<PAGE>
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
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Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): March 16, 1998
Merry Land & Investment Company, Inc.
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Georgia 001-11081
(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation) (Commission File Number)
58-0961876
(I.R.S. Employer I.D. Number)
624 Ellis Street, Augusta, Georgia 30901
(Address of principal executive offices) (Zip Code)
Registrant's telephone number, including area code: 706/722-6756
____________________________________________________________
(Former name or former address, if changed since last report)
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Filed: March 16, 1998
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ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS. Merry Land & Investment Company, Inc. (the
"Company") has completed the offering of 3,000,000 shares of its common stock
(the "Common Stock"). The offering of the Common Stock was made pursuant to a
Prospectus Supplement dated March 10, 1998 relating to the Prospectus dated
January 22, 1996 filed with the Company's shelf registration statement #33-
65067 on Form S-3.
The shares of Common Stock have been approved for listing in the NYSE under
the symbol "MRY."
The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the shares of the Common
Stock are estimated at approximately $64.2 million ($73.9 million if the
Underwriters' over-allotment option is exercised in full). The Company intends
to use the net proceeds to acquire and develop additional apartment properties.
Pending such uses, the Company intends to invest temporarily the excess
proceeds in interest bearing and marketable securities.
ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND
EXHIBITS. The Company is filing with this current report copies of the
following documents in connection with this Offering.
A. EXHIBIT 1: Underwriting Agreement.
B. EXHIBIT 4: Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
(incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4(a) to the
Company's Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 filed
December 15, 1995, file number 33-65067), as amended by
Articles of Amendment to Articles of Incorporation re
Series D Preferred Stock (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 4 to the Company's current report
on Form 8-K filed December 11, 1996), and as further
amended by Articles of Amendment to Articles of
Incorporation re Series E Preferred Stock (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit B of the Company's Form
8-A filed February 11, 1998).
C. EXHIBIT 5: Opinion as to the legality of the shares.
D. EXHIBIT 8: Tax Opinion.
E. EXHIBIT 12: Statement regarding computation of ratios (incorporated
herein by reference to Exhibit 11 of the Company's 1997
10-K filed February 23, 1998)
F. EXHIBIT 23: Consent of Hull, Towill, Norman & Barrett, P.C.
(contained in Exhibits 5 and 8)
G. EXHIBIT 27: Financial Data Schedule (incorporated herein by
reference to Exhibit 27 of the Company's 1997 10-K filed
February 23, 1998)
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Signature Blocks on Following Page
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SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities and Exchange Act of 1934,
the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
Merry Land & Investment
Company, Inc.
(Registrant)
By: /s/
------------------------------
Dorrie E. Green
As Its Vice President
<PAGE>
3,000,000 SHARES
MERRY LAND & INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.
COMMON STOCK
(WITHOUT PAR VALUE)
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
March 10, 1998
<PAGE>
March 10, 1998
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway
New York, New York 10036
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
Merry Land & Investment Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "COMPANY"),
proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS") 3,000,000 shares of its Common Stock (without par
value) (the "FIRM SHARES"). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the
several Underwriters not more than an additional 450,000 shares of its common
stock (without par value) (the "ADDITIONAL SHARES") if and to the extent that
you, as Managers of the offering, shall have determined to exercise, on behalf
of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted
to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional
Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "SHARES." The shares of
common stock (without par value) of the Company to be outstanding after giving
effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the
"COMMON STOCK."
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-65067),
relating to certain securities to be issued from time to time by the Company.
Such registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission,
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), and is
hereinafter referred to as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT"; the prospectus
constituting a part of the Registration Statement and the prospectus supplement
relating to the offering of the Shares filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the
Securities Act (the "Prospectus Supplement"), including all documents
incorporated by reference therein, as from time to time amended or supplemented
pursuant to the Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"EXCHANGE ACT"), or otherwise, are collectively referred to herein as the
"Prospectus." Each prospectus supplement related to the offering of the
Shares, including the prospectus supplement dated March 10, 1998, is herein
referred to as a "Prospectus Supplement." Any reference herein to the
Registration Statement, Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to
refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, as of the
date of such Registration Statement, Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement, as
the case may be, and in the case of any reference herein to any Prospectus or
Prospectus Supplement, also shall be deemed to include any documents
incorporated by reference therein, and any supplements or amendments relating
to the Shares being issued and sold pursuant hereto, filed with the Commission
after the date of filing of the Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement under Rules
424(b) and prior to the termination of the offering of the Shares by the
Underwriters.
