INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC. Common Stock ($0.01 par value per share) UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

 Exhibit 1.1

 

INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC.

 

Common Stock
($0.01 par value per share)

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

October 5, 2021

 

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC

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Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

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▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

 

As a representative of the several underwriters listed in Schedule I hereto

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Each of INDUS Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and INDUS RT, LP, a Maryland limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), confirms its respective agreements with you as representatives (the “Representatives”) of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”) with respect to the proposed issuance and sale of 2,150,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Firm Shares”). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters not more than an additional 322,500 shares of its common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Additional Shares”) if and to the extent that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC (“▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇”) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., as representatives of the offering (the “Representatives”), shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares.” The shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the “Common Stock.”

 

The Company and the Operating Partnership have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File Nos. 333-257802 and 333-257802-01), including a preliminary prospectus, relating to various securities, including the Shares. The registration statement as of its most recent effective date, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement”; the related prospectus covering various securities, including the Shares, and filed as part of the Registration Statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto as of the most recent effective date of the Registration Statement, is hereinafter referred to as the “Base Prospectus.” The Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Shares in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus”; and the term “preliminary prospectus” means any preliminary form of the Prospectus. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.

 

 

For purposes of this Underwriting Agreement (this “Agreement”), “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus together with the documents and pricing information set forth in Schedule II hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “Base Prospectus,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof. The terms “supplement,” “amendment” and “amend” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.

 

1.            Representations and Warranties. The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to and agree with each of the Underwriters that:

 

(a)            The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.

 

(b)            (i) Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) the Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iv) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (v) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vi) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon Underwriter Information. For purposes of this Agreement, the only information so furnished shall be the information in the first sentence of the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” related to concessions to selected dealers, and the eleventh paragraph under the caption “Underwriting” related to stabilization transactions contained in the Prospectus (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

 

 

(c)            The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to the Representatives before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without prior consent of the Representatives, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

 

(d)            The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, has the corporate power and authority to own, and lease, as the case may be, its properties and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, properties, results of operations or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries (as hereinafter defined), taken as a whole, or (ii) prevent or materially interfere with consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (the occurrence of any such effect, prevention, interference or result described in the foregoing clauses (i) or (ii) being herein referred to as a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(e)            The Operating Partnership has been duly organized, is validly existing as a limited partnership in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland, has full power and authority to own, and lease, as the case may be, its properties and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign limited partnership in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(f)             Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company, including the Operating Partnership (each a “Subsidiary” and collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), has been duly organized, is validly existing as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization, has full power and authority to own or lease, as the case may be, its properties and to operate its properties and conduct its business as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, have been issued in compliance with applicable securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary, and all such shares or other equity interests are owned free and clear of all security interests, liens, mortgages, encumbrances, pledges, claims or other defects of any kind (collectively, “Liens”). Schedule III hereto specifically identifies all subsidiaries of the Company that are “significant subsidiaries” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X).

 

(g)            The authorized and outstanding capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to (i) this Agreement, (ii) pursuant to reservations, agreements, employee benefit plans or dividend reinvestment or stock purchase plans referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (iii) pursuant to the exercise, redemption, or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities, options or warrants referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or (iv) unregistered issuances not required to be disclosed pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Securities Act or any rule or regulation promulgated thereunder). The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Capital Stock.”

 

(h)            This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and the Operating Partnership. The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of the Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

 

 

(i)             Neither the execution and delivery by the Company and the Operating Partnership of, nor the performance by the Company and the Operating Partnership of its respective obligations under, this Agreement will conflict with, contravene, result in a breach or violation of, or imposition of, any Lien upon any property or other assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, or constitute a default (or give rise to any right of termination, acceleration, cancellation, repurchase or redemption) or Repayment Event (as hereinafter defined) under: (i) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, regulatory or administrative agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or other assets; (ii) the Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, as amended or supplemented through the date hereof (the “Charter”), the Amended and Restated By-laws of the Company, as amended through the date hereof (the “Bylaws”), the Agreement of Limited Partnership of the Operating Partnership, as amended through the date hereof (the “Partnership Agreement”), or similar organizational documents of any Subsidiary; or (iii) any contract, agreement, obligation, covenant or instrument or any term condition or provision thereof to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other Subsidiary or any of their respective properties or other assets is subject or bound, except, in the case of (i) and (iii) above, for such conflicts, breaches, violations, lien impositions or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which, without regard to compliance with any notice or other procedural requirements, gives the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

