PRIORITY INCOME FUND, INC. (a Maryland Corporation) [●] Shares of [●]% Series L Cumulative Preferred Stock UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit (h)(3)
(a Maryland Corporation)
[●] Shares of [●]% Series L Cumulative Preferred Stock
[January [●], 2022]
Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
As Representative of the several Underwriters Listed on Schedule A hereto
▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Priority Income Fund, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Fund”), the Fund’s investment adviser, Priority Senior Secured Income Management, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Adviser”), and the Fund’s administrator, Prospect Administration LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (the “Administrator”), each confirms its agreement with Ladenburg ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc. (“Ladenburg”) and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively with Ladenburg, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom Ladenburg is acting as representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”), with respect to the issue and sale by the Fund and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective number of shares set forth in said Schedule A hereto of an aggregate of [●] shares of the Fund’s [●]% Series L Cumulative Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Firm Shares”). The Fund also proposes to sell to the several Underwriters up to an additional [●] shares of the Fund’s [●]% Series K Cumulative Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Additional Shares”), if and to the extent that the Representative shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such Additional Shares granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Shares.”
The Shares will be authorized by, and subject to the terms and conditions of, the Fund’s (i) Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement, as amended (the “Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement”), (ii) Articles Supplementary Establishing and Fixing the Rights and Preferences of Term Preferred Shares, dated June 28, 2018 (the “Term Preferred Articles Supplementary”), (iii) Articles Supplementary increasing the number of authorized shares of the Fund’s Term Preferred Shares, dated April 16, 2019 and March 15, 2021 (collectively, the “Reclassifying Articles”) and (iv) Appendix L to the Term Preferred Articles Supplementary establishing and fixing the rights and preferences of the [●]% Series L Cumulative Preferred Stock to be dated [January ●], 2022, together with the Term Preferred Articles Supplementary and the Reclassifying Articles, the “Articles Supplementary” and together with the Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement, the “Articles”).
The Fund understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Shares as soon as the Representative deems advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
Pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”), and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “1933 Act Regulations”), and in compliance with the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”) and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “1940 Act Regulations,” together with the 1933 Act Regulations, the “Rules and Regulations”), the Fund has prepared and filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-261816 and 811-22725) to register the offer and sale of the Shares. The Fund has filed with the Commission a notification on Form N-8A of registration of the Fund as an investment company under the 1940 Act (the “1940 Act Notification”).
The registration statement, as amended, including the exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, omitted from the registration statement pursuant to Rule 430A (the “Rule 430A Information”), any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the 1933 Act, and any post-effective amendment thereto, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement.” The preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement and subject to completion dated [January [●], 2022] that omitted the Rule 430A Information, if any, and was distributed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement is herein called the “Preliminary Prospectus.” The Fund has prepared and will file with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424 under the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, a final prospectus (the “Prospectus”) in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“▇▇▇▇▇”).
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by the 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”), which is incorporated by reference in or otherwise deemed by 1933 Act Regulations to be a part of or included in the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
Section 1. Representations and Warranties.
A.Representations and Warranties by the Fund and the Adviser. The Fund and the Adviser, jointly and severally, represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time (as defined below) and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c)(i) hereof (and, if any Additional Shares are purchased, at the applicable Option Closing Date referred to in Section 2(c)(ii)), and agree with each Underwriter, as follows:
i.Compliance With Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement has become effective under the 1933 Act and has been filed under the 1940 Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act, or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, and no proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Fund or the Adviser, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto (filed before the Closing Time) became or will become effective under the 1933 Act and at the Closing Time, as hereinafter defined (and, if any Additional Shares are purchased, at the applicable Option Closing Date, as hereinafter defined), the Registration Statement, the 1940 Act Notification and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations 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. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any Additional Shares are purchased, at the applicable 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, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Fund or the Adviser by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use therein.
As of the Applicable Time (as defined below), (i) the information set forth on Schedule C hereto, which information complies with the Rules and Regulations, including Rule 433 under the 1933 Act, and has been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations on [January [●], 2022] (the “Pricing Term Sheet”) and (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus, considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), 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.
As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:
“Applicable Time” means [●] p.m. (Eastern time) on [January [●], 2022] or such other time as agreed by the Fund and the Representative.
“Additional Disclosure Item” means any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act and which the parties agree, for the purposes of this Agreement, includes (x) any “advertisement” as defined in Rule 482 under the 1933 Act and treated by the Fund as subject to Rule 482 under the 1933 Act and the Rules and Regulations; and (y) any sales literature, materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Fund in connection with the marketing of the offering
of the Shares, including any road show or investor presentations (including slides and scripts relating thereto) made to investors by or on behalf of the Fund. Any Additional Disclosure Item the use of which has been consented to by the Representative is listed on Schedule D hereto.
