UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT between HYPERDYNAMICS CORPORATION and RODMAN & RENSHAW, LLC as Underwriter
HYPERDYNAMICS CORPORATION
New York, New York
March 25, 2011
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLC
1251 Avenue of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned, Hyperdynamics Corporation, a Delaware corporation (collectively with its subsidiaries and affiliates, including, without limitation, all entities disclosed or described in the Registration Statement (as hereinafter defined) as being subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company, the “Company”), hereby confirms its agreement with ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLC (hereinafter referred to as “you” (including its correlatives) or the “Underwriter”) as follows:
1. Purchase and Sale of Securities.
1.1 Firm Securities.
1.1.1. Nature and Purchase of Firm Securities.
(i) On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell, to the Underwriter, an aggregate of 25,000,000 shares (“Firm Shares”) of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Shares”).
(ii) The Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company the Firm Shares at a purchase price (net of discounts and commissions) of $4.75 per Share (95.00% of the per share offering price). The Firm Shares are to be offered initially to the public (the “Offering”) at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2.1.1 hereof).
1.1.2. Shares Payment and Delivery.
(i) Delivery and payment for the Firm Shares shall be made at 10:00 a.m., Eastern time, on the third (3rd) Business Day following the effective date (the “Effective Date”) of the Registration Statement (as defined in Section 2.1.1 below) (or the fourth (4th) Business Day following the Effective Date, if the Registration Statement is declared effective after 4:30 p.m.) or at such earlier time as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Company at the Austin, Texas offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, special counsel to the Underwriter (“▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP”), or at such other place (or remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Underwriter and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the Firm Shares is called the “Closing Date.”
(ii) Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds, payable to the order of the Company upon delivery of the certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter) representing the Firm Shares (or through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)) for the account of the Underwriter. The Firm Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Underwriter may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Firm Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriter for all the Firm Shares. The term “Business Day” means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York City.
1.2 Over-allotment Option.
1.2.1. Option Shares. For the purposes of covering any over-allotments in connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Shares, the Underwriter is hereby granted, an option to purchase up to an additional 3,750,000 Shares, representing fifteen percent (15%) of the Firm Shares sold in the offering from the Company (the “Over-allotment Option”). Such additional 3,750,000 Shares, the net proceeds of which will be deposited with the Company’s account, are hereinafter referred to as “Option Shares.” The purchase price to be paid by the Underwriter for the Option Shares will be the same price per Option Share as the price per Firm Shares set forth in Section 1.1.1 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the “Public Securities.”
1.2.2. Exercise of Option. The Over-allotment Option granted pursuant to Section 1.2.1 hereof may be exercised by the Underwriter as to all (at any time) or any part (from time to time) of the Option Shares within 45 days after the Effective Date. The Underwriter will not be under any obligation to purchase any Option Shares prior to the exercise of the Over-allotment Option. The Over-allotment Option granted hereby may be exercised by the giving of oral notice to the Company from the Underwriter, which must be confirmed in writing by overnight mail or facsimile or other electronic transmission setting forth the number of Option Shares to be purchased and the date and time for delivery of and payment for the Option Shares (the “Option Closing Date”), which will not be later than five (5) full Business Days after the date of the notice or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriter, at the Austin, Texas offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP or at such other place (including remotely by facsimile or other electronic transmission) as shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Underwriter. If such delivery and payment for the Option Shares does not occur on the Closing Date, the Option Closing Date will be as set forth in the notice. Upon exercise of the Over-allotment Option, the Company will become obligated to convey to the Underwriter, and, subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriter will become obligated to purchase, the number of Option Shares specified in such notice.
1.2.3. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Option Shares will be made on the Option Closing Date by wire transfer in Federal (same day) funds as follows: $4.75 per Option Share, (95% of the per Option Share offering price), payable to the order of the Company upon delivery to you of certificates (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter) representing the Option Shares (or through the facilities of DTC) for the account of the Underwriter. The Option Shares shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized denominations as the Underwriter may request in writing at least two (2) full Business Days prior to the Option Closing Date. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver the Option Shares except upon tender of payment by the Underwriter for applicable Option Shares.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to the Underwriter as of the Applicable Time (as defined below), as of the Closing Date and as of the Option Closing Date, if any, as follows:
2.1 Registration Statement.
2.1.1. Pursuant to the Act. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement and an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-3 (File No. 333-173051), including any related prospectus or prospectuses, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), of certain securities (the “Shelf Securities”), including the Public Securities, that may be issued from time to time, which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in all material respects in conformity with the requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Act (the “Regulations”). Except as the context may otherwise require, such registration statement on file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of the Effective Date pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B of the Regulations), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” The related prospectus dated March 24, 2011 covering the Shelf Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Public Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriter by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Basic Prospectus.” The Basic Prospectus, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Public Securities in the form first used to confirm sales of the Public Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriter by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus,” and the term “preliminary prospectus” means any preliminary form of the Prospectus. For purposes of this Agreement, “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Public Securities, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. “Applicable Time” means 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on the Effective Date or such other time as agreed to by the Company and the Underwriter.
2.1.2. At or prior to the time when sales of the Public Securities were first made (the “Time of Sale”), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively, the “Time of Sale Prospectus”): the preliminary prospectus together with the pricing information identified in the section entitled “Time of Sale Prospectus” in Schedule I hereto and the free writing prospectuses, if any, each identified in Schedule I.
2.1.3. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Basic Prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein. The terms “supplement,” “amendment” and “amend” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.
2.1.4. Registration under the Exchange Act and Stock Exchange Listing. The Common Shares are registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and are listed on the NYSE Amex (“NYSE Amex”), and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Shares from NYSE Amex, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or NYSE Amex is contemplating terminating such registration or listing except as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
2.2 Registration Statement. (i) The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 of the Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; (ii) the Company is a “well-known seasoned issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) eligible to use the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement, and the Company has not received notice that the Commission objects to the use of the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement; (iii) no stop order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, are threatened by the Commission; (iv) the Registration Statement complied when it became effective, complies and will comply, at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, in all material respects with the requirements of the Regulations; (v) each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Act and the Rules and Regulations; (vi) the Prospectus will comply, as of its date and at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; (vii) each document filed or to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations; (viii) any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been and will be so described or filed.