 

(j)             There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus, and subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

(k)            There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any of their respective directors, managers, partners, officers or members is or would reasonably be expected to be a party or to which any of the properties or other assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject or would reasonably be expected to be subject at law or in equity, before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and proceedings that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or on the power or ability of the Company or the Operating Partnership to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

 

 

(l)             Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

(m)           None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(n)            Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company and each of the Subsidiaries and their respective properties or other assets have been and are in compliance with, and none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has any liability under, applicable Environmental Laws (as hereinafter defined); (ii) none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has at any time released (as such term is defined in Section 101(22) of the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 9601-9675 (“CERCLA”)) or otherwise disposed of or otherwise handled Hazardous Materials (as hereinafter defined) on, to or from the properties or other assets owned by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, except such as either (x) would not cause the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to incur liability, (y) would not require disclosure to any Governmental Authority (defined below) pursuant to Environmental Laws, or (z) that have been remediated in accordance with Environmental Laws; (iii) the Company and the Subsidiaries do not intend to use the properties or other assets owned by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any subsequently acquired properties and other assets, other than in compliance with applicable Environmental Laws; (iv) none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of, and each is otherwise unaware of any seepage, leak, discharge, release, emission, spill, or dumping of Hazardous Materials into waters (including, but not limited to, groundwater and surface water) on, beneath or adjacent to the properties, or onto lands or other assets owned by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries from which Hazardous Materials might seep, flow or drain into such waters; (v) none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of, and the Company has no knowledge of any occurrence or circumstance which, with notice or passage of time or both, would give rise to a claim under or pursuant to any applicable Environmental Law by any governmental or quasi-governmental body or any third party with respect to the properties or other assets described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, or arising out of the conduct of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, except for such claims that would not cause the Company or any Subsidiary to incur liability and that would not require disclosure to any Governmental Authority pursuant to Environmental Laws; and (vi) neither the properties nor any other assets currently owned by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is included or, to the knowledge of the Company, proposed for inclusion on the National Priorities List issued pursuant to CERCLA by the United States Environmental Protection Agency or, to the knowledge of the Company, proposed for inclusion on any similar list or inventory issued pursuant to any other applicable Environmental Law or issued by any other federal, state, local, municipal or other administrative, regulatory, governmental or quasi-governmental authority (a “Governmental Authority”). To the knowledge of the Company, there have been, and are, no (i) aboveground or underground storage tanks, (ii) polychlorinated biphenyls (“PCBs”) or PCB-containing equipment, (iii) asbestos or asbestos containing materials, (iv) lead-based paints, (v) dry-cleaning facilities, or (vi) jurisdictional wetlands, in each case in, on, under or adjacent to any property or other asset owned by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries the existence of which has had a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, “Hazardous Material” shall mean any flammable explosives, radioactive materials, hazardous materials, hazardous wastes, toxic substances, asbestos or any other material that is defined or regulated as hazardous or toxic by any applicable federal, state or local environmental law, ordinance, statute, rule or regulation including, without limitation, CERCLA, the Hazardous Materials Transportation Act, as amended, 49 U.S.C. §§ 5101-5128, the Solid Waste Disposal Act, as amended, 42 U.S.C. §§ 6901-6992k, the Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know Act of 1986, 42 U.S.C. §§ 11001-11050, the Toxic Substances Control Act, 15 U.S.C. §§ 2601-2692, the Federal Insecticide, Fungicide and Rodenticide Act, 7 U.S.C. §§ 136-136y, the Clean Air Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 7401-7671q, the Clean Water Act (Federal Water Pollution Control Act), 33 U.S.C. §§ 1251-1387, the Safe Drinking Water Act, 42 U.S.C. §§ 300f-300j-26, and the Occupational Safety and Health Act, 29 U.S.C. §§ 651-678, as each has been amended from time to time, and in the regulations promulgated pursuant to any of the foregoing (including environmental statutes not specifically listed above) (individually, an “Environmental Law” and collectively, “Environmental Laws”).

 

 

(o)            There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(p)            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 Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, in each case in connection with the offering.

