đ ] Shares Driven Brands Holdings Inc. COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE) UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
[ đ ] Shares
COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE)
August [ đ ], 2021
August [ đ ], 2021
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC
BofA Securities, Inc.
Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
As representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
c/o Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
c/o Goldman Xxxxx & Co. LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Certain shareholders of Driven Brands Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the âCompanyâ) named in Schedule II hereto (the âSelling Shareholdersâ), severally propose to sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the âUnderwritersâ) [ đ ] shares of the Companyâs common stock, par value $0.01 (the âFirm Sharesâ), of which each Selling Shareholder proposes to sell the amount set forth opposite such Selling Shareholderâs name in Schedule II hereto. The Selling Shareholders also propose to sell to the several Underwriters not more than an additional [ đ ] shares of the Companyâs common stock, par value $0.01 (the âAdditional Sharesâ) if and to the extent that Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, as representatives of the offering (collectively, the âRepresentativesâ), shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such Additional Shares granted to the Underwriters in Section 3 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the âShares.â The shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the âCommon Stock.â
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the âCommissionâ) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File Xx. 000-[ x ]), xxxxxxxxx a preliminary prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the âSecurities Actâ), is hereinafter referred to as the âRegistration Statementâ; the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the âProspectus.â If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a âRule 462 Registration Statementâ), then any reference herein to the term âRegistration Statementâ shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
For purposes of this Agreement, âApplicable Timeâ means [ đ ] pm (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement, âfree writing prospectusâ has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, âpreliminary prospectusâ shall mean each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted information pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, âTime of Sale Prospectusâ means the preliminary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness together with the documents and pricing information set forth in Schedule III hereto, and âbroadly available road showâ means a âbona fide electronic road showâ as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms âRegistration Statement,â âpreliminary prospectus,â âTime of Sale Prospectusâ and âProspectusâ shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act are pending before or, to the Companyâs knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii)Â the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus at the Applicable Time does not, and at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (as defined in Section 5 and Section 2, respectively), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iv) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (v) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information specified in Section 8(b).
(c) The Company is not an âineligible issuerâ in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule III hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to the Representatives before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the prior consent of the Representatives, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
(d) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) Each significant subsidiary of the Company as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Securities Act (each, a âSignificant Subsidiaryâ) has been duly incorporated, organized or formed, is validly existing as a corporation or other business entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation (to the extent that the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction), has the corporate or other business entity power and authority to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction (to the extent that the concept of good standing is applicable in such jurisdiction) in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (to the extent that such concepts are applicable in such jurisdiction) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims except for liens pursuant to the Securitization Senior Notes Indenture and the Car Wash Senior Credit Agreements (as defined in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus).
(f) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(g) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters, in all material respects, to the description thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(h) The shares of Common Stock (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders) outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(i) [Reserved].
(j) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene (i)Â any provision of applicable law, (ii)Â the certificate of incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (iii)Â any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (iv)Â or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, except in the case of clauses (i), (iii) and (iv), where such contravention would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on the Company, as a whole, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body, agency or court is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or waived or as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states or foreign jurisdictions or the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
(k) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(l) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (i)Â other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and proceedings that would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii)Â that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.
(m) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(n) The Company is not required to register as an âinvestment companyâ as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(o) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i)Â are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (âEnvironmental Lawsâ), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their
respective businesses and (iii)Â are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(p) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(q) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(r) (i) None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, employee, affiliate, agent or representative of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment, giving or receipt of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) in order to influence official action, or to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws; (ii)Â the Company and each of its subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein; and (iii)Â neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws.
(s) The operations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and each of its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company (collectively, the âAnti-Money Laundering Lawsâ), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(t) (i) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or any director or officer thereof, or, to the Companyâs knowledge, any employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (âPersonâ) that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are:
(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasuryâs Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majestyâs Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, âSanctionsâ), or
(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
(ii) For the past five years (or if Company has owned a subsidiary for a shorter period, for the duration of such ownership), the Company and each of its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in and are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not knowingly engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.
