SOLICITING DEALER AGREEMENT
SOLICITING
DEALER AGREEMENT,
dated as of February 6, 2007 (this “Agreement”),
between FREEDOM FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC., a Maryland corporation (the
“Company”),
and
ALARON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC., (the “Agent”).
Each
of the parties to this Agreement are referred to herein as a “Party”
and
collectively as the “Parties.”
BACKGROUND
The
Company proposes to offer and sell a minimum of 375,000 shares of Common Stock
(the “Minimum
Offering Amount”)
and up
to a maximum of 1,500,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Maximum
Offering Amount” and
collectively with the Minimum Offering Amount the “Shares”),
for a
purchase price of $2.00 per Share (unless adjusted by the mutual agreement
of
the Parties), pursuant to a registration statement filed with the Securities
and
Exchange Commission (the “Commission”)
under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”)
upon
the terms and subject to the conditions as set forth herein (the “Offering”).
The
Company has determined to use the services of the Agent, including other
securities dealers which may be engaged to sell the Offering by virtue of an
agreement with the Agent, as its exclusive agent to solicit subscriptions for
the Shares on a "best efforts" basis for an offering period which extends
for seven (7) months following the effective date of the Registration Statement
(defined below), provided however, that if the Minimum Offering Amount is not
sold within ninety (90) days of the effective date of the Registration
Statement, the offering period, will end on the ninetieth day after the
effective date of the Registration Statement (the
“Offering
Period”).
The
Agent hereby agrees to act in such capacity and to use its best efforts to
find
purchasers for the Shares in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement. Additionally, the Agent may offer the Shares on a wholesale basis
to
other qualified broker/dealers who are members of the NASD (each a “Selling
Agent”
or
“Co-Underwriter”),
on
the offering date and subsequent thereto, subject to the foregoing and on the
conditions of a Selling Agency Agreement executed with the Agent. A Selling
Agent or a Co-Underwriter may offer Shares to the public under the same terms
and conditions as are established herein and the laws and regulations of such
jurisdiction wherein such sale is transacted.
Accompanying
this Agreement is a copy of the Company's Registration Statement on Form SB-2
(including the Company's Prospectus relating to the Offering) prepared for
use
in conjunction with the offer and sale of the Shares (which document as may
be
amended from time to time is herein referred to as the “Registration
Statement”).
AGREEMENT
NOW,
THEREFORE, in consideration of the mutual promises herein contained, the parties
hereto, intending to be legally bound, hereby agree as follows:
1. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
The
Company represents and warrants to the Agent as follows:
(a) The
Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of Maryland, and has the power and authority to carry on its
business as conducted or proposed to be conducted by it and to hold title to
its
property, which business and property is accurately and fully described in
the
Registration Statement. The Company has the corporate power and authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement, to conduct such business and to perform
its
obligations hereunder and consummate the transactions contemplated by the
Offering and this Agreement.
(b) When
(i)
the Company has received payment for subscriptions in accordance with the
provisions of the Registration Statement, and (ii) certificates evidencing
the
Shares have been issued to the respective subscribers therefor, the Shares
will
be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(c) When
the
Registration Statement becomes effective, and at all times subsequent thereto,
and including the date of the Final Closing, and during such longer period
as
the prospectus forming a part of the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”)
may be
required to be delivered in connection with sales by the Agent, and during
such
longer period until any post-effective amendment thereto shall become effective,
the Registration Statement (and any post-effective amendment thereto) and the
Prospectus (as amended or as supplemented if the Company shall have filed with
the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or
the
Prospectus) will contain all statements which are required to be stated therein
in accordance with the Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the
“Regulations”),
will
comply with the Act and Regulations, and will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to he stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and no
event
will have occurred which should have been set forth in an amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which has not then
been set forth in such an amendment or supplement; and no preliminary
Prospectus, as of the date filed with the Commission, includes any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to
be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
except that no representation or warranty is made in this Section 1(c) with
respect to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity
with
written information furnished to the Company as stated in Section 9(b) with
respect to the Agent by or on behalf of the Agent expressly for inclusion in
any
preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto.
(d) Neither
the Commission nor the blue sky or securities authority of any jurisdiction
has
issued an order (a Stop Order) suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus,
the
Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or any amendment or supplement thereto,
refusing to permit the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or
suspending the registration or qualification of the Shares nor has any of such
authorities instituted or threatened to institute any proceedings with respect
to a Stop Order.
(e) The
authorized capital stock of the Company consists of 150,000,000 shares of Common
Stock, of which 3,699,043
shares of Common Stock are issued and outstanding, and 10,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, of which no shares are issued or outstanding; 1,397,811 shares
of Common Stock are reserved for issuance of outstanding warrants; and 300,000
shares of Common Stock are reserved for issuance upon the exercise of options
authorized under the Company's option plan. Each outstanding share of Common
Stock is validly authorized, validly issued, fully paid, and nonassessable,
without any personal liability attaching to the ownership thereof, and has
not
been issued and is not owned or held in violation of any preemptive rights
of
stockholders. There is no commitment, plan, or arrangement to issue, and no
outstanding option, warrant, or other right calling for the issuance of, any
share of capital stock of the Company or any security or other instrument which
by its terms is convertible into, exercisable for, or exchangeable for capital
stock of the Company, except as set forth above, and as may be properly
described in the Prospectus. All sales of securities made by the Company at
any
time since its inception were issued pursuant to valid exemptions under
applicable federal and state securities laws and except for compensation paid
to
the Agent, no commissions were paid and no advertising or other general
solicitation was made in connection with any of such sales.
(f) Except
as
disclosed in the Registration Statement, there are no actions, suits,
proceedings or investigations pending or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company which could prevent
or
interfere with or adversely affect the execution and delivery by the Company
of
this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder
or
the offering, issuance and sale of the Shares, or which, individually or in
the
aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the value of the assets
or
the operation of the business of the Company.
(g) Except
as
otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, all requisite authorizations,
approvals or orders from any court, governmental or regulatory official or
body
necessary to permit the Company to conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement will have been obtained or are in the process of being
applied for prior to the date of the Initial Closing. All requisite
authorizations, approvals or orders from any court or any governmental or
regulatory official or body necessary for the consummation by the Company of
the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement will have been obtained or are
in
the process of being applied for prior to the date of the Initial
Closing.
(h) This
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and constitutes the valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except that (i) such enforcement
may
be subject to the effect of any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally and general principals
of
equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is considered in a proceeding
in
equity or at law) and (ii) the indemnification provisions of this Agreement
may
be held to violate public policy (under either federal or state law) in the
context of the offer or sale of securities.
(i) The
Company's execution and delivery of this Agreement, the fulfillment of the
terms
set forth herein and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein
will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under (i) the
Company's articles of incorporation or by-laws, (ii) any material agreement,
indenture or instrument by which the Company is bound (except to the extent
such
conflict, breach or default would not have a material adverse effect on the
value of the assets or the operation of the business of the Company), or (iii)
any law, administrative regulation or court decree (except to the extent such
conflict, breach or default would not have a material adverse effect on the
value of the assets or the operation of the business of the
Company).
(j) It
is the
Company's present intention to utilize the proceeds from the sale of the Shares
substantially in the manner set forth in the Registration Statement. Further,
the Company has no present intention to make any material changes in its
business as described in the Registration Statement.
