COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY INC
8-K, 1998-02-19
REAL ESTATE INVESTMENT TRUSTS
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<PAGE>   1
                     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 (DATE OF EARLIEST EVENT REPORTED):  FEBRUARY 18, 1998


                      COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN CHARTER)



<TABLE>
<S>                                                                     <C>
           MARYLAND                             0-12989                             56-1431377
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF         (COMMISSION FILE NUMBER)        (IRS EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
        INCORPORATION)


                 400 EAST SOUTH STREET, SUITE 500                                     32801
                         ORLANDO, FLORIDA                                          (ZIP CODE)
             (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
</TABLE>

      REGISTRANT'S TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE:  (407) 422-1574





<PAGE>   2
ITEM 1.  CHANGES IN CONTROL OF REGISTRANT.

                 Not Applicable.

ITEM 2.  ACQUISITION OR DISPOSITION OF ASSETS.

                 Not Applicable.

ITEM 3.  BANKRUPTCY OR RECEIVERSHIP.

                 Not Applicable.

ITEM 4.  CHANGES IN REGISTRANT'S CERTIFYING ACCOUNTANT.

                 Not Applicable.

ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS.

         Concurrently with the filing of this Current Report on Form 8-K, the
Registrant filed a Prospectus Supplement to the Registration Statement on Form
S-3, File No. 333-24773 (the "Registration Statement"), with respect to the
offering by the Registrant of 688,172 shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par
value.  The Registration Statement was declared effective by the Securities and
Exchange Commission on April 22, 1997.

ITEM 6.  RESIGNATION OF REGISTRANT'S DIRECTORS.

                 Not Applicable.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS.

(a)-(b)          Not Applicable.

(c)       Exhibits.

          
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.                                             Description
    <S>        <C>
     1.2       Form of Underwriting Agreement, which is being filed pursuant to
               Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(1) in lieu of filing the otherwise
               required exhibit to the Registration Statement, under the
               Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and
               which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference
               in such Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such
               Registration Statement.  (Filed herewith.)
                             
     3.4       Articles of Amendment to the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation,which is being filed
               pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(3) in lieu of the otherwise required exhibit to the
               Registration Statement under the Securities Act, and which, since this Form 8-K filing is
               incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such
               Registration Statement.  (Filed herewith.)

      5        Opinion of Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge, which is being filed pursuant to Regulation
               S-K, Item 601(b)(5) in lieu of the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement
               under the Securities Act, and which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference
               in such Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such Registration Statement.  (Filed
               herewith.)

      8        Opinion of Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge, which is being filed pursuant to Regulation
               S-K, Item 601(b)(8) in lieu of the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement
               under the Securities Act, and which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference
               in such Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such Registration Statement.  (Filed
               herewith.)

    23.1       Consents of Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge (contained in the opinions filed as Exhibits 5
               and 8 hereto), which is being filed pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(23) in lieu of
               the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act, and
               which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference in such Registration
               Statement, is set forth in full in such Registration Statement.  (Filed herewith.)
</TABLE>





                                       2
<PAGE>   3


<TABLE>
    <S>        <C>
    23.2       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, which is being filed pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item
               601(b)(23) in lieu of the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement under the
               Securities Act, and which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference in such
               Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such Registration Statement.  (Filed
               herewith.)
</TABLE>

ITEM 8.  CHANGE IN FISCAL YEAR.

                 Not Applicable.





                                       3
<PAGE>   4


                                   SIGNATURES

         Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be filed on its
behalf by the undersigned thereunto duly authorized.

                                 COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.
                                 
Dated:  February 18, 1998        By: /s/  Kevin B. Habicht                    
                                     -----------------------------------------
                                     Kevin B. Habicht, Chief Financial Officer





                                       4
<PAGE>   5
                                                                           

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.                                             Description
- -----------    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    <S>        <C>
     1.2       Form of Underwriting Agreement, which is being filed pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item
               601(b)(1) in lieu of filing the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement on
               Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement"), File No. 333-24773, under the Securities Act of
               1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and which, since this Form 8-K filing is
               incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such
               Registration Statement.   (Filed herewith.)       
                                
     3.4       Articles of Amendment to the Registrant's Articles of Incorporation,which is being filed
               pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(3) in lieu of the otherwise required exhibit to the
               Registration Statement under the Securities Act, and which, since this Form 8-K filing is
               incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such
               Registration Statement.  (Filed herewith.)

      5        Opinion of Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge, which is being filed pursuant to Regulation
               S-K, Item 601(b)(5) in lieu of the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement
               under the Securities Act, and which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference
               in such Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such Registration Statement.  (Filed
               herewith.)

      8        Opinion of Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge, which is being filed pursuant to Regulation
               S-K, Item 601(b)(8) in lieu of the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement
               under the Securities Act, and which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference
               in such Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such Registration Statement.  (Filed
               herewith.)

    23.1       Consents of Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge (contained in the opinions filed as Exhibits 5
               and 8 hereto), which is being filed pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item 601(b)(23) in lieu of
               the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement under the Securities Act, and
               which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference in such Registration
               Statement, is set forth in full in such Registration Statement.  (Filed herewith.)

    23.2       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, which is being filed pursuant to Regulation S-K, Item
               601(b)(23) in lieu of the otherwise required exhibit to the Registration Statement under the
               Securities Act, and which, since this Form 8-K filing is incorporated by reference in such
               Registration Statement, is set forth in full in such Registration Statement.  (Filed
               herewith.)
</TABLE>






<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.2
                       COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.

                                   ___SHARES
                                  COMMON STOCK
                                ($.01 PAR VALUE)

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT


                                                            February 18, 1998



A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
One North Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63103

      The undersigned, Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc., a Maryland corporation
(the "Company") hereby confirms its agreement with you (the "Underwriter") as
follows:

       1.   Description of Shares.  The Company proposes to issue and sell to
you ____ shares of its Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Shares").
The Shares are more fully described in the Prospectus hereinafter defined.

       2.   Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Shares.  On the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to
the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to you,
and you agree to purchase from the Company at a purchase price of $________
per share, ______ Shares.

       The Company will deliver definitive certificates for the Shares at the 
office of A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., 77 Water Street, New York, New York
("Edwards' Office"), or such other place as you and the Company may mutually
agree upon (the "Place of Closing"), for your account against payment to the
Company of the purchase price for the Shares sold to you by wire transfer of
immediately available funds, at 10:00 a.m., St. Louis time, on February [23],
1998, or at such other time and date not later than three full business days
thereafter as you and the Company may agree, such time and date of payment and
delivery being herein called the "Closing Date."

       The certificates for the Shares so to be delivered will be made available
to you for inspection at Edwards' Office (or such other place as you and the
Company may mutually agree upon) at least one full business day prior to the
Closing Date and will be in such names and denominations as you may request at
least one full business day prior to the Closing Date.

