FEE AGREEMENT
[May 28], 2021
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Three World Financial Center, 8th Floor
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement dated [May 25], 2021 (the “Underwriting Agreement”), by and among Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Next Generation Connectivity Fund Inc. (the “Fund”), Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Investment Advisers LLC (the “Company”) and each of the Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto, with respect to the issue and sale of the Fund’s shares of common stock, $0.0001
par value per share (the “Common Stock”), as described therein (the “Offering”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Underwriting Agreement.
1. Fee. In consideration of your services in
offering advice relating to the distribution of the Fund’s Common Stock, the Company shall pay a fee to you in the aggregate amount of $[ ] (the “Fee”). The Fee shall be paid on or before the Closing Date (as defined in the Underwriting
Agreement) or as otherwise agreed to by the parties hereto. The payment shall be made by wire transfer to the order of RBC Capital Markets, LLC using the following wire instructions:
ABA #:
Account #:
Account:
Attn:
The Company acknowledges that the Fee is in addition to any compensation you earn in connection with your role as an underwriter to the Fund in the
Offering, which services are distinct from and in addition to the marketing services rendered in connection with the advice described above. In the event the Offering does not proceed, you will not receive any fees under this Agreement; however, for
the avoidance of doubt, accountable expenses actually incurred may be payable to you pursuant to the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and in accordance with FINRA Rule 5110(g)(5).
2. Term. This Agreement shall terminate upon
the payment of the entire amount of the Fee, as specified in Section 1 hereof, or upon the termination of the Underwriting Agreement without the Common Stock having been delivered and paid for, except as provided in Section 3 below.
3. Indemnification. The Company agrees to the
indemnification and other agreements set forth in the Indemnification Agreement attached hereto, the provisions of which are incorporated herein by reference and shall survive the termination, expiration or supersession of this Agreement.
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4. Not an Investment Adviser; No Fiduciary Duty.
The Company acknowledges that you are not providing any advice hereunder as to the value of securities or regarding the advisability of purchasing or selling any securities for the Fund’s portfolio. No provision of this Agreement shall be
considered as creating, nor shall any provision create, any obligation on the part of you, and you are not agreeing hereby, to: (i) furnish any advice or make any recommendations regarding the purchase or sale of portfolio securities; or
(ii) render any opinions, valuations or recommendations of any kind or to perform any such similar services. Neither this Agreement nor the performance of the services contemplated hereunder shall be considered to constitute a partnership,
association or joint venture between you and the Company. In addition, nothing in this Agreement shall be construed to constitute you as the agent or employee of the Company or the Company as your agent or employee, and neither party shall make any
representation to the contrary. It is understood that you are engaged hereunder as an independent contractor solely to provide the services described above to the Company and that you are not acting as an agent or fiduciary of, and you shall not
have any duties or liability to, the current or future partners, members or equity owners of the Company or any other third party in connection with its engagement hereunder, all of which are hereby expressly waived to the extent the Company has
the authority to waive such duties and liabilities. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the matters covered by this Agreement (irrespective of whether you have advised or are
currently advising the Company on related or other matters).
5. Not Exclusive. Nothing herein shall be
construed as prohibiting you or your affiliates from acting as an underwriter or financial adviser or in any other capacity for any other persons (including other registered investment companies or other investment managers).
6. Assignment. This Agreement may not be
assigned by either party without prior written consent of the other party.
7. Amendment; Waiver. No provision of this
Agreement may be amended or waived except by an instrument in writing signed by the parties hereto.
8. Governing Law. This Agreement shall be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.
9. Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Counterparts may be executed and delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic
signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx) or other method and any counterpart so executed or delivered
shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
[Signature page follows]
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This Agreement shall be effective as of the date first written above.
