Underwriting Agreement, dated as of December 4, 2024, by and among the Company, Needham & Company, LLC, as representative of the underwriters, and the Selling Stockholders listed therein

EX-1.1 2 tm2430240d1_ex1-1.htm EXHIBIT 1.1

 

Exhibit 1.1 

 

1,250,000 Shares*

 

AUDIOEYE, INC.

 

Common Stock

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

December 4, 2024

 

Needham & Company, LLC

As Representative of the several Underwriters

    c/o Needham & Company, LLC

250 Park Avenue

New York, New York 100177

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

The stockholders of AudioEye, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), named in Schedule II hereto (the “Selling Stockholders”) propose to sell an aggregate of 1,250,000 shares (the “Firm Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.00001 par value per share (the “Common Stock”), in each case to you and to the several other Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representative (the “Representative”). The Selling Stockholders have also agreed to grant to you and the other Underwriters an option (the “Option”) to purchase up to an additional 187,500 shares of Common Stock, on the terms and for the purposes set forth in Section 1(b) (the “Option Shares”). The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are referred to collectively herein as the “Shares.”

 

The Company and, where applicable, each of the Selling Stockholders confirm as follows their respective agreements with the Representative and the several other Underwriters.

 

1.            Agreement to Sell and Purchase.

 

(a)          On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Selling Stockholders herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions of this Underwriting Agreement (the “Agreement”), (i) each Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, agrees to sell to the several Underwriters the respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite that Selling Stockholder’s name on Schedule II hereto and (ii) each of the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Selling Stockholders the respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite that Underwriter’s name in Schedule I hereto, at the purchase price of $22.80 for each Share.

 

(b)          Subject to all the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the Selling Stockholders grant the Option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to the maximum number of Option Shares set forth in Schedule II hereto at the same price per Share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Firm Shares. The Option may be exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of this Agreement upon written or telegraphic notice (an “Option Shares Notice”) by the Representative to the Company and such Selling Stockholders no later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, at least one and no more than five business days before the date specified for closing in the Option Shares Notice (an “Option Closing Date”), setting forth the aggregate number of Option Shares to be purchased and the time and date for such purchase. On an Option Closing Date, each of such Selling Stockholders will sell to the Underwriters the number of Option Shares determined by multiplying the number of Option Shares set forth in the applicable Option Shares Notice by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Option Shares set forth opposite the name of such Selling Stockholder in Schedule II hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Option Shares that all of the Selling Stockholders are obligated to sell hereunder, as adjusted by the Representative in such manner as they deem advisable to avoid fractional Shares.

 

* Plus an option to purchase up to an additional 187,500 shares to cover over-allotments.

 

 

2.            Delivery and Payment. Delivery of the Firm Shares shall be made to or as instructed by the Representative for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representative against payment by the Underwriters of the purchase price by wire transfer payable in same-day funds to the Selling Stockholders at the office of Needham & Company, LLC, 250 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10177, at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day (or, if the purchase price set forth in Section 1(a) hereof is determined after 4:30 p.m., New York City time, the second) after the date of this Agreement, or at such time on such other date, not later than seven business days after the date of this Agreement, as may be agreed upon by the Company and the Representative (such date is hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date”).

 

To the extent the Option is exercised, delivery of the Option Shares against payment by the Underwriters (in the manner specified above) will take place at the offices specified above for the Closing Date at the time and date (which may be the Closing Date) specified in the applicable Option Shares Notice.

 

The Shares shall be in certificated form, book-entry form, or held in brokerage accounts, and shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representative shall request at least one business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, by written notice to the Selling Stockholders. The Shares shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders as instructed by the Representative through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for any Shares in book-entry form, or though the respective brokerage accounts for any Shares held in brokerage accounts. If the Representative so elects, delivery of the Shares may be made by credit through full FAST transfer to the accounts at DTC designated by the Representative.

 

The cost of original issue tax stamps and other transfer taxes, if any, in connection with the delivery of the Firm Shares and Option Shares by the Selling Stockholders to the respective Underwriters, whether such Shares are held in certificated form, book-entry form or in brokerage accounts, shall be borne by the Selling Stockholders. The Selling Stockholders will pay and save each Underwriter and any subsequent holder of the Shares harmless from any and all liabilities with respect to or resulting from any failure or delay in paying federal and state stamp and other transfer taxes, if any, which may be payable or determined to be payable in connection with the sale to such Underwriter of the Shares.

 

For Shares held in brokerage accounts, the Selling Stockholders shall ensure that such Shares are transferred to the accounts designated by the Representative at least one business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Selling Stockholders shall provide the Representative with all necessary information and documentation to facilitate the transfer of such Shares.

 

 

3.            Representations and Warranties of the Company.The Company represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter that:

 

(a)          The Company meets the requirements for the use of Form S-3, a registration statement (Registration No. 333-276937) on Form S-3 relating to the Shares, including a base prospectus relating to the Shares (the “Base Prospectus”) and such amendments thereto as may have been required to the date of this Agreement, has been prepared by the Company under the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the rules and regulations (collectively referred to as the “Rules and Regulations”) of the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder, has been filed with the Commission, and has been declared effective by the Commission, and the offering of the Shares complies with Rule 415 under the Act. A final prospectus supplement to the Base Prospectus relating to the Shares and the offering thereof will be filed promptly by the Company with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations (such final prospectus supplement, as so filed, the “Prospectus Supplement”). Such registration statement at any given time, including the amendments thereto to such time, the exhibits and any schedules thereto at such time, the documents otherwise deemed to be a part thereof or included therein by the Rules and Regulations (including Rule 430B thereof), and any registration statement relating to the offering contemplated by this Agreement and filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the Rules and Regulations (“Rule 462(b)”), is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The term “preliminary prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus (including any preliminary prospectus supplement) relating to the Shares and the offering thereof as first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations (“Rule 424(b)”). The term “Prospectus” means the Base Prospectus together with the Prospectus Supplement, except that if such Base Prospectus is amended or supplemented on or prior to the date on which the Prospectus Supplement was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b), the term “Prospectus” shall mean the Base Prospectus as so amended or supplemented and as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), after the time the Registration Statement initially became effective (the “Effective Date”), the date of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus, as the case may be, and deemed to be incorporated therein by reference. The term “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the Rules and Regulations (“Rule 433”), relating to the Shares in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).

 

(b)          No order preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement (including any related registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b)) or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued, and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission. On the Effective Date, on the date the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, or the Prospectus is first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (if required), at all times during the period through and including the Closing Date and, if later, the applicable Option Closing Date and when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is filed with the Commission, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (as amended or as supplemented if the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment or supplement thereto), including the financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, did and will comply with all applicable provisions of the Act, the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Exchange Act (the “Exchange Act Rules and Regulations”), and the Rules and Regulations and will contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with the Act, the Exchange Act, the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations, and the Rules and Regulations. As of the applicable effective date as to each part of the Registration Statement, no part of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto did or will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading. At the Effective Date, the date the Base Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Base Prospectus, including any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, is filed with the Commission, the date of first use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus Supplement, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the applicable Option Closing Date, the Prospectus did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

 

As of the Applicable Time, neither (x) the Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus(es) (as defined below) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Pricing Prospectus (as defined below) and the documents and information listed on Schedule III hereto, all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (y) any individual Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

As used in this subsection and elsewhere in this Agreement:

 

“Applicable Time” means 6:45 p.m. (Eastern time) on December 4, 2024 or such other time as agreed by the Company and Needham & Company, LLC.