<PAGE>   2
       3.   Representations, Warranties and Agreements of the Company. (a)
The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with you that:

            (i)   The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3
      under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"); a registration
      statement (Registration No. 333-24773) on Form S-3, including a prospectus
      relating to the registration of the Shares and such other securities which
      may be offered from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 under the
      Act, and such amendments to such registration statement as may have been
      required to the date of this Agreement, has been carefully prepared by the
      Company pursuant to and in conformity with the requirements of the Act,
      and the Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of the
      Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder, was
      filed with the Commission under the Act, and was declared effective on
      April 22, 1997. Copies of such registration statement, including any
      amendments thereto, each related preliminary prospectus contained therein,
      the exhibits, financial statements and schedules have heretofore been
      delivered by the Company to you. A prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus
      Supplement") setting forth the terms of the offering, sale and plan of
      distribution of the Shares and additional information concerning the
      Company and its business has been or will be so prepared and will be filed
      pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations on or before the
      second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier time as may be
      required by the Rules and Regulations). The term "Registration Statement"
      as used herein means the registration statement, and the basic prospectus
      included therein, as amended at the time it or any amendment thereto
      became effective under the Act, or at the time any Annual Report on Form
      10-K is filed by the Company with the Commission (the "Effective Date"),
      including financial statements and all exhibits and all documents
      incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under
      the Act. Any document filed by the Company under the Securities Exchange
      Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") after the effective date of
      the Registration Statement or the date of the Prospectus Supplement and
      incorporated by reference in the Prospectus shall be deemed to be included
      in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as of the date of such
      filing. The term "Prospectus" as used herein means (i) the basic
      prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date,
      as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement as first filed with the
      Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations, except
      that, if such basic prospectus is amended or supplemented subsequent to
      the Effective Date, the term "Prospectus" shall refer to the basic
      prospectus as so amended or supplemented and as further supplemented by
      the Prospectus Supplement, (ii) if no such filing is required, the form of
      final prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the Effective
      Date or (iii) if a Term Sheet or Abbreviated Term Sheet (as such terms are
      defined in Rule 434(b) and 434(c), respectively, of the Rules and
      Regulations) is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) of
      the Rules and Regulations, the Term Sheet or Abbreviated Term Sheet and
      the last Preliminary Prospectus filed with the Commission prior to the
      time the Registration Statement became effective, taken together
      (including, in each case, the documents incorporated by reference therein
      pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act). The term 

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

      "Preliminary Prospectus" as used herein shall mean a preliminary
      prospectus included at any time in the Registration Statement.

           (ii)   The Commission has not issued, and is not to the knowledge
      of the Company threatening to issue, an order preventing or suspending the
      use of any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus nor instituted
      proceedings for that purpose. Each Preliminary Prospectus at its date of
      issue, the Registration Statement at the Effective Date, and the
      Prospectus at its date of issue and any amendments or supplements thereto
      contains or will contain, as the case may be, all statements which are
      required to be stated therein by, and in all material respects conform or
      will conform, as the case may be, to the requirements of, the Act and the
      Rules and Regulations. Neither the Registration Statement nor any
      amendment thereto, as of the applicable effective date, and neither the
      Prospectus nor any supplement thereto, as of its applicable issue date or
      the Closing Date contains or will contain, as the case may be, any untrue
      statement of a material fact or omits or will omit to state any material
      fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
      therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
      misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representation or
      warranty as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration
      Statement or the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement, in
      reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to
      the Company by you specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

          (iii)   The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
      pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, at the time they were filed
      with the Commission, complied in all material respects with the
      requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations adopted by
      the Commission thereunder (the "Exchange Act Rules and Regulations"), and,
      when read together and with the other information in the Prospectus, at
      the time the Registration Statement became effective and at the Closing
      Date, did not or will not, as the case may be, contain an 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.

           (iv)   The filing of the Registration Statement and the execution
      and delivery of this Agreement have been duly authorized by the Board of
      Directors of the Company; this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally
      binding obligation of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms
      (except to the extent the enforceability of the indemnification and
      contribution provisions of Section 6 hereof may be limited by public
      policy considerations as expressed in the Act as construed by courts of
      competent jurisdiction, and except as enforceability may be limited by
      bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws
      affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of
      equity); the issue and sale of the Shares by the Company and the
      performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
      herein contemplated will not result in a violation of the Company's
      articles of incorporation or bylaws or result in a breach or violation of
      any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, or
      result in the creation or

                                      -3-

<PAGE>   4

      imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or
      assets of the Company or its subsidiaries under, any statute, or under any
      indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan agreement, sale and
      leaseback arrangement or other agreement or instrument to which the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which they are bound
      or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or its
      subsidiaries is subject, or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
      governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or its
      subsidiaries or their properties, except to such extent as does not
      materially adversely affect the business of the Company and its
      subsidiaries taken as a whole; no consent, approval, authorization, order,
      registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency
      or body is required for the consummation of the transactions herein
      contemplated, except such as may be required by the National Association
      of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or under the Act or Rules and
      Regulations or any state securities laws.

            (v)   Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
      sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
      included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss
      or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
      calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute
      or court or governmental action, order or decree. Except as contemplated
      in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which
      information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the
      Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole have not incurred any
      material liabilities or material obligations, direct or contingent, other
      than in the ordinary course of business, or entered into any material
      transactions not in the ordinary course of business, and there has not
      been any material change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the
      Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or any material adverse
      change in the condition (financial or other), net worth, business,
      affairs, management, prospects or results of operations of the Company and
      its subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company and its subsidiaries have
      filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax
      returns and paid all taxes shown as due thereon; all tax liabilities are
      adequately provided for on the books of the Company and its subsidiaries
      except to such extent as would not materially adversely affect the
      business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, the Company
      and its subsidiaries have made all necessary payroll tax payments and are
      current and up-to-date as of the date of this Agreement; and the Company
      and its subsidiaries have no knowledge of any tax proceeding or action
      pending or threatened against the Company or its subsidiaries which might
      materially adversely affect their business or property.

           (vi)   Except as described in the Prospectus, there is not now
      pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated,
      any action, suit or proceeding to which the Company or its subsidiaries is
      a party before or by any court or public, regulatory or governmental
      agency or body which might be expected to result (individually or in the
      aggregate) in any material adverse change in the condition (financial or
      other), business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as
      a whole, or might be expected to materially and adversely affect



                                       -4-
<PAGE>   5

      (individually or in the aggregate) the properties or assets thereof, and
      there are no contracts or documents of the Company or its subsidiaries
      which would be required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
      Statement by the Act or by the Rules and Regulations which have not been
      filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or incorporated by
      reference therein.

          (vii)   The Company has duly and validly authorized capital stock
      as described in the Prospectus; all outstanding shares of Common Stock of
      the Company and the Shares conform, or when issued will conform, to the
      description thereof in the Prospectus and have been, or, when issued and
      paid for will be, duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and
      nonassessable; and the issuance of the Shares to be purchased from the
      Company hereunder is not subject to preemptive rights.

         (viii)   Each of the Company and its subsidiaries have been duly
      incorporated or formed, as the case may be, and is a validly existing
      corporation, general or limited partnership, or other legal entity, as the
      case may be, in good standing under the laws of the state or other
      jurisdiction in which it is incorporated or formed, as the case may be.
      The Company and its subsidiaries have full power and authority (corporate
      and other) to own, lease and operate their properties and conduct their
      businesses as described in the Prospectus; each of the Company and its
      subsidiaries is duly qualified or registered to do business and is in good
      standing in each state or other jurisdiction in which its ownership or
      leasing of property or conduct of business legally requires such
      qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have
      a material adverse effect on the ability of the Company and its
      subsidiaries to conduct its or their business as described in the
      Prospectus; and the outstanding shares of capital stock or ownership
      interests of the Company's subsidiaries have been duly authorized and
      validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the
      Company free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, charge
      or adverse claim and are not the subject of any agreement or understanding
      with any person; no options, warrants or other rights to purchase,
      agreement or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any
      obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership interest in the
      subsidiaries are outstanding.

           (ix)   KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, the accounting firm which has
      certified the financial statements filed with or incorporated by reference
      in and as a part of the Registration Statement, is an independent public
      accounting firm within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and
      Regulations.

            (x)   The consolidated financial statements of the Company
      together with the related schedules and notes thereto, set forth or
      included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and
      Prospectus fairly present the financial condition of the Company and its
      consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of
      operations, changes in financial position, shareholders' equity and cash
      flows for the periods therein specified, in conformity with generally
      accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods
      involved (except as otherwise stated therein). The summary and selected
      financial and statistical data included or


                                       -5-
<PAGE>   6

      incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
      present fairly the information shown therein and, to the extent based upon
      or derived from the financial statements, have been compiled on a basis
      consistent with the financial statements presented therein. Furthermore,
      all financial statements required by Rule 3-14 of Regulation S-X ("Rule
      3-14") have been included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus and any such financial statements are in
      conformity with the requirements of Rule 3-14. No other financial
      statements are required to be set forth or to be incorporated by reference
      in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus under the Act or the Rules
      and Regulations thereunder.

