Form of Underwriting Agreement

Exhibit 1.1

GREAT ELM GROUP, INC.

$[●] [●]% Notes Due 2027

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

[●], 2022

Oppenheimer & Co. Inc.
 

As representative of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Great Elm Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms with Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. (“Oppenheimer”) and each of the other underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters,” which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as provided in Section 9 hereof), for whom Oppenheimer is acting as the representative (in such capacity, the “Representative”) with respect to the issuance and sale by the Company of $[●] aggregate principal amount (the “Initial Securities”) of the Company’s [●]% Notes due 2027, and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the respective aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I hereto, and with respect to the grant by the Company to the Underwriters of the option described in Section 2 hereof to purchase all or any part of an additional $[●] aggregate principal amount (the “Option Securities”) of the Company’s [●]% Notes due 2027 solely to cover over-allotments, if any. The Initial Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and all or any part of the Option Securities are hereinafter called, collectively, the “Securities.”

The Securities will be issued under an indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of the Closing Date, between the Company and American Stock Transfer & Trust Company, LLC, as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by a first supplemental indenture (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and, together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”), to be dated the Closing Date, between the Company and the Trustee. The Securities will be issued as fully registered securities to Cede & Co. (or such other name as may be requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”)), as nominee of DTC, pursuant to a blanket letter of representations (the “DTC Agreement”), between the Company and DTC.

The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-[●]), including a prospectus, relating to the Securities. The registration statement, as amended at the time it was declared effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement;” the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of the Securities (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus.” If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.

For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus, together with the pricing information set forth in Schedule II hereto, and “broadly available road show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein as of the date hereof.

1.     Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:

(a)           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, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.

(b)           (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not, as of the date of such amendment or supplement, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Securities in connection with the offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (iv) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (v) the Prospectus, as of its date, does not contain and at the Closing Date, as then amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iii) and (vi) of this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon the Underwriter Information (as defined herein).

(c)           The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus, the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, each furnished to the Representative before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the Representative’s prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act).

(d)           The financial statements (including the related notes thereto) included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of its operations and the changes in its cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby; and the other financial information included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and has been compiled on a basis consistent in all material respects with that of the audited financial statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. Any “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined in the rules and regulations of the Commission) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus comply with Regulation G under the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K, to the extent applicable.

(e)           Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated, organized, or formed, as applicable, and is validly existing in good standing, in jurisdictions where such concept exists, under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is incorporated, organized or formed, as applicable, and has the requisite power and authority to own its properties, and to carry on its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus. The Company is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in every jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. As used in this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” means any material adverse effect on (i) the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, assets, business, operations, results of operations, prospects or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (ii) the authority or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Indenture or the Securities.

(f)            This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(g)           The outstanding shares of common stock of the Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. No shares of common stock of the Company are subject to preemptive rights or any other similar rights or any liens suffered or permitted by the Company.

(h)           Each of the Base Indenture and the First Supplemental Indenture has been duly authorized, and at the Closing Date, will be executed and delivered by the Company and when duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee will constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law) (collectively, the “Enforceability Exceptions”).

(i)            The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company for sale to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and of the Indenture relating thereto, against payment of the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject, as to enforcement, to the Enforceability Exceptions, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture relating thereto. The Securities and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the statements relating thereto contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.

(j)            The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

(k)           The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities by the Company, the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and thereunder and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not (i) result in a violation of the Company’s Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof, or the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof; (ii) conflict with, or constitute a breach or default (or an event which, with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, constitutes or would constitute a breach or default) under, or give to others any right of termination, amendment, acceleration or cancellation of, or other remedy with respect to, any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party; or (iii) result in a violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or by which any property or asset of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or affected, except in the case of both (ii) and (iii) above, as would not individually or in the aggregate reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(l)            The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and the offer, issuance and sale of the Securities require no consent of, action by or in respect of, or filing with, any person, governmental body, agency, court, or official other than (a) filings required pursuant to applicable state and federal securities laws and (b) filings pursuant to the rules and regulations of any securities exchange on which the Securities may be listed, each of which the Company has filed or undertakes to file within the applicable time. All consents, authorizations, orders, filings and registrations that the Company is or has been required to obtain as described in the preceding sentence have been obtained or effected on or prior to the date of this Agreement or shall be obtained or effected prior to the applicable due date thereafter, as provided by applicable law, this Agreement or otherwise.