(u) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (excluding any draw on the VFN Facility or Car Wash Revolving Credit Facility described in the Prospectus), (i) the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii)Â the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (iii)Â there has not been any material change in the capital stock (other than the exercise or settlement of equity awards or warrants or grants of equity awards or forfeiture of equity awards outstanding as of such respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, in each case granted pursuant to the equity compensation plans described in the Time of Sale Prospectus), short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except in each case as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, respectively.
(v) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or such as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(w) (i) The Company and its subsidiaries own or otherwise have the right to use all patents, patent rights, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names (collectively, âIntellectual Property Rightsâ) currently employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them and in the manner set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus, except where the failure to own, possess or acquire any of the foregoing, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii)Â neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement, misappropriation, dilution or other violation of third party Intellectual Property Rights which, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and (iii)Â to the Companyâs knowledge, no third party is infringing, misappropriating or otherwise violating, or has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, the Companyâs or its subsidiariesâ Intellectual Property Rights in such a way which would reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(x) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries uses or distributes or has used or distributed any software and other materials distributed under a âfree,â âopen source,â or similar licensing model (âOpen Source Softwareâ) in a manner that requires or has required (i)Â the Company or any of its subsidiaries to permit reverse engineering of any software code or other technology owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (ii)Â any software code or other technology owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to be (A)Â disclosed or distributed in source code form, (B)Â licensed for the purpose of making derivative works or (C)Â redistributed at no charge except, in each case, which individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(y) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (i)Â the Company and each of its subsidiaries have complied and are presently in compliance with the Company and its subsidiariesâ internal and external privacy policies, contractual obligations, applicable laws, statutes, judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or other governmental or regulatory authority, in each case, relating to the collection, use, transfer, import, export, storage, protection, disposal and disclosure by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (âData Security Obligationsâ and such data âDataâ), (ii) the Company has not received any written notification of or complaint regarding non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation, and (iii)Â there is no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body pending or threatened alleging non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation.
(z) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, there has been no breach, destruction, loss, unauthorized distribution, use, access, disablement, misappropriation or modification, or other compromise or misuse of or relating to any information technology system or Data used in connection with the operation of the Companyâs and its subsidiariesâ businesses (âBreachâ) and the Company and its subsidiaries have not been notified of and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such Breach.
(aa) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, no labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors.
(bb) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as in the Companyâs reasonable judgment are customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(cc) The Company and each of its subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except where the failure to have such certificates authorizations and permits would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(dd) (i) The financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates shown and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (âU.S. GAAPâ) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby except for any normal year-end adjustments in the Companyâs quarterly financial statements, (ii)Â the financial statements of Shine Holdco (UK) Limited included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Shine Holdco (UK) Limited and its subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.K. GAAP and reconciled to U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods presented, except for any normal year-end adjustments in Shine Holdco (UK) Limitedâs interim financial statements and other than as described therein and (iii)Â the pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commissionâs rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The other financial information included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate and such data is consistent with the sources from which they are derived, in each case in all material respects.
(ee) (i) Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and delivered its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States), (ii) PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of Shine Holdco (UK) Limited and delivered its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent certified public accounting firm with respect to Shine Holdco (UK) Limited under Rule 101 of the Code of Professional Conduct of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and its rulings and interpretations; and (iii)Â KPMG International Limited, which expressed its opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) of Shine Holdco (UK) Limited included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent certified public accounting firm with respect to Shine Holdco (UK) Limited under Rule 101 of the Code of Professional Conduct of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and its rulings and interpretations.
(ff) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i)Â transactions are executed in accordance with managementâs general or specific authorizations; (ii)Â transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii)Â access to assets is permitted only in accordance with managementâs general or specific authorization; and (iv)Â the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Since the end of the Companyâs most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i)Â no material weakness in the Companyâs internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii)Â no change in the Companyâs internal control over financial reporting that has materially and adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially and adversely affect, the Companyâs internal control over financial reporting.
(gg) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has not sold, issued or distributed any shares of Common Stock during the six-month period preceding the date hereof, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or S of, the Securities Act, other than shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.
(hh) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or have requested extensions thereof (except where the failure to file would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole) and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by U.S. GAAP have been created in the financial statements of the Company), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries which, singly or in the aggregate, has had (nor does the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries and which could reasonably be expected to have) a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(ii) The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commissionâs rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(jj) The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with any person other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are reasonably believed to be accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act other than those listed on Schedule IV hereto. âTesting-the-Waters Communicationâ means any communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) or Rule 163B of the Securities Act.