 

“SEC Reports” shall mean the documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission on or prior to the Effective Date that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and any documents or portions thereof filed with the Commission after the Effective Date that are deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

 

“Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being specified in Schedule III hereto.

 

“Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not an Issuer General Use Free Writing Prospectus. The term Issuer Limited Use Free Writing Prospectus also includes any “bona fide electronic road show,” as defined in Rule 433, that is made available without restriction pursuant to Rule 433(d)(8)(ii), even though not required to be filed with the Commission.

 

“Pricing Prospectus” means the Base Prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the Applicable Time, including any document incorporated by reference therein and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof. For purposes of this definition, information contained in a form of prospectus that is deemed retroactively to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B shall be considered to be included in the Pricing Prospectus only if the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) is prior to the Applicable Time.

 

“Trading Day” means a day on which the Trading Market is open for trading.

 

Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Shares or until any earlier date that the issuer notified or notifies the Representative as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, including any document incorporated by reference therein that has not been superseded or modified. If there occurs an event or development as a result of which the General Disclosure Package would include an untrue statement of a material fact or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative so that any use of the General Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented to correct such untrue statement or omission.

 

 

The foregoing representations and warranties in this Section 3(b) do not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representative specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the second paragraph under the heading “Underwriting” and the sections titled, “Discretionary Accounts,” “Stabilization,” “Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares,” and “Other Relationships” in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representative specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus Supplement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

(c)          (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Rules and Regulations) of the Shares and (ii) as of the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations (“Rule 405”)), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be considered an Ineligible Issuer.

 

(d)         All of the direct and indirect subsidiaries (individually, a “Subsidiary”) of the Company are disclosed in the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K filed with the Commission, excluding any entity that has been dissolved, is not in active use by the Company, or does not otherwise constitute a significant subsidiary. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, all of the capital stock or other equity interests of each Subsidiary free and clear of “Liens” (which for purposes of this Agreement shall mean a lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal, preemptive right or other restriction), and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each Subsidiary are validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and free of preemptive and similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities.

 

(e)          The Company and each of the Subsidiaries is an entity duly incorporated or otherwise organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with the requisite power and authority to own and use its properties and assets and to carry on its business as currently conducted. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation nor in default of any of the provisions of its respective certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified to conduct business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation or other entity in each jurisdiction in which the nature of the business conducted or property owned by it makes such qualification necessary, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing, as the case may be, could not have or reasonably be expected to result in: (i) a material adverse effect on the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement, (ii) a material adverse effect on the results of operations, assets, business, prospects or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or the SEC Reports, or (iii) a material adverse effect on the Company’s ability to perform in any material respect on a timely basis its obligations under this Agreement (any of (i), (ii) or (iii), a “Material Adverse Effect”) and no proceeding, whether commenced or threatened, has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking, limiting or curtailing or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail such power and authority or qualification.

 

 

(f)           The Company has the requisite corporate power and authority to enter into and to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and otherwise to carry out its obligations hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby have been duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Company and no further action is required by the Company, the Company’s board of directors (the “Board”) or the Company’s stockholders in connection herewith other than in connection with the Required Approvals. This Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company and, when delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will constitute the valid and binding obligation of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as limited by general equitable principles and applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and other laws of general application affecting enforcement of creditors’ rights generally, (ii) as limited by laws relating to the availability of specific performance, injunctive relief or other equitable remedies and (iii) insofar as indemnification and contribution provisions may be limited by applicable law.

 

(g)          The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the sale of the Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby do not and will not (i) conflict with or violate any provision of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s certificate or articles of incorporation, bylaws or other organizational or charter documents, or (ii) conflict with, or constitute a default (or an event that with notice or lapse of time or both would become a default) under, result in the creation of any Lien upon any of the properties or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary, or give to others any rights of termination, amendment, anti-dilution or similar adjustments, acceleration or cancellation (with or without notice, lapse of time or both) of, any agreement, credit facility, debt or other instrument (evidencing a Company or Subsidiary debt or otherwise) or other understanding to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which any property or asset of the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or affected, or (iii) subject to the Required Approvals, conflict with or result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment, injunction, decree or other restriction of any court or governmental authority to which the Company or a Subsidiary is subject (including federal and state securities laws and regulations), or by which any property or asset of the Company or a Subsidiary is bound or affected; except in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii), such as could not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(h)         The Company is not required to obtain any consent, waiver, authorization or order of, give any notice to, or make any filing or registration with, any court or other federal, state, local or other governmental authority or other “Person” (defined as an individual or corporation, partnership, trust, incorporated or unincorporated association, joint venture, limited liability company, joint stock company, government (or an agency or subdivision thereof) or other entity of any kind, including the Nasdaq Capital Market (the “Trading Market”)) in connection with the purchase and distribution by the Underwriters of the Shares, other than (i) the filings required by this Agreement, (ii) the filing with the Commission of the Prospectus Supplement, and (iii) such filings as are required to be made under applicable state securities laws and the rules and regulations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) (collectively, the “Required Approvals”).

 

(i)           The Company has authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock as set forth under the caption “Capitalization” in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus as of the respective dates set forth therein. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Firm Shares and the Option Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders under this Agreement) have been duly authorized, validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable and were issued in compliance with all applicable state and federal securities laws; to the Company’s knowledge, no preemptive or similar rights exist with respect to any of the Shares or the sale thereof. Upon receipt of the Shares, the purchasers of such Shares will have good and marketable title to such Shares and the Shares will be freely tradable on the Trading Market.

 

 

(j)           The description of the capital stock of the Company incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus is complete and accurate in all respects. The Company has not issued any capital stock since its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act, other than pursuant to the exercise of employee stock options under the Company’s stock option plans, the issuance of shares of Common Stock to employees pursuant to the Company’s employee stock purchase plan and pursuant to the conversion and/or exercise of securities exercisable, exchangeable or convertible into Common Stock (“Common Stock Equivalents”) outstanding as of the date of the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act. No person has any right of first refusal, preemptive right, right of participation, or any similar right to participate in the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. Except as otherwise set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company does not have outstanding and, at the Closing Date and, if later, the applicable Option Closing Date, will not have outstanding, any options, warrants, scrip rights to subscribe to, calls or commitments of any character whatsoever relating to, or securities, rights or obligations convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or giving any person any right to subscribe for or acquire, any shares of Common Stock or the capital stock of any Subsidiary, or contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to issue additional shares of Common Stock or Common Stock Equivalents or capital stock of any Subsidiary. There are no outstanding securities or instruments of the Company or any Subsidiary that contain any redemption or similar provisions, and there are no contracts, commitments, understandings or arrangements by which the Company or any Subsidiary is or may become bound to redeem a security of the Company or such Subsidiary. The Company does not have any stock appreciation rights or “phantom stock” plans or agreements or any similar plan or agreement. No further approval or authorization of any stockholder, the Board or others is required for the sale of the Firm Shares and the Option Shares as contemplated herein. There are no stockholders agreements, voting agreements or other similar agreements with respect to the Company’s capital stock to which the Company is a party or, to the knowledge of the Company, between or among any of the Company’s stockholders. The certificates evidencing the Shares, if any, are in due and proper legal form.

 

(k)          The Registration Statement is not the subject of a pending proceeding or examination under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Act, and the Company is not the subject of a pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. The Company has not received any notice that the Commission has issued or intends to issue a stop-order with respect to the Registration Statement or that the Commission otherwise has suspended or withdrawn the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, either temporarily or permanently, or intends or has threatened in writing to do so.

