O Realty Income Corporation

United States

Securities and Exchange Commission

Washington, D.C. 20549

Form 8-K

Current Report

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of report:  July 30, 2015

REALTY INCOME CORPORATION

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

11995 El Camino Real, San Diego, California 92130
(Address of principal executive offices)

(858) 284-5000
(Registrant’s telephone number, including area code)

N/A
(former name or former address, if changed since last report)

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

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

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

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

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

Item 8.01              Other Events

On July 30, 2015, Realty Income Corporation (the “Company”) filed a prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in its registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-186788) with the Securities and Exchange Commission.  The prospectus supplement was filed in connection with the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan under which it is offering 16,557,958 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share.

In connection with the filing of the prospectus supplement, the Company is filing as Exhibit 5.1 hereto an opinion of its counsel, Venable LLP, regarding the validity of the securities being registered.  Additionally, in connection with the filing of the prospectus supplement, the Company is filing as Exhibit 8.1 hereto an opinion of its counsel, Latham & Watkins LLP, with respect to tax matters.

Item 9.01                                   Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d)  Exhibits

5.1                                                       Opinion of Venable LLP.

8.1                                                       Opinion of Latham & Watkins LLP.

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SIGNATURE

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

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS

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Exhibit 5.1

[LETTERHEAD OF VENABLE LLP]

July 30, 2015

Realty Income Corporation

11995 El Camino Real

San Diego, California 92130

Re:                             Registration Statement on Form S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have served as Maryland counsel to Realty Income Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with certain matters of Maryland law arising out of the registration of 16,557,958 shares (the “Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”), to be issued from time to time pursuant to the Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan of the Company (the “Plan”).  The Shares are covered by the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3, and all amendments thereto (the “Registration Statement”), filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”).

In connection with our representation of the Company, 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 documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Documents”):

1.                                      The Registration Statement and the related form of prospectus included therein, substantially in the form in which it was transmitted to the Commission under the 1933 Act;

2.                                      The charter of the Company (the “Charter”), certified by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of Maryland (the “SDAT”);

3.                                      The Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

4.                                      A certificate of the SDAT as to the good standing of the Company, dated as of a recent date;

5.                                      Resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company relating to, among other matters, the registration and issuance of the Shares (the “Resolutions”), certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company;

6.                                      The Plan;

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July 30, 2015

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7.                                      A certificate executed by an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof; and

8.                                      Such other documents and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.

In expressing the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the following:

1.                                      Each individual executing any of the Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so.

2.                                      Each individual executing any of the Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so.

3.                                      Each of the parties (other than the Company) executing any of the Documents has duly and validly executed and delivered each of the Documents to which such party is a signatory, and such party’s obligations set forth therein are legal, valid and binding and are enforceable in accordance with all stated terms.

4.                                      All Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic.  The form and content of all Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Documents as executed and delivered.  All Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents.  All signatures on all Documents are genuine.  All public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete.  All representations, warranties, statements and information contained in the Documents are true and complete.  There has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Documents, and there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Documents, by action or omission of the parties or otherwise.

5.                                      The Shares will not be issued or transferred in violation of any restriction or limitation on transfer and ownership of shares of stock of the Company contained in the Charter.

Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein, it is our opinion that:

1.                                      The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Maryland and is in good standing with the SDAT.

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July 30, 2015

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2.                                      The issuance of the Shares has been duly authorized and, when and if issued and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the Resolutions, the Plan and the Registration Statement, the Shares will be (assuming that, upon issuance, the total number of shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding will not exceed the total number of shares of Common Stock that the Company is then authorized to issue under the Charter) validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

The foregoing opinion is limited to the laws of the State of Maryland and we do not express any opinion herein concerning any other law.  We express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Maryland, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers.  To the extent that any matter as to which our opinion is expressed herein would be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Maryland, we do not express any opinion on such matter.  The opinion expressed herein is subject to the effect of any judicial decision which may permit the introduction of parol evidence to modify the terms or the interpretation of agreements.

The opinion expressed herein is limited to the matters specifically set forth herein and no other opinion shall be inferred beyond the matters expressly stated.  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 you for submission to the Commission as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K relating to the Shares (the “Current Report”).  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Current Report and to the use of the name of our firm therein.  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 1933 Act.