The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus complied or will comply as to form when so filed in all material respects with the Rules and Regulations and the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
ii.Incorporation of Documents by Reference. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, when they became effective or at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations or the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the “1934 Act Regulations”) or the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations, as applicable, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, (A) at the time the Registration Statement became effective, (B) at the earlier of the time the Prospectus was first used and the date and time of the first contract of sale of Shares in this offering and (C) at the Closing Time (and, if any Additional Shares are purchased, at the applicable Option Closing Date), 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.
iii.Independent Accountants. The accountants who audited or reviewed the financial statements and supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement have confirmed to the Fund their status as independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
iv.Financial Statements. The financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”) the financial position of the Fund at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Fund for the periods specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity with GAAP. The supporting schedules, if any, present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement.
v.No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary 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 Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Fund, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Fund, and (C) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Fund on any class of its capital stock, in each case, other than as disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus.
vi.Good Standing of the Fund. The Fund has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement; and the Fund 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, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.
vii.No Subsidiaries. The Fund has no subsidiaries.
viii.Exchange Act and Investment Company Status. The Fund is, and at all times through the completion of the transactions contemplated hereby will be, in compliance in all material respects with the applicable terms and conditions of the 1934 Act, the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations. The Fund is duly registered with the Commission under the 1940 Act as a non-diversified, closed-end management investment company, and no order of suspension or revocation of such registration has been issued or proceedings therefor initiated or, to the Fund’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
ix.Officers and Directors. No person is serving or acting as an officer, director or investment adviser of the Fund except in accordance with the provisions of the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations and the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the “Advisers Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated under the Advisers Act (the “Advisers Act Rules and Regulations”). Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, to the Fund’s knowledge after due inquiry, no director of the Fund is an “Interested Person” (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of the Fund
or an “Affiliated Person” (as defined in the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) of any Underwriter listed in Schedule A hereto. For purposes of the second sentence of this Section, the Fund is entitled to rely on representations from such directors.
x.Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Fund is as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as of the date thereof. All issued and outstanding shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Fund (the “Common Shares”) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. All issued and outstanding shares of the Fund’s 7.00% Series D Term Preferred Stock Due 2029 (the “Series D Preferred Shares”), 6.625% Series F Term Preferred Stock Due 2027, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series F Preferred Shares”), 6.250% Series G Term Preferred Stock Due 2026, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series G Preferred Shares”), 6.00% Series H Term Preferred Stock Due 2026, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series H Preferred Shares”), 6.125% Series I Term Preferred Stock Due 2028, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series I Preferred Shares”), 6.000% Series J Term Preferred Stock due 2028, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series J Preferred Shares”) and 7.000% Series L Cumulative Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Series K Preferred Shares,” and together with the Series D Preferred Shares, the Series F Preferred Shares, the Series G Preferred Shares, the Series H Preferred Shares, the Series I Preferred Shares and the Series K Preferred Shares, the “Preferred Shares”), have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding Common Shares or Preferred Shares of the Fund were issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund.
xi.Authorization of Agreement; Compliance. This Agreement has been duly authorized and executed and will be delivered by the Fund. This Agreement, the Articles Supplementary, the Second Articles of Amendment and Restatement, the Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (the “Bylaws”) and the Fund Agreements (as defined below) comply with all applicable provisions of the 1940 Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations, and all approvals of such documents required under the 1940 Act by the Fund’s shareholders and Board of Directors have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
xii.Authorization and Description of Shares. The Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Fund have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Fund pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The Shares conform to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same; and the issuance of the Shares is not
subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Fund. The Shares conform to the provisions of the Articles Supplementary and the relative rights, preferences, interests and powers of such Shares are set forth in the Articles Supplementary. The Articles Supplementary have been, or by the Closing Time will be, duly authorized and executed by the Fund in compliance with the General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland and filed by the Fund with the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation. The Articles Supplementary are, or by the Closing Time will be, in full force and effect. The certificates for the Shares are in valid and legal form.
xiii.Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. The Fund is not in violation of the Articles or its Bylaws, each as amended or supplemented to date, or in default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Fund is a party, including each of the Fund Agreements, or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Fund is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”) except for such violations or defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Investment Advisory Agreement dated as of May 30, 2019, the Administration Agreement dated as of May 9, 2013 and the Custodian Agreement dated as of October 5, 2012 and the Transfer Agency and Services Agreement dated as of May 9, 2013, referred to in the Registration Statement (as used herein, individually the “Investment Advisory Agreement,” the “Administration Agreement,” the “Custody Agreement” and the “Transfer Agency Agreement” respectively and collectively the “Fund Agreements”) and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the Fund Agreements and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Use of Proceeds”) and compliance by the Fund with its obligations thereunder have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate 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 Fund pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in (i) any violation of the provisions of the Articles or Bylaws of the Fund 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 Fund or any of its assets, properties or operations, except with respect to (ii) only, for such violations that would
not, individually or in the aggregate, 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 Fund.
xiv.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 Fund or the Adviser, as the case may be, threatened, against or affecting the Fund, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (other than as disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets of the Fund or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Fund of its obligations hereunder. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Fund is a party or of which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.
xv.Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or the documents incorporated by reference therein) or to be filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required by the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act or by the Rules and Regulations.
