CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION (a Federally-chartered Stock Corporation) 4,281,060 to 5,961,573 shares of COMMON STOCK ($0.01 Par Value) FORM OF AGENCY AGREEMENT
Exhibit
1.2
CHARTER
FINANCIAL CORPORATION
(a
Federally-chartered Stock Corporation)
4,281,060
to 5,961,573 shares of
COMMON
STOCK ($0.01 Par Value)
FORM OF
AGENCY AGREEMENT
_________________,
2010
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
000 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
Charter
Financial Corporation, a federally-chartered stock corporation and the mid-tier
holding company (“Charter Financial” or the “Holding Company”) of CharterBank, a
federally-chartered stock savings bank (the “Bank”), and First Charter, MHC (the
“MHC”, and together with the Holding Company and the Bank, the “Primary
Parties”), hereby confirm, jointly and severally, their agreement with Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel” or “Agent”), as
follows:
Section 1. The
Offering. The
Holding Company, in accordance with the Stock Issuance Plan adopted April 20,
2010, as amended (the “Plan”), intends to offer shares of its common stock, par
value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”), on a priority basis in the Subscription
Offering, and to the extent shares remain available, in the Community and/or the
Syndicated Community Offering (collectively, the
“Offering”). Capitalized terms used in this Agreement and not defined
in this Agreement shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan.
Pursuant
to the Plan, the Holding Company is offering 4,281,060 to 5,961,573 shares of
Common Stock (the “Offer Shares”), for between $7.31 and $9.89 per share,
subject to an increase in the offering price of up to 15% to $11.37 per share
(the “Purchase Price”).
In the
Subscription Offering, the Holding Company will offer the Offer Shares, subject
to the allocation procedures and purchase limitations set forth in the Plan, in
descending order of priority to: (1) Eligible Account Holders; (2) Employee
Plans of the Holding Company or the Bank; (3) Supplemental Eligible Account
Holders; and (4) Other Members. The Holding Company may offer the Offer Shares,
if any, remaining after the Subscription Offering, in the Community Offering on
a priority basis, first to natural persons residing in the Local Community and
then to the Holding Company’s public stockholders at the Voting Record Date, and
then to the general public. In the event a Community Offering is held, it may be
held at any time during or immediately after the Subscription Offering.
Depending on market conditions, Offer Shares available for sale but not
subscribed for in the Subscription Offering or purchased in the Community
Offering may be offered in the Syndicated Community Offering to selected members
of the general public through a syndicate of registered broker-dealers under the
terms set forth on Exhibit A (“Assisting
Brokers”, and collectively, the “Selling Group”) that are members of the
Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) managed by Stifel as the sole
book running manager.
It is
acknowledged that the number of Offer Shares to be sold in the Offering and the
Purchase Price may be increased or decreased as described in the Prospectus (as
hereinafter defined); that the purchase of the Offer Shares in the Offering is
subject to maximum and minimum purchase limitations as described in the Plan and
the Prospectus; and that the Holding Company may reject, in whole or in part,
any subscription received in the Community Offering and Syndicated Community
Offering.
The
Holding Company has filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) a Registration Statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-167634) in
order to register the Offer Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the “1933 Act”), and the regulations promulgated thereunder (the “1933 Act
Regulations”), and has filed such amendments thereto as have been required to
the date hereof (the “Registration Statement”). The prospectus, as amended,
included in the Registration Statement at the time it initially became effective
is hereinafter called the “Prospectus,” except that if any prospectus is filed
by the Holding Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) of the 1933 Act
Regulations differing from the prospectus included in the Registration Statement
at the time it initially becomes effective, the term “Prospectus” shall refer to
the prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (c) from and after the time said
prospectus is filed with the Commission and shall include any supplements and
amendments thereto from and after their dates of effectiveness or use,
respectively.
In
connection with the Offering, the Holding Company filed with the OTS a Form
MHC-2 Application for a Minority Stock Issuance by a Subsidiary of a Mutual
Holding Company, as amended (the “Application”).
Concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement, the Holding Company is delivering to the
Agent copies of the Prospectus dated _________________, 2010 to be used in the
Subscription Offering and Community Offering (if any), and, if necessary, will
deliver copies of the Prospectus and any prospectus supplement for use in a
Syndicated Community Offering.
Section 2. Appointment
of Agent. Subject
to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Primary Parties hereby
appoint Stifel to consult with, advise and assist the Primary Parties in
connection with the sale of the Offer Shares in the Offering, and as sole book
running manager for the purpose of soliciting or receiving purchase orders for
Offer Shares in connection with the sale of the Offer Shares in the Syndicated
Community Offering, if necessary.
On the
basis of the representations and warranties of the Primary Parties contained in,
and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, Stifel accepts such
appointment and agrees to use its best efforts to assist the Primary Parties
with the solicitation of subscriptions and purchase orders for the Offer Shares
and agrees to consult with and advise the Primary Parties as to the matters, and
provide the Primary Parties the services, set forth in Section 3 of the letter
agreement, dated ________________, 2010 between the MHC, the Holding Company and
Stifel (the “Letter Agreement”) (a copy of which is attached hereto as Exhibit B), including
the coordination of the Syndicated Community Offering, and to solicit offers to
purchase Offer Shares in the Syndicated Community Offering. It is acknowledged
by the Primary Parties that the Agent shall not be obligated to purchase any
Offer Shares and shall not be obligated to take any action which is inconsistent
with any applicable law, regulation, decision or order. Except as set forth in
Section 13 hereof, the appointment of the Agent to provide services hereunder
shall terminate upon consummation of the Offering.
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If
selected broker-dealers in addition to Stifel are used to assist in the sale of
Offer Shares in the Syndicated Community Offering, the Primary Parties hereby,
subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, appoint Stifel as sole
book running manager of the Syndicated Community Offering. On the basis of the
representations and warranties of the Primary Parties contained in, and subject
to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement, Stifel accepts such appointment
and agrees to manage the Selling Group in the Syndicated Community
Offering.
Section 3. Offering
Price Range; Fairness Opinion; Refund of Purchase Price. The Offer Shares are to be
offered at a price per share that is expected to be within the range (the
“Offering Range”) of $7.31 per share to $9.89 per share, subject to an increase
in the Offering Range of 15%, or $11.37 per share, due to demand for the Common
Stock. As set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus, the actual price per
share at which the shares are to be sold (the “Actual Purchase Price”) will be
determined immediately prior to the Closing of the offerings by the Board of
Directors of the Holding Company, in conjunction with the Selling Agent. In the
event that the Offering is not consummated for any reason, including but not
limited to the inability to sell a minimum of 4,281,060 Offer Shares during the
Offering (including any permitted extension thereof) or such other minimum
number of Offer Shares as shall be established consistent with the Plan, this
Agreement shall terminate and any persons who have subscribed for or ordered any
of the Offer Shares shall have refunded to them the full amount which has been
received from such person, together with interest, if applicable, as provided in
the Prospectus. Upon termination of this Agreement, neither the Agent nor the
Primary Parties shall have any obligation to the other except that (i) the
Primary Parties shall remain liable for any amounts due pursuant to Sections 4,
9, 11 and 12 hereof, unless the transaction is not consummated due to the breach
by the Agent of a warranty, representation or covenant; and (ii) the Agent shall
remain liable for any amount due pursuant to Sections 11 and 12 hereof, unless
the transaction is not consummated due to the breach by the Primary Parties of a
warranty, representation or covenant.
Section 4. Fees. In addition to the expenses
specified in Section 9 hereof, as compensation for the Agent’s services under
this Agreement, the Agent has received or will receive the following fees from
the Primary Parties:
(a)
An advisory and administrative services fee of $50,000 has been paid as follows
to Stifel: (i) $25,000 was paid upon execution of the Letter Agreement, and (ii)
$25,000 was paid upon the initial filing of the Registration
Statement.
(b)
A success fee for sales of the Offer Shares in the Offering of one percent (1%)
of the aggregate dollar amount of the Offer Shares sold in the Subscription and
Community Offering, and a success fee of six percent (6%) of the aggregate
dollar amount of the Offer Shares sold to any investors (“Identified Investors”)
identified by the Agent who agree to commit, subject to certain conditions, to
purchase blocks of stock in the Community Offering. No fee shall be payable in
connection with the sale of stock to the officers, directors, employees or
immediate family of such persons (“Insiders”), including trusts of Insiders and
the qualified and non-qualified employee benefit plans of the Primary Parties or
the Insiders. “Immediate family” includes the spouse, parents, siblings and
children who live in the same house as the officer, director or employee.
Excluding fees associated with sales to Identified Investors, the total fee due
pursuant to this Section 4(b) shall be a minimum of $125,000. The
success fee due pursuant to this Section 4(b) will be reduced by the amount of
the advisory and administrative services fee under Section 4(a).
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(c)
If any of the Offer Shares remain unsubscribed after the Subscription Offering
and Community Offering, at the request of the Holding Company, Stifel will form
a group of approved broker-dealer firms in accordance with Section 2 for
purposes of the Syndicated Community Offering. Stifel will act as sole book
running manager in the Syndicated Community Offering. The Holding Company shall
pay a fee equal to one percent (1%) of the aggregate dollar amount of the Offer
Shares sold pursuant to this Section 4(c) (the “Syndicate Management Fee”) to
Stifel. In addition, the Holding Company will pay to Stifel and other
selected dealers for their sales in the Syndicated Community Offering a
syndicate sales fee (“Syndicate Sales Fee”), which, together with the Syndicate
Management Fee, will not, in the aggregate, exceed six percent (6%) of the
aggregate dollar amount of the Offer Shares sold in the Syndicated Community
Offering; provided that Stifel will endeavor to further limit the Syndicate
Sales Fee to be paid by the Holding Company under any selected dealers
agreement. In consultation with Stifel, the Holding Company will
determine which FINRA member firms will serve as Co-Managers of the Syndicated
Community Offering or otherwise participate in the Selling Group and the extent
of their participation. Stifel will not commence sales of the Offer Shares
through a Selling Group without prior approval of the Holding Company. All such
fees payable under this Section 4(c) shall be in addition to all fees payable
under Section 4(b) and shall be paid at Closing (as defined in Section
5).
In the
event that the Holding Company is required to resolicit subscribers for Offer
Shares in the Subscription Offering and Community Offering and Stifel is
required to provide significant additional services in connection with such a
resolicitation, the Primary Parties and Stifel shall mutually agree to the
dollar amount of additional compensation due to Stifel not to exceed $50,000 and
the Primary Parties shall pay such amount, if any. Stifel shall not incur
expenses relating to any resolicitation in an amount that would cause the total
expenses incurred by Stifel that are reimbursable by the Primary Parties
pursuant to Section 9 hereof to be greater than those permitted by Section
9.
If this
Agreement is terminated in accordance with the provisions of Sections 3, 10 or
14 and the sale of the Offer Shares is not consummated, Stifel shall not be
entitled to receive the fees set forth in Sections 4(b)-(c), but Stifel will
retain the fee for its advisory and administrative services already earned of
$50,000 and the Primary Parties will reimburse Stifel for its reasonable
expenses pursuant to Section 9.
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Section 5. Closing. If the minimum number of
Offer Shares permitted to be sold in the Offering on the basis of the most
recently updated Appraisal (as defined in Section 6(i)) are subscribed for at or
before the termination date of the Offering (which may be extended), and the
other conditions (including those in Section 10) to the completion of the
Offering are satisfied, on the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), the
Holding Company agrees to issue the Offer Shares against payment therefor by the
means authorized by the Plan and to deliver certificates evidencing ownership of
the Offer Shares issued in such authorized denominations and registrations
directly to the purchasers thereof or as instructed as promptly as practicable
after the Closing Date. The closing (the “Closing”) shall be held at the offices
of Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C., Washington, D.C., or at such other
place as shall be agreed upon among the Primary Parties and the Agent, at 10:00
a.m., Eastern Time, on the business day selected by the Primary Parties, which
business day shall be no less than two (2) business days following the giving of
prior notice by the Holding Company to the Agent or at such other time as shall
be agreed upon by the Primary Parties and the Agent. At the Closing, the Primary
Parties shall deliver to the Agent by wire transfer in same-day funds the
commissions, fees and expenses owing to the Agent as set forth in Section 4
(other than commissions and fees owed to the Agent under paragraph (c) of
Section 4 of this Agreement, the payment of which are provided for below) and
Section 9 hereof and the opinions required hereby and other documents deemed
reasonably necessary for the Agent shall be executed and delivered to effect the
sale of the Offer Shares as contemplated hereby and pursuant to the terms of the
Prospectus; and the Agent shall deliver to the Holding Company by wire transfer
in same day funds the aggregate proceeds of the Offer Shares sold by the Agent
in the Syndicated Offering, net of commissions and fees owing to the Agent under
paragraph (c) of Section 4 of this Agreement; provided, however, that all
out-of-pocket expenses to which Stifel is entitled under Section 9 hereof shall
be due and payable upon receipt by the Holding Company or the Bank of a written
accounting therefor setting forth in reasonable detail the expenses incurred by
Stifel. The hour and date upon which the Holding Company shall release the Offer
Shares for delivery in accordance with the terms hereof is referred to herein as
the “Closing Date.”
Stifel
shall have no liability to any party for the records or other information
provided by the Primary Parties (or their agents other than Stifel) to Stifel
for use in allocating the Offer Shares. Subject to the limitations of Section 11
hereof, the Primary Parties shall indemnify and hold harmless Stifel for any
liability arising out of the allocation of the Offer Shares in accordance with
(i) the Plan generally, and (ii) the records or other information provided to
Stifel (or its agents) by the Primary Parties (or their agents).
Section 6. Representations
and Warranties of the Primary Parties. The Primary Parties jointly
and severally represent and warrant to the Agent that:
(a) The
MHC, the Holding Company and the Bank have all such power, authority,
authorizations, approvals and orders as may be required to enter into this
Agreement, and, as of the Closing Date, the MHC, the Holding Company and the
Bank will have all such power, authority, authorizations, approvals and orders
as may be required to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and to
issue and sell the Offer Shares as provided herein and as described in the
Prospectus. The consummation of the Offering, the execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the Letter Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated herein have been duly and validly authorized by
all necessary corporate action on the part of the MHC, the Holding Company and
the Bank. This Agreement has been validly executed and delivered by the Primary
Parties, and is a valid, legal and binding obligation of the Primary Parties, in
each case enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent, if
any, that the provisions of Sections 11 and 12 hereof may be unenforceable as
against public policy, and except to the extent that such enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy laws, insolvency laws, or other laws affecting the
enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, or the rights of creditors of
savings institutions insured by the FDIC (including the laws relating to the
rights of the contracting parties to equitable remedies).
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(b) The
Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission on
_________________, 2010. No stop order has been issued with respect to the
Registration Statement. No proceedings related to the Registration Statement
have been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Primary Parties, threatened by
the Commission. At the time the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus
contained therein (including any amendment or supplement thereto), became
effective, the Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the Registration
Statement, including the Prospectus contained therein (including any amendment
or supplement thereto), any Blue Sky Application or any Sales Information (as
such terms are defined in Section 11 hereof) authorized by the Primary Parties
for use in connection with the Offering, did not contain an 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, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. At the time any Rule 424(b) or (c)
Prospectus was filed with the Commission and at the Closing Date referred to in
Section 5, the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus contained
therein (including any amendment or supplement thereto) and, when taken together
with the Prospectus, any Blue Sky Application (if applicable) or Sales
Information (as defined below) authorized for use by any of the Primary Parties
in connection with the Offering, will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
representations and warranties in this Section 6(b) shall not apply to
statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Primary Parties by the Agent expressly regarding
the Agent for use under the caption “The Stock Offering - Marketing
Arrangements” or written statements or omissions from any sales information or
information filed pursuant to state securities or blue sky laws or regulations
regarding the Agent.
(c) At
the time of filing the Registration Statement and at the date hereof, the
Holding Company was not, and is not, an ineligible issuer, as defined in Rule
405. At the time of the filing of the Registration Statement and at the time of
the use of any issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433(h), the
Holding Company met the conditions required by Rules 164 and 433 for the use of
a free writing prospectus. If required to be filed, the Holding Company has
filed any issuer free writing prospectus related to the Offer Shares at the time
it is required to be filed under Rule 433 and, if not required to be filed, will
retain such free writing prospectus in the Holding Company’s records pursuant to
Rule 433(g) and if any issuer free writing prospectus is used after the date
hereof in connection with the offering of the Offer Shares the Holding Company
will file or retain such free writing prospectus as required by Rule
433.
