewed Documents.

B. That the Notes will be issued under, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture.

C. That the Notes will be issued in book-entry form, represented by the Global Note, and will be authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Indenture.

D. The authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity with originals of all documents submitted to us as certified, photostatic, or facsimile copies or portable document file (“pdf”) or other electronic image format copies (and the authenticity of the originals of such copies), that the form and content of all documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such documents as executed and delivered, that all documents submitted to us and public records we have reviewed or relied upon are accurate and complete, that there has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Reviewed Documents, and that there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Reviewed Documents in connection with this opinion, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

E. That all representations, warranties, certifications, and statements with respect to matters of fact and other factual information (i) made by public officers, (ii) made by officers or representatives of the Company, including certifications made in the Certificate, and (iii) made or contained in any of the Reviewed Documents are accurate, true, correct, and complete in all respects.

F. As to all acts undertaken by any governmental authority, and of those persons purporting to act in any governmental capacity, that the persons acting on behalf of the governmental authority have the power and authority to do so, and that all actions taken by such persons on behalf of such governmental authority are valid, legal, and sufficient.

G. That the persons identified to us as officers of the Company are actually serving as such.


Sun Communities, Inc.

January 17, 2023

Page 4

 

Based on our review of the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, exceptions, assumptions, and qualifications set forth herein, we are of the opinion that, as of the date of this letter:

1. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation under the laws of the State of Maryland and, based solely on the Good Standing Certificate, is in good standing with SDAT as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate.

2. The Company has the corporate power to create the obligation evidenced by the Guarantee.

3. The execution and delivery by the Company in its capacity as general partner of SCOLP of the Global Note pursuant to the Indenture and the Registration Statement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. The Global Note and the Indenture have been duly executed and delivered by the Company in its capacity as the general partner of SCOLP.

4. The Guarantee and the Registration Statement, and the execution and delivery by the Company in its own capacity of the Supplemental Indenture (which includes the Guarantee), have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company. The Supplemental Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company in its own capacity.

The foregoing opinions are based on and are limited to the Maryland General Corporation Law (including the reported judicial decisions interpreting those laws currently in effect), and we express no opinion herein with respect to the effect or applicability of any other laws or the laws of any other jurisdiction. The opinions expressed herein concern only the effect of the laws (excluding the principles of conflict of laws) as currently in effect, and we assume no, and hereby disclaim any, obligation to supplement the opinions expressed herein if any applicable laws change after the date hereof or if we become aware of any facts that might change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof. The opinions are limited to the matters set forth herein, and no other opinions should be inferred or implied beyond the matters expressly herein stated.

Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, we express no opinion concerning the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any decisional laws interpreting any of the provisions of the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


Sun Communities, Inc.

January 17, 2023

Page 5

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Notes and the Guarantee, which is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, and to the reference to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Base Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement, and the Final Prospectus Supplement. By giving such consent, we do not admit that we are experts with respect to any part of the Registration Statement, including Exhibit 5.1, within the meaning of the term “expert” as used in the Securities Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

Very truly yours,

BAKER, DONELSON,

BEARMAN, CALDWELL

& BERKOWITZ, a professional corporation

By:

 

/s/ Kenneth B. Abel

 

Kenneth B. Abel

 

Authorized Representative

EX-5.3

Exhibit 5.3

 

LOGO      

27777 Franklin Road, Suite 2500

Southfield, Michigan 48034-8214

Tel: 248.351.3000 | Fax: 248.351.3082

January 17, 2023

Sun Communities, Inc.

Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership

27777 Franklin Road

Suite 300

Southfield, MI 48034

Attention: Board of Directors

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as Michigan counsel to Sun Communities Operating Limited Partnership, a Michigan limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), in connection with the registration, offer and sale by the Operating Partnership of $400,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Operating Partnership’s 5.700% Senior Notes due 2033 (the “Notes”) pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration Nos. 333-255020 and 333-255020-01) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on April 2, 2021 (the “Registration Statement”). You have asked for our opinion with respect to the matters set forth below.