(k) The
Company represents and warrants that the financial statements of the Company
contained in or attached to the Registration Statement have been prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
throughout the periods covered thereby, and present fairly the financial
position of the Company as of the date indicated. In the opinion of management,
all adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) have been
made
which are considered necessary for a fair presentation of such information
for
the periods presented. Except for the transactions contemplated by the
Registration Statement, there has been no material adverse change in the
condition of the Company, financial or otherwise, from that set forth in the
Registration Statement. The accountants whose reports on the audited financial
statements are filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement
are, and during the periods covered by their reports included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus were, independent certified public
accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the
Regulations. No other financial statements are required by Form SB-2 or
otherwise to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. There
has at no time been a material adverse change in the financial condition,
results of operations, business, properties, assets, liabilities, or future
prospects of the Company from the latest information set forth in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, except as may be properly described
in
the Prospectus.
(l) On
the
date hereof, and at the date of the Initial Closing, the Company is not or
will
not be an "investment company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment
company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended.
(m) Neither
the Company nor any of its affiliates have received or are entitled to receive,
directly or indirectly, any compensation or other benefit in connection with
the
Offering including, but not limited to, any commission or similar fee, except
as
described in the Registration Statement.
(n) The
Company has not paid or awarded, and will not pay or award, directly or
indirectly, any commission or other compensation to any person engaged to render
investment advice to a potential purchaser of the Shares as an inducement to
advise the purchase of the Shares, except as such commissions or other
compensation may be paid or awarded to the Agent in accordance with this
Agreement in connection with the sale of the Shares as described in the
Registration Statement.
(o) Any
written or oral information provided to prospective purchasers of Shares by
authorized representatives of the Company other than the Agent (“Authorized
Persons”)
will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or, when taken together
with
the information set forth in the Registration Statement, omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(p) The
sale
of the Shares has been duly and validly authorized by the Company. There are
no
outstanding options, warrants or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire
any Shares of the Company or any security convertible into such Shares, except
as described in the Registration Statement.
(q) The
Company has good and marketable leasehold title to all real properties and
good
title to all other properties and assets which the Prospectus indicates are
owned by it, free and clear of all liens, security interests, pledges, charges,
encumbrances, and mortgages except as may be properly described in the
Prospectus or such as in the aggregate do not now have and will not in the
future have a material adverse effect upon the operations, business, properties,
or assets of the Company. To the knowledge of the Company, no real property
owned, leased, licensed, or used by the Company lies in an area which is, or
to
the knowledge of the Company will be, subject to zoning, use, or building code
restrictions which would prohibit, and no state of facts relating to the actions
or inaction of another person or entity or his or its ownership, leasing,
licensing, or use of any real or personal property exists or will exist which
would prevent, the continued effective ownership, leasing, licensing, or use
of
such real property in the business of the Company as presently conducted or
as
the Prospectus indicates it contemplates conducting, except as may be properly
described in the Prospectus, or such as in the aggregate do not now have and
will not in the future have a material adverse effect upon the operations,
business, properties, or assets of the Company or except properties being
developed by the Company for which appropriate zoning and permitting has not
yet
been obtained.
(r) Neither
the Company nor any other party is now or is expected by the Company to be
in
violation or breach of, or in default with respect to complying with, any
material provision of any contract, agreement, instrument, lease, license,
arrangement, or understanding which is material to the Company, and each such
contract, agreement, instrument, lease, license, arrangement, and understanding
is in full force and is the legal, valid, and binding obligation of the parties
thereto and is enforceable as to them in accordance with its terms. The Company
enjoys peaceful and undisturbed possession under all leases and licenses under
which it is operating. The Company is not a party to or bound by any contract,
agreement, instrument, lease, license, arrangement, or understanding, or subject
to any charter or other restriction, which has had or which the Company believes
may in the future have a material adverse effect on the financial condition,
results of operations, business, properties, assets, liabilities, or future
prospects of the Company. The Company is not in violation or breach of, or
in
default with respect to, any terns of its Articles of Incorporation (or other
charter document) or by-laws.
(s) All
patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, trade names,
service marks, copyrights, franchises, technology, know-how and other intangible
properties and assets (all of the foregoing being herein called “Intangibles”)
that
the Company owns or has pending, or under which it is licensed, are in good
standing and uncontested. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement, the Intangibles are owned by the Company, free and clear of all
liens, security interests, pledges, and encumbrances. To the knowledge of the
Company, the Company has not infringed and is not infringing any Intangibles
of
others and the Company has not received notice of infringement with respect
to
asserted Intangibles of others. To the knowledge of the Company, there is no
infringement by others of Intangibles of the Company. To the knowledge of the
Company, there is no Intangible of others which has had or may in the future
have a materially adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
operations, business, properties, assets, liabilities, or future prospects
of
the Company.
(t) Neither
the Company nor any director, officer, agent, employee, or other person acting
with authority on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly: used any
corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment, or other
unlawful expenses relating to political activity; made any unlawful payment
to
foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign or domestic
political parties or campaigns from corporate funds; violated any provision
of
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended by the International
Anti-Bribery Act of 1998; or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment,
kickback, or other unlawful payment.
(u) The
Company has obtained from each officer, director and person or entity that
beneficially owns the Company's Common Stock prior to the date hereof his,
her
or its enforceable written agreement that for a period of 12 months from the
effective date of the Registration Statement, he, she or it will not, without
the Agent's prior written consent, sell or undertake any related action
described in such written agreement with respect to the Company's Common Stock
owned by such person prior to the Effective Date; provided, however, that this
section (u) does not apply to the Class A, Class B and Class C Preferred Shares
issued by the Company which are convertible into the Company’s Common Stock.
Any
sales
by officer, director and person or entity that beneficially owns the Company's
Common Stock prior to the date hereof will comply with applicable exemptions
from the registration requirements of the Act. Public or private sales of Common
Stock by such persons shall not include gifts, intra-family transfers or
transfers for estate planning purposes, which shall be exempt from the foregoing
provisions.
(v) Except
as
otherwise provided in the Registration Statement, no person or entity has the
right to require registration of shares of Common Stock or other securities
of
the Company because of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration
Statement.
(w) The
Company is eligible to use Form SB-2 for registration of the
Shares.
(x) No
unregistered securities of the Company, of an affiliate of the Company or of
a
predecessor of the Company have been sold within three years prior to the date
hereof, except as described in the Registration Statement.
(y) The
Company has filed all federal and state tax returns which are required to be
filed by it and has paid all taxes shown on such returns and all assessments
received by it to the extent such taxes have become due. All taxes with respect
to which the Company is obligated have been paid or adequate accruals have
been
set up to cover any such unpaid taxes.