(d) As
of the Applicable Time, neither (i) the Issuer-Represented General Free Writing
Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time and the Statutory
Prospectus, all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure
Package”), nor (ii) any individual Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing
Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package,
included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding
sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement relating to the Offer Shares or any
Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Holding Company by the Agent specifically
for use therein. As used in this paragraph and elsewhere in this
Agreement:
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(1)
“Applicable Time” means each and every date when a potential purchaser submitted
a subscription or otherwise committed to purchase Offer Shares.
(2)
“Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433(h), relating to the Offer Shares that is
required to be filed with the Commission. The term does not include any writing
exempted from the definition of prospectus pursuant to clause (a) of Section
2(a)(10) of the 1933 Act, without regard to Rule 172 or Rule 173.
(3)
“Issuer-Represented General Free Writing Prospectus” means any
Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general
distribution to prospective investors.
(4)
“Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any
Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer-Represented
General Free Writing Prospectus. The term Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free
Writing Prospectus also includes any “bona fide electronic road
show,” as defined in Rule 433(h), that is made available without restriction
pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(ii) or otherwise, even though not required to be
filed with the Commission.
(5)
“Statutory Prospectus,” as of any time, means the Prospectus relating to the
Offer Shares that is included in the Registration Statement relating to the
Offer Shares immediately prior to that time, including any document incorporated
by reference therein.
(e) Each
Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, as of its date of first use and at
all subsequent times through the completion of the Offering and sale of the
Offer Shares or until any earlier date that the Holding Company notified or
notifies the Agent (as described in the next sentence), did not, does not and
will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict
with the information contained in the Registration Statement relating to the
Offer Shares, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has
not been superseded or modified. If at any time following the date of first use
of an Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an
event or development as a result of which such Issuer-Represented Free Writing
Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the
Registration Statement relating to the Offer Shares or 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 prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the
Holding Company has notified or will notify promptly the Agent so that any use
of such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus may cease until it is amended
or supplemented and the Holding Company has promptly amended or will promptly
amend or supplement such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate
or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission. The foregoing two
sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer-Represented
Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Holding Company by the Agent specifically for use
therein.
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(f) The
Application, including the Prospectus was approved by the OTS on
_________________, 2010 and the Prospectus has been authorized for use by the
OTS. At the time the Application, including the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, was approved and authorized for use by the OTS and at all
times subsequent thereto until the Closing Date, the Application, including the
Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, complied and will comply as
to form in all material respects with OTS Regulations. At the time of the
approvals by the OTS and at all times subsequent thereto until the Closing Date,
the Application, including the Prospectus, did not and will not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any 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
representations or warranties in this subsection (f) shall not apply to
statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Primary Parties by the Agent expressly regarding
the Agent for use in the Prospectus contained under the caption “The Stock
Offering - Marketing Arrangements”, or written statements or omissions from any
sales information or information filed pursuant to state securities or blue sky
laws or regulations regarding the Agent.
(g) No
order has been issued by the Commission, the OTS or any other state or federal
regulatory authority, preventing or suspending the use of the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus and no action by or before any such government
entity to revoke any approval, authorization or order of effectiveness related
to the Offering is pending or, to the knowledge of the Primary Parties,
threatened.
(h) The
Plan has been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the MHC, the Holding
Company and the Bank. To the knowledge of the Primary Parties, no person has
sought, or at the Closing Date will have sought, to obtain review of the final
action of the OTS in approving the Plan or the Application.
(i)
RP Financial, LC., which prepared the appraisal of the aggregate pro forma
market value of the Common Stock on which the Offering was based (the
“Appraisal”), has advised the Primary Parties in writing that it is independent
with respect to each of the Primary Parties and the Primary Parties believe RP
Financial, LC. to be expert in preparing appraisals of savings
institutions.
(j)
Xxxxx Xxxxxx PLLC, which certified the financial statements filed as part
of the Registration Statement and the Applications and KPMG, which certified the
income statement for fiscal 2007, have each advised the Primary Parties that
they are, with respect to each of the Primary Parties, an independent registered
public accountant as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and
the regulations of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States)
(the “PCAOB Regulations”).
(k) The
financial statements and the notes thereto which are included in the
Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
present fairly the financial condition and retained earnings of the Holding
Company and the Bank as of the dates indicated and the results of operations and
cash flows for the periods specified. The financial statements comply in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of Title 12 of the
Code of Federal Regulations, Regulation S-X of the Commission and accounting
principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a
consistent basis during the periods presented, except as otherwise noted
therein, and present fairly in all material respects the information required to
be stated therein. The other financial, statistical and pro forma information
and related notes included in the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package
present fairly the information shown therein on a basis consistent with the
audited and any unaudited financial statements included in the Prospectus or the
General Disclosure Package, and as to the pro forma adjustments, the adjustments
made therein have been properly and consistently applied on the basis described
therein.
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(l) Since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement, including the Prospectus, and the General Disclosure Package other
than as disclosed therein: (i) there has not been any material adverse change in
the financial condition, results of operation, capital, properties, business
affairs or prospects of any of the Primary Parties or the Primary Parties
considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business; (ii) there has not been any material change in total assets of the
Primary Parties on a consolidated basis, any material increase in the aggregate
amount of loans past due ninety (90) days or more, or any real estate acquired
by foreclosure or loans characterized as “in substance foreclosure;” (iii) none
of the Primary Parties have issued any securities or incurred any liability or
obligation for borrowings other than in the ordinary course of business; and
(iv) there have not been any material transactions entered into by any of the
Primary Parties, other than those in the ordinary course of business. The
capitalization, liabilities, assets, properties and business of the Primary
Parties conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and, none of the Primary Parties
has any material liabilities of any kind, contingent or otherwise, except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
(m) Except
as described in the Prospectus there are no contractual encumbrances or
restrictions or requirements or material legal restrictions or requirements
required to be described therein, on the ability of the Holding Company, the
MHC, or the Bank, (A) to pay dividends or make any other distributions on its
capital stock or to pay any indebtedness owed to another party, (B) to make any
loans or advances to, or investments in, another party or (C) to transfer any of
its property or assets to another party. Except as described in the Prospectus,
there are no restrictions, encumbrances or requirements affecting the payment of
dividends or the making of any other distributions on any of the capital stock
of the Holding Company.
(n) The
Bank has properly administered all accounts for which it acts as a fiduciary,
including but not limited to accounts for which it serves as a trustee, agent,
custodian, personal representative, guardian, conservator or investment advisor,
in accordance with the terms of the governing documents and applicable state and
federal law and regulation, except where the failure to be in compliance would
not have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, results of
operation, capital, properties, business affairs or prospects of any of the
Primary Parties or the Primary Parties considered as one enterprise (a “Material
Adverse Effect”). Neither the Bank nor any of its respective directors, officers
or employees has committed any material breach of trust with respect to any such
fiduciary account, and the accountings for each such fiduciary account are true
and correct in all material respects and accurately reflect the assets of such
fiduciary account in all material respects.
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(o) The
Bank is a duly organized and validly existing federally-chartered savings bank
in stock form and is duly authorized to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; the activities of the Bank are permitted by the rules and
regulations of the OTS; the Bank has obtained all licenses, permits and other
governmental authorizations currently required for the conduct of its business,
except those that individually or in the aggregate would not have a Material
Adverse Effect, and all such licenses, permits and other governmental
authorizations are in full force and effect; the Bank is, and as of the Closing
Date will be, duly organized and validly existing under the laws of the United
States; the Bank is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business
in each jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material
Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Bank is
duly and validly issued to the Holding Company and is fully paid and
nonassessable; and all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of the Bank
after the Offering will be duly and validly issued to the Holding Company and
will be fully paid and nonassessable; and as of the Closing Date, the Holding
Company will directly own all of the capital stock of the Bank free and clear of
any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or restriction of any kind. The
Bank does not own equity securities or any equity interest in any other business
enterprise except as otherwise described in the Prospectus or as are immaterial
in amount and are not required to be described in the Prospectus.
(p) The
MHC is a duly organized and validly existing federally-chartered mutual holding
company under the laws of the United States, duly authorized to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus; the activities of the MHC are permitted
by the rules, regulations and practices of the OTS; the MHC has obtained all
licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations currently required for
the conduct of its business, except those that, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect; all such licenses, permits
and other governmental authorizations are in full force and effect; and the MHC
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business in each
jurisdiction in which the failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(q) The
Holding Company is a duly organized and validly existing federally-chartered
stock corporation under the laws of the United States, duly authorized to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; the activities of the
Holding Company are permitted by the rules, regulations and practices of the
OTS; the Holding Company has obtained all licenses, permits and other
governmental authorizations currently required for the conduct of its business,
except those that, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material
Adverse Effect; all such licenses, permits and other governmental authorizations
are in full force and effect; and the Holding Company is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to transact business in each jurisdiction in which the
failure to so qualify would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(r) The
Holding Company does not, and as of the Closing Date will not, own any equity
securities or any equity interest in any business enterprise except as described
in the Prospectus.
(s) The
Bank is a member of the Federal Home Loan Bank (the “FHLB”) of Atlanta. The
deposit accounts of the Bank are insured by the FDIC up to applicable
limits.
(t) As
of the Closing Date, the Bank will continue to be a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Holding Company.
10
(u) Each
of the Bank’s direct and indirect wholly-owned or partially-owned, subsidiaries
is duly organized, validly existing and in good standing in the jurisdiction of
its incorporation and duly authorized to conduct its business as described in
the Prospectus.
(v) The
Holding Company, the MHC and the Bank carry, or are covered by, insurance in
such amounts and covering such risks as the Holding Company, the MHC and the
Bank deem reasonably adequate for the conduct of their respective businesses and
the value of their respective properties.
(w) Upon
consummation of the Offering, the authorized, issued and outstanding capital
stock of the Holding Company will be within the range set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (except for subsequent issuances,
if any, pursuant to reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred
to in the Prospectus); the Offer Shares to be subscribed for in the Offering
have been duly and validly authorized for issuance and, when issued and
delivered by the Holding Company pursuant to the Plan against payment of the
consideration calculated as set forth in the Plan and the Prospectus, will be
duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable; the issuance of the
Offer Shares is not subject to preemptive rights, except for the subscription
rights granted pursuant to the Plan; and the terms and provisions of the shares
of Common Stock will conform in all material respects to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus. Upon issuance of the Offer Shares sold, good title
to the Offer Shares will be transferred from the Holding Company to the
purchasers of Offer Shares against payment therefor in the Offering as set forth
in the Plan and the Prospectus.
(x) The
Primary Parties are not, and as of the Closing Date will not be, in violation of
their respective charters or their respective bylaws, or in material default in
the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant, or
condition contained in any contract, lease, loan agreement, indenture or other
instrument to which they are a party or by which they, or any of their
respective properties, may be bound which would result in a Material Adverse
Effect. The consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the Plan
will not (i) conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, the
charter or bylaws of any of the Primary Parties, or materially conflict with or
constitute a material breach of, or default under, any material contract, lease
or other instrument to which any of the Primary Parties has a beneficial
interest, or any applicable law, rule, regulation or order that is material to
the financial condition of the Primary Parties; (ii) violate any authorization,
approval, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation applicable to the
Primary Parties except for such violations which would not have a Material
Adverse Effect; or (iii) result in the creation of any lien, charge or
encumbrance upon any property of the Primary Parties that would have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(y) No
default exists, and no event has occurred that with notice or lapse of time, or
both, would constitute a default on the part of any of the Primary Parties, in
the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, bank loan or credit agreement or any
other instrument or agreement to which any of the Primary Parties is a party or
by which any of their property is bound or affected in any respect which, in any
such case, would have a Material Adverse Effect on the Primary Parties
individually or taken as a whole, and all such agreements are in full force and
effect; and no other party to any such agreements has instituted or, to the
knowledge of any of the Primary Parties, threatened any action or proceeding
wherein any of the Primary Parties is alleged to be in default thereunder under
circumstances where such action or proceeding, if determined adversely to any of
the Primary Parties, would have a Material Adverse Effect.
11
(z)
The Primary Parties have good and marketable title to all assets which are
material to the businesses, financial condition, results of operation, capital,
properties, and assets of the Primary Parties and to those assets described in
the Prospectus as owned by them, free and clear of all liens, charges,
encumbrances, restrictions or other claims, except such as are described in the
Prospectus or which do not have a Material Adverse Effect; and all of the leases
and subleases that are material to the businesses of the Primary Parties,
including those described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, are in
full force and effect.
(aa) The
Primary Parties are not in material violation of any directive from the OTS, the
Commission or any other agency to make any material change in the method of
conducting their respective businesses; the Primary Parties have conducted and
are conducting their respective businesses so as to comply in all respects with
all applicable statutes and regulations (including, without limitation,
regulations, decisions, directives and orders of the OTS and the Commission),
except where the failure to so comply would not reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect, and there is no charge, investigation, action,
suit or proceeding before or by any court, regulatory authority or governmental
agency or body pending or, to the knowledge of any of the Primary Parties,
threatened, which would reasonably be expected to materially and adversely
affect the Offering, the performance of this Agreement, or the consummation of
the transactions contemplated in the Plan as described in the Registration
Statement, or which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(bb) The
Primary Parties have timely filed all required federal, state and local tax
returns and have paid all taxes that have become due and payable, and no
deficiency has been asserted with respect thereto by any taxing authority. All
material tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the financial
statements of the Primary Parties in accordance with GAAP.
(cc) No
approval, authorization, consent or other order of any regulatory or supervisory
or other public authority is required for the execution and delivery by the
Primary Parties of this Agreement, or the sale and issuance of the Offer Shares,
except for the approval of the OTS, the Commission and, to the extent required
under the Bank’s purchase and assumption agreements with the FDIC described in
the Prospectus, the FDIC, and any necessary qualification, notification, or
registration or exemption under the securities or blue sky laws of the various
states in which the Offer Shares are to be offered for sale.
(dd) None
of the Primary Parties has: (i) issued any securities within the last 18 months
(except for (a) notes to evidence bank loans or other liabilities in the
ordinary course of business or as described in the Prospectus, (b) shares of
common stock of the Holding Company issued pursuant to the Holding Company’s
Employee Stock Ownership Plan and the 2001 Recognition and Retention Plan, and
options issued (including the exercise of such options) pursuant to the 2001
Stock Option Plan, or (c) as otherwise described in the Prospectus); (ii) had
any dealings with respect to sales of securities within the 12 months prior to
the date hereof with any member of FINRA, or any person related to or associated
with such member, other than discussions and meetings relating to the Offering
and purchases and sales of U.S. government and agency and other securities in
the ordinary course of business; (iii) entered into a financial or management
consulting agreement relating to the Offering and the Offering except for the
Letter Agreement and as contemplated hereunder; or (iv) engaged any intermediary
between the Agent and the Primary Parties in connection with the Offering or the
offering of shares of the common stock of the Holding Company, and no person is
being compensated in any manner for such services.
12
(ee) Neither
any of the Primary Parties nor, to the knowledge of the Primary Parties, any
employee of the Primary Parties, has made any payment of funds of the Primary
Parties as a loan to any person for the purchase of Offer Shares, except for the
Holding Company’s loan to the employee stock ownership plan the proceeds of
which will be used to purchase Offer Shares and the Holding Company’s existing
loan to the employee stock ownership plan, or has made any other payment or loan
of funds prohibited by law, and no funds have been set aside to be used for any
payment prohibited by law.
(ff) The
Bank complies in all material respects with the applicable financial record
keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, and the regulations and rules
thereunder.
(gg) The
Primary Parties have not relied upon the Agent or its counsel for any legal, tax
or accounting advice in connection with the Offering.
(hh) The
records of Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account Holders
and Other Members are accurate and complete in all material
respects.
(ii) The
Primary Parties comply in all respects with all laws, rules and regulations
relating to environmental protection, except where the failure to so comply
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect, and none of them has been
notified or is otherwise aware that any of them is potentially liable, or is
considered potentially liable, under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, or any other Federal, state
or local environmental laws and regulations; no action, suit, regulatory
investigation or other proceeding is pending, or to the knowledge of the Primary
Parties, threatened against the Primary Parties relating to environmental
protection, nor do the Primary Parties have any reason to believe any such
proceedings may be brought against any of them; and no disposal, release or
discharge of hazardous or toxic substances, pollutants or contaminants,
including petroleum and gas products, as any of such terms may be defined under
federal, state or local law, has occurred on, in, at or about any facilities or
properties owned or leased by any of the Primary Parties or in which the Bank
has a security interest, except, in the case of facilities or properties in
which the Bank has a security interest, to the extent such disposal, release or
discharge would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(jj) All
of the loans represented as assets in the most recent financial information of
the Primary Parties included in the Prospectus meet or are exempt from all
requirements of federal, state and local law pertaining to lending, including,
without limitation, truth in lending (including the requirements of Regulations
Z and 12 C.F.R. Part 226), real estate settlement procedures, consumer credit
protection, equal credit opportunity and all disclosure laws applicable to such
loans, except for violations which, if asserted, would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
13
(kk) None
of the Primary Parties are required to be registered as an investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(ll) To
the Holding Company’s, the MHC’s and the Bank’s knowledge, there are no
affiliations or associations between any member of the FINRA and any of the
Holding Company’s, the MHC’s and the Bank’s officers, directors or 5% or greater
securityholders, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.
