UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT between PIEDMONT LITHIUM LIMITED and THINKEQUITY, A DIVISION OF FORDHAM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC., as Representative of the Several Underwriters
Exhibit 1.1
between
PIEDMONT LITHIUM LIMITED
and
THINKEQUITY,
A DIVISION OF FORDHAM FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, INC.,
as Representative of the Several Underwriters
PIEDMONT LITHIUM LIMITED
June 9, 2020
ThinkEquity,
A Division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc.
As Representative of the several Underwriters named on Schedule 1 attached hereto
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Piedmont Lithium Limited, a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia (the “Company”
and, collectively with its subsidiaries and affiliates, including, without limitation, all entities disclosed or described in the Registration Statement (as hereinafter defined) as being subsidiaries or affiliates of Piedmont Lithium Limited, the “Company Group”), hereby confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc. (hereinafter referred to as “you”
(including its correlatives) or the “Representative”), and with the other underwriters named on Schedule 1 hereto for which the Representative is acting as representative (the Representative and such
other underwriters being collectively called the “Underwriters” or, individually, an “Underwriter”) as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Shares.
1.1 Firm Shares.
1.1.1 Nature and Purchase of Firm Shares.
(i) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, an aggregate of 1,800,000 American Depositary Shares (the “Firm Shares”),
representing an aggregate of 180,000,000 ordinary shares, no par value per share (the “Ordinary Shares”), of the Company. “ADSs” shall mean the American Depositary
Shares of the Company, each ADS representing one hundred (100) Ordinary Shares deposited with The Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited, as custodian for the Depositary (as defined below) in Australia. The ADSs purchased by the
Underwriters will be evidenced by American Depositary Receipts (“ADRs”) to be issued pursuant to a Deposit Agreement dated May 4, 2018 (the “Deposit Agreement”) entered
into by and among the Company, The Bank of New York Mellon, as depositary of the Company (the “Depositary”), and all owners and beneficial owners from time to time of the ADSs.
(ii) The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agree to
purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule 1 attached hereto and made a part hereof at a purchase price of $5.87475 per Firm Share (93.25% of the per Firm Share offering price).
The Firm Shares are to be offered initially to the public at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof).
1.1.2 Shares Payment and Delivery.
(i) Delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at
10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the second (2nd) (or if the Firm Shares are priced, as contemplated by Rule 15c6-1(c) under the Exchange Act, after 4:30 p.m. Eastern time, the third (3rd)) full business day following the date hereof, or at such
earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at the offices of Loeb & Loeb LLP, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 (“Representative Counsel”), or at such other place (or
remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.”
(ii) Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing
Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery of the certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Firm Shares (or through the facilities of the
Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Representative. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in
writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for all of the Firm Shares. The term “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York, New York.
1.2 Over-allotment Option.
1.2.1 Option Shares. For the sole purposes of covering any
over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Shares, the Company hereby grants to the Representative an option to purchase up to 265,000 additional ADSs, representing fifteen percent (15%) of the Firm Shares sold in the
offering, from the Company (the “Over-allotment Option”). Such 265,000 additional ADSs, the net proceeds of which will be deposited with the Company’s account, are
hereinafter referred to as the “Option Shares.” The purchase price to be paid per Option Share shall be equal to the price per Firm Share set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Option
Shares are hereinafter referred to together as the “Public Securities.” The offering and sale of the Public Securities is hereinafter referred to as the “Offering.”
1.2.2 Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option
granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Representative as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Shares within 30 days after the date hereof. The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to
purchase any Option Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Representative, which must be confirmed in writing by
overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission setting forth the number of Option Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Shares (the “Option Closing
Date”), which shall not be later than two (2) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, at the offices of Representative Counsel or at such other place
(including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative. If such delivery and payment for the Option Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be
as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option with respect to all or any portion of the Option Shares, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, (i) the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriters
the number of Option Shares specified in such notice and (ii) each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, shall purchase that portion of the total number of Option Shares then being purchased as set forth in Schedule 1
opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares, subject, in each case, to such adjustments as the Representative, in its sole discretion, shall determine.
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1.2.3 Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Shares
shall be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Option Shares
(or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriters. The Option Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Representative may request in writing at least two (2) full Business
Days prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Shares except upon tender of payment by the Representative for applicable Option Shares. The Option Closing Date may be simultaneous with, but
not earlier than, the Closing Date; and in the event that such time and date are simultaneous with the Closing Date, the term “Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Shares and
Option Shares.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and
warrants to the Underwriters as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), as of the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, if any, as follows:
2.1 Filing of Registration Statement.
2.1.1 Pursuant to the Securities Act. A registration
statement on Form F-6 (No. 333-220689) covering the registration of the ADSs under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”) (the “ADS Registration
Statement”) has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”). The Company has filed a “shelf” registration statement on Form F-3 (File No. 333-234445), including any
related prospectus or prospectuses, for the registration of the Public Securities under the Securities Act, which registration statement was prepared by the Company in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act (the “Securities Act Regulations”) and contain and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in
accordance with the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Except as the context may otherwise require, such “shelf” registration statement on Form F-3 on file with the Commission at any given time, including any amendments thereto to
such time, exhibits and schedules thereto at such time, documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the Securities Act at such time and the documents and information otherwise deemed to be a part thereof
or included therein pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations (the “Rule 430B Information”) or otherwise pursuant to the Securities Act Regulations at such time, is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” The Registration Statement at the time it originally became effective is referred to herein as the “Initial Registration Statement.” If the Company
files any registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act Regulations, then after such filing, the term “Registration Statement” shall include such registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b). The ADS Registration
Statement was initially declared effective by the Commission on October 11, 2017, post-effective amendment no. 1 thereto was automatically effective on March 27, 2018 and the Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission on
November 14, 2019 (the “Effective Date”).
The prospectus in the form in which it was filed with the Commission in connection with the Initial Registration Statement is herein called the “Base Prospectus.” Each preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus (including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented) that described the Public Securities and the Offering and omitted the Rule 430B
Information and that was used prior to the filing of the final prospectus supplement referred to in the following paragraph is herein called a “Preliminary Prospectus.”
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Promptly after the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement to the
Base Prospectus relating to the Public Securities and the Offering in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430B and Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act Regulations. Such final prospectus supplement (including the Base Prospectus as so supplemented),
in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 under the Securities Act as of the date of such prospectus.
“Applicable Time” means 8:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the date of this Agreement.
“Disclosure Package” means any Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus issued at or prior to the Applicable
Time, the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated June 8, 2020 and the information included on Schedule 2-A hereto, all considered together.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the
Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including without limitation any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) relating to the Public Securities that is (i)
required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Public Securities or of the Offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not
required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for
general distribution to prospective investors (other than a “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433), as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule 2-B hereto.
“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer
General Use Free Writing Prospectus.
2.1.2 Pursuant to the Exchange Act. The Company has filed
with the Commission a Form 20-F (Accession No. 001-38427) providing for the registration pursuant to Section 12(b) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), of the ADSs and
Ordinary Shares. The registration of the ADSs and Ordinary Shares and related Form 20-F have become effective under the Exchange Act on or prior to the date hereof. The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of,
terminating the registration of the shares of ADSs or Ordinary Shares under the Exchange Act, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration.
2.2 Stock Exchange Listing. The ADSs have been approved
for listing on the NASDAQ Capital Market (the “Exchange”), and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, delisting the shares of ADSs from the Exchange, nor has the Company
received any notification that the Exchange is contemplating terminating such listing except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.3 No Stop Orders, etc. Neither the Commission nor, to
the Company’s knowledge, any state regulatory authority has issued any order preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or has instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened
to institute, any proceedings with respect to such an order. The Company has complied with each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information.
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2.4 Disclosures in Registration Statement.
