PLACEMENT AGENT AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
January 26, 2023
Village Farms International, Inc.
0000-00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0
Dear Xx. XxXxxxxx:
This letter (the “Agreement”) constitutes the agreement between A.G.P./Alliance Global Partners (“AGP”) as co-lead placement agent, and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx & Co. (“Cantor”) as co-lead placement agent (each of AGP and Cantor a “Placement Agent” and collectively the “Placement Agents”) and Village Farms International, Inc., a corporation continued under the laws of the Province of Ontario (the “Company”), that the Placement Agents shall serve as the exclusive co-placement agents for the Company, on a “reasonable best efforts” basis, in connection with the proposed placement (the “Placement”) of the Company’s Common Shares, no par value (the “Common Shares” and the Common Shares to be sold pursuant to the Placement, the “Shares”) and warrants to purchase Common Shares (the “Warrants” and together and the Shares, the “Securities”).
The Securities actually placed by the Placement Agents are referred to herein as the “Placement Agent Securities”. The terms of the Placement shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the purchasers (each, a “Purchaser” and collectively, the “Purchasers”), and nothing herein constitutes that the Placement Agents would have the power or authority to bind the Company or any Purchaser, or an obligation for the Company will issue any Securities or complete the Placement. The Company expressly acknowledges and agrees that the Placement Agents’ obligations hereunder are on a reasonable best efforts basis only and that the execution of this Agreement does not constitute a commitment by the Placement Agents to purchase the Securities and does not ensure the successful placement of the Securities or any portion thereof or the success of the Placement Agents with respect to securing any other financing on behalf of the Company. The Placement Agents may retain other brokers or dealers to act as sub-agents or selected-dealers on its behalf in connection with the Placement. Certain affiliates of the Placement Agents may participate in the Placement by purchasing some of the Placement Agent Securities. The sale of Placement Agent Securities to any Purchaser will be evidenced by a securities purchase agreement (each, a “Purchase Agreement” and collectively, the “Purchase Agreements”) between the Company and such Purchaser, in a form reasonably acceptable to the Company and the Purchaser. Capitalized terms that are not otherwise defined herein have the meanings given to such terms in the Purchase Agreements. Prior to the signing of any Purchase Agreement, officers of the Company will be available to answer inquiries from prospective Purchasers.
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY; COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.
A. Representations of the Company. With respect to the Placement Agents and the Securities, each of the representations and warranties (together with any related disclosure schedules thereto) and covenants made by the Company to the Purchasers in the Purchase Agreements in connection with the Placement, is hereby incorporated herein by reference into this Agreement (as though fully restated herein) and is, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date, hereby made to, and in favor of, the Placement Agents. In addition to the foregoing, the Company represents and warrants that from the period commencing one hundred eighty days prior to the date of this Agreement, except as otherwise disclosed to the Placement Agents there have been no affiliations with any member firm of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) among the Company’s officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the Company, any five percent (5.0%) or greater securityholder of the Company, except as set forth in the Purchase Agreements.
B. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees to continue to retain (i) a firm of independent PCAOB registered public accountants for a period of at least five (5) years after the Closing Date and (ii) a competent transfer agent with respect to the Common Shares for a period of five (5) years after the Closing Date. In addition, from the date hereof until 90 days after the Closing Date, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary shall issue, enter into any agreement to issue or announce the issuance or proposed issuance of Common Shares or Common Share Equivalents, except that such restriction shall not apply with respect to an Exempt Issuance.
SECTION 2. REPRESENTATIONS OF THE PLACEMENT AGENTS. Each Placement Agent represents and warrants that it (i) is a member in good standing of FINRA, (ii) is registered as a broker/dealer under the Exchange Act, (iii) is licensed as a broker/dealer under the laws of the United States of America, applicable to the offers and sales of the Placement Agent Securities by the Placement Agent, (iv) is and will be a corporate body validly existing under the laws of its place of incorporation, (v) has full power and authority to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each Placement Agent will immediately notify the Company in writing of any change in its status with respect to subsections (i) through (v) above. Each Placement Agent covenants that it will use its reasonable best efforts to conduct the Placement hereunder in compliance with the provisions of this Agreement and the requirements of applicable law. The Placement Agents will not solicit or sell any of the Placement Agent Securities to persons resident or domiciled in Canada. Each Placement Agent further covenants that it will provide the Company with any information that it reasonably requires to fulfill any securities law filings in Canada or the United States, including in respect of Purchaser information.