(mm) The
statistical and market related data contained in any Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement are based on or
derived from sources which the Holding Company, the MHC and the Bank believe
were reliable and accurate at the time they were filed with the Commission. No
forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the 1933 Act and
Section 21E of the 0000 Xxx) contained in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed
without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good
faith.
(nn) The
Primary Parties have taken all actions necessary to obtain at Closing a Blue Sky
Memorandum from Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C. on which Stifel may
rely.
Any
certificates signed by an officer of any of the Primary Parties and delivered to
the Agent or its counsel that refer to this Agreement shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Primary Parties to the Agent as to the
matters covered thereby with the same effect as if such representation and
warranty were set forth herein.
Section 7.
Representations
and Warranties of the Agent. Stifel represents and
warrants to the Primary Parties that:
(a) Stifel
is a corporation and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of Missouri with full power and authority to provide the services to
be furnished to the Primary Parties hereunder.
(b) The
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the consummation of
the transactions contemplated herein have been duly and validly authorized by
all necessary corporate action on the part of Stifel. Each of this
Agreement and the Letter Agreement has been validly executed and delivered by
Stifel, and is the legal, valid and binding agreement of Stifel, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except to the extent, if any, that the provisions of
Sections 11 and 12 hereof may be unenforceable as against public policy, and
except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy laws,
insolvency laws, or other laws affecting the enforcement of creditors’ rights
generally or general equity principles.
(c) Each
of the Agent and its employees, agents and representatives who shall perform any
of the services hereunder shall have, and until the Offering is consummated or
terminated shall maintain, all licenses, approvals and permits necessary to
perform such services and shall comply in all material respects with all
applicable laws and regulations in connection with the performance of such
services.
(d) No
action, suit, charge or proceeding before the Commission, FINRA, any state
securities commission or any court is pending, or to the knowledge of the Agent,
threatened against the Agent which, if determined adversely to such Agent, would
have a material adverse effect upon the ability of Agent to perform its
obligations under this Agreement.
14
(e)
Agent is registered as a broker/dealer pursuant to Section 15(b) of
the 1934 Act and is a member of FINRA.
(f) Any
funds received in the Offering by the Agent will be handled by the Agent in
accordance with Rule 15c2-4 under the 1934 Act to the extent
applicable.
Section 8.
Covenants
of the Primary Parties.
The Primary Parties hereby jointly and severally covenant with the Agent
as follows:
(a) The
Holding Company will not, at any time after the date the Registration Statement
is declared effective, file any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement without providing the Agent and its counsel an opportunity to review
and comment on such amendment or supplement or file any amendment or supplement
to the Registration Statement to which amendment or supplement the Agent or its
counsel shall reasonably object. The Holding Company will furnish promptly to
the Agent and its counsel copies of all correspondence from the Commission with
respect to the Registration Statement and the Holding Company’s responses
thereto.
(b) The
Holding Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent
of the Agent, and the Agent represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the
prior consent of the Holding Company, it has not made and will not make any
offer relating to the Offer Shares that would constitute an “issuer free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, or that would constitute a “free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission.
Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Holding Company and the
Agent is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The
Holding Company represents that it has and will comply with the requirements of
Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely
Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping. The Holding
Company need not treat any communication as a free writing prospectus if it is
exempt from the definition of prospectus pursuant to Clause (a) of Section
2(a)(10) of the 1933 Act without regard to Rule 172 or 173.
(c) The
Primary Parties will not, at any time after the date any Application is
approved, file any amendment or supplement to such Application without providing
the Agent and its counsel an opportunity to review and comment on such amendment
or supplement or file any amendment or supplement to such Application to which
amendment or supplement the Agent or its counsel shall reasonably object. The
Primary Parties will furnish promptly to the Agent and its counsel copies of all
correspondence from the OTS with respect to the Applications and the Primary
Parties’ responses thereto.
15
(d) The
Primary Parties will use their best efforts to cause any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement to be declared effective by the
Commission and any post-effective amendment to the Application to be approved by
the OTS and will promptly upon receipt of any information concerning the events
listed below notify the Agent (i) when the Registration Statement, as amended,
has become effective; (ii) when the Application as amended, has been approved by
the OTS; (iii) of the receipt of any comments from the OTS or any other
governmental entity with respect to the Offering or the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) of any request by the Commission, the OTS,
or any other governmental entity for any amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement or the Applications or for additional information; (v) of
the issuance by the Commission, the OTS or any other governmental agency of any
order or other action suspending the Offering or the use of the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus or any other filing of the Primary Parties under the
OTS Regulations or other applicable law, or the threat of any such action; (vi)
of the issuance by the Commission, the OTS, or any state authority of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the
initiation or threat of initiation or threat of any proceedings for that
purpose; or (vii) of the occurrence of any event mentioned in subsection (g)
below. The Primary Parties will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
issuance by the Commission, the OTS or any other state authority of any order
referred to in (v) and (vi) above and, if any such order shall at any time be
issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible
time.
(e) The
Primary Parties will deliver to the Agent and to its counsel conformed copies of
each of the following documents, with all exhibits: the Application as
originally filed and of each amendment or supplement thereto, and the
Registration Statement, as originally filed and each amendment thereto. Further,
the Primary Parties will deliver such additional copies of the foregoing
documents to counsel to the Agent as may be required for any FINRA filings. In
addition, the Primary Parties will also deliver to the Agent such number of
copies of the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as the Agent may
reasonably request.
(f) The
Primary Parties will comply in all material respects with any and all terms,
conditions, requirements and provisions with respect to the Offering and the
transactions contemplated thereby imposed by the Commission, by applicable state
law and regulations, and by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act
and the 1934 Act Regulations to be complied with prior to the Closing Date; and
when the Prospectus is required to be delivered, the Primary Parties will comply
in all material respects, at their own expense, with all requirements imposed
upon them by the OTS, the OTS Regulations (except as modified or waived in
writing by the OTS), the Commission, by applicable state law and regulations and
by the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
promulgated under such statutes, in each case as from time to time in force, so
far as is necessary to permit the continuance of sales or dealing in shares of
Common Stock during such period in accordance with the provisions hereof and the
Prospectus.
(g) The
Primary Parties will inform the Agent of any event or circumstance of which it
is or becomes aware as a result of which the Registration Statement and/or
Prospectus, as then supplemented or amended, would include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein not misleading. If it is necessary, in the reasonable
opinion of counsel for the Primary Parties, to amend or supplement the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to correct such untrue
statement of a material fact or to make the statements therein not misleading in
light of the circumstances existing at the time of their use, the Primary
Parties will, at their expense, prepare, file with the Commission and the OTS
and furnish to the Agent, a reasonable number of copies of an amendment or
amendments of, or a supplement or supplements to, the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the
Agent after a reasonable time for review) which will amend or supplement the
Registration Statement and/or the Prospectus so that as amended or supplemented
it will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances existing at the time, not misleading. For the purpose of this
subsection, each of the Primary Parties will furnish such information with
respect to itself as the Agent may from time to time reasonably
request.
16
(h) Pursuant
to the terms of the Plan, the Holding Company will endeavor in good faith, in
cooperation with the Agent, to register or to qualify the Offer Shares for
issuance or offering and sale, as applicable, or to exempt such Offer Shares
from registration and to exempt the Holding Company and its officers, directors
and employees from registration as broker-dealers, under the applicable
securities laws of the jurisdictions in which the Offering will be conducted;
provided, however, that
the Holding Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to
service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation to do business in any
jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified. In each jurisdiction where any of
the Offer Shares shall have been registered or qualified as above provided, the
Holding Company will make and file such statements and reports in each year as
are or may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction.
(i) The
Holding Company will not sell or issue, contract to sell or otherwise dispose
of, for a period of ninety (90) days after the date hereof, any shares of Common
Stock or securities into or exercisable for shares of Common Stock, without the
Agent’s prior written consent other than in connection with any plan or
arrangement described in the Prospectus including a conversion of the MHC to the
stock form of organization.
(j) For
a period of three years from the date of this Agreement, the Holding Company
will furnish to the Agent, as soon as practical after such information is
available (i) a copy of each report of the Holding Company furnished to or filed
with the Commission under the 1934 Act or any national securities exchange or
system on which any class of securities of the Holding Company is listed or
quoted, (ii) a copy of each report of the Holding Company mailed to holders of
Common Stock, (iii) each press release and material news item and article
released by the Holding Company and/or Bank, and (iv) from time-to-time, such
other publicly available information concerning the Primary Parties as the Agent
may reasonably request. For purposes of this paragraph, any document filed
electronically with the Commission shall be deemed to be furnished to the
Agent.
(k) The
Primary Parties will use the net proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock in
the manner set forth in the Prospectus under the caption “How We Intend to Use
the Proceeds From the Offering.”
(l) The
Holding Company and the Bank will distribute the Prospectus, any
Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, or other offering materials in
connection with the offering and sale of the Common Stock only in accordance
with the OTS Regulations, the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations promulgated under such statutes, and, as applicable, the laws of any
state in which the shares are qualified for sale.
(m) Prior
to the Closing Date, the Holding Company shall register its Common Stock under
Section 12(b) of the 1934 Act, and will request that such registration statement
be effective no later than the completion of the Offering. The Holding Company
shall maintain the effectiveness of such registration for not less than three
years or such shorter period as permitted by the OTS.
17
(n) For
so long as the Common Stock is registered under the 1934 Act, the Holding
Company will furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of
each fiscal year such reports and other information as are required to be
furnished to its stockholders under the 0000 Xxx.
(o) The
Holding Company will report the use of proceeds of the Offering in accordance
with Rule 463 under the 1933 Act Regulations.
(p) The
Primary Parties will maintain appropriate arrangements for depositing all funds
received from persons mailing subscriptions for or orders to purchase Offer
Shares on an interest bearing basis as described in the Prospectus until the
Closing Date and satisfaction of all conditions precedent to the release of the
Holding Company’s obligation to refund payments received from persons
subscribing for or ordering Offer Shares in the Offering, in accordance with the
Plan as described in the Prospectus, or until refunds of such funds have been
made to the persons entitled thereto or withdrawal authorizations canceled in
accordance with the Plan and as described in the Prospectus. The Primary Parties
will maintain such records of all funds received to permit the funds of each
subscriber to be separately insured by the FDIC (to the maximum extent
allowable) and to enable the Primary Parties to make the appropriate refunds of
such funds in the event that such refunds are required to be made in accordance
with the Plan and as described in the Prospectus.
(q) The
Primary Parties will conduct their businesses in compliance in all material
respects with all applicable federal and state laws, rules, regulations,
decisions, directives and orders, including all decisions, directives and orders
of the Commission and the OTS.
(r) The
Primary Parties shall comply with any and all terms, conditions, requirements
and provisions with respect to the Offering and the transactions contemplated
thereby imposed by the OTS, the HOLA, the Commission, the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act
Regulations, the 1934 Act, the 1934 Act Regulations to be complied with
subsequent to the Closing Date. The Holding Company will comply with all
provisions of all undertakings contained in the Registration
Statement.
(s) The
Primary Parties will not amend the Plan without notifying the Agent prior
thereto.
(t) The
Holding Company shall provide Stifel with any information necessary to allow
Stifel to assist with the allocation process in order to permit the Holding
Company to carry out the allocation of the Offer Shares in the event of an
oversubscription, and such information shall be accurate and reliable in all
material respects.
(u) The
Holding Company will not deliver the Offer Shares until the Primary Parties have
satisfied or caused to be satisfied each condition set forth in Section 10
hereof, unless such condition is waived in writing by Stifel.
18
(v) On
or before the Closing Date, the Primary Parties will have completed all
conditions precedent to the Offering specified in the Plan and the offer, sale
and issuance of the Offer Shares will have been conducted in all material
respects in accordance with the Plan, the OTS Regulations (except as modified or
waived in writing by the OTS) and with all other applicable laws, regulations,
decisions and orders, including all terms, conditions, requirements and
provisions precedent to the Offering imposed upon any of the Primary Parties by
the OTS, the Commission or any other regulatory authority and in the manner
described in the Prospectus (except as may be modified or waived in writing by
the OTS, the Commission or such other regulatory authority).
(w) Immediately
upon completion of the sale by the Holding Company of the Offer Shares and the
completion of certain transactions necessary to implement the Plan, (i) all of
the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank shall be owned by
the Holding Company, (ii) the Holding Company shall have no direct subsidiaries
other than the Bank, and (iii) the Offering shall have been effected in all
material respects in accordance with all applicable statutes, regulations,
decisions and orders; and all terms, conditions, requirements and provisions
with respect to the Offering (except those that are conditions subsequent)
imposed by the OTS, the Commission or any other governmental agency, if any,
shall have been complied with by the Primary Parties in all material respects or
appropriate waivers shall have been obtained and all notice and waiting periods
shall have been satisfied, waived or elapsed.
(x) The
Holding Company shall notify the Agent when funds shall have been received for
the minimum number of Offer Shares set forth in the Prospectus.
(y) The
officers and directors of the Primary Parties, listed in Exhibit C of this
Agreement, shall not exercise any stock options providing for the issuance of
shares of common stock in the Holding Company during the Offering or otherwise
sell or transfer any shares of Common Stock commencing on the date hereof and
continuing for a period of ninety (90) days following the Closing Date (the
“Restricted Period”). The Primary Parties shall not honor the exercise of any
stock options providing for the issuance of shares of common stock in the
Holding Company by any such officer or director during the Offering, nor shall
the Holding Company otherwise assist such officers or directors in connection
with the sale or transfer of shares of Common Stock during the Restricted
Period.
(aa) Upon
execution of this Agreement, the Primary Parties agree to provide Stifel with a
two (2) year right of first refusal to serve as financial advisor and marketing
agent to the Primary Parties for a second step offering. This right
of first refusal is contingent upon the completion of the Offering.
19
Section
9. Payment
of Expenses.
Whether or not the Offering is completed or the sale and issuance of the
Offer Shares by the Holding Company is consummated, the Primary Parties will pay
for all their expenses incident to the performance of this Agreement, including
without limitation: (a) the preparation and filing of the Application and
Registration Statement; (b) the preparation, printing, filing, delivery and
mailing of the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus, and all
documents related to the Offering; (c) all filing fees and expenses in
connection with the qualification or registration of the Offer Shares for offer
and sale by the Holding Company under the securities or “blue sky” laws,
including without limitation filing fees, reasonable legal fees and
disbursements of counsel in connection therewith, and in connection with the
preparation of a blue sky law survey; (d) the filing fees of FINRA related to
Stifel’s fairness filing under Rule 2710 of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.; (e) fees and expenses related to the preparation of
the independent appraisal; (f) fees and expenses related to printing, data
processing, auditing, accounting and other services; (g) all expenses relating
to advertising, temporary personnel, investor meetings and the stock information
center; and (h) transfer agent fees and costs of preparation and distribution of
stock certificates. The Primary Parties also agree to reimburse Stifel for
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including legal fees and expenses and
expenses incurred in connection with the syndicated community offering, incurred
by Stifel in connection with the services hereunder, subject to the limitations
provided below. Stifel will not incur reimbursable legal fees in excess of
$100,000, excluding the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of counsel not to
exceed $10,000. Stifel will not incur actual accountable reimbursable
out-of-pocket expenses in excess of $30,000. Stifel will not incur any single
out-of-pocket expense of more than $1,000 pursuant to this paragraph without the
prior approval of the Holding Company, the MHC or the Bank. The Primary Parties
acknowledge, however, that such limitations on expenses and legal fees may be
increased by the mutual consent of the Holding Company and Stifel in the event
of delay in the Offering, which requires material additional work by Stifel or
its counsel or an update of the financial information contained in the
Prospectus to reflect a period later than set forth in the financial statements
in the original Registration Statement; provided that under such circumstances,
Stifel will not incur any additional accountable reimbursable out-of-pocket
expenses in excess of $10,000 or additional reimbursable legal fees in excess of
$25,000, and that the aggregate of all reimbursable expenses and legal fees
shall not exceed $215,000. Not later than two (2) days prior to the Closing
Date, Stifel will provide the Bank with a detailed accounting of all
reimbursable expenses of Stifel and its counsel to be paid at the
Closing.
