ABACUS LIFE, INC. [●]% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2028 UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
$[●]
[●]% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2028
[•], 2023
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., As representative of the several Underwriters
c/o ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Abacus Life, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreements with ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. (“▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇”) and each of the other underwriters named in Exhibit A hereto (each, an “Underwriter,” and collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as provided in Section 7 hereof), for whom ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ is acting as the representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), (i) with respect to the issuance and sale by the Company of $[●] aggregate principal amount (the “Initial Securities”) of the Company’s [●]% Fixed Rate Senior Notes due 2028 (the “Notes”), and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Exhibit A hereto, and (ii) with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of $[●] aggregate principal amount of Notes (the “Option Securities”) to cover over-allotments, if any. The Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the Option Securities are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Securities.”
The Company has filed, pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “1933 Act”), with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-274553) relating to the Securities.
The registration statement, as amended, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time it first became effective, including all documents filed as a part thereof, and all documents (if any) incorporated therein by reference, and including any information contained in a prospectus subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act (“Rule 424”) with respect to the offer, issuance and/or sale of the Securities and deemed to be a part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the 1933 Act (“Rule 430A”), and also including any registration statement relating to the Securities filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the 1933 Act (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” Each prospectus used prior to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, and each prospectus that omitted information pursuant to Rule 430A that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement (including all documents (if any) incorporated therein by reference) is hereinafter referred to as a “Preliminary Prospectus,”. The prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the 1933 Act) is hereinafter referred to as the
“Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any supplements or amendments thereto, filed with the Commission after the date of filing of the Prospectus under Rule 424 and prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities by the Underwriters. The Notes will be issued under an indenture, to be dated [•], 2023 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by a supplemental indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), to be dated [•], 2023, between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Notes will be issued as fully registered securities to Cede & Co. (or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)), as nominee of DTC.
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“▇▇▇▇▇”). In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties hereby agree as follows:
1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time defined in Section 1(a)(1) hereof, as of the Closing Date referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Option Closing Date (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:
(1) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-1 under the 1933 Act. The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with.
At the effective time of the Registration Statement (including the deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430A or otherwise under the 1933 Act) and at the Closing Date (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at each Option Closing Date), the Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Prospectus, together with any amendments or supplements thereto, at their respective times of issuance and at the Closing Date, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act. Neither the Prospectus nor the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Date (and, if any Option Securities are purchased, at each Option Closing Date), included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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.
As of the Applicable Time, the Statutory Prospectus (as defined below) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The Registration Statement contains, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto contain and will contain, all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and conform and will conform to the requirements of, the 1933 Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “TIA”).
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As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:
“Applicable Time” means [•] [a.m.]/[p.m.] (Eastern time) on [•], 2023, or such other time as agreed by the Company and the Underwriters.
“Statutory Prospectus” as of any time means the prospectus that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, together with the pricing terms set forth in Exhbit B hereto.
The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described in Section 6(a).
The Preliminary Prospectus complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act, and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus or other materials, if any, permitted by the 1933 Act.
(2) Independent Accountants. The accounting firms that certified the financial statements and supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act.
(3) Financial Statements. The financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries (as defined below) at the dates indicated; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. No other financial statements are required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus under the 1933 Act. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present in all material respects the required information and have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(4) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or other event or development that would prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and under the Indenture and the Securities (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or its Subsidiaries, other than those arising in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise and (C) there has been no dividend or other distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
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(5) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(6) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. Each “significant subsidiary” of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X) and any other subsidiaries of the Company that in the aggregate would constitute a significant subsidiary (each, a “Subsidiary” and, collectively, the “Subsidiaries”) has been duly organized and is validly existing as an entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, has such entity power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign entity to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding equity interests or capital stock, respectively, of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable (to the extent applicable) and is owned by the Company, directly or through a Subsidiary, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding equity interests or shares of capital stock, respectively, of any Subsidiary was issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary.
(7) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Company’s Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2023 (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement or pursuant to separate offerings, reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus or pursuant to the exercise of convertible or exchangeable securities, options or warrants referred to in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus). The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock in the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock in the Company was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(8) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(9) Authorization and Description of Securities. The Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture. The information set forth under the caption “Description of the Notes” in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to summarize provisions of the Company’s certificate of incorporation and bylaws or Delaware law, the Indenture and the Securities, fairly and accurately summarize such provisions in all material respects. The Indenture and the Securities materially conform to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. The form of the Securities will conform to the Indenture and the listing requirements for the Nasdaq Capital Market (“Nasdaq”).