xvi.Absence of Manipulation. The Fund has not taken, and the Fund will not take (other than as contemplated in its dividend reinvestment plan or share repurchase plan), directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund, or to stabilize, in connection with the offering of the Shares, except to the extent authorized by applicable law, including without limitation by Rule 104 of Regulation M (“Reg M”) under the 1934 Act.
xvii.Possession of Intellectual Property; Fund Name. The Fund owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate licenses, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property (collectively, “Intellectual Property”) necessary to carry on the business now operated by the Fund, except where failure to do so would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and the Fund has not
received any notice or is not 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 Fund therein.
xviii.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 Fund of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act, the Rules and Regulations, or under the rules of the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or the filing requirements and rules of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or state securities laws.
xix.Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Fund possesses such permits, licenses, approvals, consents, exemptive orders and other authorizations (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to operate its properties and to conduct the business as contemplated in the Prospectus, except where failure so to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Fund is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Fund has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
xx.Additional Disclosure Items. Each Additional Disclosure Item, issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, does not and will not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and each such Additional Disclosure Item, as supplemented by and taken together with the General Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that this representation and warranty does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Additional Disclosure Item made in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Fund or the Adviser by or on behalf of the Underwriter through you expressly for use therein. All Additional Disclosure Items in all material respects complied and will comply with (i) the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act and the Rules and Regulations, including without limitation all applicable filing (where required), legending and record keeping requirements, and (ii) the rules and interpretations of FINRA. Without the prior consent of the Representative, other than as set forth in Schedule D hereto, the Fund has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Additional Disclosure Item.
xxi.Subchapter M. The Fund operates in compliance in all material respects with the requirements to be taxed as and has duly elected to be taxed as (which election has not been revoked), a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (“Subchapter M of the Code” and the “Code,” respectively). The Fund intends to direct the investment of the proceeds of the offering described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus in such a manner as to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code and, at all times since its inception, has qualified as a regulated investment company under Subchapter M of the Code.
xxii.Distribution of Offering Materials. The Fund has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of (A) the Closing Time (and, if any Additional Shares are purchased, at the applicable Option Closing Date) and (B) completion of the distribution of the Shares, will not distribute any offering material to the public in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Additional Disclosure Item identified on Schedule D or otherwise consented to by the Representative, the Prospectus, or other materials, if any, used in connection with the offering and permitted by the 1933 Act or the 1940 Act or the Rules and Regulations.
xxiii.Accounting Controls and Disclosure Controls. The Fund 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 and with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets and to maintain compliance with the books and records requirements under the 1940 Act and the 1940 Act Regulations; (C) access to Fund assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for Fund assets is compared with the existing Fund assets at reasonable intervals and action deemed appropriate by the Fund is taken with respect to any
differences. The Fund has effective disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 30a-3 under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in the reports that it files or submits under the 1940 Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Fund in the reports that it files or submits under the 1940 Act is accumulated and communicated to the Fund’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. Except as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, since the end of the Fund’s most recent audited fiscal year there has been (I) no material weakness in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (II) no change in the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Fund’s internal control over financial reporting.
xxiv.Pending Proceedings and Examinations. The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the 1933 Act, and the Fund is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Shares.
xxv.Absence of Undisclosed Payments. Neither the Fund nor, to the Fund’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Fund, has made any payment of funds of the Fund or received or retained any funds, which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and which payment has not been so disclosed.
xxvi.Material Agreements. The Fund Agreements have each been duly authorized by all requisite action on the part of the Fund and executed and delivered by the Fund, as of the dates noted therein, and each complies with applicable provisions of the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations, the Advisers Act and the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations, as applicable, in all material respects. Assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the other parties thereto with respect to the Fund Agreements, each Fund Agreement constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Fund, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally, and by general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and except as rights to indemnification or contribution thereunder may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability or by federal or state laws. There are no contracts or documents which are
required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or the documents incorporated by reference therein) or to be filed as exhibits thereto by the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1940 Act or the 1940 Act Regulations which have not been so described and filed as required.
xxvii.Registration Rights. There are no persons with registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities of the Fund registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Fund under the 1933 Act.
xxviii.Asset Restrictions. There are no material restrictions, limitations or regulations with respect to the ability of the Fund to invest its assets as described in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus, other than as described therein.
xxix.Payment of Taxes. All United States federal income tax returns of the Fund required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments that are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The Fund has filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law except insofar as the failure to file such returns would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, and has paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Fund, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Fund in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or reassessments for additional tax for any years not finally determined, except to the extent of any inadequacy that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. All material taxes which the Fund is required by law to withhold or to collect for payment have been duly withheld and collected and have been paid to the appropriate governmental authority or agency or have been accrued, reserved against and entered on the books of the Fund.
xxx.Insurance. The Fund carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and reputable insurers, in such amounts and covering such risks as are 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 Fund has no reason to believe that it will not be able to (A) renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (B) 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, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect.
xxxi.Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Fund believes to be reliable and accurate, and the Fund has obtained written consent to the use of such data from such sources.
xxxii.Tax Treatment of the Preferred Shares. For federal income tax purposes, the Shares will constitute equity of the Fund.
