Exhibit 10.6
[BEAR XXXXXXX LOGO] BEAR, XXXXXXX & CO. INC.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
XXX XXXX, XX 00000
Tel 000-000-0000
xxx.xxxxxxxxxxx.xxx
July 10, 2002
Newcastle Investment Corp.
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Gentlemen:
This commitment letter (this "Agreement") confirms the exclusive engagement of
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc. ("Bear Xxxxxxx") by Newcastle Investment Corp., as lead
advisor ( the "Company" or the "Investment Advisor"), to render financial
advisory and investment banking services to the Company in connection with the
issuance by a special purpose entity organized under the laws of the Cayman
Islands or, if mutually agreed to by Bear Xxxxxxx and the Company, another
jurisdiction outside or within the U.S. (the "Issuer") of several classes of
rated notes (the "Notes") and unrated equity securities (the "Equity") described
below (collectively, the "Securities") in a private placement pursuant to Rule
144A or otherwise (the "Collateralized Debt Obligation" or "CDO"). The
Securities will be collateralized by approximately $500 million of dollar
denominated commercial mortgage backed securities ("CMBS"), REIT debt, real
estate loans and asset backed securities (the "Collateral" and, following any
initial ramp up period, the initial pool of which shall be deemed the "Original
Collateral").The amount of asset backed securities will be limited to 15% of the
Original Collateral.
SECTION 1. SERVICES TO BE RENDERED. Subject to (i) the terms and conditions of
this Agreement and (ii) with respect to acting as initial purchaser, execution
of definitive documents in connection with the CDO (the "Transaction
Documents"), Bear Xxxxxxx will act as the co-placement agent and book running
lead manager for the private placement of the Securities and shall purchase a
portion of the Original Collateral, at the direction of the Investment Advisor,
for the Issuer (as set forth in Section 9).Please note that nothing in this
Agreement constitutes a binding agreement to underwrite or place the Securities.
SECTION 2. CONDITION TO OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of Bear Xxxxxxx to act as
initial purchaser hereunder are subject to each of the following conditions
being met as of the date of issuance of the Notes (the "Closing Date"): (i) as
set forth in Section 9, the Company identifying CMBS, REIT debt, real estate
loans, and asset backed securities for
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purchase by Bear Xxxxxxx or assets made available by the Company, prior to
issuance (for settlement on the Closing Date), at least 60% (the "Initial
Collateral") of the Original Collateral, for the CDO's account, the selection
and purchase of such Collateral to be directed by the Company in accordance with
the Eligibility Criteria described in the Offering Materials, (ii) valid and
binding transfer to the Issuer and pledge to the Indenture Trustee of the
Initial Collateral (being at least 60% of the Original Collateral), (iii)
preparation and delivery of a Collateral fact schedule ("Collateral Schedule")
that identifies collateral by loan name, CUSIP number, issuer name, credit
rating, industry group, purchase price and date, coupon, par amount and all
other data as reasonably required by the rating agencies for securities
purchased by Bear Xxxxxxx or any loans or securities supplied and delivered by
the Company, (iv) provision by the Company of information reasonably required by
the rating agencies relating to the historical performance of the Company's
analysts and managers, (v) successful completion of Investment Advisor due
diligence by Xxxx Xxxxxxx, special counsel for the transaction Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, the rating agencies and investors, (vi) completion of
Collateral review and certification of conformance to the Eligibility Criteria,
(vii) written confirmation of the desired ratings of the various Classes of
Notes, (viii) delivery of an accountant's comfort letter regarding information
contained in any offering circular, (ix) delivery of a satisfactory offering
circular, (x) execution and delivery of (a) satisfactory transaction
documentation, (b) relevant legal opinions satisfactory to Bear Xxxxxxx and the
Company, and (c) indemnification provisions satisfactory to Bear Xxxxxxx and the
Company and (xi) purchase of 100% of the Equity, up to a maximum of 15% of the
capitalization of the Issuer, by the Company, its affiliates or clients subject
to the Equity having a projected internal rate of return of 15% in the Base Case
Scenario as defined below. The Base Case Scenario shall mean a scenario where
there are no assumed losses or prepayments on the Collateral and all management
fees payable by the Issuer to the Company shall be added to the Equity cash
flows for the purpose of determining the internal rate of return of the Equity.