2.4.1 Compliance with Securities Act and 10b-5 Representation.
(i) Each of the ADS Registration Statement and the Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective (including each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B or otherwise under the Securities Act) complied and will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. The conditions for use of Form F-3, set forth in the General Instructions thereto, including, but not limited to, General Instruction I.B.5 and other
conditions related to the offer and sale of the Public Securities, have been satisfied. Each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time each was or will be filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects
with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations. Each Preliminary Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this Offering and the Prospectus was or will be identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) None of the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration
Statement or any amendments thereto, at their respective effective times, as of the Applicable Time, at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date (if any), contained, contains or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted,
omits or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(iii) The Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time, at the
Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date (if any), did not, does not and will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; and any Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, and each such Issuer
Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Prospectus as of the Applicable Time, did not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not
apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists solely of the following statements concerning the
Underwriters contained in the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus (the “Underwriters Information”): (i) second sentence of the subsection entitled “Discounts, Commissions and Reimbursement” related to
concessions; (ii) the first four paragraphs under the subsection entitled “Over-Allotment”; and (iii) the subsection entitled “Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Securities.”
(iv) Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement
thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), as of its issue date, at the time of any filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), at the Closing Date or at any Option Closing Date, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,
however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to the Underwriters’ Information.
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(v) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
2.4.2 Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements (including
the Deposit Agreement) and documents described in the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained or incorporated by
reference therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations to be described in the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement or to be incorporated by reference in the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the
Prospectus, that have not been so described or filed or incorporated by reference. Each agreement (including the Deposit Agreement) or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be
bound or affected and (i) that is referred to or incorporated by reference in the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly
authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state
securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
None of such agreements (including the Deposit Agreement) or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the best of the
Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder. To the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or
instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses
(each, a “Governmental Entity”), including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
2.4.3 Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the
Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package
and the Preliminary Prospectus.
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2.4.4 Regulations. The disclosures in the ADS Registration
Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus concerning the effects of federal, state, local and all foreign regulation on the Offering and the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all
material respects and no other such regulations are required to be disclosed in the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which are not so disclosed.
2.4.5 ASX Compliance. The Company (A) is not in material
breach of any provision of the Listing Rules (the “ASX Listing Rules”) of the Australian Securities Exchange (the “ASX”) and (B) has complied in all material respects with all applicable continuous disclosure requirements under the ASX Listing
Rules.
2.5 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.
2.5.1 No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the
financial position or results of operations of the Company, nor any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change or a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company (a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other
than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) no executive officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company.
2.5.2 Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to
the respective dates as of which information is given in the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any
other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.
2.6 Disclosures in Commission Filings. Since June 1, 2019,
(i) none of the Company’s filings with the Commission contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; and (ii) the Company has made all filings with the Commission required under the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (the “Exchange Act
Regulations”).
2.7 Independent Accountants. To the knowledge of the
Company, Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu (the “Auditor”), whose reports are filed with the Commission and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board. The Auditor has not, during the periods covered by the financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided to the Company any non-audit services, as such term is used in Section 10A(g) of the Exchange Act.
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2.8 Financial Statements, etc. The financial statements,
including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company
at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with International Financial Reporting Standards as issued by the International Accounting Standards Board (“IFRS”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved (provided that unaudited interim financial statements are subject to year-end audit adjustments that are not expected to be material in the aggregate
and do not contain all footnotes required by IFRS); and the supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. No other historical or pro forma
financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus by the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations. Except as disclosed in the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including each entity disclosed or described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as
being a subsidiary of the Company (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), taken as a whole, has incurred any material liabilities or obligations,
direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock, (c) there
has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, other than in the course of business or any grants under any stock compensation plan, and (d) there has not been any Material Adverse Change in the
Company’s long-term or short-term debt.
2.9 Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company had, at
the date or dates indicated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth therein. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein.Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, on the Effective Date, as of the Applicable Time and on the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, there will be no stock options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Ordinary
Shares of the Company or any security convertible or exercisable into Ordinary Shares of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Ordinary Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.10 Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.
2.10.1 Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding
securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission or similar rights with
respect thereto or put rights, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or rights of participation of any
holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized ADSs and Ordinary Shares conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the ADS Registration Statement,
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding ADSs and Ordinary Shares were at all relevant times either registered under the Securities Act and the applicable state securities or
“blue sky” laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such securities, exempt from such registration requirements.
2.10.2 Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The
Public Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being
such holders; the ADSs comprising the Public Securities will be entitled to the benefits of the Deposit Agreement; the Public Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or
similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Public Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Public Securities conform in all material
respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
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2.11 Registration Rights of Third Parties. No holders of
any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Securities Act or to include
any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company.
2.12 Validity and Binding Effect of Agreements. This
Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as such
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state
securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
2.13 No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery and
performance by the Company of this Agreement and all ancillary documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not,
with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination
or imposition of any lien, charge, mortgage, pledge, security interest, claim, equity, trust or other encumbrance, preferential arrangement, defect or restriction of any kind whatsoever or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company
pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, lease, loan agreement or any other agreement or instrument, franchise, license or permit to which the Company is a party or as to which any property of the Company is a party;
(ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s Constitution (as the same may be amended or restated from time to time, the “Charter”); or (iii) violate any existing applicable law, rule,
regulation, judgment, order or decree of any Governmental Entity as of the date hereof, except, with respect to clauses (i) and (iii), breaches, conflicts or violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change.
2.14 No Defaults; Violations. No material default exists
in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for
borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not (i) in violation of any
term or provision of its Charter, or (ii) in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any Governmental Entity, except for violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
2.15 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.15.1 Conduct of Business. The Company has all requisite
corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business
purpose as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except for any of the foregoing that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
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2.15.2 Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has
all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent,
authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Public Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this
Agreement and as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Exchange and the Financial Industry
Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
2.16 D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge,
all information contained in the supplementary questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers immediately prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”), as supplemented by all information concerning the Company’s directors, officers and principal shareholders as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as well as in the Lock-Up
Agreement (as defined in Section 2.27 below) provided to the Underwriters, is true and correct in all material respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the Questionnaires to
become materially inaccurate and incorrect.
2.17 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. There is no
action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any executive officer or
director which has not been disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, or in connection with the Company’s listing application for the listing of the ADSs on the Exchange, and which in each case is required
to be disclosed.
2.18 Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated
and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia as of the date hereof, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which its ownership
or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, singularly or in the aggregate, would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change.
2.19 Insurance. The Company carries or is entitled to the
benefits of insurance, with reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks which the Company believes are adequate, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. The Company has no reason to believe that it
will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost
that would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
2.20 Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
2.20.1 Finder’s Fees. Except as described in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with
respect to the sale of the Public Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation, as determined by
FINRA.
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2.20.2 Payments Within Twelve Months. Except for payments
made to the Representative and except as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any FINRA member; or
(ii) any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve months prior to the date of this Agreement, other than the payment to the Underwriters as provided hereunder in connection
with the Offering.
2.20.3 Use of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds of the
Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein or as set forth in the Disclosure Package.
2.20.4 FINRA Affiliation. To the Company’s knowledge,
there is no (i) officer or director of the Company, (ii) beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company's securities or (iii) beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the 180-day period
immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement that is an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). Except as disclosed in
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company (i) does not, to the Company’s knowledge, have any material lending or other relationship with any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not
intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Public Securities to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.
2.20.5 Information. All information provided by the
Company in its FINRA questionnaire to Representative Counsel specifically for use by Representative Counsel in connection with its Public Offering System filings (and related disclosure) with FINRA is true, correct and complete in all material
respects.
2.21 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Company
and its Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, has, directly or indirectly,
given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any
governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company
(or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a
Material Adverse Change; (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company. The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are
sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “FCPA”) or employee;
(iv) violated or is in violation of any provision of the FCPA or any applicable non-U.S. anti-bribery statute or regulation; (v) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment; or (vi) received notice of any
investigation, proceeding or inquiry by any Governmental Entity regarding any of the matters in clauses (i)-(v) above; and the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Company’s affiliates have conducted their respective businesses in
compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
2.22 Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company and its
Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company and its Subsidiaries or any other person acting on behalf of the Company and its Subsidiaries, is currently subject to any U.S.
sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the Offering hereunder, or
lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
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2.23 Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking
statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in either the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package or Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has
been disclosed other than in good faith.
