Underwriting Agreement dated October 13, 2017 by and among CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P., and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated, as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule I thereto
Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
4,000,000 Shares
CATCHMARK TIMBER TRUST, INC.
Class A Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
October 13, 2017
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, Florida 33716
Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
501 North Broadway, 9th Floor
Saint Louis, Missouri 63102
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
listed on Schedule I hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”) and CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P., a Delaware limited partnership (the “Operating Partnership”), propose, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, that the Company will issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the “Underwriters”), an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of its Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”). The aggregate of 4,000,000 shares to be purchased from the Company are called the “Firm Shares.” In addition, the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriters, upon the terms and conditions stated herein, up to an additional 600,000 shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”). The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are collectively referred to in this Agreement as the “Shares.” Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (“Raymond James”) and Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated (“Stifel”) are acting as the representatives of the several Underwriters and in such capacity are referred to in this Agreement as the “Representatives.”
The Company wishes to confirm as follows its agreement with you and the other several Underwriters, on whose behalf you are acting as the Representatives, in connection with the several purchases of the Shares from the Company.
1. Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Act”), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-218466), including a prospectus, relating to the offering of the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time when it becomes effective, and as thereafter amended by any post-effective amendment, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C (the “Rule 430 Information”) under the Act to be part thereof at the time of effectiveness, is referred to in this Agreement as the “Registration Statement.” The term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in the Registration Statement before it becomes effective, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. The term “free writing prospectus” has the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 405 under the Act, and “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean each free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Class A Common Stock. “Time of Sale Information” shall mean the most recent Preliminary Prospectus together with the information included on Schedule II and the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule III hereto. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act, as of the date of the Registration Statement, such Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, as the case may be, and any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) that, upon filing, are incorporated by reference therein, as required by paragraph (b) of Item 12 of Form S-3, and shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”). As used herein, the term “Incorporated Documents” means the documents that at the time of filing are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. Upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, Company hereby agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the Underwriters. Upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company at a purchase price of $11.856 per Share (the “Purchase Price per Share”), the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.
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The Company hereby also agrees to sell to the Underwriters, and, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters shall have the right for 30 days from the date of the Prospectus to purchase from the Company the Additional Shares at the Purchase Price per Share, less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Firm Shares but not payable on the Additional Shares, and each Underwriter shall have the right (but not the obligation) to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Company the Additional Shares. If any Additional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments as you may determine to avoid fractional shares) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter, as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto bears to the total number of Firm Shares. The option to purchase Additional Shares may be exercised at any time within 30 days after the date of the Prospectus, but no more than once.
3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company has been advised by you that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in your judgment is advisable and initially to offer the Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus. The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.
Not later than 12:00 p.m. (St. Petersburg, Florida time) on the business day following the date the Shares are released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives shall request.
4. Delivery of the Shares and Payment Therefor. Delivery to the Underwriters of the Firm Shares and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of King & Spalding LLP, 1180 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309 at 10:00 a.m., Atlanta, Georgia time, on October 17, 2017 or such other place, time and date not later than 1:30 p.m., Atlanta, Georgia time, on the second business day thereafter as the Representatives and the Company may agree in writing (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”). The place of closing for the Firm Shares and the Closing Date may be varied by agreement between the Representatives and the Company.
Delivery to the Underwriters of and payment for any Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at the offices of King & Spalding LLP, 1180 Peachtree Street, NE, Atlanta, Georgia 30309, at 10:00 a.m., Atlanta, Georgia time, on such date or dates (the “Additional Closing Date”) (which may be the same as the Closing Date, but unless otherwise agreed to by the Company shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor earlier than two nor later than ten business days after the giving of the notice hereinafter referred to) as shall be specified in a written notice, from the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters to the Company, of the Underwriters’ determination to purchase a number, specified in such notice, of Additional Shares. Such notice may be given at any time within 30 days after the date of the Prospectus and
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must set forth (i) the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option and (ii) the names and denominations in which the certificates for which the Additional Shares are to be registered. The place of closing for the Additional Shares and the Additional Closing Date may be varied by agreement between you and the Company.
Delivery of the Firm Shares and any Additional Shares to be purchased hereunder shall be made through the facilities of The Depositary Trust Company against payment of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account or accounts specified in writing, not later than the close of business on the business day immediately preceding the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by the Company. Payment for the Shares sold by the Company hereunder shall be delivered by the Representatives to the Company.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the Purchase Price per Share for the Firm Shares and the Additional Shares, if any, that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. Raymond James and Stifel, or either of them individually and not as a Representative of the Underwriters, may, but shall not be obligated to, make payment for any Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
5. Covenants and Agreements of the Company.
The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters as follows:
(a) The Company will advise you promptly and, if requested by you, will confirm such advice in writing (i) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) of the receipt of any comments of the Commission, or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the suspension of qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purposes, and (iv) within the period of time referred to in Section 5(i) hereof, of any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, properties, assets, net worth or results of operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or of any event that comes to the attention of the Company or the Operating Partnership that makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any additions thereto or changes therein in order to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading in any material respect, or of the necessity to amend or supplement the Prospectus (as
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then amended or supplemented) to comply with the Act or any other law. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time. The Company will provide the Underwriters with copies of the form of Prospectus, in such number as the Underwriters may reasonably request, and file with the Commission such Prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Act before the close of business on the first business day immediately following the date hereof.