SECTION 3. CLOSING AND SETTLEMENT OF THE CDO; RELEASE OF FUNDS. Subject to
completion of the requirements of Sections 1 and 2, Bear Xxxxxxx will effect the
release of funds against the release of the Securities by the Issuer and the
Indenture Trustee, by wire transfer via same day funds into an account for the
benefit of the Issuer as described in the offering circular and the other
transaction documentation (the "Closing").
SECTION 4. FEES FOR SERVICES. The Company agrees that Bear Xxxxxxx shall be
entitled to the non-refundable fees (the "CDO Fees") described below, due and
payable from the proceeds of the sale of the Securities upon Closing of the CDO,
as compensation for structuring and placement services and other obligations of
Bear Xxxxxxx under this Agreement: a fee equal to the sum of (a) 0.45% of the
aggregate of the par amount of the Notes (the "Placement Fee") plus (b) a
structuring fee (the "Structuring Fee") equal to $1,000,000. The Placement Fee
will be allocated among the Notes according to the following schedule: a fee of
0.30% of the Notes rated AAA/Aaa, a fee of 0.40% of the Notes rated AA/Aa, a fee
of 0.75% of the Notes rated A/A; a fee of 1.00% of the Notes rated BBB/Baa, and
a fee of 2.00% of the Notes rated BB/Ba.If this schedule of fees
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produces an aggregate amount of such placement fees different from 0.45% of the
aggregate of the par amount of the Notes, the schedule will be adjusted such
that the aggregate amount of such placement fees equal 0.45% of the aggregate
amount of the Notes. In the event that Bear Xxxxxxx is willing and able to sell
the BB/Ba rated Notes at a market level but the Company chooses to purchase
them, the Placement Fee will be calculated as if the Notes were sold to a third
party.
Any Notes purchased by Bear Xxxxxxx as principal may be resold by Bear Xxxxxxx
at prices to be determined by Bear Xxxxxxx. Any profit or loss on such Notes
will be absorbed by Bear Xxxxxxx. Xxxx Xxxxxxx agrees that the Company may
appoint either Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx or Deutsche Bank as a joint book running co- lead
manager, co- placement agent and initial purchaser on the CDO. The Company may
appoint another party to act in such capacity if such party is acceptable to
Bear Xxxxxxx. The fees payable to such co-placement agent will be payable from
the Placement Fee and will not exceed 33% of such Placement Fee. Notwithstanding
such limitation, if the co-placement agent acting as principal purchases for its
own account more than 33% of any class of Notes, he shall be entitled to a
proportionate increase in his share of the Placement Fee with respect to such
class of Notes.
Furthermore, in the event that (i) Bear Xxxxxxx and the co-manager are unable to
find a market clearing price for any class (or portion thereof) of the Notes
which is reasonably acceptable to the Company in light of market conditions and
(ii) Bear Xxxxxxx or the co- manager and the Company cannot agree on a
reasonable price at which Bear Xxxxxxx or the co- manager, as they case may be,
should underwrite such Notes, then the Company may require the Issuer to pay the
Placement Fee for such class of Notes to another dealer who has an underwritten
price or receives a binding commitment from a bona fide investor for the unsold
Note(s) at an all- in price net of the Placement Fee allocable to such class
that is better than Bear Xxxxxxx' all- in underwritten or market clearing price
net of Placement Fees.
For the avoidance of doubt, Xxxx Xxxxxxx and the Company agree that the
preceding paragraph does not permit the Company to solicit bids in competition
from dealers other than Bear Xxxxxxx and the co- manager for the Offered Notes,
but rather is intended to provide the Company a contingent plan to complete the
CDO in the event Bear Xxxxxxx and the co- manager cannot provide, in the
Company's reasonable business judgment, a rationale to support the market
clearing price presented by Bear Xxxxxxx.
If for any reason, the Closing of the CDO fails to occur, the CDO Fees will not
be payable; provided, however, that, if the CDO does not occur and the Company
becomes the collateral manager or investment advisor in a substantially similar
CDO transaction and at least $200 million of the collateral for such transaction
was previously purchased by Bear Xxxxxxx in accordance with Section 9, prior to
the termination of this Agreement where Bear Xxxxxxx has not been retained or
offered to be retained as the financial advisor thereof, the Company shall pay
Bear Xxxxxxx a fee upon the Closing of such transaction equal to the CDO Fees
described in the first paragraph of this Section 4.