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents and
warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and
no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or to the knowledge of the
Company threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not
contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects
with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and (iii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set
forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to
any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter
through you expressly for use therein.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of Georgia, has the
corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business
as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business
or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except
to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
(d) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized, is validly
existing as a corporation or limited partnership, as the case may be, in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has the
power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is
in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or
its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to
the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would
not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
as a whole; all of the issued shares of capital stock or partnership
interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned
directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities
or claims.
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.
(f) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(g) The shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock outstanding prior to
the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable.
(h) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description of the Shares
contained in the Prospectus; and the issuance of such Shares will not be
subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(i) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by
the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene any
provision of applicable law or the articles of incorporation or by-laws of
the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or
any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body,
agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and
no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of
its obligations under this Agreement, except as may be required by the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the
offer and sale of the Shares.
(j) The financial statements of the Company, together with related notes
and schedules as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, present fairly the financial position and the
results of operations of the Company at the indicated dates and for the
indicated periods. The financial statements with respect to the properties
acquired or to be acquired by the Company, together with related notes and
schedules as set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, present fairly the financial position and the
results of operations of such properties at the indicated dates and for the
indicated periods. Such financial statements have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted principles of accounting, consistently
applied throughout the periods involved, and all adjustments necessary for a
fair presentation of results for such periods have been made. The summary
financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus present fairly the information shown
therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial
statements presented therein.
(k) The Pro Forma Financial Statements of the Company included in the
Prospectus and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement have
been prepared in conformity with the requirements of Article 11 of Regulation
S-X.
(l) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations
of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in
the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent
to the date of this Agreement).
(m) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened
to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of
the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and
are not so described or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other
documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that
are not described or filed as required.
(n) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, and each
prospectus supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act,
complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each
document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects
with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
(o) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale
of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such term is defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(p) With respect to all tax periods regarding which the Internal Revenue
Service is or will be entitled to assert any claim, the Company has met the
requirements for qualification as a real estate investment trust under
Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code, as amended, and the
Company's present and contemplated operations, assets and income continue to
meet such requirements.
(q) The conditions for the use of a registration statement on Form S-3
set forth in the General Instructions on Form S-3 have been satisfied and the
Company is entitled to use such form for the transactions contemplated
herein.
(r) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and
all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or
hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants
("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other
approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and
conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such
noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits,
licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and
conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(s) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws
(including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures
required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental
Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating
activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would,
singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(t) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the
Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company
to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any
securities of the Company, or to require the Company to include such
securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement,
except the Contribution Agreement (the "Trammell Crow Agreement") with
affiliates of Trammell Crow Residential described in the Company's Form 8-K
filed February 23, 1998, and the purchase agreement with respect to Series B
Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.
(u) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes relating to doing business with the Government of Cuba or
with any person or affiliate located in Cuba.
(v) The discussion contained under the caption "Taxation" in the
Prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement, as of the time of
filing of such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) and as of the Closing Date,
accurately reflects existing law and fairly addresses the material federal
income tax issues described therein that would affect an investment in the
Shares.
2. AGREEMENTS TO SELL AND PURCHASE. The Company hereby agrees to
sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions
hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company the respective numbers of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto
opposite its name at $21.4975 a share (the "PURCHASE PRICE").