(z) None
of
the Company, any of its directors, officers, or beneficial owners of 10% or
more
of any class of its equity securities, or any of their respective affiliates,
including the Company (or any other person serving in a similar
capacity):
(i) has
been
convicted within ten years prior to the date hereof of any crime or offense
involving the purchase or sale of any security, involving the making of a false
statement with the Commission, or arising out of such person's conduct as an
underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment
adviser;
(ii) is
subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction
temporarily or preliminarily enjoining or restraining, or is subject to any
order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, entered
within five years prior to the date hereof, permanently enjoining or restraining
such person from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection
with the purchase or sale of any security, involving the making of a false
filing with the Commission or arising out of the conduct of the business of
an
underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment
adviser;
(iii) is
subject to an order of the Commission entered pursuant to section 15(b), 15B(a),
or 15B(c) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Exchange
Act"),
or is
subject to an order of the Commission entered pursuant to section 203(e) or
(f)
of the Investment Advisers Act of 1940;
(iv) is
suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended or barred from
association with a member of, an exchange registered as a national securities
exchange pursuant to section 6 of the Exchange Act, an association registered as
a national securities association under section 15A of the Exchange Act, or
a
Canadian securities exchange or association for any act or omission constituting
conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade;
(v) is
subject to a United States Postal Service false representation order entered
within five years prior to the date hereof; or is subject to a restraining
order
or preliminary injunction entered under section 3007 of title 39, United States
Code, with respect to any conduct alleged to constitute postal
fraud;
(vi) has
been
or has been named as an underwriter of any securities covered by any
registration statement which is the subject of any pending proceeding or
examination under Section 8 of the Act, or is the subject of any refusal order
or stop order entered thereunder within five years prior to the date
hereof;
(vii) has
taken
or failed to take any other act or are subject to any other order or
proceedings, that would make unavailable any limited offering exemption from
registration or qualification requirements of federal or state securities
laws;
(viii) has
filed
a registration statement that is the subject of a currently effective stop
order
entered pursuant to any state's securities law within five years prior to the
date hereof;
(ix) has
been
convicted within five years prior to the date hereof of any felony or
misdemeanor in connection with the offer, purchase or sale of any security
or
any felony involving fraud or deceit, including but not limited to forgery,
embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, larceny or conspiracy
to
defraud;
(x) is
currently subject to any state administrative enforcement order or judgment
entered by that state's securities administrator within five years prior to
the
date hereof or is subject to any state's administrative enforcement order or
judgment in which fraud or deceit, including but not limited to making untrue
statements of material facts and omitting to state material facts, was found
and
the order or judgment was entered within five years prior to the date
hereof;
(xi) is
subject to any state's administrative enforcement order or judgment that
prohibits, denies or revokes the use of any exemption from registration in
connection with the offer, purchase or sale of securities; or
(xii) is
currently subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent
jurisdiction temporarily or preliminarily restraining or enjoining, or is
subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction
permanently restraining or enjoining, such party from engaging in or continuing
any conduct or practice in connection with the purchase or sale of any security
or involving the making of any false filing with the state entered within five
years prior to the date hereof.
(aa) Other
than the Agent, the Company has not contracted with any person to act as a
finder or investment adviser in connection with these transactions described
herein and the Company agrees to indemnify the Agent with respect to any claim
for such a finder's fee in connection with the Offering. No director or
principal shareholder of the Company is a member of the National Association
of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”)
or an
employee or associated person of a broker-dealer registered with the
NASD.
2. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES OF THE AGENT.
The
Agent
hereby represents, warrants and agrees with the Company that:
(a) The
Agent
is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
the
laws of the State of Illinois, with the corporate power and authority to conduct
its business, to execute and deliver this Agreement, and to perform the
obligations contemplated herein.
(b) This
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Agent and constitutes the valid, binding and enforceable agreement of the Agent,
except to the extent that (i) such enforcement may be subject to the effect
of
bankruptcy, insolvency, organization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and
other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally
and general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforcement is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (ii) the indemnification
provisions of this Agreement may be held to violate public policy (under either
federal or state law) in the context of the offer or sale of
securities.
(c) The
Agent's execution and delivery of this Agreement, and the performance of its
obligations hereunder, will not result in a breach or violation of any of the
terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, its articles of
incorporation or bylaws, any agreement or instrument to which it is a party
or
by which it is bound, or any judgment, decree, order or, to its knowledge,
any
statute, rule or regulation applicable to Agent.
(d) As
of the
date of the Registration Statement, the information contained in the
Registration Statement relating to the Agent, if any, does not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading.
(e) The
Agent
is (i) a broker-dealer duly registered pursuant to the provisions of the
Exchange Act; (ii) a member in good standing of the NASD; and (iii) duly
registered as a broker-dealer under the applicable statutes and regulations
of
each state in which the Shares will be offered and sold, except such states
in
which the Agent is exempt from registration or such registration is not
otherwise required. The Agent will maintain all its registrations in good
standing throughout the term of the Offering and the Agent will comply with
all
statutes and other requirements of law applicable to it with respect to its
brokerage activities within those jurisdictions. To the extent required by
applicable law, any individual who participates in the offer or sale of the
Shares as the Agent's agent or registered representative will be duly registered
as a registered representative or principal of the Agent pursuant to the
provisions of the NASD rules.
(f) Neither
Agent nor any of its directors or officers nor any beneficial owner of 10%
or
more of any class of its equity securities, nor any of their respective
affiliates (nor any other person serving in a similar capacity):
(i) has
been
convicted within ten years prior to the date hereof of any crime or offense
involving the purchase or sale of any security, involving the making of a false
statement with the Commission, or arising out of such person's conduct as an
underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment
adviser;
(ii) is
subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction
temporarily or preliminarily enjoining or restraining, or is subject to any
order, judgment, or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction, entered
within five years prior to the date hereof, permanently enjoining or restraining
such person from engaging in or continuing any conduct or practice in connection
with the purchase or sale of any security, involving the making of a false
filing with the Commission or arising out of the conduct of the business of
an
underwriter, broker, dealer, municipal securities dealer or investment
adviser;
(iii) is
subject to an order of the Commission entered pursuant to section 15(b), 15B(a),
or 15B(c) of the Exchange Act, or is subject to an order of the Commission
entered pursuant to section 203(e) or (f) of the Investment Advisers Act of
1940;
(iv) is
suspended or expelled from membership in, or suspended or barred from
association with a member of, an exchange registered as a national securities
exchange pursuant to section 6 of the Exchange Act, an association registered
as
a national securities association under section 15A of the Exchange Act, or
a
Canadian securities exchange or association for any act or omission constituting
conduct inconsistent with just and equitable principles of trade;
(v) is
subject to a United States Postal Service false representation order entered
within five years prior to the date hereof; or is subject to a restraining
order
or preliminary injunction entered under section 3007 of title 39, United States
Code, with respect to any conduct alleged to constitute postal
fraud;
(vi) has
been
or has been named as an underwriter of any securities covered by any
registration statement which is the subject of any pending proceeding or
examination under Section 8 of the Act, or is the subject of any refusal order
or stop order entered thereunder within five years prior to the date
hereof;
(vii) has
taken
or failed to take any other act or are subject to any other order or
proceedings, that would make unavailable any limited offering exemption from
registration or qualification requirements of federal or state securities
laws;
(viii) has
filed
a registration statement that is the subject of a currently effective stop
order
entered pursuant to any state's securities law within five years prior to the
date hereof;
(ix) has
been
convicted within five years prior to the date hereof of any felony or
misdemeanor in connection with the offer, purchase or sale of any security
or
any felony involving fraud or deceit, including but not limited to forgery,
embezzlement, obtaining money under false pretenses, larceny or conspiracy
to
defraud;
(x) is
currently subject to any state administrative enforcement order or judgment
entered by that state's securities administrator within five years prior to
the
date hereof or is subject to any state's administrative enforcement order or
judgment in which fraud or deceit, including but not limited to making untrue
statements of material facts and omitting to state material facts, was found
and
the order or judgment was entered within five years prior to the date
hereof;
(xi) is
subject to any state's administrative enforcement order or judgment that
prohibits, denies or revokes the use of any exemption from registration in
connection with the offer, purchase or sale of securities; or
(xii) is
currently subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent
jurisdiction temporarily or preliminarily restraining or enjoining, or is
subject to any order, judgment or decree of any court of competent jurisdiction
permanently restraining or enjoining, such party from engaging in or continuing
any conduct or practice in connection with the purchase or sale of any security
or involving the making of any false filing with the state entered within five
years prior to the date hereof.