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SECTION 5. EXPENSES. The reasonable out-of-pocket expenses of the Company and
Bear Xxxxxxx, including travel expenses, the fees and the expenses of the rating
agencies hired to rate the transaction, the fees and disbursements of Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, up to a maximum of $250,000, as special counsel for Bear
Xxxxxxx and the co-placement agent, the fees and disbursements of Thacher,
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx, as special counsel to the transaction and the fees and expenses
of any other third party reasonably necessary for the completion of this CDO,
shall be paid from the proceeds of the sale of the Securities.
If for any reason, the Closing of the CDO fails to occur, other than through the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of Bear Xxxxxxx, the Company shall pay
the fees and expenses of the rating agencies, each respective special counsel
and other third parties who have performed services in connection with the
transaction. However, if the failure to close is the result of gross negligence
or willful misconduct of Bear Xxxxxxx, it shall pay all of the expenses
discussed in this Section 5. If the Closing of the CDO subsequently occurs after
the Company or Bear Xxxxxxx pays any expenses, such party shall be entitled to
reimbursement thereof from the proceeds of the sales of the Securities.
Bear Xxxxxxx will obtain the consent of the Company prior to incurring expenses,
other than the expense of obtaining rating estimates on Collateral or the fees
and disbursements of Thacher, Xxxxxxx & Xxxx, in excess of the estimated
expenses in the schedule attached hereto.
SECTION 6. EXCLUSIVITY AND NON-CIRCUMVENTION. By execution of this Agreement,
the Company agrees to the exclusive engagement of Xxxx Xxxxxxx as the financial
advisor and as the book running lead manager with respect to the contemplated
CDO.
SECTION 7. INDEMNITY. The Company and Bear Xxxxxxx agree to an Indemnity in the
form attached hereto.
SECTION 8. ACCESS; INFORMATION. In connection with Bear Xxxxxxx' activities
hereunder, the Company will provide Bear Xxxxxxx with reasonable access to all
information concerning the Company and the assets of the Issuer (the
"Information") which Bear Xxxxxxx and the Company reasonably deem appropriate
and will provide Bear Xxxxxxx with reasonable access to the Company's officers,
accountants and counsel. The Company agrees to participate in conference calls
or meetings with potential and actual investors to discuss the Company's
management style and experience including meetings at the investors' offices
where necessary. The Company will also provide prospective and actual investors
with reasonable access to the Information. Bear Xxxxxxx shall use its best
efforts to maintain the confidentiality of Information the Company desires to
remain confidential except to the extent that (i) such Information is otherwise
publicly available or (ii) the Company consents to the release of such
Information. The Company acknowledges that it will provide, on a continuing
basis, Information with respect to the assets of the Issuer, including market
valuations of such assets, the personnel responsible for managing the assets of
the Issuer and any other matter relating to the CDO as reasonably requested by
Xxxx Xxxxxxx and investors in the CDO.
The Company represents and agrees that all information made available to Bear
Xxxxxxx by the Company in writing hereunder and all Company information in any
Offering
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Documents will be true and correct in all material respects and will not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances under which such statements are made. The Company acknowledges
that in rendering its services hereunder, Xxxx Xxxxxxx will be using and relying
primarily on the Information without independent investigation or appraisal of
the Company's assets, historical performance or prospects. Bear Xxxxxxx does not
assume responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of such Information, and
the Company does assume responsibility therefore.
SECTION 9. PURCHASE OF THE COLLATERAL AND PAYMENT TO BEAR XXXXXXX. At the
direction of the Company, Bear Xxxxxxx shall purchase, prior to the Closing, the
Initial Collateral. All Collateral shall conform to applicable transaction
requirements at the time of purchase by Bear Xxxxxxx including requirements as
to maturity, average life, coupon, collateral type, rating and the rating agency
requirements regarding portfolio characteristics, including industry and issuer
diversification and credit quality (the "Eligibility Criteria"). Prior to the
purchase of any Collateral, Bear Xxxxxxx and the Company will mutually agree
that market conditions are favorable to begin accumulating Collateral for the
CDO.
