The South Financial Group, Inc. 75,000,000 Shares of Common Stock Underwriting Agreement
Exhibit 1.1
The South Financial Group, Inc.
75,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
June 19, 2009
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The South Financial Group, Inc., a South Carolina corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated (the “Underwriter”), an aggregate of 75,000,000 shares (the “Underwritten Shares”) of common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) and, at the option of the Underwriter, up to an additional 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Option Shares”). The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the “Shares.” The shares of Common Stock to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares are referred to herein as the “Stock.”
The Company hereby confirms its agreement with the Underwriter concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:
1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement (File No. 333-157706), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and any reference to “amend,” “amendment,” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing term sheet set forth on Annex C), the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): the Preliminary Prospectus dated June 18, 2009 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex D hereto.
“Applicable Time” means 8:30 A.M., New York City time, on June 19, 2009.
2. Purchase of the Shares by the Underwriter.
(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell the Underwritten Shares to the Underwriter as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees to purchase from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto at a price per share (the “Purchase Price”) of $0.945.
In addition, the Company agrees to issue and sell the Option Shares to the Underwriter as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase from the Company the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares.
The Underwriter may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Underwriter to the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date or later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.
(b) The Company understands that the Underwriter intends to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Underwriter is advisable, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriter may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of the Underwriter.
(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the account specified by the Company to the Underwriter in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on June 24, 2009, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Underwriter and the Company may agree upon in writing or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Underwriter in the written notice of the Underwriter’s election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date,” and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the “Additional Closing Date.”
Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Underwriter for the account of the Underwriter of the Shares to be purchased on such date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any
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transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Underwriter shall otherwise instruct. The certificates for the Shares will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Underwriter at the office of DTC or its designated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriter that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, 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 the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(b) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriter in its capacity as such) has not prepared, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex D hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in advance by the Underwriter. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken together with any Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, or filed prior to the first use of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
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they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(e) No Conflict of Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus with Registration Statement. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus does not include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(f) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, when such documents are filed with the Commission, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. In the past
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12 calendar months, the Company has filed all documents required to be filed by it prior to the date hereof with the Commission pursuant to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act.
(g) Organization and Qualification. The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of South Carolina and the Company is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which qualification is required, except where failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined herein). The Company’s subsidiaries (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively the “Subsidiaries”) are listed on Schedule 1 hereto. The Company’s only “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act) is Carolina First Bank. Except as otherwise stated on Schedule 1 hereto, each Subsidiary is a direct or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Each Subsidiary is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and is qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which qualification is required, except where failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(h) Bank Holding Company Act. The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”). The Company’s banking subsidiary holds the requisite authority from the South Carolina State Board of Financial Institutions to do business as a state-chartered banking corporation under the laws of the State of South Carolina. The Company and its banking subsidiary are in compliance in all material respects with all laws administered by and regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the Office of Thrift Supervision, and any other federal or state bank regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries (which shall include, for the avoidance of doubt, the U.S. Department of Treasury in respect of the TARP Capital Purchase Program) (the “Bank Regulatory Authorities”), other than where such failures to comply would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(i) Authorized Capital Stock. The Company had duly authorized and validly issued outstanding capitalization as set forth under the heading “Capitalization” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities, and conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. Except for options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and similar securities issued under the Company’s existing shareholder-approved equity compensation plans or as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company does not have outstanding any options to purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, shares of its capital stock or any such options, rights, convertible securities or obligations. Except for the conversion rights set forth on Schedule 2, with respect to each of the Subsidiaries (i) all the issued and outstanding shares of such Subsidiary’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws, were not issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase securities, and (ii) there are no outstanding options to purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, any securities or
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obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, shares of such Subsidiary’s capital stock or any such options, rights, convertible securities or obligations.
(j) Issuance, Sale and Delivery of the Shares. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in the manner set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and will conform in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. No preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of the Company exist with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company pursuant to this Agreement. Other than the holder(s) of the warrant and the preferred stock of the Company issued pursuant to the Capital Purchase Program of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, no stockholder of the Company has any right (which has not been waived or has not expired by reason of lapse of time) to require the Company to register the sale of any capital stock owned by such stockholder under the Registration Statement. No further approval or authority of the stockholders or the Board of Directors of the Company will be required for the issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company as contemplated herein.