Section
10. Conditions
to the Agent’s Obligations. The obligations of the Agent
hereunder and the occurrence of the Closing and the Offering are subject to the
condition that all representations and warranties of the Primary Parties herein
contained are, at and as of the commencement of the Offering and at and as of
the Closing Date, true and correct, the condition that the Primary Parties shall
have performed all of their obligations hereunder to be performed on or before
such dates and to the following further conditions:
(a) The
Registration Statement shall have been declared effective by the Commission and
the Application shall have been approved by the OTS, and no stop order or other
action suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the
knowledge of the Primary Parties, threatened by the Commission or any state
authority and no order or other action suspending the authorization for use of
the Prospectus or the consummation of the Offering shall have been issued, or
proceedings therefor initiated or, to the knowledge of the Primary Parties,
threatened by the OTS, the Commission or any other governmental
body.
(b) At
the Closing Date, the Agent shall have received:
(1) The
opinion, dated as of the Closing Date, of Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx,
P.C. and/or local counsel acceptable to the Agent, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Agent and counsel for the Agent to the effect
that:
20
(i) The
Holding Company is a federally-chartered stock corporation duly organized and
validly existing under the laws of the United States, with corporate power and
authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business in each other jurisdiction
in which the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where
the failure to qualify would not have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(ii) The
Bank is a duly organized and validly existing federally-chartered stock savings
bank, and upon consummation of the Offering, the Bank will continue to be a
validly existing federally-chartered stock savings bank, with full power and
authority to own its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; the activities of the Bank as described in the Prospectus are
permitted by federal law and the rules and regulations of the OTS; all of the
outstanding Common Stock of the Bank is owned of record and beneficially by the
Holding Company, free and clear of any mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,
claim or restriction.
(iii) The
MHC is a mutual holding company duly organized and validly existing under the
laws of the United States, with corporate power and authority to own its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is
duly qualified to transact business in each other jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to
qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) The
activities of the Holding Company, the MHC and the Bank, as described in the
Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package, are permitted by federal law. To
such counsel’s knowledge, each of the MHC, the Holding Company, and the Bank has
obtained all licenses, permits, and other governmental authorizations that are
material for the conduct of its business, and all such licenses, permits and
other governmental authorizations are in full force and effect, and to such
counsel’s knowledge the Holding Company, the MHC and the Bank are complying
therewith in all material respects.
(v) The
Bank is a member of the FHLB of Atlanta. The Bank is an insured depository
institution under the provisions of the Federal Deposit Insurance Act, as
amended, and no proceedings for the termination or revocation of the federal
deposit insurance of the Bank are pending or, to such counsel’s knowledge,
threatened.
(vi) The
authorized capital stock of the Holding Company consists of 50,000,000 shares of
Common Stock and 10,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock; at the Closing Date, the
shares contributed by the MHC to the Holding Company for issuance will have been
duly and validly authorized for issuance, and when issued and delivered by the
Holding Company pursuant to the Plan against payment of the consideration
calculated as set forth in the Plan, will be fully paid and nonassessable; and
the issuance of the Offer Shares is not subject to preemptive rights under the
charter or bylaws of the Holding Company, or arising or outstanding by operation
of law or under any contract, indenture, agreement, instrument or other document
known to such counsel, except for the subscription rights under the
Plan.
21
(vii) The
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Primary Parties; and this Agreement
constitutes a valid, legal and binding obligation of each of the Primary
Parties, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that the
provisions of Sections 11 and 12 hereof may be unenforceable as against public
policy, and except to the extent that such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy laws, insolvency laws, or other laws affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights generally, or the rights of creditors of savings institutions
insured by the FDIC (including laws and judicial decisions relating to the
rights of the contracting parties to equitable remedies).
(viii) The
Plan has been duly adopted by the Board of Directors of the MHC, the Holding
Company and the Bank in the manner required by the OTS Regulations and the
charters and bylaws of each of the MHC, the Holding Company and the
Bank.
(ix) The
Offering was effected in all material respects in accordance with the Plan and
all applicable laws, including statutes, regulations, decisions and orders
(except that this opinion need not address state securities or “blue sky” laws
and regulations nor matters addressed in the letter referred to in Section
10(b)(2) of this Agreement); all terms, conditions, requirements and provisions
with respect to the Offering imposed by the OTS, the Commission, or any other
governmental agency, if any, were complied with by the Primary Parties in all
material respects or appropriate waivers were obtained and all notices and
waiting periods were satisfied, waived or replaced.
(x) The
Application has been approved by the OTS, and the Prospectus has been authorized
for use by the OTS, and subject to the satisfaction of any conditions set forth
in such approvals, no further approval, registration, authorization, consent or
other order of any federal or state regulatory agency, public board or body is
required in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
offer, sale and issuance of the Offer Shares and the consummation of the
Offering, except as may be required under the state securities or “blue sky”
laws of various jurisdictions as to which no opinion need be
rendered.
22
(xi) The
Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act, and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
or proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to such counsel’s
knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(xii) The
terms and provisions of the shares of Common Stock conform to the description
thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and the form
of certificate to be used to evidence the shares of Common Stock is in due and
proper form.
(xiii) At
the time the Applications were approved and as of the Closing Date, the
Applications (as amended or supplemented), the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented) complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements
of the OTS Regulations and all applicable laws, rules and regulations and
decisions and orders of the OTS, except as modified or waived in writing (other
than the financial statements, notes to financial statements, financial tables
and other financial and statistical data included therein and the appraisal
valuation and the business plan as to which counsel need express no opinion). To
such counsel’s knowledge, no person has sought to obtain regulatory or judicial
review of the final action of the OTS in approving the Application
filed.
(xiv) At
the time that the Registration Statement became effective and as of the Closing
Date, the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented) (other than the financial statements, notes to financial
statements, financial tables or other financial and statistical data included
therein and the appraisal valuation and the business plan as to which counsel
need express no opinion), complied as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(xv) There
are no legal or governmental proceedings pending, or, to such counsel’s
knowledge, threatened (i) asserting the invalidity of this Agreement or (ii)
seeking to prevent the Offering or the offer, sale or issuance of the Offer
Shares.
(xvi) The
information in the Prospectus under the captions “Supervision and Regulation,”
“Taxation” (solely as it relates to federal tax law), “Description of Our
Capital Stock,” and “The Stock Offering,” to the extent that such information
constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, documents or
proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is
accurate in all material respects.
(xvii) None
of the Primary Parties are required to be registered as an investment company
under the Investment Company Act of 1940.
23
(xviii) None
of the Primary Parties is in violation of its charter or its bylaws or, to such
counsel’s knowledge, any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained
in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
instrument filed as an exhibit to, or incorporated by reference in, the
Registration Statement, which violation would have a Material Adverse Effect. In
addition, the execution and delivery of and performance under this Agreement by
the Primary Parties, the incurrence of the obligations set forth herein and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein will not result in (i) any
violation of the provisions of the charter or the bylaws of any of the Primary
Parties, (ii) any violation of any applicable law, act, regulation, or to such
counsel’s knowledge, order or court order, writ, injunction or decree, and (iii)
any violation of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
instrument filed as an exhibit to, or incorporated by reference in, the
Registration Statement, which violation would have a Material Adverse
Effect.
The
opinion may be limited to matters governed by the laws of the United States and
the State of Georgia. In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to
matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the
United States, to the extent such counsel deems proper and specified in such
opinion, upon the opinion of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Agent, as long
as such other opinion indicates that the Agent may rely on the opinion, and (B)
as to matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates
of responsible officers of the Primary Parties and public officials; provided
copies of any such opinion(s) or certificates of public officials are delivered
to Agent together with the opinion to be rendered hereunder by special counsel
to the Primary Parties. The opinion of such counsel for the Primary Parties
shall state that it has no reason to believe that the Agent is not reasonably
justified in relying thereon. The opinion of such counsel for the Primary
Parties also shall state that the Agent’s counsel may rely for purposes of its
own opinion on the opinion of such counsel and, if applicable, local counsel,
whose opinion(s) shall expressly authorize such reliance.
(2) The
letter of Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C. in form and substance to the
effect that during the preparation of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, Luse, Gorman, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C. participated in
conferences with certain officers of and other representatives of the Primary
Parties, counsel to the Agent, representatives of the independent public
accountants for the Primary Parties and representatives of the Agent at which
the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related
matters were discussed and has considered the matters required to be stated
therein and the statements contained therein and, although (without limiting the
opinions provided pursuant to Section 10(b)(1)), Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx &
Xxxxxx, P.C. has not independently verified the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, on the basis of the foregoing, nothing has come to the attention of
Luse, Gorman, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C. that caused Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx &
Xxxxxx, P.C. to believe that the Registration Statement at the time it was
declared effective by the Commission and as of the date of such letter or that
the General Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, contained or contains
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any 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 (it being
understood that counsel need express no comment or opinion with respect to
financial statements, notes to financial statements, schedules and other
financial and statistical data included, or statistical or appraisal methodology
employed, in the Registration Statement, or Prospectus or General Disclosure
Package).
24
(3) The
favorable opinion, dated as of the Closing Date, of Silver, Xxxxxxxx & Taff,
L.L.P., counsel for Stifel, with respect to such matters as the Agent may
reasonably require; such opinion may rely, as to matters of fact, upon
certificates of officers and directors of the Primary Parties delivered pursuant
hereto or as such counsel may reasonably request and upon the opinion of Xxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C.
(4) The
letter of Silver, Xxxxxxxx & Taff, L.L.P. in form and substance to the
effect that during the preparation of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, Silver, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx, L.L.P. participated in conferences with
certain officers of and other representatives of the Primary Parties, counsel to
the Primary Parties, representatives of the independent public accountants for
the Primary Parties and representatives of the Agent at which the contents of
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed
and has considered the matters required to be stated therein and the statements
contained therein and, although (without limiting the opinions provided pursuant
to Section 10(b)(3)), Silver, Xxxxxxxx & Taff, L.L.P. has not independently
verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, on the basis of the foregoing,
nothing has come to the attention of Silver, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx, L.L.P. that
caused Silver, Xxxxxxxx & Taff, L.L.P. to believe that the Registration
Statement at the time it was declared effective by the Commission and as of the
date of such letter or that the General Disclosure Package as of the Applicable
Time, contained or contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state any 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 (it being understood that counsel need express no comment or
opinion with respect to financial statements, notes to financial statements,
schedules and other financial and statistical data included, or statistical or
appraisal methodology employed, in the Registration Statement, or Prospectus or
General Disclosure Package).
(5) A
Blue Sky Memorandum from Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C. addressed to
the Holding Company and the Agent relating to the offering, including Agent’s
participation therein. The Blue Sky Memorandum will address the necessity of
obtaining or confirming exemptions, qualifications or the registration of the
Common Stock under applicable state securities law.
25
(c) On
or prior to the date on which the Offer Shares are first offered in the
Subscription Offering, the Agent shall receive a letter from Xxxxx Xxxxxx PLLC,
dated the date hereof and addressed to the Agent, such letter (i) confirming
that Xxxxx Xxxxxx PLLC is a firm of independent registered public accountants
within the meaning of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations and the PCAOB
Regulations, and stating in effect that in Xxxxx Xxxxxx PLLC’s opinion the
consolidated financial statements of the Holding Company included in the
Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with generally accepted
accounting principles, the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, and the 1934
Act and the 1934 Act Regulations; (ii) stating in effect that, on the basis of
certain agreed upon procedures (but not an audit examination in accordance with
the auditing standards of the PCAOB) consisting of a review (in accordance with
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 100, Interim Financial Information) of the
unaudited consolidated interim financial statements of the Holding Company
prepared by the Primary Parties as of and for the interim periods ended March
31, 2010, a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the Board of Directors,
Executive Committee, Audit Committee and stockholders of the Holding Company and
the Bank and consultations with officers of the Holding Company and the Bank
responsible for financial and accounting matters, nothing came to their
attention which caused them to believe that: (A) such unaudited consolidated
financial statements and any “Recent Developments” information in the Prospectus
are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements
included in the Prospectus; or (B) during the period from the date of the recent
developments financial information included in the Prospectus to a specified
date not more than three (3) business days prior to the date of the Prospectus,
there was any material increase in borrowings (defined as securities sold under
agreements to repurchase and any other form of debt other than deposits), or
decrease in the deposits or loan allowance, total assets, stockholders’ equity
or there was any change in common stock outstanding (other than for stock option
plans) at the date of such letter as compared with amounts shown in the March
31, 2010 unaudited statement of condition included in the Prospectus or there
was any decrease in net interest income, non-interest income, net interest
income after provision or net income, or increase in provision for loan losses,
non-interest expense of the Primary Parties for the period commencing
immediately after the recent development date and ended not more than three (3)
business days prior to the date of the Prospectus as compared to the
corresponding period in the preceding year; and (iii) stating that, in addition
to the audit examination referred to in its opinion included in the Prospectus
and the performance of the procedures referred to in clause (ii) of this
subsection (c), they have compared with the general accounting records of the
Holding Company, which are subject to the internal controls of the accounting
system of the Holding Company, and other data prepared by the Primary Parties
from accounting records, to the extent specified in such letter, such amounts
and/or percentages set forth in the Prospectus as the Agent may reasonably
request, and they have found such amounts and percentages to be in agreement
therewith (subject to rounding).
(d) At
the Closing Date, the Agent shall receive a letter from Xxxxx Xxxxxx PLLC dated
the Closing Date, addressed to the Agent, confirming the statements made by its
letter delivered by it pursuant to subsection (c) of this Section 10, the
“specified date” referred to in clause (ii)(B) thereof to be a date specified in
such letter, which shall not be more than three (3) business days prior to the
Closing Date.
(e) At
the Closing Date, counsel to the Agent shall have been furnished with such
documents and opinions as counsel for the Agent may require for the purpose of
enabling them to advise the Agent with respect to the issuance and sale of the
Common Stock as herein contemplated and related proceedings, or in order to
evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the
fulfillment of any of the conditions herein contained.
26
(f) At
the Closing Date, the Agent shall receive a certificate of the Chief Executive
Officer and Chief Financial Officer of each of the Primary Parties, dated the
Closing Date, to the effect that: (i) they have examined the Registration
Statement and Application and at the time the Registration Statement and
Application became authorized for final use, the Prospectus did not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) there has not been,
since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and Application, any Material Adverse Effect otherwise than as set
forth or contemplated in the Registration Statement and Application; (iii) the
representations and warranties contained in Section 6 of this Agreement are true
and correct with the same force and effect as though made at and as of the
Closing Date; (iv) the Primary Parties have complied in all material respects
with all material agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date including the conditions
contained in this Section 10; (v) no stop order has been issued or, to the best
of their knowledge, is threatened, by the Commission or any other governmental
body; (vi) no order suspending the Offering or the effectiveness of the
Prospectus has been issued and to the best of their knowledge, no proceedings
for any such purpose have been initiated or threatened by the OTS, the
Commission, or any other federal or state authority; (vii) to the best of their
knowledge, no person has sought to obtain regulatory or judicial review of the
action of the OTS in approving the Plan or to enjoin the Offering, and (viii)
that the officers and directors of the Primary Parties have agreed to abide by
the restrictions on the exercise of options and sale of Common Stock set forth
in Section 8(y).
(g) At
the Closing Date, the Agent shall receive a letter from RP Financial, LC., dated
as of the Closing Date, (i) confirming that said firm is independent of the
Primary Parties and is experienced and expert in the area of corporate
appraisals, (ii) stating in effect that the Appraisal complies in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the OTS Regulations, and (iii)
further stating that its opinion of the aggregate pro forma market value of the
Primary Parties, as converted, expressed in the Appraisal as most recently
updated, remains in effect.
(h) Prior
to and at the Closing Date, none of the Primary Parties shall have sustained,
since the date of the latest financial statements included in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, any material loss or interference with its business
from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or
decree, otherwise than as set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have been any
material change, or any development involving a prospective material change in,
or affecting the general affairs of, management, financial position, retained
earnings, long-term debt, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of any
of the Primary Parties, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case
described above, in the Agent’s reasonable judgment, is sufficiently material
and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
Offering or the delivery of the Offer Shares on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus.