           (xi)   Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in default with
      respect to any contract or agreement to which it is a party; provided that
      this representation shall not apply to defaults which in the aggregate are
      not materially adverse to the condition, financial or other, or the
      business or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a
      whole.

          (xii)   Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in violation of
      any other laws, ordinances or governmental rules or regulations to which
      it is subject, including, without limitation, Section 13 of the Exchange
      Act, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has failed to obtain any
      license, permit, franchise, easement, consent, or other governmental
      authorization necessary to the ownership, leasing and operation of its
      properties or to the conduct of its business, which violation or failure
      would materially adversely affect the business, operations, affairs,
      properties, prospects, profits or condition (financial or other) of the
      Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor any
      subsidiary has, at any time during the past five years, (A) made any
      unlawful contributions to any candidate for any political office, or
      failed fully to disclose any contribution in violation of law, or (B) made
      any payment to any state, federal or foreign government official, or other
      person charged with similar public or quasi-public duty (other than
      payment required or permitted by applicable law).

         (xiii)   Except as otherwise communicated to you and your counsel,
      there are no holders of securities of the Company having rights to
      registration thereof or preemptive rights to purchase Common Stock of the
      Company except as disclosed in the Prospectus. Holders of registration
      rights have waived such rights with respect to the offering being made by
      the Prospectus.

          (xiv)   Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company and its
      subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate
      patents, patent licenses, trademarks, service marks and trade names
      necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, and neither the
      Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of infringement of or
      conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any patents,
      patent licenses, trademarks, service marks or trade names which, singly or
      in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
      finding, would materially adversely affect the business, operations,
      affairs, properties, prospects, 


                                       -6-
<PAGE>   7

      profits or condition (financial or other) of the Company and its
      subsidiaries taken as a whole.

           (xv)   The Company and each of its subsidiaries has good and
      marketable title to all properties and assets described in the Prospectus
      as owned by it, free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or
      restrictions, except such as (i) are described in the Prospectus or (ii)
      are not material to the business of the Company or its subsidiaries, taken
      as a whole. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has valid, subsisting
      and enforceable leases for the properties described in the Prospectus as
      leased by it, with such exceptions as are not material and do not
      materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such
      properties by the Company and such subsidiaries; no tenant under any of
      the leases pursuant to which the Company leases its properties has an
      option or right of first refusal to purchase the premises demised under
      such lease; the use and occupancy of each of the properties of the Company
      complies in all material respects with all applicable codes and zoning
      laws and regulations; the Company has no knowledge of any pending or
      threatened condemnation or zoning change that will in any material respect
      affect the size of, use of, improvements of, construction on, or access to
      any of the properties of the Company; and the Company has no knowledge of
      any pending or threatened proceeding or action that will in any manner
      affect the size of, use of, improvements on, construction on, or access to
      any of the properties of the Company.

          (xvi)   Title insurance in favor of the Company (or the subsidiary
      which holds title to such property) is maintained with respect to each of
      the properties owned by the Company in an amount at least equal to the
      greater of (i) the cost of acquisition of such property of (ii) the cost
      of construction by the Company of the improvements located on such
      property (measured at the time of such construction), except, in each
      case, where the failure to maintain such title insurance would not
      materially adversely affect the business, operations, affairs, properties,
      prospects, profits or conditions (financial or other) of the Company and
      its subsidiaries taken as a whole. Title insurance in favor of the
      mortgagee is maintained in an amount equal to the maximum commitment of
      the related loan.

         (xvii)   (a) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company has
      no knowledge of (a) the presence of any hazardous substances, hazardous
      materials, toxic substances, pollutants or waste materials (collectively,
      "Hazardous Materials") on any of its properties, except that which is in
      compliance with all Environmental Laws or (b) any spills, releases,
      discharges or disposals of Hazardous Materials that have occurred or are
      presently occurring on or from its properties, which presence or
      occurrence would individually or in the aggregate materially adversely
      affect the business, operations, affairs, properties, prospects, profits
      or conditions (financial or other) of the Company and its subsidiaries
      taken as a whole.

            (b)   Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company, its
      subsidiaries and its properties (i) are in compliance with any and all
      Environmental Laws, (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other
      approvals required under applicable



                                       -7-
<PAGE>   8

      Environmental Laws to conduct its business 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 individually or in the aggregate materially adversely affect the
      business, operations, affairs, properties, prospects, profits or
      conditions (financial or other) of the Company and its subsidiaries taken
      as a whole.

            (c)   The Company engages environmental consultants to perform
      phase I environmental site assessments in accordance with the ASTM
      Standard to identify any environmental conditions prior to the purchase of
      its properties. On the basis of such phase I environmental site
      assessments, or such additional investigations as may have been performed
      based on the findings of a phase I assessment, and, except as described in
      the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries have reasonably concluded
      that no such environmental conditions exist which would, individually or
      in the aggregate, materially adversely affect the business, operations,
      affairs, properties, prospects, profits or conditions (financial or other)
      of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

            (d)   As used herein, "Hazardous Material" shall include, without
      limitation any flammable explosives, radioactive materials, hazardous
      materials, hazardous wastes, hazardous or toxic substances, or related
      materials, asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls ("PCBs"), petroleum
      products and by-products and substances defined or listed as "hazardous
      substances," "toxic substances," "hazardous waste," or "hazardous
      materials" in any Federal, state or local Environmental Law.

            (e)   As used herein, "Environmental Law" shall mean all laws,
      regulations or ordinances of any Federal, state or local governmental
      authority having or claiming jurisdiction over any of its properties (a
      "Governmental Authority") that are designed to protect public health and
      the environment or regulate the handling of Hazardous Materials,
      including, without limitation, the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
      Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section
      9601 et seq.) ("CERCLA"), the Hazardous Material Transportation Act, as
      amended (49 U.S.C. Section 1801 et seq.), the Resource Conservation and
      Recovery Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 6901 et seq.), the Federal
      Water Pollution Control Act, as amended (33 U.S.C. Section 1251 et seq.),
      and the Clean Air Act, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 7401 et seq.), and
      any and all analogous future federal or present or future state or local
      laws.

        (xviii)   No labor disturbance exists with the employees of the
      Company or its subsidiaries or is imminent which would materially
      adversely affect the business, operations, affairs, properties, prospects,
      profits or conditions (financial or other) of the Company and its
      subsidiaries taken as a whole.

          (xix)   The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or 
      indirectly, any action designed to or which might reasonably be expected
      to cause or result in


                                       -8-
<PAGE>   9

      stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock, and the
      Company is not aware of any such action taken or to be taken by affiliates
      of the Company.

           (xx)   The Company is not an "investment company" or a company
      "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the
      Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (xxi)   The mortgages and deeds of trust encumbering the properties
      and assets described in the Prospectus are not convertible nor does the
      Company hold a participating interest therein.

         (xxii)   Property and casualty insurance in favor of the Company is
      maintained with respect to each of the properties owned by it in an amount
      and on such terms as is reasonable and customary for businesses of this
      type.

        (xxiii)   The Company has continuously been organized and operated in
      conformity with the requirements for qualification as a real estate
      investment trust under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
      "Code") for all taxable years commencing with its taxable year ended
      December 31, 1984. The Company has filed an election to be taxed as a real
      estate investment trust for all subsequent taxable years, and no such
      election has been terminated. The Company's method of operation will
      permit it to continue to meet the requirements for taxation as a real
      estate investment trust under the Code. The Company intends to continue to
      operate in a manner which would permit it to qualify as a real estate
      investment trust under the Code.