3. SALE
OF THE SHARES BY THE AGENT.
The
Company and the Agent hereby agree as follows:
(a) The
Offering will be made within the United States to investors to whom the Agent
has furnished copies of the Prospectus and in reliance upon the registrations
or
exemptions from registration under the State securities laws for those States
in
which the Shares are to be offered.
(b) The
Company hereby appoints the Agent, including Co-Underwriters or Selling Agents
which have executed an Agreement with the Agent as set forth above, as its
exclusive selling agent to solicit prospective purchasers of the Shares and
as
such to effect sales of the Shares, on a best efforts basis, for the Company
(in
those jurisdictions specified by the Company) during the Offering Period. The
Company may terminate the Agent's agency hereunder only if the Agent fails
to
perform its obligations hereunder in all material respects, upon the Agent's
material breach of any of its representations and warranties contained herein
or
upon the Agent's gross negligence or willful misconduct. Subject to the terms
and conditions and upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein
set forth, the Agent accepts such appointment and agrees to use its best efforts
to find prospective purchasers for the Shares in accordance with the terms
and
conditions of this Agreement.
(c) [reserved].
(d) Until
the
Minimum Offering Amount is received each person desiring to purchase Shares
will
be required to deliver payment by (i) check payable to the order of “Tower Trust
Company, Fort Xxxxx, Indiana Escrow Agent for Freedom Financial Holdings, Inc”
(the “Escrow
Agent”),
or
(ii) by wire transfer to the Escrow Agent, in the amount of the aggregate
purchase price of the Shares subscribed for.
(e) Until
the
Minimum Offering Amount is received and accepted, all payments received and
accepted from Purchasers, except as hereinafter provided, will be deposited
in
an escrow account (the “Escrow
Account”)
with
the Escrow Agent. Such funds may be temporarily invested only in investments
permissible under Rule l5c2-4 of the Commission. Prior to receipt of the Minimum
Offering Amount, the Company will have no right to obtain any funds from the
Escrow Agent. The right of the Company to receive funds,
including any interest on the funds, when the Minimum Offering Amount is
received is subject to fulfillment of the conditions specified in Section 8
hereof.
(f) Prior
to
the Final Closing, the Company shall from time to time amend the Registration
Statement in order to update the information contained therein as follows,
and
the Agent shall cooperate with the Company in connection with any amendments
thereto. In such event, the Company promptly will notify the Agent by telephone,
promptly confirmed in writing by telecopy, to suspend solicitation of offers
to
purchase Shares, and, if so notified by the Company, the Agent shall forthwith
suspend such solicitation and cease using the Registration Statement until
such
time as the Company advises that solicitation may be resumed. If, in connection
therewith, the Company shall, with the cooperation of the Agent, decide to
amend
or supplement the Registration Statement, the Company (i) will advise the Agent
promptly by telephone (with confirmation in writing by telecopy), (ii) will
prepare an amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement that will
correct any untrue statement or omission or will make such other change as
may
be necessary, and (iii) will supply such amended or supplemented Registration
Statement to the Agent. If such amendment or supplement is satisfactory in
all
respects to the Agent, the Agent will resume the solicitation of offers to
purchase Shares.
4. CLOSING
DATE AND MINIMUM OFFERING DATE.
(a) The
Offering Period
extends
for seven (7) months following the effective date of the Registration Statement;
provided however, that if the Minimum Offering Amount is not sold within ninety
(90) days of the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Offering
Period will end on the ninetieth day after the effective date of the
Registration Statement. The Company may hold an “Initial
Closing”
of
the
Offering at any time after subscriptions for the Minimum Offering Amount have
been accepted and all the conditions to the right of the Company to obtain
funds
as set forth in this Agreement, including Section 8 hereof, have been satisfied.
At the Initial Closing (i) the Company and the Agent shall jointly notify the
Escrow Agent to release the funds from the Escrow; and (ii) the Company will
issue the securities to the Subscribers; and (iii) counsel for the Company
shall
deliver its opinion to the Agent as provided by Section 8 hereof; and (iv)
all
accepted subscription amounts will be delivered to the Company. The Company
may
hold any number of additional “Interim
Closings”
from
time to time after the Initial Closing. Pending each closing, each prospective
investor's payment will be deposited in a segregated escrow account with the
Escrow Agent.
(b) “Minimum
Offering Date”
as
used
herein will mean the date, not later than the ninetieth (90) day following
the
effective date of the Registration Statement (or such earlier date as is
mutually agreed by parties to this Agreement), on
which
the Company will have received and accepted subscriptions and payments for
the
Minimum
Offering Amount. In the event that subscriptions and payments for at least
the
Minimum Offering Amount has not been received and accepted by the Company and
deposited with and collected by the Escrow Agent on or prior to the Minimum
Offering Date, this Agreement will terminate and the Company will have no
further obligation or liability hereunder to the Agent or any other Soliciting
Dealer except as provided in Sections 5 and 11 below. In the event of such
termination, all purchase payments deposited with the Escrow Agent will be
returned to the subscribers, without interest, and no selling commissions (as
hereinafter described) will be payable.
(c) As
soon
as is practicable after the Minimum Offering Date, the Company will mail or
otherwise furnish to the Agent written notification that subscriptions and
payments for an aggregate of at least the Minimum Offering Amount has been
received and accepted by the Company and deposited with and collected by the
Escrow Agent.
5. COMPENSATION.
(a) For
the
services of the Agent in soliciting and obtaining purchasers of the Shares,
the
Company agrees to pay in accordance with NASD Conduct Rule 2710: (i) to the
Agent at the Initial Closing, each Interim Closing and the final closing of
the
Offering (the “Final Closing”), a selling commission equal to eight percent (8%)
of the aggregate gross proceeds received from the sale of Shares (the “Selling
Commission”) for the period covered solely by the respective closing; (ii) to
the Agent, at the Initial Closing, all reasonable legal counsel’s fees and
expenses accrued to the date of the Initial Closing; provided, however, that
the
legal counsel’s fees and expenses (other than fees and expenses attributable to
Blue Sky registrations) in excess of $44,500 may not be paid, except as set
forth in Paragraph (iii) hereof; and (iii) to the Agent, at each Interim Closing
and the final closing of the Offering, all reasonable legal counsel’s fees and
expenses accrued to the date of such Interim Closing and final closing of the
Offering including, balances, if any, previously accrued but withheld; provided,
however, that payments at each Interim Closing reasonably correspond to
increases of the aggregate gross proceeds received from the sale of Shares
in
incremental proportions as contemplated by NASD Conduct Rule 2710 and the
aggregate of legal counsel’s fees and expenses (other than fees and expenses
attributable to Blue Sky registrations) may not at the final closing of the
Offering exceed four percent (4.0%)
of
the
aggregate gross proceeds received from the sale of Shares at such Closing.
