GREENIDGE GENERATION HOLDINGS INC. [ ]% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026 FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
XXXXXXXXX GENERATION HOLDINGS INC.
[ ]% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2026
FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
October ___, 2021
X. Xxxxx Securities, Inc.
As Representative of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
c/o | X. Xxxxx Securities, Inc. |
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Xxxxxxxxx Generation Holdings Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) $[ ] aggregate principal amount of [ ]% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Firm Notes”). In addition, the Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters the option to purchase from the Company up to an additional $[ ] aggregate principal amount of [ ]% Senior Notes due 2026 (the “Additional Notes”). The Firm Notes and the Additional Notes are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Notes.”
The Notes will be issued under an indenture dated as of October [•], 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture”, and together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), between the Company and Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes will be issued to Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) pursuant to a blanket letter of representations to be dated on or prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein) (the “DTC Agreement”), between the Company and DTC. The Indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-259678), including a preliminary prospectus, relating to the Notes. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement; the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Notes (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus.” If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional Notes pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “preliminary prospectus” shall mean each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted information pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus contained in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness together with the documents and pricing information set forth in Schedule II hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof. The terms “supplement,” “amendment” and “amend” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act are pending before or threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) the Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iv) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Notes in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (v) at the
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time of filing, the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through X. Xxxxx expressly for use therein.
(c) The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to X. Xxxxx before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without X. Xxxxx’x prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
(d) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated, organized or formed, is validly existing as a corporation or other business entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, organization or formation, has the corporate or other business entity power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.
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(f) The Company has the full right, power and authority to execute and deliver, and perform its obligations under, this Agreement, the Indenture, the Notes and the DTC Agreement.
(g) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(h) The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, as of the Closing Date, will be duly executed and delivered by the Company and, assuming it has been executed and delivered by the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law) and provided further, that the indemnity, contribution and exoneration provisions contained in such agreement may be limited by applicable laws.
(i) The DTC Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law) and provided further, that the indemnity, contribution and exoneration provisions contained in such agreement may be limited by applicable laws.
(j) The Notes have been duly authorized for sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and of the Indenture relating thereto, against payment of the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws now or thereafter in effect relating to creditors’ rights generally and (ii) general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law), and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture relating thereto.
(k) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement and the Indenture will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body, agency or court is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes except such as may be required by (i) the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states, (ii) the bylaws, rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or the Nasdaq Global Select Market (“Nasdaq”) or (iii) any necessary qualification under the Trust Indenture Act, in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes, except, in each case, that would not be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries.
(l) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
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(l) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and proceedings that would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required, except, in each case, that would not be reasonably expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries.
(m) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(n) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Notes and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(o) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or would not reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. taken as a whole (a) the Company and each of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., is and at all times has been in compliance with all Environmental Laws; (b) the Company and each of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. holds and is in compliance with all Environmental Permits required for the operation of their respective businesses; (c) there has been no Release, on, upon, into or from any site currently or, to the knowledge of the Company, heretofore owned, leased or otherwise operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., that requires Remedial Action pursuant to Environmental Law; (d) to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no Hazardous Materials generated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., that have been disposed of by or on behalf of the Company or any subsidiary, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., at any site that has been included in any published U.S. federal or state “Superfund” site list; (e) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., has received any request for information arising under Environmental Laws regarding a property to which Hazardous Materials generated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. have been transported for disposal; (f) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., is a party to, nor has it received written notice of, any pending or threatened action arising under Environmental Laws; and (g) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. is a party to any material judgment, order, decree, settlement agreement, or similar arrangement imposing on it any liability or obligation, including the obligation to perform Remedial Action, under any applicable Environmental Laws that remain unfulfilled, and has not assumed, by contract or operation of law, the liabilities under Environmental Laws of any other Person.
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For purposes of this Section:
(i) “Environmental Law” means any statute, law, ordinance, regulation, rule or code concerning or relating to: (i) the protection of the environment or natural resources or, as such relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials, human health and safety (including workplace and industrial hygiene); (ii) the presence, Release, generation, use, management, handling, transportation, treatment, storage or disposal of Hazardous Materials; (iii) noise or odor, including, without limitation, in the United States, the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. § 9601, et seq.; the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act of 1976, 42 U.S.C. 6901, et seq.; the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. 2601, et seq.; the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, 33 U.S.C. 1251, et seq.; the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, 49 U.S.C. 5101; the Safe Drinking Xxxxx Xxx, 00 X.X.X. 000x, et seq.; as it relates to exposure to Hazardous Materials, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. 651, et seq.; the Emergency Planning and Community Right to Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. 11001, et seq.; the Atomic Energy Act, 42 U.S.C. 2014, et seq.; the Endangered Species Act, 16 U.S.C. 1531, et seq.; the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. 136, et seq.; the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. 7401, et seq.; and the state and local analogues of each of the foregoing federal statutes.