2.3 Disclosures in Registration Statement.
2.3.1. 10b-5 Representation. At the respective times the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments thereto become effective (and at the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any):
(i) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus and any post-effective amendments thereto did and will contain all material statements that are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations, and will in all material respects conform to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations;
(ii) The Registration Statement did not when it became effective, does not and will not, at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date 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. The Time of Sale Prospectus at the Time of Sale did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in light of the circumstances under which they were made. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including any broadly available road show materials), when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus at the Time of Sale, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in light of the circumstances under which they were made. The Prospectus will not, as of its date and at the Closing Date and any Option Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representation and warranty made in this Section 2.3.1(ii) does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The parties acknowledge and agree that such information provided by or on behalf of the Underwriter consists solely of the following disclosure contained in the “Underwriting” section of the Prospectus: the first paragraph under the heading “Underwriting” (the “Underwriter’s Information”).
2.3.2. Disclosure of Agreements. The agreements and documents described in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement conform to the descriptions thereof contained therein and there are no agreements or other documents required by the Act and the Regulations to be described in the Prospectus and the Registration Statement or to be filed with the Commission as exhibits to the Registration Statement, that have not been so described or filed. Each agreement or other instrument (however characterized or described) to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or affected and (i) that is referred to in the Prospectus, or (ii) is material to the Company’s business, has been duly authorized and validly executed by the Company, is in full force and effect in all material respects and is enforceable against the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the other parties thereto, in accordance with its terms, except (x) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (y) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (z) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought. None of such agreements or instruments has been assigned by the Company, and neither the Company nor, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default thereunder and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no event has occurred that, with the lapse of time or the giving of notice, or both, would constitute a default thereunder. To the best of the Company’s knowledge, performance by the Company of the material provisions of such agreements or instruments will not result in a violation of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its assets or businesses, including, without limitation, those relating to environmental laws and regulations.
2.3.3. Prior Securities Transactions. No securities of the Company have been sold by the Company or by or on behalf of, or for the benefit of, any person or persons controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement.
2.3.4. Regulations. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of Federal, State, local and all foreign regulation applicable the Company’s business as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects.
2.3.5. No Distribution of Other Offering Materials. The Company has not distributed nor, prior to the later to occur of the Closing Date and completion of the distribution of the Public Securities, will distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Public Securities other than any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus to which the
Underwriter has consented in accordance with this Agreement, or any other materials, if any, permitted by the Securities Act, including Rule 134.
2.4 Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses Conform to the Requirements of the Act. The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Act. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with all prospectus delivery requirements, any filing requirements and any record keeping requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. Other than the broadly available road show materials, if any, identified in Schedule I hereto opposite the term “Broadly Available Road Show,” the Company has not made any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Underwriter identified in Schedule I. The Company has retained in accordance with the Rules and Regulations all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. The Company has taken all actions necessary so that any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations) in connection with the offering of the Public Securities will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations. No Issuer Free Writing Prospectus includes any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement as of the Time of Sale, including any information contained in reports filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
2.5 Changes After Dates in Registration Statement.
2.5.1. No Material Adverse Change. Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise specifically stated therein: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or business prospects of the Company; (ii) there have been no material transactions entered into by the Company, other than as contemplated pursuant to this Agreement; and (iii) no officer or director of the Company has resigned from any position with the Company.
2.5.2. Recent Securities Transactions, etc. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not: (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect to its capital stock.
2.6 Disclosures in Commission Filings. Since its initial public offering, (i) none of the Company’s filings with the Commission contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (ii) the Company has made all filings with the Commission required under the Exchange Act.
2.7 Independent Accountants. GBH CPAs, PC (“GBH”), who has audited the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010 and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus, whose report appears in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus is, and was during the periods covered by the financial statements covered by such reports, an independent registered public
accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”).
2.8 Financial Statements, etc. The financial statements, including the notes thereto and supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus fairly present the financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), consistently applied throughout the periods involved; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. The Registration Statement discloses all material off-balance sheet transactions, arrangements, obligations (including contingent obligations), and other relationships of the Company with unconsolidated entities or other persons that may have a material current or future effect on the Company’s financial condition, changes in financial condition, results of operations, liquidity, capital expenditures, capital resources, or significant components of revenues or expenses. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a) neither the Company nor any of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, including each entity disclosed or described in the Registration Statement as being a subsidiary of the Company (each a “Subsidiary” and together the “Subsidiaries”), has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into any material transactions other than in the ordinary course of business, (b) the Company has not declared or paid any dividends or made any distribution of any kind with respect to its capital stock; (c) there has not been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any grants under any stock compensation plan, and (d) there has not been any material adverse change in the Company’s long-term or short-term debt.
2.9 Authorized Capital; Options, etc. The Company had, at the date or dates indicated in the Prospectus, the duly authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Based on the assumptions stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company will have on the Closing Date the adjusted stock capitalization set forth therein. Except as set forth in, or contemplated by, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, on the Effective Date and on the Closing Date, there will be no options, warrants, or other rights to purchase or otherwise acquire any authorized, but unissued Shares of the Company or any security convertible into Shares of the Company, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell Shares or any such options, warrants, rights or convertible securities.
2.10 Valid Issuance of Securities, etc.
2.10.1. Outstanding Securities. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company issued prior to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The authorized Common Shares conform in all material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The offers and sales of the outstanding Common Shares were at all relevant times either registered under the Act and the applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws or, based in part on the representations and warranties of the purchasers of such Shares, exempt from such registration requirements.
2.10.2. Securities Sold Pursuant to this Agreement. The Public Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Public Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issuance and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Public Securities conform in all material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement.
2.11 Registration Rights of Third Parties. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or any rights exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable into securities of the Company have the right to require the Company to register any such securities of the Company under the Act or to include any such securities in a registration statement to be filed by the Company, except where such rights to include securities for registration have been validly waived with respect to the Public Securities.
2.12 Validity and Binding Effect of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and, when executed and delivered, will constitute, the valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except: (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the federal and state securities laws; and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought.