In
the event that the proposed offering is terminated prior to the Initial Closing
for any reason by the Company other than a breach of the representations
or
warranties by the Agent prior to the completion of the Offering, the Company
agrees to pay to the Agent all reasonable accountable fees, costs and
disbursements incurred and/or due and payable to the Agent’s legal counsel and
in connection with any and all Blue Sky filings. In the event that the proposed
offering is terminated subsequent to the Initial Closing for any reason by
the
Company other than a breach of the representations or warranties by the Agent
prior to the completion of the Offering, the Company agrees to pay to Agent
an
eight percent (8%) commission on all subscriptions of Shares accepted by
the
Company, plus all reasonable accountable fees, costs and disbursements, incurred
and/or due and payable to the Agent’s legal counsel and in connection with any
and all Blue Sky filings accrued to the date of such termination of the Offering
including, balances, if any, previously accrued but withheld; provided, however,
that the aggregate of legal counsel’s fees and expenses (other than fees and
expenses attributable to Blue Sky registrations) may not at such termination
exceed $120,000 or four percent (4%) of the aggregate gross proceeds
received from the sale of Shares at termination. In the event the Offering
is
terminated by Agent for any reason other than a breach of the representations
or
warranties by the Company, each party shall bear its own expenses relating
to
the offering.
(b) Upon
the Initial Closing, Interim Closing and Final Closing, the Company will sell
to
the Agent or its designees at an aggregate price of one cent ($0.01) a warrant
(the “Agent Warrant”) entitling the Agent to purchase
an aggregate number of shares of Common Stock equal to seven percent (7%) of
the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock sold in the period covered by solely
the respective closing. The Agent Warrant is exercisable at any time after
one
year from the effective date of the Registration Statement and shall expire,
if
not exercised, five (5) years from the effective date of the Registration
Statement. The Warrant shall provide the holder with a right to purchase each
share of Common Stock at an exercise price equal to $2.50, or 25% above the
offering price, which exercise price shall be payable by the Agent in
cash.
(c) The
Selling Commissions will be paid, and Agent Warrants issued, at the time of
the
Initial Closing, each Interim Closing and the Final Closing of the sale of
the
Shares as follows: (i) on the date of the Initial Closing, the Company will
direct the Escrow Agent to remit to the Agent, from the proceeds on the sale
of
Shares, the Selling Commissions payable with respect to the Shares sold on
or
before the Minimum Offering Date and the Company shall direct its Transfer
Agent
to issue Agent Warrants as set forth above; and (ii) after the Minimum Offering
Date, the Company will direct the Escrow Agent to remit to the Agent, from
the
proceeds from the sale of Shares, the Selling Commissions payable with respect
to the Shares sold at the first Interim Closing and the Company shall direct
its
Transfer Agent to issue Agent Warrants as set forth above. For any subsequent
Interim Closings, the Company will direct the Escrow Agent to remit to the
Agent, from the proceeds from the sale of Shares, the selling commissions
payable with respect to the Shares sold after the previous Interim Closing
Date
and before the next Interim Closing Date and the Company shall direct its
Transfer Agent to issue Agent Warrants as set forth above on such sales of
Shares as are then being paid selling commission. The payment of commission
and
the issuance of Agent Warrants shall proceed as above until the Final
Closing.
6. FURTHER
AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY.
(a) The
Company covenants and agrees that it will pay or cause to be paid:
(i) all
expenses, if any, in connection with the soliciting and obtaining of purchasers
of the Shares including reasonable travel expenses in connection with investor
presentations,
(ii) all
expenses and fees in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, delivery
and shipping of the Registration Statement (including this Agreement and all
other exhibits to the Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements
thereto, and the Blue Sky Memorandum); and
(iii) filing
fees required in connection for offering and sale by the Agent under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the states and other jurisdictions designated
in
the Blue Sky Memorandum.
(b) If
at any
time when a Prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under
the Act, any event will have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion
of
counsel for the Company, the Prospectus includes an untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to
amend
the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company promptly will prepare an
appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will deliver to the Agent
such
number of copies thereof as the Agent may reasonably request.
(c) For
one
(1) year from the expiration for the Offering Period, the Company will furnish
directly to or cause to be furnished to the Agent:
(i) On
or
prior to the date on which the same shall be sent to shareholders, each
communication required to be delivered or otherwise furnished to the holders
of
Shares, including any annual or interim financial statements or other reports
of
the Company;
(ii) Promptly
after receipt thereof, a copy of any notice or communication mailed, telecopied
or otherwise delivered to the Company pursuant to any of the agreements relating
to any material matter regarding the sale of Shares;
(iii) Within
sixty (60) days following the end of each quarter, an unaudited balance sheet
and income statement prepared as of the end of such quarter (although the
Company will attempt to furnish such financial statements within forty-five
(45)
days following the end of each quarter); provided that the Agent may at any
time
notify the Company that copies of any or all of such communications need no
longer be sent to it.
(d) The
Company will furnish to the Agent promptly as soon as the same shall be filed
copies of all filings by the Company on Form SB-2, or other such forms, or
other
disclosure documents, as may be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and any
such
equivalent filing with States or other political entities, for the
Offering.
(e) The
Company agrees that it will furnish or make available to the Agent or the
Agent's counsel any and all documentation reasonably requested in connection
with the Agent's due diligence efforts regarding information in the Registration
Statement.
(f) The
Company and all affiliates will not take any action in connection with the
Offering which would cause the Offering not to comply with Section 5 of the
Act.
(g) The
Company will duly and timely file (i) with the Commission all required reports
under the Exchange Act and (ii) all reports required to be filed under
applicable state securities laws and regulations and by the regulatory agencies
charged with enforcement thereof.
(h) The
Company will notify the Agent immediately upon receipt thereof and confirm
the
notice in writing of the issuance by the Commission or any state securities
administrator of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration
or qualification of the Shares for sale or enjoining the sale of the Shares
or
of the initiation of any proceeding for that purpose. The Company will make
every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any
stop order shall be issued, to obtain the lifting of the stop order at the
earliest possible time.
(i) The
Company covenants that it will furnish to the Agent for its prior approval
(as
applicable), the form of each notice to be furnished by the Company to the
Escrow Agent under the terms of the escrow agreement entered into among the
Company, the Escrow Agent and the Agent relating to the Escrow
Account.
(j) For
a
period of two (2) year after the date of this Agreement,
(i) If
the
Company proposes to effect any subsequent equity, debt or derivative financing,
including a public offering or private placement of the securities of the
Company or its subsidiaries, the Company agrees to offer the Agent the right
of
first refusal to act as its exclusive financial advisor, sole global coordinator
and sole bookrunner and pay to the Agent compensation that is at least as
favorable to the Agent as the compensation provided to the Agent
hereunder;
provided, however, in the event the Agent provides written notice to the Company
that it does not wish to act as its exclusive financial advisor, sole global
coordinator and sole bookrunner in connection with the proposed transaction,
this
Section 6(j)(i) shall be waived;
(ii) If
the
Company decides to retain the services of an investment banking firm, the
Company will notify the Agent about any Business Transaction (as hereinafter
defined) and will consider the Agent's proposal to act as the Company's agent
for the Business Transaction;
provided, however, in the event that the Agent provides written notice that
it
does not wish to act as the Company’s agent for the Business Transaction, this
Section 6(j)(iii) shall be waived.