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell
to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have a
one-time right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 450,000 Additional
Shares at the Purchase Price. If you, on behalf of the Underwriters, elect to
exercise such option, you shall so notify the Company in writing not later than
30 days after the date of this Agreement, which notice shall specify the number
of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which
such shares are to be purchased. Such date may be the same as the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may, (as defined below) but not earlier
than the Closing Date nor later than ten business days after the date of such
notice. Additional Shares may be purchased as provided in Section 4 hereof
solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the
offering of the Firm Shares. If any Additional Shares are to be purchased,
each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of
Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares
as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of
Additional Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth in
Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total
number of Firm Shares.
The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not,
during the period ending 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, (i) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly,
any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement
that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction
described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common
Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence
shall not apply to the Shares to be sold hereunder or under the Company's
Dividend Reinvestment Plan, its Stock Option and Incentive Plan, or the
Trammell Crow Agreement, or upon conversion of the Series A Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock, the Series B Cumulative Convertible Preferred
Stock or the Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock.
3. TERMS OF PUBLIC OFFERING. The Company is advised by you that the
Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of
the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have
become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Company is further
advised by you that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at
$22.6875 a share (the "PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE") and to certain dealers selected
by you at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $.71 a share
under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such
dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of $.10 a share, to any
Underwriter or to certain other dealers.
4. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY. Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made
to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City
against delivery of such Shares for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on March 16, 1998. The time
and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the "CLOSING DATE".
Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery
of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the
notice described in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such
other date, in any event not later than April 20, 1998, as shall be designated
in writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred
to as the "OPTION CLOSING DATE."
Certificates for the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be in
definitive form and registered in such names and in such denominations as you
shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates
evidencing the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you on
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes
payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly
paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
5. CONDITIONS TO THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of
the Company to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several obligations
of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, are subject to the condition that
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or,
to the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated by the Commission.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following
further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior
to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any
notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of
any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of
the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's
securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
under the Securities Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto
subsequent to the date of this Agreement) that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable
to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated such date and signed by an executive officer of the
Company, to the effect set forth in Section 5(a)(i) above and to the effect
that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company
has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions
on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing
Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the
best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of Hull, Towill, Norman & Barrett, P.C., counsel for the Company, dated the
Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent
that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole;
(ii) each subsidiary of the Company has been duly organized, is
validly existing as a corporation or limited partnership, as the case
may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization, has the power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent
that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole;
(iii) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to
legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
(iv) the shares of Common Stock and Preferred Stock outstanding
prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(v) all of the issued shares of capital stock or partnership
interest, as the case may be, of each subsidiary of the Company have
been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-
assessable and are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;
(vi) the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and will conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the issuance of
such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights;
(vii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(viii) neither the execution and delivery by the Company of, and
the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement
will contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the
Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, to the best of such counsel's
knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body,
agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary,
and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification
with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by
the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except as may be
required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares;
(ix) the statements (A) in the Prospectus under the captions
"Capitalization," "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations,"
"Description of Common Stock," "Description of Preferred Stock" and
"Plan of Distribution," and in the Prospectus Supplement under the
captions "Capitalization," "Description of Common Stock," "Common Stock
Price Range and Dividends," "Taxation," and "Underwriting" and (B) in
the Registration Statement in Items 15, in each case insofar as such
statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents or
proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the information called
for with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings and
fairly summarize the matters referred to therein;
(x) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal or
governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to
be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not
so described or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other
documents that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required;
(xi) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such
term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
(xii) such counsel (A) is of the opinion that the
Registration Statement and Prospectus (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data
included therein as to which such counsel need not express any
opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with the
Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, (B) is of the opinion that each document,
if any, filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except
for financial statements and schedules as to which such counsel
need not express any opinion) complied when so filed as to form in
all material respects with the Exchange Act, and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; (C) has no
reason to believe that (except for financial statements and
schedules and other financial and statistical data as to which
such counsel need not express any belief) the Registration
Statement and the prospectus included therein at the time the
Registration Statement became effective contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading and (D) has no reason to believe that
(except for financial statements and schedules and other financial
and statistical data as to which such counsel need not express any
belief) the Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely (A) as to
matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United
states and the State of Georgia, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to
the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions
(in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters' counsel) of
other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Underwriters' counsel, familiar with
the applicable laws; (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel
deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and
certificates or other written statements of officials of jurisdictions having
custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the
Company. The opinion of such counsel for the Company shall state that the
opinion of any such other counsel is in form satisfactory to such counsel and,
in such counsel's opinion, the Underwriters and they are justified in relying
thereon.
