MFAMORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC. 40,000,000SHARES CONTROLLED EQUITYOFFERINGSM SALESAGREEMENT

 

 

CONTROLLED EQUITY OFFERINGSM

 

 

December 12, 2008

 

CANTOR FITZGERALD & CO.

499 Park Avenue

New York, NY  10022

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“CF&Co”), as follows:

 

1.  Issuance and Sale of Shares.  The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through CF&Co, acting as agent and/or principal, up to 40 million shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock” or “Shares”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 on the number of Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and CF&Co shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance.  The issuance and sale of Shares through CF&Co will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company and declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”).

 

 

The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-146819), and a post-effective amendment thereto, including a base prospectus, with respect to the Shares, which registration statement, as amended by such post-effective amendment, incorporates by reference documents which the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”).   Such registration statement, as amended by such post-effective amendment, has become effective under the Securities Act.  The Company may file one or more additional registration statements from time to time that will contain a base prospectus with respect to the Shares. The Company shall prepare one or more prospectus supplements (collectively, the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of each registration statement containing a base prospectus with respect to the Shares. The Company shall  furnish to CF&Co, for use by CF&Co, copies of the prospectus included as part of each such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Shares.  Except where the context otherwise requires, each such registration statement, as amended (including by such post-effective amendment) when it became effective, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and or deemed to be part of each such registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Each base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, together with any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (“Rule 433”), if any, relating to the offering of the Shares, which  (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (ii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i), in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g), is herein called the “Prospectus”. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System (“EDGAR”).

 

2.  Placements.  Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify CF&Co by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Shares to be sold, which shall, at a minimum, include the number of Shares to be issued (the “Placement Shares”), the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Shares that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, (a “Placement Notice”), a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 3 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from CF&Co set forth on Schedule 3, as such Schedule 3 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective upon receipt by CF&Co unless and until (i) in accordance with the notice requirement set forth in Section 4, CF&Co declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares have been sold, (iii) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, (iv) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, or (v) the Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 11. The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to CF&Co in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 2. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor CF&Co will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to CF&Co and CF&Co does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein.  In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control.

 

 

3.  Sale of Placement Shares by CF&Co.  Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Company’s issuance of a Placement Notice, and unless the sale of the Placement Shares described therein has been declined, suspended or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, CF&Co., for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Placement Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice.  CF&Co will provide written confirmation to the Company pursuant to Section 2 no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder, setting forth the number of Placement Shares sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company, with an itemization of deductions made by CF&Co (as set forth in Section 5 (a)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company. CF&Co may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including, without limitation, sales made directly on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”), on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker.  CF&Co may also sell Placement Shares in privately negotiated transactions.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that CF&Co will be successful in selling Placement Shares, and (ii) CF&Co will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by CF&Co to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Section 3.  For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which Common Stock is purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted.

 

4.  Suspension of Sales.  The Company or CF&Co may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3), suspend any sale of Placement Shares; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair either party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice or sold at any point thereafter once such suspension has been lifted.  Each of the Parties agrees that no such notice shall be effective against the other unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule 3 hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

 

 

5.  Settlement.

 

(a) Settlement of Placement Shares.  Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the third (3rd) Business Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”).  The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against the receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price at which such Placement Shares were sold, after deduction for (i) CF&Co’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, (ii) any other amounts due and payable by the Company to CF&Co hereunder pursuant to Section 7(h) hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.

 

(b) Delivery of Shares.  On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement Shares being sold by crediting CF&Co’s or its designee’s account at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto and, upon receipt of such Placement Shares, which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form, CF&Co will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds delivered to an account designated by the Company prior to the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company defaults on its obligation to deliver Placement Shares on a Settlement Date, the Company agrees that in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 9(a) hereto, it will (i) hold CF&Co harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or expense (including reasonable legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company and (ii) pay to CF&Co any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

 

6.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, CF&Co that as of the date of this Agreement and as of each Representation Date (as defined in Section 7(m) below) on which a certificate is required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) of this Agreement, as the case may be:

 

(a)   The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and has been declared effective under the Securities Act. The Company has prepared or will prepare the Prospectus Supplement that names CF&Co as an underwriter, acting as principal and/or agent, in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.”  The Company has not received, and has no notice of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose. Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed. The Prospectus Supplement has been or will be so prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act.  Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any such amendments or supplements and all documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or made available, to CF&Co and their counsel. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Placement Shares other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.  The Common Stock is currently listed on the Exchange under the trading symbol “MFA.”

 

 

(b)   Each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became or becomes effective or was or is filed with the Commission, and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of filing thereof with the Commission and at each Settlement Date, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. Each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became or becomes effective or was or is filed with the Commission, did not, or will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of filing thereof with the Commission and at each Settlement Date, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information concerning CF&Co that was furnished in writing to the Company by CF&Co, specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

 

(c)   The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, when they became or become effective under the Securities Act or were or are filed with the Commission under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, as the case may be, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable.