2.24 Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company
and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes
of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any Governmental Entity (collectively, the “Money
Laundering Laws”); and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any Governmental Entity involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
2.25 Reserved
2.26 Officer’s Certificate. Any certificate signed by any
duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to you or to Representative Counsel shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
2.27 Lock-Up Agreements. Schedule 3 hereto contains
a complete and accurate list of the Company’s directors (collectively, the “Lock-Up Parties”). The Company has caused each of the Lock-Up Parties to deliver to the Representative an executed Lock-Up
Agreement, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the ”Lock-Up Agreement”), prior to the execution of this Agreement.
2.28 Subsidiaries. All direct and indirect Subsidiaries of
the Company are duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the place of organization or incorporation, and each Subsidiary is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business
requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s ownership and control of each Subsidiary is as described in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.29 Related Party Transactions.
2.29.1 Business Relationships. There are no business
relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
2.29.2 No Relationships with Customers and Suppliers. No
relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company on the one hand, and the directors, officers, 5% or greater stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of the Company’s affiliates on the other hand, which is
required to be described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or a document incorporated by reference therein and which is not so described.
2.29.3 No Unconsolidated Entities. There are no
transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structure
finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for its capital resources required to be described in the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus or a document incorporated by reference therein which have not been described as required.
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2.29.4 No Loans or Advances to Affiliates. There are no
outstanding loans, advances (except normal advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees or indebtedness by the Company to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company, any other
affiliates of the Company or any of their respective family members, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
2.30 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the
Company is comprised of the persons disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with the Exchange
Act, the Exchange Act Regulations, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”) applicable to the Company and the listing rules of the Exchange. At least one
member of the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company qualifies as an “audit committee financial expert,” as such term is defined under Regulation S-K and the listing rules of the Exchange.
2.31 Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Compliance.
2.31.1 Disclosure Controls. Except as disclosed in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures as defined in Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations, and such controls and procedures are designed to
ensure that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings.
2.31.2 Compliance. The Company is, or at the Applicable
Time and on the Closing Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act applicable to it, and has implemented or will implement such programs and take reasonable steps to comply with all of the material provisions
of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act that apply to the Company.
2.32 Accounting Controls. The Company and its
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined under Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act Regulations) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been
designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the
preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with IFRS, including, but not limited to, internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with IFRS and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal controls. The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the
Company have not been advised of, or become aware of: (i) any significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal controls over financial reporting which are known to the Company’s management and that have
adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’ ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud known to the Company’s management, whether or not material, that involves
management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Disclosure Package, there has been no change in the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
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2.33 No Investment Company Status. The Company is not and,
after giving effect to the Offering and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be, required to register as an “investment company,” as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2.34 No Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the
employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent.
2.35 Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and each of
its Subsidiaries owns or possesses or has valid rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar
rights (“Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries necessary for the conduct of its business as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees (other than license or similar fees described or contemplated in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) for, any Intellectual
Property Rights of others. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement of, license or similar fees for, or conflict with, any asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. Except as
would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change, (i) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no infringement, misappropriation or violation by third parties of any of the Intellectual
Property Rights owned by the Company; (ii) there is no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the rights of the Company in or to any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the
Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.35, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change; (iii) the Intellectual Property Rights owned by the Company and, to the knowledge of the Company, the Intellectual Property Rights licensed to the Company have not been adjudged by a court of competent jurisdiction invalid or unenforceable,
in whole or in part, and there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others challenging the validity or scope of any such Intellectual Property Rights, and the Company is unaware of any facts
which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.35, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; (iv) there is no pending or, to
the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others that the Company infringes, misappropriates or otherwise violates any Intellectual Property Rights or other proprietary rights of others, the Company has not received
any written notice of such claim and the Company is unaware of any other facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim that would, individually or in the aggregate, together with any other claims in this Section 2.35, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and (v) to the Company’s knowledge, no employee of the Company is in or has ever been in violation in any material respect of any term of any employment contract, patent disclosure agreement,
invention assignment agreement, non-competition agreement, non-solicitation agreement, nondisclosure agreement or any restrictive covenant to or with a former employer where the basis of such violation relates to such employee’s employment with the
Company, or actions undertaken by the employee while employed with the Company and could reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Change. To the Company’s knowledge, all material technical
information developed by and belonging to the Company which has not been disclosed in a filed patent application has been kept confidential. The Company is not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the
Intellectual Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and are not described therein. The Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus contain in all material respects the same description of the matters set forth in the preceding sentence. None of the technology employed by the Company has been obtained or is being used by the Company in violation of any
contractual obligation binding on the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its officers, directors or employees, or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Change.
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All material licenses for the use of the Intellectual Property described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are in
full force and effect in all material respects and are enforceable by the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with their terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance
and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought.None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the
Company, and the Company has not, and to the Company’s knowledge, no other party is in default thereunder and no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder.
2.36 Reserved
2.37 Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has
filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof, except where the failure to file such returns would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Change. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company or such
respective Subsidiary, except where the failure to pay would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change. The provisions for taxes payable, if any, shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration
Statement are sufficient for all material accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriters or as would
not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change, (i) no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its Subsidiaries,
and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or its Subsidiaries. The term “taxes” means all federal,
state, local, foreign and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium,
property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.
15
2.38 ERISA Compliance. The Company and any “employee
benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained
by the Company or its “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company, any member of any group of
organizations described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) of which the Company is
a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan”
established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA
Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any material liability (other than contributions to plans or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation in the ordinary course and without default) under (i) Title IV of ERISA with
respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates that is intended
to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and, to the knowledge of the Company, nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification, except, in each case, as would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.
2.39 Compliance with Laws. The Company: (i) is and at all
times has been in compliance with all statutes, rules, or regulations applicable to the ownership, testing, development, manufacture, packaging, processing, use, distribution, marketing, labeling, promotion, sale, offer for sale, storage, import,
export storage or disposal of any product manufactured or distributed by the Company (“Applicable Laws”), except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; (ii) has not received
from any governmental authority any notice or other communication alleging or asserting noncompliance with any Applicable Laws or any licenses, certificates, approvals, clearances, authorizations, permits and supplements or amendments thereto
required by any such Applicable Laws (“Authorizations”), except as to noncompliance that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; (iii) possesses all material Authorizations and
such Authorizations are valid and in full force and effect and are not in material violation of any term of any such Authorizations; (iv) has not received written notice of any material claim, action, suit, proceeding, hearing, enforcement,
investigation, arbitration or other action from any governmental authority or third party alleging that any product operation or activity is in violation of any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental
authority or third party is considering any such material claim, litigation, arbitration, action, suit, investigation or proceeding; (v) has not received written notice that any governmental authority has taken, is taking or intends to take
material action to limit, suspend, modify or revoke any Authorizations and has no knowledge that any such governmental authority is considering such material action; (vi) has filed, obtained, maintained or submitted all material reports, documents,
forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and supplements or amendments as required by any Applicable Laws or Authorizations and that all such reports, documents, forms, notices, applications, records, claims, submissions and
supplements or amendments were complete and correct in all material respects on the date filed (or were corrected or supplemented by a subsequent submission); and (vii) has not, either voluntarily or involuntarily, initiated, conducted, or issued
or caused to be initiated, conducted or issued, any recall, market withdrawal or replacement, safety alert, post-sale warning, or other notice or action relating to the alleged lack of safety or efficacy of any product or any alleged product defect
or violation and, to the Company’s knowledge, no third party has initiated, conducted or intends to initiate any such notice or action as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.
2.40 Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries
are in compliance with all foreign, federal, state and local rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are
applicable to their businesses (“Environmental Laws”), except where the failure to comply would not, singularly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. There has been no storage, generation,
transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to the Company’s knowledge,
any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may otherwise be liable) upon any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or upon any other property, in
violation of any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would, under any law, statute, ordinance, rule (including rule of common law), regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, give rise to any
liability; and there has been no disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the
Company has knowledge. In the ordinary course of business, the Company and its Subsidiaries conduct periodic reviews of the effect of Environmental Laws on their business and assets, in the course of which they identify and evaluate associated
costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or governmental permits issued thereunder, any related constraints on
operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such reviews, the Company and its Subsidiaries have reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not have, singularly or in the
aggregate, a Material Adverse Change.