(b) The Company will furnish to you, without charge, upon request, a photocopy of the signed original of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and all exhibits thereto, and will also furnish to you, without charge, such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto as you may reasonably request.
(c) The Company will promptly file with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Company or the Representative, be required by the Act or requested by the Commission.
(d) The Company will furnish a copy of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to you and counsel for Underwriters and obtain your consent, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, prior to filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus with the Commission.
(e) The Company will not make any offer relating to the Class A Common Stock that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without your prior consent.
(f) The Company will retain in accordance with the Act all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed pursuant to the Act; and if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify you and, upon your request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter as many copies as they may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(g) Prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company has delivered or will deliver to you, without charge, in such quantities as you have requested or may hereafter reasonably request, copies of each form of the Preliminary Prospectus. Consistent with the provisions of Section 5(i) hereof, the Company consents to the use, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Shares are offered by the several Underwriters and by dealers, prior to the date of the Prospectus, of each Preliminary Prospectus so furnished by the Company.
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(h) As soon as is practicable after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and thereafter from time to time for such period as in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered in connection with sales by any Underwriter or a dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), and for so long a period as you may request for the distribution of the Shares, the Company will deliver to each Underwriter and each dealer, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) as they may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Shares are offered by the several Underwriters and by all dealers to whom Shares may be sold, both in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares and for such period of time thereafter as the Prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer. If at any time prior to the later of (i) the completion of the distribution of the Shares pursuant to the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement or (ii) the expiration of prospectus delivery requirements with respect to the Shares under Section 4(3) of the Act and Rule 174 thereunder, any event shall occur that in the judgment of the Company or in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters is required to be set forth in the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) or should be set forth therein in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act or any other law, the Company will forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 5(a) hereof, file with the Commission and use its best efforts to cause to become effective as promptly as possible an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will furnish to each Underwriter who has previously requested Prospectuses, without charge, a reasonable number of copies thereof.
(i) The Company will cooperate with you and counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the several Underwriters and by dealers under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you may reasonably designate and will file such consents to service of process or other documents as may be reasonably necessary in order to effect and maintain such registration or qualification for so long as required to complete the distribution of the Shares; 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 suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares, as contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject. In the event that the qualification of the Shares in any jurisdiction is suspended, the Company shall so advise you promptly in writing. If the Class A Common Stock fails to be, or ceases to be, listed on a national securities exchange, the Company will use its best efforts to qualify or register its Class A Common Stock for sale in non-issuer transactions under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the Blue Sky laws of each state where necessary to permit market making transactions and secondary trading and will comply with such Blue Sky laws and will continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect for a period of one year after the date hereof.
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(j) The Company will make generally available to its security holders a consolidated earnings statement (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158) covering the twelve-month period commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement, and ending not later than 15 months thereafter, as soon as practicable after the end of such period, which consolidated earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(k) During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will furnish to you and, upon your request, to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as available, a copy of each proxy statement, quarterly or annual report or other report of the Company mailed to stockholders or filed with the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) or any national securities exchange; provided, the Company will be deemed to have furnished such information to the extent it is filed on EDGAR.
(l) If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated after execution pursuant to Section 12 or if this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters because of any inability, failure or refusal on the part of the Company to perform in all material respects any agreement herein or to comply in all material respects with any of the terms or provisions hereof or to fulfill in all material respects any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse you and the other Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including travel expenses and reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters, but excluding wages and salaries paid by you) reasonably incurred by you in connection herewith.
(m) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares to be sold by it hereunder in accordance in all material respects with the statements under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
(n) For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 90th day after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock, (ii) enter into any swap or other transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such shares of Class A Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Class A Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (iii) file or cause to be filed a registration statement with the Commission, including any amendments, with respect to the registration of any shares of Class A Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Class A Common Stock or any other
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securities of the Company or (iv) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case without the prior written consent of the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) any shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible (in accordance with their terms, at the option of the holder or otherwise) into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock issued upon the exercise of options granted under the Company’s, Amended and Restated 2005 Long Term Incentive Plan (the “Amended 2005 LTIP”) or the CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. 2017 Incentive Plan (the “2017 LTIP”), in each case that are outstanding on the date of this Agreement, (C) the shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the vesting and conversion of restricted stock units issued to the Company’s named executive officers that are outstanding on the date of this Agreement, or (D) any shares of Class A Common Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into Class A Common Stock issued in connection with the acquisition by the Company of real property or real property companies, in the aggregate not to exceed 10% of the number of shares of Class A Common Stock outstanding which shall be subject to a customary lock-up agreement substantially consistent with the terms set forth in Exhibit A hereto.
(o) The Company will comply with all provisions of any undertakings contained in the Registration Statement.
(p) The Company will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action designed, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the shares of Class A Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.
(q) The Company will timely file with the NYSE all documents and notices required by the NYSE of companies that have securities that are traded on the NYSE.
(r) The Company shall maintain, at its expense, a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of its incorporation or the rules of any national securities exchange on which the Class A Common Stock will be listed, a registrar (which, if permitted by applicable laws and rules may be the same entity as the transfer agent) for the Class A Common Stock.