 

(d)  The consolidated financial statements of the Company, together with the related schedules and notes thereto, set forth or included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are accurate in all material respects and fairly present the financial condition of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations, changes in financial position, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the periods therein specified are in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise stated therein). The selected financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and, to the extent based upon or derived from the financial statements, have been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein. Any pro forma financial statements of the Company, and the related notes thereto, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the basis described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Subsidiaries (as defined below) do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. No other financial statements are required to be set forth or to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus under the Securities Act.

 

 

(e)   The Prospectus delivered to CF&Co for use in connection with the sale of Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement will be identical to the versions of the Prospectus created to be transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(f)   The Company has been duly formed and incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Maryland and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or assets or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a material adverse effect on the business, assets, properties, prospects, financial condition, or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”) and has full corporate power and authority necessary to own, hold, lease and/or operate its assets and properties, to conduct the business in which it is engaged and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and to consummate the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Company is in compliance in all material respects with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or administered by any jurisdictions in which it owns or leases property or conducts business.

 

(g) The Company has no “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act) and does not own, directly or indirectly, any shares of stock or any other equity or long-term debt securities of any corporation or have any equity interest in any firm, partnership, joint venture, association or other entity, except that it owns (a) (i) a 100% ownership interest in PF One Corporation, a Nebraska corporation (“PF One”), which in turn owns an 1.766% ownership interest in Lealand Place, LLC, a Georgia limited liability company (“Lealand” or, as the case may be, the “Property Entities”), (ii) a 100% ownership interest in Retirement Centers Corporation, a Delaware corporation (“RCC”), which in turn owns a 88.3% ownership interest in Lealand, (iii) a 100% ownership interest in MFA Owings Chase, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“MFA Owings”), which in turn owns a 1% general partner interest in Owings Chase Limited Partnership, a Maryland limited partnership (“Owings Chase”), which in turn owns a 9.934% ownership interest in Lealand, (iv) a 99% limited partner interest in Owings Chase, (v) a 100% ownership interest in MFA Spartan, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Spartan Inc.”), which in turn owns a 100% ownership interest in MFA Spartan I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Spartan I LLC”), and a 100% ownership interest in MFA Spartan II, LLC a Delaware limited liability company (“Spartan II LLC”), (vi) a 100% ownership interest in MFA Acquisition I, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Acquisition I”), which in turn owns a 100% ownership interest in MFA Acquisition II, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Acquisition II”), (vii) a 100% ownership interest in MFA Spartan (Incentive), LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Spartan (Incentive)”), (viii) a 100% ownership interest in MFResidential Assets I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“MFR LLC”), (ix) a 100% ownership interest in MFA Spartan Manager, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Spartan Manager”), (x) a 100% ownership interest in MFResidential Investments, Inc., a Maryland corporation (“MFR INC.”), which in turn owns a 100% interest in MFR Operating Partnership, LP, a Delaware limited partnership (“MFR OP”), which in turn owns a 100% ownership interest in each of (A) MFR Asset, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Asset Inc.”), (B) MFR Asset I, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Asset I, LLC”) and (C) MFR Asset II, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“Asset II, LLC” and, together with PF One, RCC, MFA Owings, Owings Chase, Spartan Inc., Spartan I LLC, Spartan II LLC, Acquisition I, Acquisition II, Spartan (Incentive), MFR LLC, Spartan Manager, MFR INC., MFR OP, Asset Inc. and Asset I, LLC, the “Subsidiaries”); (b) the securities comprising the Investment Portfolio (as defined below); and (c) as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and/or Prospectus. Complete and correct copies of the articles of incorporation and of the bylaws or other formation documents of the Company and each of the Subsidiaries, as applicable, and all amendments thereto have been made available to CF&Co and/or its counsel.  To the Company’s knowledge, each Subsidiary has been duly formed and incorporated or organized and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation or organization and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company in each jurisdiction where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect and, to the Company’s knowledge, each Subsidiary has full corporate, partnership or limited liability power and authority, as applicable, necessary to own, hold, lease and/or operate its assets and properties and to conduct its business in which it is engaged and as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and, to the Company’s knowledge, each Subsidiary is in compliance in all material respects with the laws, orders, rules, regulations and directives issued or administered by jurisdictions in which it owns or leases property or conducts business; to the Company’s knowledge, all of the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests, as the case may be, of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable with respect to the corporate Subsidiaries, and have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right and are not subject to any security interest, other encumbrance or adverse claims; and to the Company’s knowledge, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to convert any obligation into shares of capital stock or ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.

 

 

(h) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Subsidiaries is in breach or violation of or in default under (nor has any event occurred which with notice, lapse of time or both would result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under or give the holder of any indebtedness (or a person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a part of such indebtedness under) (i) its respective charter, bylaws, certificate of formation, partnership agreement or limited liability company agreement, as the case may be, or (ii) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their properties may be bound or affected the effect of which breach, violation or default under clause (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not conflict with, result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under (nor constitute any event which with notice, lapse of time or both would result in any breach or violation of or constitute a default under) (x) the charter, bylaws, certificate of formation, partnership agreement or limited liability company agreement, as the case may be, of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Subsidiaries, or (y) any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, bank loan or credit agreement or other evidence of indebtedness, or any license, lease, contract or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of their respective properties may be bound or affected, the effect of which breach, violation or default under clause (y) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect or (z) any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation or rule or any decree, judgment or order applicable to the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Subsidiaries.