(ii) “Environmental Permit” means any Permit, approval, identification number, registration, exemption or license required pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law;
(iii) “Hazardous Material” means any substance, material, or other matter regulated as toxic or hazardous, or as a contaminant or for which standards are imposed, by any governmental authority because of its deleterious impacts on the environment, including but not limited to petroleum and petroleum byproduct and distillates, asbestos and asbestos-containing materials, urea formaldehyde, polychlorinated biphenyls, mold, radon gas, radioactive substances, and poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances;
(iv) “Permit” means all licenses, certificates, consents, orders, approvals, permits and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state or local governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of the Company’s and subsidiaries’, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted.
(v) “Release” means disposing, discharging, injecting, spilling, leaking, pumping, pouring, leaching, dumping, emitting, escaping or emptying into or upon, from, or migrating through of Hazardous Materials, within or into, the air or any soil, sediment, subsurface strata, surface water or groundwater, natural resources or structure.
(vi) “Remedial Action” means any action required to investigate, clean up, remove or remediate, or conduct remedial, responsive, monitoring or corrective actions with respect to, any presence or Release of Hazardous Materials.
(vi) “Remedial Action” means any action required to investigate, clean up, remove or remediate, or conduct remedial, responsive, monitoring or corrective actions with respect to, any presence or Release of Hazardous Materials.
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(p) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, the subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., nor to the Company’s knowledge, any of their respective executive officers has, in the past five years, made any unlawful contributions to any candidate for any political office (or failed fully to disclose any contribution in violation of law) or made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state, municipal, or foreign office or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duty in violation of any law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (ii) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., or any affiliate of any of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and stockholders of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., on the other hand, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus that is not so described; (iii) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or the subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. or any affiliate of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or directors of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc. on the other hand, that is required by the rules of FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus that is not so described; (iv) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, there are no material outstanding loans or advances or material guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., to or for the benefit of any of their respective officers or directors or any of the members of the families of any of them; and (v) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., has made any payment of funds of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977), which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
(q) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., nor to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Company, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria). Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., will knowingly, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds from the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person (a) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions, or (b) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). For the past five years, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, other than Xxxxxxx.xxx, Inc., have knowingly engaged in, or are now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.
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(r) (i) The Company owns or possesses or has the right to use all Intellectual Property owned by the Company or any of its subsidiaries or used by the Company or any of its subsidiaries in the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted, without any known infringement or other violation of the Intellectual Property rights of any person. To the knowledge of the Company, no product or service marketed or sold (or proposed to be marketed or sold) by the Company infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property rights of any other person. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written communications alleging that the Company or any of its subsidiaries has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated, or by conducting its business, would infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any other person; and (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries use, and have used, commercially reasonable efforts to appropriately maintain all information intended to be maintained as a trade secret. For the purposes of this section, “Intellectual Property” means intellectual property and intellectual property rights of every kind and description throughout the world, including all U.S. and non-U.S.: (a) trademarks, trade dress, service marks, certification marks, logos, slogans, design rights, names, corporate names, trade names, Internet domain names, URLs, social media accounts and addresses and other similar designations of source or origin, together with the goodwill symbolized by any of the foregoing (collectively, “Marks”); (b) patents and patent applications, and any and all related national or international counterparts thereto, including any divisionals, continuations, continuations-in-part, reissues, reexaminations, substitutions and extensions thereof (collectively, “Patents”); (c) copyrights and copyrightable subject matter, including databases, data collections (including knowledge databases, customers lists and customer databases) and rights therein, web site content, rights to compilations, collective works and derivative works, and the right to create collective and derivative works (collectively, “Copyrights”); (d) rights in Software; (e) rights under applicable trade secret law and any and all other confidential or proprietary information, know-how, inventions, processes, formulae, models, and methodologies including research in progress, algorithms, data, databases, data collections, designs, processes, formulae, drawings, schematics, blueprints, flow charts, models, strategies, prototypes, techniques, source code, source code documentation, beta testing procedures and beta testing results (collectively, “Trade Secrets”); (f) all applications and registrations, renewals and extensions for the foregoing; and (g) all rights and remedies against past, present, and future infringement, misappropriation or other violation thereof
(s) (i) (x) To the knowledge of Company, there has been no security breach or other compromise of any Company’s information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data, equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) that would result in a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, and (y) the Company has not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to their IT Systems and Data that would result in a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries; (ii) the Company is presently in material
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compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as would not, in the case of this clause (ii), individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries; and (iii) the Company has implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.