(d) Hull, Towill, Norman & Barrett, P.C. tax counsel for the
Company, shall have delivered to you its written opinion, dated the
Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect
that:
(i) the Company met the requirements for qualification and
taxation as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") for the
taxable years 1991 through 1997;
(ii) the Company's diversity of stock ownership and proposed
method of operation should allow it to qualify as a REIT for 1998;
and
(iii) the discussion contained under the caption "Taxation"
in the prospectus contained in the Registration Statement,
accurately reflects existing law and fairly addresses the material
federal income tax issues described therein.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, dated
the Closing Date, covering the matters referred to in Sections
5(c)(vi), 5(c)(vii), 5(c)(ix) (but only as to the statements in the
Prospectus under "Underwriting") and 5(c)(xii) above.
The opinion of Hull, Towill, Norman & Barrett, P.C. described in
Sections 5(c) and (d) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at
the request of the Company and shall so state therein. With respect to
Section 5(c)(xii) above, Hull, Towill, Norman & Barrett, P.C. and Piper
& Marbury L.L.P. may state that their opinion and belief are based upon
their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement
and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check
or verification, except as specified.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date
hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date as of such date,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Arthur
Anderson LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort
letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and
certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; PROVIDED that the letter
delivered on the Closing Date shall use a "cut-off date" not earlier
than the date hereof.
(g) On the Closing Date, Arthur Andersen LLP shall have furnished
to you a letter confirming the matters set forth in clauses (i) and
(ii) of subparagraph (d) of this Section 5.
(h) The Shares and Additional Shares have been approved for
listing on the NYSE.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional
Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the Option Closing Date
of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good
standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional
Shares and other matters related to the issuance of the Additional Shares.
6. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. In further consideration of the
agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with
each Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, six signed copies of the
Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents
incorporated by reference therein) and to each other Underwriter a copy
of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto but including
documents incorporated by reference) and during the period mentioned in
Section 6(d) below, as many copies of the Prospectus and any documents
incorporated by reference, any supplements and amendments thereto or to
the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request. The terms
"supplement" and "amendment" or "amend" as used in this Agreement shall
include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended,
that are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed
amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or
supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with the
Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such
Rule.
(c) If, during such period after the first date of the public
offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in
connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend
or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a
purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to
comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the
Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to
the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Company)
to which Shares may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters
and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements
to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so
amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances
when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so
that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
(d) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall
reasonably request.
(e) To make generally available to the Company's security holders
and to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering the
twelve-month period ending April 30, 1999 that satisfies the provisions
of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder.
(f) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement
are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be
paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of
the Company's counsel and the Company's accountants in connection with
the registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act
and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and
filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing,
including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and
delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the
quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related
to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters,
including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost
of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state securities
laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the
Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in
Section 6(c) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment
memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection
with the review and qualification of the offering of the Shares by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (v) all fees and
expenses incident to listing the Shares on New York Stock Exchange,
(vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (vii)
the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary,
and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of
the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not
otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except
as provided in this Section, Section 7 entitled "Indemnity and
Contribution", and the last paragraph of Section 9 below, the
Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees
and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on
resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses
connected with any offers they may make.
(g) The "lock-up" agreements, each substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto, between you and certain officers and directors of the
Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of
Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before
the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
7. INDEMNITY AND CONTRIBUTION. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly
for use therein.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign
the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company
to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus,
the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b), such person (the
"INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding
and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right
to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal
expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such
indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley
& Co. Incorporated, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
7(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 7(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of
any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse he indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph,
the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed
the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a)
or 7(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided
by clause 7(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause 7(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand
and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in
connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set
forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public
Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters' respective
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion
to the respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not
joint.
