Shares Fidelity Southern Corporation Common Stock, no par value per share UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1
Shares
Fidelity Southern Corporation
Common Stock, no par value per share
, 2010
Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners, L.P.,
as Representative of the Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto,
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
as Representative of the Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto,
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Fidelity Southern Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the
terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the underwriters named in Schedule
I hereto (each, an “Underwriter” and, collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom Sandler
X’Xxxxx & Partners, L.P. is acting as representative (the “Representative”), an aggregate of
shares (the “Firm Shares”) and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to additional shares (the
“Optional Shares”) of the common stock, no par value per share (“Common Stock”), of the Company
(the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to
Section 2 hereof are herein collectively called the “Shares”).
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a
registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-___) covering the registration of the Shares
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), including a related prospectus, which has
become effective. The registration statement (including the exhibits thereto and schedules thereto,
if any) as amended at the time it became effective, or, if a post-effective amendment has been
filed with respect thereto, as amended by such post-effective amendment at the time of its
effectiveness (including in each case the information (if any) deemed to be part of such
registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act), is
hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” The term “Effective Date” shall mean each
date that the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became
or become effective.
Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will prepare and file a
prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A (“Rule 430A”) under the Act and paragraph
(b) of Rule 424 (“Rule 424(b)”) under the Act. The information included in such prospectus that
was omitted from such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed to
be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective pursuant to
paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred to as “Rule 430A Information.” Each prospectus used
before such registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted the Rule 430A
Information, that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, is herein called, together with the documents incorporated therein, a “Preliminary
Prospectus.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act is herein
referred to as the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and after such filing the term
“Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final
prospectus, including the documents incorporated therein by reference, in the form first furnished
to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Shares is herein called the
“Prospectus.”
Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference
therein pursuant to General Instruction VII of Form S-1 under the Act, as of the Effective Date or
the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. For purposes of this
Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, or the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the
copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
system (“XXXXX”).
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information
which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and
include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case
may be.
1. (a) The Company represents and warrants to each of the several Underwriters, as of the date
hereof, as of the Applicable Time referred to in Section 1(a)(ii) hereof and as of each Time of
Delivery referred to in Section 4(a) hereof (each such date, a “Representation Date”), and agrees
with each of the several Underwriters, as follows:
(i) The Company satisfies the registrant eligibility requirements to incorporate information
in the Form S-1 under the Act set forth in General Instruction VII to such form; the Company has
filed with the Commission the Registration Statement on such Form for registration under the Act of
the offering and sale of the Shares, and the Company may have filed with the Commission one or more
amendments to such Registration Statement, each in the form previously delivered to the
Underwriters. Such Registration Statement, as so amended, has been declared effective by the
Commission, and the Shares have been registered under the Registration Statement in compliance with
the requirements for the use of Form S-1. The Company has complied, to the Commission’s
satisfaction, with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information; and
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by
the Commission. If the Company has elected to rely on Rule 462(b) and the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement is not effective, (x) the Company will file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement in
compliance with, and that is effective upon
filing pursuant to, Rule 462(b) and (y) the Company has given irrevocable instructions for
transmission of the applicable filing fee in connection with the filing of the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, in compliance with Rule 111 under the Act, or the Commission has received
payment of such filing fee.
(ii) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus has
been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, at the time of filing
thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,
however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the
Underwriters expressly for use therein:
As used in the subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement.
“Applicable Time” means . (New York City time) on , 2010, or such other date or time as
agreed by the Company and the Representative.
“General Disclosure Package” means (i) the Preliminary Prospectus, if any, used most recently
prior to the Time of Delivery, (ii) the Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectuses, if any,
identified in Schedule II hereto and (iii) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the
parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the “General
Disclosure Package.”
“Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as
defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”) , relating to the Shares that has been
authorized by the Company in writing (including, without limitation, any such issuer free writing
prospectus that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is 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) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule
433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Shares 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).
Each Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent
times through the completion of the public offering and the sale of the Shares, as such
Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus may be amended or supplemented pursuant to Section 5(b)
hereof, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time, did
not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances in which they were made, not misleading
and, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will
conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including
any document incorporated by reference therein and any preliminary or other prospectus deemed to be
a part thereof that, in each case, has not been superseded or
modified.
(iii) The Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and each Issuer-Represented Free Writing
Prospectus required to be filed with the Commission, if filed by electronic transmission, pursuant
to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under the Act), was identical to the copy
thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares;
the Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do not and
will not, as of the Effective Date, and as of the applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that this
representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon
and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by the Underwriters
expressly for use therein.
(iv) The documents which are incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement or any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or from which information is
so incorporated by reference (the “Exchange Act Reports”), when they became effective or were filed
with the Commission, as the case may be (or, if an amendment with respect to any such documents was
filed or became effective, when such amendment was filed or became effective), complied in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and, when read
together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement
became effective, at the time the Prospectus was issued, at the Applicable Time and at any Time of
Delivery (as defined below) did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(v) The consolidated financial statements of the Company, including the related schedules and
notes, filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included or
incorporated by reference in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (the “Financial
Statements”) present fairly the consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries
as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash flows for the periods
specified; such Financial Statements, unless otherwise noted therein have been prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States (“GAAP”)
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved and all adjustments necessary for a
fair presentation of results for such periods have been made;; no other financial statements or
supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus; the financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
“Summary Selected Consolidated Financial Information” (or the equivalent thereof) fairly present
the information therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited or unaudited financial
statements, as the case may be, incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; to the extent applicable,
all disclosures contained in the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” as such
term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission comply with Regulation G of the
Exchange Act, the rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder and Item 10 of
Regulation S-K under the Act. The statistical and market related data contained or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus and Registration Statement are based on or derived from sources which
the Company believes are reliable and accurate.