27
(i) Prior
to and at the Closing Date: (i) in the reasonable opinion of the Agent, there
shall have been no material adverse change in the financial condition or in the
earnings, capital, properties or business affairs of the Primary Parties
considered as one enterprise, from and as of the latest date as of which such
condition is set forth in the Prospectus, except as referred to therein; (ii)
there shall have been no material transaction entered into by the Primary
Parties, independently or considered as one enterprise, from the latest date as
of which the financial condition of the Primary Parties is set forth in the
Prospectus, other than transactions referred to or contemplated therein; (iii)
none of the Primary Parties shall have received from the OTS any direction (oral
or written) to make any material change in the method of conducting their
business with which it has not complied in all material respects (which
direction, if any, shall have been disclosed to the Agent) and which would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) none of the
Primary Parties shall have been in default (nor shall an event have occurred
which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default) under
any provision of any agreement or instrument relating to any material
outstanding indebtedness; (v) no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in equity
or before or by any federal or state commission, board or other administrative
agency, shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Primary Parties, threatened
against any of the Primary Parties or affecting any of their properties wherein
an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would reasonably be expected to have
a Material Adverse Effect; and (vi) the Offer Shares shall have been qualified
or registered for offering and sale, as applicable, under the securities or
“blue sky” laws of the jurisdictions requested by the Agent.
(j) At
or prior to the Closing Date, the Agent shall receive (i) a copy of the
Application and a copy of the letters from the OTS approving the Application and
authorizing the Prospectus for use, (ii) if available, a copy of the order from
the Commission declaring the Registration Statement effective, (iii) a certified
copy of the charter of the Holding Company, (iv) a certificate from the FDIC
evidencing the Bank’s insurance of accounts, and (v) any other documents that
Agent shall reasonably request.
(k) The
“lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto,
between the Agent and the persons set forth on Exhibit C hereto, relating to
sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other
securities, shall be delivered to the Agent on or before the date hereof and
shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
(l)
Subsequent to the date hereof, there shall not have occurred any of the
following: (i) a suspension or limitation in trading in securities generally on
the Nasdaq Global Market, the New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock
Exchange, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum
ranges for prices for securities have been required by either of such exchanges
or FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority other
than temporary trading halts or limitation (A) imposed as a result of intraday
changes in the Dow Xxxxx Industrial Average, (B) lasting no longer than until
the regularly scheduled commencement of trading on the next succeeding
business-day and (C) which when combined with all other such halts occurring
during the previous five (5) business days, total less than three (3); (ii) a
general moratorium on the operations of federally-insured financial institutions
or a general moratorium on the withdrawal of deposits from commercial banks or
other federally-insured financial institutions declared by either federal or
state authorities; (iii) any material adverse change in the financial markets in
the United States or elsewhere; or (iv) any outbreak of hostilities or
escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis, including, without limitation,
terrorist activities after the date hereof, the effect of any of (i) through
(iv) herein, in the judgment of the Agent, is so material and adverse as to make
it impracticable to market the Offer Shares or to enforce contracts, including
subscriptions or purchase orders, for the sale of the Offer Shares.
28
All such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents will be in compliance with the
provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in form and substance
to the Agent and to counsel for the Agent. Any certificate signed by an officer
of the MHC, the Holding Company or the Bank and delivered to the Agent or to
counsel for the Agent shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the MHC,
the Holding Company or the Bank, as the case may be, to the Agent as to the
statements made therein. If any condition to the Agent’s obligations hereunder
to be fulfilled prior to or at the Closing Date is not fulfilled, the Agent may
terminate this Agreement (provided that if this Agreement is so terminated but
the sale of Offer Shares is nevertheless consummated, the Agent shall be
entitled to the full compensation provided for in Section 4 hereof) or, if the
Agent so elect, may waive any such conditions which have not been fulfilled or
may extend the time of their fulfillment.
Section
11. Indemnification.
(a) The
Primary Parties, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless the
Agent, its officers, directors, agents, attorneys, servants and employees and
each person, if any, who control the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act or Section 20(a) of the 1934 Act, against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense whatsoever (including but not limited to
settlement expenses, subject to the limitation set forth in the last sentence of
subsection (c) below), joint or several, that the Agent or any of such officers,
directors, agents, attorneys, servants, employees and controlling Persons
(collectively, the “Related Persons”) may suffer or to which the Agent or the
Related Persons may become subject under all applicable federal and state laws
or otherwise, and to promptly reimburse the Agent and any Related Persons upon
written demand for any reasonable expenses (including reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by the Agent or any Related Persons in
connection with investigating, preparing or defending any actions, proceedings
or claims (whether commenced or threatened) to the extent such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or actions: (i) 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 or supplement thereto), the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer-Represented Free Writing
Prospectus, the Applications, or any blue sky application, or other instrument
or document of the Primary Parties or based upon written information supplied by
any of the Primary Parties filed in any state or jurisdiction to register or
qualify any or all of the Offer Shares under the securities laws thereof
(collectively, the “Blue Sky Applications”), or any application or other
document, advertisement, or communication (“Sales Information”) prepared, made
or executed by or on behalf of any of the Primary Parties with its consent or
based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of any of the Primary
Parties, whether or not filed in any jurisdiction, in order to qualify or
register the Offer Shares under the securities laws thereof, (ii) arise out of
or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state in any of the
foregoing documents or information, 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; (iii) arise from any
theory of liability whatsoever relating to or arising from or based upon the
Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement thereto), the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer-Represented Free Writing
Prospectus, the Applications, any Blue Sky Applications or Sales Information or
other documentation distributed in connection with the Offering; or (iv) result
from any claims made with respect to the accuracy, reliability and completeness
of the records of Eligible Account Holders and Supplemental Eligible Account
Holders or Other Members or for any denial or reduction of a subscription or
order to purchase Common Stock, whether as a result of a properly calculated
allocation pursuant to the Plan or otherwise, based upon such records; provided, however, that no
indemnification is required under this subsection (a) to the extent such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any
untrue material statements or alleged untrue material statements in, or material
omission or alleged material omission from, the Registration Statement (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, the
Applications, the Blue Sky Applications or Sales Information or other
documentation distributed in connection with the Offering made in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Primary Parties by
the Agent or its representatives (including counsel) with respect to the Agent
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) under the
caption “The Stock Offering - Marketing Arrangements;” provided, further, that the
Primary Parties will not be responsible for any loss, liability, claim, damage
or expense to the extent a court of competent jurisdiction finds they result
primarily from material oral misstatements by the Agent to a purchaser of Offer
Shares which are not based upon information in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, or from actions taken or omitted to be taken by the Agent in bad
faith or from the Agent’s gross negligence or willful misconduct, and the Agent
agrees to repay to the Primary Parties any amounts advanced to it by the Primary
Parties in connection with matters as to which it is found by a court of
competent jurisdiction not to be entitled to indemnification
hereunder.
29
(b) The
Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Primary Parties, their directors
and officers, agents, servants and employees and each person, if any, who
controls any of the Primary Parties within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933
Act or Section 20(a) of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense whatsoever (including but not limited to settlement expenses,
subject to the limitation set forth in the last sentence of subsection (c)
below), joint or several, which they, or any of them, may suffer or to which
they, or any of them, may become subject under all applicable federal and state
laws or otherwise, and to promptly reimburse the Primary Parties and any such
persons upon written demand for any reasonable expenses (including fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by them in connection with investigating,
preparing or defending any actions, proceedings or claims (whether commenced or
threatened) to the extent such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions
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 or
supplement thereto), any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, the
Applications or any Blue Sky Applications or Sales Information or are based upon
the omission or alleged omission to state in any of the foregoing documents a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided,
however, that each Agent’s obligations under this Section 11(b) shall
exist only if and only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement was made in, or such material fact or alleged material fact was
omitted from, the Applications, Registration Statement (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
any Blue Sky Applications or Sales Information in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Primary Parties by the
Agent or its representatives (including counsel) expressly for use under the
caption “The Stock Offering - Marketing Arrangements.”
30
(c) Each
indemnified party shall give prompt written notice to each indemnifying party of
any action, proceeding, claim (whether commenced or threatened), or suit
instituted against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but
failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have on account of this Section 11, Section 12 or
otherwise. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the
defense of such action. In addition, if it so elects within a reasonable time
after receipt of such notice, an indemnifying party, jointly with any other
indemnifying parties receiving such notice, may assume the defense of such
action with counsel chosen by it reasonably acceptable to the indemnified
parties that are defendants in such action, unless such indemnified parties
reasonably object to such assumption on the ground that there may be legal
defenses available to them that are different from or in addition to those
available to such indemnifying party. If an indemnifying party assumes the
defense of such action, the indemnifying parties shall not be liable for any
fees and expenses of counsel for the indemnified parties incurred thereafter in
connection with such action, proceeding or claim, other than reasonable costs of
investigation. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for the fees
and expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (unless an indemnified
party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses
available to it or them which are different from or in addition to those of
other indemnified parties) for all indemnified parties in connection with any
one action, proceeding or claim or separate but similar or related actions,
proceedings or claims in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances. The Primary Parties shall be liable for any
settlement of any claim against the Agent (or its directors, officers,
employees, affiliates or controlling persons), made with the consent of the
Primary Parties, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Primary
Parties shall not, without the written consent of the Agent, settle or
compromise any claim against them based upon circumstances giving rise to an
indemnification claim against the Primary Parties hereunder unless such
settlement or compromise provides that the Agent and the other indemnified
parties shall be unconditionally and irrevocably released from all liability in
respect of such claim.
(d) The
agreements contained in this Section 11 and in Section 12 hereof and the
representations and warranties of the Primary Parties set forth in this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent or its officers, directors,
controlling persons, agents, attorneys, servants or employees or by or on behalf
of any of the Primary Parties or any officers, directors, controlling persons,
agents, attorneys, servants or employees of any of the Primary Parties; (ii)
delivery of and payment hereunder for the Offer Shares; or (iii) any termination
of this Agreement. To the extent required by law, Sections 11 and 12 hereof are
subject to and limited by Sections 23A and 23B of the Federal Reserve
Act.
31
Section
12. Contribution.
(a) In
order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which
the indemnification provided for in Section 11 is due in accordance with its
terms but is found in a final judgment by a court to be unavailable from the
Primary Parties or the Agent, the Primary Parties and the Agent shall contribute
to the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities of the nature
contemplated by such indemnification in such proportion so that (i) the Agent is
responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the fees paid to
the Agent pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement (not including expenses)
(“Agent’s Fees”), less any portion of Agent’s Fees paid by Stifel to Assisting
Brokers, bear to the total proceeds received by the Primary Parties from the
sale of the Offer Shares in the Offering, net of all expenses of the Offering,
except Agent’s Fees and (ii) the Primary Parties shall be responsible for the
balance. If, however, the allocation provided above is not permitted by
applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required
under Section 11 above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such
amount paid or payable to such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative fault of the Primary Parties on
the one hand and the Agent on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions, proceedings or claims in respect thereof), but also the relative
benefits received by the Primary Parties on the one hand and the Agent on the
other from the Offering, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Primary Parties on the one hand and the
Agent on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total proceeds from the Offering, net of all expenses of the Offering except
Agent’s Fees, received by the Primary Parties bear, with respect to the Agent,
to the total fees (not including expenses) received by the Agent less the
portion of such fees paid by the Agent to Assisting Brokers. The relative fault
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 Primary Parties
on the one hand or the Agent on the other and the parties relative intent, good
faith, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Primary Parties and the Agent agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 12 were
determined by pro-rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which
does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this
Section 12. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or action, proceedings or claims in
respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 12 shall be deemed to include
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action, proceeding or claim.
It is expressly agreed that the Agent shall not be liable for any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense or be required to contribute any amount
which in the aggregate exceeds the amount paid (excluding reimbursable expenses)
to the Agent under this Agreement less the portion of such fees paid by the
Agent to Assisting Brokers. It is understood and agreed that the above-stated
limitation on the Agent’s liability is essential to the Agent and that the Agent
would not have entered into this Agreement if such limitation had not been
agreed to by the parties to this Agreement. No person found guilty of any
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000
Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution with respect to any loss or liability
arising from such misrepresentation from any person who was not found guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 12, each of
Agent’s and the Primary Parties’ officers and directors and each person, if any,
who controls the Agent or any of the Primary Parties within the meaning of the
1933 Act and the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Primary Parties and the Agent. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly
after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit, claim or proceeding
against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made
against another party under this Section 12, will notify such party from whom
contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party shall not
relieve the party from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation
it may have hereunder or otherwise than under this Section 12.
32
Section 13. Survival. All representations,
warranties and indemnities contained in this Agreement (and in Paragraph 12 of
the Letter Agreement, “Confidentiality”), or all statements contained in
certificates of officers of the Primary Parties or the Agent submitted pursuant
hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any
termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Agent or its controlling persons, or by or on behalf of the
Primary Parties and shall survive the issuance of the Offer Shares, and any
legal representative, successor or assign of the Agent, any of the Primary
Parties, and any indemnified person shall be entitled to the benefit of the
respective agreements, indemnities, warranties and representations.
Section 14. Termination. The Agent may terminate this
Agreement by giving the notice indicated below in this Section at any time after
this Agreement becomes effective as follows:
(a) In
the event (i) the Plan is abandoned or terminated by the Holding Company; (ii)
the Holding Company fails to consummate the sale of the minimum number of Offer
Shares prior to March 31, 2011 in accordance with the provisions of the Plan or
as required by the OTS Regulations and applicable law; (iii) the Agent
terminates this relationship because there has been a material adverse change in
the financial condition or operations of the Primary Parties considered as one
enterprise since the date of the latest financial statements included in the
Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package; or (iv) immediately prior to
commencement of the Offering, the Agent terminates this relationship because in
its opinion, which shall have been formed in good faith after reasonable
determination and consideration of all relevant factors, there has been a
failure to satisfactorily disclose all relevant information in the General
Disclosure Package or the existence of market conditions which might render the
sale of the Offer Shares inadvisable, this Agreement shall terminate and no
party to this Agreement shall have any obligation to the other hereunder except
as set forth in Sections 3, 4, 9, 11 and 12 hereof.
(b) If
any of the conditions specified in Section 10 hereof shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, or by the Closing Date, or
waived in writing by the Agent, this Agreement and all of the Agent’s
obligations hereunder may be canceled by the Agent by notifying the Bank of such
cancellation in writing at any time at or prior to the Closing Date, and any
such cancellation shall be without liability of any party to any other party
except as otherwise provided in Sections 3, 4, 9, 11 and 12 hereof.
(c) If
the Agent elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section, the
Primary Parties shall be notified by the Agent as provided in Section 15
hereof.
33
(d) If
this Agreement is terminated in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement, Stifel shall retain the advisory and administrative services fee
earned and paid to it pursuant to Section 4(a) and the Primary Parties shall
reimburse Stifel for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses pursuant to Section
9.
Section 15. Notices. All notices and other
communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been
duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.
Notices to the Agent shall be directed to Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company,
Incorporated, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx
Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxx X. Xxxxxxx, Executive Vice
President, Vice Chairman (with a copy to Silver, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx, L.L.P.,
0000 X Xxxxxx, X.X. Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxxxx, P.C.); notices to the Primary Parties shall be directed to Charter
Financial Corporation, 0000 X.X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000,
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, President and Chief Executive Officer (with a copy to
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C., 0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.,
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000, Attention: Xxxx Xxxx, Esq.).
Section 16. Parties. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of and be binding upon the Agent and the Primary Parties, and
their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other
than the parties hereto and their respective successors and the controlling
persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 11 and 12 and their
heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement or any provisions herein
contained.
Section 17. Partial
Invalidity. In
the event that any term, provision or covenant herein or the application thereof
to any circumstances or situation shall be invalid or unenforceable, in whole or
in part, the remainder hereof and the application of said term, provision or
covenant to any other circumstance or situation shall not be affected thereby,
and each term, provision or covenant herein shall be valid and enforceable to
the full extent permitted by law.
Section 18. Entire Agreement; Amendment.
This Agreement represents the entire understanding of the Primary Parties
and the Agent with respect to the transactions contemplates hereby and
supersedes any and all other oral or written agreements heretofore made, except
for: (i) Paragraph 12 of the Letter Agreement (“Confidentiality”) and (ii) the
Data Processing Information Agent Engagement Terms, dated December 30, 2009, by
and among the Primary Parties and Stifel, relating to the Stifel’s providing
information agent services in connection with the Offering. No waiver, amendment
or other modification of this Agreement shall be effective unless in writing and
signed by the parties hereto.
Section 19. Construction
and Waiver of Jury Trial. This Agreement shall be
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to its conflicts of laws principles. Any dispute hereunder shall be
brought in a court in the State of New York. Each of the Primary Parties and the
Agent waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding, claim or
counterclaim (whether based on contract, tort or otherwise) related to or
arising out of this Agreement.
34
If the
foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign
and return to us a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument along with all
counterparts will become a binding agreement between you and us in accordance
with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||
CHARTER FINANCIAL CORPORATION | ||
By:
|
||
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
FIRST
CHARTER, MHC
|
||
By:
|
||
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer | ||
CHARTER
BANK
|
||
By:
|
||
Xxx Xxxxxx | ||
President and Chief Executive Officer |
The
foregoing Agency Agreement is
hereby
confirmed and accepted as
of the
date first set forth above.