(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be
just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by
PRO RATA allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 7(d). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages
and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled
to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 7 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force
and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or
any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any
of the Shares.
8. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by
notice given by you to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have
been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the
New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any
securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York
State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis
that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of
the events specified in clauses 8(a)(i) through 8(a)(iv), such event, singly or
together with any other such event, makes it, in your judgment, impracticable
to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus.
9. EFFECTIVENESS; DEFAULTING UNDERWRITERS. This Agreement shall
become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Shares that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and
the aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than
one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date,
the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I
bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of
all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may
specify, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; PROVIDED
that in no event shall the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to
purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 9 by
an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Shares without the written
consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or
Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate
number of Firm Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than
one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased, and
arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the purchase of such Firm
Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or
the Company. In any such case either you or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in
order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in
the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If,
on the Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or
refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional
Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the
aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased, the non-defaulting
Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder
to purchase Additional Shares or (ii) purchase not less than the number of
Additional Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been
obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under
this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in
respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement. Any action
taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from
liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any
of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply
with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for
any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as
have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for
all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their
counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this
Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
10. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if
the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
11. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
12. HEADINGS. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have
been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part
of this Agreement.
Very truly yours,
Merry Land & Investment Company, Inc.
By: /S/ DORRIE E. GREEN
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated
Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the
several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto.
By: Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
By: /S/ ROBERT N. WEAVER
-----------------------------
Name:
Title:
<PAGE>
SCHEDULE I
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
NUMBER OF
SHARES
UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED
<S> <C>
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated 661620
BT Alex. Brown Incorporated 661620
Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation 375920
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc. 375920
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC 375920
J.C. Bradford & Co. 61000
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. 61000
Janney Montgomery Scott Inc. 61000
Edward D. Jones & Co., L.P. 61000
Legg Mason Wood Walker, Incorporated 61000
McDonald & Company Securities, Inc. 61000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 61000
Sterne, Agee & Leach, Inc. 61000
Wheat First Securities, Inc. 61000
Total....... 3000000
</TABLE>
<PAGE> [FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER]
March 10, 1998
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
BT Alex.Brown Incorporated
Interstate/Johnson Lane Corporation
Morgan Keegan & Company, Inc.
The Robinson-Humphrey Company, LLC
c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway
New York, NY 10036
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The undersigned understands that Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated ("MORGAN STANLEY") proposes to enter into an Underwriting
Agreement (the "UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT") with Merry Land & Investment
Company, Inc., a Georgia corporation (the "COMPANY"), providing for the
public offering (the "PUBLIC OFFERING") by the several Underwriters,
including Morgan Stanley (the "UNDERWRITERS"), of 3,450,000 shares (the
"Shares") of the Common Stock of the Company (the "COMMON STOCK").
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the
Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public
Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written
consent of Morgan Stanley on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not,
during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after
the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the
"PROSPECTUS"), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option
or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant
any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or
dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common
Stock or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to
another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of
ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in
clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or
such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence
shall not apply to transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or
other securities acquired in open market transactions after the
completion of the Public Offering. In addition, the undersigned agrees
that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley on behalf of
the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the date
hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any
demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any
shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends
on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering
will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of
which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the
Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
_________________________
(Name)
_________________________
(Address)
<PAGE>
[Letterhead of Hull, Towill, Norman & Barrett, P.C.]
March 16, 1998
Merry Land & Investment Company, Inc.
624 Ellis Street
Augusta, Georgia 30901
Re: 3,000,000 Shares of Common Stock of
Merry Land & Investment Company, Inc.
Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for the Company in connection with its
public offering of 3,000,000 shares of Common Stock, as described in the
Prospectus Supplement dated March 10, 1998 to that Prospectus dated January 22,
1996, filed with Registration Statement No. 33-65067. This opinion is given to
the Company in connection with this offering.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Company is a corporation duly organized, existing and in
good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia.