A
“Business
Transaction”
means
any merger involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the acquisition
by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any entity or the assets thereof
and
the acquisition of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by another entity.
The
Company agrees to pay the Agent compensation calculated in accordance with
the
Xxxxxx formula if the Agent introduces an acquisition or merger candidate to
the
Company and the acquisition or merger is consummated.
(k) The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become
effective as promptly as possible. If the Registration Statement has become
or
becomes effective with a form of Prospectus omitting certain information
pursuant to Rule 430A of the Regulations, or filing of the Prospectus is
otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will file the Prospectus,
properly completed, pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed
and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Agent of such timely
filing.
(l) The
Company shall notify the Agent immediately, and confirm such notice in writing,
(i) when the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto
become effective, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission or
the
blue sky or securities authority of any jurisdiction regarding the Registration
Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, and (iii) of the receipt of any notification
with respect to a Stop Order or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding
with respect to a Stop Order. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent
the issuance of any Stop Order and, if any Stop Order is issued, to obtain
the
lifting thereof as promptly as possible.
(m) The
Company shall, during the time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is
required to be delivered hereunder or under the Act or the Regulations, comply
so far as it is able with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, as now
existing and as hereafter amended, and by the Regulations, as from time to
time
in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings
in the Shares in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.
(n) The
Company shall deliver without charge to the Agent such number of copies of
each
Preliminary Prospectus as the Agent may reasonably request and, as soon as
the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto becomes effective or a
supplement is filed, deliver without charge to the Agent two signed copies
of
the Registration Statement or such amendment thereto, as the case may be,
including exhibits, and two copies of any supplement thereto, and deliver
without charge to the Agent such number of copies of the Prospectus, the
Registration Statement, and amendments and supplements thereto, if any, without
exhibits, as the Agent may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated
by
the Act.
(o) The
Company shall endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the Agent, at or
prior
to the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, to qualify the Shares
for offering and sale under the blue sky or securities laws of such
jurisdictions as agent may designate; provided, however, that no such
qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result thereof,
the Company would be subject to service of general process or to taxation as
a
foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction to which it is not
then
subject. In each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected, the
Company will, unless the Agent agrees in writing that such action is not at
the
time necessary or advisable, file and make such statements or reports at such
times as are or may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction.
(p) The
Company shall make generally available (within the meaning of Section 11(a)
of
the Act and the Regulations) to its security holders as soon as practicable,
but
not later than fifteen (15) months after the date of the Prospectus, an earnings
statement (which need not be certified by independent certified public
accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and the Regulations) covering
a period of at least 12 months beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement. Comply with all provisions of all undertakings contained
in the Registration Statement.
(q) The
Company shall prior to the Initial Closing or any Interim Closings, as the
case
may be, issue no press release or other communication, directly or indirectly,
and hold no press conference and grant no interviews with respect to the
Company, the financial condition, results of operations, business, properties,
assets, or liabilities of the Company, or this offering, without the Agent’s
prior written consent.
(r) The
Company shall for a period of twenty four (24) months after the date of' the
Prospectus, not, without the Agent’s prior written consent, which consent will
not be unreasonably withheld, offer, issue, sell, contract to sell, grant any
option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of Common Stock (or any security or other instrument which by its terms
is convertible into, exercisable for, or exchangeable for shares of Common
Stock) except (i) in connection with an acquisition, (ii) upon the exercise
of
options granted pursuant to the Company's stock option plan, (iii) on exercise
of outstanding warrants, and (iv) securities of the Company held by the Agent,
including the Agent Warrants.
(s) The
Company shall file with the Commission all required information concerning
use
of proceeds of the Offering in Form 8-K in accordance with the provisions of
the
Exchange Act and to provide a copy of such reports to the Agent and its
counsel.
(t) Supply
to
the Agent and its counsel at the Company's cost, four bound volumes each
containing material documents relating to the offering of the Shares within
a
reasonable time after the Final Closing, not to exceed 90 days.
(u) As
soon
as possible prior to the Effective Date, and as a condition of the Agent's
obligations hereunder, if requested by the Agent, have the Company listed on
an
accelerated basis, and to maintain such listing for not less than 10 years
from
the date of the Final Closing, in Standard & Poor's Standard Corporation
Records.
(v) Continue,
for a period of two (2) years following the Effective Date of the Registration
Statement, to appoint such auditors as are reasonably acceptable to the Agent
(it being understood that the current auditors of the Company are acceptable
to
the Agent), which auditors shall (i) prepare financial statements in accordance
with Regulation S-B or Regulation S-X, if applicable, under the General Rules
and Regulations of the Act and (ii) review (but not audit) the Company's
financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the
announcement of quarterly financial information, the filing of the Company's
10-QSB quarterly report and the mailing of quarterly financial information
to
security holders.
(w) Cause
its
transfer agent to furnish the Agent a duplicate copy of the daily transfer
sheets prepared by the transfer agent during the six-month period commencing
on
the Effective Date of the Registration Statement and instruct the transfer
agent
to timely provide, upon the request of the Agent, duplicate copies of such
transfer sheets and/or a duplicate copy of a list of stockholders, all at the
Company's expense, for a period of two (2) years after such six-month
period.
(x) Refrain
from filing a Form S-8 registration statement for a period of twelve (12) months
from the Effective Date of the Registration Statement without the Agent’s prior
written consent.
(y) Not
permit any stockholder to sell stock held by such stock-holder in reliance
on
the exemption afforded by Rule 701 within a period of six (6) months from the
Effective Date.
(z) Comply
with all periodic reporting and proxy solicitation requirements which may from
time to time be applicable to the Company as a result of the Company's
registration under the Exchange Act on a registration statement on Form
8-A.
(aa) Comply
with all provisions of all undertakings contained in the Registration
Statement.
7. FURTHER
AGREEMENTS OF THE AGENT.
(a) The
Agent
hereby represents that it is currently, and will remain throughout the offering
of Shares, a member in good standing of the NASD. The Agent agrees that it
will
not allow commissions to be paid to any other broker-dealer, including foreign
broker-dealers registered pursuant to the Exchange Act, unless such
broker/dealer has executed an appropriate Agreement to sell the Shares and
such
Agreement contains substantially the same terms and conditions as this
agreement.
(b) The
Agent
agrees that it will accept subscriptions only from investors who have received
a
copy of the Prospectus. The Agent will not give any information or make any
representation in connection with the offering of the Shares other than those
contained in the Prospectus furnished by the Company. The Agent will use only
additional material which has been approved in writing by the Company prior
to
its first use.
(c) The
Agent
agrees that if and when the Company supplies it with copies of any supplement
to
the Prospectus, the Agent will affix such copies of such supplement to copies
of
the Prospectus already in the Agent's possession, and that thereafter the Agent
will only distribute Prospectuses containing such supplement and that the Agent
will accept subscriptions only from investors who have received a copy of the
Prospectus containing such supplement. The Agent further agrees to comply with
all instructions from the Company concerning the destruction of out-dated
Prospectuses and the use of supplemented or amended Prospectuses.