(s) The Company will file, within applicable deadlines, all material required to be filed by it with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g), 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and during the Prospectus Delivery Period, that is required in connection with the offering of the Shares.
(t) The Company will use its best efforts to meet the requirements to qualify, for the taxable year ending December 31, 2017, for taxation as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the Company will use its best efforts to continue to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code unless the Company’s Board of Directors determines in good faith that it is no longer in the best interests of the Company and its stockholders to so qualify or to be so qualified.
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6. Representations and Warranties.
Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership, jointly and severally, hereby represents and warrants to each Underwriter on the date hereof, and shall be deemed to represent and warrant to each Underwriter on the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, that:
(a) Registration Statement Effective; No Stop Order. The Company satisfies all of the requirements of the Act for use of Form S-3 for the offering of Shares contemplated hereby. The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect; and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission. The Company has not received notice that the Commission objects to the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(b) Ineligible Issuer. At the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Act) of the Class A Common Stock, on the date hereof and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, the Company was not, is not and will not be an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act).
(c) Registration Statement Compliance. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conformed, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform, in all material respects on the date hereof and or the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date to the requirements of the Act. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act.
(d) The Incorporated Documents heretofore filed, when they were filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was file), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, and any further Incorporated Documents so filed will, when they are filed, conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; no such Incorporated Document when it was filed (or, if an amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), contained an 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 not misleading; and no such further Incorporated Document, when it is filed, will contain an untrue statement of a material fact or will omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading.
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(e) Registration Statement. The Registration Statement does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 13.
(f) Prospectus. The Prospectus will not, as of its date, the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 13.
(g) Time of Sale Information. The Time of Sale Information does not, and will not at the time of sale of the Shares, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Time of Sale Information in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, which information is specified in Section 13.
(h) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433 under the Act), when considered together with the Time of Sale Information at the time of sale of the Shares, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(i) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus Compliance. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act on the date of first use, and the Company has complied with all prospectus delivery and any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Act. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Stock that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Representative. The Company has retained in accordance with the Act all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Act. The Company has taken all actions necessary so that any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) in connection with the offering of the Stock will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Act.
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(j) Capitalization. The capitalization of the Company is and will be as set forth in the Prospectus as of the date set forth therein. All the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock of the Company have been, and as of the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will be, duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are free of any preemptive or similar rights; except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to or bound by any outstanding options, warrants or similar rights to subscribe for, or contractual obligations to issue, sell, transfer or acquire, any of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of such capital stock; the Shares to be issued and sold to the Underwriters by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of any preemptive or similar rights; the capital stock of the Company conforms to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and the delivery of certificates, if any, for the Shares being sold by the Company against payment therefor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will pass valid title to the Shares being sold by the Company, free and clear of any claim, encumbrance or defect in title, to the several Underwriters purchasing such shares in good faith and without notice of any lien, claim or encumbrance. The certificates for the Shares being sold by the Company, if any, are in valid and sufficient form.
(k) Organization and Good Standing. Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries is duly organized and validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company or other organization in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization with full corporate or organizational power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except where the failure to so register or qualify would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), business, prospects, properties, assets, net worth or results of operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”). As used in this Agreement, “subsidiaries” shall mean all of the wholly-owned and partially-owned direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company and the Operating Partnership set forth on Schedule IV hereto, each a “subsidiary.”
(l) Subsidiaries. The issued shares of capital stock of the Operating Partnership and each of the subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company or the Operating Partnership, as applicable, free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership has any subsidiaries and neither owns a material interest in or control, directly or indirectly, any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, trust or other business organization, except as set forth in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended December 31, 2016, which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement.
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(m) Legal Proceedings. There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened, against the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries or to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries or any of their properties are subject, that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) but are not described as required. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and Prospectus, there are no actions, suits, inquiries, proceedings or investigations by or before any court or governmental or other regulatory or administrative agency or commission pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened, against or involving the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries, that, if determined adversely to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or prevent or adversely affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, nor to the knowledge of the Company or Operating Partnership, is there any basis for any such action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation. There are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (each, a “Material Contract”) that are not described, filed or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus as required by the Act. All Material Contracts to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable subsidiary, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable subsidiary and are enforceable against the Company, the Operating Partnership or the applicable subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof, except as enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor the applicable subsidiary has received notice or been made aware that any other party is in breach of or default to the Company, the Operating Partnership or applicable subsidiary under any of the Material Contracts.
(n) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries is (i) in violation of (A) its charter or bylaws, or other organizational documents, (B) any federal, state or foreign law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries, or (C) any decree of any federal, state or foreign court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries, except in case of (B) and (C) for violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) in default in any material respect in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in (A) any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or (B) any agreement, contract, indenture, lease or other instrument (each of (A) and (B), an “Existing Instrument”) to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their properties may be bound, except for such defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate,
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reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and there does not exist any state of facts that constitutes an event of default on the part of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries as defined in such documents or that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event of default.
(o) Underwriting Agreement.