2. All proceedings necessary to authorize the offering of the
Common Stock have been taken.
3. The Common Stock has been duly authorized and, when sold and
paid for in accordance with the Prospectus Supplement, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Form 8-K filed with respect to the above-referenced offering and reference to
this opinion in the Prospectus Supplement.
/s/
HULL, TOWILL, NORMAN & BARRETT, P.C.
[Letterhead of Hull, Towill, Norman & Barrett, P.C.]
March 16, 1998
MERRY LAND & INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.
624 Ellis Street
Augusta, GA 30901
RE: MERRY LAND & INVESTMENT COMPANY, INC.: Public Offering of up to
3,000,000 Shares of Common Stock (the "Offering")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Merry Land & Investment Company, Inc.
(the "Company") in connection with the referenced Offering with respect to the
proposed sale of up to 3,000,000 Shares of the Company's Common Stock
(the "Securities").
We are familiar with the articles of incorporation, as amended, and by-
laws of the Company and have examined such additional records and public
documents as we have deemed necessary for the opinion hereinafter expressed. We
have been counsel to the Company for many years and are generally familiar with
its affairs. Where facts have not been independently verified, we have relied
upon statements of the Company's officers, certificates of public officials,
and records of the Company.
In rendering the opinions expressed herein, we have examined such
documents as we have deemed appropriate, including without limitation the
Company's Shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File #33-65067) and the
amendments thereto, the Prospectus Supplement dated March 10, 1998, the
Company's federal income tax returns for the taxable periods to which our
opinion relates, and Company-prepared schedules which relate to the Company's
compliance with various real estate investment trust ("REIT") qualification
tests. In our examination of documents, we have assumed, with your consent,
that all documents submitted to us are authentic originals, or if submitted as
photocopies, that they faithfully reproduce the originals thereof, that all
such documents have been or will be duly executed to the extent required, that
all representations and statements set forth in such documents are true and
correct, and that all obligations imposed by any such documents on the parties
thereto have been or will be performed or satisfied in accordance with their
terms. We have also obtained such additional information and representations as
we have deemed relevant and necessary through consultation with the officers of
the Company and with the Company's independent public accountants.
In rendering our opinion, we have assumed that during the relevant taxable
periods all persons who were required under the Securities and Exchange Act of
1934 to file or amend Schedules 13D and 13G with respect to the Company's
outstanding shares appropriately made such filings and that the Company was
duly apprised of all such filings.
Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that:
1. The Company met the requirements for qualification and taxation as a
REIT for each of the taxable years 1991 through 1997.
2. The Company's diversity of stock ownership and proposed method of
operation should allow it to qualify as a REIT for 1998.
3. The discussion contained in that portion of the Company's Prospectus
Supplement dated March 10, 1998 to that Prospectus filed with Shelf
Registration Statement #33-65067 (the "Prospectus Supplement") under the
caption "Taxation" accurately reflects existing law and fairly addresses the
material federal income tax issues described therein. Such discussion is hereby
incorporated herein by this reference.
The opinions expressed herein are based upon the Code, the U.S. Treasury
Regulations promulgated thereunder, current administrative positions of the
U.S. Internal Revenue Service, and existing judicial decisions, any of which
could be changed at any time, possibly on a retroactive basis. Any such changes
could adversely affect the opinions rendered herein and the tax consequences to
the Company and the investors in the Securities. In addition, as noted above,
our opinions are based solely on the documents that we have examined, the
additional information that we have obtained, and the representations that have
been made to us, and cannot be relied upon if any of the facts contained in
such documents or in such additional information is, or later becomes,
inaccurate or if any of the representations made to us is, or later becomes,
inaccurate.
Finally, our opinion is limited to the tax matters specifically covered
thereby, and we have not been asked to address, nor have we addressed, any
other tax consequences of an investment in the Securities.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form
8-K filed with respect to the Offering.
/S/
HULL, TOWILL, NORMAN
& BARRETT, P.C.