 

(i)   As of December 31, 2007, the Company had an authorized, issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in its consolidated statements of financial condition included in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007.  All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, have been issued in compliance with all federal and state securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive right, resale right, right of first refusal or similar right.

 

(j)   This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 9 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof.

 

(k)    The common stock of the Company, including the Placement Shares, conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and such description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same. The certificates for the Placement Shares are in due and proper form and the holders of the Shares will not be subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders.

 

(l)   The Placement Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, including any statutory or contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights, and will be registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act.

 

(m)   No approval, authorization, consent or order of or filing with any national, state or local governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency is required in connection with the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby other than (i) registration of the Placement Shares under the Securities Act, (ii) any necessary qualification under the securities or blue sky laws of the various jurisdictions in which the Placement Shares are being offered by CF&Co, or (iii) such approvals obtained in connection with the approval of the listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange.

 

 

(n)   Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) no person, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a “Person”), has the right, contractual or otherwise, to cause the Company to issue or sell to such Person any shares of Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, (ii) no Person has any preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal, or any other rights (whether pursuant to a “poison pill” provision or otherwise) to purchase any shares of Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, and (iii) no Person has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares, in the case of each of the foregoing clauses (i), (ii) and (iii), whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Placement Shares as contemplated hereby or otherwise; except for registration rights granted to certain former shareholders of America First Mortgage Advisory Corporation, a Maryland corporation (“America First”), in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated in that certain Agreement and Plan of Merger, dated September 24, 2001, among the Company, America First and the other parties thereto (the “Merger Agreement”), no Person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to require the Company to register under the Securities Act any shares of Common Stock or shares of any other capital stock or other securities of the Company, or to include any such shares or other securities in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby, whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Placement Shares as contemplated thereby or otherwise.

 

(o)   Ernst & Young LLP, whose report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company is filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, was during the periods covered by its report an independent public accountant as required by the Securities Act.

 

(p)   The descriptions in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of the legal or governmental proceedings, affiliate transactions, off-balance sheet transactions, contracts, leases and other legal documents therein described present fairly the information required to be shown, and there are no legal or governmental proceedings, affiliate transactions, off-balance sheet transactions, contracts, leases, or other documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required. All agreements between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles.

 

(q)   There are no actions, suits, claims, investigations, inquiries or proceedings pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which either the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers or directors is a party or of which any of their respective properties or other assets is subject at law or in equity, or before or by any federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory commission, board, body, authority or agency which could result in a judgment, decree or order having individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect or prevent, or interfere in any material respect with the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby.

 

 

(r)   During the 24 calendar months prior to the date of this Agreement, the Company has timely filed with the Commission all documents and other material required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13, 14 and 15(d) under the Exchange Act. During the 36 calendar months preceding the filing of the Registration Statement, the Company filed all reports required to be filed pursuant to Sections 13, 14 and 15(d) under the Exchange Act. As of the date of this Agreement, the aggregate market value of the Company’s voting stock held by nonaffiliates of the Company was equal to or greater than $150 million.

 

(s)   Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in, or incorporated by reference into, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been (i) any material adverse change, or any development which is likely to cause a material adverse change, in the business, properties, management or assets described or referred to in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or the results of operations, condition (financial or otherwise), net worth, business or operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices, (iii) any obligation, direct or contingent (including off-balance sheet obligations), which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, except transactions in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices or (iv) any change in the number of authorized shares of capital stock or, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, outstanding indebtedness of the Company.  The Company has no material contingent obligation (including off-balance sheet obligations) which is not disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

 

(t)   The Company has not defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults would have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not filed a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the filing of its last Annual Report on Form 10-K, indicating that it (i) has failed to pay any dividend or sinking fund installment on preferred stock or (ii) has defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(u)   Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Subsidiaries nor any of their respective directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or which has constituted or might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Shares.

 

(v)   At the time of purchase, the Placement Shares will be approved for listing on the Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance, or the Company will have filed an application for listing of the Shares on the Exchange.

 

 

(w)   Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or (ii) directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, controls or has any other association with (within the meaning of Article I of the Bylaws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc) any member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).

 

(x) The Company has not relied upon CF&Co or legal counsel for CF&Co for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares.

 

(y)   On each Representation Date (as defined in Section 7(m) below), the Company shall be deemed to have confirmed (i) the accuracy and completeness, as of such date, of each representation and warranty made by it in this Agreement; and (ii) that the Company has complied with all of the agreements to be performed by it hereunder at or prior to such date.

 

(z)   Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company delivered to CF&Co or to counsel for CF&Co pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to CF&Co as to the matters covered thereby.