2.13 No Conflicts, etc. The execution, delivery, and performance by the Company of this Agreement and all ancillary documents, the consummation by the Company of the transactions herein and therein contemplated and the compliance by the Company with the terms hereof and thereof do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both: (i) result in a material breach of, or conflict with any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a material default under, or result in the creation, modification, termination or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company (as the same may be amended from time to time, the “Certificate of Incorporation”); or (iii) violate any
existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or business constituted as of the date hereof.
2.14 No Defaults; Violations. No material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any material license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the properties or assets of the Company is subject. The Company is not in violation of any term or provision of its Certificate of Incorporation, or in violation of any franchise, license, permit, applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment or decree of any governmental agency or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties or businesses.
2.15 Corporate Power; Licenses; Consents.
2.15.1. Conduct of Business. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and has all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that it needs as of the date hereof to conduct its business purpose as described in the Prospectus. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of federal, state, local and foreign regulation on this Offering and the Company’s business purpose as currently contemplated are correct in all material respects.
2.15.2. Transactions Contemplated Herein. The Company has all corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, government agency or other body is required for the valid issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities and the consummation of the transactions and agreements contemplated by this Agreement and as contemplated by the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and state securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”).
2.16 Title to Properties. As of the date hereof and on the Closing Date, all assets held under lease by the Company are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such assets by the Company.
2.17 D&O Questionnaires. To the Company’s knowledge, all information contained in the questionnaires (the “Questionnaires”) completed by each of the Company’s directors and officers immediately prior to the Offering (the “Insiders”) as well as in the Lock-Up Agreement provided to the Underwriter is true and correct in all respects and the Company has not become aware of any information which would cause the information disclosed in the questionnaires completed by each Insider to become inaccurate and incorrect.
2.18 Litigation; Governmental Proceedings. Except as has been disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against, or
involving the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any executive officer or director where disclosure of any such pending or threatened proceeding with respect to such executive officer or director would be required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
2.19 Good Standing. The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation and is in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware as of the date hereof, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company.
2.20 Stop Orders. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or any part thereof.
2.21 Transactions Affecting Disclosure to FINRA.
2.21.1. Finder’s Fees. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, arrangements, agreements or understandings relating to the payment of a finder’s, consulting or origination fee by the Company or any Insider with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements or understandings of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its shareholders that may affect the Underwriter’s compensation, as determined by FINRA.
2.21.2. Payments Within Twelve Months. Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not made any direct or indirect payments (in cash, securities or otherwise) to: (i) any person, as a finder’s fee, consulting fee or otherwise, in consideration of such person raising capital for the Company or introducing to the Company persons who raised or provided capital to the Company; (ii) to any FINRA member; or (iii) to any person or entity that has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member, within the twelve months prior to the Effective Date.
2.21.3. Use of Proceeds. None of the net proceeds of the Offering will be paid by the Company to any participating FINRA member or its affiliates, except as specifically authorized herein.
2.21.4. FINRA Affiliation. No officer, director or any beneficial owner of the Company’s unregistered securities has any direct or indirect affiliation or association with any FINRA member (as determined in accordance with the rules and regulations of FINRA). The Company will advise the Underwriter and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP if it learns that any officer, director or owner of at least 5% of the Company’s outstanding Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) is or becomes an affiliate or associated person of a FINRA member participating in the Offering.
2.22 Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of the directors , employees or officers of the Company or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) that (i) might subject the Company to any damage or
penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in the past, might have had a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company as reflected in any of the financial statements contained in the Prospectus or (iii) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company. The Company has taken reasonable steps to ensure that its accounting controls and procedures are sufficient to cause the Company to comply in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
2.23 Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, except, in each case, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
2.24 Office of Foreign Assets Control. Neither the Company nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the any of the Company is currently the subject of any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person or entity that, at the time of such funding, is the subject of any sanctions administered by OFAC.
2.25 Officers’ Certificate. Any certificate signed by any duly authorized officer of the Company and delivered to you or to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
2.26 Lock-Up Period.
2.26.1. Each of the Company’s officers and directors holding Shares (or securities convertible into Shares) (the “Lock-Up Parties”) have agreed pursuant to executed Lock-Up Agreements in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A that for a period of 90 days from the Time of Sale (the “Lock-Up Period”), such persons and their affiliated parties shall not offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, without the consent of the Underwriter. The Underwriter may consent to an early release from the applicable Lock-Up Period if, in its opinion, the market for the Common Shares would not be adversely impacted by sales and in cases of financial emergency of an officer, director or other stockholder. The Company has caused each of the Lock-Up Parties to deliver to the Underwriter the agreements of each of the Lock-Up Parties to the foregoing effect prior to the date that the Company requests that the Commission declare the Registration Statement effective under the Act.
2.26.2. The Company, on behalf of itself and any successor entity, has agreed that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not, for a period of 45 days from the effective date of the Registration Statement, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or
otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company; (ii) file or caused to be filed any registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for shares of capital stock of the Company or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of capital stock of the Company, whether any such transaction described in clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of shares of capital stock of the Company or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
The restrictions contained in this paragraph 2.26.2 shall not apply to (i) the Common Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) the issuance by the Company of shares of common stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of which the Underwriter has been advised in writing, (iii) the issuance by the Company of options or shares of capital stock of the Company under any stock compensation plan of the Company, or (iv) the offer or issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock or any other securities convertible into or exercisable for shares of capital stock of the Company in connection with the Company’s acquisition of assets or the securities of another company.
2.26.3. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, or a material event relating to the Company occurs, during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by paragraph 2.22 shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event, unless the Underwriter waives such extension.
2.27 Subsidiaries. Annex 1 to this agreement sets forth the ownership of all Subsidiaries. All direct and indirect Subsidiaries of the Company are duly organized and in good standing under the laws of the place of organization or incorporation, and each such Subsidiary and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company taken as a whole. The Company’s ownership and control of each Subsidiary is as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company’s ownership and control of each Subsidiary is as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
2.28 Related Party Transactions. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there are no business relationships or related party transactions involving the Company or any other person required to be described in the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
2.29 Board of Directors. The Board of Directors of the Company is comprised of the persons set forth under the heading of the Prospectus captioned “Management.” The qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder applicable to the Company and the rules of NYSE Amex. At least one member of the Board of Directors of the Company qualifies as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and the rules of NYSE Amex. In addition, at least a majority of the persons serving on the Board of Directors qualify as “independent” as defined under the rules of NYSE Amex.