(d) The
Agent
agrees to solicit Subscribers only in the states and other jurisdictions in
which the a Blue Sky Memorandum approved by the Company indicates that such
solicitation can be made in accordance with any limitations described therein
and in the states and jurisdictions in which the Agent is licensed or qualified
to make offers and sales of the Shares.
8. CONDITIONS
TO THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY TO OBTAIN FUNDS.
The
right
of the Company to obtain funds from the Escrow Agent on the Minimum Offering
Date is subject to the accuracy of and compliance with the representations
and
warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof
and as of the Minimum Offering Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the
Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof, and to the following further
conditions:
(a) No
stop
order suspending the effectiveness of any qualification of the Shares for sale
or enjoining the sale of the Shares or of the initiation of any proceeding
for
that purpose or any amendment or supplement thereto will have been issued prior
to the Minimum Offering Date and will be in effect at that date, and no
proceedings for the issuance of such order will be pending or threatened at
that
date.
(b) On
the
Minimum Offering Date, there will have been furnished to the Agent the opinion
of the counsel for the Company, dated as of the Minimum Offering Date, subject
to such assumptions as such counsel will deem necessary to render such opinion,
containing customary opinions for offerings of this type including, without
limitation, opinions substantially to the effect that:
(i) the
Company is a corporation organized under the laws of the State of Maryland
and
is validly existing as a corporation under such laws;
(ii) the
sale
of the Shares and the issuance of the Common Stock has been duly authorized
(and
to the extent necessary reserved) by all necessary corporate action on the
part
of the Company. When subscriptions for the Shares have been accepted by the
Company and payment in full has been received, the Common Stock will be duly
authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(iii) this
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered, by
and
on behalf of the Company and constitutes the valid and binding agreement,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, of the Company subject to any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors' rights, and to principles of a court of equity with
respect to equitable remedies and defenses, from time to time in effect, and
except as the indemnity provisions contained herein may be unenforceable for
reasons of public policy under court decisions or regulations of the
Commission;
(iv) the
terms
and provisions of any agreements to which the Company or any subsidiary of
the
Company is a party which are exhibits to the Registration Statement or are
referred to therein, substantially conform in all material respects to the
descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement;
(v) except
as
disclosed in the Prospectus, to the best of the Company's counsel's knowledge,
information and belief, after making reasonable inquiry, the consummation of
the
transactions contemplated herein do not conflict with or result in a breach
of
any of the terms, provisions or conditions of any agreement or instrument to
which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound, or violate
any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any court or
governmental body or administrative agency having jurisdiction over the
Company;
(vi) except
as
disclosed in the Prospectus, to the best of the Company's counsel's knowledge,
information and belief, after making reasonable inquiry, there is no litigation
or governmental proceeding pending, threatened against or involving the property
or business of the Company, which would materially and adversely affect the
value of the assets or the operation of the business of the
Company;
(vii) the
Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities Act, and,
to
counsel’s knowledge, no stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose are pending before or threatened by the
Commission;
(viii) the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein comply as to form
with the Act and Regulations, in all material respects, except that counsel
expresses no opinion with respect to the financial statements or other financial
or statistical data contained in the prospectus;
(ix) no
facts
have come to the attention of counsel that has caused it to believe that (i)
the
Registration Statement, as of its effective date, contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (except
for
the financial statements, including the notes and schedules thereto, and other
financial and accounting data and information, as to which counsel expresses
no
opinion) or (ii) the Prospectus, as of the date it was filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4) under the Securities Act or as of the date of such
opinion, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
or omits to state material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (except for the financial statements, including the notes and
schedules thereto, and other financial and accounting data and information,
as
to which counsel expresses no opinion).
(c) The
representations and warranties of the Company herein will be true and correct
in
all material respects as of the Minimum Offering Date, as if made as of the
Minimum Offering Date, and all agreements herein contained to be performed
on
the part of the Company at or prior to the Minimum Offering Date will have
been
so performed.
(d)
Upon
receipt by the Company of such certificates and documents, the Company will
direct the Escrow Agent in writing to release to the Company the funds in the
Escrow Account.
(e) At
the
Initial Closing Date and any Interim Closing Date, as the case may be, the
Agent
shall have received a certificate of the chief executive officer and of the
chief financial officer of the Company, dated the Initial Closing Date or any
Interim Closing Date, as the case may be, to the effect that the conditions
set
forth in Section 8 have been satisfied, that as of the date of this Agreement
and as of the Initial Closing Date or any Interim Closing Date, as the case
may
be, the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein were
and
are accurate, and that as of the Initial Closing Date or any Interim Closing
Date, as the case may be, the obligations to be performed by the Company
hereunder on or prior thereto have been fully performed.
(f) NASD
Regulation, Inc., upon review of the terms of the Offering of the Shares, shall
have confirmed that it has not raised any objection with respect to the fairness
and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
If
any of
the conditions specified in this Section 8 will not have been fulfilled when
and
as required by this Agreement, this Agreement and all Agent's obligations
hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Minimum Offering
Date
by Agent. Any such cancellation will be without liability on the Agent's part;
provided, however, Agent will be liable for all costs and disbursements incurred
and/or due and payable by Agent and its legal counsel in connection with the
Offering. Notice of such cancellation will be given to the Company at the
address specified in Section 12 hereof, in writing, or by telecopy or telephone
confirmed in writing.
9. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Subject
to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Agent, each Co-Underwriter and each of their respective officers,
directors, partners, employees, agents, and counsel, and each person, if any,
who controls the Agent or any Co-Underwriters within the meaning of Section
15
of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage, and expense whatsoever (which shall include, for
all
purposes of this Section 9, but not be limited to, attorneys' fees, expert
witness fees, and any and all expense whatsoever incurred in investigating,
preparing, or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or
any
claim whatsoever and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or
litigation) as and when incurred arising out of, based upon, or in connection
with (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained (A) in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus (as from time to time amended and supplemented), or in any materials
delivered in connection with the Offering, or (B) in any application or other
document or communication (in this Section 9 collectively called an application)
in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Common Stock under the blue sky
or
securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission or any securities exchange;
or any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
or
(ii) any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant, or agreement of
the
Company contained in this Agreement.
The
foregoing agreement to indemnify shall be in addition to any liability the
Company may otherwise have, including liabilities arising under this Agreement;
however, the Company shall have no liability under this Section 9 if such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company as stated in Section 9(b) with respect
to
the Agent by or on behalf of the Agent expressly for inclusion in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or
any
amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, as the case may be.
If
any action is brought against the Agent, the Co-Underwriters or any of their
officers, directors, partners, employees, agents, or counsel, or any controlling
persons of the Agent or Co-Underwriters (an indemnified party) in respect
of
which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to the foregoing
paragraph, such indemnified party or parties shall promptly notify the Company
in writing of the institution of such action (but the failure so to notify
shall
not relieve the Company from any liability it may have other than pursuant
to
this Section 9(a)) and the Company shall promptly assume the defense of such
action, including the employment of counsel (satisfactory to such indemnified
party or parties) and payment of expenses. Such indemnified party or parties
shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case,
but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
indemnified party or parties unless the employment of such counsel shall
have
been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense
of such
action or the Company shall not have promptly employed counsel satisfactory
to
such indemnified party or parties to have charge of the defense of such action
or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that
there
may be one or more legal defenses available to it or them or to other
indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available
to
the Company, in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne
by the
Company. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Agent of the commencement
of
any litigation or proceedings against the Company or against any of its officers
or directors in connection with the sale of the Shares, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment
or
supplement thereto, or any application.