(vi) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the captions “Risk Factors — Risks
Related to an Investment in Our Common Stock,” “Description of Capital Stock”, “Underwriting” and
in the Company’s Form 8-A filed with the Commission on , 2010 as amended, insofar as they purport
to constitute a summary of the terms of the Shares or certain provisions of the Company’s articles
of incorporation and by-laws or Georgia law, and under the caption “Supervision and Regulation” in
the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2009, insofar as they
purport to describe the provisions of the laws, rules, regulations and documents referred to
therein, are accurate and complete in all material respects.
(vii) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated, validly existing and in good standing
under the laws of the State of Georgia with the corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Agreement; and the Company is
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which qualification is
required, except where failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a Material
Adverse Effect (as defined below). Each of the Company’s subsidiaries that is a “significant
subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively the
“Subsidiaries”) is listed on Exhibit 21 to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K
filed with the Commission. Except as otherwise stated on Exhibit 21, each Subsidiary is a direct
or indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. Each Subsidiary is duly incorporated, validly
existing and in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and is qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which qualification is required,
except where failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect. For the purposes of
this Agreement, the term “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on the
business, financial condition, properties, shareholder’s equity, or results of operations of the
Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(viii) The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company
Act of 1956, as amended. The Company’s banking subsidiary holds the requisite authority from the
Georgia Department of Banking and Finance (the “Department”) to do business as a state-chartered
banking corporation under the laws of the State of Georgia as described in each of the General
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company and each Subsidiary are in compliance in all
material respects with all laws administered by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System (the “Federal Reserve Board”), the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), the
Department and any other federal or state bank regulatory authorities with jurisdiction over the
Company and its subsidiaries, except for failures to be so in compliance that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ix) The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of the 1934 Act and has timely filed
all reports required thereby since January 1, 2007.
(x) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus under the
heading “Capitalization.” All of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly
and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance
with all federal and state securities laws, and were not issued in violation of or subject to any
preemptive rights or other similar rights, except for such rights as may have been fully satisfied
or waived. Except for options, restricted stock, restricted stock units and similar securities
issued under the Company’s existing shareholder-approved equity compensation plans as disclosed in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the Company does not have outstanding any options to
purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, any securities
or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, shares of its
capital stock or any such options, rights, convertible securities or obligations. With respect to
each of the Subsidiaries, all the issued and outstanding shares of such Subsidiary’s capital stock
have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable, are owned directly
by the Company or one of its Subsidiaries free and clear of any liens, claims or encumbrances.
(xi) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in the
manner set forth in this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and
conform to the description thereof contained in each of the Registration Statement, the General
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. No preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or
purchase any shares of Common Stock exist with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares by
the Company pursuant to this Agreement, except for such rights as may have been fully satisfied or
waived prior to the Time of Delivery. There are no restrictions upon the voting or transfer of any
of the Shares except as required under applicable federal or state securities laws. No further
approval or authority of the shareholders or the Board of Directors of the Company will be required
for the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein.
(xii) The Company has full legal right, corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and perform the transactions contemplated hereby. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and
binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors’ rights and the application of equitable principles relating to the availability of
remedies, and subject to 12 U.S.C. §1818(b)(6)(D) (or any successor statute) and similar bank
regulatory powers and to the application of principles of public policy, and except as rights to
indemnity or contribution, including but not limited to, indemnification provisions set forth in
Section 8 of this Agreement may be limited by federal or state securities law or the public policy
underlying such laws.
(xiii) Ernst & Young LLP who has expressed its opinion with respect to the consolidated
financial statements contained in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 2009, are registered independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and
the 1933 Act Regulations and by the rules of the Public Accounting Oversight
Board. To the Company’s knowledge, Ernst & Young LLP is not in violation of the auditor
independence requirements of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 with respect to the Company.
(xiv) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company and its banking
subsidiary, Fidelity Bank (the “Bank”), the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company, the
compliance by the Company and the Bank with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated (including, without limitation, the use of
proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”), do not and will not (i) violate or conflict with any provision of the amended and
restated articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or the organizational documents of any
Subsidiary and (ii) except as would not result in a Material Adverse Effect and will not materially
and adversely affect the Company’s ability to consummate the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, will not (x) result in the creation of any lien, charge, security interest or
encumbrance upon any assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms or provisions
of, and will not conflict with, result in the breach or violation of, or constitute, either by
itself or upon notice or the passage of time or both, a default under, or give rise to the
accelerated due date of any payment due under, any agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, lease,
franchise, license, indenture, permit or other instrument to which any of the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which any of the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective
properties may be bound or affected or (y) violate any statute or any authorization, judgment,
decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or any regulatory body, administrative agency or
other governmental agency or body applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their
respective properties. All consents, approvals, licenses, qualifications, authorizations or other
orders of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental agency or body
that are required for the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance, sale and delivery of the
Shares, have been obtained, except such consents, approvals authorizations, registrations or
qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters.