         (xxiv)   Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, each entity
      identified in the Prospectus as a tenant of any property, or a subtenant
      thereof, has entered into a lease or a sublease, if applicable, for the
      possession of such property; except as disclosed in the Prospectus, each
      such lease is in full force and effect and neither the Company nor any of
      its subsidiaries has notice of any defense to the obligations of the
      tenant thereunder or any claim asserted or threatened by any person or
      entity, which claim, if sustained, would materially adversely affect the
      business, operations, affairs, properties, prospects, profits or
      conditions (financial or other) of the Company and its subsidiaries taken
      as a whole; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the lessor under
      each lease has complied with its obligations under such lease in all
      material respects and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
      notice of any default by the tenant under such lease which, individually
      or in the aggregate with other such defaults, would materially adversely
      affect the business, operations, affairs, properties, prospects, profits
      or conditions (financial or other) of the Company and its subsidiaries
      taken as a whole.

          (xxv)   Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
      delivered to you or to your counsel shall be deemed a representation and
      warranty by the Company to you as to the matters covered thereby.

                                       -9-
<PAGE>   10

         (xxvi)   A registration statement relating to the Common Stock of
      the Company has been declared effective by the Commission pursuant to the
      Exchange Act and the Common Stock of the Company is duly registered
      thereunder. The Shares have been listed on the New York Stock Exchange,
      subject to notice of issuance or sale of the Shares, as the case may be.

        (xxvii)   The Agreement and Plan of Merger by and among the Company,
      Net Lease Realty II, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, CNL
      Realty Advisors, Inc. (the "Advisor") and the stockholders of the Advisor
      has been consummated.

       4.   Additional Covenants.  The Company covenants and agrees with you
that:

            (a)   The Company will (i) prepare a Prospectus Supplement
      setting forth the number of Shares covered thereby and their terms not
      otherwise specified in the Prospectus pursuant to which the Shares are
      being issued, the name of the Underwriter and the number of Shares which
      the Underwriter has agreed to purchase, the price at which the Shares are
      to be purchased by the Underwriter from the Company and such other
      information as the Underwriter and the Company deem appropriate in
      connection with the offering of the Shares, and file the Prospectus in a
      form approved by you pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act no later than
      the Commission's close of business on the second business day following
      the date of the determination of the offering price of the Shares; (ii)
      not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
      Prospectus of which you shall not previously have been advised and
      furnished with a copy or to which you shall have reasonably objected in
      writing or which is not in compliance with the Rules and Regulations; and
      (iii) promptly notify you after it shall have received notice thereof of
      the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement becomes
      effective or when any supplement to the Prospectus has been filed.

            (b)   The Company will advise you promptly, after it shall
      receive notice or obtain knowledge thereof, of any request of the
      Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement
      to the Prospectus or for any additional information, or of the issuance by
      the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
      Registration Statement or the use of the Prospectus or of the institution
      or threatening of any proceedings for that purpose, and the Company will
      use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
      preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon
      as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.

            (c)   The Company will cooperate with you and your counsel in
      endeavoring to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of
      such jurisdictions as they may have designated and will make such
      applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be
      necessary for that purpose, provided the Company shall not be required to
      qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service
      of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or
      required to 


                                       -10-
<PAGE>   11

      file such a consent or to subject itself to taxation as doing business in
      any jurisdiction where it is not now so taxed. The Company will, from time
      to time, file such statements, reports, and other documents, as are or may
      be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period
      as you may reasonably request.

            (d)   The Company will deliver to you, without charge as many
      copies of the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by
      reference therein), or as it thereafter may be amended or supplemented, as
      you may from time to time reasonably request. The Company consents to the
      use of such Prospectus by you, both in connection with the offering or
      sale of the Shares and for such other purposes and for such period of time
      thereafter as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in
      connection with the offering or sale of the Shares. The Company will
      deliver to you at or before the Closing Date two conformed copies of the
      Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including all exhibits
      filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and all documents
      incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and will deliver to you such
      number of copies of the Registration Statement, without exhibits, and of
      all amendments thereto, as you may reasonably request.

            (e)   If, during the period in which a prospectus is required by
      law to be delivered by an underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as
      a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in your judgment or
      in the opinion of your counsel, it becomes necessary to amend or
      supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in
      light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is
      delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any
      time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the
      Company promptly will prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate
      amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so
      that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light
      of the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that
      the Prospectus will comply with law.

            (f)   The Company will make generally available to its
      shareholders and will file as an exhibit in a report pursuant to the
      Exchange Act, as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not
      later than 15 months after the effective date of the Registration
      Statement, an earnings statement in reasonable detail, covering a period
      of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of
      the Registration Statement, which earnings statement shall satisfy the
      requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and
      Regulations and will advise you in writing when such statement has been so
      made available.

            (g)   The Company will, for a period of five years from the
      Closing Date, deliver to you at your principal executive offices a
      reasonable number of copies of annual reports, quarterly reports, current
      reports and copies of all other documents, reports and information
      furnished by the Company to its shareholders or filed with any securities
      exchange pursuant to the requirements of such exchange or with the
      Commission pursuant to the Act or the Exchange Act. The Company will
      deliver to you similar reports with respect to any significant
      subsidiaries, as that term is defined 


                                       -11-
<PAGE>   12

      in the Rules and Regulations, which are not consolidated in the Company
      financial statements. Any report, document or other information required
      to be furnished under this paragraph (g) shall be furnished as soon as
      practicable after such report, document or information becomes available.

            (h)   The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the
      Shares as set forth in the description under "Use of Proceeds" in the
      Prospectus, which description complies in all respects with the
      requirements of Item 504 of Regulation S-K.

            (i)   The Company will supply you with copies of all
      correspondence to and from, and all documents issued to and by, the
      Commission in connection with the registration of the Shares under the
      Act.

            (j)   Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will furnish to you,
      as soon as they have been prepared, copies of any unaudited interim
      consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for
      any periods subsequent to the periods covered by the financial statements
      appearing in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

            (k)   Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will not issue any
      press releases or other communications directly or indirectly and will
      hold no press conference, with respect to the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries, the financial condition, results of operations, business,
      properties, assets or liabilities of the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries, or the offering of the Shares, without your prior written
      consent.

            (l)   The Company will use its best efforts to obtain approval
      for, and maintain the listing of the Shares on, the New York Stock
      Exchange.

            (m)   The Company and its subsidiaries will maintain and keep
      accurate books and records reflecting their assets and maintain internal
      accounting controls which provide reasonable assurance that (1)
      transactions are executed in accordance with management's authorization,
      (2) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of
      the Company's consolidated financial statements and to maintain
      accountability for the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries, (3)
      access to the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries is permitted only
      in accordance with management's authorization, and (4) the recorded
      accounts of the assets of the Company and its subsidiaries are compared
      with existing assets at reasonable intervals.

            (n)   During any period in which a prospectus is required by law
      to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, the Company will promptly
      file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
      Sections 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

            (o)   The Company will continue to elect to qualify as a "real
      estate investment trust" under the Code, and will use its best efforts to
      continue to meet the requirements to qualify as a "real estate investment
      trust."


                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

       5.   Conditions of Underwriter's Obligation.  Your obligations, as
Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Shares, as provided herein, shall be
subject to the accuracy in all material respects, as of the dare hereof and
as of the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein, to the performance in all material respects by the Company
of its covenants and obligations hereunder, and to the following additional
conditions:

            (a)   All filings required by Rule 424 of the Rules and
      Regulations shall have been made. No stop order suspending the
      effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time,
      shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been
      initiated or, to your knowledge or the knowledge of the Company,
      threatened or contemplated by the Commission, and any request of the
      Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
      Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to
      your reasonable satisfaction.

            (b)   You shall not have disclosed in writing to the Company on
      or prior to the Closing Date, that the Registration Statement or
      Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto contains an untrue
      statement of fact which, in the opinion of your counsel, is material, or
      omits to state a fact which, in the opinion of such counsel, is material
      and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the
      statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
      made, not misleading.

            (c)   On the Closing Date, you shall have received the opinion of
      Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge, counsel for the Company, addressed to you
      and dated the Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in Schedule I
      attached hereto.