(k) Due Execution, Delivery and Performance of the Agreement. The Company has full legal right, corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights and the application of equitable principles relating to the availability of remedies, and subject to 12 U.S.C. §1818(b)(6)(D) (or any successor statute) and similar bank regulatory powers and to the application of principles of public policy, and except as rights to indemnity or contribution, including but not limited to, indemnification provisions set forth in Section 7 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities law or the public policy underlying such laws.
(l) Accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which have expressed their opinion with respect to the consolidated financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2008, which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are registered independent public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “1933 Act Rules and Regulations”) and by the rules of the Public Accounting Oversight Board.
(m) No Conflicts, Defaults or Consents. The execution and performance of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not (i) violate any provision of the amended and restated articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or the organizational documents of any Subsidiary and (ii) except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, will not (x) result in the creation of any lien, charge, security interest or encumbrance upon any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms or provisions of, and will not conflict with, result in the breach or violation of, or constitute, either by itself or upon notice or the passage of time or both, a default under, or give rise to the accelerated due date of any payment due under, any agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, franchise, license, indenture, permit or other instrument to which any of the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any of the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective properties may be bound or affected or (y) violate any statute or any authorization, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or any regulatory body,
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administrative agency or other governmental agency or body applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body is required for the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for compliance with the Blue Sky laws and federal securities laws applicable to the offering of the Shares. For the purposes of this Agreement the term “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on the business, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that a “Material Adverse Effect” shall not be deemed to include any effects to the extent resulting from (i) changes in accounting principles generally accepted in the United States or regulatory accounting requirements applicable to banks or their holding companies generally, (ii) changes in laws, rules or regulations of general applicability or interpretations thereof, (iii) changes in general economic or market conditions in the United States or in the regions in which the Company and/or its Subsidiaries operate or conduct business or general changes in the industries in which the Company and/or its Subsidiaries participate, (iv) the announcement or disclosure of the sale of the Shares or other transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (v) effects caused by any event, occurrence or condition resulting from or relating to the taking of any action in accordance with this Agreement.
(n) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in material violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) Deposit Accounts. The deposit accounts of the Company’s banking subsidiary are insured up to the maximum amount provided by the FDIC and no proceedings for the modification, termination or revocation of any such insurance are pending or threatened.
(p) No Actions. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary before or by any court, regulatory body or administrative agency or any other governmental agency or body, domestic, or foreign, which actions, suits or proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no labor disturbance by the employees of the Company exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is imminent, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any order of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve Board”) (other than orders applicable to bank holding companies and their subsidiaries generally), or any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.
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(r) Properties. The Company and each Subsidiary has valid title to all the properties and assets described as owned by it in the consolidated financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, free and clear of all liens, mortgages, pledges, or encumbrances of any kind except (i) those, if any, reflected in such consolidated financial statements or as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (ii) those that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each Subsidiary holds its material leased properties under valid and binding leases. The Company and any Subsidiary owns or leases all such material properties as are necessary to its operations as now conducted.
(s) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any material change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of Common Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants and the conversion of convertible securities described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial condition, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, other than in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(t) Intellectual Property. The Company owns, is licensed or otherwise possesses all rights to use, all patents, patent rights, inventions, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented or unpatentable or confidential information, systems, or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. No claims have been asserted against the Company by any person with respect to the use of any such Intellectual Property or challenging or questioning the validity or effectiveness of any such Intellectual Property except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Compliance. None of the Company nor its Subsidiaries has been advised, nor do any of them have any reason to believe, that it is not conducting business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, including, without limitation, all applicable local, state and federal environmental laws and regulations, except where failure to be so in compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
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(v) Business with Cuba. The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075, Florida Statutes (Chapter 92-198, Laws of Florida), relating to doing business with the Government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba.
(w) Taxes. The Company and each Subsidiary has filed on a timely basis (giving effect to extensions) all required federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid or accrued all taxes shown as due thereon, and none of the Company or any subsidiary has knowledge of a tax deficiency that has been or might be asserted or threatened against it, in each case, that could have a Material Adverse Effect. All tax liabilities accrued through the date hereof have been adequately provided for on the books of the Company.
(x) Transfer Taxes. On the Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) that are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer of the Shares to be sold to the Purchaser hereunder will have been, fully paid or provided for by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will have been fully complied with.
(y) Investment Company. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(z) Offering Materials. Each of the Company, its directors and officers has not distributed and will not, without the consent of the Underwriter, distribute prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriter’s distribution of the Shares any offering material, including any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Securities Act), in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
(aa) Insurance. The Company maintains insurance underwritten by insurers of recognized financial responsibility, of the types and in the amounts that the Company reasonably believes is adequate for its business, including, but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, with such deductibles as are customary for companies in the same or similar business, all of which insurance is in full force and effect.