XXXXXX,
XXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
By: | ||
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Managing Director |
EXHIBIT
A
SELECTED
DEALERS AGREEMENT
_________,
2010
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
Xxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
We
understand that you are entering into this Master Selected Dealers Agreement
(the “Agreement”) in counterparts with us and other firms who may be invited to
participate as dealers in offerings of securities in which you are acting as
sole representative of or as one of the representatives of the underwriters
comprising the underwriting syndicate. Whether or not we have
executed this Agreement, this Agreement shall apply to any offering of
securities in which we elect to act as a selected dealer after receipt from you
of one or more invitations by telecopy, e-mail, or other written form of
communication or telephone call (confirmed immediately in writing) which refers
to this Agreement, identifies the issuer, describes the securities to be offered
and states the amount of securities proposed to be reserved for purchase by
selected dealers. Your invitation also will include instructions for
our acceptance of such invitation. At or prior to the time of an
offering, you shall also advise us, to the extent applicable, of the expected
offering date, the expected closing date and certain other terms of the
offering, including without limitation and as applicable, the initial public
offering price (or the formula for determining such price), the interest or
dividend rate (or the method by which such rate is to be determined), the
conversion or exchange price (or the formula for determining such price), the
selling concession, the amount of any reallowance, the amount of securities to
be allotted to us, and the time at which subscriptions for shares reserved for
selected dealers will be opened. Such information may be conveyed by
you in one or more written communications or by telephone (confirmed immediately
in writing) (such communications, together with the original invitation
described above, received by us with respect to the offering are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the “Invitation”). The terms of such
Invitation shall become a part of this Agreement with respect to the offering to
which it applies.
This
Agreement, as amended or supplemented by the Invitation, shall become binding
with respect to our participation in an offering of securities described in an
Invitation upon our acceptance thereof by telecopy, e-mail, telephone call
(confirmed immediately in writing) or other form of communication specified in
the Invitation if we do not revoke such acceptance in writing prior to the date
and time specified in the Invitation or upon acceptance by us of an allotment of
securities (such an acceptance being hereinafter referred to as an
“Acceptance”). If we have not previously executed this Agreement, by
our Acceptance we shall be deemed to be signatories hereof with respect to the
offering to which the Acceptance relates. To the extent that any
terms contained in the Invitation are inconsistent with any provisions herein,
such terms shall supersede any such provisions.
A-1
The
issuer of the securities in any offering of securities in which we agree to
participate as a selected dealer pursuant to this Agreement, including the
issuer of any guarantees relating to such securities, is hereinafter referred to
as the “Issuer” and the securities to be purchased in such offering, including
any guarantees relating to such securities or any other securities into which
such securities are convertible or for which such securities are exercisable or
exchangeable and any securities that may be purchased upon exercise of an
overallotment option, are hereinafter referred to as the
“Securities.” A syndicated offering of securities of the Issuer in
connection with the conversion of the Issuer and/or an affiliated entity from a
mutual holding company structure to a stock holding company structure is
hereinafter referred to as a “Conversion Offering” and the securities offered
and sold by the Issuer pursuant to a Conversion Offering are hereinafter
referred to as the “Conversion Stock”. Any underwriters of an
offering of Securities in which we agree to participate as a selected dealer
pursuant to this Agreement, including the Representatives (as defined below),
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Underwriters” and the parties
who agree to participate in such offering as selected dealers are hereinafter
referred to as “Selected Dealers”. All references herein to “you”
shall mean Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated and all references
herein to the “Representatives” shall mean you and the other firms, if any,
which are named as Representatives in the Invitation.
The
following provisions of this Agreement shall apply separately to each individual
offering of Securities. It is understood that from time to time in
connection with offerings of Securities, you or the Representatives shall
determine which signatories to this Agreement will be invited to become Selected
Dealers for the Securities. This Agreement may be supplemented or
amended by you by written notice to us and, except for supplements or amendments
set forth in an Invitation relating to a particular offering of Securities, any
such supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective with respect
to any offering of Securities to which this Agreement applies after this
Agreement is so amended or supplemented.
1. Conditions
of Offering; Acceptance and Purchase.
(a) The
offer to Selected Dealers will be made on the basis of a reservation of
Securities and an allotment against subscriptions as set forth in the
Invitation. Acceptance of any reserved Securities received after the
time specified therefor in the Invitation and any application for additional
Securities will be subject to rejection in whole or in
part. Subscription books may be closed by the Representatives at any
time in the Representatives’ discretion without notice and the right is reserved
to reject any subscription in whole or in part. By our Acceptance, we
agree to purchase as principal, on the terms and conditions set forth in the
Invitation, the Offering Document (defined below) and this Agreement, the amount
of Securities allotted to us by the Representatives.
(b)
Notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, any Conversion
Offering (or other offering if so indicated in the Invitation) will be a “best
efforts” offering and will not be underwritten. Any Conversion
Offering will also be contingent and will involve a closing only after receipt
of necessary documentation from the Issuer and its affiliates and satisfaction
of other closing conditions specified in the agency agreement for the Conversion
Offering. Any Conversion Offering will be designed to comply with
applicable rules promulgated by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”), including Rules 15c2-4, 10b-9 and 15c6-1 (see FINRA Notices to
Members 98-4, 87-61 and 84-7). We represent and agree that we shall
fully comply with Commission Rules 15c2-4, 10b-9 and 15c6-1 with respect to any
Conversion Offering. We also represent that we are aware that those
who purchase in a best efforts Conversion Offering are subject to the investor
purchase limitations described in the Prospectus (as hereinafter
defined).
A-2
2. Offering
Materials.
(a) In
the case of an Invitation regarding an offer of Securities registered under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), the Representatives will
furnish to us, to the extent made available by the Issuer, copies (which may be
in electronic form except as required pursuant to rules or regulations under the
0000 Xxx) of the prospectus or amended or supplemented prospectus, subject to
Sections 3(e) and 3(f) below, or any “free writing prospectus” as
defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act (excluding any documents incorporated by
reference therein) to be used in connection with the offering of the Securities
in such number as we may reasonably request. The term “Prospectus”
means the form of prospectus (including amendments and supplements, and any
documents incorporated by reference therein) authorized for use in connection
with such offering.
(b) In
the case of an Invitation regarding an offer of Securities for which no
registration statement has been or will be filed with the Commission, the
Representatives will furnish to us, to the extent made available by the Issuer,
copies (which may be in electronic form except as required pursuant to rules or
regulations under the 0000 Xxx) of any offering circular or other offering
materials to be used in connection with the offering of the Securities and of
each amendment or supplement thereto (collectively, the “Offering
Circular”). The Prospectus or Offering Circular, as the case may be,
relating to an offering of Securities is herein referred to as the “Offering
Document.”
(c) We
agree that in purchasing Securities we will rely upon no statement whatsoever,
written or oral, other than statements in the Offering Document delivered to us
by the Representatives. We understand and agree that we are not
authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in
the Offering Document in connection with the offering of the
Securities.
(d) We
agree to make a record of our distribution of each preliminary or final Offering
Document and, if requested by the Representatives, we will furnish a copy of any
amendment or supplement to any preliminary or final Offering Document to each
person to whom we have furnished a previous preliminary or final Offering
Document. Our purchase of Securities registered under the 1933 Act
shall constitute our confirmation that we have delivered, and our agreement that
we will deliver, all preliminary and final Prospectuses required for compliance
with Rule 15c2-8 (or any successor provision) under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”). Our purchase of Securities for
which no registration statement has been or will be filed with the Commission
shall constitute (i) our confirmation that we have delivered, and our agreement
that we will deliver, all preliminary and final Offering Circulars required for
compliance with the applicable international, foreign, federal and state laws
and the applicable rules and regulations of any regulatory body promulgated
thereunder governing the use and distribution of offering circulars by
underwriters and (ii) to the extent consistent with such laws, rules and
regulations, our confirmation that we have delivered, and our agreement that we
will deliver, all preliminary and final Offering Circulars that would be
required if Rule 15c2-8 (or any successor provision) under the 1934 Act applied
to such offering.
A-3
(e) We
understand that we are not authorized to make any offer of the Securities that
would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the
1933 Act, except for any such free writing prospectus provided by the Issuer or
you expressly for use in connection with the offering of the Securities provided
that each such free writing prospectus (i) is correct and not misleading,
(ii) is not required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433
(except to the extent required to be filed by the Issuer and, assuming for this
purpose, that the Issuer files the free writing prospectus with the Commission
within the time required by Rule 433) and (iii) otherwise complies with Rule
433. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to Section 3(f)
below, we further understand that we may use any other free writing prospectus
relating to the Securities with your prior written consent that meets the
following requirements: (A) does not include any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are
made, not misleading; (B) does not contain any forward-looking information or
any valuation of the Issuer or the Securities, other than such information as
may be set forth in any Prospectus; (C) does not contain any “issuer
information” as defined in Rule 433, other than any such information as may be
set forth in or derived from any Prospectus or free writing prospectus relating
to the Securities that has been previously filed by the Issuer with the
Commission; (D) complies with the requirements of FINRA Rule 2210
(“Communications with Customers and the Public”), including the internal
approval requirements and content standards set forth therein; (E)
complies with the requirements of Rule 433, including the eligibility and
prospectus conditions and the legend and other information requirements, and is
not required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433; and (F) has been reviewed by
counsel for the Underwriters prior to first use. Our Acceptance will constitute
our representation and agreement that any free writing prospectus we use will
comply with this paragraph.
(f) We
will indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse you, each other Underwriter and each
such other person to such extent and on such terms with respect to any free
writing prospectus that we use or provide to others to use, provided that our
obligation under this sentence shall not be limited to any particular
information in such free writing prospectus but shall apply with respect to such
free writing prospectus in its entirety (other than any information that is
contained in any Prospectus or free writing prospectus filed by the Issuer with
the Commission and for which the Issuer has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
under the Underwriting Agreement), from and against any loss, damage, expense,
liability or claim (including the reasonable cost of investigation and defense,
including counsel fees and expenses, which shall be paid as incurred) resulting
from any breach of our agreements and representations regarding free writing
prospectuses in Section 3(e) above.
A-4
3. Offering
of the Securities.
(a) The
Representatives will advise each Selected Dealer, in the Invitation or other
written communication, of the release by the Representatives of the Securities
for public offering and of the public offering price. Upon receipt of
such advice, any of the Securities thereafter purchased by us pursuant to this
Agreement are to be reoffered by us to the public at the public offering price,
subject to the terms of this Agreement, the Invitation and the Offering
Document. After the public offering of the Securities has commenced,
the Representatives may change the public offering price, the selling concession
and the reallowance to dealers. Except as otherwise provided herein,
the Securities shall not be offered or sold by us below the public offering
price before the termination of the effectiveness of this Agreement with respect
to the offering of such Securities, except that a reallowance from the public
offering price not in excess of the amount set forth in the Invitation may be
allowed to Qualified Dealers who agree that such amount is to be retained and
not re-allowed in whole or in part. “Qualified Dealers” shall be
brokers or dealers (as defined in the By-Laws of the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”)) actually engaged in the investment banking or
securities business which make the representations and agreements contained in
Section 12 hereof. “Qualified Dealers” also shall include foreign
banks, dealers or institutions which make the representations and agreements
contained in Section 12 hereof.
(b) The
offering of the Securities is made subject to delivery of the Securities and
their acceptance by the Underwriters, prior sale of the Securities, the approval
of all legal matters by counsel and any other conditions referred to in the
Offering Document and to the terms and conditions set forth in this Agreement
and the Invitation.
(c) The
Representatives as such and, with the Representatives’ consent, any Underwriter
may buy Securities from, or sell Securities to, any of the Selected Dealers or
any of the Underwriters, and any Selected Dealer may buy Securities from, or
sell Securities to, any other Selected Dealer or an Underwriter, at the public
offering price less all or any part of the concession to Selected
Dealers.
(d) If
we receive or are credited with the Selected Dealers’ concession as to any
Securities purchased by us pursuant to this Agreement, which, prior to the later
of (i) the termination of the effectiveness of this Agreement with respect to
the offering of such Securities and (ii) the covering by the Representatives of
any short position created by the Representatives in connection with the
offering of such Securities, the Representatives purchase or contract to
purchase for the account of any Underwriter or the Representatives (whether such
Securities have been sold or loaned by us, or issued on transfer or in exchange
for such Securities) then we agree to pay the Representatives on demand for the
accounts of the several Underwriters an amount equal to the Selected Dealers’
concession and, in addition, the Representatives may charge us with any accrued
interest, amortization of original issue discount, dividends, broker’s
commission, dealers’ xxxx-ups and transfer taxes paid in connection with such
purchase or contract to purchase. The Representatives may use the
securities tracking system of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) to identify
any such Securities. Securities delivered on such repurchases need
not be the identical Securities originally purchased. The
Representatives shall not be obligated to pay any Selected Dealers’ concession
with respect to any such repurchased Securities as to which we have not yet
received or been credited with the Selected Dealers’ concession and we shall
remain responsible for any accrued interest, amortization of original issue
discount, dividends, broker’s commission, dealers’ xxxx-ups or transfer taxes
paid in connection with such repurchase or agreement to
repurchase.
A-5
(e) No
expenses shall be charged to Selected Dealers. A single transfer tax
upon the sale of the Securities by the respective Underwriters to us will be
paid by such Underwriters when such Securities are delivered to
us. However, we shall pay any transfer tax on sales of Securities by
us and shall pay our proportionate share of any transfer tax or other tax (other
than the single transfer tax described above) in the event that any such tax
shall from time to time be assessed against us and other Selected Dealers as a
group or otherwise.
4. Over-Allotment;
Stabilization; Allotments. The Representatives may, with
respect to any offering of Securities, be authorized to over-allot, to purchase
and sell Securities (and any other securities of the Issuer of the same class
and series as the Securities and any other securities of the Issuer which the
Representatives may designate) for their long or short account and to stabilize
or maintain the market price of the Securities (and any other securities of the
Issuer of the same class and series as the Securities and any other securities
of the Issuer which the Representatives may designate), or to impose a penalty
bid with respect to the Securities. We agree that upon the
Representatives’ request at any time and from time to time prior to the
termination of the effectiveness of this Agreement with respect to an offering
of Securities we will report the amount of Securities purchased by us pursuant
to such offering then remaining unsold by us and will, upon the Representatives’
request at any such time, sell to the Representatives for the account of one or
more Underwriters such amount of such Securities as the Representatives may
designate at the public offering price less an amount to be determined by the
Representatives not in excess of the Selected Dealers’ concession.
5. Open
Market Transactions. Unless the Securities are “exempted
securities” as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the 1934 Act, we represent that,
at all times since we were invited to participate in the offering of the
Securities, we have complied and we will comply with the provisions of
Regulation M applicable to such offering, in each case as interpreted by the
Commission and after giving effect to any applicable exemptions. If
we have been notified in writing by the Representatives that the Underwriters
may conduct passive market making in compliance with Rule 103 of Regulation M in
connection with the offering of the Securities, we represent that, at all times
since our receipt of such notice, we have complied and we will comply with the
provisions of such Rule applicable to such offering, as interpreted by the
Commission and after giving effect to any applicable exemptions. The
Representatives may, by notice in the Invitation or otherwise, impose additional
trading restrictions on any security.
An
opening uncovered writing transaction in options to acquire Conversion Stock for
our account or for the account of a customer shall be deemed, for purposes of
this Section 5, to be a sale of Conversion Stock which is not unsolicited. The
term “opening uncovered writing transaction in options to acquire” as used above
means a transaction where the seller intends to become a writer of an option to
purchase any Conversion Stock which he does not own. An opening uncovered
purchase transaction in options to sell Conversion Stock for our account or for
the account of a customer shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph, to be
a sale of Conversion Stock which is not unsolicited. The term “opening uncovered
purchase transaction in options to sell” as used above means a transaction where
the purchaser intends to become an owner of an option to sell Conversion Stock
which he does not own.
A-6
“Covered
Security” means (a) the Conversion Stock, (b) any securities into which
the Conversion Stock may be converted, exchanged or exercised, (c) any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for the Conversion
Stock and (d) any securities which, under the terms of the Conversion Stock, may
in whole or in significant part determine the value of the Conversion
Stock.