Exhibit 8.1

Realty Income Corporation

11995 El Camino Real

San Diego, California 92130

Re:                             Realty Income Corporation

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We have acted as tax counsel to Realty Income Corporation, a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the inclusion by the Company of 16,557,958 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.01 per share, in the Company’s Dividend Reinvestment and Stock Purchase Plan, pursuant to a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 22, 2013 (Registration No. 333-186788) (as so filed and, if applicable, as amended, the “Registration Statement”), a base prospectus dated February 22, 2013 (the “Base Prospectus”), and a prospectus supplement dated July 30, 2015 (the “Prospectus Supplement,” and together with the information in Item 8.01 of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on October 21, 2013 (the “October Current Report”), and the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”).

You have requested our opinion concerning certain of the federal income tax considerations relating to the Company, including with respect to its election to be taxed as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”).  This opinion is based on certain assumptions and factual representations, including the facts set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus concerning the business, assets and governing documents of the Company and its subsidiaries.  We have also been furnished with, and with your consent have relied upon, certain representations made by the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to certain factual matters through a certificate of an officer of the Company, dated as of the date hereof (the “Officer’s Certificate”).

July 30, 2015

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In our capacity as tax counsel to the Company, we have made such legal and factual examinations and inquiries, including an examination of originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction of such documents, corporate records and other instruments, as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for purposes of this opinion.  For purposes of our opinion, we have not made an independent investigation or audit of the facts set forth in the above referenced documents or in the Officer’s Certificate.  In addition, in rendering this opinion we have assumed the truth and accuracy of all representations and statements made to us which are qualified as to knowledge or belief, without regard to such qualification.  In our examination, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the genuineness of all signatures thereon, the legal capacity of natural persons executing such documents and the conformity to authentic original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies.

We are opining herein only with respect to the federal income tax laws of the United States, and we express no opinion with respect to the applicability thereto, or the effect thereon, of other federal laws, the laws of any state or other jurisdiction or as to any matters of municipal law or the laws of any other local agencies within any state.

Based on such facts, and subject to the qualifications, assumptions, representations and limitations set forth herein, it is our opinion that:

1.              Commencing with the Company’s taxable year ended December 31, 1994, the Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and its proposed method of operation will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code; and

2.              The statements in the Base Prospectus under the caption “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” as supplemented by the statements in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption “Supplemental United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” and the statements in Item 8.01 in the October Current Report under the caption “Supplemental United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the statutes or regulations referred to therein, are accurate summaries in all material respects.

No opinion is expressed as to any matter not discussed herein.

This opinion is based on various statutory provisions, regulations promulgated thereunder and interpretations thereof by the Internal Revenue Service and the courts having jurisdiction over such matters, all of which are subject to change either prospectively or retroactively.  Any such change may affect the conclusions stated herein.  Also, any variation or difference in the facts from those set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Officer’s Certificate may affect the conclusions stated herein.  As described in the Prospectus, the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT trust depend upon the Company’s ability to meet the various requirements imposed under the Code, including through actual annual operating results, asset composition, distribution levels and diversity of stock ownership, the results of which have not been and will not be reviewed by Latham & Watkins LLP.  No assurance can be given that the actual results of the Company’s operation for any particular taxable year will satisfy such requirements.  This opinion is rendered as of the date of this letter, and we undertake no obligation to update this opinion subsequent to the date hereof.

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This opinion is rendered only to you and is solely for your benefit in connection with the Prospectus upon the understanding that we are not hereby assuming professional responsibility to any other person whatsoever.  This opinion may not be relied upon by you for any other purpose, or furnished to, quoted to, or relied upon by any other person, firm, or corporation, for any purpose, without our prior written consent, which may be granted or withheld in our discretion, except that this opinion may be relied on by persons entitled to rely on it pursuant to applicable provisions of federal securities law.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Prospectus, and to the reference to our firm name in the Prospectus under the captions “United States Federal Income Tax Considerations” and “Legal Matters.”  In giving this consent, we do not hereby admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.