(kk) As of the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, none of (A)Â the Time of Sale Prospectus, (B)Â any free writing prospectus, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, and (C)Â any individual Written Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Shareholders. Each Selling Shareholder represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder.
(b) The execution and delivery by such Selling Shareholder of, and the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene any provision of applicable law, or the operating agreement or limited liability company agreement, as applicable, of such Selling Shareholder, or any agreement or other instrument binding upon such Selling Shareholder or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder except, in each case, where any such contravention would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Selling Shareholder to perform its obligations hereunder, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body, agency or court is required for the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement of such Selling Shareholder; except in each case as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, the registration under the Securities Act of the Shares and the approval by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (âFINRAâ) of the underwriting terms and arrangements; and except where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the ability of such Selling Shareholder to perform its obligations hereunder.
(c) Such Selling Shareholder has, and on the Closing Date will have, valid title to, or a valid âsecurity entitlementâ within the meaning of Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code in respect of, the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances and the legal right and power, and all authorization and approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement, and to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder or a security entitlement in respect of such Shares.
(d) Upon payment for the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (âCedeâ) or such other nominee as may be designated by the Depository Trust Company (âDTCâ), registration of such Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Shares on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the âUCCâ)) to such Shares), (A) DTC shall be a âprotected purchaserâ of such Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid security entitlement in respect of such Shares and (C) no action based on any âadverse claimâ, within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, to such Shares may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement; for purposes of this representation, such Selling Shareholder may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (x) such Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Companyâs share registry in accordance with its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (y) DTC will be registered as a âclearing corporationâ within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (z) appropriate entries to the accounts of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC.
(e) Such Selling Shareholder has not been prompted by any information concerning the Company or its subsidiaries which is not set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus to sell its Shares pursuant to this Agreement.
(f) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 5), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (iii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided that such representations and warranties set forth in this subsection (f) apply only to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with Shareholder Information (defined below) relating to such Selling Shareholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto.
(g) (i) None of such Selling Shareholder or any of its subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of such Selling Shareholder, any director, officer, employee, agent, representative, or affiliate thereof, is a Person that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are:
(A) the subject of any Sanctions, or
(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).
(ii) Such Selling Shareholder will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:
(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or
(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(iii) For the past five years, such Selling Shareholder has not knowingly engaged in, is not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.
(iv) (a) None of such Selling Shareholder or any of its subsidiaries, or, to the knowledge of such Selling Shareholder, any director, officer, employee, agent, representative, or affiliate thereof has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment giving or receipt of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any Government Official in order to influence official action, or to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws; (b)Â such Selling Shareholder and each of its subsidiaries have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representations and warranties contained herein; and (c)Â neither the Selling Shareholder nor any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws.
(v) The operations of such Selling Shareholder and each of its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable Anti-Money Laundering Laws, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving such Selling Shareholder or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Selling Shareholder, threatened.
(h) The Selling Shareholder listed on Schedule II hereto organized in a jurisdiction outside of the United States (the âNon-U.S. Selling Shareholderâ) represents that no stamp, documentary, issuance, registration, transfer, withholding, capital gains, income or other taxes or duties are payable by or on behalf of the Underwriters, the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the Cayman Islands or to any taxing authority thereof or therein in connection with (i)Â the execution, delivery or consummation of this Agreement, (ii)Â the sale and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters or purchasers procured by the Underwriters, or (iii)Â the resale and delivery of the Shares by the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein.
(i) The Non-U.S. Selling Shareholder represents that (A) the choice of laws of the State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of the Cayman Islands, and will be honored by the courts of the Cayman Islands and (B) the Non-U.S. Selling Shareholder has the power to submit, and pursuant to Section 19 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of each New York state and United States federal court sitting in the City of New York and has validly and irrevocably waived any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or proceeding brought in such court.