xxxiii.Anti-Bribery Laws. Neither the Fund, nor, to the knowledge of the Fund, any director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of the Fund 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, or the UK ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Anti-Bribery 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 Anti-Bribery Laws) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the Anti-Bribery Laws, and the Fund and, to the knowledge of the Fund, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the Anti-Bribery Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures reasonably designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
xxxiv.Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Fund are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and such other U.S. anti-money laundering or similar U.S. laws applicable to the Fund, including any rules or regulations, issued, administered or enforced by any U.S. governmental agency (collectively, “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 Fund with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Fund, threatened.
xxxv.OFAC. Neither the Fund, nor, to the knowledge of the Fund, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Fund is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”),
the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”); and the Fund will not use any of the proceeds received by the Fund from the sale of the Shares, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiaries, joint venture partners or other person, to fund any activities of or business with any person, or in any country or territory, that, at the time of such funding, 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 underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.
xxxvi.Compliance with the Sarbanes Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Fund or any of the Fund’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes Oxley Act”).
B. Representations and Warranties by the Adviser. The Adviser represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c)(i) hereof (and, if any Additional Shares are purchased, at the applicable Option Closing Date referred to in Section 2(c)(ii)), as follows:
i.Good Standing of the Adviser. The Adviser has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware with full limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign entity to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required except where the failure so to register or to qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Adviser, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (an “Adviser Material Adverse Effect”).
ii.Investment Adviser Status. The Adviser is duly registered and in good standing with the Commission as an investment adviser under the Advisers Act, and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act, the Adviser Act Rules and Regulations, the 1940 Act, or the 1940 Act Regulations, from acting under the Investment Advisory Agreement for the Fund as contemplated by the Prospectus.
iii.Description of Adviser. The description of the Adviser in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement thereto) complied and comply in all material
respects with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations and is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
iv.Capitalization. The Adviser has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and in this Agreement and each Fund Agreement to which it is a party.
v.Authorization of Fund Agreements; Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Each of this Agreement and the Fund Agreements to which the Adviser is a party has each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Adviser, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Adviser, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) or an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and except as rights to indemnification or contribution thereunder may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability or by federal or state laws; and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Fund Agreement to which the Adviser is a party nor the performance by the Adviser, of its obligations hereunder or thereunder will conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, a default under, (A) any agreement or instrument to which the Adviser is a party or by which it is bound, (B) the limited liability company agreement and other organizational documents of the Adviser, or (C) to the Adviser’s knowledge, by any law, order, decree, rule or regulation applicable to it of any jurisdiction, court, federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, stock exchange or securities association having jurisdiction over the Adviser or its properties or operations other than, with respect to sub-sections (A) and (C), any conflict, breach or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority or agency is required for the consummation by the Adviser of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Fund Agreement to which the Adviser is a party, except (A) as have been obtained or will be obtained prior to the Closing Time or may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act, the Advisers Act or state and foreign securities or “blue sky” laws, (B) may be required by the NYSE, the FINRA or any other applicable self-regulatory organization and securities depository, or (C) such as which the failure to obtain would not have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect or a Material
Adverse Effect or impede the ability of the Adviser to perform its obligations under the Agreement and each Fund Agreement to which it is a party.
vi.No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has not occurred any event which should reasonably be expected to have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.
vii.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 Adviser, threatened against or affecting the Adviser or any parent or subsidiary of the Adviser or any partners, directors, officers or employees of the foregoing, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which might reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect, or materially and adversely affect the ability of the Adviser to function as an investment adviser with respect to the Fund or affect the ability of the Adviser to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Fund Agreement to which it is a party, or which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus that has not been disclosed.
viii.Absence of Violation or Default. The Adviser is not in violation of (A) its limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents or (B) in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument, except, with respect to sub-section (B) only, for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect.
ix.Money Laundering Laws. The operations the Adviser and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable 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 Adviser or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Adviser, threatened.
x.Anti-Bribery Laws. Neither the Adviser, nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Adviser, any director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of the Adviser 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 Anti-Bribery 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 Anti-Bribery Laws) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the Anti-Bribery Laws, and the Adviser, and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Adviser and its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the Anti-Bribery Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
xi.OFAC. Neither the Adviser, nor, to the knowledge of the Adviser, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Adviser is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the Sanctions.
xii.Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Adviser possesses such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to operate its properties and to conduct its business as contemplated in the Prospectus, except where failure so to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in an Adviser Material Adverse Effect. The Adviser is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Adviser Material Adverse Effect. The Adviser has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
xiii.Absence of Manipulation. The Adviser has not taken, and the Adviser will not take (other than as contemplated in the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan or share repurchase plan), directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund, or to stabilize, in connection with the offering of the Shares, except to the extent authorized by applicable law, including without limitation by Rule 104 of Reg M under the 1934 Act.