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2.41 Real Property. Except as set forth in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or personal property
which are material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests, claims and defects that do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the
value of such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries; and all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries,
considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has received any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any Subsidiary under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the
rights of the Company or such Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.
2.42 Contracts Affecting Capital. There are no
transactions, arrangements or other relationships between and/or among the Company, any of its affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act Regulations) and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any
structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity that could reasonably be expected to materially affect the Company’s or any of its Subsidiaries’ liquidity or the availability of or requirements for their capital resources required to
be described or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus which have not been described or incorporated by reference as required.
2.43 Ineligible Issuer. At the time of filing the
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide
offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities Act Regulations) of the Public Securities and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any
determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an ineligible issuer.
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2.44 Industry Data. The geological, statistical and
market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate or represent the
Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources.
2.45 Margin Securities. None of the proceeds of Offering
will be used, directly or indirectly, for the purpose of purchasing or carrying any margin security as that term is defined in Regulation U of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal
Reserve Board”), for the purpose of reducing or retiring any indebtedness which was originally incurred to purchase or carry any margin security or for any other purpose which might cause any of the ADSs to be considered a “purpose credit”
within the meanings of Regulation T, U or X of the Federal Reserve Board.
2.46 Exchange Act Reports. The Company has filed in a
timely manner all reports required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(e), 14 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12 months (except to the extent that Section 15(d) requires reports to be filed pursuant to Sections 13(d) and
13(g) of the Exchange Act, which shall be governed by the next clause of this sentence); and the Company has filed in a timely manner all reports required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13(d) and 13(g) of the Exchange Act during the preceding 12
months, except where the failure to timely file could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Change.
2.47 Minute Books. The minute books of the Company have
been made available to the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters, and such books (i) contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions of the board of directors (including each board committee) and stockholders of the Company (or
analogous governing bodies and interest holders, as applicable), and each of its Subsidiaries since the time of its respective incorporation or organization through the date of the latest meeting and action, and (ii) accurately in all material
respects reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes. There are no material transactions, agreements, dispositions or other actions of the Company that are not properly approved and/or accurately and fairly recorded in the minute books of
the Company, as applicable.
2.48 Integration. Neither the Company, nor any of its
affiliates, nor any person acting on its or their behalf has, directly or indirectly, made any offers or sales of any security or solicited any offers to buy any security, under circumstances that would cause the Offering to be integrated with
prior offerings by the Company for purposes of the Securities Act that would require the registration of any such securities under the Securities Act.
2.49 No Stabilization. Neither the Company nor, to its
knowledge, any of its employees, directors or stockholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or shall take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or
result in, under Regulation M of the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Public Securities.
2.50 Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has
not (i) alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications, other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the written consent of the Representative and with entities that are qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A
under the Securities Act or institutions that are accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) authorized anyone other than the Representative to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company
confirms that the Representative has been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications. “Testing-the-Waters
Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any
Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
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2.51 Foreign Private Issuer. The Company is a “foreign
private issuer,” as such term is defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
2.52 Passive Foreign Investment Company Status. Based on
the Company’s gross income and gross assets and the nature of the Company’s business, the Company believes it was a Passive Foreign Investment Company within the meaning of Section 1297 of the Code (a “PFIC”)
for the taxable year ended June 30, 2019.
2.53 Certain Legal Matters. The choice of laws of the
State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia and may be honored by courts located in the Commonwealth of Australia. The Company has the
power to submit, and pursuant to Section 9.7 of this Agreement, has legally, validly, effectively and irrevocably submitted, to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts provided for in Section 9.7 hereof, and service of process effected in the
manner provided for in Section 9.7 will be effective to confer valid personal jurisdiction over the Company as provided therein. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, any final judgment for a fixed sum of money rendered
by a New York Court having jurisdiction under its own domestic laws in respect of any suit, action or proceeding against the Company based upon this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement may be recognized and enforced by courts located in the
Commonwealth of Australia. There is no bilateral arrangement between Australia and the United States for the recognition of foreign judgments, however the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia permit an action to be brought in a court of competent
jurisdiction in the Commonwealth of Australia to recognize and declare enforceable a final and conclusive judgment of a New York Court of a sum certain against and respecting the obligations of the Company under this Agreement or the Deposit
Agreement that is not impeachable as void or voidable under the internal laws of the State of New York, provided that such Australian court is satisfied that (i) the parties to the proceeding enforcing the judgment of the New York Court are
identical to those in the original New York Court proceedings; (ii) the New York Court issuing the judgment exercised jurisdiction which Australian courts recognize had jurisdiction in the matter, and the Company either submitted to such
jurisdiction or was resident or carrying on business within such jurisdiction and was duly served with process; (iii) the judgment given by the New York Court was not in respect of penalties, taxes, fines or similar fiscal or revenue obligations of
the Company; (iv) in obtaining judgment there was no fraud on the part of the person in whose favour judgment was given or on the part of the New York Court; (v) recognition or enforcement of the judgment in Australia would not be contrary to
public policy; and (vi) the proceedings pursuant to which judgment was obtained were not contrary to natural justice.
2.54 Stamp Taxes. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no stamp or other issuance or transfer taxes or duties or other similar fees or charges and no capital gains, income, withholding or other taxes required to be paid by or
on behalf of the several Underwriters in the Commonwealth of Australia or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein in connection with the (A) deposit by the Company with the Depositary of Ordinary Shares against the issuance
of the ADRs evidencing the ADSs representing such Ordinary Shares, (B) issue and allotment by the Company of the Public Securities to the several Underwriters, (C) sale and delivery by the several Underwriters of the Public Securities as described
in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or (D) execution and delivery of this Agreement or the Depositary Agreement or any payment to be made pursuant hereto or thereto
2.55 Payments in Foreign Currency; Restrictions on
Distributions. Under the current laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Australia, dividends and other distributions declared and payable on the Ordinary Shares may be paid by the Company to the holder thereof in United States Dollars
and freely transferred to holders of the Ordinary Shares regardless of jurisdiction of residence and, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, such holders should not be subject to income,
withholding or other taxes under the laws and regulations of the Commonwealth of Australia or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and will otherwise be free and clear of any other tax, duty, withholding or deduction in
the Commonwealth of Australia or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein and without the necessity of obtaining any governmental authorization in the Commonwealth of Australia or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein.
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2.56 Additional representations related to Australian Legal
Matters.
2.56.1 Subject to conducting the Offering as provided for in the
Section titled “Underwriting” in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Company is not required to publish a prospectus in Australia under Corporations Xxx 0000 and the regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the “Australian Securities Law”) with respect to the offer and sale of the Public Securities.
2.56.2 There have been no notices published by the Australian
Securities and Investments Commission in relation to the wind-up or dissolution of the Company.
2.56.3 Assuming that the Underwriters do not maintain a permanent
establishment in Australia, are not otherwise subject to taxation in Australia, or are exempt therefrom, the issuance, delivery and sale to the Underwriters of the Public Securities to be sold by the Company hereunder are not subject to any tax
imposed by Australia or any political subdivision thereof.
2.56.4 Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the
Company is in compliance in all material respects with the labor and employment laws and collective bargaining agreements and extension orders applicable to their employees in Australia.
2.56.5 The Company has not engaged in any form of solicitation,
advertising or any other action constituting an offer under Australian Securities Laws in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby which would require the Company to publish a prospectus in Australia under Australian Securities Laws.
2.56.6 The Company has duly designated Piedmont Lithium, Inc., as
its authorized agent to receive service of process as set forth in Section 9.7 below.
2.56.7 Subject to the conditions, exceptions and qualifications
set forth in the Registration Statement, and the Prospectus, an application to enforce, in Australia, a final and conclusive judgment against the Company for a definitive sum of money entered by any court in the United States may be brought in
Australia.