Prior to the Closing, the Company may identify securities (the Initial
Collateral) that it wishes Bear Xxxxxxx to purchase for the Issuer and shall
agree with Bear Xxxxxxx on a price to be paid by the Issuer (the "Purchase
Price"). Until the pricing of the transaction, the Purchase Price for fixed rate
collateral shall be expressed as a spread to interest rate swaps or treasuries
(each such price a "Spread Lock"). Such Spread Lock will be calculated using the
yield of the security less the yield of an interest rate swap or treasury of
comparable average life as mutually agreed by Bear Xxxxxxx and the Company at
the time of purchase. Bear Xxxxxxx and the Company shall agree on and record the
yield, Spread Lock, purchase price and benchmark with respect to each security
purchased Upon the pricing of the CDO, the Purchase Price for any asset with a
Spread Lock will be calculated using the offered side yield of the interest rate
swap or treasury as agreed to by Bear Xxxxxxx and the Company. The Purchase
Price for floating rate collateral will be the price paid for the asset. After
the pricing of the transaction, the Purchase Price shall be the price agreed to
between the Company and Bear Xxxxxxx.
Bear Xxxxxxx shall have the right to approve the purchase of each item of
Collateral made under this Section 9 and shall not withhold such approval on an
unreasonable basis. If Bear Xxxxxxx repeatedly and unreasonably rejects
securities that the Company has identified for purchase for the CDO, the Company
may terminate this Agreement without penalty.
The maximum amount that Bear Xxxxxxx shall pay for securities purchased for the
warehouse shall be $450 million. In addition, the maximum amount that Bear
Xxxxxxx shall pay for securities for the warehouse facility rated below Baa3 by
Xxxxx'x or BBB- by Standard & Poor's ("S&P") shall be $90 million. The warehouse
facility will terminate on the Termination Date, as defined in Section 10 below,
unless Bear Xxxxxxx
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and the Company agree to extend the facility. Bear Xxxxxxx will retain for its
own account all payments of interest and principal with respect to securities in
the warehouse unless the Company and Bear Xxxxxxx execute a mutually agreed upon
funding agreement (the "Funding Agreement") whereby, in exchange for receiving a
portion of interest payments with respect to the securities in the warehouse,
the Company deposits with Bear Xxxxxxx as margin an amount equal to the sum of
(a) 10% of the value of all securities in the warehouse rated at least Baa3 by
Xxxxx'x and BBB- by S&P, (b) 15% of the value of all securities in the warehouse
rated below Baa3 by Xxxxx'x or BBB- by S&P but rated at least Ba3 and BB- and
(c) a mutually agreed upon percentage of the value of all securities in the
warehouse rated below Ba3 by Xxxxx'x or BB- by S&P (the aggregate of such
amounts deposited with Bear Xxxxxxx, the "Deposit"). For the purpose of
calculating the Deposit, the value of a security will be determined as (i) if it
is a floating rate security or a fixed rate security purchased after the Company
has entered into the Funding Agreement with Bear Xxxxxxx, the price paid by Bear
for such security or (ii) if it is a fixed rate security purchased prior to the
execution of the Funding Agreement, a price based on the Spread Lock and the
value of the relevant benchmark determined at the time of the Deposit. If the
Company elects to enter into the Funding Agreement, it agrees to pay to Bear
Xxxxxxx the amounts described in the previous sentence on each security
contributed to the warehouse subsequent to such election. The portion of
interest accrued on the securities in the warehouse payable to the Company (the
"Net Bond Carry") shall equal the excess of interest received on such securities
over Bear Xxxxxxx' aggregate funding costs as adjusted for hedging fixed rate
securities, such adjustments will be described in any Funding Agreement. If the
Company does not enter into the Funding Agreement with Bear Xxxxxxx, the Net
Bond Carry will be zero. For each security in the warehouse the funding cost of
Bear Xxxxxxx will be calculated by multiplying (a) an annual rate of one month
LIBOR plus 0.75% times (b) the excess of (x) the market value at the time of
purchase over (y) the Deposit amount with respect to such security plus any
principal payments received on such security. If Bear Xxxxxxx and the Company
enter into the Funding Agreement, Bear Xxxxxxx will pay the Net Bond Carry to
the Company upon the termination of the warehouse facility.
At the time of its purchase of any security in connection with this Agreement,
Bear Xxxxxxx shall provide a right to the Company to purchase such securities on
behalf of the Issuer at the Purchase Price upon the Closing of the CDO. Prior to
the pricing of the transaction, the Purchase Price shall be expressed as a
Spread Lock.Such right shall be transferable only to the Issuer or an affiliate
of the Company. The exercise of any right on a security shall be deemed to be
the exercise of every other right in connection with this Agreement regardless
of whether or not any such security conforms to the Eligibility Criteria. At the
Closing, assuming exercise of all of the rights described above and delivery of
the Collateral to the Trustee, Bear Xxxxxxx shall be paid from the proceeds of
the CDO issuance the aggregate Purchase Price for each security and shall return
the Deposit and pay the Net Bond Carry to the Company.