SECTION 3. COMPENSATION. In consideration of the services to be provided for hereunder, the Company shall pay to AGP or its respective designees a cash fee of 2.75% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised from the sale of the Placement Agent Securities and shall pay to Cantor or its respective designees a cash fee of 2.75% of the aggregate gross proceeds raised from the sale of the Placement Agent Securities (collectively, the “Cash Fee”). The Cash Fee shall be paid on the Closing Date. The Company shall not be required to pay the Placement Agents any fees or expenses except for the Cash Fee. The Placement Agents reserve the right to reduce any item of compensation or adjust the terms thereof as specified herein in the event that a determination shall be made by FINRA to the effect that the Placement Agents’ aggregate compensation is in excess of FINRA Rules or that the terms thereof require adjustment.
SECTION 4. EXPENSES. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation: (i) all expenses incident to the issuance, delivery and qualification of the Placement Agent Securities (including all printing and engraving costs); (ii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s transfer agent; (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Placement Agent Securities; (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors; (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts) and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement; (vi) all filing fees, reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Placement Agent Securities for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the securities laws of any other country; (vii) the fees and expenses associated with including the Shares on the Trading Market; and (viii) up to $75,000 for reasonable and accountable expenses related to legal fees of counsel to the Placement Agents.
SECTION 5. INDEMNIFICATION.
A. To the extent permitted by law, with respect to the Placement Agent Securities, the Company will indemnify the Placement Agents and their affiliates, directors, officers, employees, members and controlling persons (within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act) against all losses, claims, damages, expenses and liabilities, as the same are incurred (including the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel), relating to or arising out of its activities hereunder or pursuant to this Agreement, except to the extent that any losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) are found in a final judgment (not subject to appeal) by a court of law to have resulted primarily and directly from the Placement Agents’ willful misconduct or gross negligence in performing the services described herein.
B. Promptly after receipt by the Placement Agents of notice of any claim or the commencement of any action or proceeding with respect to which the Placement Agents are entitled to indemnity hereunder, the Placement Agents will notify the Company in writing of such claim or of the commencement of such action or proceeding, but failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any obligation it may have hereunder, except and only
to the extent such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses. If the Company so elects or is requested by the Placement Agents, the Company will assume the defense of such action or proceeding and will employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agents and will pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. Notwithstanding the preceding sentence, the Placement Agents will be entitled to employ counsel separate from counsel for the Company and from any other party in such action if counsel for the Placement Agents reasonably determines that it would be inappropriate under the applicable rules of professional responsibility for the same counsel to represent both the Company and the Placement Agents. In such event, the reasonable fees and disbursements of no more than one such separate counsel will be paid by the Company, in addition to fees of local counsel. The Company will have the right to settle the claim or proceeding provided that the Company will not settle any such claim, action or proceeding without the prior written consent of the Placement Agents, which will not be unreasonably withheld.
C. The Company agrees to notify the Placement Agents promptly of the assertion against it or any other person of any claim or the commencement of any action or proceeding relating to a transaction contemplated by this Agreement.
D. If for any reason the foregoing indemnity is unavailable to the Placement Agents or insufficient to hold the Placement Agents harmless, then the Company shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the Placement Agents as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Placement Agents on the other, but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Placement Agents on the other that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any relevant equitable considerations. The amounts paid or payable by a party in respect of losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to above shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees and expenses incurred in defending any litigation, proceeding or other action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions hereof, each Placement Agent’s share of the liability hereunder shall not be in excess of the amount of fees actually received, or to be received, by each Placement Agent under this Agreement (excluding any amounts received as reimbursement of expenses incurred by each Placement Agent).