            (d)   You shall have received on the Closing Date, from Chapman
      and Cutler, your counsel, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date
      with respect to the incorporation of the Company, the validity of the
      Shares, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related
      matters as you may reasonably require; the Company shall have furnished to
      such counsel such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of
      enabling them to pass on such matters.

            (e)   You shall have received at or prior to the Closing Date
      from Chapman and Cutler a memorandum or memoranda, in form and substance
      satisfactory to you, with respect to the qualification for offering and
      sale by you of the Shares under state securities or Blue Sky laws of such
      jurisdictions as you may have designated to the Company.

            (f)   On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date, you
      shall have received from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, a letter or letters, dated
      the date of this Agreement and the Closing Date, respectively, in form and
      substance satisfactory to you, confirming that they are independent public
      accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and
      the published Rules and Regulations, and stating to the effect set forth
      in Schedule II hereto.



                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

            (g)   Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, (i) neither the
      Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of
      the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by
      reference in the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business
      from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
      insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
      order or decree; and (ii) subsequent to the respective dates as of which
      information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
      neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have incurred any
      liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or entered into
      transactions, and there shall not have been any change in the capital
      stock or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries or any change
      in the condition (financial or other), net worth, business, affairs,
      management, prospects or results of operations of the Company or its
      subsidiaries, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause
      (i) or (ii), is in your judgment so material or adverse as to make it
      impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
      delivery of the Shares being delivered on the Closing Date on the terms
      and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

            (h)   There shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a
      suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on
      the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or the
      establishing on such exchanges by the Commission or by such exchanges of
      minimum or maximum prices which are not in force and effect on the date
      hereof; (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities
      declared by either federal or state authorities; (iii) the outbreak or
      escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration
      by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect of any
      such event specified in this clause (iii) in your judgment makes it
      impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
      delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus; (iv)
      any calamity or crisis, change in national, international or world
      affairs, act of God, change in the international or domestic markets, or
      change in the existing financial, political or economic conditions in the
      United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in
      this clause (iv) makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
      public offering or the delivery of the Shares in the manner contemplated
      in the Prospectus; or (v) the enactment, publication, decree, or other
      promulgation of any federal or state statute, regulation, rule, or order
      of any court or other governmental authority, or the taking of any action
      by any federal, state or local government or agency in respect of fiscal
      or monetary affairs, if the effect of any such event specified in this
      clause (v) in your judgment makes it impracticable or inadvisable to
      proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares in the
      manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

            (i)   You shall have received certificates, dated the Closing
      Date and signed by the President and the Chief Financial Officer of the
      Company stating that (i) they have carefully examined the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all documents
      incorporated by reference therein and nothing has come to their attention
      that would lead them to believe that either the Registration Statement or
      the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto or any 


                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

      documents incorporated by reference therein as of their respective
      effective, issue or filing dates, contained, and the Prospectus as amended
      or supplemented and all documents incorporated by reference therein and
      when read together with the documents incorporated by reference therein,
      at the Closing Date, contains any untrue statement of a material fact, or
      omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
      in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
      under which they were made, not misleading, and, that (ii) all
      representations and warranties made herein by the Company are true and
      correct in all material respects at the Closing Date, with the same effect
      as if made on and as of the Closing Date, and all agreements herein to be
      performed by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date have been duly
      performed in all material respects.

            (j)   The Company shall not have failed, refused, or been unable,
      at or prior to the Closing Date to have performed in all material respects
      any agreement on their part to be performed or any of the conditions
      herein contained and required to be performed or satisfied by them at or
      prior to the Closing Date.

            (k)   The Company shall have furnished to you at the Closing Date
      such other certificates as you may have reasonably requested as to the
      accuracy, on and as of the Closing Date, of the representations and
      warranties of the Company herein and as to the performance by the Company
      of their obligations hereunder.

            (l)   The Shares shall have been approved for trading upon
      official notice of issuance on the New York Stock Exchange.

      All such opinions, certificates, letters and documents will be in 
compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory
to you and to Chapman and Cutler, your counsel. The Company will furnish you
with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents
as you may request.

      If any of the conditions specified above in this Section 5 shall not have
been satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date or waived by you in writing,
this Agreement may be terminated by you on notice to the Company.

       6.   Indemnification.  (a) The Company will indemnify and hold you
harmless and each person, if any, who controls you within the meaning of the
Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which you or such controlling person may become subject, under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or in any blue sky application or other document executed
by the Company or based on any information furnished in writing by the
Company, filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify any or all of the
Shares under the securities laws thereof ("Blue Sky Application"), or arise
out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the 


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16

circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and will reimburse you
and each such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by you or such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however,
that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any
such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or
such amendment or supplement, or any Blue Sky Application in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by you,
specifically for use in the preparation thereof; and provided, further, that if
any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus contained any alleged untrue
statement or allegedly omitted to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and
such statement or omission shall have been corrected in a revised Preliminary
Prospectus or in the Prospectus or in an amended or supplemented Prospectus, the
Company shall not be liable to you or controlling persons under this subsection
(a) with respect to such alleged untrue statement or alleged omission to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such person results
from the fact that you sold Shares to a person to whom there was not sent or
given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, such revised
Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or amended or supplemented Prospectus. In
addition to its other obligations under this Section 6(a), the Company agrees
that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, action,
investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon any
statement or omission, or any alleged statement or omission, described in this
Section 6(a), it will reimburse you on a monthly basis for all reasonable legal
and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any
such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding, notwithstanding
the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability
of the Company's obligation to reimburse you for such expenses and the
possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a
court of competent jurisdiction. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition
to any liabilities which the Company may otherwise have.

      (b)   You will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its
directors, each of its officers who have signed the Registration Statement
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person may
become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Blue Sky Application
or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, such Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, such amendment or supplement, or any Blue Sky
Application in reliance upon and in conformity with written 


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

information furnished to the Company by you specifically for use in the
preparation thereof; and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Company or any such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action. In addition to your other obligations under this Section
6(b), you agree that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim,
action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon
any statement or omission, or any alleged statement or omission, described in
this Section 6(b), you will reimburse the Company on a monthly basis for all
reasonable legal and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or
defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding,
notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and
enforceability of your obligation to reimburse the Company for such expenses and
the possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by
a court of competent jurisdiction. This indemnity agreement shall be in addition
to any liabilities which you may otherwise have.

      (c)   Any party which proposes to assert the right to be indemnified
under this Section 6 shall, within ten days after receipt of notice of
commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect
of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party under this
Section 6, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such
action, suit or proceeding, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the
omission so to notify such indemnifying party of any such action, suit or
proceeding shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6.  In
case any such action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against any
indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other
indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to
assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
such indemnified party for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable
costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof.  The indemnified party shall have the
right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i)
the employment of counsel by such indemnified party at the expense of the
indemnifying party has been authorized by the indemnifying party, (ii) the
indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel in a written
opinion that there may be a conflict of interest between the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party in the conduct of the defense, or certain
aspects of the defense, of such action (in which case the indemnifying party
shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action with respect to
those matters or aspects of the defense on which a conflict exists or may
exist on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iii) the indemnifying party
shall not in fact have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action,
in any of which events such fees and expenses to the extent applicable shall
be borne by the indemnifying party.  An indemnifying party shall not be
liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its
consent.  Each indemnified party, as a condition of such indemnity, shall
cooperate in good faith with the indemnifying party in the defense of any
such action or claim.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18

      (d)   If the indemnification provided for in this Section 6 is for any
reason, other than pursuant to the terms thereof, judicially determined (by
the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction
and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right to
appeal) to be unavailable to an indemnified party under subsections (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party
shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company and you from the offering of the Shares.  If, however, the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable
law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault, as
applicable, of the Company and you in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof), as well as other relevant equitable
considerations.  The relative benefits received by, as applicable, the
Company and you shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by
you, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Prospectus.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the 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 you and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.  The Company and you agree that it would not be just and equitable
if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection (d).
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include 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 subsection (d), you shall not be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable
to the Shares purchased by you.  No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.