If the Company, by its failure to purchase the Equity pursuant to Section 2
(xi), or otherwise through its gross negligence or willful misconduct, shall
cause the CDO to fail to close as contemplated herein, the Company (a) shall
purchase the Collateral at the
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Purchase Price and Bear Xxxxxxx shall return the Deposit, if any, to the Company
or (b) shall, after the liquidation of the Collateral at a fair market price by
Bear Xxxxxxx to an unaffiliated third party, pay to Bear Xxxxxxx any difference
between the Purchase Price and the aggregate value realized by the sale of
Collateral by Bear Xxxxxxx (the "Collateral Loss") and Bear Xxxxxxx shall return
the Deposit and pay the Net Bond Carry to the Company. If the CDO fails to close
for any reason other than those listed in the previous sentence and such failure
is not a result of Bear Xxxxxxx' xxxxx negligence or willful misconduct, at the
Company's option, either (a) the Company shall purchase the Collateral at the
Purchase Price and Bear Xxxxxxx shall return the Deposit and pay the Net Bond
Carry to the Company or (b) after the liquidation of the Collateral at a fair
market price by Bear Xxxxxxx to an unaffiliated third party, (x) if the Company
and Bear Xxxxxxx have entered into the Funding Agreement Bear Xxxxxxx shall pay
to the Company the excess of the Deposit plus the Net Bond Carry over the
Collateral Loss or (y) if the Company and Bear Xxxxxxx have not entered into the
Funding Agreement, the Company shall pay to Bear Xxxxxxx the lesser of
$15,000,000 and the Collateral Loss. If Bear Xxxxxxx liquidates the Collateral
as provided in the previous sentence and the aggregate value realized by the
sale of the Collateral by Bear Xxxxxxx exceeds the Purchase Price (such excess,
the "Collateral Profit"), then Bear Xxxxxxx shall pay to the Company (x) if the
Company and Bear Xxxxxxx have entered into the Funding Agreement, the Collateral
Profit or (y) one half of the Collateral Profit.
The Company and Bear Xxxxxxx each acknowledge that the successful completion of
the CDO is dependent upon favorable market conditions at the time of, and for a
period of time prior to, the pricing of the coupons and yields on the rated
Notes (the "Pricing"). If such market conditions are not favorable, and as a
result the Pricing of the CDO does not occur, the Company may terminate the
warehouse facility prior to the Termination Date if the Equity does not have a
projected internal rate of return of at least 15% in the Base Case Scenario by
giving notice of such termination to Bear Xxxxxxx.
If at the time of pricing of the CDO there shall remain any unsold Notes, Bear
Xxxxxxx shall have the right, but shall not be obligated, to purchase such
unsold Notes at the offering prices and under the terms and conditions at which
such Notes are offered to third party investors, subject only to the Company's
prior right to purchase at such prices on the Closing all or a portion of such
Notes. Under such circumstances, the parties shall promptly set the Closing for
a date as soon as practicable. Payment for any Notes so purchased shall be made
in the same manner as payment is made by other investors.
SECTION 10. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall terminate upon the
earliest of: (i) six (6) months from the date of this Agreement; (ii) upon the
Closing of the CDO; (iii) the Company gives notice of a Termination as provided
in Section 9; (iv) the Company gives notice to Bear Xxxxxxx that it wishes to
terminate this Agreement because Bear Xxxxxxx has failed to purchase for the
warehouse the securities listed in the attached Schedule A, (v) by mutual
agreement of the parties or (vi) Bear Xxxxxxx repeatedly and unreasonably
rejects securities that the Company has identified for purchase for the CDO as
provided in Section 9 (the earliest date referred to in the preceding clauses
being
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herein referred to as the "Termination Date"); provided, however, that the
provisions of Sections 4, 5, 7, 9, 13 and this Section 10 shall survive such
termination.
SECTION 11. SUCCESSION. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the successors to the parties hereto. Neither party may transfer or
assign any right or obligation under this Agreement without the express written
consent of the other, and any purported transfer to assignment without such
consent shall be void.