E. These indemnification provisions shall remain in full force and effect whether or not the transaction contemplated by this Agreement is completed and shall survive the termination of this Agreement, and shall be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have to any indemnified party under this Agreement or otherwise.
SECTION 6. ENGAGEMENT TERM. The Placement Agents’ engagement hereunder will be until the earlier of (i) January 31, 2023 and (ii) the Closing Date. The date of termination of this Agreement is referred to herein as the “Termination Date.” The Company may elect to terminate the engagement hereunder for any reason prior to the Termination Date but will remain responsible for fees and expenses pursuant to Section 3 hereof and fees with respect to the Placement Agent Securities if sold in the Placement. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the provisions concerning the Company’s obligation to pay any fees actually earned pursuant to Section 3 hereof, to pay expenses actually incurred pursuant to Section 3 hereof, and the provisions concerning confidentiality, indemnification and contribution contained herein will survive any expiration or termination of this Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated prior to the completion of the Placement, all fees and expenses due to the Placement Agents shall be paid by the Company to the Placement Agents as soon as practicable after the Termination Date (in the event such fees are earned or owed as of the Termination Date). Each Placement Agent agrees not to use any confidential information concerning the Company provided to such Placement Agent by the Company for any purposes other than those contemplated under this Agreement.
SECTION 7. PLACEMENT AGENT INFORMATION. The Company agrees that any information or advice rendered by each Placement Agent in connection with this engagement is for the confidential use of the Company only in their evaluation of the Placement and, except as otherwise required by law, the Company will not disclose or otherwise refer to the advice or information in any manner without each Placement Agent’s prior written consent.
SECTION 8. NO FIDUCIARY RELATIONSHIP. This Agreement does not create, and shall not be construed as creating rights enforceable by any person or entity not a party hereto, except those entitled hereto by virtue of the indemnification provisions hereof. The Company acknowledges and agrees that each Placement Agent is not and shall not be construed as a fiduciary of the Company and shall have no duties or liabilities to the equity holders or the creditors of the Company or any other person by virtue of this Agreement or the retention of the Placement Agents hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived.
SECTION 9. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE PLACEMENT AGENTS. The obligations of the Placement Agents, and the closing of the sale of the Placement Agent Securities hereunder are subject to the accuracy, when made and on the Closing Date, of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company contained herein and in the Purchase Agreement, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and in the Purchase Agreement, and to each of the following additional terms and conditions, except as otherwise disclosed to and acknowledged and waived by the Placement Agents:
A. All corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the authorization, form, execution, delivery and validity of each of this Agreement, the Placement Agent Securities, and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby with respect to the Placement Agent Securities shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Placement Agents.
B. The Placement Agents shall have received from outside U.S. counsel to the Company such counsel’s written opinion with respect to the Placement Agent Securities, and a written statement providing certain “10b-5” negative assurances in respect of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus Supplement, each addressed to the Placement Agents and dated as of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Placement Agents.
C. The Placement Agents shall have received customary certificates of the Company’s executive officers, as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties contains in the Purchase Agreement, and a certificate of the Company’s secretary certifying (i) that the Company’s charter documents are true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Placement are in full force and effect and have not been modified; and (iii) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company.
D. The Common Shares shall be registered under the Exchange Act and, as of the Closing Date, the Company shall have received approval to list or quote all Shares sold in the offering on the Trading Markets for which such approvals are required. The Company shall have taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of terminating the registration of the Common Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting or suspending from trading the Common Shares from the applicable Trading Markets, nor has the Company received any information suggesting that the Commission or the applicable Trading Markets are contemplating terminating such registration or listings.
E. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any governmental agency or body which would, as of the Closing Date, prevent the issuance or sale of the Placement Agent Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; and no injunction, restraining order or order of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Placement Agent Securities or materially and adversely affect or potentially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company.