(i) The Company’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and have been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by (A) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (B) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
(ii) The Operating Partnership’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by the Operating Partnership of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Operating Partnership and have been duly executed and delivered by the Operating Partnership, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Operating Partnership enforceable against the Operating Partnership in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by (A) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (B) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
(p) No Conflicts. None of the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) requires any consent, approval, authorization or other order of or registration or filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, agency or official (except such as may be required for the registration of the Shares under the Act, the listing of the Shares for trading on the NYSE and compliance with the securities or Blue Sky laws of various jurisdictions, all of which will be, or have been, effected in accordance with this Agreement), (ii) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, the Company’s charter or the Company’s bylaws, the certificate of limited partnership or agreement of limited partnership of the Operating Partnership, (iii) constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a
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default under, any agreement, contract, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound, (iv) violates any statute, law, regulation, ruling, filing, judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (v) results in a breach of, or default or Debt Repayment Triggering event (as defined below) under, or results in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries pursuant to, or requires the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for purposes of clauses (i), (iii), (iv) and (v) such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries.
(q) Stock Options; Other Rights. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, and except for options to purchase capital stock issued pursuant to the Amended 2005 LTIP, the 2017 LTIP and units of limited partnership in the Operating Partnership (“Units”) which are exchangeable for shares of Class A Common Stock, neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has outstanding any options to purchase, or any warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of Class A Common Stock, Units or any such warrants or convertible securities or obligations. No holder of securities of the Company or the Operating Partnership has rights to the registration of any securities of the Company as a result of or in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby that have not been satisfied or heretofore waived in writing.
(r) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, the certified public accountants who have certified the financial statements (including the related notes thereto and supporting schedules) filed or incorporated by reference as part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the Exchange Act.
(s) No Material Adverse Change. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), since the date of the most recent audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, (i) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, indirect, direct or contingent, or entered into any transaction that is not in the ordinary course of business, (ii) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by
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insurance, (iii) neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has paid or declared any dividends or other distributions with respect to its capital stock and the Company is not in default under the terms of any class of capital stock of the Company or any outstanding debt obligations, (iv) there has not been any change in the authorized or outstanding capital stock of the Company or the Operating Partnership or any material change in the indebtedness of the Company or the Operating Partnership (other than in the ordinary course of business) and (v) there has not been any change nor any development or event involving a prospective change that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) Registration and Listing. The Class A Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the NYSE, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Class A Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Class A Common Stock from the NYSE, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the NYSE is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The Shares have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject to official notice of issuance of the Shares being sold by the Company.
(u) No Stabilization. Other than excepted activity pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company and the Operating Partnership have not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action that constituted, or any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in or constitute, under the Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company or the Operating Partnership to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or for any other purpose.
(v) Taxes. The Company, the Operating Partnership and each of the subsidiaries have filed all tax returns required to be filed (other than certain state or local tax returns, as to which the failure to file, would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), which returns are complete and correct in all material respects, and neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any subsidiary is in default in the payment of any taxes that were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, all tax deficiencies asserted as a result of any federal, state, local or foreign tax audits have been paid or finally settled and no issue has been raised in any such audit that, by application of the same or similar principles, reasonably could be expected to result in a proposed deficiency for any other period not so audited. There are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, local or foreign tax return for any period. On the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, all stock transfer and other taxes that are required to be paid in connection with the sale of the shares to be sold by the Company to the Underwriters will have been fully paid by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will have been complied with.
(w) No Undisclosed Relationships. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no transactions with “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) or any officer, director or security holder of
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the Company or the Operating Partnership (whether or not an affiliate) that are required by the Act to be disclosed in the Registration Statement. Additionally, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any subsidiary on the other hand that is required by the Act to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus that is not so disclosed.
(x) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership is, or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus, will be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(y) Property. Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries has good and valid title to all property (real and personal) described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus as being owned by it, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances except (i) such as are described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus or (ii) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be materially burdensome to the use of the property or the conduct of the business of the Company and the Operating Partnership or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All property (real and personal) held under lease by the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries is held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be materially burdensome to the use of the property or the conduct of the business of the Company and the Operating Partnership or reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(z) Permits. Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries has all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, consents and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (hereinafter “permit” or “permits”) as are necessary to own its properties and to conduct its business in the manner described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except where the failure to have obtained any such permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries has operated and is operating its business in material compliance with and not in material violation of its obligations with respect to each such permit and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination of any such permit or result in any other material impairment of the rights of any such permit, subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; and, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, such permits contain no restrictions that are materially burdensome to the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries.
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(aa) Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the related notes thereto, set forth or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects (i) the financial condition of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and (ii) the consolidated results of operations, stockholders’ equity and changes in cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods therein specified; and such financial statements and related notes thereto have been prepared in conformity with United States generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein and subject, in the case of unaudited financial statements, to the absence of footnotes and normal year-end adjustments) and the other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company. There are no other financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. The Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus. All disclosures contained in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10(e) of Regulation S-K under the Act, to the extent applicable, and present fairly the information shown therein and the Company’s basis for using such measures. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(bb) Internal Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, including, but not limited to, 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 generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company’s independent auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves
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management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Since the date of the most recent evaluation of such controls and procedures, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there have been no significant changes in internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect internal control over financial reporting, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
(cc) Disclosure Controls. The Company has established and maintains and evaluates “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act), such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by others within those entities, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established.