2.30 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Compliance.
2.30.1. Disclosure Controls. The Company has developed and currently maintains disclosure controls and procedures that will comply with Rule 13a-15 or 15d-15 of the Exchange Act; such controls and procedures are effective to ensure that all material information concerning the Company will be made known on a timely basis to the individuals responsible for the preparation of the Company’s Exchange Act filings and other public disclosure documents; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.
2.30.2. Compliance. The Company is, or on the Effective Date will be, in material compliance with the provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 applicable to it, and has implemented or will implement such programs and taken reasonable steps to ensure the Company’s future compliance (not later than the relevant statutory and regulatory deadlines therefore) with all the material provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002.
2.30.3. No Changes in Internal Controls. Since September 28, 2010, the date of the issuance of the Company’s consolidated financial statements included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended June 30, 2010, (i) the Company has not been advised of (A) any significant deficiencies in the design or operation of internal controls that could adversely affect the ability of the Company to record, process, summarize and report financial data, or any material weaknesses in internal controls and (B) any fraud, regardless of whether material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the internal controls of the Company, and (ii) since that date, there have been no significant changes in internal controls or in other factors that could significantly affect internal controls, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
2.31 No Investment Company Status. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and sale of the Firm Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
2.32 No Labor Disputes. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent.
2.33 Intellectual Property. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries owns or possesses or has valid right to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service ▇▇▇▇ registrations, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets and similar rights (“Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries as currently carried on and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. To the knowledge of the Company, no action or use by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries will involve or give rise to any infringement of, or license or similar fees for, any Intellectual Property of others. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received any notice alleging any such infringement or fee.
2.34 Taxes. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has filed all returns (as hereinafter defined) required to be filed with taxing authorities prior to the date hereof or has duly obtained extensions of time for the filing thereof. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries has paid all taxes (as hereinafter defined) shown as due on such returns that were filed and has paid all taxes imposed on or assessed against the Company or such respective subsidiary. The provisions for taxes payable, if any,
shown on the financial statements filed with or as part of the Registration Statement are sufficient for all accrued and unpaid taxes, whether or not disputed, and for all periods to and including the dates of such consolidated financial statements. Except as disclosed in writing to the Underwriter, (i) no issues have been raised (and are currently pending) by any taxing authority in connection with any of the returns or taxes asserted as due from the Company or its Subsidiaries, and (ii) no waivers of statutes of limitation with respect to the returns or collection of taxes have been given by or requested from the Company or its Subsidiaries. The term “taxes” mean all federal, state, local, foreign, and other net income, gross income, gross receipts, sales, use, ad valorem, transfer, franchise, profits, license, lease, service, service use, withholding, payroll, employment, excise, severance, stamp, occupation, premium, property, windfall profits, customs, duties or other taxes, fees, assessments, or charges of any kind whatever, together with any interest and any penalties, additions to tax, or additional amounts with respect thereto. The term “returns” means all returns, declarations, reports, statements, and other documents required to be filed in respect to taxes.
2.35 ERISA. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company would have any liability, excluding any reportable event for which a waiver could apply; the Company (after giving effect to the Acquisition and any exercise of the SNG Option) does not expect to incur liability under Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each “pension plan” for which the Company would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code has been determined by the Internal Revenue Service to be so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which could reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.
2.36 Environmental Compliance. The Company, with respect to its assets owned or leased at the Time of Sale, (i) is, and at all times prior hereto was, in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety and the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning any Hazardous Materials (as defined below) (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) has received all permits required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (iii) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permits and (iv) has not received written notice, or to the knowledge of the Company, oral notification of any actual or alleged violation of Environmental Law, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The term “Hazardous Material” means (A) any “hazardous substance” as defined in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, (B) any “hazardous waste” as defined in the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any petroleum or petroleum product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl, and (E) any pollutant or contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or substance regulated under or within the meaning of any other Environmental Law.
2.37 Insurance. The Company carries or is entitled to the benefits of insurance relating to the assets owned or leased by the Company at the Time of Sale in such amounts and covering such risks as is commercially reasonable and adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Company and its business, and all insurance is in full force and effect. The Company believes that it will be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage relating to the assets owned or leased by the Company
at the Time of Sale as and when such policies expire to an extent that is adequate in accordance with customary industry practice to protect the Company and their business or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage relating to the assets owned or leased by the Company at the Time of Sale from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct such business as now conducted and at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
2.38 Market Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which has constituted or which would reasonably be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company or to facilitate the sale or resale of the Public Securities.
3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
3.1 Amendments to Registration Statement. The Company will deliver to the Underwriter, prior to filing, any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which the Underwriter shall reasonably object in writing.
3.2 Federal Securities Laws.
3.2.1. Compliance. During the time when a Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act, the Company will use its best efforts to comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Act, the Regulations and the Exchange Act and by the regulations under the Exchange Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Public Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus. If at any time when a Prospectus relating to the Public Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriter, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any 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, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Underwriter promptly and prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3.1 hereof, an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.
3.2.2. Filing of Final Prospectus. The Company will file the Prospectus (in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter) with the Commission pursuant to the requirements of Rule 424 of the Regulations.
3.2.3. Exchange Act Registration. For a period of three years from the Effective Date, the Company will use its best efforts to maintain the registration of the Common Shares. The Company will not deregister the Common Shares under the Exchange Act without the prior written consent of the Underwriter.
3.2.4. Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents and agrees that it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Public Securities that would constitute an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act, without the prior consent of the Underwriter. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Underwriter is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that its will treat each Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the applicable requirements of Rule 433 of the 1933 Act, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.
3.3 Delivery to the Underwriter of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to the Underwriter, without charge, from time to time during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the Act or the Exchange Act such number of copies of each Prospectus as the Underwriter may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to you two original executed Registration Statements, including exhibits, and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or incorporated therein by reference and all original executed consents of certified experts.