       7.   Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery.  All
representations, warranties, and agreements of the Company contained herein
or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto, and your agreements contained
in Section 6 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any
investigation made by or on behalf of you or any controlling person, the
Company or any of its officers, directors or any controlling persons, and
shall survive delivery of the Shares to you hereunder.

                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19

       8.   Effective Date and Termination.  (a) This Agreement shall become
effective upon execution.

      (b)   This Agreement may be terminated by you at any time at or prior
to the Closing Date by notice to the Company if any condition specified in
Section 5 hereof shall not have been satisfied on or prior to the Closing
Date.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any
other party except as provided in Sections 6 and 9 hereof.

      If you terminate this Agreement as provided in Sections 8(b), you shall
notify the Company by telephone or telegram, confirmed by letter.

       9.   Cost and Expenses.  The Company will bear and pay the costs and
expenses incident to the registration of the Shares and public offering
thereof, including, without limitation, (a) the fees and expenses of the
Company's accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel for the Company,
(b) the preparation, printing, filing, delivery and shipping of the
Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any
amendments or supplements thereto (c) the furnishing of copies of such
documents to you, (d) the registration or qualification of the Shares for
offering and sale under the securities laws of the various states, including
the reasonable fees and disbursements of your counsel relating to such
registration or qualification, (e) the fees payable to the NASD (if any) and
the Commission in connection with their review of the proposed offering of
the Shares, (f) all printing and engraving costs related to preparation of
the certificates for the Shares, including transfer agent and registrar fees,
(g) all initial transfer taxes, if any, (h) all fees and expenses relating to
the authorization of the Shares for trading on the New York Stock Exchange,
(i) all travel expenses, including air fare and accommodation expenses, of
representatives of the Company in connection with the offering of the Shares
and (j) all of the other costs and expenses incident to the performance by
the Company of the registration and offering of the Shares; provided,
however, that you will bear and pay the fees and expenses of your counsel
(other than fees and disbursements relating to the registration or
qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws
of the various states), your out-of-pocket expenses, and any advertising
costs and expenses incurred by you incident to the public offering of the
Shares.

      If this Agreement is terminated by you in accordance with the provisions 
of Section 8(c), the Company shall reimburse you for all of your out-of-pocket
expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of your counsel.

      10.   Notices.  All notices or communications hereunder, except as
herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and if sent to
you shall be mailed, delivered, sent by facsimile transmission, or
telegraphed and confirmed c/o A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. at One North
Jefferson Avenue, St. Louis, Missouri 63103, Attention:  Syndicate, facsimile
number (314) 289-7387, or if sent to the Company shall be mailed, delivered,
sent by facsimile transmission, or telegraphed and confirmed to the Company
at _____________, facsimile number (___) ____-_______.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20

      11.   Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon you and the Company and their respective successors and
assigns.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, corporation or other entity, other
than the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns and the
controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 6, any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this
Agreement or any provision herein contained; this Agreement and all
conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole
and exclusive benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors
and assigns and said controlling persons and said officers and directors, and
for the benefit of no other person, corporation or other entity.  No
purchaser of any of the Shares from you shall be construed a successor or
assign by reason merely of such purchase.

      12.   Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed by any one or more
of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute
one and the same instrument.

      13.   Pronouns.  Whenever a pronoun of any gender or number is used
herein, it shall, where appropriate, be deemed to include any other gender
and number.

      14.   Applicable Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Missouri.




                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21


      If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please so 
indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter
shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and you.

                                        COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.

                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------------
                                        Title:
                                              ---------------------------------

Accepted in St. Louis,
Missouri as of the date
first above written.

A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.



By:
   ------------------------
Title:
      ---------------------


                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22

                                   SCHEDULE I

      (i)   The Company has been duly organized and formed, as the case may
be, and, in the case of an entity that is not a general partnership, is
validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the states or other
jurisdictions in which it is incorporated, with full power and authority
(corporate and other) to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct
their business as described in the Prospectus; the Company is duly qualified
to do business as foreign corporations in good standing in each state or
other jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of property or conduct
of business legally requires such qualification, except where the failure to
be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the ability of
the Company to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus.

     (ii)   Each of the subsidiaries that is organized in the United States
is a corporation duly organized and validly existing in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, with corporate power and
authority to own, lease, and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

    (iii)   The Company has duly and validly authorized capital stock as set
forth in the Prospectus; all outstanding shares of Common Stock of the
Company and the Shares conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus
under the heading "Description of Common Stock," and the outstanding shares
of Common Stock have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable; the Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly
authorized and, when delivered and paid for in accordance with this
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and the
shareholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the
Shares.

     (iv)   Such counsel has been advised by the staff of the Commission that
the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to the
knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or
contemplated under the Act.

      (v)   The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment
or supplement thereto, as of their respective effective or issue date, comply
as to form and appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all
material respects to the requirements of Form S-3 under the Act and the
applicable Rules and Regulations (except that such counsel need express no
opinion as to the financial statements or other financial data) and, as of
the date they were filed with the Commission, the documents incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus appear on their face to be appropriately
responsive in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and
the applicable 1934 Act Rules and Regulations (except that such counsel need
express no opinion as to the financial statements or other financial data).

     (vi)   The descriptions in the Registration Statement and Prospectus of
contracts and other documents filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
are accurate in all material 


<PAGE>   23

respects; all other material agreements between the Company and third parties
expressly referenced in the Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Company.

    (vii)   No authorization, approval, consent, order, registration or
qualification of or with of any court or governmental body, authority or
agency is required with respect to the Company in connection with the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as may be required
under the Act or the Rules and Regulations or as may be required by the NASD
or under state securities laws in connection with the purchase and
distribution of the Shares by you.

   (viii)   The filing of the Registration Statement has been duly authorized
by the Board of Directors of the Company.  This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.  The performance of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will
not result in a violation of the Company's articles of incorporation or
bylaws or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions
of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of
any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the Company
and its subsidiaries under, any statute, or under any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, note, loan agreement, sale and leaseback arrangement, or any
other agreement or instrument known to such counsel after due inquiry to
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which they are
bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company or its
subsidiaries are subject, or any order, rule or regulation known to such
counsel after due inquiry of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries or their properties,
except, in the case of any such violation, breach, default, creation or
imposition, to such extent as does not materially adversely affect the
business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.

     (ix)   To the knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry, (A) there are
no material (individually, or in the aggregate) legal, governmental or
regulatory proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any
subsidiary is a party or of which the business or properties of the Company
or any subsidiary is the subject which are not disclosed in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; (B) there are no contracts or documents of a
character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which
are not described or filed as required; and (C) there are no statutes or
regulations required to be described in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus which are not described as required.

      (x)   To the knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry, the Company
and each of its subsidiaries hold all licenses, certificates, permits and
approvals from all state, federal and other regulatory authorities, and have
satisfied in all material respects the requirements imposed by regulatory
bodies, administrative agencies or other governmental bodies, agencies or
officials, that are required for the Company and its subsidiaries lawfully to
own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described
in the Prospectus, and, to the knowledge of such counsel after due inquiry,
each of the Company and its subsidiaries is conducting its business in
compliance in all material respects with all of the laws, rules and
regulations of each jurisdiction in which it conducts its business.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   24

     (xi)   The statements made in the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Common Stock," "Description
of Common Stock Warrants," "ERISA Considerations" and "Federal Income Tax
Considerations" to the extent that they constitute summaries of documents
referred to therein or matters of law or legal conclusions, have been
reviewed by such counsel and are accurate summaries and fairly present the
information disclosed therein.

    (xii)   The Company is not an "investment company" or a company
"controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.

   (xiii)   CNL Realty was a "real estate investment trust" as defined by
section 856(a) for its taxable years ended December 31, 1984 through December
31, 1997, and its proposed method of operation will enable it to meet the
requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for its taxable year
ending December 31, 1998 and for all future taxable years.