(b) The
Agent
agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Company's counsel, each
director of the Company, each officer of the Company who shall have signed
the
Registration Statement, each other person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange
Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the
Agent
in Section 9(a), but only with respect to statements or omissions, if any,
made
in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus
(as
from time to time amended and supplemented), or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or in any application, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Agent, or by a person acting on
behalf of the Agent, expressly for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus,
the
Registration Statement, or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or in any application, as the case may be; provided, however, that
the
obligation of the Agent to provide indemnity under the provisions of this
Section 9(b) shall be limited to the amount which represents the compensation
received by the Agent pursuant to this Agreement as of the date of Agent’s
obligation to provide indemnity; provided, however, that the in the case of
Agent’s negligence or willful misconduct, the obligation of the Agent to provide
indemnity under the provisions of this Section 9(b) shall be limited to the
amount which represents the product of the number of Shares sold hereunder
and
the initial public offering price per Share set forth on the cover page of
the
Prospectus, lawful interest and costs, including attorney’s fees. For all
purposes of this Agreement, the amounts of the selling concession and
reallowance set forth in the Prospectus, and the information under Underwriting
constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the
Agent expressly for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, or the Prospectus (as from time to time amended or supplemented),
or
any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any application, as the case may
be.
If any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so
indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement,
or
the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any application,
and
in respect of which indemnity may he sought against the Agent pursuant to this
Section 9(b), the Agent shall have the rights and duties given to the Company,
and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights
and
duties given to the indemnified parties, by the provisions of Section
9(a).
(c) In
order
to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the
indemnity agreement provided for this Section 9 is for any reason held to be
unavailable to the Agent or the Company, then the Company shall contribute
to
the damages paid by the Agent, and the Agent shall contribute to the damages
paid by the Company; provided, however, that no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. In determining the amount of contribution to which the
respective parties are entitled, there shall be considered the relative benefits
received by each party from the sale of the Shares (taking into account the
portion of the proceeds of the offering realized by each), the parties' relative
knowledge and access to information concerning the matter with respect to which
the claim was asserted, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement
or
omission, and any other equitable considerations appropriate in the
circumstances. The Company and the Agent agree that it would not be equitable
if
the amount of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita
allocation. Neither the Agent nor any person controlling the Agent shall be
obligated to make contribution hereunder which in the aggregate exceeds the
amount which represents the compensation received by the Agent pursuant to
this
Agreement as of the date of Agent’s obligation to provide indemnity; provided,
however, that the in the case of Agent’s negligence or willful misconduct, the
obligation of the Agent to provide indemnity under the provisions of this
Section 9(c) shall be limited to the amount which represents the product of
the
number of Shares sold hereunder and the initial public offering price per Share
set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus, lawful interest and costs,
including attorney’s fees. For purposes of this Section, each person, if any,
who controls the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Agent, and each director of the Company,
each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of
the
Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. Anything in
this
Section 9(c) to the contrary notwithstanding, no party shall be liable for
contribution with respect to the settlement of any claim or action effected
without its written consent. This Section 9(c) is intended to supersede any
right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act, or
otherwise.
(d) If
at any
time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel and amounts
to
be paid in settlement of any claim, proceeding or action, such indemnifying
party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated by Section 9(a) effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying
party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received
notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 clays prior to such
settlement being entered into, and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not
have
reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to
the
date of such settlement.
10. EFFECTIVE
DATE.
Provided
that at least one counterpart of this Agreement will then have been executed
and
delivered, this Agreement will become effective upon delivery by the Company
of
telecopies, correspondence or other written notification to the Agent indicating
the Registration Statement is declared effective and released for
distribution.
11. SURVIVAL
OF INDEMNITIES, WARRANTIES AND REPRESENTATIONS.
The
respective indemnity agreements of the Company and Agent contained in Section
9
hereof, and the representations and warranties of the Company and Agent set
forth herein, will remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless
of
any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made
by
or on behalf of the Company or Agent, or any controlling person referred to
in
Section 9, and will survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares, and
any
successor of the Agent or the Company or of any such controlling person or
any
legal representative of any such controlling person, as the case may be, will
be
entitled to the benefit of the respective indemnity agreements.
12. NOTICES.
Except
as
is otherwise provided in this Agreement, (a) whenever notice is required by
the
provisions of this Agreement or otherwise to be given to the Company, such
notice will be in writing addressed to the Company at 0000 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxx,
Xxxxx X, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxx and to Xxxxxxxxx
Law Group PC at 00000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
00000; and (b) whenever notice is required by the provisions of this Agreement
or otherwise to be given to Agent, such notice will be in writing addressed
to
the Agent at 000 X. Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxx., Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx. Any notice referred to herein may be given in writing or by telecopy
or telephone and if by telecopy or telephone will be immediately confirmed
in
writing. Notice (unless actual) will be effective upon mailing or telecopy
transmission, as the case may be.
13. PERSONS
ENTITLED TO BENEFIT OF AGREEMENT.
This
Agreement is made solely for the benefit of Agent, the Company and the
controlling persons referred to in Section 9 hereof, and their respective
successors and assigns, and no other person will acquire or have any right
by
virtue or this Agreement, and the term “successors
and assigns,”
as
used in this Agreement, will not include any Purchaser.
14. GOVERNING
LAW.
This
Agreement is to be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of
the
State of Illinois, without regard to principles of conflicts of
law.
15. FURTHER
CONDITIONS.
Until
the
Minimum Offering Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Agent at its
option by giving notice to the Company, if (a) the Company shall have become
a
party to any litigation which, in the opinion of counsel to the Agent, could
have a material adverse effect on the value of the assets or operation of the
business of the Company, (b) there shall have been, since the respective dates
as of which information is in the Registration Statement, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company, which change
in
the Agent's reasonable judgment shall render it inadvisable to proceed with
the
delivery of the Shares, (c) there shall have been any important change in market
levels, major catastrophe, substantial change in national, international or
world affairs, national calamity, postal strike, act of God or other event
or
occurrence which, in the Agent's reasonable judgment, will materially disrupt
the financial markets of the United States, or (d) a general banking moratorium
shall have been declared by federal or state authorities.
16. COUNTERPARTS.
This
Agreement may be executed simultaneously in two or more counterparts, any one
of
which need not contain the signatures of more than one party, but all such
counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same
Agreement.
17. ENTIRE
AGREEMENT.
This
Agreement sets forth the entire agreement of the Agent and the Company with
respect to the subject matter hereof and terminates and supersedes all prior
agreements and understandings between or among the Agent and the Company with
respect to the subject matter hereof.
18. HEADINGS;
BACKGROUND SECTION.
The
descriptive headings in this Agreement have been inserted for convenience only
and do not constitute a part of this Agreement.
The
provisions contained in the “Background” section of this Agreement shall be
operative and shall represent the binding covenants, representations, warranties
and agreements of the Parties.
[Signature
Page Follows]
IN WITNESS whereof, the parties have signed this Agreement as of the date first above written.
ALARON FINANCIAL SERVICES, INC | ||
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FREEDOM
FINANCIAL HOLDINGS, INC
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