C. Representations and Warranties by the Administrator. The Administrator represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Applicable Time and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c)(i) hereof (and, if any Additional Shares are purchased, at the applicable Option Closing Date referred to in Section 2(c)(ii)), as follows:
i.Good Standing of the Administrator. The Administrator has been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing as a limited liability company under the laws of the State of Delaware with full limited liability company power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign entity to transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required except where the failure so to register or to qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Administrator, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (an “Administrator Material Adverse Effect”).
ii.Description of Administrator. The description of the Administrator in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (including any amendment or supplement thereto) complied and comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the Advisers Act, the Rules and Regulations and the Advisers Act Rules and Regulations and is true and correct and does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
iii.Capitalization. The Administrator has the financial resources available to it necessary for the performance of its services and obligations as contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and in this Agreement and each Fund Agreement to which it is a party.
iv.Authorization of Fund Agreements; Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Each of this Agreement and the Fund Agreements to which the Administrator is a party has each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Administrator, and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Administrator, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as affected by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and general equitable principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) or an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing and except as rights to indemnification or contribution thereunder may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability or by federal or state laws; and neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement or any Fund Agreement to which the Administrator is a party nor the performance by the Administrator, of its obligations hereunder or thereunder will conflict with, or result in a breach of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute, with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, a default under, (A) any agreement or instrument to which the Administrator is a party or by which
it is bound, (B) the limited liability company agreement and other organizational documents of the Administrator, or (C) to the Administrator’s knowledge, by any law, order, decree, rule or regulation applicable to it of any jurisdiction, court, federal or state regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, stock exchange or securities association having jurisdiction over the Administrator or its properties or operations other than, with respect to sub-sections (A) and (C), any conflict, breach or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in an Administrator Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental authority or agency is required for the consummation by the Administrator of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Fund Agreement to which the Administrator is a party, except (A) as have been obtained or will be obtained prior to the Closing Time or may be required under the 1933 Act, the 1940 Act, the 1934 Act, the Advisers Act or state and foreign securities or “blue sky” laws, (B) may be required by the NYSE, the FINRA or any other applicable self-regulatory organization and securities depository, or (C) such as which the failure to obtain would not have an Administrator Material Adverse Effect or a Material Adverse Effect or impede the ability of the Administrator to perform its obligations under the Agreement and each Fund Agreement to which it is a party.
v.No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, there has not occurred any event which should reasonably be expected to have an Administrator Material Adverse Effect.
vi.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 Administrator, threatened against or affecting the Administrator or any parent or subsidiary of the Administrator or any partners, directors, officers or employees of the foregoing, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, which might reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in an Administrator Material Adverse Effect, or materially and adversely affect the ability of the Administrator to function as an investment adviser with respect to the Fund or affect the ability of the Administrator to perform its obligations under this Agreement or any Fund Agreement to which it is a party, or which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus that has not been disclosed.
vii.Absence of Violation or Default. The Administrator is not (A) in violation of its limited liability company agreement or other organizational documents or (B) in default under any agreement, indenture or instrument, except, with respect to sub-section (B) only, for such violations or defaults
that would not reasonably be expected to result, individually or in the aggregate, in an Administrator Material Adverse Effect.
viii.Money Laundering Laws. The operations the Administrator and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable 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 Administrator or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Administrator, threatened.
ix.Anti-Bribery Laws. Neither the Administrator, nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Administrator, any director, officer, employee, agent or affiliate of the Administrator 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 Anti-Bribery 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 Anti-Bribery Laws) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the Anti-Bribery Laws, and the Administrator, and its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Administrator and its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with the Anti-Bribery Laws and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance therewith.
x.OFAC. Neither the Administrator, nor, to the knowledge of the Administrator, any director, officer, employee, agent, affiliate or person acting on behalf of the Administrator is currently the subject or target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States Government, including, without limitation, the Sanctions.
xi.Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Administrator possesses such Governmental Licenses issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to operate its properties and to conduct its business as contemplated in the Prospectus, except where failure so to possess would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in an Administrator Material Adverse Effect. The Administrator is in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Administrator Material Adverse Effect. All of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, have an Administrator Material Adverse
Effect. The Administrator has not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
xii.Absence of Manipulation. The Administrator has not taken, and the Administrator will not take (other than as contemplated in the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan or share repurchase plan), directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has constituted or which would be expected to cause or result in manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund, or to stabilize, in connection with the offering of the Shares, except to the extent authorized by applicable law, including without limitation by Rule 104 of Reg M under the 1934 Act.