    (xiv)   The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplements
or amendments thereto (except for the financial statements and the notes
thereto and the schedules and other financial and statistical data included
therein, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) company as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act; and each of
the incorporated documents (except for the financial statements and the notes
thereto and the schedules and other financial and statistical data included
therein, as to which counsel need not express any opinion) complies as to
form in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder;

     (xv)   Although such counsel has not undertaken to determine
independently, and does not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy or
completeness of the statements in the Registration Statement, such counsel
has participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, including review and discussion of the contents thereof
(including review and discussion of the contents of all incorporated
documents), and nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that has
caused them to believe that the Registration Statement (including the
incorporated documents) at the time the Registration Statement became
effective, or the Prospectus, as of its date and as of the Closing Date,
contained an 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 no misleading or that any amendment or supplement to
Prospectus, as of its respective date, and as of the Closing Date, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (it being understood
that such counsel need express no opinion with respect to the financial
statements and the notes thereto and the schedules and other financial and
statistical data included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
any incorporated document).

    (xvi)   To such counsel's knowledge, except as described in the
Prospectus, there are no outstanding options, warrants or other rights
calling for the issuance of any shares of 



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   25

capital stock of the Company or any security convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for capital stock of the Company.

   (xvii)   To such counsel's knowledge, no holder of any security of the
Company has any right to require registration of shares of Common Stock or
any other security of the Company because of the filing of the Registration
Statement or consummation of the transactions by this Agreement.



                                      -4-
<PAGE>   26


                                  SCHEDULE II

     Pursuant to Section 5(f) of the Underwriting Agreement, KPMG Peat Marwick 
LLP shall furnish letters to you to the effect that:

            (i)   They are independent certified public accountants with
      respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act
      and the applicable Rules and Regulations thereunder.

           (ii)   In their opinion, the financial statements and any
      supplementary financial information and schedules audited (and, if
      applicable, prospective financial statements and/or pro forma financial
      information examined) by them and included or incorporated by reference in
      the Prospectus or the Registration Statement comply as to form in all
      material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
      and the applicable Rules and Regulations with respect to registration
      statements on Form S-3; and, if applicable, they have made a review in
      accordance with standards established by the American Institute of
      Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited consolidated interim
      financial statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial
      information, prospective financial statements and/or condensed financial
      statements derived from audited financial statements of the Company for
      the periods specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports
      thereon, copies of which have been furnished to you.

          (iii)   On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
      audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, consisting
      of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other information
      referred to below, performing the procedures specified by the AICPA for a
      review of interim financial information as discussed in SAS No. 71,
      Interim Financial Information, on the latest available interim financial
      statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the minute
      books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the latest
      audited financial statements included in the Prospectus, inquiries of
      officials of the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial
      and accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
      specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them
      to believe that:

                  (A)   any material modifications should be made to the
          unaudited statements of consolidated income, statements of
          consolidated financial position and statements of consolidated cash
          flows included in the Prospectus for them to be in conformity with
          generally accepted accounting principles, or the unaudited statements
          of consolidated income, statements of consolidated financial position
          and statements of consolidated cash flows included in the Prospectus
          do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
          accounting requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and
          Regulations thereunder.



<PAGE>   27

                  (B)   any other unaudited income statement data and balance
          sheet items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the
          corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements
          from which such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited
          data and items were not determined on a basis substantially consistent
          with the basis for the corresponding amounts in the audited
          consolidated financial statements included in the Prospectus.

                  (C)   the unaudited financial statements which were not
          included in the Prospectus but from which were derived any unaudited
          condensed financial statements referred to in Clause (A) and any
          unaudited income statement data and balance sheet items included in
          the Prospectus and referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a
          basis substantially consistent with the basis for the audited
          consolidated financial statements included in the Prospectus.

                  (D)   any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed
          financial statements included in the Prospectus do not comply as to
          form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
          requirements of the Act and the published rules and regulations
          thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied
          to the historical amounts in the compilation of those statements.

                  (E)   as of a specified date not more than five days prior
          to the date of such letter, there have been any changes in the
          consolidated capital stock or any increase in the consolidated
          long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, or any decreases
          in consolidated working capital, net current assets or net assets, or
          any changes in any other items specified by you, in each case as
          compared with amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included in
          the Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases or
          decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or
          which are described in such letter.

                  (F)   for the period from the date of the latest financial
          statements included in the Prospectus to the specified date referred
          to in Clause (E) there were any decreases in consolidated net revenues
          or operating profit or the total or per share amounts of consolidated
          net income or any changes in any other items specified by you, in each
          case as compared with the comparable period of the preceding year and
          with any other period of corresponding length specified by you, except
          in each case for changes, decreases or increases which the Prospectus
          discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
          letter.

          (iv)   In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s)
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited
procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures
referred to in paragraph (iii) above, they have carried out certain specified
procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted
auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and
financial information specified by you, which are derived 



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   28

from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries for the
periods covered by their reports and any interim or other periods since the
latest period covered by their reports, which appear in the Prospectus, or in
Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement
specified by you, and have compared certain of such amounts, percentages and
financial information with the accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement.



                                      -3-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 3.4

                             ARTICLES OF AMENDMENT
                                       TO
                         THE ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
                                       OF
                       COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC.

         COMMERCIAL NET LEASE REALTY, INC. (the "Corporation"), a corporation
organized and existing under the laws of the State of Maryland, does hereby
certify as follows:

         FIRST:  The name of the Corporation is Commercial Net Lease Realty,
Inc.

         SECOND: Section One of Article Seventh of the Articles of
Incorporation of the Corporation is hereby deleted in its entirety and amended
and restated to read as follows:

         SECTION 1.  TOTAL CAPITALIZATION.

         The total number of shares of all classes of capital stock that the
Corporation has authority to issue is one hundred million (180,000,000) shares,
consisting of (i) ninety million (90,000,000) shares of common stock, par value
$0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"), and (ii) ninety million (90,000,000)
shares of excess stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Excess Stock").  The
aggregate par value of all of the authorized shares of all classes of capital
stock having a par value is $1,800,000.00.

         THIRD:  The foregoing amendment to the Corporation's Articles of
Incorporation was advised by a resolution adopted by the Corporation's Board of
Directors at a meeting held on June 9, 1997, and approved by the Corporation's
stockholders at the Corporation's Annual Meeting, held on December 18, 1997.

         FOURTH: Prior to this amendment, the Corporation had authority to
issue 100,000,000 shares of capital stock with an aggregate par value of
$1,000,000.00, consisting of (i) fifty million (50,000,000) shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share, and (ii) fifty million (50,000,000) shares of
excess stock, par value $0.01 per share.

         FIFTH:  These Articles of Amendment do not change the information
required by subsection (b)(2)(i) of Section 2-607 of the General Corporation
Law of Maryland.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, these Articles of Amendment are hereby executed by
Gary M. Ralston, the President of the Corporation, who hereby acknowledges that
the Articles of Amendment are the act of the Corporation, and who does hereby
state under the penalties of perjury that the matters and facts set forth
herein with respect to authorization and approval of such Articles are true in
all material respects to the best of his knowledge, information and belief.

                                        By:     /s/ Gary M. Ralston    
                                                -----------------------
                                                Gary M. Ralston
                                                President
                                        
                                        Date:   February 16, 1998

ATTEST
By:      /s/ Kevin B. Habicht     
         -------------------------
         Kevin B. Habicht
         Assistant Secretary

Date:   February 16, 1998






<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 5


                [LETTERHEAD OF SHAW PITTMAN POTTS & TROWBRIDGE]

                               February 19, 1998

Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc.
400 East South Street
Suite 500
Orlando, Florida  32801

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         We have acted as counsel to Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc., a
Maryland corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-3, Registration No. 333-24773 (the "Registration
Statement"), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and declared
effective by the Commission on April 22, 1997.  Pursuant to the Registration
Statement, the Company proposes to issue and sell 688,172 shares of common
stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock") to the public through
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. pursuant to the terms set forth in the prospectus
supplement dated February 19, 1998 (the "Prospectus Supplement") to the
prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement.