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XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX INVESTMENT ADVISERS LLC
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Agreed and Accepted:
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
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[Signature Page to RBC Fee Agreement]
Indemnification Agreement
[May 28], 2021
RBC Capital Markets, LLC
Three World Financial Center, 8th Floor
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
In connection with the engagement of RBC Capital Markets, LLC (“RBCCM”) to advise and assist the undersigned, Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Investment Advisers LLC (together with its affiliates, subsidiaries, successors and assigns, the “Company”), with respect to the matters set forth in the Fee Agreement dated [May 28], 2021 between the Company and RBCCM (the “Agreement”), in the event
that RBCCM, any of its affiliates, each other person, if any, controlling RBCCM or any of its affiliates, their respective officers, current or former directors, employees and agents or the successors or assigns of any of the foregoing persons (RBCCM
and each such other person or entity being referred to as an “Indemnified Party”) becomes involved in any capacity in any claim, suit, action, proceeding, litigation, investigation or inquiry (including, without limitation, any shareholder or
derivative action or arbitration proceeding) (collectively, a “Proceeding”) with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, the Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold each Indemnified Party harmless to
the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities and reasonable expenses, including reasonably incurred fees and expenses of counsel to the Indemnified Parties, with respect to services performed pursuant
to and in accordance with the Agreement, arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer
subject to appeal or other review, that such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses resulted primarily from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party. In addition, in the event that an Indemnified
Party becomes involved in any capacity in any Proceeding in connection with the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with or referred to in the Agreement or arising out of the matters contemplated by the Agreement, including without
limitation, related services and activities prior to the date of the Agreement, the Company will reimburse such Indemnified Party for legal and other expenses (including the cost of any investigation and preparation) as such expenses are reasonably
incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection therewith, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no longer subject to appeal or other review, that such
expenses resulted primarily from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of such Indemnified Party; provided that in any Proceeding, the Company shall be entitled to select counsel, except that the Indemnified Party shall have the right
to select and employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the Company shall bear the fees, costs and expenses as incurred of such separate counsel (and local counsel) only if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the Company to represent the
Indemnified Party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such Proceeding include both the Indemnified Party and the Company and the Indemnified Party shall have
reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other Indemnified Parties which are different from or additional to those available to the Company, (iii) the Company shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such Proceeding or (iv) the Company shall authorize the Indemnified Party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the Company. As
promptly as reasonably
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practicable after receipt by an Indemnified Party of notice of the commencement of any Proceeding, such Indemnified Party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made under this paragraph, notify the Company in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the Company (i) will not relieve the Company from liability under this paragraph to the extent it is not materially
prejudiced as a result thereof and (ii) in any event shall not relieve the Company from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this Indemnification Agreement. The Company may participate at its own expense in the defense of any
such action; provided, however, that counsel to the Company shall not (except with the consent of the Indemnified Parties) also be counsel to the Indemnified Parties. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Indemnified Parties
(which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any
claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought hereunder (whether or not the Indemnified Parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each Indemnified Party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on
behalf of any Indemnified Party. No Indemnified Party shall, without the prior written consent of the Company, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought hereunder when the Company is an actual named party thereto, unless such settlement, compromise or
consent (i) includes an unconditional release of the Company from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act
by or on behalf of the Company.
If such indemnification were not to be available for any reason, the Company agrees to contribute to the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses involved (i) in the proportion appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received or sought to be received by the Company and its members and affiliates, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Parties, on the other hand, in
the matters contemplated by the Agreement or (ii) if (but only if and to the extent) the allocation provided for in clause (i) is for any reason held unenforceable, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and its members and affiliates, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Parties, on the other hand, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The Company agrees that for
the purposes of this paragraph the relative benefits received, or sought to be received, by the Company and its members and affiliates, on the one hand, and the Indemnified Parties, on the other hand, of a transaction as contemplated shall be deemed
to be in the same proportion that the total value received by or paid to or contemplated to be received by or paid to the Company or its members or affiliates, as the case may be, as a result of or in connection with the transaction (whether or not
consummated) for which RBCCM has been retained to perform services bears to the fees paid to RBCCM under the Agreement; provided, that in no event shall the Company contribute less than the amount necessary to assure that the Indemnified Parties are
not liable for losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses in excess of the amount of fees actually received by RBCCM pursuant to the Agreement. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any alleged untrue
statement or omission or any other alleged conduct relates to information provided by the Company or other conduct by the Company (or its employees or other agents (not including, for these purposes, any Indemnified Party)), on the one hand, or by
RBCCM (or its employees or other agents), on the other hand. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph, an Indemnified Party shall not be entitled to contribution from the Company if it is determined that such Indemnified Party was guilty of
or liable for fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended) and the Company was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The foregoing indemnity and contribution agreement shall
be in addition to any rights that any Indemnified Party may have at common law or otherwise.
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The Company agrees that no Indemnified Party shall have any liability to the Company or any person asserting claims on behalf of or in
right of the Company with respect to the services performed pursuant to and in accordance with the Agreement, except to the extent that it shall be determined by a court of competent jurisdiction in a judgment that has become final in that it is no
longer subject to appeal or other review, that any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses incurred by the Company resulted primarily from the bad faith, gross negligence or willful misconduct of RBCCM or any of its affiliates, directors,
agents, employees or controlling persons in performing the services that are the subject of the Agreement.
THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, COUNTERCLAIM OR DISPUTE OF ANY KIND OR NATURE WHATSOEVER WITH RESPECT TO THE SERVICES
PERFORMED PURSUANT TO AND IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE AGREEMENT (“CLAIM”), DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR
CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE
ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS, AND THE COMPANY AND THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES CONSENT TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN
WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY ANY THIRD PARTY AGAINST RBCCM OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. EACH INDEMNIFIED PARTY AND THE COMPANY WAIVES ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY PROCEEDING
OR CLAIM (WHETHER BASED UPON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE) ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT. EACH OF THE INDEMNIFIED PARTIES AND THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY PROCEEDING OR CLAIM ARISING OUT OF
OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE INDEMNIFIED PARTY OR THE COMPANY, RESPECTIVELY, AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH SUCH
PARTY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.
Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings given to them in the Agreement.
The foregoing Indemnification Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding any termination of RBCCM’s engagement
under the Agreement. This Indemnification Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, and all of which, when taken together, shall constitute one agreement. Counterparts may be executed and delivered
via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., xxx.xxxxxxxx.xxx) or other
method and any counterpart so executed or delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
[Signature page follows]
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Very truly yours,
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XXXXXXXXX XXXXXX INVESTMENT ADVISERS LLC
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By:
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Name:
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Title:
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Agreed and Accepted:
RBC CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
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Name:
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Title:
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[Signature Page to RBC Indemnification Agreement]