 

(q)            (i) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or controlled affiliates, any director or officer, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other affiliate, employee, agent or representative of the Company or of any subsidiary of the Company, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment, giving or receipt of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any government official (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) (“Government Official”) in order to influence official action, or to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws; (ii) the Company and each of its subsidiaries and controlled affiliates, or to the knowledge of the Company, any other affiliates, have conducted their business in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws; and (iii) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries will use, directly or indirectly, the proceeds of the offering in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization of the payment or giving of money, or anything else of value, to any person in violation of any applicable anti-corruption laws.

 

 

(r)            The operations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries is and has been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and each of its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-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 Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

(s)            (i) None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, any director, officer, or employee thereof, or, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by one or more Persons that are:

 

(A) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), or

 

(B) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea and Syria).

 

(ii) The Company and the Operating Partnership will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any of their respective subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other Persons:

 

(A) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

 

(B) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(iii) For the past five years, the Company, the Operating Partnership and each of their respective subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

 

(t)             The Company and each of the Subsidiaries own or possess all inventions, patent applications, patents, patent rights, licenses, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), trade names, service names, copyrights, trade secrets, know-how and other proprietary information described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as being owned or licensed by it or which is material to its businesses (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”), and the Company has not received any notice of, and the Company is otherwise unaware of, any claim to the contrary or any challenge by any other person to the rights of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries with respect to the Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interests of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries therein, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has infringed or is infringing upon the intellectual property of a third party, and none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of, and the Company is otherwise unaware of, a claim by a third party to the contrary, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(u)            The Company’s and the Subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware, software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are reasonably believed by the Company to be adequate in all material respects for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries as currently conducted and, to the Company’s knowledge, are free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and the Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used in connection with the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries as currently conducted, and, to the knowledge of the Company, there have been no material breaches, violations, outages or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for those that have been remedied without material cost or liability or the duty to notify any other person, nor any incidents under internal review or investigations relating to the same. The Company and the Subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except for such non-compliance as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(v)            The Company and each of the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or have requested extensions thereof (except where the failure to file would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect) and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”) have been created in the financial statements of the Company), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries which, singly or in the aggregate, has had (nor does the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency that could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or the Subsidiaries and which could reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(w)           Commencing with the Company’s taxable year ending December 31, 2021, the Company has been, and upon the sale of the Shares will continue to be, organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification as a “real estate investment trust” (a “REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); the proposed method of operation of the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code; the Company intends to continue to operate in a manner which would permit it to qualify as a REIT under the Code; and the Company has no present intention of changing its operations or engaging in activities which would cause it to fail to qualify, or make economically undesirable its continued qualification, as a REIT.

 

(x)            The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the dates shown and the Company’s consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in equity for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in all material respects in compliance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby except for any normal year-end adjustments in the Company’s quarterly financial statements. The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources which the Company reasonably and in good faith believes are reliable and accurate and such data is consistent with the sources from which they are derived in each case in all material respects. There are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus that are not included or incorporated by reference therein as required. All disclosures contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, to the extent applicable.

 

 

(y)            RSM US LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and delivered its report with respect to the audited consolidated financial statements and schedules filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and included in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States).

 

(z)            The Company and each of the Subsidiaries make and keep books and records that are accurate in all material respects and maintain “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) in compliance with the requirements of the Exchange Act. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal control over financial reporting sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement is accurate in all material respects. Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the design or operation of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) which is reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting that has materially adversely affected, or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

 

(aa)          The Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that are designed to provide reasonable assurance that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

 

(bb)         The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto in all material respects.

 

(cc)          The Company (i) has not alone engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communication with any person other than Testing-the-Waters Communications with the consent of the Representatives with entities that are reasonably believed to be qualified institutional buyers within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act or institutions that are reasonably believed to be accredited investors within the meaning of Rule 501 under the Securities Act and (ii) has not authorized anyone other than the Representatives to engage in Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company reconfirms that the Representatives have been authorized to act on its behalf in undertaking Testing-the-Waters Communications. The Company has not distributed any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act other than those listed on Schedule II hereto. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any communication with potential investors undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) or Rule 163B of the Securities Act.

 

 

(dd)         As of the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, none of (A) the Time of Sale Prospectus, and (B) any free writing prospectus, and (C) any individual Testing-the-Waters Communication, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, included, includes or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted, omits or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

(ee)          The Shares have been authorized for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (the “Nasdaq”), subject to official notice of issuance and the Company is in material compliance with the rules of the Nasdaq, including, without limitation, the requirements for continued listing of the Common Stock on the Nasdaq, and there are no actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated, and the Company has not received any notice from the Nasdaq regarding the revocation of such listing or otherwise regarding the delisting of shares of Common Stock from the Nasdaq.