         Based upon our examination of the originals or copies of such
documents, corporate records, certificates of officers of the Company and other
instruments as we have deemed necessary and upon the laws as presently in
effect, we are of the opinion that the Common Stock has been duly authorized
for issuance by the Company, and that upon issuance and delivery in accordance
with the purchase agreement referred to in the Prospectus Supplement, the
Common Stock will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Prospectus Supplement.  We also consent to the reference to Shaw Pittman Potts
& Trowbridge under the caption "Legal Matters" in the Prospectus Supplement.



                                        Very truly yours,

                                        /s/ Shaw Pittman Potts & Trowbridge

                                        SHAW PITTMAN POTTS & TROWBRIDGE







<PAGE>   1
                                                                       EXHIBIT 8

                [LETTERHEAD OF SHAW PITTMAN POTTS & TROWBRIDGE]

                               February 19, 1998


Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc.
400 E. South Street
Suite 500
Orlando, Florida  32801

A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc.
One North Jefferson Avenue
St. Louis, Missouri 63103

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         On April 8, 1997, Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc. ("CNL Realty")
filed a registration statement on Form S-3, file number 333-24773 (the
"Registration Statement"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission, which
was declared effective on April 22, 1997.  In connection with the filing of a
prospectus supplement on February 19, 1998, you have asked us to render an
opinion with respect to the qualification of Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc.
("CNL Realty") as a real estate investment trust ("REIT") under sections 856
through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code.  (Our references herein to "the Code"
are to the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, with respect to taxable
years ending on or after January 1, 1987, and to the Internal Revenue Code of
1954, as amended, with respect to taxable years ending on or before December
31, 1986.)(1)

         We have served as special counsel for CNL Realty in connection with
the filing of the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement and from time to
time in the past have represented CNL Realty on specific matters as requested
by CNL Realty.  Specifically for the purpose of this opinion, we have examined
and relied upon the following: copies of CNL Realty's Articles of Incorporation
and any amendments thereto; its Federal Forms 1120 for its taxable years 1984
through 1996 (in which tax returns we observe that CNL Realty has elected to be
treated as a real estate investment trust); the Registration Statement; the
Prospectus; the Prospectus Supplement; copies of executed leases covering real
property owned by CNL Realty; the Form 10-K filed on March 20, 1997; and its
Form S-11 Registration Statement as filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on August 15, 1984.

         We have not served as general counsel to CNL Realty and have not been
involved in decisions regarding the day-to-day operation of CNL Realty and its
properties.  We have, however, discussed the mode of operation of CNL Realty
with its officers with a view to learning information relevant to the opinions
expressed herein and have received and relied upon a certificate from CNL
Realty with respect to certain matters. A copy of the Certificate is attached.

         We have discussed with management of CNL Realty arrangements relating
to the management of its properties, the relationships of CNL Realty with
tenants of such properties, and certain terms of leases of such properties to
tenants, with a view to assuring that at the close of each quarter of the
taxable years covered by this opinion it met the asset composition requirements
set forth in section 856(c)(5), and with a view to assuring that, with respect
to years covered by this opinion, it satisfied the 95%, 75%, and 30% gross
income tests set forth in sections 856(c)(2), (3), and (4), respectively.  We
have further reviewed with management of CNL Realty the requirements that the
beneficial ownership of a REIT be held by 100 or more persons for at least
335/365ths of each taxable year and that a REIT must satisfy the diversity of
ownership requirements of section 856(h) as such requirements existed in the
years covered by this opinion, and we have been advised by management that at
all times during the years covered by this opinion (and specifically on each
record date for the payment of dividends during 1984 through the date hereof)
CNL Realty has had more than 1,000 shareholders of record, that CNL Realty
maintains the records required by section 1.857-8 of the Treasury Regulations,
that no later than January 30 of each year it sent the demand required by
section 1.857-8(d) of the Treasury Regulations to each shareholder of record
owning




- ----------------------------------

1/ All section references herein are to the Code or to the regulations issued
thereunder.


<PAGE>   2
one percent or more of the outstanding shares of CNL Realty on the appropriate
date required by said regulation, and that the actual ownership of CNL Realty
shares was such that, to the best knowledge of its management (based upon
responses to the aforesaid demands, any filing of a Schedule 13D under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or any other sources of
information), CNL Realty satisfied the applicable requirements of section
856(h).  Further, we have examined various property leases and lease
supplements relating to the properties that CNL Realty owns, and although
leases relating to certain properties that CNL Realty owns have not been made
available to us, CNL Realty has represented with respect to such leases that
they do conform in all material respects to a form of lease agreement provided
to us.  On the basis of discussions with management of CNL Realty, we are not
aware that CNL Realty's election to be a REIT has been terminated or challenged
by the Internal Revenue Service or any other party, or that CNL Realty has
revoked its election to be a REIT for any such prior year so as to make CNL
Realty ineligible to qualify as a REIT for the years covered by this opinion.

         In rendering the opinions set forth herein, we are assuming that
copies of documents examined by us are true copies of originals thereof and
that the information concerning CNL Realty set forth in CNL Realty's Federal
income tax returns, and in the Prospectus Supplement, as well as the
information provided us by CNL Realty's management are true and correct.  We
have no reason to believe that such assumptions are not warranted.

         Based upon the foregoing, we are of the opinion that: (a) CNL Realty
was a "real estate investment trust" as defined by section 856(a) for its
taxable years ended December 31, 1984 through December 31, 1996, and its
proposed method of operation will enable it to meet the requirements for
qualification and taxation as a REIT for its taxable year ending December 31,
1997 and for all future taxable years, and (b) CNL Realty's wholly owned
subsidiaries, Net Lease Realty I, Inc. and Net Lease Realty II, Inc., were each
"qualified REIT subsidiaries" as defined by section 856(i) for CNL Realty's
taxable year ending December 31, 1996, and their proposed ownership, as well as
the proposed ownership of two additional wholly owned subsidiaries, Net Lease
Realty III, Inc.  and Net Lease Realty IV, Inc., will enable them to meet the
requirements for treatment as qualified REIT subsidiaries for CNL Realty's
taxable year ending December 31, 1997 and for all future taxable years.  With
respect to the 1997 year and all future years, however, we note that CNL
Realty's status as a real estate investment trust at any time is dependent
among other things upon its meeting the requirements of section 856 throughout
the year and for the year as a whole.

         This opinion is based upon the existing provisions of the Code (or
predecessor provisions, as applicable), rules and regulations (including
proposed regulations) promulgated thereunder, and reported administrative and
judicial interpretations thereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly
with retroactive effect.  This opinion is limited to the specific matters
covered hereby and should not be interpreted to imply that the undersigned has
offered its opinion on any other matter.

         We hereby confirm that the statements set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement under the heading "Federal Income Tax Considerations," to the extent
that they constitute matters of law or legal conclusions with respect thereto,
are correct in all material respects.

         We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Prospectus Supplement.  We also consent to the reference to Shaw Pittman Potts
& Trowbridge under the captions "Federal Income Tax Considerations"  and "Legal
Matters" in the Prospectus Supplement.  In giving such consent, we do not
consider that we are "experts," within the meaning of the term used in the Act
or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
promulgated thereunder, with respect to any part of the Prospectus Supplement,
including this opinion as an exhibit or otherwise.

                                              Very truly yours,
                                              
                                              SHAW PITTMAN POTTS & TROWBRIDGE
                                              
                                              By:  Charles B. Temkin, P.C.     
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                   Charles B. Temkin, P.C.






<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2

                     [Letterhead of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP]


              Consent of Independent Certified Public Accountants

The Board of Directors
Commercial Net Lease Realty, Inc.:

We consent to the use of our reports incorporated herein by reference and to
the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus.

                                        /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
Orlando, Florida
February 18, 1998








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