SECTION 12. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement represents the entire agreement to
date between the Company and Bear Xxxxxxx relating to the Collateral and the
CDO. This Agreement (i) supersedes all other agreements relating to such matters
which have previously been executed by the Company and Bear Xxxxxxx, (ii) may
not be modified orally, and (iii) may only be modified in writing in a
subsequent agreement executed and delivered by both the Company and Bear
Xxxxxxx.
SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the
State of New York, without regard to the conflict of law provisions thereof,
governing contracts made and to be performed entirely in such State.
Please confirm that the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding and
agreement with Bear Xxxxxxx by executing both of the enclosed copies of this
Agreement and returning one of them to us, whereupon this Agreement shall become
a binding obligation between us. The offer of Bear Xxxxxxx presented in this
Agreement shall expire on July 19, 2002 unless this Agreement is previously
executed by you and returned to Bear Xxxxxxx. We look forward to working with
you and your colleagues, and to assisting you in achieving your objectives.
Very truly yours,
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc.
By: /s/ Xxx Xxxxxx
______________________
Xxx Xxxxxx
Senior Managing Director
Accepted and agreed as of the date
first above-written:
Newcastle Investment Corp.
By /s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
_______________________
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INDEMNIFICATION PROVISIONS
The Investment Advisor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Bear, Xxxxxxx
& Co. Inc. ("Bear Xxxxxxx"), its affiliates, officers, directors, employees,
agents and controlling persons (as defined by the federal securities laws), to
the fullest extent permitted by law, from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs,
expenses and disbursements (and any and all actions, suits, proceedings and
investigations in respect thereof), including, without limitation, the
reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements, as and when incurred, of
investigating, preparing or defending any such action, suit, proceeding or
investigation (whether or not in connection with litigation in which Bear
Xxxxxxx is a party), directly or indirectly, caused by, relating to, based upon,
arising out of or in connection with (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in, or omissions or alleged omissions
from, any material prepared or provided to Bear Xxxxxxx by the Investment
Advisor in writing for use in any offering circular or marketing materials
approved in writing by the Investment Advisor (such materials herein referred to
as "Investment Advisor Materials") and provided to investors in connection with
the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, together with any amendments or
supplements thereto or documents incorporated therein by reference (herein
referred to as "Offering Materials"), or (ii) any act or omission by the
Investment Advisor in the performance of its responsibilities as contemplated by
this Agreement and the Transaction Documents, provided, however, such indemnity
agreement shall not apply to any portion of any such loss, claim, damage,
obligation, penalty, judgment, award, liability, cost, expense or disbursement
to the extent (i) it is found in a final judgment by a court of competent
jurisdiction to have resulted primarily and directly from the bad faith, illegal
acts, gross negligence or willful misconduct of Bear Xxxxxxx its affiliates,
officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons (as defined by
the federal securities laws) or (ii) it is caused by any untrue statement or
omission or any alleged untrue statement or omission based upon material
contained in the Offering Materials discussing "Hypothetical Performance
Scenarios" (or similar matters), the "Plan of Distribution or any other section
relating to descriptive materials about Bear Xxxxxxx (all together, the "Bear
Xxxxxxx Materials").
Bear, Xxxxxxx & Co. Inc. agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Investment Advisor, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and
controlling persons (as defined by the federal securities laws) to the fullest
extent permitted by law, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses and
disbursements (and any and all actions, suits, proceedings and investigations in
respect thereof), including, without limitation, the reasonable costs, expenses
and disbursements, as and when incurred, of investigating, preparing or
defending any such action, suit, proceeding or investigation (whether or not in
connection with litigation in which the Investment Advisor is a party), directly
or indirectly, caused by, relating to, based upon, arising out of or in
connection with any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in, or omissions or alleged omissions from, the Bear Xxxxxxx
Materials , provided, however, such indemnity agreement shall not apply (i) to
any portion of any such loss, claim, damage, obligation, penalty, judgment,
award, liability, cost, expense or disbursement to the extent it is found
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in a final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further
appeal) to have resulted primarily and directly from the bad faith, illegal
acts, gross negligence or willful misconduct of the Investment Advisor its
affiliates, officers, directors, employees, agents and controlling persons (as
defined by the federal securities laws) or (ii) to the Investment Advisor
Materials including any Investment Advisor Materials contained in the Offering
Materials.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, it is
intended that the Investment Advisor and Bear Xxxxxxx shall indemnify each other
and shall be jointly (and not severally) liable with respect to any and all
losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments, awards, liabilities,
costs, expenses and disbursements (and any and all actions, suits, proceedings
and investigations in respect thereof and any and all legal or other costs,
expenses and disbursements in giving testimony or furnishing documents in
response to a subpoena or otherwise), including, without limitation, the
reasonable costs, expenses and disbursements, as and when incurred, of
investigating, preparing or defending any such action, suit, proceeding or
investigation arising out of the Offering Materials, other than the Investment
Advisor Materials including any Investment Advisor Materials contained in the
Offering Materials with respect to which the Investment Advisor shall be solely
liable, and the Bear Xxxxxxx Materials with respect to which Bear Xxxxxxx shall
be solely liable. With respect to any claim for which the Investment Advisor and
Bear Xxxxxxx have each indemnified the other, both parties shall cooperate with
respect to the handling of such claim and neither shall agree to a settlement of
such claim without the express written consent of the other. The Investment
Advisor and Bear Xxxxxxx shall each pay one-half of the costs and expenses of
responding to any such claim and one- half of any final judgment, other than a
final judicial determination at the liability for such claim resulted from the
gross negligence or willful misconduct of one party seeking the indemnification
hereunder and not the other party.