(xv) Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, the
material contracts to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party, have been duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or its Subsidiaries, as the case may be,
and constitute the legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company or its Subsidiaries,
enforceable by and against it in accordance with their respective terms, except as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar
laws relating to enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, and general equitable principles
relating to the availability of remedies, and subject to 12 U.S.C. §1818(b)(6)(D) (or any successor
statute) and similar bank regulatory powers and to the application of principles of public policy,
and except as rights to indemnity or contribution may be limited by federal or state securities
laws and the public policy underlying such laws.
(xvi) The deposit accounts of the Bank are insured up to the maximum amount provided by the
FDIC and no proceedings for the modification, termination or revocation of any such insurance are
pending or threatened.
(xvii) Except as disclosed in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there
are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge,
threatened against the Company or any Subsidiary before or by any court, regulatory body or
administrative agency or any other governmental agency or body, domestic, or foreign, which
actions, suits or proceedings, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect; and no labor disturbance by the employees of the Company exists or,
to the Company’s knowledge, is imminent, that would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xviii) Except as disclosed in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no
Subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any order of the
Federal Reserve Board (other than orders applicable to bank holding companies and their
subsidiaries generally), under any applicable law, or under any agreement or other instrument to
which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other
distribution on such Subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances
to such Subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such Subsidiary’s properties or
assets to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company.
(xix) Except as disclosed in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject or is party to, or has received any
notice or advice that any of them may become subject or party to any investigation with respect to,
any corrective, suspension or cease-and-desist order, agreement, memorandum of understanding,
consent agreement or other regulatory enforcement action, proceeding or order with or by, or is a
party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any directive by, or has
been a recipient of any supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the
request of, any Governmental Entity charged with the supervision or regulation of depository
institutions or engaged in the insurance of deposits (including the FDIC) or the supervision or
regulation of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that currently relates to or restricts in any
material respect their business or their management (each, a “Regulatory Agreement”), nor has the
Company or any of its subsidiaries been advised by any such Governmental Entity that it is
considering issuing or requesting any such Regulatory Agreement; there is no unresolved violation,
criticism or exception by any such Governmental Entity with respect to any report or statement
relating to any examinations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries which, in the reasonable
judgment of the Company, currently results in or is expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xx) The Company and each Subsidiary has valid title to all the properties and assets
described as owned by it in the consolidated financial statements included in the Registration
Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, free and clear of all liens,
mortgages, pledges, or encumbrances of any kind except (i) those, if any, reflected in such
consolidated financial statements, or (ii) those that would not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. Any real property and buildings held under lease or sublease by the
Company and each of its Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable
leases.
(xxi) Except as disclosed in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, since
December 31, 2009 (i) the Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted their
respective businesses in all material respects in the ordinary course, consistent with prior
practice, (ii) except for publicly disclosed ordinary dividends on the Common Stock and dividends
paid on the Company’s Trust Preferred Securities, the Company has not made or declared any
distribution in cash or in kind to its shareholders, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its
Subsidiaries has issued any capital stock or securities issuable into capital stock except for
securities issued pursuant to the Company’s existing shareholder-approved equity incentive plans,
(iv) neither the Company nor its Subsidiaries has incurred any liabilities or obligations of any
nature (absolute, accrued, contingent or otherwise) which are not fully reflected or reserved
against in the financial statements described in Section 1(a)(v)), except for liabilities that have
arisen since such date in the ordinary and usual course of business and consistent with past
practice and that, individually or in the aggregate, have not had and would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and (v) no event or events have occurred that,
individually or in the aggregate, has had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. As used in this paragraph, references to the General Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus exclude any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement.
(xxii) The Company owns, is licensed or otherwise possesses all rights to use, all patents,
patent rights, inventions, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented or unpatentable
or confidential information, systems, or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names,
copyrights and other intellectual property rights (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”)
necessary for the conduct of its business as described in each of the General Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
No claims have been asserted against the Company by any person with respect to the use of any such
Intellectual Property or challenging or questioning the validity or effectiveness of any such
Intellectual Property except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxiii) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries is in compliance with all applicable laws,
rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, including, without
limitation, all applicable local, state and federal banking and environmental laws and regulations,
except where failure to be so in compliance would not be reasonably expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect. Except as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, neither
the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is (a) in violation of its charter or bylaws or other
organizational documents, as applicable; (b) is in default under, and no event has occurred which,
with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge, or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries, pursuant to any agreement, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, franchise, license,
indenture or permit, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect
or (c) a party to or subject to or has received any order, decree, agreement, memorandum of
understanding or similar arrangement with, or a commitment letter, supervisory letter or similar
submission to, any governmental authority, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has been
advised by any governmental authority that such governmental authority is contemplating issuing or
requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such order, decree,
agreement, memorandum of understanding, commitment letter, supervisory letter or similar
submission. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any communication from any
governmental authority that it is not acting in material
compliance with any statute, regulation or ordinance that have not been addressed by the
Company or any Subsidiary as of the date hereof. The Subsidiary that is an insured depository
institution has received a Community Reinvestment Act rating of “Satisfactory” or better.