3.4 Effectiveness and Events Requiring Notice to the Underwriter. The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to remain effective with a current prospectus for at least three months from the Applicable Time. and will notify the Underwriter immediately and confirm the notice in writing: (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement and any amendment thereto; (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the mailing and delivery to the Commission for filing of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus; (v) of the receipt of any comments or request for any additional information from the Commission; and (vi) of the happening of any event during the period described in this Section 3.4 hereof that, in the judgment of the Company, makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
3.5 Review of Financial Statements. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date, the Company, at its expense, shall cause its regularly engaged independent certified public accountants to review (but not audit) the Company’s financial statements for each of the first three fiscal quarters prior to the announcement of quarterly financial information.
3.6 [Reserved]
3.7 [Reserved]
3.8 Payment of Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, to the extent not paid at the Closing Date, all expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement, including, but not limited to: (a) all filing fees and communication expenses relating to the registration of the Common Shares to be sold in the Offering (including the Over-allotment Shares) with the Commission; (b) all COBRADesk filing fees associated with the review of the Offering by FINRA; all fees and expenses relating to the listing of such Shares on the NYSE Amex and such other stock exchanges as the Company and the Underwriter together determine; (c) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to background checks of the Company’s officers and directors in an amount not to exceed $5,000 per individual; (d) all fees, expenses and
disbursements relating to the registration or qualification of such Shares under the “blue sky” securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the Underwriter may reasonably designate (including, without limitation, all filing and registration fees); (e) all fees, expenses and disbursements relating to the registration, qualification or exemption of such Shares under the securities laws of such foreign jurisdictions as the Underwriter may reasonably designate; (f) the costs of all mailing and printing of the underwriting documents (including, without limitation, the Underwriting Agreement, any Blue Sky Surveys and, if appropriate, any Agreement Among Underwriters, Selected Dealers’ Agreement, Underwriters’ Questionnaire and Power of Attorney), Registration Statements, Prospectuses and all amendments, supplements and exhibits thereto and as many preliminary and final Prospectuses as the Underwriter may reasonably deem necessary, (g) the costs and expenses of the public relations firm; (h) the costs of preparing, printing and delivering certificates representing the Common Shares; (i) fees and expenses of the transfer agent for the Common Shares; (j) stock transfer and/or stamp taxes, if any, payable upon the transfer of securities from the Company to the Underwriter; (k) the costs associated with bound volumes of the public offering materials as well as commemorative mementos and lucite tombstones, each of which the Company or its designee will provide within a reasonable time after the Closing in such quantities as the Underwriter may reasonably request; (l) the fees and expenses of the Company’s accountants; (m) the fees and expenses of the Company’s legal counsel and other agents and representatives; (n) the Underwriter’s use of i-Deal’s book-building, prospectus tracking and compliance software for the Offering; (o) the Underwriter’s actual “road show” expenses for the Offering; (p) the Underwriter’s costs of mailing prospectuses to prospective investors; and (q) the costs associated with advertising the Offering in the national editions of the Wall Street Journal and New York Times after the Closing Date; the remaining balance will be borne by the Underwriter. The Underwriter may also deduct from the net proceeds of the Offering payable to the Company on the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, if any, the expenses set forth herein to be paid by the Company to the Underwriter.
3.9 Application of Net Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds from the Offering received by it in a manner consistent with the application described under the caption “Use Of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
3.10 Delivery of Earnings Statements to Security Holders. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the provisions of Rule 158(a) under Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
3.11 Stabilization. Neither the Company, nor, to its knowledge, any of its employees, directors or shareholders (without the consent of the Underwriter) has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that has constituted or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Common Shares.
3.12 Internal Controls. The Company will maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary in order to permit preparation of financial statements in accordance with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
3.13 Accountants. The Company shall continue to retain a nationally recognized independent certified public accounting firm for a period of at least three years after the Effective Date.
3.14 FINRA. The Company shall advise the Underwriter (who shall make an appropriate filing with FINRA) if it is aware that any 5% or greater shareholder of the Company becomes an affiliate or associated person of an FINRA member participating in the distribution of the Company’s Public Securities.
3.15 No Fiduciary Duties. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriter’s responsibility to the Company is solely contractual in nature and that neither the Underwriter nor its affiliates or any Selling Agent shall be deemed to be acting in a fiduciary capacity, or otherwise owes any fiduciary duty to the Company or any of its affiliates in connection with the Offering and the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
4. Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Common Shares, as provided herein, shall be subject to (i) the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any; (ii) the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof; (iii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iv) the following conditions:
4.1 Regulatory Matters.
4.1.1. Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 5:00 p.m., Eastern Time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by you, and, at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP.
4.1.2. FINRA Clearance. By the Effective Date, the Underwriter shall have received clearance from FINRA as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the Underwriter as described in the Registration Statement, or such clearance shall not be required.
4.1.3. Stock Market Clearance. On the Closing Date, the Company’s Shares, including the Firm Shares shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE Amex.
4.1.4. Free Writing Prospectuses. The Underwriter covenants with the Company that the Underwriter will not use, authorize the use of, refer to, or participate in the planning for the use of a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, which term includes use of any written information furnished by the Commission to the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, without the prior written consent of the Company. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Company is hereinafter referred to as an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus.”
4.2 Company Counsel Matters.
4.2.1. Closing Date Opinion of Counsel. On the Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel to the Company, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriter covering the following:
(i) The Company and each Subsidiary has been duly organized and is validly existing and is in good standing under the laws of the place of organization or incorporation, State of Delaware with the requisite corporate power to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its respective properties, and to conduct its business, as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. The Company and each such subsidiary is duly registered or qualified to do business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of business requires such qualification, except where the failure to qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company taken as a whole.
(ii) All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and none of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any stockholder of the Company arising by operation of law or under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation. The offers and sales of the outstanding securities were at all relevant times either registered under the Act or exempt from such registration requirements. The authorized, and to the extent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP’s knowledge, outstanding Shares of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus.
(iii) The Public Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for, will be validly issued and to our knowledge, fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability solely by reason of being such holders. The Public Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the Company arising by operating of law or under the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation. The Over-allotment Option constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment therefor, the number of Shares called for thereby, and the Over-allotment Option is enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective terms, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally; (b) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provision may be limited under the Federal and state securities laws; and (c) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought.
(iv) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized and executed by the Company and constitutes the valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (a) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally, (b) as enforceability of any indemnification or contribution provisions may be limited under the Federal and state securities laws, and (c) that the remedy of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefore may be brought.