If any action, suit, proceeding, or investigation is commenced, as to
which either party proposes to demand indemnification, such party shall notify
the other with reasonable promptness; provided, however, that any failure by an
indemnified party to notify the other shall not relieve the indemnifying party
from its obligations hereunder. The indemnified party shall have the right to
retain counsel of its own choice to represent it, and the indemnifying party
shall pay the reasonable fees, expenses and disbursements of such counsel; and
such counsel shall, to the extent consistent with its professional
responsibilities, cooperate with the indemnifying party and any counsel
designated by the indemnifying party. The indemnifying party shall be liable for
any settlement of any indemnifiable claim against the other made with the
indemnifying party's written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. The indemnifying party shall not, without the prior written consent of
the other (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or
compromise any claim, or permit a default or consent to the entry of any
judgment in respect thereof, unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes, as an unconditional term thereof, the giving by the claimant to the
indemnified party of an unconditional and irrevocable release from all liability
in respect of such claim.
In order to provide for just and equitable contribution, if a claim for
indemnification pursuant to these Indemnification Provisions is made but it is
found in a
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final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction (not subject to further
appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case, even though
the express provisions hereof provide for indemnification in such case, then the
Investment Advisor, on the one hand, and Bear Xxxxxxx, on the other hand, shall
contribute to the losses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties, judgments,
awards, liabilities, costs, expenses and disbursements to which the indemnified
persons may be subject in accordance with the relative benefits received by the
Investment Advisor, on the one hand, and Bear Xxxxxxx, on the other hand, and
also the relative fault of the Investment Advisor, on the one hand, and Bear
Xxxxxxx, on the other hand, in connection with the statements, acts or omissions
which resulted in suchlosses, claims, damages, obligations, penalties,
judgments, awards, liabilities, costs, expenses and disbursements and other
relevant equitable considerations shall also be considered. No person found
liable for a fraudulent misrepresentation shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who is not also found liable for such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this paragraph, the relative fault of the Investment Advisor, on
the one hand, and Bear, Xxxxxxx, on the other hand, shall be apportioned as
follows: (i) to the extent such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are
determined to be a result of an act or omission by the Investment Advisor or a
misstatement or omission in the Investment Advisor Materials including any
Investment Advisor Materials contained in the Offering Materials, the Investment
Advisor shall be deemed to be at fault, and (ii) to the extent such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities are determined to be a result of a misstatement
or omission in the Bear Xxxxxxx Materials, Bear Xxxxxxx shall be deemed to be at
fault. Notwithstanding the foregoing (or any other provision of this indemnity),
Bear Xxxxxxx shall not be obligated to contribute any amount (or amounts) under
this indemnity that exceeds in aggregate an amount equal to the aggregate fees
previously received by Bear Xxxxxxx pursuant to the Agreement.
The Investment Advisor agrees that reliance by Xxxx Xxxxxxx on any
publicly available information, any written Information or any directions
furnished by the Investment Advisor shall not constitute negligence or willful
misconduct by Bear Xxxxxxx.
Neither termination nor completion of the Agreement referred to above
shall affect these indemnification provisions which shall then remain operative
and in full force and effect.
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