(dd) Sarbanes-Oxley. The Company and its directors or officers, in their capacities as such, are each in compliance in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications. The principal executive officers (or their equivalents) and principal financial officers (or their equivalents) of the Company have made all certifications required by the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission, and the statements contained in each such certification are complete and correct. The Company is, and has taken all necessary actions to ensure that its directors and officers in their capacities as such are, each in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the NYSE, the rules and regulations of the Commission and the NYSE promulgated thereunder.
(ee) No Integration. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership, prior to the date hereof, made any offer or sale of securities which could be “integrated” for purposes of the Act with the offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership has sold or issued any security during the 180-day period preceding the date of the Prospectus, including but not limited to any sales pursuant to Rule 144A or Regulation D or S under the Act, other than shares of Class A Common Stock or Units issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or the employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(ff) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Foreign Corrupt Practices Act”),
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including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act; and the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance in all material respects with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act and have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance in all material respects therewith.
(gg) OFAC. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company and the Operating Partnership will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(hh) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the “United and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001” (the “Patriot Act”) or the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency.
(ii) No Labor Disputes. No labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries exists, or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, is threatened or imminent, except for such problems or disputes which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Operating Partnership are not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries plans to terminate employment with the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has engaged in any unfair labor practice, and except for matters which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (i) there is (A) no unfair labor practice complaint pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or arbitration proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating
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Partnership, threatened, (B) no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, threatened against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries and (C) no union representation dispute currently existing concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries and (ii) to the knowledge of the Company and the Operating Partnership, (A) no union organizing activities are currently taking place concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries and (B) there has been no violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law relating to discrimination in the hiring, promotion or pay of employees, any applicable wage or hour laws or any provision of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder concerning the employees of the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries.
(jj) Environmental Laws. The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits 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 permits, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries owns, leases or occupies any property that appears on any list of hazardous sites compiled by any state or local governmental agency. There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(kk) Intellectual Property.
(i) Each of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries owns or has the valid right, title and interest in and to, or has valid licenses to use, each material trade name, trade and service mark, trade and service mark registration, patent, patent application copyright, license, invention, technology, know-how, approval, trade secret and other similar rights (collectively “Intellectual Property”) necessary for the conduct of the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries as now conducted or as proposed in the Prospectus to be conducted. Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership have created any lien or encumbrance on, or granted any right
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or license with respect to, any such Intellectual Property except where the failure to own or obtain such licenses or rights to use any such Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. There is no claim pending against the Company, the Operating Partnership or the subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property and the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries have not received notice or otherwise become aware that any Intellectual Property that any of them uses or has used in the conduct of their respective businesses infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has become aware that any material Intellectual Property that any of them uses or has used in the conduct of their respective businesses infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party.
(ii) The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries own or have 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, information, and functions used in connection with the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries (the “Company IT Systems”). The Company IT Systems are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with, the operation of the business of the Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries as currently conducted, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries have implemented commercially reasonable backup, security and disaster recovery technology consistent in all material respects with applicable regulatory standards and customary industry practices.
(ll) Lock-ups. The Company has procured Lock-Up Agreements, in the form of Exhibit A hereto, from each of the individuals set forth on Schedule V hereto.
(mm) Insurance. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company, the Operating Partnership and each of 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 it is engaged; and neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries has 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 at a comparable cost.
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(nn) ERISA. The Company, the Operating Partnership and the subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under ERISA) established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries or their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA and all other applicable state and federal laws. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company, the Operating Partnership or a subsidiary, any member of any group or organization described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code of which the Company, the Operating Partnership or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined in ERISA). Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, the Operating Partnership, the subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, that would cause the loss of such qualification.
(oo) No Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company, the Operating Partnership nor any of the subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
(pp) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company, the Operating Partnership or any of the subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares.
(qq) Accurate Disclosure. The statements in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus under the headings “Description of Operating Partnership Agreement,” “Description of Capital Stock,” “Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws,” “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations,” “Certain ERISA Considerations” and “Underwriting,” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings in all material respects.
(rr) Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company or the Operating Partnership that has caused the Company or the Operating Partnership to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus are not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.
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(ss) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(tt) Real Estate Investment Trust. The Company has been organized and has operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT for each taxable year commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2009, and its organization and method of operation (as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information) will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a real estate investment trust under the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2017 and thereafter. All statements regarding the Company’s qualification and taxation as a REIT and descriptions of the Company’s organization and method of operation set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information are true, complete and correct in all material respects.
7. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement becomes effective or is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof and of any Preliminary Prospectus to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the printing and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information, the Blue Sky memoranda, the Master Agreement Among Underwriters, this Agreement, the Selected Dealers Agreement and all amendments or supplements to any of them as may be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares; (iii) consistent with the provisions of Section 5(j), all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws or Blue Sky laws, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith; (iv) the filing fees incident to securing any required review by FINRA of the fairness of the terms of the sale of the Shares and the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Underwriters’ counsel relating thereto; (v) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Shares on the NYSE; (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates, if any; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; (viii) the cost of the tax stamps, if any, in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Shares to the respective Underwriters or their affiliates; (ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 13 of the Registration Statement; and (x) the transportation, lodging, graphics and other expenses incidental to the Company’s preparation for and participation in the “roadshow” for the offering contemplated hereby. Except as provided in this Section 7 and in Section 8 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel. In addition, in the event that the proposed offering is terminated for the reasons set forth in Section 5(l) hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters as provided in Section 5(l).