 

(ff)           Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any securities for shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Company are outstanding.

 

(gg)         None of the Company’s securities are rated by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act.

 

(hh)         No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency, or of or with any self-regulatory organization or other non-governmental regulatory authority (including, without limitation, the Nasdaq), or approval of the Company’s stockholders, is required to be made or obtained by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, other than (i) such as have been obtained or made by the Company are in full force and effect, (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Shares are being offered, (iii) such approvals as have been obtained in connection with the approval of the Shares for listing on the Nasdaq and (iv) such approvals (if any) as have been obtained under the rules and regulations of FINRA.

 

 

(ii)            The Company and each of the Subsidiaries possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their business as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”), except where the failure so to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of, and the Company is otherwise unaware of, any proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(jj)            (i) The Company and the Subsidiaries have fee simple title or a valid leasehold interest to each of the properties and other assets described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as owned or leased by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries (the “Properties”), in each case, free and clear of all Liens, except as such as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus; (ii) all Liens on or affecting the Properties that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus are disclosed therein and none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is in default under any such Lien except for such defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and under which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries holds Properties described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of, and the Company is otherwise unaware of, any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of any of the Company or any Subsidiary under any of such leases or subleases, or affecting or questioning the rights of any of the Company or any such Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leases or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease; (iv) none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of any municipal, state or federal law, rule or regulation concerning the Properties or any part thereof which violation would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (v) each of the Properties complies with all applicable zoning laws, laws, ordinances, regulations, development agreements, reciprocal easement agreements, ground or airspace leases and deed restrictions or other covenants, except where the failure to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (vi) none of the Company, or any of the Subsidiaries has received from any Governmental Authority any notice of any condemnation of or zoning change materially affecting the Properties or any part thereof, and the Company has no knowledge of and is otherwise unaware of any such condemnation or zoning change which is threatened and which if consummated would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (vii) no tenant under any of the leases at the Properties has a right of first refusal to purchase the premises demised under such lease, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(kk)          Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the mortgages and deeds of trust or other instruments encumbering the Properties are not convertible into equity interests in the respective Property nor will the Company, any of the Subsidiaries, or any person affiliated therewith, hold a participating interest therein, and (ii) such mortgages and deeds of trust or other instruments are not cross-defaulted or cross-collateralized to any property not owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries.

 

(ll)            There are no material business relationships or related party transactions involving any of the Company, any of the Subsidiaries or any other person required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus which have not been described therein.

 

(mm)        No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent. None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has received any notice of, and the Company is otherwise unaware of, any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(nn)         The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are adequate in respect of the businesses in which it is or will be engaged as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Each such policy and instrument is, to the knowledge of the Company, in full force and effect and the Company and each of the Subsidiaries is in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects. None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no reason to believe that the Company or any of the Subsidiaries will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business as currently conducted or as proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(oo)         The Company or a Subsidiary has title insurance on the fee interests and/or leasehold interests in each of the Properties covering such risks and in such amounts as are commercially reasonable for the assets to be owned or leased by them, and such title insurance is in full force and effect except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(pp)         Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, upon certain customary events of default under any mortgage or other loan document or as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries will be prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any distributions to the Company or any Subsidiary, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances made to any Subsidiary by the Company or from transferring any of the properties or other assets of the Subsidiaries to the Company or any other Subsidiary.

 

 

(qq)         Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is and has been in compliance, in all material respects, with all applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries could have any liability. None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries nor any trade or business that is under common control with any of the Company or the Subsidiaries within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(14) of ERISA has incurred or expects to incur any actual or contingent, direct or indirect liability, except as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Code, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder. Each “pension plan” for which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries would have any liability and 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, except where the failure to be so qualified would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(rr)           None of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the Subsidiaries is in violation or default of (i) any provision of the Charter or the Bylaws, the Partnership Agreement or similar organizational documents of any Subsidiary, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its Property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation applicable to it or its Properties or to any judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its Properties, except in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for such violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(ss)          Except for this Agreement, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or the Underwriters thereof for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(tt)           There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company, or any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with the provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof (the “▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act”), and the Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that, so long as the Company has a class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Exchange Act, the Company and any officers and directors of the Company, in their capacities as such, will be in compliance with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act in all material respects.