(m)          Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of it certificate of incorporation, bylaws, operating agreement or other applicable organizational documents, as amended and as in effect on the date hereof, (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any agreement, indenture or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject or (iii) in violation of any law, rule, regulation, order, judgment or decree (including federal and state securities laws and regulations) applicable to the Company or any subsidiary or by which any property or asset of the Company or any subsidiary is bound or affected, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n)           Since June 30, 2021, there have been no events, occurrences or developments that have or would reasonably be expected to have, either individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has not taken any steps to seek protection pursuant to any bankruptcy law nor, to the Company’s knowledge, do any creditors of the Company or any subsidiary intend to initiate involuntary bankruptcy proceedings nor, to the Company’s knowledge, is there any fact that would reasonably lead a creditor to do so. The Company has not, since the date of the latest financial statements included within the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, materially altered its method of accounting or the manner in which it keeps its books and records.

(o)           Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, proceedings that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or by any court, public board or other governmental authority pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ officers or directors in their capacities as such or that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents to which the Company is subject or by which the Company is bound that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

(p)           Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(q)           The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus will not be, an “investment company,” a company controlled by an “investment company,” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “1940 Act”).

(r)            The Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(s)           Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

(t)            Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, affiliate or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that could result in a violation or a sanction for violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as may be amended, or similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder to which the Company and its subsidiaries are subject; and the Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed to ensure compliance therewith. No part of the proceeds of the offering will be used, directly or indirectly, in violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or the U.K. Bribery Act 2010, each as may be amended, or similar law of any other relevant jurisdiction, or the rules or regulations thereunder.

(u)           The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened.

(v)           Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, affiliate or employee of the Company or any of its subsidiaries (i) is, or is controlled or 50% or more owned in the aggregate by or is acting on behalf of, one or more individuals or entities that are currently the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the United States (including any administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury, the U.S. Department of State or the Bureau of Industry and Security of the U.S. Department of Commerce), the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, a member state of the European Union (including sanctions administered or enforced by Her Majesty’s Treasury of the United Kingdom) or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions” and such persons, “Sanctioned Persons” and each such person, a “Sanctioned Person”), (ii) is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is, or whose government is, the subject of Sanctions that broadly prohibit dealings with that country or territory(collectively, “Sanctioned Countries” and each, a “Sanctioned Country”), including, without limitation, Cuba, North Korea, Sudan, Syria and Russia or (iii) will, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of this offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other individual or entity in any manner that would result in a violation of any Sanctions by, or could result in the imposition of Sanctions against, any individual or entity (including any individual or entity participating in the offering, whether as advisor, investor or otherwise).

(w)          Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country, in the preceding three years, nor does the Company or any of its subsidiaries have any plans to engage in dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country.

(x)           Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) the Company has not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (ii) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (iii) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company, except in each case as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, respectively.

(y)           Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries owns or leases all such properties as are necessary to the conduct of its operations as presently conducted, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(z)            Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, or as would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, inventions, trade secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property (including all registrations and applications for registration of the foregoing) (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) that is used in the conduct of their respective businesses as now conducted or as proposed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus to be conducted; (ii) to the Company’s knowledge, no third party has infringed, misappropriated or otherwise violated any Intellectual Property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; (iii) to the Company’s knowledge, the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ conduct of their respective businesses does not infringe, misappropriate or otherwise violate any Intellectual Property of any third party; and (iv) the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with any such Intellectual Property.