2.56.8 For a period of twelve (12) months prior to and including
the date of the Closing Date, the Company has not offered or sold any of its securities in Australia, except for the issuance of options or similar securities exercisable under the Company’s equity incentive plans into ADSs, or the issuance of
Ordinary Shares, which are exempt from prospectus requirements under the Australian Securities Law.
2.56.9 Neither the Company nor any of its properties or assets
has any immunity from the jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process (whether through service or notice, attachment prior to judgment, attachment in aid of execution or otherwise) under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia.
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2.57 Confidentiality and Non-Competition. To the Company’s
knowledge, no director, officer, key employee or consultant of the Company is subject to any confidentiality, non-disclosure, non-competition agreement or non-solicitation agreement with any employer or prior employer that could reasonably be
expected to materially affect his ability to be and act in his or her respective capacity of the Company or be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1 Amendments to Registration Statements. The Company
shall deliver to the Representative, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus, Disclosure Package or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date
and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative shall reasonably object in writing.
3.2 Federal Securities Laws.
3.2.1 Compliance. The Company, subject to Section 3.2.2,
shall comply with the requirements of Rule 424(b) and Rule 430B of the Securities Act Regulations, and will notify the Representative promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the ADS Registration
Statement or the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus shall have been filed and when any post-effective amendment to the ADS Registration Statement or
Registration Statement shall become effective; (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission; (iii) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the ADS Registration Statement or Registration Statement or any amendment or
supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or for additional information; (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the ADS Registration Statement or the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act concerning the ADS Registration Statement or the
Registration Statement; and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act in connection with the Offering of the Public Securities. The Company shall effect all filings required under Rule 424(b) of
the Securities Act Regulations, in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)), and shall take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus transmitted
for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such prospectus. The Company shall use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order, prevention or
suspension and, if any such order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
3.2.2 Continued Compliance. The Company shall comply with
the Securities Act, the Securities Act Regulations, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Public Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172 of the Securities Act Regulations (“Rule 172”),
would be) required by the Securities Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Public Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for
the Company, to (i) amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include 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 the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser or (iii) amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to comply with the requirements of the Securities Act or the Securities Act Regulations, the Company will promptly (A) give the Representative notice of such event; (B) prepare any amendment
or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus comply with such requirements and, a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing or
use, furnish the Representative with copies of any such amendment or supplement and (C) file with the Commission any such amendment or supplement; provided, however,
that the Company shall not file or use any such amendment or supplement to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Company will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or
supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request. The Company has given the Representative notice of any filings made pursuant to the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time. The Company shall
give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time until the later of the Closing Date and the exercise in full or expiration of the Over-allotment Option specified in Section 1.2 hereof and will
furnish the Representative with copies of the related document(s) a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters
shall reasonably object.
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3.2.3 Exchange Act Registration. For a period of two (2)
years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall (i) use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain the registration of the ADSs under the Exchange Act, provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar
transaction involving the Company, and (ii) not deregister the ADSs under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Representative, provided that such provision shall not prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the
Company.
3.2.4 Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company agrees that,
unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it shall not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,”
or a portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433; provided, however, that the Representative
shall be deemed to have consented to each Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus hereto and any “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) that has been reviewed by the Representative. The Company
represents that it has treated or agrees that it will treat each such free writing prospectus consented to, or deemed consented to, by the Underwriters as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and that it has complied and
will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 with respect thereto, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there
occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters
and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
3.3 Delivery to the Underwriters of Registration Statements.
The Company has delivered or made available or shall deliver or make available to the Representative and counsel for the Representative, without charge, signed copies of the ADS Registration Statement and the Registration Statement as originally
filed and each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts,
and will also deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, a conformed copy of the ADS Registration Statement and the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies
of the ADS Registration Statement and the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the
extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
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3.4 Delivery to the Underwriters of Prospectuses. The
Company has delivered or made available or will deliver or make available to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of
such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would
be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the
Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
3.5 Events Requiring Notice to the Representative. The
Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus for such period of time after the Applicable Time and prior to the expiration of nine months thereafter as the delivery of a
prospectus (or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is required and shall notify the Representative immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (ii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Public Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement
or Prospectus; (iv) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (v) of the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 3.5 that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any
statement of a material fact made in the the ADS Registration Statement, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in (a) the ADS Registration Statement or the
Registration Statement in order to make the statements therein not misleading, or (b) in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If
the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
3.6 Listing. The Company has no intention of delisting,
and shall use its commercially reseaonable efforts to maintain the listing of the shares of ADSs (including the Public Securities) on the Exchange for at least two years from the date of this Agreement, provided that such provision shall not
prevent a sale, merger or similar transaction involving the Company.
3.7 Reports to the Representative. For a period of two (2)
years after the date of this Agreement, the Company shall furnish or make available to the Representative copies of such financial statements and other periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders of
any class of its securities and also promptly furnish to the Representative: (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to file with the Commission under the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Regulations; (ii) a copy of every
press release and every news item and article with respect to the Company or its affairs which was released by the Company and filed with the ASX; (iii) a copy of each Form 6-K prepared and furnished or filed by the Company; (iv) five copies of
each registration statement filed by the Company under the Securities Act; and (v) a copy of each report or other communication furnished to stockholders, other than press releases issued in the ordinary course not otherwise required to be
furnished pursuant to the foregoing subparagraphs (i) through (iv). Documents filed with the Commission pursuant to its XXXXX system shall be deemed to have been delivered to the Representative pursuant to this Section 3.7.
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3.8 Payment of Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay
on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (i) all
filing fees and communication expenses relating to the registration of Public Securities to be issued and sold in the Offering with the Commission; (ii) all filing fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; (iii) all fees and
expenses relating to the listing of such Public Securities on the Exchange, including any fees charged by The Depository Trust Company (DTC) or the Depositary for new securities; (iv) all reasonable documented fees, expenses and disbursements
relating to background checks of the Company’s officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $15,000 in the aggregate; (v) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of the Public Securities
under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate; (vi) the costs of all mailing and printing of the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, this Agreement, any blue sky surveys
and, if appropriate, any agreement among underwriters, selected dealers’ agreement, underwriters’ questionnaire and power of attorney), Registration Statements, Prospectuses and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many
preliminary and final Prospectuses as the Representative may reasonably deem necessary; (vii) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering certificates representing the Public Securities; (viii) fees and expenses of the Transfer Agent for the
Ordinary Shares; (ix) stock transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriters; (x) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (xi) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal
counsel and other agents and representatives; (xii) the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of Underwriter’s legal counsel not to exceed $125,000; (xii) the $29,500 cost associated with the Underwriters’ use of Ipreo’s book building,
prospectus tracking and compliance software for the Offering; (xiv) $10,000 for data services and (xiv) up to $20,000 of the Underwriters’ actual accountable “road show” expenses for the offering. The Representative may deduct from the net proceeds
of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriters to the extent such amounts have been documented prior to the Closing Date,
provided, however, that in the event that the Offering is terminated, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8.3 hereof.
3.9 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company shall apply
the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application thereof described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
3.10 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders.
The Company shall make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent registered public accounting firm unless required by the Securities Act or the Securities
Act Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) covering a period of at least twelve (12) consecutive months beginning after the date of this Agreement.
3.11 Stabilization. Neither the Company nor, to its
knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Representative) has taken or shall take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or
result in, under Regulation M of the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Public Securities.
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3.12 Internal Controls. For so long as the ADSs remain
registered as required by Section 3.2.3, the Company shall maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with IFRS and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.13 FINRA. The Company shall advise the Representative
(who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if prior to the Closing Date it is or becomes aware that (i) any officer or director of the Company, (ii) any beneficial owner of 5% or more of any class of the Company's securities or (iii) any
beneficial owner of the Company's unregistered equity securities which were acquired during the 180 days immediately preceding the filing of the Registration Statement is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating
in the Offering (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA).
3.14 No Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges and
agrees that the Underwriters’ responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature and that none of the Underwriters or their affiliates or any selling agent shall be deemed to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any
fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
3.15 [Reserved].