 

(aa)   As of September 30, 2008, the investment portfolio (the “Investment Portfolio”) of the Company consisted of approximately (x) 93.4% hybrid and adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities issued or guaranteed by an agency of the U.S. government such as the Ginnie Mae or a Federally chartered corporation such as Freddie Mac or Fannie Mae and the related mortgage-backed securities receivables, (y) 2.0% hybrid and adjustable-rate mortgage-backed securities rated AAA by Standard & Poor’s Corporation and the related mortgage-backed securities receivables and (z) 4.1% cash and cash equivalents. As of the date of this Agreement and except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company has no current plan or intention to materially alter its stated investment policies and operating policies and strategies, as such are described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, if any; the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all properties and assets owned directly by them, in each case free and clear of all liens, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, mortgages and defects (except for any security interest, lien encumbrance or claim that may otherwise exist under any applicable repurchase agreement or as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus), except such as do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such asset or property by the Company or any Subsidiary, as the case may be; the Company does not directly own any real property; any real property and buildings held under lease directly by the Company are held under valid, existing and enforceable leases, with such exceptions, liens, security interests, pledges, charges, encumbrances, mortgages and defects, as are not material and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company.

 

(bb)   The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, each of the Subsidiaries has filed on a timely basis (taking into account all applicable extensions) all necessary federal, state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns, if any such returns were required to be filed, through the date hereof and have paid all taxes shown as due thereon; and no tax deficiency has been asserted against the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Subsidiaries, nor does the Company know of any tax deficiency which is likely to be asserted against any such entity which, if determined adversely to any such entity, could have a Material Adverse Effect; all tax liabilities, if any, are adequately provided for on the books of the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Subsidiaries.

 

 

(cc)   The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, each Subsidiary owns or possesses adequate license or other rights to use all patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, software and design licenses, trade secrets, manufacturing processes, other intangible property rights and know-how, if any (collectively, “Intangibles”), necessary to entitle the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, each Subsidiary to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary has received notice of infringement of or conflict with (and knows of no such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any Intangibles which could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(dd)   Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Property Entities has authorized or conducted or has knowledge of the generation, transportation, storage, presence, use, treatment, disposal, release, or other handling of any hazardous substance, hazardous waste, hazardous material, hazardous constituent, toxic substance, pollutant, contaminant, asbestos, radon, polychlorinated biphenyls, petroleum product or waste (including crude oil or any fraction thereof), natural gas, liquefied gas, synthetic gas or other material defined, regulated, controlled or potentially subject to any remediation requirement under any environmental law (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”), on, in, under or affecting any real property currently leased or owned or by any means controlled by the Company or any Property Entity, including any real property underlying any loan held by any Property Entity (collectively, the “Real Property”), except in material compliance with applicable laws; to the knowledge of the Company, the Real Property, and the Company’s and the Property Entities’ operations with respect to the Real Property, are in compliance with all federal, state and local laws, ordinances, rules, regulations and other governmental requirements relating to pollution, control of chemicals, management of waste, discharges of materials into the environment, health, safety, natural resources, and the environment (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), and the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Property Entities are in material compliance with all licenses, permits, registrations and government authorizations necessary to operate under all applicable Environmental Laws; except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, the Property Entities has received any written or oral notice from any governmental entity or any other Person and there is no pending or threatened claim, litigation or any administrative agency proceeding that: alleges a violation of any Environmental Laws by the Company or any of the Property Entities; or that the Company or any of the Property Entities is a liable party or a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act, 42 U.S.C. §§. 9601, et seq., or any state superfund law; has resulted in or could result in the attachment of an environmental lien on any of the Real Property; or alleges that the Company or any of the Property Entities is liable for any contamination of the environment, contamination of the Real Property, damage to natural resources, property damage, or personal injury based on their activities or the activities of their predecessors or third parties (whether at the Real Property or elsewhere) involving Hazardous Materials, whether arising under the Environmental Laws, common law principles, or other legal standards.

 

 

(ee)   The Company has established and maintains and evaluates “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) and “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rules 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; 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 of 2002 (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, the Subsidiaries and the Company’s directors and officers are each in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and the NYSE promulgated thereunder.

 

(ff)   The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, each of the Subsidiaries maintains insurance (issued by insurers of recognized financial responsibility) of the types and in the amounts generally deemed adequate, if any, for their respective businesses and consistent with insurance coverage maintained by similar companies in similar businesses, including, but not limited to, insurance covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and the Subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and all other risks customarily insured against, all of which insurance is in full force and effect.

 

(gg)   Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary is in violation, and none of them has received notice of any violation with respect to, any applicable environmental, safety or similar law applicable to its business and which, in the case of the Property Entities, could reasonably expect to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, each Subsidiary have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable federal and state occupational safety and health and environmental laws and regulations to conduct their businesses, and the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, each Subsidiary is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except any such violation of law or regulation, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals which could not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(hh)  The Company has not incurred any liability for any finder’s fees or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated, except as may otherwise exist with respect to CF&Co pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(ii)   There are no existing or threatened labor disputes with the employees of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary which are likely to have individually or in the aggregate a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(jj)   None of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary or any employee or agent of the Company or any Subsidiary, has made any payment of funds or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation or of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary or any affiliate of any of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and stockholders of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that is not so described.