(aa)         No material labor problem or dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent. Further, to the Company’s knowledge, there are no existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(bb)        The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as management of the Company reasonably believes are prudent and customary in the businesses in which the Company and its subsidiaries are engaged. All policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause. Neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(cc)         The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations required to be issued by all applicable authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except for any such failure to possess as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

(dd)         Great Elm Capital Management, Inc. (“GECM”), a subsidiary of the Company, is duly registered as an investment adviser under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Advisers Act”) and is not prohibited by the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act from acting under the investment management agreement, dated as of September 27, 2016, or any other investment advisory or management agreement with any fund or account it manages or advises (collectively, the “Investment Advisory Agreements”) it has entered into with Great Elm Capital Corp. There does not exist any proceeding or, to GECM’s knowledge, any facts or circumstances the existence of which could reasonably be expected to lead to any proceeding, which might adversely affect the registration of GECM with the Commission. GECM possesses such valid and current licenses, certificates, authorizations, consents, approvals or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its businesses, except where the failure so to possess would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have, a material adverse effect on (1) the business, assets, prospects, properties, financial condition or results of operation of GECM or (2) the power or ability of GECM to perform its obligations under the Investment Advisory Agreements (a “GECM Material Adverse Effect”), and GECM is not in violation of, in default under, or has received, or has any reason to believe that it will receive, any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such licenses, certificates, authorizations, consents, approvals or permits which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, singly or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to result in a GECM Material Adverse Effect.

(ee)         Each Investment Advisory Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by GECM. Each Investment Advisory Agreement is a valid and binding obligation of GECM, enforceable against them in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or law). GECM is not in violation or default of (i) any of the provisions of its organizational or governing documents, (ii) any U.S. or non-U.S. law, rule or regulation applicable to GEM, (iii) any order, judgment or decree applicable to GECM, or by which any property or asset of GECM may be bound or (iv) any of the terms and provisions of any loan or credit agreement, indenture, mortgage note or other agreement or instrument to which GECM is a party or by which GECM or any of its properties or assets is or may be bound; except with respect to clauses (ii) and (iv) above, for such violations or defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a GECM Material Adverse Effect.

(ff)          The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls designed to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, since June 30, 2021, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.

(gg)        The Company has filed all U.S. federal, state and foreign tax returns that are required to be filed by any jurisdiction to which it is subject or has requested extensions thereof (except in any case where such failure to file would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect) and has paid all taxes and any related assessments, fines or penalties required to have been paid, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except where any such failure to pay such assessment, fine or penalty is currently being contested in good faith or would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(hh)        The Company and each subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with all presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”); no “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to any “pension plan” (as defined in ERISA) for which the Company and each Subsidiary would have any material liability; the Company and each Subsidiary has not incurred and does not expect to incur any material liability (i) under Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “pension plan” or (ii) for failure to meet the requirements of Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”); and each “pension plan” for which the Company or any Subsidiary would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would reasonably be expected to cause the loss of such qualification.

(ii)           The Company has not engaged in any Testing-the-Waters Communications and has not distributed any Written Testing-the-Waters Communications. “Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any oral or written communication with potential investors of this offering undertaken in reliance on Section 5(d) of the Securities Act. “Written Testing-the-Waters Communication” means any Testing-the-Waters Communication that is a written communication within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.

(jj)           The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any unlawful stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.

(kk)         The statements set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes” and insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the caption “Certain Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws, legal conclusions with respect thereto and documents referred to therein, are accurate in all material respects.

(ll)           The application of the proceeds received by the Company from the issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus will not violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(mm)       No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

(nn)        Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data and information regarding the funds managed or advised by the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(oo)        Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, the Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 under the Exchange Act) that are effective in ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission, including, without limitation, controls and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure.