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8. Indemnification and Contribution. Subject to the limitations in this paragraph below, the Company and the Operating Partnership jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless you and each other Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of each Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls any 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, damages, liabilities and expenses, including reasonable costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees and expenses (collectively, “Damages”) arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or (ii) any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except with respect to (i) or (ii) to the extent that any such Damages arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that has been made therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with the information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through you, expressly for use in connection therewith, which information is specified in Section 13. This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability that the Company or the Operating Partnership may otherwise have.
If any action or claim shall be brought against any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter in respect of which indemnity may be sought jointly or severally against the Company and the Operating Partnership, such Underwriter or such controlling person shall promptly notify in writing the party(s) against whom indemnification is being sought (the “indemnifying party” or “indemnifying parties”), and such indemnifying party(s) shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably acceptable to such Underwriter or such controlling person and the payment of all reasonable fees of and expenses incurred by such counsel. Such Underwriter or any such controlling person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Underwriter or such controlling person, unless (i) the indemnifying party(s) has (have) agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the indemnifying party(s) has (have) failed to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter or such controlling person or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both such Underwriter or such controlling person and the indemnifying party(s), and such Underwriter or such controlling person shall have been advised by its counsel that one or more legal defenses may be available to the Underwriter that may not be available to the Company or the Operating Partnership, or that representation of such indemnified party and any indemnifying party(s) by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct (whether or not such representation by the same counsel has been proposed) due to actual or potential differing interests between them (in which case the indemnifying party(s) shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such Underwriter or such controlling person (but the Company and the Operating Partnership shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for the Underwriters and such controlling persons)). The indemnifying party(s) shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its (their several) written
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consent, but if settled with such written consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party(s) agree(s) to indemnify and hold harmless any Underwriter and any such controlling person from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment, but in the case of a judgment only to the extent stated in the first paragraph of this Section 8.
Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Operating Partnership, their respective directors and their respective officers who sign the Registration Statement and any person who controls the Company or the Operating Partnership within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing several indemnity from the Company and the Operating Partnership to each Underwriter, but only with respect to information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, which is specified in Section 13. If any action or claim shall be brought or asserted against the Company or the Operating Partnership, any of their respective directors, any of their respective officers or any such controlling person based on the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Preliminary Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Underwriter pursuant to this paragraph, such Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company and the Operating Partnership by the immediately preceding paragraph (except that if the Company and the Operating Partnership shall have assumed the defense thereof such Underwriter shall not be required to do so, but may employ separate counsel therein and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at such Underwriter’s expense), and the Company and the Operating Partnership, their respective directors, their respective officers and any such controlling persons, shall have the rights and duties given to the Underwriters by the immediately preceding paragraph.
In any event, the Company or the Operating Partnership will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any proceeding or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which the indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Representatives or any person who controls the Representatives within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act is a party to such claim, action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of all Underwriters and such controlling persons from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient for any reason whatsoever to an indemnified party in respect of any Damages referred to herein, then an indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Damages (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other hand, from the offering and sale of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
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applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative and several fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Damages as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative and several benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership 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 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; provided that, in the event that the Underwriters shall have purchased any Additional Shares hereunder, any determination of the relative benefits received by the Company and the Operating Partnership or the Underwriters from the offering of the Shares shall include the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, from the sale of such Additional Shares, in each case computed on the basis of the respective amounts set forth in the notes to the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Operating Partnership on the one hand, or by the Underwriters on the other hand and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 was determined by a 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 in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Damages referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the underwriting commissions received by such underwriter in connection with the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Shares set forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto (or such numbers of Firm Shares increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) and not joint.
Any Damages for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as Damages are incurred after receipt of reasonably itemized invoices therefor. The indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8 and the representations
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and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter, the Company, the Operating Partnership, their respective directors, their respective officers or any person controlling the Company or the Operating Partnership, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor hereunder and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter, or to the Company, the Operating Partnership, their respective directors, their respective officers or any person controlling the Company or the Operating Partnership, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8.
9. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares hereunder are subject to the following conditions:
(a) The Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Act); and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative.
(b) No event or condition of a type described in Section 6(s) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Time of Sale Information (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which, in the judgment of the Representative, makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or purchase of the Shares as contemplated hereby.
(c) You shall have received on the Closing Date (and the Additional Closing Date, if any) an opinion of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel to the Company, substantially to the effect set forth in Schedule VI hereto.
(d) You shall have received on the Closing Date (and the Additional Closing Date, if any) an opinion of Venable LLP, counsel to the Company, substantially to the effect set forth in Schedule VII hereto.
(e) You shall have received on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion of King & Spalding LLP, as counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Registration Statement and other related matters as you may reasonably request, and the Company and its counsel shall have furnished to your counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(f) You shall have received letters addressed to you and dated the date hereof and the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, from the firm of Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent certified public accountants.
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(g) (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, shall be threatened or contemplated by the Commission at or prior to the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; (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 or, to the knowledge of the Company or the Operating Partnership, threatened or contemplated by the authorities of any 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, as the case may be; (iv) after the date hereof, no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall have been filed unless a copy thereof was first submitted to you and you did not object thereto in good faith; and (v) all of the representations and warranties of the Company and the Operating Partnership contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as if made on and as of the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and you shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company and the Operating Partnership (or such other officers as are acceptable to you) to the effect set forth in Section 9(b) and Section 9(g) hereof.