 

(l)           The Company has filed all SEC Reports required to be filed by the Company under the Act and the Exchange Act, including pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) thereof, for the two years preceding the date hereof (or such shorter period as the Company was required by law or regulation to file such material) on a timely basis or has received a valid extension of such time of filing and has filed any such SEC Reports prior to the expiration of any such extension. As of their respective dates, the SEC Reports complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and none of the SEC Reports, when filed, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The financial statements of the Company included in the SEC Reports comply in all material respects with applicable accounting requirements and the rules and regulations of the Commission with respect thereto as in effect at the time of filing. Such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with United States generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis during the periods involved (“GAAP”), except as may be otherwise specified in such financial statements or the notes thereto and except that unaudited financial statements may not contain all footnotes required by GAAP, and fairly present in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries as of and for the dates thereof and the results of operations and cash flows for the periods then ended, subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal, immaterial, year-end audit adjustments. All disclosures regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K under the Act.

 

 

(m)         Since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, except as specifically disclosed in a subsequent SEC Report filed prior to the date on which this representation is being made, (i) there has been no event, occurrence or development that has had or that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the Company has not incurred any liabilities (contingent or otherwise) other than (A) trade payables and accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practice and (B) liabilities not required to be reflected in the Company’s financial statements pursuant to GAAP or disclosed in filings made with the Commission, (iii) the Company has not altered its method of accounting, (iv) the Company has not declared or made any dividend or distribution of cash or other property to its stockholders or purchased, redeemed or made any agreements to purchase or redeem any shares of its capital stock, (v) the Company has not issued any equity securities to any officer, director or “Affiliate” (defined as any Person that, directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or is controlled by or is under common control with a Person, as such terms are used in and construed under Rule 144 under the Act), except pursuant to existing Company stock option plans, and (vi) no executive officer of the Company or member of the Board has resigned from any position with the Company. The Company does not have pending before the Commission any request for confidential treatment of information. Except for the sale of the Shares contemplated by this Agreement, no event, liability, fact, circumstance, occurrence or development has occurred or exists or is reasonably expected to occur or exist with respect to the Company or its Subsidiaries or their respective businesses, prospects, properties, operations, assets or financial condition that would be required to be disclosed by the Company under applicable securities laws at the time this representation is made or deemed made that has not been publicly disclosed at least one (1) Trading Day prior to the date that this representation is made.

 

(n)         Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, there is no action, suit, inquiry, notice of violation, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against or affecting the Company, any Subsidiary or any of their respective properties before or by any court, arbitrator, governmental or administrative agency or regulatory authority (federal, state, county, local or foreign) (collectively, an “Action”). None of the Actions set forth in the SEC Reports, (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Shares or (ii) could, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor any director or officer thereof, is or has been the subject of any Action involving a claim of violation of or liability under federal or state securities laws or a claim of breach of fiduciary duty, which (i) adversely affects or challenges the legality, validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the Shares or (ii) would, if there were an unfavorable decision, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There has not been, and to the knowledge of the Company, there is not pending or contemplated, any investigation by the Commission involving the Company or any current or former director or officer of the Company.

 

(o)         No labor dispute exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent with respect to any of the employees of the Company, which could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. None of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ employees is a member of a union that relates to such employee’s relationship with the Company or such Subsidiary, and neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is a party to a collective bargaining agreement, and the Company and its Subsidiaries believe that their relationships with their employees are good. To the knowledge of the Company, no executive officer of the Company or any Subsidiary, is, or is now expected to be, in violation of any material term of any employment contract, confidentiality, disclosure or proprietary information agreement or non-competition agreement, or any other contract or agreement or any restrictive covenant in favor of any third party, and the continued employment of each such executive officer does not subject the Company or any of its Subsidiaries to any liability with respect to any of the foregoing matters. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable U.S. federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and wages and hours, except where the failure to be in compliance could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

 

(p)          Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary: (i) is in default under or in violation of (and no event has occurred that has not been waived that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would result in a default by the Company or any Subsidiary under), nor has the Company or any Subsidiary received notice of a claim that it is in default under or that it is in violation of, any indenture, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties is bound (whether or not such default or violation has been waived), (ii) is in violation of any judgment, decree or order of any court, arbitrator or other governmental authority or (iii) is or has been in violation of any statute, rule, ordinance or regulation of any governmental authority, including without limitation all foreign, federal, state and local laws relating to taxes, environmental protection, occupational health and safety, product quality and safety and employment and labor matters, except in each case as could not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)          The Company and its Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with all federal, state, local and foreign laws relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata), including laws relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, or toxic or hazardous substances or wastes (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) into the environment, or otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials, as well as all authorizations, codes, decrees, demands, or demand letters, injunctions, judgments, licenses, notices or notice letters, orders, permits, plans or regulations, issued, entered, promulgated or approved thereunder (“Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received all permits licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses; and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval where in each clause (i), (ii) and (iii), the failure to so comply could be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(r)          The Company and the Subsidiaries possess all certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports, except where the failure to possess such permits could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect (“Material Permits”), and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Material Permit.

 

(s)          The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property owned by them and good and marketable title in all personal property owned by them that is material to the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all Liens, except for (i) Liens as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries and (ii) Liens for the payment of federal, state or other taxes, for which appropriate reserves have been made therefor in accordance with GAAP and, the payment of which is neither delinquent nor subject to penalties. Any real property and facilities held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with which the Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance.

 

 

(t)           The Company and the Subsidiaries have, or have rights to use, all patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark applications, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, inventions, copyrights, licenses and other intellectual property rights and similar rights necessary or required for use in connection with their respective businesses as described in the SEC Reports and which the failure to so have could have a Material Adverse Effect (collectively, the “Intellectual Property Rights”). None of, and neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received a notice (written or otherwise) that any of, the Intellectual Property Rights has expired, terminated or been abandoned, or is expected to expire or terminate or be abandoned, within two (2) years from the date of this Agreement, except as could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received, since the date of the latest audited financial statements included within the SEC Reports, a written notice of a claim or otherwise has any knowledge that the Intellectual Property Rights violate or infringe upon the rights of any Person, except as could not have or reasonably be expected to not have a Material Adverse Effect. To the knowledge of the Company, all Intellectual Property Rights are enforceable and there is no existing infringement by another Person of any of the Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Subsidiaries have taken reasonable security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of all of their intellectual properties, except where failure to do so could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company owns or has a valid right to access and use all computer systems, networks, hardware, software, databases, websites, and equipment used to process, store, maintain, and operate data.

 

(u)          The Company and the Subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and the Subsidiaries are engaged, including, but not limited to, directors and officers insurance coverage. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business without a significant increase in cost.

 

(v)          Except as set forth in the SEC Reports, none of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary and, to the knowledge of the Company, none of the employees of the Company or any Subsidiary is presently a party to any transaction with the Company or any Subsidiary (other than for services as employees, officers and directors), including any contract, agreement or other arrangement providing for the furnishing of services to or by, providing for rental of real or personal property to or from, providing for the borrowing of money from or lending of money to or otherwise requiring payments to or from any officer, director or such employee or, to the knowledge of the Company, any entity in which any officer, director, or any such employee has a substantial interest or is an officer, director, trustee, stockholder, member or partner, in each case in excess of $120,000 other than for (i) payment of salary or consulting fees for services rendered, (ii) reimbursement for expenses incurred on behalf of the Company and (iii) other employee benefits, including stock option agreements under any stock option plan of the Company.