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(10) Authorization of Indenture. The Base Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture have been duly authorized by the Company, and at the Closing Date, will be duly executed and delivered by the Company and, when duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee, will constitute legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles. The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company for sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture relating thereto, against payment of the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will constitute legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles. The Indenture at the Closing Date will have been duly qualified under the TIA.
(11) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its organizational documents or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”) except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein and in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (including the issuance and sale of the Securities, and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or Repayment Events or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of (i) the provisions of the organizational documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of their assets, properties or operations, except in the case of clause (ii) only, for such violations that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any event or condition which 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 its Subsidiaries.
(12) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or any of its Subsidiaries’ contractors, which, in either case, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(13) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which, if determined adversely to the Company, would result in a Material Adverse Effect or materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(14) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, software and design licenses, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(15) Cybersecurity. (A) (i) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have materially complied and are presently in material compliance with all internal and external privacy policies, contractual obligations, industry standards, applicable laws, statutes, judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or other governmental or regulatory authority and any other legal obligations, in each case, relating to the collection, use, transfer, import, export, storage, protection, disposal and disclosure by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries of personal, personally identifiable, household, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Data Security Obligations”, and such data, “Data”); (ii) the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has not received any notification of or complaint regarding and is unaware of any other facts that, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably indicate material non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation; and (iii) there is no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened alleging non-compliance with any Data Security Obligation that would, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. (B) The Company and its Subsidiaries have used reasonable efforts to establish and maintain, and have established, maintained, implemented and materially complied with, reasonable information technology, information security, cyber security and data protection controls, policies and procedures, including oversight, access controls, encryption, technological and physical safeguards and business continuity/disaster recovery and security plans that are designed to protect against and prevent breach, destruction, loss, unauthorized distribution, use, access, disablement, misappropriation or modification, or other compromise or misuse of or relating to any information technology system or Data used in connection with the operation of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ businesses (“Breach”). To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no such Breach that would, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been notified of and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any such Breach that would, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.
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(16) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder or under the Indenture or the Securities, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (collectively with the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “1934 Act” or state securities or blue sky laws or as may be required by Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or required by Nasdaq in connection with the listing of the Securities.
(17) Absence of Manipulation. None of the Company or any of its affiliates has taken, nor will take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(18) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its Subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their business as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; the Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, 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, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(19) Title to Property. None of the Company or its Subsidiaries owns any real property. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries hold a good and valid leasehold estate in all of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, free and clear of all liens, except such as (a) are described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus or (b) do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially and adversely affect the value of such property or do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its Subsidiaries, respectively. All of the leases and subleases material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries holds properties described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the Company or such Subsidiary to the continued possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or sublease.
(20) Investment Company Act. The Company is not required, and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be required, to register as an “investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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(21) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus or as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any applicable judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products, asbestos-containing materials or mold (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (B) the Company and its Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violations, investigations or proceedings relating to any applicable Environmental Law against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries and (D) to the knowledge of the Company, there are no events or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of its Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.
(22) Registration Rights. Other than those registration rights contained in agreements filed as exhibits to the Company’s reports filed under the 1934 Act or as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus (which registration rights are either not applicable to the offering contemplated by this Agreement or with respect to which waivers have been obtained), there are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.
(23) Accounting Controls. The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (D) 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 (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present in all material respects the required information and are prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (1) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (2) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially adversely affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(24) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures that are effective to perform the functions for which they were established and are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the 1934 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, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.
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(25) Compliance with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with all applicable provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and all rules and regulations promulgated thereunder or implementing the provisions thereof.
(26) Payment of Taxes. The Company has timely filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse Effect), whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, and has paid all taxes required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being contested in good faith or as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as described in the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus. All such returns are true and correct in all material respects.