(t) All Bitcoin antminers owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries (“Antminers”) are owned or rightfully possessed by, operated by and under the control of the Company and its subsidiaries. There has been no failure, breakdown or continued substandard performance of any Antminers that has caused a material disruption or interruption in or to the use of the Antminers or the related operation of the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a material adverse effect, the Antminers are maintained and in good working condition to perform all computing, information technology and data processing operations necessary for the operations of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps and implemented commercially reasonable safeguards to: (a) protect the Antminers from contaminants, hacks and other malicious external or internal threats; (b) ensure continuity of operations with adequate energy supply and minimal uptime required; and (c) provide for the remote-site back-up of data and information critical to the Company and its subsidiaries to avoid disruption or interruption to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries. The Company and its subsidiaries have in place commercially reasonable disaster recovery and business continuity plans and procedures.
(u) The Company and its subsidiaries deposit all of their crypto assets, including any Bitcoin mined, in digital wallets held or operated by the Company or its subsidiaries or a third party pursuant to a third party agreement (the “Wallets”). The Company and its subsidiaries have taken commercially reasonable steps to protect the Wallets and crypto assets, including by adopting security protocols to prevent, detect and mitigate inappropriate or unauthorized access to the Wallets and crypto assets.
(v) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or have requested extensions thereof (except where the failure to file would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) have been created in the financial statements of the Company), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries which, singly or in the aggregate, has had (nor does the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries and which could reasonably be expected to have) have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(w) The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of the dates shown and its results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby except for any normal year-end adjustments in the Company’s quarterly financial statements. The other financial information included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. [The pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.]. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate and such data is consistent with the sources from which they are derived, in each case in all material respects.
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(x) Xxxxxxxx LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and delivered its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, has informed the Company that they are an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).
(y) Reserved.
(z) The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(aa) From the time of initial submission of the Registration Statement to the Commission through the date hereof, the Company has been and is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).
(bb) The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with any person and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than X. Xxxxx to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications in connection with the sale of the Notes. The Company reconfirms that X. Xxxxx has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) or Rule 163B of the Securities Act.
(cc) None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has any securities rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective principal amounts of Firm Notes set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite its name at $[ ] per Note (the “Purchase Price”).
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On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Notes, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to [ ] Additional Notes at the Purchase Price, provided, however, that the amount paid by the Underwriters for any Additional Notes shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Notes but not payable on such Additional Notes. X. Xxxxx may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Notes to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such Additional Notes are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the Closing Date (as later defined) for the Firm Notes or later than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional Notes may be purchased as provided in Section 4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering sales of Notes in excess of the number of the Firm Notes. On each day, if any, that Additional Notes are to be purchased (an “Additional Closing Date”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Notes that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Notes to be purchased on such Additional Closing Date as the number of Firm Notes set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Notes.
3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by X. Xxxxx that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Notes as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in X. Xxxxx’x judgment is advisable. The Company is further advised by X. Xxxxx that the Notes are to be offered to the public initially at $[ ] per Note (the “Public Offering Price”) and to certain dealers selected by X. Xxxxx at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $[ ] per Note under the Public Offering Price.
4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Notes shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm Notes for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at [10:00 a.m], New York City time, on October ____, 2021, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than October ____, 2021, as shall be designated in writing by X. Xxxxx. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
Payment for any Additional Notes shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Additional Notes for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at [10:00 a.m], New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than [________], 2021, as shall be designated in writing by X. Xxxxx.
The Firm Notes and Additional Notes shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as X. Xxxxx shall request not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Additional Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm Notes and Additional Notes shall be delivered to X. Xxxxx on the Closing Date or an Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Notes to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
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5. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Company to sell the Notes to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Notes on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in X. Xxxxx’x judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in X. Xxxxx’x judgment, impracticable to market the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Sections 5(a)(i) and 5(a)(ii) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Shearman & Sterling LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, in a form reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.
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With respect to the negative assurance letters to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(c) above, Shearman & Sterling LLP may state that their opinions and beliefs are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification, except as specified. With respect to the opinions and negative assurance letter to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(d) above, Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP may state that their opinions and beliefs are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (other than the documents incorporated by reference) and upon review and discussion of the contents thereof (including documents incorporated by reference), but are without independent check or verification, except as specified.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from each of Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, PLLC and Xxxxxxxx LLP, each independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.
(f) On or before the date of this Agreement, X. Xxxxx shall have received correspondence from FINRA that it will raise no objection as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
(g) Application shall have been made to have the Notes approved for listing on Nasdaq.
(h) The Underwriters shall have received such other documents as X. Xxxxx may reasonably request, including with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Notes and other matters related to the issuance and sale of the Notes.
(i) On the Closing Date, the Company and the Trustee shall have executed and delivered the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture and the Notes.