 

 

 

(uu)      None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has sent or received any communication regarding termination of, or intent not to renew, any of the contracts or agreements referred to, described or incorporated by reference into, or filed as an exhibit to, the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and no such termination or non-renewal has been threatened by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any other party to any such contract or agreement, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(vv)      The Company has not, directly or indirectly, including through any Subsidiary, extended credit, arranged to extend credit or renewed any extension of credit, in the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer of the Company, or to or for any family member or affiliate of any director or executive officer of the Company.

 

(ww)      None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors, officers, affiliates or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

 

2.            Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective numbers of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite its name at $62.70 a share (the “Purchase Price”).

 

On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 322,500 Additional Shares at the Purchase Price, provided, however, that the amount paid by the Underwriters for any Additional Shares shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on such Additional Shares. The Representatives may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice not later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such shares are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date for the Firm Shares or later than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional Shares may be purchased as provided in Section 4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering sales of shares in excess of the number of the Firm Shares. On each day, if any, that Additional Shares are to be purchased (an “Option Closing Date”), each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.

 

 

3.            Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by the Representatives that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable. The Company is further advised by the Representatives that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at $66.00 a share (the “Public Offering Price”) and to certain dealers selected by the Representatives at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $1.98 a share under the Public Offering Price.

 

4.            Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on October 8, 2021, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than October 15, 2021, as shall be designated in writing by the Representatives. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”

 

Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 hereof or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than November 18, 2021, as shall be designated in writing by the Representatives.

 

The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representatives shall request not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to the Representatives on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.

 

5.            Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Company to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.

 

The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:

 

(a)            Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

 

(i)            no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; and

 

(ii)           there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

 

 

(b)            The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Sections 5(a)(i) and (a)(ii) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that each of the Company and the Operating Partnership has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date. The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

 

(c)            The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto.

 

(d)            The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special counsel for the Company, with respect to certain tax matters, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit C hereto.

 

(e)            The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, Maryland counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit D hereto.

 

(f)            The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of the Company’s general counsel, dated the Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Exhibit E hereto.

 

(g)            The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a favorable opinion and negative assurance letter of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Chance US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to the matters as the Representatives may require.

 

(h)            With respect to the negative assurance letters to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(c), ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP may state that their opinions and beliefs are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification, except as specified. With respect to the opinions and negative assurance letter to be delivered pursuant to Section 5(g), ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Chance US LLP may state that their opinions and beliefs are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (other than the documents incorporated by reference) and upon review and discussion of the contents thereof (including documents incorporated by reference), but are without independent check or verification, except as specified.

 

 

The opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP described in Sections 5(c) and 5(d) shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.

 

(i)            The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from RSM US LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date hereof.

 

(j)            The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between the Representatives and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the Company relating to restrictions on sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

 

(k)            The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a certificate dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from the chief financial officer of the Company.

 

(l)            The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Representatives on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:

 

(i)            a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5(b) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;

 

(ii)           an opinion and negative assurance letter of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(c) hereof;

 

(iii)          an opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special counsel for the Company, with respect to certain tax matters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof;

 

(iv)          an opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, Maryland counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(e) hereof;

 

(v)           an opinion of the Company’s general counsel, dated the Option Closing date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(f) hereof;

 

 

(vi)             an opinion and negative assurance letter of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Chance US LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(g) hereof;

 

(vii)            a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from RSM US LLP, independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than two business days prior to such Option Closing Date;

 

(viii)            a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by the chief financial officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5(j) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date; and

 

(ix)             such other documents as the Representatives may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional Shares.

 

6.            Covenants of the Company and the Operating Parntership. The Company and the Operating Partnership covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a)            To furnish to the Representatives, without charge, six signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents incorporated by reference) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto but including documents incorporated by reference) and to furnish to the Representatives in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 6(e) or 6(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any documents incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(b)            Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to the Representatives a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

 

(c)            To furnish to the Representatives a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

(d)            Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

 

 

(e)            If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Shares at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

 

(f)            If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representatives will furnish to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

 

(g)            To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request.