 

(w)         The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with any and all applicable requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended, that are effective as of the date hereof, and any and all applicable rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission thereunder that are effective as of the date hereof. The Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that: (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability, (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 the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and the Subsidiaries have established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)) for the Company and the Subsidiaries and designed such disclosure controls and procedures to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the end of the period covered by the most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recently filed periodic report under the Exchange Act the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the Evaluation Date. Since the Evaluation Date, there have been no changes in the internal control over financial reporting (as such term is defined in the Exchange Act) of the Company and its Subsidiaries that have materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the internal control over financial reporting of the Company and its Subsidiaries.

 

 

(x)            Other than as contemplated by this Agreement, the Company has not incurred and will not incur any liability for any finder’s or broker’s fee or agent’s commission in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

(y)            The Company is not, and is not an Affiliate of, and as a result of the transactions contemplated hereby, will not be or be an Affiliate of, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended. The Company shall conduct its business in a manner so as to reasonably ensure that it or its Subsidiaries will not become an “investment company” subject to registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

(z)            The Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders hereunder are listed on the Trading Market and the sale of the Shares by the Selling Stockholders as contemplated by this Agreement does not contravene the rules and regulations of the Trading Market. The Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) or 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or which to its knowledge is likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission is contemplating terminating such registration. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from any Trading Market on which the Common Stock is or has been listed or quoted to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of such Trading Market. The Company is, and has no reason to believe that it will not in the foreseeable future continue to be, in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements. The Common Stock is currently eligible for electronic transfer through the Depository Trust Company or another established clearing corporation and the Company is current in payment of the fees to the Depository Trust Company (or such other established clearing corporation) in connection with such electronic transfer.

 

(aa)        The Company and the Board have taken all necessary action, if any, in order to render inapplicable any control share acquisition, business combination, poison pill (including any distribution under a rights agreement) or other similar anti-takeover provision under the Company’s certificate of incorporation (or similar charter documents) or the laws of its state of incorporation that is or could become applicable to the Shares.

 

 

(bb)       Based on the consolidated financial condition of the Company as of the date hereof, (i) the fair saleable value of the Company’s assets exceeds the amount that will be required to be paid on or in respect of the Company’s existing debts and other liabilities (including known contingent liabilities) as they mature, (ii) the Company’s assets do not constitute unreasonably small capital to carry on its business as now conducted and as proposed to be conducted including its capital needs taking into account the particular capital requirements of the business conducted by the Company, consolidated and projected capital requirements and capital availability thereof, and (iii) the current cash flow of the Company, together with the proceeds the Company would receive, were it to liquidate all of its assets, after taking into account all anticipated uses of the cash, would be sufficient to pay all amounts on or in respect of its liabilities when such amounts are required to be paid. The Company does not intend to incur debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they mature (taking into account the timing and amounts of cash to be payable on or in respect of its debt) within one year from the date hereof. The Company has no knowledge of any facts or circumstances which lead it to believe that it will file for reorganization or liquidation under the bankruptcy or reorganization laws of any jurisdiction within one year from the date hereof. The SEC Reports set forth as of the date hereof all outstanding secured and unsecured Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary, or for which the Company or any Subsidiary has commitments. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in default with respect to any Indebtedness. For the purposes of this Agreement, “Indebtedness” means (x) any liabilities for borrowed money or amounts owed in excess of $50,000 (other than trade accounts payable incurred in the ordinary course of business), (y) all guaranties, endorsements and other contingent obligations in respect of indebtedness of others, whether or not the same are or should be reflected in the Company’s consolidated balance sheet (or the notes thereto), except guaranties by endorsement of negotiable instruments for deposit or collection or similar transactions in the ordinary course of business; and (z) the present value of any lease payments in excess of $50,000 due under leases required to be capitalized in accordance with GAAP.

 

(cc)        Except for matters that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, the Company and its Subsidiaries each (i) has made or filed all United States federal, state and local income and all foreign income and franchise tax returns, reports and declarations required by any jurisdiction to which it is subject, (ii) has paid all taxes and other governmental assessments and charges that are material in amount, shown or determined to be due on such returns, reports and declarations and (iii) has set aside on its books provision reasonably adequate for the payment of all material taxes for periods subsequent to the periods to which such returns, reports or declarations apply. There are no unpaid taxes in any material amount claimed to be due by the taxing authority of any jurisdiction, and the officers of the Company or of any Subsidiary know of no basis for any such claim.

 

(dd)       Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary, nor to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, any agent or other person acting on behalf of the Company or any Subsidiary, has (i) directly or indirectly, used any funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or other unlawful expenses related to foreign or domestic political activity, (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or employees or to any foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds, (iii) failed to disclose fully any contribution made by the Company or any Subsidiary (or made by any person acting on its behalf of which the Company is aware) which is in violation of law, or (iv) violated in any material respect any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.

 

(ee)        The Company’s accounting firm is set forth in the SEC Reports. To the knowledge and belief of the Company, such accounting firm (i) is a registered public accounting firm as required by the Exchange Act and (ii) shall express its opinion with respect to the financial statements to be included in the next Annual Report of the Company.

 

 

(ff)        The Company has not distributed and will not distribute prior to the later of (i) the Closing Date or, if later, the applicable Option Closing Date, and (ii) completion of the distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than any preliminary prospectuses, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed in Schedule III hereto, and other materials, if any, permitted by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.

 

(gg)       The Company has not, and to its knowledge no one acting on its behalf has, (i) taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or to result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares, (ii) sold, bid for, purchased, or, paid any compensation for soliciting purchases of, any of the Shares, or (iii) paid or agreed to pay to any Person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company, other than, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii), as otherwise disclosed in this Agreement.

 

(hh)       Each stock option granted by the Company under the Company’s stock option plan was granted (i) in accordance with the terms of the Company’s stock option plan and (ii) with an exercise price at least equal to the fair market value of the Common Stock on the date such stock option would be considered granted under GAAP and applicable law. No stock option granted under the Company’s stock option plan has been backdated. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no Company policy or practice to knowingly grant, stock options prior to, or otherwise knowingly coordinate the grant of stock options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its Subsidiaries or their financial results or prospects.

 

(ii)          (i)(x) There has been no material security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of its respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of it), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) and (y) the Company and the Subsidiaries have not been notified of, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any material security breach or other compromise to its IT Systems and Data; (ii) the Company and the Subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) the Company and the Subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable safeguards to maintain and protect its material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and Data; and (iv) the Company and the Subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.

 

(jj)          (i) The Company and the Subsidiaries are, and at all times during the past three years were, in compliance with all applicable data privacy and security laws and regulations, including, as applicable, the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, “Privacy Laws”); (ii) the Company and the Subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”); (iii) the Company provides accurate notice of its applicable Policies to its customers, employees, third party vendors and representatives as required by Privacy Laws; and (iv) applicable Policies provide accurate and sufficient notice of the Company’s then-current privacy practices relating to its subject matter, and do not contain any material omissions of the Company’s then-current privacy practices, as required by Privacy Laws, except, in each case, such as would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural person’s name, street address, telephone number, email address, photograph, social security number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; and (iv) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any identifiable data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. (i) None of such disclosures made or contained in any of the Policies have been inaccurate, misleading, or deceptive in violation of any Privacy Laws and (ii) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement will not result in a breach of any Privacy Laws or Policies, except, in each case, such as would not have or reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries, (i) has, to the knowledge of the Company, received written notice of any actual or potential liability of the Company or the Subsidiaries under, or actual or potential violation by the Company or the Subsidiaries of, any of the Privacy Laws; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any regulatory request or demand pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement by or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority that imposed any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.