 

 

(kk)   The Company has been, and upon the sale of the Placement Shares will continue to be, organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a “real estate investment trust” (a “REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code”), for all taxable years commencing with its taxable year ended December 31, 1998. The proposed method of operation of the Company as described in the Prospectus will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and no actions have been taken (or not taken which are required to be taken) which would cause such qualification to be lost.  The Company intends to continue to operate in a manner which would permit it to qualify as a REIT under the Code. The Company has no intention of changing its operations or engaging in activities which would cause it to fail to qualify, or make economically undesirable its continued qualification, as a REIT.

 

(ll)   Neither the Company nor PF One or RCC, or to the knowledge of the Company, the Property Entities, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Placement Shares, will be an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(mm) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any Subsidiary or any affiliate of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary, on the other hand, which is required by the rules of the FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not so described. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, there are no material outstanding loans or advances or material guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, any Subsidiary or any affiliate of them to or for the benefit of any of the officers or directors of the Company or any Subsidiary or any of the members of the families of any of them.

 

(nn)   Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any of the Subsidiaries has sustained since the date of the last audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus any loss or interference with its respective business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, in each case which is likely either individually or in the aggregate to have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(oo)   The Company has retained Ernst & Young LLP as its independent accountants and independent tax experts (i) to test procedures and conduct annual compliance reviews designed to determine compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code and (ii) to otherwise assist the Company in monitoring appropriate accounting systems and procedures designed to determine compliance with the REIT provisions of the Code.

 

 

(pp)   The Company is not a party to any agreement with an agent or underwriter for any other “at-the-market” or continuous equity transaction.

 

(qq)   The Company acknowledges and agrees that CF&Co has informed the Company that CF&Co may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell shares of Common Stock for its own account while this Agreement is in effect provided that (i) no such purchase or sales shall take place while a Placement Notice is in effect (except to the extent CF&Co may engage in sales of Placement Shares purchased or deemed purchased from the Company as a “riskless principal” or in a similar capacity) and (ii) the Company shall not be deemed to have authorized or consented to any such purchases or sales by CF&Co.

 

7.  Covenants of the Company.  The Company covenants and agrees with CF&Co that:

 

(a) After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by CF&Co under the Securities Act, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify CF&Co promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon CF&Co's request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in CF&Co's reasonable judgment, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by CF&Co (provided, however, that the failure of CF&Co to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect CF&Co's right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement other than to the extent any such amendment or supplement is necessary or advisable due to information that must be disclosed strictly with regard as to CF&Co), (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to CF&Co a reasonable period of time before the filing and CF&Co has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of CF&Co to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect CF&Co's right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement except to the extent such objection would have been necessary or advisable due to information that must be disclosed strictly with regard as to CF&Co); (iv) the Company will furnish to CF&Co at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (v) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or, in the case of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed (the determination to file or not file any amendment or supplement with the Commission under this Section 7(a), based on the Company’s reasonable opinion or reasonable objections, shall be made exclusively by the Company).

 

 

(b) The Company will advise CF&Co, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued.

 

(c) During any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by CF&Co under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will comply so far as it is able with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of the Placement Shares during such period in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus, and will file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act.  If during such period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify CF&Co to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.

 

(d) During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by CF&Co under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its best efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on the Exchange and to qualify the Placement Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as CF&Co reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in securities, file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction, or meet any other requirement in connection with this Section 7(d) deemed by the Company to be unduly burdensome.

 

(e) The Company will furnish to CF&Co and its counsel (at the expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as CF&Co may from time to time reasonably request and, at CF&Co's request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to CF&Co to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.

 

 

(f) The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company's current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act.

 

(g) The Company, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, in accordance with the provisions of Section 11 hereunder, will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, expenses relating to (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and each amendment and supplement thereto, of each Prospectus and of each amendment and supplement thereto, (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Placement Shares, (iii) the qualification of the Placement Shares under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(d) of this Agreement, including filing fees and any reasonable fees or disbursements of counsel for CF&Co in connection therewith, (iv) the printing and delivery to CF&Co of copies of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and of this Agreement, (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing or qualification of the Placement Shares for trading on the Exchange, or (vi) filing fees and expenses, if any, of the Commission and the FINRA Corporate Finance Department.

 

(h) The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus.

 

(i) During either the pendency of any Placement Notice given hereunder, or any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by CF&Co, the Company shall provide CF&Co notice as promptly as reasonably possible before it offers to sell, contracts to sell, sells, grants any option to sell or otherwise disposes of any shares of Common Stock (other than Placement Shares offered pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock; provided, that such notice shall not be required in connection with the (i) issuance or sale of Common Stock, options to purchase shares of Common Stock or Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options, (ii) the issuance or sale of Common Stock pursuant to the Company’s Discount Waiver, Direct Stock Purchase and Dividend Reinvestment Plan, (iii) any Common Stock issuable upon conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding or (iv) the issuance or sale pursuant to the Company’s 2004 Equity Compensation Plan.