 

(h)            To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to the Representatives as soon as practicable an earnings statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

 

(i)            Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 6(g) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky memorandum, which shall not exceed $5,000, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the Shares by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., which shall not exceed $10,000, (v) all costs and expenses incident to listing the Shares on the NASDAQ Global Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares, including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) the document production charges and expenses associated with printing this Agreement and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company and the Operating Partnership hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section 6(i). It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section 6(i), Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of Section 10 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

 

(j)            If at any time following the distribution of any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Testing-the-Waters Communication included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representatives and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Testing-the-Waters Communication to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

 

(k)            The Company will use its best efforts to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2021 and the Company will use its best efforts to continue to satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for all subsequent taxable years unless the board of directors of the Company determines that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company to maintain the Company’s qualification as a REIT under the Code.

 

(l)            The Company also covenants with each Underwriter that, without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to, during the period ending 60 days after the date of the Prospectus (the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause 1 or 2 above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The restrictions contained in the foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus, (C) any shares of Common Stock issued, options to purchase Common Stock or other equity based awards granted pursuant to existing employee benefit plans or equity incentive plans of the Company referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (D) any shares of Common Stock or warrants issued by the Company upon the amendment, exercise, exchange or redemption of warrants outstanding on the date hereof and referred to in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (E) any equity of a Subsidiary issued in connection with other acquisitions of real property or real property companies, provided that the value of such equity security issuances during the Restricted Period individually or in the aggregate does not exceed 10% of the value of the outstanding Common Stock measured as of the Closing Date using the closing price per share of Common Stock on the Nasdaq (with the value of each such equity security equal to the closing price per share of Common Stock on the Nasdaq on the date of issuance of such equity security) provided further that the recipient of any such equity security shall agree not to sell or otherwise dispose of any such equity security for the then remaining term of the Restricted Period, (F) the filing of a registration statement in respect of a dividend reinvestment plan of the Company and any shares of Common Stock issued pursuant thereto, (G) transfers of Common Stock required by Article VII of the Charter, or (H) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a shareholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, for the transfer of shares of Common Stock, provided that (i) such plan does not provide for the transfer of Common Stock during the Restricted Period and (ii) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of Common Stock may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period.

 

 

7.            Covenants of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.

 

8.            Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any “road show” as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Testing-the-Waters Communication, or arise out of, or are based upon, any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by the Underwriters through the Representatives consists of the Underwriter Information.

 

(b)            Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Operating Partnership and their respective directors and officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and the Operating Partnership to such Underwriter, but only with reference to the Underwriter Information.

 

(c)            In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a) or Section 8(b), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless (i) such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) such settlement 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)            To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a) or Section 8(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 8(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Operating Partnership and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Operating Partnership or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

 

 

(e)            The Company and the Operating Partnership and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 8(d) shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

(f)            The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the Operating Partnership contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company or the Operating Partnership, their respective officers or directors or any person controlling the Company or the Operating Partnership and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.

 

9.            Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representatives to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to or on the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange or the NASDAQ Global Market, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States or other relevant jurisdiction shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

 

 

10.            Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.

 

If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as the Representatives may specify, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 10 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the Operating Partnership. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement, in the Time of Sale Prospectus, in the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

 

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company or the Operating Partnership to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company or the Operating Partnership shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

 

11.            Entire Agreement. (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Operating Partnership and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Shares.

 

 

(b)            Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Shares: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm’s length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company, the Operating Partnership or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company and the Operating Partnership only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement, any contemporaneous written agreements and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company and the Operating Partnership, and (iv) none of the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice, or solicitation of any action by the Underwriters with respect to any entity or natural person and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering of the Shares and each of the Company and the Operating Partnership has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate. Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.

 

12.            Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes. (a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

(b)            In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

 

For purposes of this Section a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

 

13.            Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this Agreement. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this Agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

 

14.            Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

 

15.            Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

 

16.            Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ at ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; and Citigroup Global Markets Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention: General Counsel (fax no: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇); and if to the Company or the Operating Partnership shall be delivered, mailed or sent to ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.

 

[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

INDUS REALTY TRUST, INC.

 

By:

/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

		Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

		INDUS RT, LP

By:

INDUS Realty Trust, Inc., its General Partner

 

By:

/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇

		Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
		Title: Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

 

Accepted as of the date hereof  

 

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

Acting on behalf of itself and the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto.