(bb) Price of Common Stock. The Company has not taken, and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale of the Shares.
(cc) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall use the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(dd) Related Party Transactions. No transaction has occurred between or among the Company, on the one hand, and its affiliates, officers or directors on the other hand, that is required to have been described under applicable securities laws in its Exchange Act filings and is not so described in such filings.
(ee) Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements. There is no transaction, arrangement or other relationship between the Company and an unconsolidated or other off-balance sheet entity that is
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required to be disclosed by the Company in its Exchange Act filings and is not so disclosed or that otherwise would be reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) Governmental Permits, Etc. The Company and each Subsidiary has all franchises, licenses, certificates and other authorizations from such federal, state or local government or governmental agency, department or body that are currently necessary for the operation of the business of the Company as currently conducted, except where the failure to possess currently such franchises, licenses, certificates and other authorizations is not reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such permit that, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(gg) Financial Statements. The financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and the related notes and schedules thereto included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and fairly present the financial position, results of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods specified therein. Such financial statements and the related notes and schedules thereto have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein) and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods have been made; provided, however, that the unaudited financial statements are subject to normal year-end audit adjustments (which are not expected to be material) and do not contain all footnotes required under generally accepted accounting principles.
(hh) Listing Compliance. The Company is in compliance with the requirements of the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) for continued quotation of the Common Stock thereon. The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or the quotation of the Common Stock on Nasdaq, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or Nasdaq is contemplating terminating such registration or quotation. The transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not contravene the rules and regulations of Nasdaq. The Company will comply with all requirements of Nasdaq with respect to the issuance of the Shares.
(ii) Internal Accounting Controls. The Company maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by, or under the supervision of, its principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded asset accountability is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company is otherwise in compliance in all material
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respects with all applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(jj) No Material Weaknesses. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
(kk) Foreign Corrupt Practices. Neither the Company nor any of its director, officer, or employee, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, or any agent or representative of the Company or of any of its Subsidiaries or affiliates, has made an offer, payment or promise to pay, or authorized or approved of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and the Company and its Subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintain and will continue to maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.
(ll) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in accordance with policies and procedures that are reasonably designed to ensure compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(mm) Compliance with OFAC. (i) The Company represents that neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (collectively, the “Entity”) or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Entity, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:
(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor
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(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Burma/Myanmar, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).
(ii) The Entity represents and covenants that it will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person
(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(iii) The Entity represents and covenants that for the past 5 years, it has not knowingly engaged in, is not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.
(nn) ERISA. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (herein called “ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would have any material liability; the Company has not incurred and does not expect to incur any material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan”; or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each “Pension Plan” for which the Company would have liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(oo) Environmental Matters. To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no storage, disposal, generation, manufacture, transportation, handling or treatment of toxic wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances by the Company or to its knowledge, any Subsidiary (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their predecessors in interest) at, upon or from any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary in violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or that would require remedial action under any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit; there has been no material spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection, escape, dumping or release of any kind into such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic wastes, medical wastes, solid wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances due to or caused by the Company or any Subsidiary or with respect to which the Company or any Subsidiary have knowledge; in each of the foregoing cases, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Section 3(oo), the terms “hazardous wastes,” “toxic wastes,” “hazardous substances,” and “medical wastes” shall have the meanings specified in any applicable local, state, federal and foreign laws or regulations with respect to environmental protection.
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4. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriter that:
(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares; and will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriter in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Underwriter may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by the Underwriter or any dealer.
(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Prior to the Closing Date, before preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than as either of them may be deemed to be amended or supplemented due to the filing of any documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, except for Current Reports on Form 8-K under the Securities Act), whether before or after the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Company will furnish to the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter reasonably objects.
(d) Notice to the Underwriter. The Company will advise the Underwriter promptly, and confirm such advice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
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of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and, subject to the proviso at the end of Section 4(f) hereof, the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriter thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 4(c) hereof, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriter and to such dealers as the Underwriter may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will immediately notify the Underwriter thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 4(c) hereof, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriter and to such dealers as the Underwriter may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.