D. Officer’s Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator, as the case may be, to the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
Section 2. Sale and Delivery To Underwriters; Closing.
a.Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Fund agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Fund, at the price per share set forth in Schedule B (the “Purchase Price”), the number of Shares set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional number of Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.
b.Additional Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties contained herein and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Fund agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Fund, severally and not jointly, at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Fund and payable on each Firm Share but not on the Additional Shares, up to 200,000 Additional Shares. The Representative may exercise this right on behalf of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written notice to the Fund not later than thirty (30) days after the date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such Additional Shares are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the Closing Time nor later than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional Shares may be purchased as provided in this Section 2 solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares. On each Option Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), if any, that Additional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (plus any additional number of Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof and subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representative may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such Option Closing Date as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule A hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
c.Payment.
i.Payment of the Purchase Price for, and delivery in electronic form of the Firm Shares shall be made at the offices of Eversheds ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (US) LLP at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Fund, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the [second] business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten (10) business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Fund (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the “Closing Time”).
ii.Payment of the Purchase Price for, and delivery in electronic form of the Additional Shares shall be made at the offices of Eversheds ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (US) LLP at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Fund, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2(b) or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event not later than [February [●], 2022], as shall be designated in writing by the Representative (such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called “Option Closing Date”).
iii.Payment shall be made to the Fund by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Fund, against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Shares, in electronic book entry form, 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 Shares which it has agreed to purchase. Ladenburg, individually and not as Representative, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time or any Option Closing Date, as applicable, but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder. The Shares to be purchased hereunder shall be delivered to you at the Closing Time and the applicable Option Closing Date, if any, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company or another mutually agreeable facility, against payment of the purchase price therefor in immediately available funds to the order of the Fund.
Section 3. Covenants.
a.The Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator, jointly and severally, covenant with each Underwriter as follows:
i.Compliance With Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Fund, subject to Section 3(a)(ii), will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 430A of the 1933 Act Regulations and will notify the Representative as soon as practicable, and confirm the notice in writing, (A) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement to the Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been filed, (B) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus (or any document incorporated by reference therein or otherwise deemed to be a part thereof) or for additional information, (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes, and (E) if the Fund becomes the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Fund will effect the filings necessary under Rule 497, Rule 424 and Rule 433, as applicable, of the Rules and Regulations in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 497, Rule 424 and Rule 433, as applicable, of the Rules and Regulations and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of 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 such prospectus. The Fund will make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
ii.Filing of Amendments and Exchange Act Documents. So long as this Agreement remains in effect, the Fund will give the Representative notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment, supplement or revision to either any Preliminary Prospectus (including any prospectus included in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto at the time it became effective) or to the Prospectus, and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such documents to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. The Fund has given the Representative notice of
any filings made pursuant to the 1934 Act or the 1934 Act Regulations within 48 hours prior to the Applicable Time; the Fund will give the Representative notice of its intention to make any such filing from the Applicable Time to the Closing Time and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing and will not, unless required by law, file or use any such document to which the Representative or counsel for the Underwriters shall object; provided, however that this covenant shall not apply to any post-effective amendment required by Rule 8b-16 of the 1940 Act which is filed with the Commission after the later of (x) one year from the date of this Agreement or (y) the date on which the distribution of the Shares is completed.
iii.Delivery of Registration Statements. The Fund has furnished or will deliver, upon request, to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated by reference therein) and copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representative, upon request and without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement and, for so long as this Agreement remains in effect, of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S‑T.
iv.Delivery of Prospectuses. The Fund has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Fund hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. The Fund will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the period when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
v.Continued Compliance With Securities Laws. The Fund will comply with the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters or for the Fund, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements 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 shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Fund will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(a)(ii), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to comply with such requirements, and the Fund will furnish to the Underwriter such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriter may reasonably request. If at any time following issuance of an Additional Disclosure Item, there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Additional Disclosure Item included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances, prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Fund will promptly notify the Representative and will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Additional Disclosure Item to eliminate or correct such untrue statement or omission.
vi.Blue Sky Qualifications. The Fund will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as the Representative may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided, however, that the Fund shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
vii.Rule 158. The Fund will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act or 1940 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide to the Underwriter the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
viii.Use of Proceeds. The Fund will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds.”
ix.Listing. The Fund will use its commercially reasonable efforts to effect and maintain the listing of the Shares on the NYSE, subject to notice of issuance.
x.Restriction on Sale of Shares. During a period of 30 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Fund will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, directly or indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of preferred shares, including the Preferred Shares, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Preferred Shares, whether any such transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of Preferred Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (i) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) the Preferred Shares issued pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan and (iii) any additional shares of the Preferred Shares, the Fund’ Series L Cumulative Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, the Fund’s Series M Cumulative Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share and the Fund’s Series N Cumulative Preferred Stock, $0.01 par value per share, to be sold pursuant to the Fund’s continuous offering registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333- 262232).
xi.Reporting Requirements. The Fund, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1940 Act and the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1940 Act, the 1940 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act Regulations, respectively.
xii.No Manipulation of Market for Shares. Except for the authorization of actions permitted to be taken by the Underwriters as contemplated herein, in the Preliminary Prospectus or in the Prospectus, the Fund will not (A) take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in, or that might reasonably be expected to constitute, the manipulation of the price of any security of the Fund or to stabilize in connection with the offering of the Shares, except to the extent authorized by applicable law, including without limitation by Rule 104 of Reg M under the 1934 Act, and (B) until the Closing Time, (i) sell, bid for or purchase the Shares or pay any person any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Shares or (ii) pay or agree to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Fund. It is acknowledged and agreed that nothing in this subsection shall prohibit the operation of the Fund’s dividend reinvestment plan.
