EXHIBIT 5.1
[Greenberg Traurig, P.A. Letterhead]
October 15, 2007
Equity One, Inc.
1600 N.E. Miami Gardens Drive
North Miami Beach, FL 33179
1600 N.E. Miami Gardens Drive
North Miami Beach, FL 33179
Re: Equity One, Inc. — Registration Statement on Form S-4
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Equity One, Inc. (the “Company”), a Maryland corporation, and each of the subsidiaries of the Company named in the Registration Statement described below (the “Guarantors”) that are party, along with U.S. Bank National Association (the “Trustee”), to the Supplemental Indenture No. 11 dated as of April 18, 2007 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to the Indenture dated as of September 9, 1998 (as amended and supplemented through the date hereof, including without limitation pursuant to the Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), in connection the Company’s offer (the “Exchange Offer”) to exchange its outstanding original 6.00% Senior Notes due 2017 for new 6.00% Senior Notes due 2017 (the “Exchange Notes”) unconditionally guaranteed as to the payment of principal and interest (each a “Guaranty,” and collectively the “Guarantees,” and, collectively with the Exchange Notes, the “Securities”) by the Guarantors. The Securities are being offered for exchange pursuant to the registration statement on Form S-4 to be filed on or about the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”) by the Company and the Guarantors, under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”).
In connection with our representation of the Company and the Guarantors, and as a basis for the opinion hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of the following:
1. the Registration Statement;
2. the Indenture; and
3. the form of the Exchange Note and Guaranty.
We have also examined the originals, or duplicates or certified or conformed copies, of such other records, agreements, instruments and other documents and have made such other investigation as we have deemed relevant and necessary in connection with the opinions expressed herein. As to questions of fact material to this opinion, we have relied without independent investigation as to the accuracy of such documents, records and instruments upon certificates of public officials and of officers and representatives of the Company or the Guarantors.
Equity One, Inc.
October 15, 2007
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October 15, 2007
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In rendering the opinions set forth below, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of natural persons, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as duplicates or certified or conformed copies and the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:
1. Assuming the due authorization and execution of the Exchange Notes by the Company, when issued and delivered by the Trustee in accordance with the terms of the Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Certificate of Authentication by the Trustee), and delivered to, and paid for by, the purchasers, such Exchange Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company under the laws of the State of Georgia entitled to the benefits provided for by the Indenture and will be enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms under the laws of the State of Georgia; and
2. Assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the Guarantees by each Guarantor (other than those Guarantors organized under the laws of the States of Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Massachusetts, and Texas), each Guarantee constitutes a valid and legally binding obligation of such Guarantor.
The opinions set forth above are subject to (i) the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, (ii) general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), (iii) the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought and (iv) to the extent required by any jurisdiction in which the Securities are being executed in, the payment of any documentary stamp taxes that may be due in connection therewith. The opinions set forth above are also subject to the qualification that certain provisions of the Indenture or the Securities in whole or in part, may not be enforceable, although the inclusion of such provisions does not render such instruments invalid, and such instruments and the laws of the State of Georgia contain adequate remedial provisions for the practical realization of the rights and benefits afforded thereby.
We express no opinion with respect to:
(A) the effect of any provision of the Indenture or the Securities which is intended to permit modification or waiver thereof only by means of an agreement signed in writing by the parties thereto;
Equity One, Inc.
October 15, 2007
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October 15, 2007
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(B) the effect of any provision of the Indenture or the Securities imposing penalties or forfeitures or any late charges, prepayment penalties, default interest or other similar provisions which may be deemed to constitute penalties;
(C) the enforceability of any provision of any of the Indenture or the Securities to the extent that such provision constitutes a waiver of illegality as a defense to performance of contract obligations;
(D) the effect of waivers of applicable statutes of limitations;
(E) the enforceability of any provision of the Indenture or the Securities regarding the severability of clauses or provisions of that document;
(F) the effect of any provision of the Indenture or the Securities relating to indemnification or exculpation in connection with violations of any securities laws or relating to indemnification, contribution or exculpation in connection with willful, reckless or criminal acts or negligence of the indemnified or exculpated person or the person receiving contribution; and
(G) the enforceability of the provisions of the Indenture or the Securities (i) restricting access to legal or equitable remedies, (ii) purporting to waive or affect any rights to notices, (iii) allowing any party to declare indebtedness due and payable without notice (as some courts have held that acceleration may not be made except by an unequivocal act of the holder evidencing acceleration, which may include notice to the debtor), (iv) covenanting to take action the taking of which is discretionary with or subject to the approval of a third party or which is otherwise subject to contingencies the fulfillment of which are not within the control of the parties so covenanting, (v) providing for nonjudicial foreclosure, (vi) providing for specific performance and appointment of a receiver, (vii) providing that the failure of the Trustee or any holder of Securities to exercise any right, remedy or option under the documents shall not operate as a waiver, or (viii) purporting to establish evidentiary standards for suit or proceedings to enforce said documents.
We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinion expressed herein after the date hereof.
This opinion is being furnished to the Company solely for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and, accordingly, may not be relied upon by, quoted in any manner to, or delivered to any other person or entity without, in each instance, our prior written consent.
We do not express any opinion herein concerning any law other than the laws of the State of Florida, Georgia, The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Texas, the federal law of the United States of America, the Delaware General Corporation Law, and the Delaware Limited Liability Company Law.
Equity One, Inc.
October 15, 2007
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October 15, 2007
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We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Registration Statement and to the use of the name of our firm herein. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Act.
Very truly yours, | ||||
/s/ Greenberg Traurig, LLP | ||||
GREENBERG TRAURIG, LLP | ||||
GREENBERG TRAURIG, P.A. | ||||
By: | /s/ Ira N. Rosner | |||