(j) The Non-U.S. Selling Shareholder represents that any final judgment for a fixed or determined sum of money rendered by any U.S. federal or New York state court located in the State of New York having jurisdiction under its own laws in respect of any suit, action or proceeding against such Selling Shareholder based upon this Agreement would be declared enforceable against the Company by the courts of the Cayman Islands without reconsideration or reexamination of the merits; provided that, in the case of the Cayman Islands, the judgment: (i)Â is final and conclusive; (ii)Â is one in respect of which the U.S. federal or New York state court had jurisdiction over the defendant according to Cayman Islands conflict of law rules; (iii)Â is either for a liquidated sum not in respect of penalties or taxes or a fine or similar fiscal or revenue obligations or, in certain circumstances, for in personam non-money relief; and (iv)Â was neither obtained in a manner, nor is of a kind, enforcement of which is contrary to natural justice or the public policy of the Cayman Islands.
3. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. Each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such Selling Shareholder, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from such Selling Shareholder at $[ đ ] per share (the âPurchase Priceâ) the number of Firm Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the number of Firm Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to [ đ ] Additional Shares, of which each Selling Shareholder agrees to sells the amount set forth opposite such Selling Shareholderâs name in Schedule II hereto, at the Purchase Price, provided, however that the amount paid by the Underwriters for any Additional Shares shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on such Additional Shares. The Representatives may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such shares are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date for the Firm Shares or later than ten business days after the date of such notice. On each day, if any, that Additional Shares are to be purchased (an âOption Closing Dateâ), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
4. Terms of Public Offering. The Selling Shareholders are advised by the Representatives that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable. The Selling Shareholders are further advised by the Representatives that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at $[ đ ] a share (the âPublic Offering Priceâ).
5. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold by each Selling Shareholder shall be made to such Selling Shareholder in immediately available funds in New York City against delivery of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on [ đ ], 2021, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than [ đ ], 2021, as shall be designated in writing by the Representatives. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the âClosing Date.â
Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Selling Shareholders in immediately available funds in New York City against delivery of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 3 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than [ đ ], 2021, as shall be designated in writing by the Representatives.
The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to the Representatives on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
6. Conditions to the Underwritersâ Obligations. The obligations of the Selling Shareholders to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 4:00 pm (New York City time) on the date hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission;
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any ânationally recognized statistical rating organization,â as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the âExchange Actâ); and
(iii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 6(a) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of counsel for the Selling Shareholders, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, (x)Â a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, independent public accountants to the Company, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountantsâ âcomfort lettersâ to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a âcut-off dateâ not earlier than the date hereof and (y)Â letters, in each case dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance reasonable satisfactory to the Underwriters, from KPMG LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent auditors for Shine Holdco (UK) Limited for the respective periods covered by the financial statements on which they reported, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants âcomfort lettersâ to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information of Shine Holdco (UK) Limited contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(g) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a certificate, dated such date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Company with respect to certain operating data and financial figures contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.
(h) The âlock-upâ agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between the Representatives and the Selling Shareholders, and the executive officers and directors of the Company specified in Schedule V hereto, relating to restrictions on sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date hereof (the âLock-up Agreementsâ), shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
(i) The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Representatives on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:
(i) a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6(b) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;
(ii) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxx, Weiss, Rifkind, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(c) hereof;
(iii) an opinion of outside counsel for the Selling Shareholders, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(d) hereof;
(iv) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 6(d) hereof;
(v) letters dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, from each of Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, independent public accountants to the Company, KPMG LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent auditors to Shine Holdco (UK) Limited for the respective periods covered by the financial statements on which they reported, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 6(e) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a âcut-off dateâ not earlier than three business days prior to such Option Closing Date, as applicable;
(vi) a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 6(f) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date; and
(vii) such other documents as the Representatives may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Shares.
7. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to the Representatives, upon request and without charge, as many copies of the Registration Statement as the representatives may reasonably request (including exhibits thereto) and to furnish to the Representatives in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 7(e) or 7(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to the Representatives a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object in a timely manner, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(c) To furnish to the Representatives a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which the Representatives reasonably object in a timely manner.
(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
(e) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representatives will furnish to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(g) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i)Â qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified, (ii)Â file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii)Â subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(h) To make generally available to the Companyâs security holders and to the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder; provided, however, that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such statement to its security holders to the extent it is filed on the Commissionâs Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System.