 

 

(kk)        Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any of the directors, officers or employees of the Company or its Subsidiaries, is an individual or entity that is, or is owned or controlled by an individual or entity that is: (i) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor (ii) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the transactions contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity: (i) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any individual or entity or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions or (ii) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the transactions contemplated hereby, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise). For the past five years, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has knowingly engaged in, and is not now knowingly engaged in, any dealings or transactions with any individual or entity, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

(ll)          The Company is not and has never been a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the Company shall so certify upon the Underwriters’ request.

 

(mm)      Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates is subject to the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHCA”) and to regulation by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the “Federal Reserve”). Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates owns or controls, directly or indirectly, five percent (5%) or more of the outstanding shares of any class of voting securities or twenty-five percent (25%) or more of the total equity of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries or Affiliates exercises a controlling influence over the management or policies of a bank or any entity that is subject to the BHCA and to regulation by the Federal Reserve.

 

(nn)       The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record-keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, applicable money laundering statutes and applicable rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), and no Action or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Subsidiary, threatened.

 

 

(oo)       There are no affiliations with any FINRA member firm among the Company’s officers, directors or, to the knowledge of the Company, any five percent (5%) or greater stockholder of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus.

 

4.            Representations, Warranties and Covenants of the Selling Stockholders.

 

Each Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter that:

 

(a)          All consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary for the execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of this Agreement and for the sale and delivery of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, have been obtained; and such Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder.

 

(b)          The execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of this Agreement, and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which the Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Selling Stockholder is subject, except where such breach, violation or default as would not impair in any material respects the consummation of the Selling Stockholder’s obligations under this Agreement, or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder or any property or assets of the Selling Stockholder; and (ii) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, except the registration under the Securities Act of the Shares, the approval by FINRA of the underwriting terms and arrangements and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters and where the failure to obtain such consent, approval, authorization or order or to make such filing or registration would not reasonably be expected to (1) have a Material Adverse Effect or (2) materially and adversely affect the ability of the Selling Stockholder to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(c)          The sale of the Shares by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and the performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the assets of such Selling Stockholder pursuant to the terms or provisions of, or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or give any party a right to terminate any of its obligations under, or result in the acceleration of any obligation under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, loan agreement, bond, debenture, note agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which such Selling Stockholder or any of its properties is bound or affected, (ii) violate or conflict with any judgment, ruling, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation of any court or other governmental agency or body applicable to such Selling Stockholder or (iii) if such Selling Stockholder is a corporation, partnership or other entity, violate or conflict with the organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder (except in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) where such conflict, breach, violation, lien, charge, encumbrance or default, as applicable, would not materially adversely affect the ability of the Selling Stockholder to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Agreement).

 

 

(d)          Such Selling Stockholder has, and at the Closing Date and, if later, the applicable Option Closing Date, will have, good and marketable title to the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder, whether held in certificated form, book-entry form of in brokerage accounts, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims whatsoever; and, upon delivery of such Shares and payment therefor pursuant hereto, good and marketable title to such Shares, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims whatsoever, will be delivered to the Underwriters.

 

(e)          To the extent that any of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares are held in certificated form, upon payment of the purchase price for such Shares, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the Representative, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be designated by DTC (unless delivery of such Shares is unnecessary because such Shares are already in possession of Cede or such nominee), registration of such Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee (unless registration of such Shares is unnecessary because such Shares are already registered in the name of Cede or such nominee), and the crediting of such Shares on the books of DTC to “securities accounts” (within the meaning of Section 8-501(a) of the Uniform Commercial Code then in effect in the State of New York (“UCC”)) of the Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor such Representative has notice of any “adverse claim” (within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC) to such Shares), (x) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid “security entitlement” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the UCC) in respect of such Shares and (y) no action (whether framed in conversion, replevin, constructive trust, equitable lien, or other theory) based on an “adverse claim” (within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC) to such Shares may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement. For purposes of this representation, such Selling Stockholder may assume that when such payment, delivery (if necessary) and crediting occur, (u) such Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC, in each case, on the Company’s share registry in accordance with its certificate of incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (v) DTC will be registered as a “clearing corporation” (within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC), (w) appropriate entries to the accounts of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC, (x) to the extent DTC, or any other securities intermediary which acts as “clearing corporation” with respect to the Shares, maintains any “financial asset” (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(9) of the UCC) in a clearing corporation pursuant to Section 8-111 of the UCC, the rules of such clearing corporation may affect the rights of DTC or such securities intermediaries and the ownership interest of the Underwriters, (y) claims of creditors of DTC or any other securities intermediary or clearing corporation may be given priority to the extent set forth in Section 8-511(b) and 8-511(c) of the UCC and (z) if at any time DTC or other securities intermediary does not have sufficient Shares to satisfy claims of all of its entitlement holders with respect thereto, then all holders will share pro rata in the Shares then held by DTC or such securities intermediary.

 

(f)          Any Shares held in certificated form to be sold by such Selling Stockholder are in registered form and are not held in any securities account or by or through any securities intermediary within the meaning of the UCC. Certificates for all such certificated Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder, in suitable form for transfer by delivery or accompanied by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank with signatures guaranteed, shall be delivered to the transfer agent for the Shares pursuant to this Agreement prior to the applicable Closing Date or, if later, the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

 

(g)          On the Closing Date or, if later, the applicable Option Closing Date, all stock transfer or other taxes (other than income taxes) that are required to be paid in connection with the sale and transfer of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the several Underwriters hereunder will have been fully paid or provided for by such Selling Stockholder and all laws imposing such taxes will have been fully complied with.

 

(h)          Other than as permitted by the Act and the Rules and Regulations, such Selling Stockholder has not distributed and will not distribute any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any other offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares. Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take on or prior to the date 30 days after the date hereof, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or that might reasonably be expected, to cause or result in, or that will constitute, stabilization of the price of shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.

 

(i)           All information with respect to such Selling Stockholder contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto does not and will not 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 these were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties made in this Section 4(i) by each Selling Stockholder are limited to statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to such Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company or any of the Underwriters in writing by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (such information, the “Selling Stockholder Information”).

 

(j)           As of the date hereof, the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, such Selling Stockholder is not and will not be prompted by any material information concerning the Company or its subsidiaries which is not set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to sell its Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(k)          In order to document the Underwriters’ compliance with the reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated, such Selling Stockholder agrees to deliver to you prior to or at the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other applicable form or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof).

 

(l)           Such Selling Stockholder, directly or indirectly, has not entered into any commitment, transaction, or other arrangement, including any prepaid forward contract, 10b5-1 plan or similar agreement, that transfers or may transfer any of the legal or beneficial ownership or any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Shares, except as has been previously disclosed to the Representative.

 

(m)         Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, Such Selling Stockholder is not a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Firm Shares or the Option Shares.

 

(n)          Without having undertaken to determine independently the accuracy or completeness of either the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or the information contained in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, such Selling Stockholder (x) has no reason to believe that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 3 hereof are not true and correct, (y) is familiar with the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (z) has no knowledge of any material fact, condition or information not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, which has materially adversely affected or may materially adversely affect the business of the Company or any of its subsidiaries. Any certificate signed on behalf of a Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters as to the matters set forth therein.