xiii.RIC Status. The Fund will use reasonable best efforts to comply with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code to qualify as a regulated investment company under the Code, with respect to any fiscal year in which the Fund is an investment company registered under the 1940 Act.
xiv.Additional Disclosure Item. Before using, approving or referring to any Additional Disclosure Item or other materials relating to the offering of the Shares, the Fund will furnish to the Representative and counsel to the
Underwriters a copy of such material for review and will not make, prepare, use authorize, approve or refer to any such material to which the Representative reasonably objects.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses.
a.Expenses. The Fund will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Fund’s counsel, accountants and other advisers, (iv) the fees and disbursements of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP with respect to any filing with FINRA and in its capacity as the Underwriters’ counsel up to but not exceeding $35,000 (the “Underwriter Legal Fees”), (v) the qualification of the Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(vi) hereof and in connection with the preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of any Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the fees and expenses incurred with respect to any filing with FINRA, (vii) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, any Additional Disclosure Item and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and any reasonable costs associated with electronic delivery of any of the foregoing by the Underwriters to investors, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares associated with the purchase by the Underwriters of the Shares, (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the NYSE, (x) the printing of any Additional Disclosure Items, and (xi) the transportation and other expenses incurred by or on behalf of Fund representatives in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of the Shares.
b.Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a)(i) or Section 9(a)(iii) (with respect to the first clause only) hereof, the Fund agrees that it shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their reasonable and documented out-of-pocket expenses, including the Underwriter Legal Fees.
Section 5. Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations.
The obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further conditions:
a.Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement has become effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act, no notice or order pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act shall have been issued, and no proceedings with
respect to either shall have been initiated or, to the Fund’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424 (or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A).
b.Opinions of Counsel.
i.Opinion of Counsel for the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator. At Closing Time and on each Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of Closing Time or any applicable Option Closing Date, from (x) Eversheds ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (US) LLP, counsel for the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth on Schedule E-1 hereto, and (y) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special Maryland counsel for the Fund, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth on Schedule E-2 hereto.
ii.Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. At Closing Time and on each Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriters shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time or any applicable Option Closing Date, from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, which opinion shall be in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters. Insofar as the opinion expressed above is related to or dependent upon matters governed by Maryland law, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP will be permitted to rely on the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP.
c.Officers’ Certificates. At Closing Time and each Option Closing Date, if any, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the Fund and of the chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Fund, dated as of Closing Time and any applicable Option Closing Date, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section l(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time or any applicable Option Closing Date, (iii) the Fund has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time or any applicable Option Closing Date, and (iv) to the knowledge of such officers, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, has been issued and no proceedings
for any such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of such officers, contemplated by the Commission.
d.Adviser and Administrator Officer Certificates. At Closing Time and each Option Closing Date, if any, there shall not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Adviser or the Administrator, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Representative shall have received (x) a certificate of a duly authorized officer of the President or a Vice President or Managing Director (or person holding similar office) of each of the Adviser and the Administrator, dated as of Closing Time and any applicable Option Closing Date, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section l(a), (b) and (c), as applicable, hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time and any applicable Option Closing Date, (iii) each of the Adviser and the Administrator, as applicable, has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time and any applicable Option Closing Date, and (iv) to the knowledge of such officers, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or order of suspension or revocation of registration pursuant to Section 8(e) of the 1940 Act, has been issued and no proceedings for any such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of such officers, contemplated by the Commission.
e.Accountant’s Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representative shall have received from BDO USA, LLP a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
f.Bring-Down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time and on each Option Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received from BDO USA LLP a letter, dated as of Closing Time and each Option Closing Date, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three (3) business days prior to Closing Time or any applicable Option Closing Date.
g.Maintenance of Ratings. The Fund shall have delivered to the Representative evidence satisfactory to the Representative that the Shares are rated “BBB-” by ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Ratings Co. as of the date hereof, and since the date of this Agreement there shall not have been received by the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator any notice of any intended or potential downgrading, or any review, with possible negative implications, in the rating assigned to the Shares by ▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Ratings Co.
h.Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of issuance.
i.Filing of Articles. The Fund will have filed the Articles Supplementary with the State of Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation and the Commission prior to the Closing Time.
j.1934 Act Registration. The Fund shall have filed with the Commission a Form 8-A providing for the registration under the 1934 Act of the Shares and such Form 8-A shall have been declared effective by the Commission.
k.Additional Documents. At Closing Time and each Option Closing Date, if any, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator in connection with the organization and registration of the Fund under the 1940 Act and the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters.
l.Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Fund at any time at or prior to Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8 and 16 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
Section 6. Indemnification.
a.Indemnification of Underwriters by the Fund. The Fund agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, affiliates of each Underwriter (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the 1933 Act, each an “Affiliate”), and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
i.against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any Rule 430A Information, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Additional Disclosure Item, any Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, 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 (subject to Section 6(f) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Fund; and
iii.against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the reasonable and documented 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 Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator by any Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information, or any Additional Disclosure Item, the Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
b.Indemnification of Fund, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Fund, its directors and officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and any director, officer, or affiliate thereof, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any Rule 430A Information, or any Additional Disclosure Item, the Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Fund by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including any Rule 430A Information, or any Additional Disclosure Item, the Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
c.Actions Against Parties; Notification. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to
appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit, investigation or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim, action, suit, investigation 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, suit, investigation or proceeding and does not include any statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
d.Settlement Without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.
e.Limitations on Indemnification. Any indemnification by the Fund shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act.