(v) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the Lock-Up Agreements and the Lock-Up Period restrictions on the Company, and compliance by the Company
with the terms and provisions thereof and the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, and the issuance and sale of the Public Securities, do not and will not, with or without the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both, (a) conflict with, or result in a breach of, any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or modification of any lien, security interest, charge or encumbrance upon any of the properties or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of, any mortgage, deed of trust, note, indenture, loan, contract, commitment or other agreement or instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, (b) result in any violation of the provisions of the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation or any other governing documents of the Company, or (c) violate any statute or any judgment, order or decree, rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any court, domestic or foreign, or of any federal, state or other regulatory authority or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company, its properties or assets.
(vi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto (other than the financial statements included therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) each as of their respective dates complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and Regulations. The Common Shares offered pursuant to the Prospectus conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. No United States or state statute or regulation required to be described in the Prospectus is not described as required (except as to the Blue Sky laws of the various states, as to which such counsel expresses no opinions), nor are any contracts or documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement not so described or filed as required.
(vii) The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined in Rule 405 of the Act and accordingly was automatically effective when filed with the Commission. We have been orally advised by the Staff of the Commission that no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, and to our knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or overtly threatened by the Commission. Any required filing of the Prospectus, and any required supplement thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, has been made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b).
(viii) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the Offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, will not be, an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(ix) No consent, approval, authorization or filing with or order of the NYSE Amex, any U.S. Federal, State of New York, State of Texas or State of Delaware court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company is required, under the laws, rules and regulations of the United States of America and the applicable States for the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Agreement, except (i) such as have been made with or obtained by the NYSE Amex (ii) such as have been made or obtained under the Act and (iii) such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Common Shares by you in the manner contemplated in the Agreement and in the Prospectus, as to which we express no opinion.
(x) The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the NYSE Amex upon official notice of issuance.
(xi) To our knowledge, the Company is not a party to any written agreement granting any holders of securities of the Company rights to require the registration under the Act of resales of such securities, which rights have not been validly waived with respect to the Offering of the Public Securities.
(xii) the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP that is filed as an Exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby is confirmed and the Underwriter may rely upon such opinion as if it were addressed to it.
4.2.2. The opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP shall further include a statement to the effect that such counsel has participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company, the Underwriter and the independent registered public accounting firm of the Company, at which conferences the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus contained therein, solely on the basis of the foregoing without independent check and verification, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel which lead them to believe that the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, at the time the Registration Statement or amendment became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, at the time they were filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or at the date of such counsel’s opinion, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statement therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express no view and shall not be deemed to have rendered an opinion with respect to the financial information, statistical data and information and matters regarding non-United States laws, rules and regulations included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus). The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto (other than the financial statements including notes and schedules, financial data, statistical data and non-United States laws, rules and regulations included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, included therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) each as of their respective dates complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and Regulations.
4.2.3. Option Closing Date Opinions of Counsel. On the Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriter shall have received the favorable opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP with respect to the matters listed in Sections 4.2.1 and 4.2.2, dated the Option Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriter and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter, confirming as of the Option Closing Date, the statements made by such counsels in their respective opinions delivered on the Closing Date.
4.2.4. Reliance. In rendering such opinions, such counsel may rely: (i) as to matters involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter, familiar with the applicable laws; and (ii) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates or other written statements of officers of the Company and officers of departments of various jurisdiction having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or
certificates shall be delivered to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP if requested. The opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP and any opinion relied upon by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP shall include a statement to the effect that it may be relied upon by counsel for the Underwriter in its opinion delivered to the Underwriter.
4.3 Cold Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, you shall have received a cold comfort letter, addressed to the Underwriter and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to you and to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP from GBH dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any.
4.4 Reserve Engineer Comfort Letter. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, you shall have received a comfort letter, dated, respectively, as of the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, addressed to the Underwriter and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects to you and to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP from Netherland, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc. (“NSAI”) with respect to NSAI’s Assessment of Gross (100 Percent) Prospective Oil Resources for Certain Prospects and Leads Located Offshore Guinea as of July 1, 2010, and NSAI’s Assessment of Gross (100 Percent) Prospective Oil Resources for Certain Leads Located Offshore Guinea as of March 1, 2011.
4.5 Officers’ Certificates.
4.5.1. Officers’ Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriter shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, respectively, to the effect that the Company has performed all covenants and complied with all conditions required by this Agreement to be performed or complied with by the Company prior to and as of the Closing Date, or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and that the conditions set forth in Section 4 hereof have been satisfied as of such date and that, as of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct. In addition, the Underwriter will have received such other and further certificates of officers of the Company as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
4.5.2. Secretary’s Certificate. At each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriter shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the Secretary or Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date or the Option Date, as the case may be, respectively, certifying: (i) that the Company’s Certificate of Incorporation is true and complete, have not been modified and are in full force and effect; (ii) that the resolutions of the Company’s Board of Directors relating to the public offering contemplated by this Agreement are in full force and effect and have not been modified; (iii) as to the accuracy and completeness of all correspondence between the Company or its counsel and the Commission; and (iv) as to the incumbency of the officers of the Company. The documents referred to in such certificate shall be attached to such certificate.
4.6 No Material Changes. Prior to and on each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if any: (i) there shall have been no material adverse change or development involving a prospective material adverse change in the condition or prospects or the business activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) no action suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company or any Insider before or by any court or federal or state commission,
board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (iii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefore shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and (iv) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto shall contain all material statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Regulations and shall conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Regulations, and neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto shall contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
4.7 Delivery of Agreements. On the Effective Date, the Company shall have delivered to the Underwriter executed copies of this Agreement and the Lock-Up Agreements.