 

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Executive Director
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.
By:	/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
	Name:	▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
	Title:	Vice President

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

 

Schedule I

 

Underwriter		Number of Firm Shares To Be Purchased
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC			691,640
Citigroup Global Markets Inc.			590,085
▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC			306,375
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated			285,950
BTIG, LLC			122,550
BMO Capital Markets Corp.			81,700
JMP Securities LLC			81,700
Total:			2,150,000

  

 

Schedule II

 

Time of Sale Prospectus

 

Preliminary Prospectus issued October 5, 2021

 

The following information:

 

(a)            Price to the public: $66.00 per share.

 

Free Writing Prospectuses

 

INDUS Realty Trust Investor Presentation, dated September 2021

 

INDUS Realty Trust Investor Presentation, dated October 2021

 

Testing the Waters Communications

 

None

 

 

Schedule III

  

Subsidiaries of the Company

 

1.

825 Prospect Hill Road, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

2.

GLNCM, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

3.

INDT LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

4.

INDUS Development I, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

5.

INDUS Development II, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

6.

INDUS Development III, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

7.

INDUS Development IV, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

8.

INDUS Development V, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

9.

INDUS Development VI, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

10.

INDUS Land Development MA, LLC, a Massachusetts limited liability company

 

11.

INDUS Realty, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

12.

INDUS RT, LLC, a Maryland limited liability company

 

13.

INDT TRS LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

14.

▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

15.

Riverbend Allentown Holdings I, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

16.

Riverbend Allentown Holdings II, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

17.

Riverbend Allentown Properties I, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

18.

Riverbend Bethlehem Holdings I, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

19.

Riverbend Bethlehem Holdings II, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

20.

Riverbend Charlotte Properties I, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company

 

21.

Riverbend Charlotte Properties II, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company

 

22.

Riverbend Concord Properties I, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company

 

 

23.

Riverbend Concord Properties II, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company

 

24.

Riverbend Crossings III Holdings, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

25.

Riverbend Development CT, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

26.

Riverbend East ▇▇▇▇▇ Properties I, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

27.

Riverbend East ▇▇▇▇▇ Properties II, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

28.

Riverbend Hanover Properties I, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

29.

Riverbend Hanover Properties II, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

30.

Riverbend Holdings, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

31.

Riverbend Lakeland Properties I, LLC, a Florida limited liability company

 

32.

Riverbend Lehigh Valley Holdings I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

33.

Riverbend Lehigh Valley Holdings II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

34.

Riverbend Lehigh Valley Holdings III, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

35.

Riverbend Lehigh Valley Holdings IV, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company

 

36.

Riverbend Lehigh Valley Holdings V, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

37.

Riverbend Old Statesville, LLC, a North Carolina limited liability company

 

38.

Riverbend Orlando Holdings I, LLC, a Florida limited liability company

 

39.

Riverbend Orlando Holdings III, LLC, a Florida limited liability company

 

40.

Riverbend Orlando Holdings IV, LLC, a Florida limited liability company

 

41.

Riverbend Orlando Holdings V, LLC, a Florida limited liability company

 

42.

Riverbend South Whitehall Properties I, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

43.

Riverbend Upper Macungie Properties I, LLC, a Pennsylvania limited liability company

 

 

44.

▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Farms I, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

45.

Tradeport Development I, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

46.

Tradeport Development II, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

47.

Tradeport Development III, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

48.

Tradeport Development IV, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

49.

Tradeport Development V, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

50.

Tradeport Development VI, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

51.

Tradeport Development VII, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability company

 

52.

WA II, LLC, a Connecticut limited liability

 

 

EXHIBIT A

 

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

_____________, 2021

 

▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC 

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

 

As Representative of the several Underwriters to 

be named in the within-mentioned Underwriting 

Agreement

 

c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC 

▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

 

c/o Citigroup Global Markets Inc. 

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ 

▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned understands that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. LLC (“▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇”) and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (“Citi”) propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with INDUS Realty Trust, Inc., a Maryland real estate investment trust (the “Company”) and INDUS RT LP, a Maryland limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”) providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters, including ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Citi (the “Underwriters”), of [●] shares (the “Shares”) of the common stock, $0.01 par value of the Company (the “Common Stock”).

 

To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Citi on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, and will not publicly disclose an intention to, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 60 days after the date of the final prospectus (the “Restricted Period”) relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned (as such term is used in Rule 13d-3 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”)), by the undersigned or any other securities so owned convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.