(xxiv) The Company and each Subsidiary has filed on a timely basis (giving effect to
extensions) all required federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and has paid
or accrued all taxes shown as due thereon to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not
being contested in good faith, and the Company does not have knowledge of any tax deficiency that
has been or might be asserted or threatened against it or any Subsidiary, in each case, that could
be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All material tax liabilities accrued
through the date hereof have been adequately provided for on the books of the Company. There is no
tax lien, whether imposed by any federal, state or other taxing authority, outstanding against the
assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(xxv) At the Time of Delivery, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes)
that are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer of the Shares will have been,
fully paid or provided for by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will have been fully
complied with.
(xxvi) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and
the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be an “investment company,” as such term is
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(xxvii) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries maintain insurance underwritten by insurers
of recognized financial responsibility, of the types and in the amounts that the Company reasonably
believes is adequate for its business on a consolidated basis, including, but not limited to,
insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily
insured against, with such deductibles as are customary for companies in the same or similar
business, all of which insurance is in full force and effect. There are no claims by the Company
or any Subsidiary under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying
liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause. Neither the Company nor any
Subsidiary has received notice from any insurance carrier that such insurance will be canceled or
that coverage thereunder will be reduced or eliminated, and there are presently no material claims
pending under policies of such insurance and no notices have been given by the Company or any
Subsidiary under such policies.
(xxviii) Neither the Company nor any affiliate of the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge,
any person acting on their behalf has taken, nor will the Company or any affiliate take or cause
any person acting on their behalf to take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to
or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Shares.
(xxix) The Company shall use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares
pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in each of the General Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds.”
(xxx) No transaction has occurred between or among the Company or any Subsidiary, on the one
hand, and its affiliates, officers or directors on the other hand, that is required to have been
described by the Company under applicable securities laws in the Prospectus or any documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein that is not so described in such
filings.
(xxxi) There is no transaction, arrangement or other relationship between the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries and an unconsolidated or other off-balance sheet entity that is required to be
disclosed by the Company in the Prospectus or any documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein that is not so disclosed or that otherwise would be reasonably
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxii) The Company and each Subsidiary has all franchises, licenses, certificates and other
authorizations from such federal, state or local government or governmental agency, department or
body that are currently necessary to own, lease and operate their respective properties and
currently necessary for the operation of their respective businesses, except where the failure to
possess currently such franchises, licenses, certificates and other authorizations is not
reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such permit
that, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxiii) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with the requirements of the
NASDAQ Global Select Market (“NASDAQ”) for continued listing of the Common Stock thereon. The
Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the
registration of the Common Stock under the 1934 Act or the listing of the Common Stock on the
NASDAQ, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or NASDAQ is
contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The transactions contemplated by this
Agreement will not contravene the rules and regulations of NASDAQ. The Company will comply with
all requirements of the NASDAQ with respect to the issuance of the Shares and will use its
reasonable best efforts to cause the Shares to be listed or eligible for quotation on the NASDAQ
and listed on any other exchange on which the Common Stock is listed promptly following the Time of
Delivery.
(xxxiv) The Company maintains a system of internal controls over financial reporting (as
defined in Rule 13a-15 under the 0000 Xxx) that have been designed by, or under the supervision of,
its principal executive and financial officer, to provide reasonable assurance that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles 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. The
Company has disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rules 13a-4 and 15d-14 under the
0000 Xxx) that are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made
known to the Company’s principal executive officer and the Company’s principal financial officer or
persons performing similar functions. The Company has not become aware of any fraud, whether or
not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company is otherwise in compliance in all
material respects with all applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002, as amended and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.
(xxxv) Neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any
director, officer, agent, employee or other Person acting on behalf of the Company or any
Subsidiary has, in the course of its actions for, or on behalf of, the Company (i) used any
corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expenses
relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or
domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of
any provision of the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; (iv) made any unlawful
bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment to any foreign or
domestic government official or employee; (v) made any payment of funds to the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or received or retained funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation, which
payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in either the
General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, that is not described in each of the General
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus as required.
(xxxvi) 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 agency
(collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any
court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of
its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of
the Company, threatened.
(xxxvii) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders, customers or
suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the 1933
Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations to be described in the
Prospectus or any documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein and that
is not so described as required.
(xxxviii) Except as described in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus,
(A) there are no outstanding rights (contractual or otherwise), warrants or options to acquire, or
instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, or agreements or understandings with respect to
the sale or issuance of, any shares of capital stock of or other equity interest in the Company
(other than this Agreement) and (B) there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between
the Company and any person granting such person the right to require
the Company to file a registration statement under the 1933 Act or otherwise register any
securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person.
(xxxix) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable
provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the
regulations and published interpretations thereunder (herein called “ERISA”); no “reportable event”
(as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for
which the Company would have any material liability; the Company has not incurred and does not
expect to incur any material liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of,
or withdrawal from, any “pension plan”; or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code
of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the
“Code”); and each “Pension Plan” for which the Company would have liability that is intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has
occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(xl) There has been no storage, disposal, generation, manufacture, transportation, handling or
treatment of toxic wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous substances by the Company or any
Subsidiary (or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their predecessors in interest) at, upon or
from any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any Subsidiary in
violation of any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or
that would require remedial action under any applicable law, ordinance, rule, regulation, order,
judgment, decree or permit; there has been no material spill, discharge, leak, emission, injection,
escape, dumping or release of any kind into such property or into the environment surrounding such
property of any toxic wastes, medical wastes, solid wastes, hazardous wastes or hazardous
substances due to or caused by the Company or any Subsidiary or with respect to which the Company
or any Subsidiary have knowledge; in each of the foregoing cases, except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Section, the terms “hazardous
wastes”, “toxic wastes”, “hazardous substances”, and “medical wastes” shall have the meanings
specified in any applicable local, state, federal and foreign laws or regulations with respect to
environmental protection.