6. Payment
and Delivery. Securities purchased by us pursuant to this
Agreement shall be paid for in an amount equal to the public offering price
therefor, or, if the Representatives shall so advise us, at such public price
less the Selected Dealer’s concession with respect thereto, at or
before 9:00 A.M. on the date on which the Underwriters are required to purchase
the Securities, by delivery to the Representatives at the offices of Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated specified in Section 10 (or at such other
time and address as the Representatives may specify upon at least one day’s
notice), of immediately available funds payable to the order of
you. If payment is made for Securities purchased by us at the public
offering price, the Selected Dealers’ concession to which we may be entitled
will be paid to us upon termination of the effectiveness of this Agreement with
respect to the offering of such Securities. The Representatives will
give us notice of the date of delivery. If applicable, the
Representatives may make delivery through the facilities of DTC or any other
depository or similar facility.
With
respect to any Conversion Offering, we represent that none of the persons for
whom we are placing orders to purchase Conversion Stock: (a) have
placed an order through us in excess of the individual maximum purchase
limitation established for the Conversion Offering; (b) have, together with
their associates and persons acting in concert, placed orders through us in
excess of the aggregate maximum purchase limitation established for the
Conversion Offering; (c) have, nor have their associates, placed an order for
shares of the Conversion Stock through another broker or dealer or in the
subscription offering that preceded the Conversion Offering; or (d) would, upon
completion of the Conversion Offering and the exchange of shares of common stock
of the bank affiliated with the Issuer for shares of the Conversion Stock, own
more than the maximum ownership limitation established for the Conversion
Offering.
In order
to satisfy regulatory requirements, we will be required to provide the
Representatives with the following information prior to the closing of the
Conversion Offering:
--Total
number of orders and the U.S. dollar value this represents;
--Total
number of orders for 10,000 shares or less and the U.S. dollar value this
represents;
--Total
number of orders for more than 10,000 shares and the U.S. dollar value this
represents.
7. Blue
Sky and Other Qualifications. It is understood and agreed that
the Representatives assume no obligation or responsibility with respect to the
right of any Selected Dealer or other person to sell the Securities in any
jurisdiction, notwithstanding any information that the Representatives may
furnish as to the jurisdictions under the securities laws of which it is
believed the Securities may be sold.
A-7
8. Termination.
(a) The
effectiveness of this Agreement will terminate with respect to each offering of
Securities to which this Agreement applies at the close of business on the
45th day
after the commencement of the offering of such Securities unless terminated by
the Representatives at any time prior thereto by notice to us and except for
provisions hereof that contemplate obligations surviving the termination of the
effectiveness of this Agreement with respect to an offering of Securities,
including without limitation Sections 6 and 9 and all payment and delivery
obligations and authority with respect to matters to be determined by the
Representatives or by you acting on behalf of other Representatives, all of
which shall survive such termination.
(b) This
Agreement may be terminated by either party hereto upon five business days’
prior written notice to the other party; provided, however, that with respect to
any particular offering of Securities, if you receive any such notice from us
after our Acceptance for such offering, this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect as to such offering and shall terminate with respect to such
offering and all previous offerings only in accordance with and to the extent
provided in subsection (a) of this Section. Notwithstanding the
foregoing and unless otherwise stated in the Invitation, our Acceptance of an
Invitation after termination of this Agreement in accordance with this
subsection (b) will cause the terms of this Agreement to apply to the related
offering as if this Agreement was not terminated.
9. Role
of the Representatives; Role of the Selected Dealers; Legal
Responsibility.
(a) The
Representatives are acting as representatives of each of the Underwriters in all
matters connected with the offering of the Securities and with the Underwriters’
purchase of the Securities. Any action to be taken, authority that
may be exercised or determination to be made by the Representatives hereunder
may be taken, exercised or made by you on behalf of all
Representatives. The obligations of each Underwriter and each
Selected Dealer shall be several and not joint.
(b) The
Representatives, as such, shall have full authority to take such action as they
may deem advisable in all matters pertaining to the offering of the Securities
or arising under this Agreement or the Invitation. The
Representatives will be under no liability to any Selected Dealer for any act or
omission except for obligations expressly assumed by the Representatives herein,
and no obligation on the part of the Representatives will be implied or inferred
herefrom.
(c) We
understand and agree that we are to act as principal in purchasing securities
and we are not authorized to act as agent for the Issuer, any selling security
holder or any of the Underwriters in offering the Securities to the public or
otherwise.
(d) Nothing
herein contained nor in any other written or oral communication shall constitute
us an association, or partners, with the other Selected Dealers, the
Underwriters or the Representatives, or, except as otherwise provided herein or
in the Invitation, render us liable for the obligations of any other Selected
Dealers, the Underwriters or the Representatives. If we and the other
Selected Dealers, the Underwriters or the Representatives are deemed to
constitute a partnership for federal income tax purposes, each Selected Dealer
elects to be excluded from the application of Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle
A, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and agrees not to take any position
inconsistent with such election, and the Representatives are authorized, in
their discretion, to execute on behalf of each Selected Dealer such evidence of
such election as may be required by the Internal Revenue
Service.
A-8
10. Notices. Any
notices from the Representatives to us shall be deemed to have been duly given
if mailed, hand-delivered, telephoned (and confirmed in writing), e-mailed,
telegraphed, telexed, telecopied or communicated by CommScan or Dealogic wire to
us at the address set forth at the foot of this Agreement, or at such other
address as we shall have advised you in writing. Any notice from us
to the Representatives shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed,
hand-delivered, telephoned (and confirmed in writing), e-mailed, telegraphed,
telexed, telecopied or communicated by CommScan or Dealogic wire
to:
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx &
Company, Incorporated
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx
Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Attn.: Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx
Telephone: (000)
000-0000
Telecopy: (000)
000-0000
or to
such other address, telephone, telecopy or telex as we shall be notified by the
Representatives); provided, however, that our Acceptance will be addressed and
transmitted in the manner set forth in the Invitation. Communications
by telecopy, fax, e-mail, CommScan, Dealogic wire or other written form shall be
deemed to be “written” communications.
11. Governing
Law. This Agreement shall be governed and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland applicable to agreements made
and to be performed in that State, without regard to principles of conflict of
laws.
12. Certain
Representations and Agreements. We represent that we are (a) a
member in good standing of FINRA, or (b) a foreign bank, broker, dealer or
institution not eligible for membership in FINRA. If we are such a
member of FINRA, we agree that in making sales of Securities we will comply with
all applicable interpretative materials and FINRA Rules, including, without
limitation, Conduct Rules 2740 and 2790. If we are not a member of
FINRA, we agree to comply as though we were a member with Conduct Rules 2730,
2740 and 2750 and 2790 of FINRA. If we are such a foreign bank,
broker, dealer or other institution, we agree not to offer or sell any
Securities in the United States of America or its territories or possessions or
to persons who are nationals thereof or residents therein (except through the
Representatives), and in making sales of Securities we agree to comply with
Conduct Rule 2420 of the FINRA as it applies to a nonmember broker or dealer in
a foreign country. We also represent that the incurrence by us of our
obligations hereunder in connection with the offering of Securities will not
place us in violation of Rule 15c3-1 (or any successor provision) under the 1934
Act, if such requirements are applicable to us, or the capital requirements of
any other regulator to which we are subject. We agree that in selling
Securities pursuant to any offering (which agreement shall also be for the
benefit of the Issuer or other seller or such Securities) we will comply with
all applicable laws, rules and regulations, including the applicable laws, rules
and regulations, including the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act and the
1934 Act, the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, the
applicable rules and regulations of any securities exchange having jurisdiction
over the offering and in the case of an offering referred to in Section 3(b)
hereof, the applicable laws, rules and regulations of any applicable regulatory
body.
A-9
We represent, by our
participation in an offering of Securities, that neither us nor any of our
directors, officers, partners or “persons associated with” us (as defined in the
By-Laws of FINRA) nor, to our knowledge, any “related person” (as defined in the
By-Laws of FINRA, which definition includes counsel, financial consultants and
advisors, finders, members of the selling or distribution group, and any other
persons associated with or related to any of the foregoing) within the last
twelve months had any dealings with the Issuer, any selling security holder or
any subsidiary or controlling person of any of the foregoing (other than in
connection with the syndicate agreements relating to such offering) as to which
documents or information are required to be filed with FINRA pursuant to FINRA
Rule 2710 or any other applicable rules of FINRA.
The syndicated community
offering will be conducted in accordance with certain Securities and Exchange
Commission rules applicable to best efforts offerings. Under these
rules, Stifel or the other broker-dealers participating in the Syndicated
Community Offering generally will accept payment for shares of common stock to
be purchased in the Syndicated Community Offering through a “sweep” arrangement
under which a customer’s brokerage account at the applicable participating
broker-dealer will be debited in the amount of the purchase price for the shares
of common stock that such customer wishes to purchase in the Syndicated
Community Offering on the settlement date. Customers who authorize participating
broker-dealers to debit their brokerage accounts are required to have the funds
for the payment in their accounts on, but not before, the settlement date. No
funds will be debited from brokerage accounts until the settlement date, which
will not occur until the minimum of the offering range has been met. Upon
settlement, debited funds will be paid to the Holding Company
promptly. Customers who do not wish to authorize participating
broker-dealers to debit their brokerage accounts will not be permitted to
purchase shares of common stock in the syndicated community
offering. Customers without brokerage accounts will not be able to
participate in the syndicated community offering.
A-10
We will
notify you immediately if any of our representations contained in this Agreement
cease to be accurate.
Very
truly yours,
_____________________________________________________
(Print
name of firm)
By:
________________________________________
Print
Name: _________________________________
Title:
______________________________________
Address:
___________________________________
___________________________________
___________________________________
Telephone:
_________________________________
Telecopy:
__________________________________
Telex:
_____________________________________
Confirmed
as of the date first above written:
XXXXXX,
XXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
By: ______________________
Name:
Title:
A-11
EXHIBIT
B
LETTER
AGREEMENT
[Letterhead
of Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated]
REVISED
Supersedes
version dated June 7, 2010
July 27,
2010
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer
First
Charter, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
0000 X.X.
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxx
Xxxxx, XX 00000
|
Re:
|
Proposed
Second Step Conversion or Incremental Stock Offering – Advisory,
Administrative and Marketing
Services
|
Dear Xx.
Xxxxxxx:
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated (“Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx”) is pleased to submit
this engagement letter setting forth the terms of the proposed engagement
between Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and Charter Financial Corporation (the “Company”) and
First Charter, MHC (the “MHC”) in connection with either the proposed
elimination of the MHC and sale of the portion of the common stock of the
Company currently held by the MHC (the “second step stock offering”) or in
connection with an incremental offering of common stock of the Company which is
issued and outstanding and currently held by the MHC (the “incremental stock
offering”).
1.
|
BACKGROUND
ON XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx is a full service brokerage and investment banking firm established in
1890. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx is a registered broker-dealer with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), and is a member of the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc., Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), the
Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association and the Securities
Investor Protection Corporation. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx has built a national
reputation as a leading full service investment bank to both public and private
financial institutions.
B-1
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
2
2.
SECOND STEP CONVERSION AND OFFERING / INCREMENTAL STOCK OFFERING
The
Company has approved a Plan of Conversion and Reorganization whereby the Company
and the MHC are proposing to convert from partial to full public ownership (the
“Conversion”), selling shares of common stock of the Company held by the MHC in
a subscription offering with any remaining shares sold in a concurrent community
offering and a syndicated community offering. The aggregate value of
shares of common stock sold in the second step stock offering will be calculated
as the final independent appraisal multiplied by the majority ownership of the
MHC.
It is our
understanding that the Company may pursue an incremental stock offering and
issue additional shares of common stock in a subscription offering with any
remaining shares sold in a community offering. As part of the
incremental stock offering, the Company will cancel and retire such number of
shares of common stock of the Company owned by the MHC that is equal to the
number of shares issued by the Company so that the total outstanding shares of
the Company remains unchanged but the MHC’s interest in Charter Financial
Corporation will be reduced.
As part
of the offering, upon request by the Company, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will endeavor to
contact and seek to elicit interest from one or more investors who would be
introduced to the Company and potentially buy shares of the second step offering
or incremental stock offering. These investors would be identified
and arranged by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and known as “Identified
Investors”. In connection therewith, the Bank’s Board of Directors
has adopted a plan of conversion for a second step stock offering, and also
adopted a stock issuance plan whereby shares of common stock will be offered for
sale in an incremental stock offering, (both instances being known as the
“Plan”). As it pertains to a second step stock offering, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
proposes to act as conversion advisor to the Company and the MHC with respect to
the Conversion and offering and as marketing agent with respect to the
offering. With regard to an incremental stock offering, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx proposes to act as financial advisor to the Company with respect to the
Plan and marketing agent with respect to the subscription and community
offering. Moreover, the parties acknowledge that the Company may
undertake an incremental offering and soon thereafter pursue a second step
offering. In connection therewith, the Company grants to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx a 2
year right of first refusal to serve, on terms consistent with this letter, as
financial advisor and marketing agent to Charter for a second step
offering. This right of first refusal is contingent upon the
completion of the incremental offering.
Specific
terms of services shall be set forth in an agency agreement, in the case of the
subscription and community offering and a syndicated community offering
(together, the “Definitive
Agreement”)
between Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and the Company. The Definitive Agreement
will include customary representations and warranties, covenants, conditions,
termination provisions and indemnification, contribution and limitation of
liability provisions, all to be mutually agreed upon by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and the
Company.
B-2
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
3
In
addition, for purposes of this Agreement:
“Common
Stock” means shares of common stock of the Company currently held by the
MHC.
“Offering”
means, for either a second step stock offering or an incremental stock offering,
the sale of Common Stock in a subscription offering with any remaining shares
sold in a concurrent community offering and any syndicated community
offering.
3.
|
SERVICES
TO BE PROVIDED BY XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx will provide and coordinate certain advisory, administrative and
marketing services in connection with the Offering.
a. Advisory
Services - Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will work with the Company and its counsel to
evaluate financial, marketing and regulatory issues.
Our
advisory services include:
-
|
Advise
with respect to business planning issues in preparation for an
offering;
|
|
-
|
Advise
with respect to the choice of charter and form of
organization;
|
|
-
|
Review
and advise with respect to the Plan (e.g. sizes of benefit plan purchases;
maximum purchase limits for investors);
|
|
-
|
Review
and provide input with respect to the business plan to be prepared in
connection with the Offering;
|
|
-
|
Discuss
the appraisal process and analyze the appraisal with the Board of
Directors and management;
|
|
-
|
Participate
in drafting the offering disclosure documents and any proxy materials, and
assist in obtaining all requisite regulatory approvals;
|
|
-
|
Develop
a marketing plan for the subscription and community offerings, considering
various sales method options, including direct mail, advertising,
community meetings and telephone solicitation;
|
|
-
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx will work with the Company to provide specifications and
assistance (including recommendations) in selecting certain other
professionals that will perform functions in connection with the Offering
process. Fees and expenses of financial printers, transfer
agent and other service providers will be borne by the Company, subject to
agreements between the Company and the service
providers;
|
B-3
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
4
-
|
Develop
a depositor proxy solicitation plan;
|
|
-
|
Advise/Assist
through the planning process and organization of the Stock Information
Center (the “Center”);
|
|
-
|
Develop
a layout for the Center, where stock order processing and depositor vote
solicitation occur;
|
|
-
|
Provide
a list of equipment, staff and supplies needed for the
Center;
|
|
-
|
Draft
marketing materials including press releases, letters, stock order form,
advertisements, and informational brochures. If a community
meeting or “road show” is anticipated, we will help draft the
presentation; and
|
|
-
|
After
consulting with management, determine whether and when to conduct a
syndicated community offering through assembling a group of selected
broker/dealers (including Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx) to sell stock remaining after
the community offering, on a best-effort
basis.
|
b. Administrative
Services and Stock Information Center Management – Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will
manage substantially all aspects of the Offering and depositor vote
processes. The Center centralizes all data and work effort relating
to the Offering.
Our
administrative services include the following:
-
|
Provide
experienced on-site Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx FINRA registered representatives to
manage and supervise the Center;
|
|
-
|
Administer
the Center. All substantive investor related matters will be
handled by employees of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx;
|
|
-
|
Train
and supervise Center staff assisting with order
processing;
|
|
-
|
Prepare
procedures for processing stock orders and cash, and for handling requests
for information;
|
|
-
|
Educate
the Company’s directors,
officers and employees about the Offering, their roles and relevant
securities laws;
|
|
-
|
Educate
branch managers and customer-contact employees on the proper response to
stock purchase inquiries;
|
|
-
|
Prepare
daily sales reports for management and ensure funds received balance to
such reports;
|
|
-
|
Coordinate
functions with the data processing agent, printer, transfer agent, stock
certificate printer and other professionals;
|
|
-
|
Coordinate
with the Company’s stock exchange and the Depository Trust Company to
ensure a smooth closing and orderly stock
trading;
|
B-4
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
5
-
|
Design
and implement procedures for facilitating orders within XXX and Xxxxx
accounts; and
|
|
-
|
Provide
post-offering subscriber assistance and management of the pro-ration
process, in the event orders exceed shares available in the
Offering.
|
c. Securities
Marketing Services - Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx uses various sales techniques
including direct mail, advertising, community investor meetings, telephone
solicitation, and if necessary, assembling a selling group of broker-dealers for
a syndicated community offering..