3.16 Company Lock-Up Agreements. The Company, on behalf of
itself and any successor entity, agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Representative, it will not for a period of ninety (90) days after the date of this Agreement (the “Lock-Up Period”), (i)
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any ADSs,
Ordinary Shares or other capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for ADSs, Ordinary Shares or such other shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or cause to be filed any registration
statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any ADSs, Ordinary Shares or other shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; or
(iii) complete any offering of debt securities of the Company, other than entering into a line of credit with a traditional bank or (iv) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of ADSs, Ordinary Shares or other capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above is to be settled by delivery of ADSs, Ordinary Shares or other shares of
capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
The restrictions contained in this Section 3.16 shall not apply to (i) the ADSs and Ordinary Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the
Company of ADSs or Ordinary Shares upon the exercise of a stock option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof, which is disclosed in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and Prospectus, provided that such
options, warrants, and securities have not been amended since the date of this Agreement to increase the number of such securities or to decrease the exercise price, exchange price or conversion price of such securities or to extend the term of such
securities, (iii) the issuance by the Company of stock options, shares of capital stock of the Company or other awards under any equity compensation plan of the Company, provided that the underlying shares shall be restricted from sale during the
entire Lock-Up Period, (iv) the issuance of ADSs or Ordinary Shares in connection with an acquisition or strategic relationship, not primarily for the purposes of raising capital, and (v) any issuance of Ordinary Shares of ADSs in a private offering
effected concurrently with the Offering, provided that such private offering shall only be conducted in the manner described in the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and Prospectus and which may not exceed, considered together with the ADSs
and Ordinary Shares to be sold hereunder, the Company’s existing placement capacity under the ASX Listing Rules or be subject to the approval of the Company’s shareholders.
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3.17 Release of D&O Lock-up Period. If the
Representative, in its sole discretion, agrees to release or waive the restrictions set forth in the Lock-Up Agreements described in Section 2.27 hereof for an officer or director of the Company and provide the Company with notice of the impending
release or waiver at least three (3) Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver, the Company agrees to announce the impending release or waiver by a press release substantially in the form of Exhibit B hereto through
a major news service at least two (2) Business Days before the effective date of the release or waiver.
3.18 Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company shall use its
best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, if necessary, to qualify the Public Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Representative may
designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required to complete the distribution of the Public Securities; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of
doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
3.19 Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the
period when a prospectus relating to the Public Securities is (or, but for the exception afforded by Rule 172, would be) required to be delivered under the Securities Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
the Exchange Act within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and Exchange Act Regulations. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of proceeds from the issuance of the Public Securities as may be required under Rule 463 under the
Securities Act Regulations, if applicable.
3.20 Press Releases. Prior to the Closing Date and any
Option Closing Date, the Company shall not issue any press release or other communication directly or indirectly or hold any press conference with respect to the Company, its condition, financial or otherwise, or earnings, business affairs or
business prospects (except for routine oral marketing communications in the ordinary course of business and consistent with the past practices of the Company and of which the Representative is notified), without the prior written consent of the
Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the Representative, such press release or communication is required by law.
3.21 Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx. Except as disclosed in the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company shall at all times comply with all applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act in effect from time to time.
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4. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Public Securities, as provided herein, shall be subject to (i) the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the
Option Closing Date, if any; (ii) the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof; (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder; and (iv) the following conditions:
4.1 Regulatory Matters.
4.1.1 Commission Actions; Required Filings. At each of the
Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of
any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes shall have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated by the Commission. The Company has complied with
each request (if any) from the Commission for additional information. A prospectus containing the Rule 430B Information shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time frame required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act Regulations (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed with, and declared effective by, the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430B under the
Securities Act Regulations.
4.1.2 FINRA Clearance. On or before the date of this
Agreement, the Representative shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriters as described in the Registration Statement.
4.1.3 Exchange Stock
Market Clearance. On the Closing Date, the Company’s ADSs, including the Firm Shares and the Option Shares) shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to official notice of issuance.
4.2 Company Counsel Matters.
4.2.1 Closing Date Opinion of U.S. Counsel. On the Closing
Date, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinion of Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, U.S. counsel to the Company, and a written statement providing certain “10b-5” negative assurances, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the
Representative, substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto.
4.2.2 Opinion of Australian Counsel for the Company. On
the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the opinion of DLA Piper Australia as Australian counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representative, substantially in the form of Exhibit E attached
hereto.
4.2.3 Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel. On the
Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions of each counsel listed in Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2, dated the Option Closing Date, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Representative, confirming as of the Option Closing Date, the statements made by such counsels in their respective opinions delivered on the Closing Date.
4.2.4 Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsel
may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all,
upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Representative, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they
deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company; provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered to Representative Counsel if requested.
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4.3 Comfort Letters.
4.3.1 Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is
executed you shall have received a cold comfort letter from the Auditor containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ comfort letters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained or incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to you and to
the Auditor, dated as of the date of this Agreement.
4.3.2 Bring-down Comfort Letter. At each of the Closing
Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received from the Auditor letters, dated as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable, to the effect that the Auditor reaffirms the statements made in its
letter furnished pursuant to Section 4.3.1, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three (3) business days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as applicable.
4.4 Officer’s Certificates.
4.4.1 Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have
furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (if such date is other than the Closing Date), of its Chief Executive Officer stating that (i) such officer has carefully examined the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and, in his opinion, the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if
such date is other than the Closing Date) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Disclosure
Package, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as of its date and as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such
date is other than the Closing Date), and the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of the respective date thereof and as of the Closing Date, did not include any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading, (ii) since the effective date of the Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been
set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, (iii) to the best of his knowledge after reasonable investigation, as of the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is
other than the Closing Date), the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder
at or prior to the Closing Date (or any Option Closing Date if such date is other than the Closing Date), and (iv) there has not been, subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in
the Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the financial position or results of operations of the Company, or any change or development that, singularly or in the aggregate, would involve a material adverse change or a prospective
material adverse change, in or affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, assets or prospects of the Company, except as set forth in the Prospectus.
4.4.2 Secretary’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date
and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying: (i) that the
Charter is true and complete, has not been modified and is in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the Offering are in full force and effect and
have not been modified; and (iii) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
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4.5 No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the
Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise,
of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and no change in the capital stock or debt of the Company, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (ii) no action, suit or proceeding, at
law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal or state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding would
reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; (iii) no stop
order shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; (iv) no action shall have been taken and no law, statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been
enacted, adopted or issued by any Governmental Entity which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Public Securities or materially and adversely affect the business or operations of the Company; and (v) no injunction, restraining order or order
of any other nature by any federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued which would prevent the issuance or sale of the Public Securities or materially and adversely affect affect the business or operations of the Company
and (vi) the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Securities Act and the
Securities Act Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus nor any amendment or
supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
4.6 Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and
other legal matters incident to the authorization, form and validity of each of this Agreement, the Public Securities, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and all other legal matters relating to this Agreement and
the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby shall be reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to counsel for the Underwriters, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel all documents and information that they may reasonably
request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
4.7 Delivery of Agreements.
4.7.1 Lock-Up Agreements. On or before the date of this
Agreement, the Company shall have delivered to the Representative executed copies of the Lock-Up Agreements from each of the persons listed in Schedule 3 hereto.
4.8 Additional Documents. At the Closing Date and at each
Option Closing Date (if any) Representative Counsel shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling Representative Counsel to deliver an opinion to the Underwriters, or in order
to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Public Securities as
herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and Representative Counsel.
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5. Indemnification.