(xli) The Company is not, nor has ever been, a U.S. real property holding corporation within
the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.
(xlii) The Company is not, nor has ever been, an issuer of the type described in Rule
144(i)(l) under the 0000 Xxx.
(xliii) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries does and will, after giving effect to the
transactions contemplated hereby, own assets the fair saleable value of which are (i) greater than
the total amount of its liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) and (ii) greater than
the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities of its existing debts as they
become absolute and matured considering the financing alternatives reasonably available to it. The
Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it or any of
its Subsidiaries will be required to file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or
reorganization laws of any jurisdiction, and has no present intent to so file.
(xliv) Neither the execution of this Agreement nor the issuance of the Shares will trigger any
rights or obligations, or require compliance with any Georgia “takeover” statute.
(b) The Bank represents and warrants to each of the several Underwriters, as of each
Representation Date, and agrees with each of the several Underwriters, as follows:
(i) The Bank has been duly chartered and is validly existing as a Georgia state-chartered
bank in good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia, and has been duly qualified as a
foreign bank for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other
jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such
qualification or is subject to no material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be
so qualified in any such other jurisdiction.
(ii) Neither the Bank nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter, bylaws or
other organizational or governing documents or in default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed
of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Bank or any of
its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the property or
assets of the Bank or any of its subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Bank Instruments”), except
for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(iii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Bank, compliance by the
Bank with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein
contemplated do not and will not contravene, conflict with, or result in a breach or violation of
any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any Bank Instrument, nor does or
will any such action contravene, conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the
terms or provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Bank or any statute, order, rule or regulation
of any court or Governmental Entity having jurisdiction over the Bank or any of its subsidiaries or
any of their properties.
2. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees (a) to issue
and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Company the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such
Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, at a purchase price per share of $ other than with
respect to up to any Shares sold to the officers, directors and employees of the Company or its
Subsidiaries for which the purchase price per Share shall be $ ; and (b) in the event and to the
extent that the Underwriter shall elect to purchase Optional Shares, as provided below, the Company
agrees to issue and sell to such Underwriter and the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the
Company, at the price per shares set forth in Clause (a) of this Section 2, the Optional Shares.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants to the
Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to Optional Shares, at the purchase price
per share set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering overallotments in the
sale of the Firm Shares. In the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the
election to purchase Optional Shares, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per share set forth in clause (a)
of this Section 2, that portion of the number of Optional Shares as to which such election shall
have been exercised (to be adjusted by the Representative so as to eliminate fractional shares)
determined by multiplying such number of Optional Shares by a fraction, the numerator of which is
the maximum number of Optional Shares which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the
maximum number of Optional Shares that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder.
Any such election to purchase Optional Shares may be exercised only by written notice from the
Representative to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days after the date of this
Agreement, setting forth the aggregate number of Optional Shares to be purchased and the date on
which such Optional Shares are to be delivered, as determined by the Representative but in no event
earlier than the First Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 hereof) or, unless the
Representative and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten
business days after the date of such notice.
(c) It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for such
Underwriter’s account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price
for the Firm Shares and the Optional Shares, if any, which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase.
Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners, L.P., individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may
(but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Firm Shares or the
Optional Shares, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by
Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners, L.P. by the relevant Time of Delivery but such payment shall not
relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
3. Upon the authorization by the Representative of the release of the Firm Shares, the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Firm Shares for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in
the Prospectus.
4. (a) The Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder, in definitive form, and in
such authorized denominations and registered in such names as the Representative may request upon
at least forty-eight hours prior notice to the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the
Company to the Representative, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), for
the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of such Underwriter of the
purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal (same day) funds to the account specified by
the Company to the Representative at least forty-eight hours in advance. The Company will cause
the certificates representing the Shares to be made available for checking and packaging at least
twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at the
office of DTC or its designated custodian (the “Designated Office”). The time and date of such
delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City Time, on or such other time and date as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing, and,
with respect to the Optional Shares, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified by the
Representative in the written notice given by the Representative of the Underwriters’ election to
purchase such Optional Shares, or such other time and date as the Representative and the Company
may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm Shares is herein called the
“First Time of Delivery,” such time and date for delivery of the Optional Shares, if not the First
Time of Delivery, is herein called the
“Second Time of Delivery,” and each such time and date for delivery is herein called a “Time
of Delivery.”
(b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the parties
hereto pursuant to Section 7 hereof, including the cross receipt for the Shares and any additional
documents requested by the Representative pursuant to Section 7(l) hereof, will be delivered at the
offices of Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, 000 00xx Xxxxxx, XX, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
(the “Closing Location”), and the Shares will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at such
Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at 10:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the New York Business Day next preceding such Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final
executed copies of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be
available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 4, “New York Business
Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to
close.
5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by the Representative and to file such
Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the 1933 Act (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) not
later than the Commission’s close of business on the second business day following the execution
and delivery of this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule
430B under the 1933 Act; to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus which shall be disapproved by the Representative promptly after reasonable
notice thereof; to advise the Representative, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the
time when any amendment to the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has
been filed and to furnish the Representative with copies thereof; to advise the Representative,
promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or
of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, Issuer-Represented
Free Writing Prospectus or Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any
such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, any Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus
or Prospectus (in each case, including any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein) or for additional information; and in the event of the issuance of any stop
order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus,
Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus or Prospectus or suspending any such qualification,
promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order.