Our
securities marketing services include:
-
|
Recommend
a group of investors for the Bank to meet with as potential Identified
Investors:
|
|
-
|
Negotiate
investment terms with potential Identified Investors;
|
|
-
|
The
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx registered representatives at the Center will seek to
manage the sales function and, if applicable, will solicit orders from the
prospects described above;
|
|
-
|
Respond
to investment-related and other questions regarding information in the
Offering disclosure documents provided to potential
investors;
|
|
-
|
If
the sales plan calls for community meetings, participate in
them;
|
|
-
|
Continually
advise management on market conditions and the customers/community’s
responsiveness to the Offering;
|
|
-
|
In
case of a best-efforts syndicated community offering, manage the selling
group. We will prepare broker “fact sheets” and arrange “road shows” for
the purpose of generating interest in the stock and informing the
brokerage community of the particulars of the Offering;
and
|
|
-
|
Coordinate
efforts to maximize after-market support and Company
sponsorship.
|
4.
|
COMPENSATION
|
For its
services hereunder, the Company will pay to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx the following
compensation:
a.
|
An
advisory and administrative fee of $50,000 in connection with the advisory
and administrative services; the administrative and advisory fee shall be
payable as follows: $25,000 upon signing this Agreement and $25,000 upon
the initial filing of the Registration Statement (such sums having been
previously paid).
|
B-5
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
6
b.
|
A
fee of one percent (1.00%) of the dollar amount of the Common Stock sold
in the subscription and community offerings. A fee of six percent (6.00%)
of the aggregate dollar amount of Common Stock sold to any Identified
Investors in the subscription and community offering. No fee shall be
payable pursuant to this subsection in connection with the sale of stock
to the Company’s charitable foundation, officers, directors, employees or
immediate family of such persons (“Insiders”) and qualified and
non-qualified employee benefit plans of the Company or the Insiders.
“Immediate family” includes spouse, parents, siblings and children who
live in the same house as the officer, director, or
employee. Excluding fees associated with sales to Identified
Investors, the total fees due pursuant to this subsection shall be subject
to a minimum fee of $125,000.
|
c.
|
For
stock sold by a group of selected dealers (including Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx)
pursuant to a syndicated community offering solely managed by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx (the “Selling Group”), a fee equal to one percent (1.00%) of the
aggregate dollar amount of Common Stock sold in the syndicated community
offering, which fee paid to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, along with the fee payable
directly by the Company to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and other selected dealers for
their sales shall not exceed six percent (6.00%) of the aggregate dollar
amount of Common Stock sold, provided Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will endeavor to
further limit the aggregate fees to be paid by the Company under any such
selected dealers’ agreement to an amount competitive with gross
underwriting discounts charged at such time. In consultation with Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, the Company will determine which FINRA member firms will serve
as co-managers of the Syndicated Community Offering or otherwise
participate in the Selling Group and the extent of their
participation. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will not commence sales of the
Common Stock through the Selling Group without the specific prior approval
of the Company.
|
d.
|
If,
pursuant to a resolicitation of subscribers undertaken by the Company,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx is required to provide significant additional services,
the additional compensation due will not exceed
$50,000.
|
The above compensation,
less the amount of advance payments described in subparagraph a., is to be paid
to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx at the closing of the Offering.
If (i) the Plan is
abandoned or terminated by the Company and the MHC; (ii) the Offering is not
consummated by March 31, 2011; (iii) Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx terminates this
relationship because there has been a material adverse change in the financial
condition or operations of the Company since March 31, 2010; or (iv) immediately
prior to commencement of the Offering, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx terminates this
relationship because in its opinion, which shall have been formed in good faith
after reasonable determination and consideration of all relevant factors, there
has been a failure to satisfactorily disclose all relevant information in the
offering document or other disclosure documents or market conditions exist which
might render the sale of the Common Stock inadvisable; Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx shall not be entitled to the compensation set forth in subparagraph 4.b
through 4.d above, but in addition to reimbursement of its reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses as set forth in paragraph 8 below, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx shall
be entitled to retain its fee in subparagraph 4.a above for its conversion and
proxy solicitation advisory and administrative services.
B-6
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
7
5. LOCK-UP
PERIOD
The
Company shall cause each director and officer of the Company to agree not to,
directly or indirectly, offer, sell, transfer, pledge, assign, hypothecate or
otherwise encumber any shares of Common Stock or options, warrants or other
securities exercisable, convertible or exchangeable for Common Stock during the
period commencing with the filing of a Registration Statement for the Offering
and ending 90 days after completion of the Offering without Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’
prior written consent. In addition, except for securities issued
pursuant to existing employee benefit plans in accordance with past practices or
securities issued in connection with a merger or acquisition by the Company, the
Company shall agree not to issue, offer to sell or sell any shares of Common
Stock or options, warrants or other securities exercisable, convertible or
exchangeable for Common Stock without Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’ prior written consent for
a period of 90 days after completion of the Offering.
B-7
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
8
6. MARKET
MAKING
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx agrees to use its best efforts to maintain a market after the Offering
and to solicit other broker-dealers to make a market in the Common Stock at the
conclusion of the Offering.
7. DOCUMENTS
AND INFORMATION TO BE SUPPLIED
The
Company and its counsel will complete, file with the appropriate regulatory
authorities and, as appropriate, amend from time to time, the information to be
contained in the Company’s applications to banking and securities regulators and
any related exhibits thereto. In this regard, the Company and its
counsel will prepare offering documents relating to the offering of the Common
Stock in conformance with applicable rules and regulations. As the
Company’s financial advisor, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will, in conjunction with its
counsel, conduct an examination of the relevant documents and records of the
Company and will make such other reasonable investigations as deemed necessary
and appropriate under the circumstances. The Company agrees to make
all documents, records and other information deemed necessary by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, or its counsel, available to them upon reasonable
notice. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’ counsel will prepare, subject to the
approval of Company’s counsel, the Definitive Agreement. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx’ counsel will be selected by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx.
8.
|
EXPENSES
AND REIMBURSEMENT
|
The
Company will bear all of its expenses in connection with the Offering of Common
Stock including, but not limited to: appraisal and business plan preparation;
the Company’s attorney fees; SEC and FINRA filing fees; “blue sky” legal fees
and state filing fees; fees and expenses of service providers such as transfer
agent, information/data processing agent, financial and stock certificate
printers, auditors and accountants; advertising; postage; “road show” and other
syndicated community and publicly underwritten offering costs; and all costs of
operating the Stock Information Center, including hiring temporary personnel, if
necessary. In the event Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx incurs such expenses on
behalf of the Company, the Company shall reimburse Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx for such
reasonable fees and expenses regardless of whether the Offering is successfully
completed. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will not incur any single expense of more
than $1,000, pursuant to this paragraph without the prior approval of the
Company.
B-8
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
9
The
Company also agrees to reimburse Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx for its reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses, including legal fees and expenses, incurred by Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx in connection with the services contemplated hereunder. In
the subscription, community offering and syndicated community offering, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx will not incur legal fees in excess of $100,000, excluding the
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of counsel not to exceed
$10,000. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will not incur actual accountable
reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses reasonably incurred in excess of $30,000 in
the subscription and community offering and in excess of $50,000 in the
syndicated community offering. The parties acknowledge, however, that
such cap may be increased by the mutual consent of the Company and Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, including in the event of a material delay in the Offering which would
require an update of the financial information in tabular form to reflect a
period later than that set forth in the original filing of the offering
document; provided that under such circumstances, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will not incur
any additional accountable reimbursable out-of-pocket expenses in excess of
$10,000 or additional reimbursable legal fees in excess of $25,000 and that the
aggregate of all reimbursable expenses and legal fees shall not exceed
$215,000. Not later than two days before closing, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
will provide the Company with a detailed accounting of all reimbursable expenses
of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and its counsel to be paid at closing.
9.
|
BLUE
SKY
|
To the
extent required by applicable state law, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and the Company must
obtain or confirm exemptions, qualifications or registration of the Common Stock
under applicable state securities laws and FINRA policies. The cost
of such legal work and related state filing fees will be paid by the Company to
the law firm furnishing such legal work. The Company will instruct
the counsel performing such services to prepare a Blue Sky memorandum related to
the Offering including Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’ participation therein and shall furnish
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx a copy thereof, regarding which such counsel shall state Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx may rely.
10. INFORMATION
AGENT SERVICES
Pursuant
to a separate agreement by and between the Company and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and in
connection with the subscription offering, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx shall serve as
information agent for the Company.
B-9
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
10
11. INDEMNIFICATION
The
Definitive Agreement will provide for indemnification of the type usually found
in underwriting agreements as to certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933. The Company also agrees to defend,
indemnify and hold harmless Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and its officers, directors,
employees and agents against all claims, losses, actions, judgments, damages or
expenses, including but not limited to reasonable attorney fees, arising solely
out of the engagement described herein, except that such indemnification shall
not apply to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’ own bad faith, willful misconduct or gross
negligence.
12.
|
CONFIDENTIALITY
|
To the
extent consistent with legal requirements and except as otherwise set forth in
the offering document, all information given to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx by the Company,
unless publicly available or otherwise available to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx without
restriction to breach of any confidentiality agreement (“Confidential
Information”), will be held by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx in confidence and will not be
disclosed to anyone other than Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’ agents without the Company’s
prior approval or used for any purpose other than those referred to in this
engagement letter. Upon the termination of its engagement, Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, at the request of the Company, will promptly deliver to the Company
all materials specifically produced for it and will return to the Company all
Confidential Information provided to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx during the course of its
engagement hereunder.
13.
|
FINRA
MATTERS
|
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx has an obligation to file certain documents and to make certain
representations to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority in connection
with the Offering. The Company agrees to cooperate with Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx and provide such information as may be necessary for Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx to
comply with all FINRA requirements applicable to its participation in the
Offering. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx is and will remain through completion of
the Offering a member in a good standing of the FINRA and will comply with all
applicable FINRA requirements.
B-10
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
11
14.
|
OBLIGATIONS
|
Except as
set forth below, this engagement letter is merely a statement of
intent. While Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and the Company agree in principle to
the contents hereof and propose to proceed promptly and in good faith to work
out the arrangements with respect to the Offering, any legal obligations between
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and the Company shall be only: (i) those set forth herein in
paragraphs 2, 3 and 4 regarding services and payments; (ii) those set forth in
paragraph 8 regarding reimbursement for certain expenses; (iii) those set forth
in paragraph 11 regarding indemnification; (iv) those set forth in paragraph 12
regarding confidentiality; and (v) as set forth in a duly negotiated and
executed Definitive Agreement.
The
obligation of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx to enter into the Definitive Agreement shall be
subject to there being, in Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’ opinion, which shall have been
formed in good faith after reasonable determination and consideration of all
relevant factors: (i) no material adverse change in the condition or operation
of the Company; (ii) satisfactory disclosure of all relevant information in the
offering disclosure documents and a determination that the sale of stock is
reasonable given such disclosures; (iii) receipt of a “comfort
letter” from the Company’s accountants containing no material exceptions; (iv)
no market conditions exist which might render the sale of
the shares by the Company hereby contemplated inadvisable; (v) agreement that
the price established by the independent appraiser is reasonable in the
then-prevailing market conditions, and (vi ) approval of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’
internal Commitment Committee.
15. INDEPENDENT
CONTRACTOR; NO FIDUCIARY DUTY
The
Company acknowledges and agrees that it is a sophisticated business enterprise
and that Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx has been retained pursuant to this engagement letter to
act as financial advisor to the Company solely with respect to the matters set
forth herein. In such capacity, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx will act as an
independent contractor, and any duties of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx arising out of this
engagement pursuant to this letter shall be contractual in nature and shall be
owed solely to the Company. Each party disclaims any intention to
impose any fiduciary duty on the other.
B-11
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
12
16. ADVERTISEMENTS
The
Company agrees that, following the closing or consummation of the Offering,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx has the right to place advertisements in financial and other
newspapers and journals at its own expense, describing its services to the
Company and a general description of the Offering. In addition, the Company
agrees to include in any press release or public announcement announcing the
Offering a reference to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx’ role as financial advisor, selling
agent and book-running manager with respect to the Offering, provided that the
Company will submit a copy of any such press release or public announcement to
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx for its prior approval, which approval shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.
B-12
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
13
17.
GOVERNING LAW
This
engagement letter shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York applicable to contracts executed and to be wholly
performed therein without giving effects to its conflicts of laws principles or
rules. Any dispute here under shall be brought in a court in the
State of New York.
18.
WAIVER OF TRIAL BY JURY
BOTH
XXXXXX XXXXXXXX AND THE COMPANY WAIVE ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY ACTION,
PROCEEDING, CLAIM OR COUNTERCLAIM (WHETHER BASED ON CONTRACT, TORT OR OTHERWISE)
RELATED TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT.
B-13
Xx.
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Charter
Financial, MHC
Charter
Financial Corporation
Page
14
Please
acknowledge your agreement to the foregoing by signing in the place provided
below and returning one copy of this letter to our office together with the
retainer payment in the amount of $25,000. We look forward to working
with you.
XXXXXX,
XXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
BY:
|
/s/ Xxx X Xxxxxxx |
Xxx X.
Xxxxxxx
Executive Vice
President
Accepted
and Agreed to This ____ Day of _________, 2010
(a) FIRST
CHARTER, MHC
BY:
|
|
Xxxxxx Xxx Xxxxxxx
Chairman,
President and Chief Executive Officer
CHARTER
FINANCIAL CORPORATION
BY:
|
|
Xxxxxx Xxx
Xxxxxxx
President and Chief
Executive Officer
Accepted
and Agreed to This ____ Day of ________, 2010
B-14
EXHIBIT
C
OFFICERS
AND DIRECTORS OF PRIMARY PARTIES
[TO
COME]
C-1
EXHIBIT
D
FORM
OF LOCK-UP LETTER
_______________________,
2010
Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
As
Representatives of the several Agents
named in
Schedule I attached hereto
x/x
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The
undersigned understands that Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Company, Incorporated
(“Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx”), _____________________, _____________________,
________________________ and ________________________ propose to enter into an
Agency Agreement (the “Agency Agreement”) with Charter Financial Corporation, a
federally-chartered stock holding company (the “Mid-Tier”), First Charter, MHC,
a federally chartered mutual holding company (the “MHC”) and Charter Bank, a
federally-chartered stock savings bank (together with its subsidiaries, the
“Bank” and, together with the Mid-Tier and the MHC, the “Charter Parties”),
providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Agents,
including Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, (the “Agents”), of up to _________________ shares
(the “Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
“Common Stock”).
To induce
the Agents 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 Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx on behalf of the Agents, it
will not, during the period beginning on the date of the final prospectus
relating to the subscription offering (the “Subscription Offering Prospectus”)
and ending 90 days after the Closing Date (the “Restricted Period”), (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 or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock, (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, (3) exercise any stock options providing for the
issuance of shares of Common Stock during the Offering, or (4) announce any
intention to take any of the foregoing actions, 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 other
securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the
Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) shall be required or shall
be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Common Stock or other
securities acquired in such open market transactions, (b) transfers of shares of
Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock as a bona fide gift,
or (c) distributions of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into
Common Stock to limited partners or stockholders of the undersigned; provided
that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (b) or (c),
(i) each donee or distributee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter
substantially in the form of this letter and (ii) no filing under Section 16(a)
of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of
Common Stock, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the
restricted period referred to in the foregoing sentence.
In
addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx on behalf of the Agents, it will not, during the Restricted
Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the
registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The undersigned also agrees and
consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer
agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common
Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
Notwithstanding
the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Restricted Period the
Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating
to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period,
the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day
period beginning on the last day of the Restricted Period, the restrictions
imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the
18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the
occurrence of the material news or material event. The Company shall promptly
notify Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx of any earnings release, news or event that may give rise
to an extension of the initial Restricted Period.
The
undersigned shall not engage in any transaction that may be restricted by this
agreement during the 34-day period beginning on the last day of the initial
Restricted Period unless the undersigned requests and receives prior written
confirmation from the Company or Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx that the restrictions imposed
by this agreement have expired.
The
undersigned understands that the Company and the Agents 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 undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and
assigns.
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 Agency Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the
Company and the Agents.
Very
truly yours,
____________________________
(Name)
D-2