(i) If at any time following the distribution of any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
(j) The Company will deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), on the date of execution of this Agreement, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as each Underwriter may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing Certification.
(k) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, agree to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i)Â the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Companyâs counsel and the Companyâs accountants and counsel for the Selling Shareholders in connection with the registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii)Â all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other
taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 1(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum (such fees and expenses of counsel in an aggregate amount not to exceed $10,000), (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Shares by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (such fees and expenses of counsel in an aggregate amount not to exceed $30,000), (v) [reserved], (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any âroad showâ undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares (with the Underwriters agreeing to pay all costs and expenses related to their participation in investor presentations or any âroad showâ undertaking in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares), including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show with the remaining 50% of the cost of such aircraft to be paid by the Underwriters, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section 8, Section 10 entitled âIndemnity and Contributionâ and the last paragraph of Section 12 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make and all travel and other expenses of the Underwriters or any of their employees incurred by them in connection with participation in investor presentations on any âroad showâ undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares; provided that this clause (x) does not include the cost of any chartered aircraft, which shall be paid 50% by the Company as described in clause (xiii).
The Company also covenants with each Underwriter that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to, during the period ending 90 days after the date of the Prospectus (the âRestricted Periodâ), (1)Â offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) publicly file or confidentially submit any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock; provided that confidential or non-public submissions to the Commission of any registration statements under the Securities Act may be made if and only if (x) no public announcement of such confidential or non-public submission shall be made during the Restricted Period and (y) the Company shall have provided the Representatives prior written notice of its intention to confidentially submit a draft registration statement with the Commission at least two business days prior to such confidential or non-public submission.
The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to (A) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus, (B) grants of options, restricted stock or other equity awards and the issuance of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exercisable for Common Stock (whether upon the exercise of stock options or otherwise) to employees, officers, directors, advisors, or consultants of the Company pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date hereof and described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, or (C) Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Common Stock, or the entrance into an agreement to issue Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Common Stock, in connection with any merger, joint venture, strategic alliances, commercial or other collaborative transaction or the acquisition or license of the business, property, technology or other assets of another individual or entity or the assumption of an employee benefit plan in connection with a merger or acquisition; provided that the aggregate number of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exercisable or exchangeable for, Common Stock that the Company may issue or agree to issue pursuant to this clause (C) shall not exceed 10% of the total outstanding share capital of the Company immediately following the issuance of the Shares; and provided further that the recipients thereof provide to the Representatives a signed lock up letter substantially in the form of the lock-up letter described in Section 6(g).
8. Covenants of the Selling Shareholder. Each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, covenants with each Underwriter that it will deliver to each Underwriter (or its agent), prior to or at the Closing Date, a properly completed and executed Internal Revenue Service (âIRSâ) Form W-9 or an IRS Form W-8, as appropriate, together with all required attachments to such form.
9. Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
10. Indemnity and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each Selling Shareholder, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter or any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter or Selling Shareholder within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a âroad showâ), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein 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, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters through the Representatives consists of the information described as such in paragraph (c) below.
(b) Each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule
433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein 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; provided, however, that such Selling Shareholder will only be liable in any such case to the extent that such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the information relating to such Selling Shareholder furnished to the Company in writing by such Selling Shareholder expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that (1) the only information relating to any Selling Shareholder, furnished by any Selling Shareholder consists of the following information in the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus: the name of such Selling Shareholder and the beneficial ownership information (excluding percentages) and number of Shares being sold by such Selling Shareholder, each as described under the caption âSelling Stockholdersâ (the âShareholder Informationâ) and (2) the liability of each Selling Shareholder under the indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 10 shall be limited to an amount equal to the net proceeds (before deducting expenses), to such Selling Shareholder from the sale of Shares sold by such Selling Shareholder (with respect to each Selling Shareholder, the âSelling Shareholder Amountâ).
(c) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Selling Shareholders, the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Selling Shareholders to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information contained in the [twelfth, fifteenth and sixteenth paragraphs] under the caption âUnderwritingâ.