(h) Neither the Company nor the Operating Partnership shall have failed in any material respect at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, to have performed or complied with any of its agreements herein contained and required to be performed or complied with by it hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(i) The Company and the Operating Partnership shall have furnished or caused to have been furnished to you such further certificates and documents as you shall have reasonably requested.
(j) At or prior to the Closing Date, you shall have received the written commitment Lock-Up Agreements from each of the individuals set forth on Schedule V.
All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to you and your counsel.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the satisfaction on and as of the Additional Closing Date of the conditions set forth in this Section 9, except that, if the Additional Closing Date is other than the Closing Date, the certificates, opinions and letters referred to in this Section 9 shall be dated as of the Additional Closing Date and the opinions called for by paragraphs (c), (d) and (e) shall be revised to reflect the sale of Additional Shares.
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If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 9 shall not have been satisfied when and as required by this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated by you by notifying the Company of such termination in writing or by facsimile at or prior to such Closing Date, but you shall be entitled to waive any of such conditions.
10. Effective Date of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
11. Defaulting Underwriters. If any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase 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 the Firm Shares, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall be obligated, severally, in the proportion in which the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite its name in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all non-defaulting Underwriters or in such other proportion as you may specify in the Master Agreement Among Underwriters, to purchase the Firm Shares that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed, but failed or refused to purchase. If any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares and arrangements satisfactory to you 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 or the Company. In any such case that does not result in termination of this Agreement, either you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven (7) days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any such default of any such Underwriter under this Agreement.
12. Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in your absolute discretion, without liability on the part of any Underwriter to the Company, or the Operating Partnership by notice to the Company and the Operating Partnership, if prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date (if different from the Closing Date and then only as to the Additional Shares), as the case may be, in your sole judgment, (i) trading in the Company’s Class A Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the NYSE, (ii) trading in securities generally on the NYSE or NASDAQ shall have been suspended or materially 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 any such exchange or by order of the Commission or any court or other governmental authority, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by either federal or New York State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or
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other international or domestic calamity, crisis or change in political, financial or economic conditions or other material event the effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares. Notice of such cancellation shall be promptly given to the Company and its counsel by telegraph, telecopy or telephone and shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.
13. Information Furnished by the Underwriters. Each of the Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge that (i) the sentences related to concessions and reallowances under the caption “Underwriting—Commissions and Discounts,” and (ii) the paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting—Price Stabilization, Short Positions and Penalty Bids,” in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters through you or on your behalf as such information is referred to in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.
14. Miscellaneous. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5 and 12 hereof, notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered:
| (i) | to the Company or the Operating Partnership |
CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc.
5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 2325
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Attention: Jerry Barag
Chief Executive Officer and President
with a copy to:
Alston & Bird LLP
1201 West Peachtree St., NW
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attention: Rosemarie Thurston
Hill Jeffries
| (ii) | to the Underwriters |
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, Florida 33716
Attention: General Counsel
and:
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Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated
One South Street, 15th Floor
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
King & Spalding LLP
1180 Peachtree St., NE
Atlanta, Georgia 30309
Attention: Keith M. Townsend
C. Spencer Johnson
This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the several Underwriters, the Company and the Operating Partnership and their respective directors and officers.
15. Applicable Law; Counterparts. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without reference to choice of law principles thereunder.
This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts, which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
This Agreement shall be effective when, but only when, at least one counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of each party hereto.
The Company, the Operating Partnership and the Underwriters each hereby irrevocably waive any right they may have to a trial by jury in respect to any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
16. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge that in connection with the offering of the Shares: (i) the Underwriters have acted at arm’s length, are not agents of, and owe no fiduciary duties to, the Company or the Operating Partnership or any other person, (ii) the Underwriters owe the Company and the Operating Partnership only those duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any, and (iii) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from those of the Company and the Operating Partnership. The Company and the Operating Partnership waive to the full extent permitted by applicable law any claims they may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.
17. Research Analyst Independence. The Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge that (a) the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies and (b) the Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and
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make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company, the value of the Class A Common Stock and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company and the Operating Partnership hereby waive and release, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that they may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Underwriters’ independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company and/or the Operating Partnership by any Underwriter’s investment banking division. The Company and the Operating Partnership acknowledge that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such, from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the companies that are the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
18. Waiver of Trial by Jury. The Company, the Operating Partnership and each of the Underwriters hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any action, claim, suit or legal proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
[signature page follows]
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Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company, the Operating Partnership and the several Underwriters.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| CATCHMARK TIMBER TRUST, INC. | ||
| /s/ Jerry Barag | ||
| Name: Jerry Barag | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer and President | ||
| CATCHMARK TIMBER OPERATING PARTNERSHIP, L.P. | ||
| By: | CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. | |
| Its: | General Partner | |
| /s/ Jerry Barag | ||
| Name: Jerry Barag | ||
| Title: Chief Executive Officer and President | ||
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
| CONFIRMED as of the date first above mentioned. | ||
| RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC. | ||
| By: | /s/ Authorized Representative | |
| Authorized Representative | ||
| STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED | ||
| By: | /s/ Authorized Representative | |
| Authorized Representative | ||
For itself and the other several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto.