 

(j) The Company will, at any time during the term of this Agreement, as supplemented from time to time, advise CF&Co immediately after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document required to be provided to CF&Co pursuant to this Agreement.

 

(k) The Company will cooperate with any due diligence review conducted by CF&Co or its agents, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, as CF&Co may reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall be required to make available documents and senior corporate officers only (i) at the Company's principal offices and (ii) during the Company's ordinary business hours.

 

 

(l) The Company agrees that on such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (each and every filing under Rule 424(b), a "Filing Date"), which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the amount of Placement Shares sold through CF&Co, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to CF&Co with respect to such Placement Shares, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market.

 

(m) During the term of this Agreement, each time the Company (i) files the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or amends or supplements the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares (other than a prospectus supplement filed in accordance with Section 7(l) of this Agreement) by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of document(s) by reference to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares; (ii) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act; (iii) files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; (iv) files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than either an earnings release or to “furnish” information pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K) under the Exchange Act; or (v) files a Form 8-K under the Exchange Act for any other purpose (other than to “furnish” information) (each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (v) shall be a "Representation Date"); the Company shall furnish CF&Co (but in the case of clause (v) above only if CF&Co reasonably determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m).

 

(n) On the date hereof and thereafter as of each Representation Date, the Company shall cause to be furnished to CF&Co (but in the case of Section 7(m)(v) only if requested by CF&Co in accordance with the provisions of Section 7(m)) with a written opinion of Clifford Chance US LLP (the “Company Counsel”), dated the Representation Date, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(n)(1) (for the filing of the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares), and Exhibit 7(n)(2) (for subsequent dates), but modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinion, the Company Counsel may furnish CF&Co with a letter to the effect that CF&Co may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 7(n) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Representation Date).

 

(o) On the date hereof and thereafter as of each Representation Date, or any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by CF&Co, each time that the Registration Statement is amended or the Prospectus supplemented to include additional amended financial information or there is filed with the Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus which contains additional amended financial information, the Company shall cause Ernst & Young LLP to furnish CF&Co letters (the "Comfort Letters"), dated the date of each Representation Date, in form and substance satisfactory to CF&Co, (i) confirming that they are independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Act and are in compliance with the applicable requirements relating to the qualification of accountants under Rule 2-01 of Regulation S-X of the Commission, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the "Initial Comfort Letter") and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information which would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

 

 

(p) The Company will not, directly or indirectly take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Placement Shares.

 

(q) The Company acknowledges and agrees that CF&Co has informed the Company that CF&Co may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell Placement Shares for its own account at the same time as Placement Shares are being sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, provided that the Company shall not be deemed to have authorized or consented to any such purchases or sales by CF&Co.

 

(r) The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or caused to be maintained, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable and customary for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries.

 

(s) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, all material environmental permits, licenses and other authorizations required by federal, state and local law in order to conduct their businesses as described in the Prospectus, and the Company and each of its Subsidiaries shall conduct their businesses, or cause their businesses to be conducted, in substantial compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations and with applicable environmental laws, except where the failure to maintain or be in compliance with such permits, licenses and authorizations would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(t) Each authorization or Placement Notice issued by the Company to CF&Co to solicit offers to purchase Placement Shares shall be deemed to be an affirmation that the representations and warranties made by it in this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects at the time such Placement Notice is issued, and that the Company has complied in all material respects with all of the agreements to be performed by it hereunder at or prior to such time.

 

(u)   The Company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation of the Company as a REIT under the Code, and the Company’s proposed methods of operation will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code for subsequent taxable years.

 

(v) No Offer to Sell.  Other than a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) approved in advance by the Company and CF&Co in its capacity as principal or agent hereunder, neither CF&Co nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than CF&Co in its capacity as such) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Shares hereunder

 

 

(w)  The Company will not be or become, at any time prior to the expiration of three years after the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

(x)   The Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act as from time to time in force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of, or dealings in, the Placement Shares as contemplated by the provisions hereof and the Prospectus.

 

(y)   The Company will maintain such controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the applicable regulations thereunder, that are 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 recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, 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 chief executive officer and chief financial officer, or persons performing similar functions, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure and to ensure that material information relating to the Company is made known.

 

8.  Conditions to CF&Co’s Obligations. The obligations of CF&Co hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein, to the due performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to the completion by CF&Co of a due diligence review satisfactory to CF&Co in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by CF&Co in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:

 

(a)   The Registration Statement shall have become effective and shall be available for the sale of (i) all Placement Shares issued pursuant to all prior Placements and not yet sold by CF&Co and (ii) all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued by the Placement Notice relating to such Placement.

 

(b)   None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing:  (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, related prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (v) the Company’s reasonable determination that a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement would be appropriate.