(d) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 10(a), 10(b) or 10(c), such person (the âindemnified partyâ) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the âindemnifying partyâ) in writing, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve
it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement, and the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate in such proceeding and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party, and, except as provided in the following sentence, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed in writing to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (i) the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Underwriters and all persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or who are affiliates of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either such Section and (iii) the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Selling Shareholders and all persons, if any, who control any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Underwriters and such control persons and affiliates of any Underwriters, such firm shall be designated in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx. In the case of any such separate firm for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. In the case of any such separate firm for the Selling Shareholders and such control persons of any Selling Shareholders, such firm shall be designated in writing by Driven Equity LLC. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i)Â such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request for reimbursement and (ii)Â such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request or contested the reasonableness of such fees in good faith prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(e) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 10(a), 10(b) or 10(c) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 10(e)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 10(e)(i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by each of the Company and Selling Shareholder and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Shareholders or by the Underwriters and the partiesâ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwritersâ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 11 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
(f) The Company and the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 10(e). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 10(e) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 10 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 10 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Selling Shareholders contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter, any Selling Shareholder or any person controlling any Selling Shareholder, or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.
11. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Shareholders, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to or on the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, the NASDAQ Global Market, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.
12. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as the Representatives may specify, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 13 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives, the Company and the Selling Shareholders for the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the Selling Shareholders. In any such case either the Representatives or the relevant Selling Shareholders shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of any Selling Shareholder to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason any Selling Shareholder shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement (other than, with respect to a defaulting Underwriter, by reason of default by such
Underwriter), the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the documented fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
13. Entire Agreement.
(a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Shares.
(b) The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Shares: (i)Â the Underwriters have acted at arms length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii)Â the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, any contemporaneous written agreements and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii)Â the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.
(c) Each Selling Shareholder further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Underwriters may provide certain Selling Shareholders with certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures or other related documentation in connection with the offering, the Underwriters are not making a recommendation to any Selling Shareholder to participate in the offering or sell any Shares at the Purchase Price, and nothing set forth in such disclosures or documentation is intended to suggest that any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.
14. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For purposes of this Section a âBHC Act Affiliateâ has the meaning assigned to the term âaffiliateâ in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). âCovered Entityâ means any of the following: (i) a âcovered entityâ as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a âcovered bankâ as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a âcovered FSIâ as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). âDefault Rightâ has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. âU.S. Special Resolution Regimeâ means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
16. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
17. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
18. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Representatives in care of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC, 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; BofA Securities at Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, attention of Syndicate Department (facsimile: (000) 000-0000), with a copy to ECM Legal (facsimile: (000) 000-0000); Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. LLC, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000, Attention: Registration Department; and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (fax: (000) 000-0000), Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk; if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to Driven Brands Holdings Inc., 000 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: General Counsel; and if the to the Selling Shareholders, shall be delivered or sent to Driven Equity LLC, 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000, Attention: General Counsel.
19. Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agents for Service. The Company and each of the Selling Shareholders irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court sitting in The City of New York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the offering of the Shares (each, a âRelated Proceedingâ). The Company and each of the Selling Shareholders irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any Related Proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such Related Proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. To the extent that the Company[ and each of the Selling Shareholders has or hereafter may acquire any immunity (on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise) from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or its property, the Company and each of the Selling Shareholders irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, such immunity in respect of any such suit, action or proceeding. The Non-U.S. Selling Shareholder herby irrevocably appoints Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, with offices at Driven Equity LLC, 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000 as its agent for service of process in any Related Proceeding and agrees that service of process in any such Related Proceeding may be made upon it at the office of such agent. The Non-U.S. Selling Shareholder waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto. The Non-U.S. Selling Shareholder represents and warrants that such agent has agreed to act as the Non-U.S. Selling Shareholderâs agent for service of process, and the Non-U.S. Selling Shareholder agree to take any and all actions, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect.
20. Judgment Currency. If for the purposes of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert a sum due hereunder into any currency other than United States dollars, the parties hereto agree, to the fullest extent permitted by law, that the rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Underwriters could purchase United States dollars with such other currency in The City of New York on the business day preceding that on which final judgment is given. The obligation of the Company or any Selling Shareholder with respect to any sum due from it to any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first business day following receipt by such Underwriter or controlling person of any sum in such other currency, and only to the extent that such Underwriter or controlling person may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency. If the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person hereunder, the Company and each of the Selling Shareholders agrees as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Underwriter or controlling person against such loss. If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person hereunder, such Underwriter or controlling person agrees to pay to the Company or the relevant Selling Shareholder(s), as applicable, an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to such Underwriter or controlling person hereunder.