(b) If at any time following issuance of an Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus there
occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer-Represented Free
Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration
Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company has notified or
will notify promptly the Representative so that any use of such Issuer-Represented Free Writing
Prospectus may cease until it is amended or supplemented and the Company has promptly amended or
supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer-Represented Free Writing Prospectus
to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(c) The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the
Representative, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior
written consent of each of the Company and the Representative, it has not made and will not make
any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as
defined in Rule 433 under the 1933 Act, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, required to be filed with the Commission.
Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and the Representative is hereinafter
referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated
and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing
prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule
433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the
Commission where required, legending and record keeping. The Company represents that it has
satisfied the conditions in Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any
electronic road show.
(d) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the Representative may reasonably
request to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions
as the Representative may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of
sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the
distribution of the Shares, provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required
to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction.
(e) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next succeeding the
date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the
Prospectus in New York City in such quantities as the Representative may from time to time
reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time prior to the
expiration of nine months after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering
or sale of the Shares and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or,
if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order to comply with the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, to notify the
Representative and upon its request to prepare and furnish without charge to the Underwriters and
to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representative may from time to time reasonably
request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such
statement or omission or effect such compliance, and in case any Underwriter is required to deliver
a prospectus in connection with sales of any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after
the time of issue of the Prospectus, upon such Underwriter’s request and at such Underwriter’s
expense, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as the
Representative may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with Section
10(a)(3) of the 1933 Act.
(f) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable, but in any
event not later than eighteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as
defined in Rule 158(c) under the 1933 Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its
subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and the 1933
Act Regulations (including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158).
(g) During the period beginning on and including the date of this Agreement and continuing
through and including the date that is 90 days after the date of this Agreement, not to, and not to
allow any of the individuals listed on Schedule III hereto to, sell, offer, agree to sell,
contract to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to purchase, make any short sale of, or
otherwise dispose of or hedge, directly or indirectly, except as provided in the last sentence of
this Section 5(g), any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, repayable with,
exchangeable or exercisable for, or that represent the right to receive any shares of Common Stock
or any securities of the Company substantially similar to the Common Stock, or publicly announce an
intention to do any of the foregoing, without the prior written consent of Sandler X’Xxxxx &
Partners, L.P.; provided, however, that if: (i) during the period that begins on the date that is
15 calendar days plus three (3) business days before the last day of the 90-day restricted period
and ends on the last day of the 90-day restricted period, the Company issues an earnings release or
material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (ii) prior to the expiration
of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results or
becomes aware that material news or a material event relating to the Company will occur during the
16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day restricted period, the restrictions set forth
herein will continue to apply until the expiration of the date that is 15 calendar days plus three
(3) business days after the date on which the earnings release is issued or the material news or
event related to the Company occurs. Notwithstanding the provisions set forth in the immediately
preceding sentence, the Company may (1) issue Shares to the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement,
(2) issue shares, and options to purchase shares, of Common Stock pursuant to equity incentive
plans described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as those plans are in effect on
the date of this Agreement, (3) issue shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options
that are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that are outstanding on the
date of this Agreement, and issue shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of stock options issued
after the date of this Agreement under the equity incentive plans referred to in clause (2) of this
sentence, as those plans are in effect on the date of this Agreement or (4) any shares issued in
connection with the Company’s direct stock purchase and dividend reinvestment plan.
(h) During a period of five years from the date of this Agreement, to furnish to its
shareholders, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, an annual report (including
a balance sheet and statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and
its consolidated subsidiaries certified by an independent registered public accounting firm) and,
as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year, to
make available to its shareholders consolidated summary financial information of the Company and
its subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail.
(i) During a period of five years from the date of this Agreement, unless otherwise available
via XXXXX (or its successor used by the SEC), to furnish to the Representative copies of all
reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to shareholders, and to deliver to
the Representative (i) as soon as they are available, copies of any reports and financial
statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which
any class of securities of the Company is listed and (ii) unless otherwise prohibited under
applicable law, such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the
Company as the Representative may from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements
to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries are
consolidated in reports furnished to its shareholders generally or to the Commission).
(j) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this
Agreement in the manner specified in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
under the caption “Use of Proceeds”.
(k) If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b), the Company shall file a Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m.,
Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing
either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give
irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the 1933 Act.
(l) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain, effect and maintain the
listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ and will file with the NASDAQ all documents and notices
required by the NASDAQ of companies that have securities that are traded on the NASDAQ.
(m) To comply, and to use its reasonable best efforts to cause the Company’s directors and
officers, in their capacities as such, to comply, in all material respects, with all effective
applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations thereunder.
6. The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause
to be paid the following: (i) the reasonable out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Underwriters in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby (regardless of whether the sale of the Shares
is consummated), including, without limitation, disbursements, fees and expenses of the
Underwriters’ counsel and marketing, syndication and travel expenses, provided that such legal fees
shall not exceed $125,000 and such other out-of-pocket expenses shall not exceed $30,000, without
prior written approval of the Company; (ii) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s
counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the 1933 Act and
all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus, any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the
Underwriters and dealers; (iii) the cost of printing or producing any agreement among Underwriters,
this Agreement, the Blue Sky Memorandum, closing documents (including any copying or compilations
thereof) and any other documents in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares; (iv) all expenses in
connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws
as provided in Section 5(d) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel in connection
with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (v) all fees and expenses in
connection with the supplemental listing of the Shares on the NASDAQ; (vi) the filing fees
incident to, and the disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, securing any
required review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale
of the Shares; (vii) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (viii) the cost and charges of any
transfer agent or registrar; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of
its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section.
7. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares to be delivered at each
Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all representations
and warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of such Time of Delivery,
true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations
hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus containing the Rule 430B Information shall have been filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b)
(without reliance on Rule 424(d)(8)) and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; if the Company has
elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become
effective by 10:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been
issued and no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the
Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have
been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative; and the FINRA shall have
raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
(b) Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the
Representative such written opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery, with respect to the
incorporation of the Company, the Shares, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and other related matters as the Representative may reasonably request, and such
counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to enable
them to pass upon such matters.
(c) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this Agreement, on the
effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to
the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, Ernst & Young LLP shall have
furnished to the Underwriters a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, containing statements and information of
the type ordinarily included in accountants “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the
financial statements of the Company and certain financial information contained in the Prospectus;
(d) At each Time of Delivery, Ernst & Young LLP shall have delivered a letter, dated as of the
Time of Delivery, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in a
letter or letters furnished to subsection (d) of this Section, except that the specified date
referred to therein shall be a date not more than three business days prior to such effective date
or Time of Delivery, as the case may be.
(e) Baker, Donelson, Bearman, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, PC, special counsel for the Company, shall
have furnished to the Representative their written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B
hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(f) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date
of the latest audited financial statements included in each of the General Disclosure Package and
the Prospectus any loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental
action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in each of the General
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information
is given in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus there shall not have been any
change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general affairs,
management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in each of the General Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause (i) or (ii),
is in the judgment of the Representative so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at
such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in each of the General Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus. As used in this paragraph, references to the General Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus exclude any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of
this Agreement.
(g) On or after the date hereof there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a
suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the NASDAQ, the Nasdaq
Global Market or the Nasdaq Global Select Market or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for
trading on such exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading of any securities of
the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities declared by either federal, New York or Georgia state authorities;
(iv) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment, or clearance services in the
United States or any other country where such securities are listed, or (v) the outbreak or
escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a
national emergency or war or a material adverse change in general economic, political or financial
conditions, or currency exchange rates or exchange controls, including without limitation as a
result of terrorist activities after the date hereof (or the effect of international conditions on
the financial markets in the United States shall be such), or any other calamity or crisis, if the
effect of any such event specified in this clause (v) in the judgment of the Representative makes
it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares
being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in either the
General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares.
(h) The Common Stock (including the Shares) is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the
1934 Act and is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market, and the Company has taken no action
designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock
under the 1934 Act or delisting the Common Stock from the NASDAQ, nor has the Company received any
notification that the Commission or FINRA is contemplating terminating such registration or
listing.
(i) Prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company has obtained and
delivered to the Underwriters executed agreements from each of the persons listed on Schedule
III hereto, substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereof, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representative.
(j) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(e) hereof with respect to
the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business Day next succeeding the date of this
Agreement.
(k) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representative at such
Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the Representative as to
the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of
Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed
at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (g) of
this Section and as to such other matters as the Representative may reasonably request.
8. (a) (i) The Company and the Bank, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which they or any of them may become subject, under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus
or any individual Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together
with the General Disclosure Package, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each such
indemnified party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided,
however, that neither the Company nor the Bank shall be liable in any such case to the extent that
any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any preliminary prospectus, the
Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or any individual
Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General
Disclosure Package, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative
expressly for use therein (provided that the Company and the Underwriters hereby acknowledge and
agree that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company specifically
for inclusion in any preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure
Package, the
Prospectus or any individual Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, are the share allocation, concession and reallowance figures
appearing in the Prospectus section entitled “Underwriting”) (collectively, the “Underwriters’
Information”). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnification provided for in this paragraph
(a) and the contribution provided for in paragraph (d) below shall not apply to the Bank to the
extent that such indemnification or contribution, as the case may be, by the Bank (x) is found in a
final judgment by a court of competent jurisdiction to constitute a covered transaction under
Section 23A of the Federal Reserve Act (“Section 23A”); or (y) is determined by the Federal Reserve
Board, the FDIC or the Department to constitute a covered transaction under Section 23A, as
provided in written advice to the Bank or the Company.
(b) Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become subject,
under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, the Registration Statement, the General
Disclosure Package, the Prospectus, or any individual Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing
Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in such preliminary prospectus,
the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or such individual
Issuer-Represented Limited-Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General
Disclosure Package, or any such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representative
expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or
claim as such expenses are incurred.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice
of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is
to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in
writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such
subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled
to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying
party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel
to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party
of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to
such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any other
expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without
the written consent of the indemnified party,
effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect
to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution
may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to
such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional
release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim 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 indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to
hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if
the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
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 shall be deemed to be in
the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The
relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the
other and the parties’ relative intent, 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 subsection (d) were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above
in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this
subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of
any damages which 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 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
obligations of the Company and the Bank in this subsection (d) to contribute are joint and
several. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in
proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company and the Bank under this Section 8 shall be in addition to
any liability which the Company or the Bank may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls (within the meaning of the 0000 Xxx) any
Underwriter, or any of the respective partners, directors, officers and employees of any
Underwriter or any such controlling person; and the several obligations of the Underwriters under
this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may
otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the
Company (including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement
as about to become a director of the Company), each officer of the Company who signs the
Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Bank, as the
case may be, within the meaning of the 1933 Act.
9. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of
the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of
them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless
of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company, or any officer or
director or controlling person of the Company, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the
Shares.
10. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Shares which it has
agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, the Representative may in its discretion
arrange for it or another party or other parties to purchase such Shares on the terms contained
herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representative does
not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period
of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the
Representative to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective
prescribed periods, the Representative notifies the Company that it has so arranged for the
purchase of such Shares, or the Company notifies the Representative that it has so arranged for the
purchase of such Shares, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone such
Time of Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may
thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any other
documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in the Representative’s opinion may thereby be made
necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted
under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement
with respect to such Shares.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representative and the Company as provided in subsection (a)
above, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-tenth of
the aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then the Company
shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of shares
which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such
Time of Delivery and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its
pro rata share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder)
of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not
been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its
default.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representative and the Company as provided in Section 10(a)
hereof, the aggregate number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-tenth of the
aggregate number of all the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, or if the Company
shall not exercise the right described in Section 10(b) hereof to require non-defaulting
Underwriters to purchase Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement
(or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase
and of the Company to sell the Optional Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the
part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the
Company as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and contribution and other agreements in
Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its
default.
11. (a) The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time
on or prior to the Time of Delivery if, since the time of execution of this Agreement or, in the
case of (i) below, since the date of the most recent balance sheet included in the Financial
Statements, there has occurred, (i) any Material Adverse Effect, or (ii) a suspension or material
limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on The Nasdaq Global Select Market; (iii) a
general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York
authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance
services in the United States; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the
United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war; or (v) the
occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic
conditions in the United States or elsewhere, including without limitation, as a result of
terrorist activities occurring after the date hereof, if the effect of any such event specified in
clause (iv) or (v), in the judgment of the Underwriters make it impracticable or inadvisable to
proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered at such Time of
Delivery on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 11, such termination shall be
without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 6 hereof and
provided further that Sections 1, 8 and 9 hereof shall survive such termination and remain in full
force and effect.
12. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof, neither the Company nor the
Bank shall then be under any liability to any Underwriter, except as provided in Sections 6 (in the
case of the Company) and 8 (in the case of the Company and the Bank) hereof; but, if for any other
reason, any Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as provided herein, the Company
will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representative for all out-of-pocket expenses,
including fees and disbursements of counsel, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, including, without
limitation, marketing, syndication and travel expenses incurred by the Underwriters in making
preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of the Shares not so delivered, but the Company
shall then be under no further liability to the Underwriters except as provided in Sections 6 and 8
hereof.
13. Each of the Company and the Bank, severally and not jointly, acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) in connection with the sale of the Shares, the Underwriters have been retained solely to
act as underwriters, and no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company or the
Bank, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, has been created in respect of any
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(b) the price of the Shares set forth in this Agreement was established following discussions
and arms-length negotiations between the Company and the Underwriters, and the Company and the Bank
are capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and
conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) it has been advised that the Underwriters and their respective affiliates are engaged in a
broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and
the Bank and that each Underwriter has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to
the Company or the Bank by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and
(d) it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against any
Underwriter for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that each
Underwriter shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company or the Bank in
respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf
of or in right of the Company or the Bank, including shareholders, employees, depositors or
creditors of the Company or the Bank. The parties acknowledge and agree that the waiver set forth
in this Section 13(d) shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of any other legal rights the
Company or the Bank may otherwise have with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby.
14. In all dealings hereunder, the Representative shall act on behalf of each of the
Underwriters, and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by the Representative.
15. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to
the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the
Representative at 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, Attention: General
Counsel with a copy to Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, 000 00xx Xxxxxx, X.X., Xxxxx 000,
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq; and if to the Company or to the Bank
shall be delivered or sent by mail to the Company at 0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, XX
00000 Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the Board, with a copy to
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Chief Financial Officer, and a copy to Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx &
Xxxxxxxxx, P.C., 000 Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, Esq.; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c)
hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at
its address set forth in its Underwriters’ Questionnaire, or telex or email constituting such
Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the Representative upon request.
Any such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
16. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the
Underwriters, the Company, the Bank and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the
officers and directors of the Company and of the Bank and each person who controls the Company, the
Bank or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and
assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.
No purchaser of any of the Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by
reason merely of such purchase.
17. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement. As used herein, the term “business day”
shall mean any day when the Commission’s office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.
18. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAWS PRINCIPLES OF SAID STATE OTHER THAN SECTION
5-1401 OF THE NEW YORK GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW.
19. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.
20. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to
any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and
signed by the parties hereto.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWING]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and return to us four
counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by the Representative, on behalf of each of the
Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among
each of the Underwriters, the Company and the Bank. It is understood that the Representative’s
acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set
forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the
Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the Representative’s part as to the
authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours, Fidelity Southern Corporation |
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By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Fidelity Bank |
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By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Accepted as of the date hereof: SANDLER X’XXXXX & PARTNERS, L.P., as Representative of the Underwriters |
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By: | Sandler X’Xxxxx & Partners Corp., | |||
the sole general partner | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||