5.1 Indemnification of the Underwriters.
5.1.1 General. Subject to the conditions set forth below,
the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates and each of its and their respective directors, officers, members, employees, representatives, partners, shareholders, affiliates, counsel and agents and each
person, if any, who controls any such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (collectively the “Underwriter Indemnified Parties,” and each an “Underwriter Indemnified Party”), against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating,
preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and the Company or between any of the Underwriter Indemnified
Parties and any third party, or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries (a “Claim”), arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the
Offering, including any “road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the
Commission, any state securities commission or agency, the Exchange or any other national securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, the Underwriters’ Information, or (iv) otherwise arising in connection with
or allegedly in connection with the Offering. The Company also agrees that it will reimburse each Underwriter Indemnified Party for all fees and expenses (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between any of the Underwriter Indemnified Parties and the Company or between any of the Underwriter
Indemnified Parties and any third party, or otherwise) (collectively, the “Expenses”), and further agrees wherever and whenever possible to advance payment of Expenses as they are incurred by an Underwriter Indemnified Party in investigating,
preparing, pursuing or defending any Claim.
5.1.2 Procedure. If any action is brought against an
Underwriter Indemnified Party in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, such Underwriter Indemnified Party shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the
Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the approval of such Underwriter Indemnified Party) and payment of actual expenses if an Underwriter Indemnified Party requests that the
Company do so. Such Underwriter Indemnified Party shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Company, and shall be advanced by the Company. The
Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any action effected without its consent (which shall not be unreasonably withheld). In addition, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, settle, compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment in or otherwise seek to terminate any pending or threatened action in respect of which advancement, reimbursement, indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not such Underwriter
Indemnified Party is a party thereto) unless such settlement, compromise, consent or termination (i) includes an unconditional release of each Underwriter Indemnified Party, acceptable to such Underwriter Indemnified Party, from all liabilities,
expenses and claims arising out of such action for which indemnification or contribution may be sought and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any Underwriter
Indemnified Party.
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5.2 Indemnification of the Company. Each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and persons who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the several Underwriters, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Disclosure Package or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, the
Underwriters’ Information. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have
the rights and duties given to the several Underwriters by the provisions of Section 5.1.2. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Representative of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers,
directors or any person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, in connection with the issuance and sale of the Public Securities or in connection with the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
5.3 Contribution.
5.3.1 Contribution Rights. If the indemnification provided
for in this Section 5 shall for any reason be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 5.1 or 5.2 in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof, referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such
proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the Offering of the Public Securities, or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (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 (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, with
respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, 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, with respect to such Offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the Offering of the Public Securities purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the ADSs purchased under this Agreement, as set forth in
the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, on the other hand. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 5.3.1 were to be 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 into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section
5.3.1 shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 5.3.1, 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 5.3.1 in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the Offering of the Public
Securities 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.
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5.3.2 Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen (15) days
after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“contributing
party”), notify the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any
such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a contributing party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid 15 days, the contributing party will be entitled to participate
therein with the notifying party and any other contributing party similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such
party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such contributing party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section
5.3.2 are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available. Each Underwriter’s obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 5.3 are several and
not joint.
6. Default by an Underwriter.
6.1 Default Not Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares or Option Shares.
If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall default in its or their obligations to purchase the Firm Shares or the Option Shares, if the Over-allotment Option is exercised hereunder, and if the number of the Firm Shares or Option Shares with respect
to which such default relates does not exceed in the aggregate 10% of the number of Firm Shares or Option Shares that all Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, then such Firm Shares or Option Shares to which the default relates shall be
purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder.
6.2 Default Exceeding 10% of Firm Shares or Option Shares.
In the event that the default addressed in Section 6.1 relates to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, you may in your discretion arrange for yourself or for another party or parties to purchase such Firm Shares or Option Shares to
which such default relates on the terms contained herein. If, within one (1) Business Day after such default relating to more than 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, you do not arrange for the purchase of such Firm Shares or Option Shares,
then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of one (1) Business Day within which to procure another party or parties satisfactory to you to purchase said Firm Shares or Option Shares on such terms. In the event that neither you nor the
Company arrange for the purchase of the Firm Shares or Option Shares to which a default relates as provided in this Section 6, this Agreement may be terminated by you or the Company without liability on the part of the Company (except as provided
in Sections 3.9 and 5 hereof) or the several Underwriters (except as provided in Section 5 hereof); provided, however, that if such default occurs with respect to
the Option Shares, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Shares; and provided, further, that nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of its
liability, if any, to the other Underwriters and to the Company for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
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6.3 Postponement of Closing Date. In the event that the
Firm Shares or Option Shares to which the default relates are to be purchased by the non-defaulting Underwriters, or are to be purchased by another party or parties as aforesaid, you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date
or Option Closing Date for a reasonable period, but not in any event exceeding five (5) Business Days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or in
any other documents and arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendment to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter may thereby be made necessary.
The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any party substituted under this Section 6 with like effect as if it had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to such ADSs.
7. Additional Covenants.
7.1 Right of First Refusal. Provided that the Firm Shares
are sold in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Representative shall have an irrevocable right of first refusal (the “Right of First Refusal”), for a period of four (4) months after the date the
Offering is completed, to act as joint investment banker, joint book-runner, and/or joint placement agent in the United States, at the Representative’s sole and exclusive discretion, for each and every future public equity and debt offering,
including all equity linked financings (each, a “Subject Transaction”) in the United States, during such four (4) month period, of the Company, or any successor to or subsidiary of the Company, on terms and
conditions customary to the Representative for such Subject Transactions, with at least 50% economics to the Representative. For the avoidance of any doubt, the Company shall not retain, engage or solicit any additional investment banker,
book-runner, financial advisor, underwriter and/or placement agent in a Subject Transaction without the express written consent of the Representative.
The Company shall notify the Representative of its intention to pursue a Subject Transaction, including the material terms thereof, by
providing written notice thereof by registered mail or overnight courier service addressed to the Representative or such other means as is agreed to by the Representative. If the Representative fails to exercise its Right of First Refusal with
respect to any Subject Transaction within ten (10) Business Days after the mailing of such written notice, then the Representative shall have no further claim or right with respect to the Subject Transaction. The Representative may elect, in its sole
and absolute discretion, not to exercise its Right of First Refusal with respect to any Subject Transaction; provided that any such election by the Representative shall not adversely affect the Representative’s Right of First Refusal with respect to
any other Subject Transaction during the four (4) month period agreed to above.
8. Effective Date of this Agreement and Termination Thereof.
8.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective
when both the Company and the Representative have executed the same and delivered counterparts of such signatures to the other party.
8.2 Termination. The Representative shall have the right
to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in the Representative’s opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general
securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the ASX or the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or
maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction; or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in
major hostilities; or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority; or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United States or Australian
securities markets; or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in
your opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Firm Shares or Option Shares; or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder; or (viii) if the Representative
shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Representative’s judgment would make it
impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Public Securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriters for the sale of the Public Securities.
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8.3 Expenses. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
this Agreement, except in the case of a default by the Underwriters, pursuant to Section 6.2 above, in the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof
pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Underwriters their actual and accountable out-of-pocket expenses related to the transactions contemplated herein then due and payable (including the fees and disbursements
of Representative’s Counsel) up to $50,000 (inclusive of the $25,000 advance for out-of-pocket accountable expenses previously paid by the Company to the Representative (the “Advance”)), and upon demand the
Company shall pay the full amount thereof to the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters; provided, however, that such expense cap in no way limits or impairs the indemnification and contribution provisions of this Agreement. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, any advance received by the Representative will be reimbursed to the Company to the extent not actually incurred in compliance with FINRA Rule 5110(f)(2)(C).
8.4 Survival of Indemnification. Notwithstanding any
contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall remain in full force and effect and shall not
be in any way affected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
8.5 Representations, Warranties, Agreements to Survive.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or
on behalf of any Underwriter or its Affiliates or selling agents, any person controlling any Underwriter, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company or (ii) delivery of and payment for the Public Securities.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Notices. All communications hereunder, except as
herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), personally delivered or sent by e-mail or facsimile transmission and confirmed and shall be deemed given when
so delivered, e-mailed or faxed and confirmed or if mailed, two (2) days after such mailing.