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
SCHEDULE I
| Name | Number Firm Shares | |||
| Raymond James & Associates, Inc. | 1,600,000 | |||
| Stifel, Nicolaus & Company, Incorporated | 1,200,000 | |||
| RBC Capital Markets, LLC | 700,000 | |||
| FBR Capital Markets & Co. | 500,000 | |||
|
|
| |||
| Total: | 4,000,000 | |||
|
|
| |||
SCHEDULE II
Orally Conveyed Pricing Information
1. $12.35 per share
SCHEDULE III
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
1. Free Writing Prospectus dated October 13, 2017
SCHEDULE IV
Subsidiaries
CatchMark LP Holder, LLC
CatchMark Timber Operating Partnership, L.P.
Timberlands II, LLC
CatchMark Timber TRS, Inc.
CatchMark TRS Harvesting Operations, LLC
CatchMark HBU, LLC
CatchMark Texas Timberlands GP, LLC
CatchMark Texas Timberlands, L.P.
CatchMark Southern Holdings II GP, LLC
CatchMark Southern Timberlands II, L.P.
CatchMark South Carolina Timberlands, LLC
CatchMark TRS Harvesting Operations II, LLC
SCHEDULE V
Persons Subject to Lock-up
Jerry Barag
John F. Rasor
Brian M. Davis
Donald S. Moss
Willis J. Potts, Jr.
Douglas D. Rubenstein
Henry G. Zigtema
Paul S. Fisher
EXHIBIT A
Form of Lock-up Agreement
_______, 2017
CATCHMARK TIMBER TRUST, INC.
5 Concourse Parkway, Suite 2325
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
and
RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
880 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, FL 33716
STIFEL, NICOLAUS & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
501 North Broadway, 9th Floor
Saint Louis, Missouri 63102
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
| Re: | CatchMark Timber Trust, Inc. (the “Company”)—Restriction on Stock Sales |
Dear Sirs:
This letter is delivered to you pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company, as issuer, and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (the “Representative”) of certain underwriters (the “Underwriters”) to be named therein. Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriters intend to effect a public offering of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”), to be issued pursuant the registration statement of the Company on Form S-3, File No. 333-218466 (the “Registration Statement”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on June 2, 2017 and effective as of June 16, 2017 (the “Offering”).
The undersigned recognizes that it is in the best financial interests of the undersigned, as an officer or director, or an owner of stock, options, warrants or other securities of the Company (the “Company Securities”), that the Company complete the proposed Offering.
The undersigned further recognizes that the Company Securities held by the undersigned are, or may be, subject to certain restrictions on transferability, including those imposed by United States federal securities laws. Notwithstanding these restrictions, the undersigned has agreed to enter into this letter agreement to further assure the Underwriters that the Company Securities of the undersigned, now held or hereafter acquired, will not enter the public market at a time that might impair the underwriting effort.
Therefore, as an inducement to the Underwriters to execute the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Class A Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock held by the undersigned or acquired by the undersigned after the date hereof, or that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned (collectively, the “Lock-Up Shares”), pursuant to the Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for a period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the Company’s Prospectus first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, inclusive (the “Lock-Up Period”), without the prior written consent of the Representative, (ii) enter into any swap or other transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of such Lock-Up Shares during the Lock-Up Period, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Class A Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, or (iii) exercise or seek to exercise or effectuate in any manner any rights of any nature that the undersigned has or may have hereafter to require the Company to register under the Act the undersigned’s sale, transfer or other disposition of any of the Lock-Up Shares or other securities of the Company held by the undersigned, or to otherwise participate as a selling securityholder in any manner in any registration effected by the Company under the Act, including under the Registration Statement, during the Lock-Up Period. The foregoing restrictions are expressly agreed to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging, collar (whether or not for any consideration) or other transaction that is designed to or reasonably expected to lead or result in a disposition of Lock-Up Shares during the Lock-Up Period, even if such Lock-Up Shares would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including any put or call option or reversal or cancellation thereof) with respect to any Lock-Up Shares or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from Lock-Up Shares.
Notwithstanding the agreement not to make any disposition during the Lock-Up Period, you have agreed that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
| (1) | any transfer of Shares to the Company to satisfy tax withholding obligations upon the vesting of currently outstanding restricted stock units; |
| (2) | a bona fide gift or gifts; or |
| (3) | dispositions to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned (for purposes of this lock-up agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin); |
provided, that, with respect to (2) and (3) above, (i) the Representatives receives a signed lock-up agreement for the balance of the lock-up period from each donee or trustee, as the case may be, (ii) any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (iii) such transfers are not required to be reported in any public report or filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission by the Company prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, or otherwise, (iv) the undersigned, donee or trustee does not otherwise voluntarily effect any public filing or report regarding such transfers and (v) no public announcement shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with or relates to such transfer other than a filing on a Form 5.
It is understood that, if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof that survive termination) is terminated by the Underwriters prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares, the undersigned is released from the obligations under this letter agreement.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of Lock-Up Shares if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this letter. This letter shall be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the undersigned. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
Very truly yours,
Signature of Securityholder