For purposes of this opinion letter, we have examined copies of the following documents:

 

  A.

an executed copy of the Registration Statement; including the base prospectus included in such Registration Statement;

 

  B.

the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated January 9, 2023, as filed by Sun Communities, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act”) on January 9, 2023;

 

  C.

the final prospectus supplement, dated January 9, 2023, as filed by the Company with the SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act on January 10, 2023 (the “Prospectus”);

 

  D.

the Indenture dated as of June 28, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), by and between the Operating Partnership and UMB Bank, N.A., as trustee (the “Trustee”), as amended and supplemented pursuant to the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated January 17, 2023, by and among the Operating Partnership, the Company and the Trustee (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”);


  E.

the guarantee of the Notes by the Company pursuant to a guarantee set forth in the Indenture (the “Guarantee”);

 

  F.

the form of Notes;

 

  G.

the global note executed by the Operating Partnership in the aggregate principal amount of $400,000,000 (the “Global Note”), representing the Notes;

 

  H.

the restated certificate of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership, certified on January 9, 2023, as being a true copy thereof, by the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs;

 

  I.

the Fourth Amended and Restated Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as amended, certified as of the date hereof, as being a true, correct and complete copy thereof, by the Secretary of the Company, as General Partner of the Operating Partnership;

 

  J.

a certificate of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (the “Michigan Department”), dated January 9, 2023, to the effect that the Operating Partnership was formed in the State of Michigan and that its certificate of limited partnership is in full force and effect (the “Good Standing Certificate”);

 

  K.

the records of proceedings of the Board of Directors (and committees thereof) of the Company with respect to the Indenture, the Guarantee and the Notes and the transactions contemplated therein, including the Written Consent of the Board of Directors, dated January 6, 2023 and the Written Consent of the Public Offering Pricing Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company dated January 9, 2023;

 

  L.

an Officer’s Certificate (the “Officer’s Certificate”) executed and delivered by an officer of the Company, on behalf of the Company and in the capacity as the general partner of the Operating Partnership; and

 

  M.

such other documents and records that we deem relevant and necessary of the basis of the opinions set forth below.

The documents listed in items A-M above are collectively referred to as the “Documents.”

In reaching the opinions set forth below, we have assumed, without independent investigation or inquiry, that:

 

2


  i.

each natural person executing any of the Documents is legally competent to do so;

 

  ii.

each person executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party is, except with respect to the Operating Partnership, duly authorized to do so;

 

  iii.

any of the Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic; any of the Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents; all signatures on all of the Documents are genuine; all public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete; all statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete; there has been no modification of, or amendment to, any of the Documents; and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents by action or omission of the parties or otherwise;

 

  iv.

the Officers’ Certificate and all other certificates submitted to us are true and correct both when made and as of the date hereof;

 

  v.

the Operating Partnership has not, and is not required to be, registered under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

 

  vi.

the Notes will be issued under, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture; and

 

  vii.

the Notes will be issued in book-entry form, represented by the Global Note, and will be authenticated by the Trustee in accordance with and subject to the terms of the Indenture.

Our review has been limited to examining (i) the Documents and (ii) the applicable Michigan law, and we express no opinion on the laws of any other jurisdiction or any other law which may be applicable. With respect to the opinions in paragraphs 2 and 3 below, insofar as they implicate Maryland law, we have relied solely upon the opinion of Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Caldwell & Berkowitz, a Professional Corporation, Baltimore, Maryland, and have not made any independent investigation of Maryland law.

Based upon, subject to and limited by the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, as of the date hereof:

1. The Operating Partnership has been duly organized and is validly existing as a limited partnership and, based solely on the Good Standing Certificate, is in good standing with the Michigan Department as of the date of the Good Standing Certificate.

2. The Operating Partnership has the power to issue the Notes.

3. The issuance of the Notes and the execution and delivery of the Global Note, pursuant to the Indenture and the Registration Statement, in each case, by the Operating Partnership have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Operating Partnership. The Global Notes and the Indenture have been duly executed and delivered by the Operating Partnership.

 

3


This opinion letter is limited to matters expressly set forth in this letter, and no opinion is to be inferred or may be implied beyond the matters expressly so stated. This opinion letter is issued as of the date hereof and is necessarily limited to laws now in effect and facts and circumstances presently existing and brought to our attention. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion letter if any applicable laws change after the date hereof, or if we become aware of any facts or circumstances that now exist or that occur or arise in the future and may change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K related to the Notes and the Indenture and to the reference to our firm name in the Prospectus under the caption “Legal Matters.” In giving such consent, we do not hereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the SEC thereunder. This opinion may not be relied upon for any other purpose, is not intended for the express or implied benefit of any third party other than purchasers of the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, and is not to be used or relied upon for any other purpose, without our prior written consent in each instance.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Taft Stettinius & Hollister LLP

TAFT STETTINIUS & HOLLISTER LLP

 

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