 

 

5.            Agreements of the Company and the Selling Stockholders.Each of the Company or the Selling Stockholders, as applicable, covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters as follows:

 

(a)          The Company will not, either prior to the Applicable Time or thereafter during such period as the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales of the Shares by an Underwriter or a dealer, file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, unless a copy thereof shall first have been submitted to the Representative within a reasonable period of time prior to the filing thereof and the Representative shall not have objected thereto in good faith.

 

(b)         The Company will notify the Representative promptly, and will confirm such advice in writing, (i) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed, (ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose or the threat thereof, (iv) of the happening of any event during the period mentioned in the third sentence of Section 5(e) that in the judgment of the Company makes any statement 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 the light of the circumstances in which they are made, not misleading, and (v) of receipt by the Company or any representative or attorney of the Company of any other communication from the Commission relating to the Company, the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus. If at any time the Commission shall issue any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of such order at the earliest possible moment. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Rules and Regulations, the Company will comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430B and notify the Representative promptly of all such filings. If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the Company shall file a registration statement under Rule 462(b) with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for such Rule 462(b) registration statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to the Rules and Regulations.

 

(c)          The Company will furnish to each Representative, without charge, an electronic copy of each of the Registration Statement and of any pre- or post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and all exhibits thereto and will furnish to the Representative, without charge, for transmittal to each of the other Underwriters, a copy of the Registration Statement and any pre- or post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules but without exhibits.

 

 

(d)          The Company will comply with all the provisions of any undertakings contained in the Registration Statement.

 

(e)          So long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 of the Rules and Regulations), the Company will deliver to each of the Underwriters, without charge, as many written and electronic copies of each preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company and the Selling Stockholders consent to the use of each preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto by the Underwriters and by all dealers to whom the Shares may be sold, both in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares and for any period of time thereafter during which the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection therewith. If during such period of time any event shall occur that in the judgment of the Company or counsel to the Underwriters should be set forth in the Prospectus in order to make any statement therein, in the light of the circumstances under which it was made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will forthwith prepare and duly file with the Commission an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will deliver to each of the Underwriters, without charge, such number of copies of such supplement or amendment to the Prospectus as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will not file any document under the Exchange Act or the Exchange Act Rules and Regulations before the termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters, if such document would be deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, that is not approved by the Representative after reasonable notice thereof. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus or the Prospectus or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company will promptly notify the Representative and, if requested by the Representative, will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

(f)           Prior to any public offering of the Shares, the Company will cooperate with the Representative and counsel to the Underwriters in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may request; provided, that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.

 

(g)         The Company will, so long as required under the Rules and Regulations, furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flow of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, if any, certified by independent public accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement), consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its Subsidiaries, if any, for such quarter in reasonable detail.

 

(h)          The Company will make generally available to holders of its securities as soon as may be practicable, but in no event later than the Availability Date (as defined below), an earning statement (which need not be audited but shall be in reasonable detail) covering a period of 12 months commencing after the Effective Date that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act (including Rule 158 of the Rules and Regulations). For the purpose of the preceding sentence, “Availability Date” means the 45th day after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes such Effective Date, except that if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability Date” means the 90th day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter.

 

 

(i)           Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or reimburse if paid by the Underwriters, in such proportions as they may agree among themselves, all costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including but not limited to costs and expenses of or relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and exhibits to it, each preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing, (ii) the preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Shares, (iii) furnishing (including costs of shipping and mailing) such copies of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, as may be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom Shares may be sold, (iv) any filings required to be made in connection with clearance of the offering of the Shares with FINRA (including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith), (v) the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions designated pursuant to Section 5(f) and the preparation, printing and distribution of any Blue Sky memoranda (including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters in connection therewith), (vi) fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Company and of the Accountants, (vii) the transfer agent for the Shares, (viii) “road show” presentations to prospective purchasers of the Shares (including any travel expenses of the Company’s officers, directors and employees in connection with attending or hosting meetings), and (ix) all other costs and expenses of the Underwriters incident to the performance of their obligations hereunder not otherwise specifically provided for herein, including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters (in addition to those set forth in clauses (iv) and (v)); provided, however, that in no event under this clause (ix) shall the Company be required to pay or reimburse if paid by the Underwriters any costs and expenses in excess of $10,000 in the aggregate.

 

(j)           The Company and the Selling Stockholders will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action designed or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or that will constitute, stabilization of the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.

 

(k)          During the period beginning from the date hereof and continuing to and including the date that is 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, without the prior written consent of the Representative, the Company will not (1) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant options, warrants or rights to purchase, or otherwise dispose of any equity securities of the Company or any other securities convertible into or exchangeable for its Common Stock or other equity security (other than pursuant to employee stock option plans disclosed in the Prospectus or pursuant to the conversion of convertible securities or the exercise of warrants in each case outstanding on the date of this Agreement) or (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall be permitted to (i) issue shares of Common Stock or options to purchase Common Stock or other equity awards, or issue shares of Common Stock upon exercise of options or in connection with other equity awards, pursuant to any compensatory equity plan, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, (ii) file a registration statement on Form S-8 with respect to any securities issued or issuable pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement, and (iii) issue equity securities in connection with bona fide mergers or acquisitions, joint ventures, commercial relationships or other strategic transactions (whether by means of merger, stock purchase, asset purchase or otherwise, and including the filing of a registration statement on Form S-4 or other appropriate form with respect thereto), provided, that the aggregate number of shares of Common Stock convertible securities into shares of Common Stock that the Company may sell or issue or agree to sell or issue pursuant to this clause (iii) shall not exceed 5% of the total number of shares of the Company’s Common Stock issued and outstanding immediately following the completion of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

 

(l)           During the period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, grant options to purchase shares of Common Stock at a price less than the public offering price. During the period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not file with the Commission or cause to become effective any registration statement relating to any securities of the Company without the prior written consent of the Representative (except a Form S-8 as noted above).

 

(m)         The Selling Stockholders will, and the Company will cause each of its executive officers, directors and certain stockholders designated by the Representative, to enter into lock-up agreements with the Representative to the effect that they will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock or rights to acquire such shares according to the terms set forth in Schedule IV hereto.

 

6.            Further Agreements.

 

(a)          The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior written consent of Needham & Company, LLC, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Company and Needham & Company, LLC, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules and Regulations. Any such free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and Needham & Company, LLC is listed on Schedule III and herein called a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”

 

(b)          The Company agrees that it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and that it has complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Rules and Regulations applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, record keeping and legending.

 

7.            Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters The obligations of each Underwriter hereunder are subject to the following conditions:

 

(a)          All filings required by Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made. If the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the registration statement filed under Rule 462(b) shall have become effective by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement.

 

(b)          (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of the Base Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending or threatened by the Commission, (ii) no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the qualification or registration of the Shares under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction shall be in effect and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending before or threatened or contemplated by the Commission or the authorities of any such jurisdiction, (iii) any request for additional information on the part of the staff of the Commission or any such authorities shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such authorities, and (iv) after the date hereof no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Prospectus shall have been filed unless a copy thereof was first submitted to the Representative and the Representative does not object thereto in good faith.

 

 

(c)          Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, (i) there shall not have been a material adverse change in the general affairs, business, business prospects, properties, management, condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, in each case other than as described in or contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii)  neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries shall have sustained any material loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, explosion, flood or other casualty, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any court or legislative or other governmental action, order or decree, which is not described in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, if in the judgment of the Representative any such development makes it impracticable or inadvisable to consummate the sale and delivery of the Shares by the Underwriters at the public offering price.