 

 

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing precludes the undersigned from engaging in any hedging or other transaction designed or intended, or which could reasonably be expected to lead to or result in, a sale or disposition of any shares of Common Stock, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, even if any such sale or disposition transaction or transactions would be made or executed by or on behalf of someone other than the undersigned. The foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:

 

(a) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering; provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Common Stock or securities convertible into Common Stock acquired in such open market transactions,

 

(b) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or an immediate family member of the undersigned;

 

(c) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock to an immediate family member, a partnership or limited liability company solely for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family member for the undersigned;

 

(d) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock to the undersigned’s affiliates or to any investment fund or other entity controlled or managed by the undersigned;

 

(e) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock as a bona fide gift or other dispositions by will or intestacy;

 

(f) distributions of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock to partners, stockholders or members of the undersigned;

 

(g) transfers of the shares of Common Stock to a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent pursuant to a domestic relations order or an order of competent jurisdiction, provided that the undersigned does not voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers;

 

(h) any transfers of the shares of Common Stock to the Company, as required by participants in the Company’s 2020 Incentive Award Plan or 2009 Stock Option Plan in order to reimburse or pay federal income tax and withholding obligations in connection with vesting of restricted stock grants, restricted stock units or other equity awards, provided that the undersigned does not voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers and provided further that no other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer;

 

 

(i) facilitating the establishment of a trading plan on behalf of a stockholder, officer or director of the Company pursuant to Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act for the transfer of shares of Common Stock, provided that (1) such plan does not provide for the transfer of shares of Common Stock during the Restricted Period and (2) to the extent a public announcement or filing under the Exchange Act, if any, is required of or voluntarily made by or on behalf of the undersigned or the Company regarding the establishment of such plan, such announcement or filing shall include a statement to the effect that no transfer of shares of Common Stock may be made under such plan during the Restricted Period; or

 

(j) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock to a nominee or custodian of a person or entity to whom a disposition or transfer would otherwise be permissible under the exceptions set forth in any of clauses (b), (c), (d), (e) or (f);

 

provided that (1) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to any of clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g) or (j), each donee, transferee, trustee or distributee shall sign and deliver a lock-up agreement substantially in the form of this agreement, (2) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to any of clauses (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) or (j) (provided that, in the case of (j), such shall not apply to any transfer or distribution pursuant to any of clauses (g), (h) or (i)), no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of Common Stock, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Restricted Period, and (3) it shall be a condition to any transfer pursuant to either of clauses (g) or (h) that any filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act of such transfer shall clearly indicate in the footnotes thereto the nature and conditions of such transfer.

 

For purposes of this agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.

 

In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Citi on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the Restricted Period, make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

The undersigned understands that the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriters are relying upon this agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.

 

 

The undersigned acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters have not provided any recommendation or investment advice nor have the Underwriters solicited any action from the undersigned with respect to the Public Offering of the Shares, and the undersigned has consulted their own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent deemed appropriate. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that, although the Underwriters may provide certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures or other related documentation to you in connection with the Public Offering, the Underwriters are not making a recommendation to you to participate in the Public Offering or sell any Shares at the price determined in the Public Offering, and nothing set forth in such disclosures or documentation is intended to suggest that any Underwriter is making such a recommendation. The undersigned further acknowledges and agrees that none of the Underwriters has made any recommendation or provided any investment or other advice to the undersigned with respect to this agreement or the subject matter hereof, and the undersigned has consulted its own legal, accounting, financial, regulatory, tax and other advisors with respect to this agreement and the subject matter hereof to the extent the undersigned has deemed appropriate.

 

Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriters. In the event that the Company delivers written notice to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Citi prior to the execution of the Underwriting Agreement that it has determined not to pursue the Public Offering, this agreement will automatically terminate.

 

This agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York. Electronic signatures complying with the New York Electronic Signatures and Records Act (N.Y. State Tech. §§ 301-309), as amended from time to time, or other applicable law will be deemed original signatures for purposes of this agreement. Transmission by telecopy, electronic mail or other transmission method of an executed counterpart of this agreement will constitute due and sufficient delivery of such counterpart.

 

	Very truly yours,
	(Name)
	(Address)

 

 

EXHIBIT B

 

FORM OF OPINION OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP

 

 

EXHIBIT C

 

FORM OF TAX OPINION OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP

 

 

EXHIBIT D

 

FORM OF OPINION OF ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP

 

 

EXHIBIT E

 

FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY GENERAL COUNSEL