If to the Representative:
ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Attention: Xx. Xxxx Xxxx, Head of Investment Banking
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
E-mail: xx@xxxxx-xxxxxx.xxx
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with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Loeb & Loeb LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attn: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No.: (000) 000-0000
If to the Company:
Piedmont Lithium Limited
00 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Fax No:
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Fax No: (000) 000-0000
9.2 Research Analyst Independence. The Company
acknowledges that each Underwriter’s research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from its investment banking division and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that such Underwriter’s research
analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the Offering that differ from the views of their investment banking division. The Company acknowledges that
each Underwriter is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, rules and regulations, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short
positions in debt or equity securities of the Company; provided, however, that nothing in this Section 9.2 shall relieve the Underwriter of any responsibility or
liability it may otherwise bear in connection with activities in violation of applicable securities laws, rules or regulations.
9.3 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the
sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
9.4 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a
written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
9.5 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the
other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and
understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary set forth herein, it is understood and agreed by the parties hereto that all other terms and conditions of that
certain engagement letter between the Company and ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., dated June 3, 2020, shall remain in full force and effect.
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9.6 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to
the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Representative, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives, heirs and
assigns, and no other person shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not
include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from any of the Underwriters.
9.7 Governing Law; Consent to Jurisdiction; Trial by Jury.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim
against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably
submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the
Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to Piedmont Lithium, Inc., 00 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000. Such mailing shall be deemed
personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable
attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefor. The Company (on its behalf and, to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its stockholders and affiliates)
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.
9.8 Judgment Currency. The obligation of the Company in
respect of any sum due to any Underwriter under this Agreement shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than U.S. dollars or any other applicable currency (the “Judgment Currency”), not be
discharged until the first business day, following receipt by such Underwriter of any sum adjudged to be so due in the Judgment Currency, on which (and only to the extent that) such Underwriter may in accordance with normal banking procedures
purchase U.S. dollars or any other applicable currency with the Judgment Currency; if the U.S. dollars or other applicable currency so purchased are less than the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder, the Company agrees, as a separate
obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Underwriter against such loss. If the U.S. dollars or other applicable currency so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder, such Underwriter
agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the excess of the U.S. dollars or other applicable currency so purchased over the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder.
9.9 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be
executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become
effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute
valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
9.10 Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto
to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties
hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by
the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or
non-fulfillment.
[Signature Page Follows]
36
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that
purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
Very truly yours,
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By:
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/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Name:
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Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
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Title:
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President and Chief Executive Officer
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Confirmed as of the date first written
above mentioned, on behalf of itself and as
Representative of the several Underwriters
named on Schedule 1 hereto:
THINKEQUITY
A Division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc.
By:
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/s/ Xxxx Xxxx
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Name:
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Xxxx Xxxx
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Title:
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Head of Investment Banking
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SCHEDULE 1
Underwriter
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Total Number of
Firm Shares to be
Purchased
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Number of Additional
Shares to be Purchased if
the Over-Allotment Option
is Fully Exercised by the
Representative
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ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc.
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1,440,000
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212,000
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Loop Capital Markets LLC
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360,000
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53,000
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TOTAL
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1,800,000
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265,000
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Sch. 1-1
SCHEDULE 2-A
Pricing Information
Number of Firm Shares: 1,800,000
Number of Option Shares: 265,000
Public Offering Price per ADS: $6.30
Underwriting Discount per ADS: $0.42525
Proceeds to Company per ADS (before expenses): $5.87475
SCHEDULE 2-B
Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectuses
1. Free Writing Prospectus dated June 8, 2020
Sch. 2-1
SCHEDULE 3
List of Lock-Up Parties
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Sch. 3-1
EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-Up Agreement
June 9, 2020
ThinkEquity
A Division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., (the “Representative”)
proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Piedmont Lithium Ltd., a company organized under the laws of the Commonwealth of Australia (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) of American Depositary Shares (the “ADSs”) representing ordinary shares, no par value
per share (the “Ordinary Shares” and collectively with the ADSs, “Shares” of the Company).
To induce the Representative to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior
written consent of the Representative, the undersigned will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus (the “Prospectus”) relating to the
Public Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition (collectively, the “Lock-Up
Securities”); (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Lock-Up Securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2)
above is to be settled by delivery of Lock-Up Securities, in cash or otherwise; (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Lock-Up Securities; or (4) publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale,
pledge or disposition, or to enter into any transaction, swap, hedge or other arrangement relating to any Lock-Up Securities. Notwithstanding the foregoing, and subject to the conditions below, the undersigned may transfer Lock-Up Securities without
the prior written consent of the Representative in connection with (a) transactions relating to Lock-Up Securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering; provided
that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Lock-Up
Securities acquired in such open market transactions; (b) transfers of Lock-Up Securities as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of a family member (for
purposes of this lock-up agreement, “family member” means any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); (c) transfers of Lock-Up Securities to a charity or educational institution; (d) if the undersigned,
directly or indirectly, controls a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfers of Lock-Up Securities to any shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of similar equity interests in, the undersigned,
as the case may be; or (e) (d) to the Company in connection with the vesting, settlement, or exercise of restricted stock units, options, warrants or other rights to purchase Ordinary Shares (including, in each case, by way of “net” or “cashless”
exercise); provided that in the case of any transfer pursuant to the foregoing clauses (b), (c) or (d), (i) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (ii) each transferee shall sign and deliver to the Representative a
lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this lock-up agreement and (iii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer
instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Lock-Up Securities except in compliance with this lock-up agreement.
Ex. A-1
If the undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, (i) the undersigned agrees that the foregoing restrictions shall be equally applicable to
any issuer-directed or “friends and family” Shares that the undersigned may purchase in the Public Offering; (ii) the Representative agrees that, at least three (3) business days before the effective date of any release or waiver of the foregoing
restrictions in connection with a transfer of Lock-Up Securities, the Representative will notify the Company of the impending release or waiver; and (iii) the Company may agree in the Underwriting Agreement to announce the impending release or waiver
by press release through a major news service at least two (2) business days before the effective date of the release or waiver. Any release or waiver granted by the Representative hereunder to any such officer or director shall only be effective
two (2) business days after the publication date of such press release. The provisions of this paragraph will not apply if (a) the release or waiver is effected solely to permit a transfer of Lock-Up Securities not for consideration and (b) the
transferee has agreed in writing to be bound by the same terms described in this lock-up agreement to the extent and for the duration that such terms remain in effect at the time of such transfer.
No provision in this agreement shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the exercise, exchange or conversion by the undersigned of any securities
exercisable or exchangeable for or convertible into Shares, as applicable; provided that the undersigned does not transfer the Shares acquired on such exercise, exchange or conversion during the Lock-Up Period, unless otherwise permitted
pursuant to the terms of this lock-up agreement. In addition, no provision herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the entry into or modification of a so-called “10b5-1” plan at any time (other than the entry into or modification of such a
plan in such a manner as to cause the sale of any Lock-Up Securities within the Lock-Up Period).
No provision in this agreement shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the undersigned from (i) accepting any takeover offer for the Company or (ii)
having Shares transferred pursuant to a court approved scheme of arrangement in relation to the Company.
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Representative are relying upon this lock-up agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the
Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this lock-up agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by July 31, 2020, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the
provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares to be sold thereunder, then this lock-up agreement shall be void and of no further force or effect.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Representative.
Very truly yours,
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(Name - Please Print)
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(Signature)
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(Name of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print)
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(Title of Signatory, in the case of entities - Please Print)
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Address:
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Ex. A-2
EXHIBIT B
Form of Press Release
PIEDMONT LITHIUM LIMITED
[Date]
Piedmont Lithium, Limited (the “Company”) announced today that ThinkEquity, a division of Fordham Financial Management, Inc., acting as representative for the underwriters
in the Company’s recent public offering of _______ American Depositary Shares, is [waiving] [releasing] a lock-up restriction with respect to _________ ADSs/ordinary shares of the Company held by [certain officers or directors] [an officer or
director] of the Company. The [waiver] [release] will take effect on _________, 20___, and the shares may be sold on or after such date.
This press release is not an offer or sale of the securities in the United States or in any other jurisdiction where such offer or sale is prohibited,
and such securities may not be offered or sold in the United States absent registration or an exemption from registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
Ex. B-1