F. The Company shall have entered into a Purchase Agreement with each of the Purchasers of the Placement Agent Securities and such agreements shall be in full force and effect and shall contain representations, warranties and covenants of the Company as agreed upon between the Company and the Purchasers.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 8 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, all obligations of the Placement Agents hereunder may be cancelled by the Placement Agents at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or orally. Any such oral notice shall be confirmed promptly thereafter in writing.
SECTION 10. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed entirely in such State. This Agreement may not be assigned by either party without the prior written consent of the other party. This Agreement shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto, and their respective successors and permitted assigns. Any right to trial by jury with respect to any dispute arising under this Agreement or any transaction or conduct in connection herewith is waived. Any dispute arising under this Agreement may be brought into the courts of the State of New York or into the Federal Court located in New York, New York and, by execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company hereby accepts for itself and in respect of its property, generally and unconditionally, the jurisdiction of aforesaid courts. Each party hereto hereby irrevocably waives personal service of
process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by delivering a copy thereof via overnight delivery (with evidence of delivery) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law. If either party shall commence an action or proceeding to enforce any provisions of this Agreement, then the prevailing party in such action or proceeding shall be reimbursed by the other party for its attorney’s fees and other costs and expenses incurred with the investigation, preparation and prosecution of such action or proceeding.
SECTION 11. ENTIRE AGREEMENT/MISCELLANEOUS. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement and understanding between the parties hereto, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings, relating to the subject matter hereof. If any provision of this Agreement is determined to be invalid or unenforceable in any respect, such determination will not affect such provision in any other respect or any other provision of this Agreement, which will remain in full force and effect. This Agreement may not be amended or otherwise modified or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by both the Placement Agents and the Company. The representations, warranties, agreements and covenants contained herein shall survive the Closing Date of the Placement and delivery of the Placement Agent Securities. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, all of which when taken together shall be considered one and the same agreement and shall become effective when counterparts have been signed by each party and delivered to the other party, it being understood that both parties need not sign the same counterpart. In the event that any signature is delivered by facsimile transmission or a .pdf format file, such signature shall create a valid and binding obligation of the party executing (or on whose behalf such signature is executed) with the same force and effect as if such facsimile or .pdf signature page were an original thereof.
SECTION 12. NOTICES. Any and all notices or other communications or deliveries required or permitted to be provided hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed given and effective on the earliest of (a) the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is sent to the email address specified on the signature pages attached hereto prior to 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on a business day, (b) the next business day after the date of transmission, if such notice or communication is sent to the email address on the signature pages attached hereto on a day that is not a business day or later than 6:30 p.m. (New York City time) on any business day, (c) the third business day following the date of mailing, if sent by U.S. internationally recognized air courier service, or (d) upon actual receipt by the party to whom such notice is required to be given. The address for such notices and communications shall be as set forth on the signature pages hereto.
SECTION 13. PRESS ANNOUNCEMENTS. The Company agrees that the Placement Agents shall, on and after the Closing Date, have the right to reference the Placement and each Placement Agent’s role in connection therewith in such Placement Agent’s marketing materials and on its website and to place advertisements in financial and other newspapers and journals, in each case at its own expense.
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth our agreement by signing and returning to the Placement Agents the enclosed copy of this Agreement.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| A.G.P./ALLIANCE GLOBAL PARTNERS | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
| Title: Managing Director | ||
| Address for notice: | ||
| 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx 00xx Xxxxx Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 Attn: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Email: xxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx | ||
| CANTOR XXXXXXXXXX & CO | ||
| By: | /s/ Xxxx Xxxxx | |
| Name: Xxxx Xxxxx | ||
| Title: Senior Managing Director and Head of Investment Banking | ||
| Address for notice: | ||
| 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Attn: Email: | ||
[Company signature page follows]
Accepted and Agreed to as of the date first written above:
| VILLAGE FARMS INTERNATIONAL, INC. | ||||
| By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
| Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
| Title: | Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer | |||
Address for notice:
0000-00xx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, X0X 0X0