(27) Insurance. The Company and its Subsidiaries carry or are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with reputable and, to the knowledge of the Company, financially sound insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all such insurance is in full force and effect. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its Subsidiaries will not be able (A) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
(28) ERISA Compliance. Each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) maintained or contributed to by the Company or any Subsidiary or for which the Company or any Subsidiary or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations or group of trades or business (whether or not incorporated) under common control within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) that includes the Company or any Subsidiary) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to, ERISA and the Code, except for noncompliance that could not reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan (excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption) that could reasonably be expected to result in a material liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, as applicable, has been satisfied (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) except as could not reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan) except as could not reasonably be
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expected to result in material liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any Plan subject to Title IV of ERISA that either has resulted, or could reasonably be expected to result, in material liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (vi) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation (“PBGC”), in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan,” within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (vii) there is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the PBGC or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan maintained by the Company or any Subsidiary or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, any other Plan, that could reasonably be expected to result in material liability to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole. A material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company and its Subsidiaries in the current fiscal year of the Company compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year has not occurred or is not reasonably likely to occur.
(29) No Personal Loans. As of the date hereof, there are no outstanding personal loans made, directly or indirectly, by the Company to any director or executive officer of the Company.
(30) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offense under any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the Company and its Subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
(31) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, 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, and the applicable money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
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(32) OFAC. None of the Company, any of its Subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently the subject or target of any U.S. sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury Department, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions; and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of or business with any person, or in a country or territory that, at the time of such financing, is the subject of Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as an underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions. The Company and each of its 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.
(33) Finder’s Fees. The Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated, except as may otherwise exist with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement.
(b) Officers’ Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or its Subsidiaries delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
2. Purchase Sale and Delivery of the Securities.
(a) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, the respective aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of the Underwriter in Exhibit A hereto, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the respective aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Exhibit A hereto, plus any additional aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 hereof, subject to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities, in each case at a purchase price of [•]% of the aggregate principal amount (the “Purchase Price”).
(b) ln addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase all or any portion of the Option Securities at a price equal to the Purchase Price (without giving effect to any accrued interest from the Closing Date to the applicable Option Closing Date). The option hereby granted will expire at 11:59 P.M. New York City time) on the 30th day after the date hereof and may be exercised on up to three occasions in whole or in part only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the aggregate principal amount of Options Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (an “Option Closing Date”) shall be determined by the Representative, but shall not be earlier than two or later than five full business days after the exercise of said option, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, nor in any event prior to the Closing
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Date. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, the Company will sell to the Underwriters that proportion of the aggregate principal amount of Option Securities then being purchased, and each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the aggregate principal amount of Option Securities then being purchased, which the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth in Exhibit A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 hereof, bears to the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representative in its discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities.
(c) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of any certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ Lord LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, at 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) on [•], 2023 (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 7 hereof), or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Closing Date”).
ln addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the Purchase Price for, and delivery of any certificates for, such Option Securities shall be made at 9:00 a.m. (New York City time) at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company, on each Option Closing Date.
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a single bank account designated by the Company against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representative, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase. The Representative, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Initial Securities or the Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(d) Certificates for the Initial Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representative may request in writing at least two full business days before the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be.
3. Expenses. The Company covenants and agrees to pay the reasonable costs and expenses relating to the following matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto) and the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to either of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus, and the Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the costs and expenses incurred by the Company arising out of the marketing of the sale of the Securities to investors; (iv) the preparation, printing, authentication, issuance and delivery of the Securities; (v) the printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all closing documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the offering of the Securities; (vi) the listing of the Securities on Nasdaq; (vii) any registration or qualification
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of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including filing fees); (viii) any filings required to be made with FINRA (including filing fees); (ix) all reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including legal fees and expenses, marketing, syndication and travel expenses; provided, that such fees and expenses, including legal fees and legal expenses, shall not exceed $[•] without the prior written consent of the Company and shall be reimbursed through the Representative; (x) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel for the Company; (xi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee; and (xii) all other reasonable costs and expenses incurred by the Company.
4. Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the Underwriters that:
(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished the Representative a copy for its review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement or Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to which the Representative reasonably objects. Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration Statement has become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A under the 1933 Act, or filing of the Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424, the Company will cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved by the Representative with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the Representative (1) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, will have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement will have been filed with the Commission, (2) when, prior to termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement will have been filed or become effective, (3) of any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (4) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, and (5) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(b) The Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A and will notify the Representative immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, of (i) the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement relating to the Securities or the filing of any supplement or amendment to the Prospectus, (ii) the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or the filing of a new registration statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or such new registration statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or of any examination pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1933 Act concerning the Registration Statement and (v) if the Company becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Securities. The Company will promptly effect the filings required under Rule 424, in the manner and within the time periods required by Rules 424 and 430A, notify the Representative of the filing thereof; and take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the Prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424 was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file the Prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
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(c) If at any time when the Prospectus is required by the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event will occur or condition will exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of outside counsel to the Underwriters or the Company, to amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it will be necessary, in the reasonable opinion of such outside counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement, to file a new registration statement, or to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the Company will (i) promptly prepare and file with the Commission, such amendment, supplement or new registration statement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to comply with such requirements, provided that the Company shall not make any filing to which the Representative reasonably objects, (ii) use its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable, and (iii) furnish to the Representative, without charge, such number of copies of such amendment, supplement or new registration statement as the Representative may reasonably request.
(d) The Company will cooperate with the Representative in endeavoring to qualify the Securities for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably have designated in writing and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose; provided the Company will not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period as the Representative may reasonably request for distribution of the Securities.
(e) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representative, from time to time, as many copies of any Statutory Prospectus as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representative during the period when delivery of a Prospectus is required under the 1933 Act, as many copies of the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to the Representative at or before the Closing Date, a copy of the signed Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including all exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to the Representative such number of copies of the Registration Statement (including such number of copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may reasonably be requested) and of all amendments thereto, as the Representative may reasonably request.
(f) The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus.
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(g) If the Statutory Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event will occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Statutory Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or to make the statements therein not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Statutory Prospectus to comply with any applicable law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters and prepare, file with the Commission (if required) and furnish to the Underwriters and any dealers an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Statutory Prospectus.
(h) The Company will make generally available to its security holders, as soon as it is practicable to do so, an earnings statement or statements (which need not be audited), which will satisfy the requirements of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act and Rule 158 under the 1933 Act.
(i) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or other securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company or derivative of debt securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (or agreement for such) will be made for a period of 30 days after the date of the Prospectus, directly or indirectly, by the Company, otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of the Representative.
(j) The Company will apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Securities as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(k) The Company will cooperate with the Representative and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the offered Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.
(l) The Company will maintain a trustee, paying agent and registrar for the Notes.
(m) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities, except as may be allowed by law.
(n) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1933 Act and the 1934 Act within the time periods required by such act, rule or regulation. To the extent the distribution of Securities has been completed, the Company will not be required to provide the Underwriters with reports it is required to file with the Commission under the 1934 Act.
(o) The Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to maintain a rating by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the 1934 Act (“NRSRO”) while any Notes remain outstanding.
(p) The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect within thirty (30) days of the Closing Date and to maintain the listing of the Notes on Nasdaq.
5. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities on the Closing Date and the Option Securities, if any, on the applicable Option Closing Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the Applicable Time, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein, and to the performance by the Company of the covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
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(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective and the Prospectus shall have been filed as required by Rules 424 or 430A, as applicable, within the time period prescribed by, and in compliance with the 1933 Act, and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been disclosed to the Representative and complied with to its reasonable satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act shall have been taken or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated or threatened by the Commission and no injunction, restraining order or order of any nature by a Federal or state court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing Date that would prevent the issuance of the Securities.
(b) The Representative shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇ Lord LLP, counsel for the Company, an opinion and a negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Representative in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.
(c) The Representative shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Bird LLP, counsel to the Representative, an opinion and a negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.
(d) The Representative shall have received, on each of the date hereof, the Closing Date and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, of each of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters (or as otherwise accepted by the Representative), delivered in accordance with Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor standard), with respect to the financial statements and certain financial and statistical information contained in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative, on the Closing Date and, if applicable, the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate substantially in the form of Exhibit C.
(f) The Company and the Trustee shall have executed and delivered each of the Base Indenture, the Supplemental Indenture and the Securities.
(g) The Company shall have furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling the Underwriters to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated.
(h) The application for listing of the Securities shall have been submitted to Nasdaq.
(i) At the Closing Date, the Securities shall be rated at least BBB by ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Ratings Company and since the execution of this Agreement, there shall not have been any decrease in the rating of any debt of the Company by any NRSRO, or any written notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, and no such organization shall have publicly announced it has under surveillance or review any such rating.
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If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 5 shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated by the Representative by notifying the Company of such termination in writing at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be.
In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 4 and 7 hereof).
6. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriters and each person who controls the Underwriters within the meaning of either Section 15 of the l933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act:
(i) Against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, arising out of any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement for the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof (and including any post-effective amendment), the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus or in any testing-the-waters materials authorized in writing by or prepared by the Company to be used in connection with the public offering of the Securities (or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing), or arising out of or based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representative), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the Statutory Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: (i) their names and (ii) the third and fourth sentences of the fifth paragraph, the first and second sentences of the eleventh paragraph and the twelfth through fourteenth paragraphs of text, in each case, under the caption “Underwriting.”
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(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors, officers who sign the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, to the same extent, as the indemnity from the Company to the Underwriters set forth in Section 6(a)(i) and the provision thereto, but only with reference to written information relating to the Underwriters furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. The Underwriters agree to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any loss. claim, damage, liability or action to which they are entitled to indemnification pursuant to this Section 6(b). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters may otherwise have.
(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 6, such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing. No indemnification provided for in Section 6 shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Section 6(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related and was materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the failure to give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account of the provisions of Section 6. In case any such proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as incurred 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 at its own expense. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days of presentation) the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel, (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 or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable period of time after notice of commencement of the action. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representative in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) and by the Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(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. In addition, the indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or proceeding and does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
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(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 6 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 6(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Securities. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case, as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 6(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 6(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 6(d), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
7. Default by One or More Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall use reasonable efforts, within 36 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 36-hour period, then:
(a) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters; or
(b) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Option Closing Date which occurs after the Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities that were to have been purchased and sold on such Option Closing Date, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting underwriter.
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No action taken pursuant to this Section 7 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of an Option Closing Date which is after the Closing Date, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, the Representative shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 7.
8. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company (a) at any time prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date (if different from the Closing Date and then only as to Option Securities) if any of the following has occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Statutory Prospectus and the Prospectus, any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which in the judgment of the Representative is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, (ii) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or declaration of war or national emergency or other national or international calamity or crisis (including, without limitation, an act of terrorism) or change in economic or political conditions, if the effect of such outbreak, escalation, declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets of the United States that would, in the judgment of the Representative, be material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq or limitation on prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading), (iv) the declaration of a banking moratorium by United States or New York State authorities or (v) the suspension of trading of any security of the Company by Nasdaq, the Commission or any other governmental authority; or (b) as provided in Section 6 of this Agreement.
9. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its respective officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Underwriters or any of their respective officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 7 hereof. The provisions of Section 3, Section 6, Section 9, Section 13, Section 15 and Section 16 shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
10. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity (as defined below) becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime (as defined below), the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
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(b) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate (as defined below) of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights (as defined below) 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.
(c) For purposes of this Section 10, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 184l(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 entity” 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 11 of the ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt, and will be mailed (postage prepaid, certified or registered mail, return receipt requested), delivered or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication:
| (a) | if to the Underwriters: |
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: Equity Capital Markets
with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ General Counsel at
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
New York, New York 10020
(email: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇.▇▇▇)
with an additional copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Bird LLP
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
New York, New York 10016
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (which copy shall not constitute notice)
| (b) | if to the Company: |
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
Orlando, Florida 32835
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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with an additional copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇ Lord LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Suite 4100
Chicago, IL 60606
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇(which copy shall not constitute notice)
12. Successors. This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company, and their respective successors, executors, administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such purchase.
13. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the offering and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which an Underwriter may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters), and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that the Company is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that any Underwriter has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.
14. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the subject matter hereof.
15. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.
16. Waiver of Jury Trial. The parties hereby irrevocably waive, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
18. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
19. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.
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[Remainder of Page intentional) Blank]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| Abacus Life, Inc. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: |
| |
| Title: |
| |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first-written above.
| ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: |
| |
| Title: |
| |
| For itself and as Representative of the Underwriters named in Exhibit A hereto | ||
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
EXHIBIT A
| Name of Underwriter |
Principal Amount of Initial Securities |
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| ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. |
||||
| [•] |
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| Total |
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|
|
|
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EXHIBIT B
ORALLY CONVEYED PRICING INFORMATION
| 1. | Public offering price: $ |
| 2. | Interest rate: % |
| 3. | Date interest starts accruing: |
| 4. | Initial aggregate principal amount being offered: |
| 5. | Net proceeds to the Company, before expenses: |
EXHIBIT C