21. If the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters, please indicate your acceptance in the space provided for that purpose below.
Â
Very truly yours, Â | ||
By: | Â | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Very truly yours, Â | ||
By: | Â | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: | |
Very truly yours, Â Driven Equity LLC | ||
By: | Â | Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: | |
XX XX Cayman ICW Holdings LLC | ||
By: | Â | Â |
 | Name: [Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx][Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx] | |
 | Title: Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Accepted as of the date hereof  Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC BofA Securities, Inc. Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC | ||
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto. | ||
By: |  | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC |
By: | Â | Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: | |
By: | Â | BofA Securities, Inc. |
By: | Â | Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: | |
By: |  | Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC |
By: | Â | Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: | |
By: | Â | X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
By: | Â | Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE I
Â
Underwriter |
  | Number of Firm Shares To Be Purchased |
  | Number of Shares to be Purchased if Maximum Option Exercised |
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC |
  |   | ||
BofA Securities, Inc. |
  |   | ||
Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC |
  |   | ||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
  |   | ||
Barclays Capital Inc. |
  |   | ||
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
  |   | ||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
  |   | ||
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. |
  |   | ||
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Company, L.L.C. |
  |   | ||
Total: |
  |   | ||
  |  |
  |  |
Â
I-1
SCHEDULE II
Â
Selling Shareholder |
  | Number of Firm Shares To Be Sold |
  | Number of Shares to be Sold if Maximum Option Exercised |
Driven Equity LLC |
  |   | ||
XX XX Cayman ICW Holdings LLC* |
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* | Incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands. |
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II-1
SCHEDULE III
Time of Sale Prospectus
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1. | Preliminary Prospectus issued [ đ ], 2021 |
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II-2
SCHEDULE IV
Written Testing-the-Waters Communications
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1. | None. |
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III-2
SCHEDULE V
Lock-up Agreement Parties
The following persons shall execute a lock-up agreement in the form set forth on Exhibit A hereto:
[ đ ]1
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1Â | NTD: To consist of SSHs, D&Os. |
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IV-2
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
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A-1
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
_____________, 20__
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC
BofA Securities, Inc.
Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
As representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
c/o BofA Securities, Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
c/o Goldman Xxxxx & Co. LLC
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC, BofA Securities, Inc., Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC (the âRepresentativesâ) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the âUnderwriting Agreementâ) with Driven Brands Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the âCompanyâ) and the Selling Stockholders listed on Schedule [â˘] to the Underwriting Agreement, providing for the public offering (the âPublic Offeringâ) by the several Underwriters, including the Representatives (the âUnderwritersâ), of shares of common stock, par value $0.01 of the Company (the âCommon Stockâ).
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of (i) Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC and (ii) any one of BofA Securities, Inc., Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC or X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to,
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during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus (the âRestricted Periodâ) relating to the Public Offering (the âProspectusâ), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the âExchange Actâ)), by the undersigned or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
The foregoing sentence shall not apply to:
(a) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or any other securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering;
(b) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock as a bona fide gift or, if the undersigned is an individual, to a trust the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned or immediate family members of the undersigned;
(c) if the undersigned is a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, distributions of shares of Common Stock or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock to controlled affiliates, limited or general partners, members, stockholders or other equity holders of the undersigned;
(d) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a shareholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Common Stock;
(e) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock by operation of law pursuant to a qualified domestic order or in connection with a divorce settlement;
(f) if the undersigned is an individual, transfers of shares of Common Stock or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock by will or intestacy;
(g) transfers to the Company, as permitted or required under any benefit plan described in the registration statement relating to the Public Offering (the âRegistration Statementâ) and the Prospectus, any agreement pursuant to which such shares of Common Stock were issued, as in effect as of the date of, and which such agreement is described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in all material respects, or the Companyâs certificate of incorporation or bylaws in connection with the repurchase or forfeiture of shares of Common Stock or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock;