 

(d)         Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Pricing Prospectus, there shall have been no litigation or other proceeding instituted against the Company, any of its Subsidiaries, or any of its or their officers or directors in their capacities as such, before or by any federal, state or local court, commission, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, domestic or foreign, in which litigation or proceeding an unfavorable ruling, decision or finding would, in the judgment of the Representative, have a Material Adverse Effect or if, in the judgment of the Representative, any such development makes it impracticable or inadvisable to consummate the sale and delivery of the Shares by the Underwriters at the public offering price.

 

(e)          Each of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders contained herein shall be true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation and warranty containing a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification) or in all material respects (in the case of any other representation and warranty) at the Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, at the applicable Option Closing Date, and all covenants and agreements contained herein to be performed on the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholders and all conditions contained herein to be fulfilled or complied with by the Company or the Selling Stockholders at or prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, at or prior to the applicable Option Closing Date, shall have been duly performed, fulfilled or complied with.

 

(f)          The Representative shall have received an opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, the applicable Option Closing Date, from Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, counsel to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, in form and substance previously agreed to between Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP and DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Underwriters.

 

(g)         The Representative shall have received an opinion and negative assurance letter, each dated the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, from DLA Piper LLP (US), counsel to the Underwriters, with respect to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement, which opinion and negative assurance letter shall be satisfactory in all respects to the Representative.

 

 

(h)          Concurrently with the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Accountants shall have furnished to the Representative a letter, dated the date of its delivery, addressed to the Representative and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, confirming that they are independent accountants with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries as required by the Act and the Exchange Act and the Rules and Regulations and with respect to certain financial and other statistical and numerical information contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package. At the Closing Date and, as to the Option Shares, the applicable Option Closing Date, the Accountants shall have furnished to the Representative a letter, dated the date of its delivery, which shall confirm, on the basis of a review in accordance with the procedures set forth in the letter from the Accountants, that nothing has come to their attention during the period from the date of the letter referred to in the prior sentence to a date (specified in the letter) not more than three days prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, which would require any change in their letter dated the date hereof if it were required to be dated and delivered at the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be.

 

(i)           At the Closing Date and, as to the Option Shares, the applicable Option Closing Date, there shall be furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the date of its delivery, signed by each of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, in their capacities as such, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that:

 

(i)            Each signer of such certificate has carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package (including any documents filed under the Exchange Act and deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus) and (A) as of the date of such certificate, such documents are true and correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading and (B) in the case of the certificate delivered at the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date, since the Effective Date no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading.

 

(ii)           Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement were, when originally made, and are, at the time such certificate is delivered, true and correct in all respects (in the case of any representation and warranty containing a materiality or Material Adverse Effect qualification) or in all material respects (in the case of any other representation and warranty).

 

(iii)          Each of the covenants required to be performed by the Company herein on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully performed and each condition herein required to be satisfied or fulfilled on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully satisfied or fulfilled.

 

(j)           At the Closing Date and, as to the Option Shares, the applicable Option Closing Date, there shall be furnished to the Representative a certificate, dated the date of its delivery, signed by the Selling Stockholders, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Selling Stockholders contained herein are true and correct in all material respects on and as of the date of such certificate as if made on and as of the date of such certificate, and each of the covenants and conditions required herein to be performed or complied with by the Selling Stockholders on or prior to the date of such certificate has been duly, timely and fully performed or complied with.

 

(k)          On or prior to the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received the executed agreements referred to in Section 5(m).

 

 

(l)           The Shares shall be qualified for sale in such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request and each such qualification shall be in effect and not subject to any stop order or other proceeding on the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date.

 

(m)         The Company shall have furnished to the Representative such certificates (including a Secretary’s Certificate and any good standing certificates), in addition to those specifically mentioned herein, as the Representative may have reasonably requested as to the accuracy and completeness at the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date of any statement in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package, as to the accuracy at the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, as to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, or as to the fulfillment of the conditions concurrent and precedent to the obligations hereunder of the Representative.

 

8.            Indemnification.

 

(a)          The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates of each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any and all investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which they, or any of them, may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, or the omission or alleged omission to state in such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, or arise out of or are based in whole or in part on any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Shares in the public offering to any person by an Underwriter and is based on an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to (i) any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representative, on behalf of any Underwriter, expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus; or (ii) any Selling Stockholder Information. The Company acknowledges that the statements set forth in the second paragraph under the heading “Underwriting” and the sections titled, “Discretionary Accounts,” “Stabilization,” “Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares,” and “Other Relationships” in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.

 

(b)          Each of the Selling Stockholders will severally and not jointly, indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents and affiliates of each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls each Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any and all investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted), to which they, or any of them, may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based (i) on any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Rules and Regulations, or the omission or alleged omission to state in such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading in the light of the circumstances in which they were made, in each case solely insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages which arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission of a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with such Selling Stockholder’s Selling Stockholder Information or (ii) in whole or in part on any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Selling Stockholders contained herein or any failure of the Selling Stockholders to perform their obligations hereunder or under law in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby; provided, however, that the liability under this subsection and under Section 4 hereof shall be limited in each case to any amount equal to the aggregate net proceeds after underwriting commissions and discounts, but before expenses, to such Selling Stockholder form the sale of Shares sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that each Underwriter might otherwise have.

 

 

(c)          Each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signs the Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each Selling Stockholder to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company and each Selling Stockholder to each Underwriter, as set forth in Section 8(a) and (b), but only insofar as losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based on any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representative, on behalf of such Underwriter, expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledge that the statements set forth in the second paragraph under the heading “Underwriting” and the sections titled, “Discretionary Accounts,” “Stabilization,” “Electronic Offer, Sale and Distribution of Shares,” and “Other Relationships” in the Pricing Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the only information relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for inclusion in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Base Prospectus, the Pricing Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. This indemnity will be in addition to any liability that each Underwriter might otherwise have.

 

(d)          Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 8 shall, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 8, notify each such indemnifying party in writing of the commencement of such action, enclosing with such notice a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provisions of this Section 8 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the loss of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (iii) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party), or (iv) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (A) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (B) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party. An indemnifying party will not be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed).

 

 

(e)          If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section 8 in respect of any losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages referred to therein, then each applicable indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company or the Selling Stockholders from persons other than the Underwriters, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omissions that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(e) were to be determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 8(e) shall be deemed to include, for purposes of this Section 8(e), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8(e), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by it, (ii) no Selling Stockholder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of such Selling Stockholder’s aggregate net proceeds after deducting underwriters’ commissions and discounts, but before expenses, to such Selling Stockholder from the sale of Shares sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and (iii) no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in this Section 8(e) are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. For purposes of this Section 8(e), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Act will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against any such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 8(e), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify will not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 8(e). No party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld).

 

 

(f)           The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriters, (ii) acceptance of any of the Shares and payment therefor, or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

 

9.            Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. In addition to its other obligations under Section 8(a) of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to reimburse the Underwriters on a quarterly basis for all reasonable legal and other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon, in whole or in part, any statement or omission or alleged statement or omission, or any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company or the Selling Stockholder contained herein or failure of the Company or the Selling Stockholders to perform its or their respective obligations hereunder or under law, all as described in Section 8(a), notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the obligations under this Section 8 and the possibility that such payment might later be held to be improper; provided, however, that, to the extent any such payment is ultimately held to be improper, the persons receiving such payments shall promptly refund them.10.        Termination.The obligations of the several Underwriters under this Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the Closing Date (or, with respect to the Option Shares, on or prior to the applicable Option Closing Date), by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders from the Representative, without liability on the part of any Underwriter to the Company or any Selling Stockholder if, prior to delivery and payment for the Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be, in the sole judgment of the Representative, (i) trading in any of the equity securities of the Company shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the Trading Market, (ii) trading in securities generally on the Trading Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on such exchange, or additional material governmental restrictions, not in force on the date of this Agreement, shall have been imposed upon trading in securities generally by such exchange, by order of the Commission or any court or other governmental authority or by the Trading Market, (iii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by either federal or New York State authorities or any material disruption of the securities settlement or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, or (iv) any material adverse change in the financial or securities markets in the United States or in political, financial or economic conditions in the United States, any outbreak or material escalation of hostilities involving the United States, a declaration of a national emergency or war by the United States, or other calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, shall have occurred, the effect of which is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the Representative, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with completion of the public offering or the delivery of and payment for the Shares.