(pp)         Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and to the Company’s knowledge, there has been no (x) material security breach or other material compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) or (y) event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any material security breach or other material compromise to their IT Systems and Data. The IT Systems and Data are adequate in all material respects for the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted, and the Company has purchased sufficient number of licenses or seats for all software used by the Company and its subsidiaries that are material for the operation of the business of the Company and its subsidiaries as currently conducted. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes, all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of their IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.

2.             Agreements to Sell and Purchase. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby agrees to sell to the Underwriters the respective aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of the Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase the respective aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter on Schedule I hereto, plus any additional amount of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, subject to such adjustments among the Underwriters as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities, in each case at a purchase price of [●]% of such aggregate principal amount (the “Purchase Price”).

In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional $[●] aggregate principal amount of Securities at a price equal to the Purchase Price (without giving effect to any accrued interest from the Closing Date to the applicable Option Closing Date). The option granted by this Section 2 may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Initial Securities by the Underwriters. The option hereby granted will expire at 11:59 P.M. (New York City time) on the 30th day after the date hereof and may be exercised on up to three occasions in whole or in part only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial Securities upon notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the aggregate principal amount of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (an “Option Closing Date”) shall be determined by the Representative, but shall not be earlier than three or later than seven full business days after the exercise of said option, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Company and the Representative, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, the Company will sell to the Underwriters that proportion of the total aggregate principal amount of Option Securities then being purchased, and each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total aggregate principal amount of Option Securities then being purchased, which the aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities set forth in Schedule I opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional amount of Initial Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, bears to the total aggregate principal amount of Initial Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representative in its discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional Securities.

3.            Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Initial Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available against delivery of such Initial Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on [●], 2022, or at such other time and date as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”

Payment for any Option Securities shall be made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available against delivery of such Option Securities for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the corresponding notice described in Section 2 or at such other time and date as the Representative and the Company may agree upon in writing

The Initial Securities and Option Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the Representative shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The Initial Securities and Option Securities shall be delivered to the Representative on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.

4.            Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Company to sell the Securities to the Underwriters and the several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 4:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.

The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following further conditions:

(a)          Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:

(i)          there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act; and

(ii)         there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in the Representative’s judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in the Representative’s judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.

(b)           The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 4(a)(i) above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.

The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

(c)           The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion and negative assurance letter of Jones Day, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters.

(d)           The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date.

(e)           The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Grant Thornton LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three business days prior to the date hereof.

(f)            The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements of Great Elm Capital Corp. contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three business days prior to the date hereof.

(g)           On the Closing Date, the Company and the Trustee shall have executed and delivered the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture and the Securities.

(h)           The application for listing of the Securities shall have been submitted to the Nasdaq Global Market prior to the Closing Date.

(i)           The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Option Securities hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Representative on the applicable Option Closing Date of the following:

(i)         a certificate, dated the Option Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming that the certificate delivered on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 4(b) hereof remains true and correct as of such Option Closing Date;

(ii)        an opinion of Jones Day, outside counsel for the Company, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 4(c) hereof;

(iii)       an opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Option Closing Date, relating to the Option Securities to be purchased on such Option Closing Date and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion required by Section 4(d) hereof;

(iv)       a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Grant Thornton LLP, independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 4(e) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three business days prior to such Option Closing Date;

(v)        a letter dated the Option Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants, substantially in the same form and substance as the letter furnished to the Underwriters pursuant to Section 4(f) hereof; provided that the letter delivered on the Option Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than three business days prior to such Option Closing Date; and

(vi)       such other documents as the Representative may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Option Securities to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters related to the issuance of such Option Securities.

(j)           The Underwriters shall have received on each of the date hereof, the Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date, if any, such further certificates and documents, dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, covering such matters as the Representative may reasonably request.

All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Representative.

5.            Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

(a)           To furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, written and electronic copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter in such quantities as they may reasonably request and to furnish to the Representative in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in Section 5(e) or 5(f) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as they may reasonably request.

(b)           Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to the Underwriters a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects, and to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.

(c)           To furnish to the Underwriters a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which the Representative reasonably objects.

(d)           Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.

(e)           If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Securities at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances when the Time of Sale Prospectus is delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(f)            If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Securities,in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is, in the judgement of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the Representative will furnish to the Company) to which the Securities may have been sold by the Representative on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.

(g)           To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request.

(h)           To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to the Representative as soon as practicable an earning statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

(i)            Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and the Company’s accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the Securities under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(g) hereof, (iv) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Securities and all costs and expenses incident to listing the Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market, (v) the costs and charges of any trustee, transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (vi) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Securities, including expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show (with the remaining 50% of the cost of such aircraft to be paid by the Underwriters), and (vii) all other costs and expenses incurred by the Company and that are incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 7 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution” and the last paragraph of Section 7 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Securities by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

(j)            The Company will cooperate with the Representative and use its commercially reasonable efforts to permit the offered Securities to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of DTC.

(k)           The Company will use reasonable best efforts to effect the listing of the Securities on the Nasdaq Global Market within 30 days of the Closing Date.

(l)            The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”.

(m)          The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Securities.

(n)           If requested, the Company will deliver to the Representative, on the date hereof, a properly completed and executed Certification Regarding Beneficial Owners of Legal Entity Customers in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representative, together with copies of identifying documentation, and the Company undertakes to provide such additional supporting documentation as the Representative may reasonably request in connection with the verification of the foregoing certification.

(o)           As of the Closing Date, the DTC Agreement will be authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitute a valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to the Enforceability Exceptions.

6.           Information Furnished by the Underwriters. The statements set forth in the first three sentences of the first paragraph under the caption “Underwriting—Commissions and Expenses” in the Prospectus and the first sentence under the caption “Underwriting—Stabilization” in the Prospectus constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters (collectively, the “Underwriter Information”).

7.           Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”), the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon the Underwriter Information.

(b)           Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter, but only with reference to the Underwriter Information expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus, road show, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto.

(c)           In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel selected by the indemnifying party and reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonably incurred fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonably incurred fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Representative, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b). The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

(d)           To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a) or 7(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 7(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 7(d)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Securities. The relative fault of the Company 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 or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the respective number of Securities they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.

(e)           The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 7(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in Section 7(d) 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 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

(f)            The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 7 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.

8.            Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by notice given by the Representative to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in the Representative’s judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in this clause (v), in the Representative’s judgment, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.

If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.

9.            Defaulting Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the “Defaulted Securities”), the Representative shall use reasonable best efforts, within 36 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 36-hour period, then:

(a)           if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters; or

(b)           if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or, with respect to any Option Closing Date which occurs after the Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Option Securities that were to have been purchased and sold on such Option Closing Date, shall terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

No action taken pursuant to this Section 9 shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement or, in the case of an Option Closing Date which is after the Closing Date, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the relevant Option Securities, as the case may be, the Representative or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 9.

10.          Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the Securities, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Securities.

11.          No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the offering and sale of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which an Underwriter may be acting, on the other, (b) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters), and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that any Underwriter has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the process leading thereto.

12.          Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.

13.          Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.

14.          Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.

15.          Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Representative at Oppenheimer & Co. Inc., 85 Broad Street, New York, New York 10004, Attention: JD Nelson, with a copy to Kirkland & Ellis LLP, 1301 Pennsylvania Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20004, attention of William J. Tuttle; and if to the Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Company at Great Elm Group, Inc., 800 South Street, Suite 230, Waltham, MA 02453, attention of Adam Kleinman; with a copy to Jones Day, 250 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281, attention of Rory T. Hood.

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

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

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

As used in this Section 16:

“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. Sec. 1841.

“Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i)          a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. Sec. 252.82(b);

(ii)         a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. Sec. 47.3(b); or

(iii)        a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. Sec. 382.2(b).

“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. Secs. 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

SCHEDULE I

SCHEDULE II

PRICE-RELATED INFORMATION

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