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(h) the exercise of options, stock appreciation rights or warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to an employee benefit plan described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(i) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into Common Stock to the Company upon a vesting or settlement event of the Companyâs securities or upon the exercise of outstanding equity awards, which securities or equity awards have been issued pursuant to an equity incentive plan of the Company described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, on a âcashlessâ or ânetâ basis only in an amount necessary to cover tax withholding obligations or the exercise price of options of the undersigned in connection with such vesting or exercise;
(j) transfers, sales, tenders or other dispositions of Common Stock to a bona fide third party pursuant to a tender offer for securities of the Company or any merger, consolidation or other business combination involving a Change of Control (as defined below) of the Company that, in each case, has been approved by the Board of Directors of the Company (including, without limitation, entering into any lock-up, voting or similar agreement pursuant to which the undersigned may agree to transfer, sell, tender or otherwise dispose of stock in connection with any such transaction, or vote any stock in favor of any such transaction); provided that all shares of Common Stock subject to this agreement that are not so transferred, sold, tendered or otherwise disposed of remain subject to this agreement; and provided, further, that it shall be a condition of transfer, sale, tender or other disposition that if such tender offer or other transaction is not completed, any Common Stock subject to this agreement shall remain subject to the restrictions herein; or
(k) the shares to be sold to the Underwriters by the undersigned pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, if applicable;
provided that (A) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (b), (c), (e) and (f) above, each donee, transferee or pledgee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of this letter, (B) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clauses (a), (b), (c), (f) and (g) no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer, distribution or subsequent sales of such Common Stock during the Restricted Period, (C) in the case of clauses (h), (i) and (l) above, that any shares of Common Stock received upon such exercise, vesting, conversion, exchange or settlement shall be subject to all of the restrictions set forth in this agreement, (D) in the case of clause (d) above (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of shares of Common Stock during the Restricted Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the
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effect that no transfer of Common Stock may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period and (E)Â any filing or announcement by the Company or the undersigned relating to a transfer or distribution under clauses (e), (f), (h), (i) or (j)Â above shall note the applicable circumstances that cause such clause to apply and explain that the filing or announcement relates solely to transfers or distributions falling within the category described in the relevant clause. For the purpose of clause (j), âChange of Controlâ shall mean the transfer (whether by tender offer, merger, consolidation or other similar transaction), in one transaction or a series of related transactions, to a person or group of affiliated persons (other than an Underwriter pursuant to the Public Offering), of the Companyâs voting securities if, after such transfer, such person or group of affiliated persons would hold more than 50% of the outstanding voting securities of the Company (or the surviving entity).
Notwithstanding anything to contrary herein, the undersigned shall be permitted to make one or more demand for or exercise of rights with respect to any confidential or non-public submission for registration of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock (provided that, in the case of any such confidential or non-public submission, (i)Â no public announcement of such demand or exercise of rights shall be made, (ii)Â no public announcement of such confidential or non-public submission shall be made and (iii)Â no such confidential or non-public submission shall become a publicly available registration statement during the Restricted Period).
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersignedâs heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Companyâs transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersignedâs shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition of any shares of Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, even if any such sale or disposition transaction or transactions would be made or executed by or on behalf of someone other than the undersigned.
Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, this agreement shall be of no further force or effect and the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this agreement upon the earlier to occur, if any, of (i) August 31, 2021, in the event the Underwriting Agreement has not been executed by that date, (ii) prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the parties thereto, the date the Company files an application to withdraw the Registration Statement related to the Public Offering, (iii) prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement by the parties thereto, the date either the Representatives, on the one hand, or the Company, on the other hand, notifies
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the other(s) in writing that it does not intend to proceed with the Public Offering, or (iv)Â the date of termination of the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) prior to payment for and delivery of the shares of Common Stock to be sold thereunder.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.
This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without regard to its conflict of law provisions.
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Very truly yours, |
 (Name) |
 (Address) |
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Very truly yours,  Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC BofA Securities, Inc. Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC Acting severally on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I to the Underwriting Agrement  Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. LLC | ||
By: | Â |
                    |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: | |
BofA Securities, Inc. | ||
By: | Â | Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: | |
Xxxxxxx Sachs & Co. LLC | ||
By: | Â | Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: | |
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC | ||
By: | Â | Â |
 | Name: | |
 | Title: |
cc: Company