(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general or unlimited service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject or subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(g) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Underwriter as soon as practicable an earning statement (which need not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning after the date hereof that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
(h) Clear Market. For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any
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option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file any Registration Statement relating to, any Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated. The foregoing restriction shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be issued and sold hereunder, (ii) the grant or issuance of stock options or other securities pursuant to or in connection with any employment contract, benefit plan or similar arrangement with or for the benefit of employees, officers, directors or consultants pursuant to plans in effect on the date hereof, as they may be amended from time to time; provided, however, that nothing herein shall prevent the Company from making “inducement grants” (as such term is used in Rule 5635(c)(4) of the Nasdaq Market Place Rules), (iii) sales or issuances of securities pursuant to contractually binding requirements or agreements in effect on the date hereof, or (iv) any issuance that is the result of an exchange or conversion of any class or series of capital stock or other securities of the Company or its subsidiaries for any other series of capital stock of the Company or its subsidiaries.
(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds.”
(j) No Stabilization. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of shares of Common Stock.
(k) Exchange Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list for quotation the Shares on Nasdaq.
(l) Reports. For a period of two years after the date hereof, the Company will furnish to the Underwriter, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports or other communications or financial statements to the Underwriter to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval (XXXXX) system.
(m) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
5. Certain Agreements of the Underwriter. The Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:
(a) It has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the
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Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in any Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex D or prepared pursuant to Section 4(c) hereof (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by the Underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).
(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; provided that the Underwriter may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company; provided further that the Underwriter when using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.
(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).
6. Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations. The obligation of the Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Underwriter.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(c) No Downgrade. Other than as previously announced by such organization described below or as previously disclosed to the Underwriter, subsequent to the later of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, if there are any debt securities or preferred stock of, or guaranteed by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any such debt securities or preferred stock and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).
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(d) No Material Adverse Change. There shall not have occurred since the date hereof any change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, properties, results of operations or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each as amended or supplemented as of the date hereof, and the effect of which in the judgment of the Underwriter is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented.
(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Underwriter shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Underwriter (i) confirming that such officers have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in Sections 6(a), (c) and (d) hereof.
(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who has certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, shall have furnished to the Underwriter, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than five business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(g) Opinion of General Counsel for the Company. Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx., general counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Underwriter, at the request of the Company, his written opinion, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter, to the effect set forth in Annex A hereto.
(h) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Special Counsel for the Company. Wachtell, Lipton, Xxxxx & Xxxx, special counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Underwriter, at the request of the Company, their opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriter, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter, to the effect set forth in Annex B hereto.
(i) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriter. The Underwriter shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriter, with respect to such matters as the Underwriter may reasonably request, and such counsel shall
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have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(j) No Legal Impediment to Issuance. No action shall have been taken, to the Company’s knowledge, and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares.
(k) Good Standing. The Underwriter shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company and its only “significant subsidiary” (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act), which is Carolina First Bank, in their respective jurisdictions of organization and their good standing as foreign entities in such other jurisdictions as the Underwriter may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(l) Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on Nasdaq, subject to official notice of issuance.
(m) Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and certain officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(n) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to the Underwriter such further certificates and documents as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriter. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, each person who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of the Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, arising out of, or based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the registration of the Shares as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Pricing Disclosure Package, 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, not misleading and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party to the extent set forth below, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will 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 any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for use
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therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(b) Indemnification of the Company. The Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity set forth in Section 7(a) hereof from the Company to the Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter for use in the preparation of the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by the Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of the Underwriter: (i) the last paragraph on the cover page of the Prospectus, (ii) the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus, and (iii) and the eleventh and twelfth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus.
(c) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental investigation), or claim shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to either Sections 7(a) or (b) hereof, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under Sections 7(a) or (b) hereof except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under Sections 7(a) or (b) hereof. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential conflicts of interest between them. It is understood that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any identified local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for the Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers, any control persons and any affiliates of the Underwriter shall be designated in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed), effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless
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such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(d) Contribution. To the extent the indemnification provided for in Sections 7(a) and (b) hereof is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such sections, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of such Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter in respect thereof. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriter and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(e) Limitation on Liability. The Company and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 7(d) hereof. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 7(d) hereof shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, in no event shall the Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares referred to in Section 7(d) hereof that were offered and sold to the public through the Underwriter exceeds the amount of any damages that the Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriter’s obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to its purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(f) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
8. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
9. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Underwriter, by notice to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading
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generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange, or the Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities in which the United States is involved, declaration of war by Congress or change in financial markets or calamity or crisis including, without limitation, an act of terrorism that, in the judgment of the Underwriter, is material and adverse and, in the case of any of the events described in clauses (i) through (iv), such event, either alone or together with any other such event, makes it, in the judgment of the Underwriter, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the offering, sale and delivery of, and the payment for, the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
10. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing the Underwriting Agreement; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriter); (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc.; (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors; and (x) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on Nasdaq.