(j) The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Notes hereunder are subject to the delivery to X. Xxxxx on the applicable Additional Closing Date of the following:
(i) a certificate, dated the Additional Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof remains true and correct as of such Additional Closing Date;
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(ii) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Shearman & Sterling LLP, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Additional Closing Date, relating to the Additional Notes to be purchased on such Additional Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof;
(iii) an opinion and negative assurance letter of Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Additional Closing Date, relating to the Additional Notes to be purchased on such Additional Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof;
(iv) a letter dated the Additional Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from each of Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, PLLC and Xxxxxxxx LLP, each independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Additional Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than two business days prior to such Additional Closing Date; and
(v) such other documents as X. Xxxxx may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Notes to be sold on such Additional Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Notes.
6. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to X. Xxxxx upon request, without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to X. Xxxxx in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 6(e) or 6(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as X. Xxxxx may reasonably request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to X. Xxxxx a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which X. Xxxxx reasonably objects, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(c) To furnish to X. Xxxxx a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which X. Xxxxx reasonably objects.
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(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
(e) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Notes at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(f) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Notes as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses X. Xxxxx will furnish to the Company) to which Notes may have been sold by X. Xxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(g) To endeavor to qualify the Notes for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as X. Xxxxx shall reasonably request.
(h) To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to X. Xxxxx as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
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(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Notes under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Notes to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Notes for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, up to a maximum of $10,000 (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Notes by FINRA, up to a maximum of $10,000 (v) all costs and expenses incident to listing the Notes on Nasdaq, (vi) the costs and charges of the Trustee and any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (vii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Notes, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (viii) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement, (ix) the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated in this Agreement in an aggregate amount not to exceed $100,000 and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of Section 10 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including taxes payable on resale of any of the Notes by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
(j) The Company will promptly notify X. Xxxxx if the Company ceases to be an Emerging Growth Company at any time prior to the completion of the distribution of the Notes within the meaning of the Securities Act.
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(k) If at any time following the distribution of any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify X. Xxxxx and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
7. Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
8. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that arise out of, or are caused by, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any “road show” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of, or are caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through X. Xxxxx expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters through X. Xxxxx consists of the information described as such in paragraph (b) below.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers who sign the Registration Statement, employees, agents and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to Underwriter’s Information (as defined below) furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through X. Xxxxx expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show, or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
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(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or 8(b), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by X. Xxxxx, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
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(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or 8(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Notes or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Notes shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Notes (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Notes. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of Notes they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Notes underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
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(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Notes.
9. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by X. Xxxxx to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to or on the Closing Date or any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the NYSE American, Nasdaq, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade or other relevant exchanges, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States or other relevant jurisdiction shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets, or any calamity or crisis that, in X. Xxxxx’x judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in X. Xxxxx’x judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Notes on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.
10. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or an Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Notes which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Notes to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Notes set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of Firm Notes set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as X. Xxxxx may specify, to purchase the Notes which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Notes that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Notes without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Notes and the aggregate number of Firm Notes with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Notes to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to X. Xxxxx and the Company for the purchase of such Firm Notes are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either X. Xxxxx or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no
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event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Additional Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Notes and the aggregate number of Additional Notes with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Notes to be purchased on such Additional Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Notes to be sold on such Additional Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Notes that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
11. Entire Agreement. (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Notes, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Notes.
(b) The Company acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Notes: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arms’ length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, any contemporaneous written agreements and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Notes.
12. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
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(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
For purposes of this Section a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Xxxx-Xxxxx Xxxx Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts (including by electronic signatures covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law), each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
14. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
15. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, and to the benefit of the directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Notes as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of purchase.
16. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York. THE COMPANY AND EACH OF THE UNDERWRITERS HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
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17. Underwriter’s Information. The parties hereto acknowledge and agree that, for all purposes of this Agreement, the Underwriter’s Information consists solely of the following information in any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus identified in Schedule II hereto, the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement: the concession figure appearing in the first paragraph under the section entitled “Underwriting – Discounts and Expenses” and the information contained in the second and fourth paragraphs relating to stabilization transactions under the section entitled “Underwriting – Price Stabilization, Short Positions.”
18. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
19. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and to the parties hereto as follows:
If to the Underwriters:
X. Xxxxx in care of X. Xxxxx Securities, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk,
with a copy to the Legal Department
If to the Company:
Xxxxxxxxx Generation Holdings Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Email: xxxxx@xxxxxxxxx.xxx
with a copy to:
Shearman & Sterling LLP
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Email: Xxxxxxxx.xxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx
[Signature Page Follows]
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Very truly yours,
XXXXXXXXX GENERATION HOLDINGS INC. | ||
By: |
| |
Name: Xxxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: Chief Executive Officer |
Accepted as of the date hereof
X. XXXXX SECURITIES, INC.
Acting on behalf of themselves and the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto. | ||
By: | X. Xxxxx Securities, Inc. | |
By: |
| |
Name: Xxxxxxx XxXxxxxx | ||
Title: Co-Head Investment Banking |
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SCHEDULE I
Underwriter |
Number of Firm Notes To Be Purchased |
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X. Xxxxx Securities, Inc. |
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Total: |
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I-1