5. Indemnification.
5.1 Indemnification of the Underwriter.
5.1.1. General. Subject to the conditions set forth below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, and each dealer selected by the Underwriter that participates in the offer and sale of the Securities (each, a “Selected Dealer”) and each of their respective directors, officers and employees and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter (“Controlling Person”) within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, whether arising out of any action between the Underwriter and the Company or between the Underwriter and any third party or otherwise) to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in (i) any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as from time to time each may be amended and supplemented); (ii) any materials or information provided to investors by, or with the approval of, the Company in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including any “road show” or investor presentations made to investors by the Company (whether in person or electronically); or (iii) any application or other document or written communication (in this Section 5, collectively called “application”) executed by the Company or based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Public Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, NYSE Amex or any securities exchange; or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, unless such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereof, or in any application, as the case may be.. With respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 5.1.1 shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter to the extent that any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense of the Underwriter results from the fact that a copy of the Prospectus
was not given or sent to the person asserting any such loss, liability, claim or damage at or prior to the written confirmation of sale of the Securities to such person as required by the Act and the Regulations, and if the untrue statement or omission has been corrected in the Prospectus, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance by the Company with its obligations under Section 3.3 hereof. The Company agrees promptly to notify the Underwriter of the commencement of any litigation or proceedings against the Company or any of its officers, directors or Controlling Persons in connection with the issue and sale of the Public Securities or in connection with the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
5.1.2. Procedure. If any action is brought against the Underwriter, a Selected Dealer or a Controlling Person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to Section 5.1.1, the Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person, as the case may be, shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such action and the Company shall assume the defense of such action, including the employment and fees of counsel (subject to the reasonable approval of the Underwriter or such Selected Dealer, as the case may be) and payment of actual expenses. Such Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Underwriter, such Selected Dealer or Controlling Person unless (i) the employment of such counsel at the expense of the Company shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such action, or (ii) the Company shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one additional firm of attorneys selected by the Underwriter (in addition to local counsel), Selected Dealer and/or Controlling Person shall be borne by the Company. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, if any Underwriter, Selected Dealer or Controlling Person shall assume the defense of such action as provided above, the Company shall have the right to approve the terms of any settlement of such action which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld.
5.2 Indemnification of the Company. The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and employees and agents who control the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriter, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any application, in reliance upon, and in strict conformity with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or in any such application. In case any action shall be brought against the Company or any other person so indemnified based on any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any application, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Underwriter, the Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company, and the Company and each other person so indemnified shall have the rights and duties given to the Underwriter by the provisions of Section 5.1.2.
5.3 Contribution.
5.3.1. Contribution Rights. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this Section 5 makes claim for indemnification pursuant hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that this Section 5 provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which indemnification is provided under this Section 5, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriter shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement incurred by the Company and the Underwriter, as incurred, in such proportions that the Underwriter is responsible for that portion represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial offering price appearing thereon and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided, that, no person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11 (f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 5.3.1, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that the Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses. For purposes of this Section, each director, officer and employee of the Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Underwriter or the Company, as applicable.
5.3.2. Contribution Procedure. Within fifteen days after receipt by any party to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect thereof is to be made against another party (“contributing party”), notify the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the failure to so notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party notifies a contributing party or its representative of the commencement thereof within the aforesaid fifteen days, the contributing party will be entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other contributing party similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any claim, action or proceeding affected by such party seeking contribution without the written consent of such contributing party. The contribution provisions contained in this Section 5.3.2 are intended to supersede, to the extent permitted by law, any right to contribution under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise available.
6. [Reserved]
7. Additional Covenants.
7.1 Board Composition and Board Designations. The Company shall ensure that: (i) the qualifications of the persons serving as board members and the overall composition of the board comply with the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder and with the listing
requirements of, NYSE Amex or any other national securities exchange or national securities association, as the case may be, in the event the Company seeks to have its Public Securities listed on another exchange or quoted on an automated quotation system, and (ii) if applicable, at least one member of the board of directors qualifies as a “financial expert” as such term is defined under the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act of 2002 and the rules promulgated thereunder.
7.2 Right of First Refusal. Subject in all cases in this Section 7.2 to compliance first with the rights of first offer that have been granted by the Company to RBC, the Company agrees that if the Common Shares are sold in accordance with the terms of this Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriter shall have an irrevocable preferential right for a period of twelve (12) months from the date the Offering is completed to purchase for its account or to sell for the account of the Company, or any subsidiary of or successor to the Company any securities (whether debt or equity or any combination thereof) of the Company or any such subsidiary or successor which the Company or any such subsidiary or successor may seek to sell whether with or without or through an underwriter, placement agent or broker-dealer and whether pursuant to registration under the Act or otherwise. The Company and any such subsidiary or successor will consult the Underwriter with regard to any such proposed financing and will offer the Underwriter the opportunity to purchase or sell any such securities on terms not more favorable to the Company or any such subsidiary or successor, as the case may be, than it or they can secure elsewhere. If the Underwriter fails to accept such offer within 10 business days after the mailing of a notice containing the material terms of the proposed financing proposal by registered mail or overnight courier service addressed to the Underwriter, then the Underwriter shall have no further claim or right with respect to the financing proposal contained in such notice. If, however, the terms of such financing proposal are subsequently modified in any material respect, the preferential right referred to herein shall apply to such modified proposal as if the original proposal had not been made. The Underwriter’s failure to exercise its preferential right with respect to any particular proposal shall not affect its preferential rights relative to future proposals. The Company shall have the right, at its option, to designate the Underwriter as lead underwriter or co-manager of any underwriting group or co-placement agent of any proposed financing in satisfaction of its obligations hereunder, and the Underwriter shall be entitled to receive as its compensation 50% of the compensation payable to the underwriting or placement agent group when serving as co-manager or co-placement agent and 33% of the compensation payable to the underwriting or placement agent group when serving as co-manager or co-placement agent with respect to a proposed financing in which there are three co-managing or lead underwriters or co-placement agents.
8. Effective Date of this Agreement and Termination Thereof.
8.1 Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective when both the Company and the Underwriter have executed the same and delivered counterparts of such signatures to the other party.
8.2 Termination. You shall have the right to terminate this Agreement at any time prior to any Closing Date, (i) if any domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted, or in your opinion will in the immediate future materially disrupt, general securities markets in the United States; or (ii) if trading on the New York Stock Exchange, the NASDAQ, the NASDAQ Global Market or the NASDAQ Capital Market shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been required by FINRA or by order of the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction, or (iii) if the United States shall have become involved in a new war or an increase in major hostilities, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by a New York State or federal authority, or (v) if a moratorium on foreign exchange trading has been declared which materially adversely impacts the United
States securities markets, or (vi) if the Company shall have sustained a material loss by fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in your opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, or (vii) if the Company is in material breach of any of its representations, warranties or covenants hereunder, or (viii) if the Underwriter shall have become aware after the date hereof of such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such adverse material change in general market conditions as in the Underwriter’s judgment would make it impracticable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the securities or to enforce contracts made by the Underwriter for the sale of the securities.