Section 7. Contribution.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such
indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Fund on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Fund on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Fund and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters (whether from the Fund or otherwise), in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public offering price of the Shares as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus.
The relative fault of the Fund on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Fund or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Fund and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 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 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party 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 or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and each Underwriter’s Affiliates shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Fund, each officer of the Fund who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Fund, within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the
1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Fund. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
Any contribution by the Fund shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act.
Section 8. Representations and Warranties To Survive Delivery.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator, and shall survive delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters.
Section 9. Termination of Agreement.
a.Termination; General. Termination; General. The Representative may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Fund, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus or General Disclosure Package, any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any material outbreak of hostilities or material escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares, or (iii) if trading in the Shares of the Fund has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the NYSE, or if trading generally on the NYSE MKT, the NYSE or in the NASDAQ Stock Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the Commission, the FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (iv) a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States, or (v) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. or New York authorities.
b.Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section 9, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6, 7, 8 and 16 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
Section 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.
If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or any Option Closing Date to purchase the Shares which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the
“Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall have the right, within 24 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 24-hour period, then:
a.if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the number of the Shares to be purchased hereunder 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 number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of the Shares to be purchased hereunder on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Option Closing Date which occurs after the Closing Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Fund to sell the Additional Shares to be purchased and sold on such Option Closing Date, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section 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 Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Fund to sell the relevant Additional Shares, as the case may be, either the Representative or the Fund shall have the right to postpone Closing Time 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 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 10.
Section 11. Notices.
All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the Representative, ▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention of Syndicate Department; e-mail: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇; and notices to the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator shall be directed, as appropriate, to the office of the Adviser, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention of General Counsel, with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Eversheds ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (US) LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇.
Section 12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship.
The Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator each acknowledge and agree that (a) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Fund, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator, or any of their respective stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Fund, the Adviser or the Administrator, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator each has consulted its own respective legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
Section 13. Parties.
This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator and their respective partners and successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator and their respective successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator and their respective partners and successors, and said controlling persons and officers, directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
Section 14. Tax Disclosure.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, immediately upon commencement of discussions with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator (and each employee, representative or other agent of the Fund) may disclose to any and all persons, without limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are provided to the Fund relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For purposes of the foregoing, the term “tax treatment” is the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the term “tax structure” includes any fact that may be relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions contemplated hereby.
Section 15. Integration.
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral) among the Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
Section 16. Governing Law.
THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SAID STATE.
Section 17. Time.
TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. UNLESS OTHERWISE EXPLICITLY PROVIDED, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
Section 18. Submission to Jurisdiction/Jury Trial Waiver.
Except as set forth below, no suits, actions, claims, counterclaims or proceedings (each, a “Proceeding”) which relates to the terms of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “Claim”) may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, or in the event that court lacks jurisdiction to hear such Claims, in the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, which courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction over the adjudication of such claims. Each of the Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters hereby submits to and accepts generally and unconditionally the exclusive jurisdiction of those for the purposes of the adjudication of such Claims and irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of the venue of any such Proceeding brought in such court and any claim that any such Proceeding brought in such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each of the Underwriters (on their own behalf, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of each of their respective members and affiliates), the Fund (on its behalf, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its shareholders and affiliates), the Adviser (on its behalf, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its members and affiliates) and the Administrator (on its behalf, and to the extent permitted by applicable law, on behalf of its members and affiliates) hereby waives all right to trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise) in any way arising out of or relating to this Agreement. Each of the Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters agrees that a final judgment in any such action, proceeding or counterclaim brought in any such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator and the Underwriters, as the case may be, and may be enforced in any other courts in the jurisdiction of which the Fund, the Adviser, the Administrator or the Underwriters, as the case may be, is or may be subject, by suit upon such judgment.
Section 19. Counterparts.
This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. Federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., ▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇) or other transmission method, and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
Section 20. Effect of Headings.
The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Representative a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the Underwriters, the Fund, the Adviser and the Administrator in accordance with its terms.
| Very truly yours, | ||||||||
| PRIORITY INCOME FUND, INC. | ||||||||
| By: | ||||||||
| Name: | ||||||||
| Title: | ||||||||
| PRIORITY SENIOR SECURED INCOME MANAGEMENT, LLC | ||||||||
| By: | ||||||||
| Name: | ||||||||
| Title: | ||||||||
| PROSPECT ADMINISTRATION LLC | ||||||||
| By: | ||||||||
| Name: | ||||||||
| Title: | ||||||||
| CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, | ||||||||
| As of the date first above written: | ||||||||
| By: | LADENBURG ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC. | |||||||
| By: | ||||||||
| Name: | ||||||||
| Title: | ||||||||
For itself and as Representative of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.