(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, (ii) the Company for any reason fails to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriter or (iii) the Underwriter declines to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriter for all reasonable out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriter in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
11. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors, any controlling persons and any affiliates referred to in Section 7 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from the Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
12. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Underwriter contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and
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effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company or the Underwriter, and shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares.
13. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; and (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
14. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby, the Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or its affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) the Underwriter has not assumed an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby (irrespective of whether the Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and the Underwriter does not have any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the Underwriter and its affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Underwriter has no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Underwriter has not provided any legal accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriter with respect to the subject matter hereof. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against the Underwriter with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
15. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriter shall be given to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (fax: (000) 000-0000); Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at The South Financial Group, Inc., 000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000 (fax: (000) 000-0000); Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx.
(b) Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.
(c) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
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(d) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(e) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
Very truly yours, | |
The South Financial Group, Inc. | |
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. | |
Name: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Xx. | |
Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Legal & Risk Officer | |
Accepted: June 19, 2009 | |
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED | |
By: /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |
Authorized Signatory |
Pricing Term Sheet | |
The South Financial Group, Inc. | |
$75,000,000 | |
75,000,000 Shares of Common Stock | |
Issuer: | The South Financial Group, Inc. |
Ticker/Exchange: | TSFG/Nasdaq Global Select Market |
Securities: | Common stock, par value $1.00 per share (“Common Stock”) |
Size: | $75,000,000 |
Shares offered: | 75,000,000 shares of Common Stock |
Over-allotment option: | 10,000,000 shares of Common Stock |
Price to public: | $1.00 per share of Common Stock |
Trade date: | 6/19/09 |
Closing date: | 6/24/09 |
CUSIP No.: | 837841105 |
Sole Manager: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
Copies of the prospectus and prospectus supplement relating to the shares of Common Stock offered in this offering may be obtained by writing to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, c/o Prospectus Department, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx 0/X, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, or by emailing at xxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx, or by calling toll-free at 1-866-718-1649.
Exhibit A
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
________, 2009
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INCORPORATED
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Re: The South Financial Group, Inc. --- Public Offering
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with The South Financial Group, Inc., a South Carolina corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by us (the “Underwriter”), of common stock of the Company (the “Securities”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
In consideration of the Underwriter’s agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, the undersigned will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date of the prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock, $1.00 per share par value, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant) or (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to (A) bona fide gifts, (B) dispositions to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned and/or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned other than any disposition for value, (C) the transfer or intestate succession to the legal representatives or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned, (D) the sale pursuant to any existing contract, instruction or plan that satisfies all of the requirements of Rule 10b5-1(c)(1)(i)(B) (a “Plan”), (E) the establishment of any Plan provided that no sales of Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock, shall be made pursuant to a Plan prior to the expiration of the 90-day period if such Plan was established after the date hereof, (F) dispositions from any grantor retained annuity trust established for the direct benefit of the undersigned and/or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned pursuant to the terms of such trust as in effect on the date hereof, (G) the distribution to any partnership, corporation or limited liability company controlled by the undersigned or by a member of the immediate family of the undersigned, (H) the disposition pursuant to a pledge in effect on the date hereof of Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Common Stock as security for a margin account pursuant to the terms of such account, and (I) the exercise pursuant to the Company’s stock option plans
in effect on the date hereof effected by means of net share settlement or by the delivery or sale of shares of Common Stock held by the undersigned; provided that, in the case of any gift, disposition, transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (A) (other than in the case of charitable gifts to not-for-profit organizations), (B), (C), (F) or (G), each donee, transferee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Underwriter a lock-up letter in the form of this paragraph; and provided further, that, in the case of any gift, disposition, Plan or distribution pursuant to clause (A), (B), (E), (F) or (G), no filing by any party under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such gift, disposition, Plan or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the 90-day period referred to above). In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, it will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. For purposes of this paragraph, “immediate family” shall mean the undersigned and any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.
The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from, all obligations under this Letter Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Underwriter is entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.
This Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
Very truly yours, | |
[NAME OF STOCKHOLDER] | |
By: _____________________ | |
Name: | |
Title: |