8.3 Expenses. In the event that this Agreement shall not be carried out for any reason whatsoever, within the time specified herein or any extensions thereof pursuant to the terms herein, the Company shall be obligated to pay to the Underwriter the fees and disbursements of its special counsel, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP.
8.4 Indemnification. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement, and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 shall not be in any way effected by, such election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
9. Miscellaneous.
9.1 Notices. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be mailed (registered or certified mail, return receipt requested), personally delivered or sent by facsimile transmission and confirmed and shall be deemed given when so delivered or faxed and confirmed or if mailed, two days after such mailing.
If to the Underwriter:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLC
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: General Counsel
Fax No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
If to the Company:
Hyperdynamics Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: Chief Financial Officer
Fax No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax No.: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
9.2 Headings. The headings contained herein are for the sole purpose of convenience of reference, and shall not in any way limit or affect the meaning or interpretation of any of the terms or provisions of this Agreement.
9.3 Amendment. This Agreement may only be amended by a written instrument executed by each of the parties hereto.
9.4 Entire Agreement. This Agreement (together with the other agreements and documents being delivered pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement) constitutes the entire agreement of the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and thereof, and supersedes all prior agreements and understandings of the parties, oral and written, with respect to the subject matter hereof.
9.5 Binding Effect. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Underwriter, the Company and the Controlling Persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 5 hereof, and their respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person
shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. The term “successors and assigns” shall not include a purchaser, in its capacity as such, of securities from the Underwriter.
9.6 Governing Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to conflict of laws principles thereof. The Company hereby agrees that any action, proceeding or claim against it arising out of, or relating in any way to this Agreement shall be brought and enforced in the New York Supreme Court, County of New York, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, and irrevocably submits to such jurisdiction, which jurisdiction shall be exclusive. The Company hereby waives any objection to such exclusive jurisdiction and that such courts represent an inconvenient forum. Any such process or summons to be served upon the Company may be served by transmitting a copy thereof by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, addressed to it at the address set forth in Section 9.1 hereof. Such mailing shall be deemed personal service and shall be legal and binding upon the Company in any action, proceeding or claim. The Company agrees that the prevailing party(ies) in any such action shall be entitled to recover from the other party(ies) all of its reasonable attorneys’ fees and expenses relating to such action or proceeding and/or incurred in connection with the preparation therefore.
9.7 Execution in Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and by the different parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement, and shall become effective when one or more counterparts has been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to each of the other parties hereto. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile or email/pdf transmission shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof.
9.8 Waiver, etc. The failure of any of the parties hereto to at any time enforce any of the provisions of this Agreement shall not be deemed or construed to be a waiver of any such provision, nor to in any way effect the validity of this Agreement or any provision hereof or the right of any of the parties hereto to thereafter enforce each and every provision of this Agreement. No waiver of any breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be effective unless set forth in a written instrument executed by the party or parties against whom or which enforcement of such waiver is sought; and no waiver of any such breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment shall be construed or deemed to be a waiver of any other or subsequent breach, non-compliance or non-fulfillment.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Underwriter and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between us.
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Very truly yours, | |
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HYPERDYNAMICS CORPORATION | |
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By: |
/s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Title: V.P. Finance & Principal Financial Officer |
Accepted on the date first above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLC
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By: |
/s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ |
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Title: Sr. Managing Director |
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[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
ANNEX 1
Subsidiaries
SCS Corporation
SCS Guinea SARL
HYD Resources Corporation
Trendsetter Production Company
Hyperdynamics Oil and Gas Ltd.
SCHEDULE 1
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Time of Sale Prospectus |
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The preliminary prospectus supplement dated March 24, 2011 relating to the Common Shares |
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Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Time of Sale Prospectus: |
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None. |
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Pricing information to be included in the Time of Sale Prospectus: |
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Price per Share to the Public: $5.00 |
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Number of Shares offered: 25,000,000 |
EXHIBIT A
Lock-Up Agreement
, 20
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLC
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLC (the “Underwriter”) proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Hyperdynamics Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the Underwriter of [ ] shares (“Firm Shares”) of common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”).
To induce the Underwriter to continue its efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the date 90 days after the date of the final prospectus (the “Prospectus”) relating to the Public Offering (the “Lock-Up Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, grant, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares, or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer Shares without the prior consent of the Underwriter in connection with (a) transactions relating to Shares or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of Shares or other securities acquired in such open market transactions, (b) transfers of Shares or any security convertible into Shares as a bona fide gift, by will or intestacy or to a family member or trust for the benefit of a family member; provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (b), (i) each donee or distributee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the form of this letter agreement and (ii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a reduction in beneficial ownership of Shares, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made during the Lock-up Period, (c) transfer of Shares to a charity or educational institution, or (d) if the undersigned, directly or indirectly, controls a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other business entity, any transfers of Shares to any shareholder, partner or member of, or owner of similar equity interests in, the undersigned, as the case may be, if, in any such case, such transfer is not for value. In addition, the undersigned agrees that during the Lock-Up Period, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, it will not make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any Shares or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s Shares except in compliance with this Agreement.
If (i) the Company issues an earnings release or material news, during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release, unless the Underwriter waives such extension.
No provision in this agreement shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the exercise or exchange by the undersigned of any option or warrant to acquire Shares, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into Shares, provided that the undersigned does not transfer the Common Shares acquired on such exercise or exchange during the Lock-Up Period, unless otherwise permitted pursuant to the terms of this letter agreement. In addition, no provision herein shall be deemed to restrict or prohibit the entry into or modification of a so-called “10b5-1” plan at any time (other than the entry into or modification of such a plan in such a manner as to cause the sale of any Shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Shares within the Lock-Up Period).
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriter are relying upon this letter agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal representatives, successors and assigns.
The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement is not executed by , 2011 or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Shares to be sold thereunder this agreement shall be void and of no further force or effect.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriter.
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Very truly yours, |
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(Name): |
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(Address) |