 

 

If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 10 hereof, neither the Company nor any Selling Stockholder shall be under any liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 5(j), 8 and 9 hereof, as applicable; but, if for any other reason the purchase of the Shares by the Underwriters is not consummated or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations hereunder, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Shares.

 

11.         Substitution of Underwriters. If any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase any of the Firm Shares that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder, and the aggregate number of Firm Shares that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the Firm Shares that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase, in the proportions which the number of Firm Shares that they have respectively agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 1 bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares which all such non-defaulting Underwriters have so agreed to purchase, or in such other proportions as the Representative may specify; provided that in no event shall the maximum number of Firm Shares that any Underwriter has become obligated to purchase pursuant to Section 1 be increased pursuant to this Section 11 by more than one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares without the prior written consent of such Underwriter. In any such case either the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase any Firm Shares that it or they agreed to purchase hereunder and the aggregate number of Firm Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase exceeds one-tenth of the aggregate number of the Firm Shares and arrangements satisfactory to the Representative and the Company for the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the Selling Stockholders for the purchase or sale of any Shares under this Agreement. Any action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

 

12.          No Fiduciary Relationship. Notwithstanding any preexisting relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriters, the Company and each Selling Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that (i) the purchase and sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement (including the determination of the terms of the offering of the Shares) is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (ii) in connection therewith and with the process leading to such transaction, each Underwriter is acting solely as a principal and not the agent or fiduciary of the Company or any Selling Stockholder, (iii) no Underwriter has assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or any Selling Stockholder with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company or any such Selling Stockholder on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company or any Selling Stockholder except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (iv) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company or any Selling Stockholder and have no obligation to disclose or account to the Company or any Selling Stockholder for any of such differing interests, and (v) the Company and each Selling Stockholder has consulted its own legal, tax, accounting and financial advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.  The Company and each Selling Stockholder hereby agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters, or any of them, have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe a fiduciary or similar duty to the Company or any Selling Stockholder, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

 

 

13.          Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

 

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

 

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

 

(c)          For purposes of this Section 11, a “BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k). “Covered Entity” means any of the following: (i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b); (ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or (iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b). “Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable. “U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

 

14.          Miscellaneous.

 

(a)          Notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and, unless otherwise specified, shall be mailed or delivered (a) if to the Company or the Selling Stockholders, at the office of the Company, AudioEye, Inc., 5210 E. Williams Circle, Suite 750, Tucson, AZ 85711, Attention of Kelly Georgevich, with a copy to Faegre Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, 90 S 7th Street, Unit 2200, Minneapolis, MN 55402, telecopy number: (612) 766-1600, Attention: Jonathan Zimmerman; or (b) if to the Underwriters, to the Representative at the offices of Needham & Company, LLC, 250 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10177, Attention: Corporate Finance Department, with a copy to DLA Piper LLP (US), 303 Colorado Street, Suite 3000, Austin, TX 78702, telecopy number: (512) 457-7001, Attention: Drew Valentine, P.C. Any such notice shall be effective only upon receipt. Any notice under Section 10 or 11 may be made by telecopier or telephone, but if so made shall be subsequently confirmed in writing. Any such notice shall be effective only upon receipt. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a business day or, if such day is not a business day, on the next succeeding business day, (ii) on the next business day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier, (iii) on the business day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid) and (iv) by Electronic Notice as set forth in the following paragraph. For purposes of this Agreement, “business day” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in New York City are open for business.

 

 

An electronic communication (“Electronic Notice”) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this Section 12(a) if sent to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party in this Section 12(a). Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives actual acknowledgment of receipt from the person to whom notice is sent, other than automatic reply. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a nonelectronic form (“Nonelectronic Notice”), which shall be sent to the requesting party within 10 days of receipt of the written request for Nonelectronic Notice.

 

(b)          This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the several Underwriters, the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the persons referred to in Section 8, and their respective successors and permitted assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” as used in this Agreement shall not include a purchaser, as such purchaser, of Shares. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party; provided, however, that an Underwriter may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate thereof without obtaining the Company’s and Selling Stockholders’ consents.

 

(c)          This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Underwriters.

 

(d)          This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed entirely within such State and without regard to principles of conflicts of laws. Unless stated otherwise, specified times of day refer to New York City time.

 

(e)          No implied waiver by a party shall arise in the absence of a waiver in writing signed by such party. No failure or delay in exercising any right, power, or privilege hereunder shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall any single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise thereof or the exercise of any right, power, or privilege hereunder.

 

(f)           This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile or electronic transmission (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law) and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

 

 

(g)          In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.

 

(h)          EACH OF THE COMPANY, THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS AND THE UNDERWRITERS HEREBY WAIVES ANY RIGHT IT MAY HAVE TO A TRIAL BY JURY IN RESPECT OF ANY CLAIM BASED UPON, RELATING TO OR ARISING OUT OF THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

(i)           Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in New York City, Borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection with any of the transactions contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum, or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper. Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to such party at the address in effect for notices under Section 12(a) of this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient notice of process and notice thereof. Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

 

(j)           TIME SHALL BE OF THE ESSENCE OF THIS AGREEMENT. EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

 

(k)          The Section headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

 

Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the several Underwriters.

 

	Very truly yours,
	AudioEye, Inc.
	By:	/s/ Kelly Georgevich
		Name:	Kelly Georgevich
		Title:	Chief Financial Officer
	Selling Stockholders
	Sero Capital, LLC
	By:	s/s David Moradi
		Name:	David Moradi
		Its:	Sole Member
	CSB IV US Holdings LLC
	By:	/s/ Carr Bettis
		Name:	Carr Bettis
		Its:	Manager
	Turnmark Partners, L.P.
	By:	Turnmark Capital LLC, its General Partner
	By:	/s/ Jamil Tahir
		Name:	Jamil Tahir
		Title:	Managing Member

 

Confirmed as of the date first

above mentioned:

 

Needham & Company, LLC

 

Acting on behalf of itself

and as the Representative of

the other several Underwriters

named in Schedule I hereto.

 

Needham & Company, LLC
By:	/s/ Matt Castrovince
	Name:	Matt Castrovince
	Title:	Managing Director

 

 

SCHEDULE I

 

UNDERWRITERS

 

Underwriters		Number of Firm Shares to be Purchased
Needham & Company, LLC			937,500
Roth Capital Partners, LLC			312,500
Total			1,250,000

 

 

SCHEDULE II

 

SELLING STOCKHOLDERS

 

		Total Number of Firm Shares to be Sold				Total Number of Option Shares to be Sold
Sero Capital, LLC			900,000				135,000
CSB IV US Holdings LLC			225,000				33,750
Turnmark Partners, L.P.			125,000				18,750
Totals			1,250,000				187,500