 

 

(c)   CF&Co shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in CF&Co’s opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in CF&Co’s opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

(d)   Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material change, on a consolidated basis, in the authorized capital stock of the Company or any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that may reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect, or a downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s securities by any rating organization or a public announcement by any rating organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any of the Company’s securities, the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a rating organization described above, in the sole judgment of CF&Co (without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

(e)   CF&Co shall have received the opinion of Company Counsel required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(n).

 

(f)   CF&Co shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(o) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(o).

 

(g)   CF&Co shall have received the certificates required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) on or before the date on which delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(m).

 

(h)   Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended on the Exchange.

 

(i)   On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m), the Company shall have furnished to CF&Co such appropriate further information, certificates and documents as CF&Co may reasonably request. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof. The Company will furnish CF&Co with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as CF&Co shall reasonably request.

 

 

(j)  Prior to the giving of any Placement Notice, (i) no stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act or proceedings initiated under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Securities Act; (ii) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto, or modifications thereof, if any, shall 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; and (iii) the Prospectus and all amendments or supplements thereto, or modifications thereof, if any, shall 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 are made, not misleading.

 

(k)   All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the giving of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

 

(l)   The Placement Shares shall either have been (i) approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange at, or prior to, the giving of any Placement Notice.

 

(m)   There shall not have occurred any event that would permit CF&Co to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a).

 

9.  Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless CF&Co, the directors, officers, partners, employees and agents of CF&Co and each person, if any, who (i) controls CF&Co within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with CF&Co (a “CF&Co Affiliate”) from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including, but not limited to, any and all investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding between any of the indemnified parties and any indemnifying parties or between any indemnified party and any third party, or otherwise, or any claim asserted), as and when incurred, to which CF&Co, or any such person, may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, liabilities, expenses or damages arise out of or are based, directly or indirectly, on (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in any application or other document executed by or on behalf of the Company or based on written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Placement Shares under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading or (iii) any breach by any of the indemnifying parties of any of their respective representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement; provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to the extent that such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage arises from the sale of the Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement and is caused directly by an untrue statement or omission made in reliance on and in conformity with information relating to CF&Co and furnished in writing to the Company by CF&Co expressly stating that such information is intended for inclusion in any document described in clause (a)(i) above. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.

 

 

(b) CF&Co agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company (a “Company Affiliate”) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 9(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information and relating to CF&Co furnished to the Company by CF&Co expressly stating that such information is intended for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

(c) Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 9 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 9, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 9 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 9 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly as they are incurred. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 9 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 9(c), if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel for which it is entitled to reimbursement pursuant to this Section 9(c), such indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into, and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement; provided, however, that an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any such settlement effected without its consent if such indemnifying party, at least five days prior to the date of such settlement, (1) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such request for the amount of such fees and expenses of counsel as the indemnifying party believes in good faith to be reasonable and (2) provides written notice to the indemnified party that the indemnifying party disputes in good faith the reasonableness of the unpaid balance of such fees and expenses.

 

 

(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 9 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company or CF&Co, the Company and CF&Co will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than CF&Co, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and CF&Co may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and CF&Co on the other. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and CF&Co 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 compensation (before deducting expenses) received by CF&Co from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company.  If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and CF&Co, on the other, with respect to the statements or omission which resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or CF&Co, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and CF&Co agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 9(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 9(d) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 9(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 9(c) hereof.  Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 9(d), CF&Co shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 9(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of CF&Co, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 9(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 9(d) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 9(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 9(c) hereof.

 

10.  Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery.  All representations and warranties of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of CF&Co, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of their respective officers, directors or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

 

 

11.  Termination.

 

(a) CF&Co shall have the right by giving notice as hereinafter specified at any time to terminate this Agreement if (i) any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that has actually occurred and that is reasonably expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect has occurred which, in the reasonable judgment of CF&Co, may materially impair the investment quality of the Placement Shares, (ii) the Company shall have failed, refused or been unable to perform any agreement on its part to be performed hereunder; provided, however, in the case of any failure of the Company to deliver (or cause another person to deliver) any certification, opinion, or letter required under Sections 7(m), 7(n), or 7(o), CF&Co’s right to terminate shall not arise unless such failure to deliver (or cause to be delivered) continues for more than thirty (30) days from the date of such Representation Date pursuant to which such delivery was required; provided, further, that, CF&Co shall have the right to suspend its obligations hereunder, regardless of whether a Placement Notice is pending, beginning on the sixth (6th) day after the date of any Representation Date if any certification, opinion, or letter referenced in the foregoing proviso has not yet been (or caused to be) delivered; (iii) any other condition of CF&Co’s obligations hereunder is not fulfilled, or (iv) any suspension or limitation of trading in the Placement Shares or in securities generally on the Exchange shall have occurred.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 7(v), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.  If CF&Co elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 11, CF&Co shall provide the required notice as specified herein.

 

(b) The Company shall have the right, by giving twenty (20) days notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time following the period of three (3) months after the date of this Agreement.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 7(v), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(c) CF&Co shall have the right, by giving twenty (20) days notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time following the period of three (3) months after the date of this Agreement.  Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 7(v), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

(d) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 11(a), (b), or (c) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 7(g), Section 7(v), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 shall remain in full force and effect.

 

(e) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by CF&Co or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

 

12.  Notices.

 

All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing and if sent to CF&Co, shall be delivered to CF&Co at Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., 135 East 57 Street, New York, New York 10022, fax no. (212) 829-4972, Attention: Capital Markets Execution, with copies to Stephen Merkel, General Counsel, at the same address, and DLA Piper LLP (US), 1251 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020, fax no. (212) 884-8494, Attention: Dean M. Colucci; or if sent to the Company, shall be delivered to MFA Mortgage Investments, Inc., 350 Park Avenue, 21st Floor, New York, NY 10022, phone: (212) 207-6400, fax: (212) 207-6420, Attention Timothy W. Korth, General Counsel and Senior Vice President-Business Development with a copy to Clifford Chance US LLP, 31 West 52nd St., New York, NY 10019, Attention: Jay L. Bernstein.  Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.  Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally or by verifiable facsimile transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

13.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and CF&Co and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 9 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither party may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

14.   Adjustments for Stock Splits.  The parties acknowledge and agree that all share related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split, stock dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Placement Shares.

 

15.  Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability.  This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and placement notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and CF&Co.  In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

 

 

16.  Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York without regard to the principles of conflicts of laws. Each party hereby irrevocably submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the state and federal courts sitting in the City of New York, borough of Manhattan, for the adjudication of any dispute hereunder or in connection with any transaction contemplated hereby, and hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to assert in any suit, action or proceeding, any claim that it is not personally subject to the jurisdiction of any such court, that such suit, action or proceeding is brought in an inconvenient forum or that the venue of such suit, action or proceeding is improper.  Each party hereby irrevocably waives personal service of process and consents to process being served in any such suit, action or proceeding by mailing a copy thereof (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested) to such party at the address in effect for notices to it under this Agreement and agrees that such service shall constitute good and sufficient service of process and notice thereof.  Nothing contained herein shall be deemed to limit in any way any right to serve process in any manner permitted by law.

 

17.  Waiver of Jury Trial.  The Company and CF&Co each hereby irrevocably waives any right it may have to a trial by jury in respect of any claim based upon or arising out of this agreement or any transaction contemplated hereby.

 

18.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile transmission.

 

19.  Absence of Fiduciary Relationship.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a) CF&Co has been retained solely to act as underwriter in connection with the sale of the Shares and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and CF&Co has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether CF&Co has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;

 

(b) the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(c) the Company has been advised that CF&Co and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that CF&Co has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

 

(d) the Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against CF&Co, for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty related to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and agrees that CF&Co shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary claim or to any person asserting such a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

 

 

 

If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and CF&Co, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and CF&Co.

 

Very truly yours,

By:  /s/ Timothy W. Korth

Timothy W. Korth

General Counsel and Senior Vice

President – Business Development

By:  /s/ Jeffrey Lumby

Jeffrey Lumby

Managing Director

 

 

 

 

 

 

From:

[

]

Cc:

[

]

Subject:                  Controlled Equity Offering—Placement Notice

 

Gentlemen:

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Controlled Equity OfferingSM Sales Agreement between MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC., (the “Company”) and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co. (“CF&Co”) dated December 12, 2008 (the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that CF&Co sell up to [ ] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share, at a minimum market price of $_______ per share.

 

ADDITIONAL SALES PARAMETERS MAY BE ADDED, SUCH AS THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH SALES ARE REQUESTED TO BE MADE, SPECIFIC DATES THE SHARES MAY NOT BE SOLD ON, THE MANNER IN WHICH SALES ARE TO BE MADE BY CF&CO, AND/OR THE CAPACITY IN WHICH CF&CO MAY ACT IN SELLING SHARES (AS PRINCIPAL, AGENT, OR BOTH).

 

 

 

 

 

The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to CF&Co shall be of an amount up to two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the gross proceeds with respect to sales actually effected by CF&Co.

 

 

 

 

 

Jeff Lumby ***@***)

 

Peter Dippolito ***@***)

Joshua Feldman ***@***)

 

Stewart Zimmerman ***@***)

 

Timothy Korth ***@***)

 

William Gorin ***@***)

 

Ronald Freydberg ***@***)

 

 

The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected _______________________, of MFA MORTGAGE INVESTMENTS, INC. (“Company”), a Maryland corporation, does hereby certify in such capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 7(m) of the Sales Agreement dated December 12, 2008 (the “Sales Agreement”) between the Company and Cantor Fitzgerald & Co., that to the best of the knowledge of the undersigned.

 

(i)           Except for non-material exceptions, the representations and warranties of the Company in Section 6 of the Sales Agreement are true and correct on and as of the date hereof, with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof; and

 

(ii)          The Company has complied in all material respects with all material agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied pursuant to the Sales Agreement at or prior to the date hereof to the extent not waived by CF&Co.

 

 

By:                                                                

Name:

Title:

Date: