BOSTON OMAHA Corp 8-K, filed Dec 8, 2022
BOSTON OMAHA Corp (BOC)
About this 8-K
BOSTON OMAHA Corp filed this 8-K on December 8, 2022.
Items reported
- Item 1.01: Entered into a material agreement
- Item 8.01: Other events
- Item 9.01: Financial statements and exhibits
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(State or other jurisdiction of Incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(Address and telephone number of principal executive offices, including zip code)
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Not Applicable
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Title of Class
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Trading Symbol
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Name of Exchange on Which Registered
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$0.001 par value per share
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The
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ITEM 1.01
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ENTRY INTO A MATERIAL DEFINITIVE AGREEMENT
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ITEM 8.01
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OTHER EVENTS
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ITEM 9.01
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FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
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(d)
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Exhibits. The Exhibit Index set forth below is incorporated herein by reference.
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Exhibit
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Exhibit Title
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1.1
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5.1
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23.1
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99.1
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104
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Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)
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BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
(Registrant)
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By:
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/s/ Joshua P. Weisenburger
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Joshua P. Weisenburger,
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Exhibit 1.1
BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
$100,000,000
CLASS A COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.001 PER SHARE
SALES AGREEMENT
December 8, 2022
Wells Fargo Securities, LLC
500 West 33rd Street
New York, New York 10001
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Boston Omaha Corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo”), 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 Wells Fargo, acting as agent and/or principal, shares (collectively, the “Placement Shares”) of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the “Class A Common Stock”), having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000 (the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitation set forth in this Section 1 on the aggregate dollar amount or number of shares of Class A Common Stock issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and Wells Fargo shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of Placement Shares through Wells Fargo 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”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement (as defined below) to issue any Placement Shares.
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. 333-264470) including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities, including the Placement Shares that may be issued from time to time by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, and which incorporates by reference documents that 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”). The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Placement Shares (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement. The Company has furnished to Wells Fargo, for use by Wells Fargo, copies of the prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Placement Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, as amended 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 or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B or 462(b) of the Securities Act, or any subsequent registration statement on Form S-3 filed pursuant to Rule 415(a)(6) under the Securities Act by the Company with respect to the Placement Shares, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as the same may be supplemented by any additional prospectus supplement, in the form in which such prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission, together with any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act (“Rule 433”), relating to the Placement Shares that (i) is consented to by Wells Fargo, hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus,” (ii) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company or (iii) 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, including, unless the context otherwise requires, the documents, if any, filed as exhibits to such incorporated documents, 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 the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System or any successor thereto (collectively “EDGAR”).
2. Placements. Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell the Placement Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify Wells Fargo by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) (a “Placement Notice”) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Placement Shares to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the number of shares of Placement Shares to be issued, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Placement Shares that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined in Section 3) and any minimum price below which sales may not be made, 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 2 (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 Wells Fargo set forth on Schedule 2, as such Schedule 2 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective upon receipt by Wells Fargo unless and until (i) in accordance with the notice requirements set forth in Section 4, Wells Fargo 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) this 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 Wells Fargo in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 3. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor Wells Fargo will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to Wells Fargo and Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Company’s delivery 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, Wells Fargo, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of The New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) to sell such Placement Shares up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice. Wells Fargo will provide written confirmation to the Company (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the Company set forth on Schedule 2, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) 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 to Wells Fargo pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales; and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by Wells Fargo (as set forth in Section 5(a)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. In the event the Company engages Wells Fargo for a sale of Placement Shares in a Placement that would constitute a “block” within the meaning of Rule 10b-18(a)(5) under the Exchange Act (a “Block Sale”), the Company will provide Wells Fargo, at Wells Fargo’s request and upon reasonable advance notice to the Company, on or prior to the Settlement Date (as defined below), the opinions of counsel, Comfort Letter(s) and certificates set forth in Section 8 hereof, each dated on or prior to the Settlement Date, and such other documents and information as Wells Fargo shall reasonably request. Wells Fargo 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 through NYSE or on any other existing trading market for the Class A Common Stock. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6(ii), Wells Fargo shall not purchase Placement Shares for its own account as principal unless expressly authorized to do so by the Company in a Placement Notice. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that Wells Fargo will be successful in selling Placement Shares, and (ii) Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo 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 the Company’s Class A Common Stock is purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Class A Common Stock is listed or quoted.
4. Suspension of Sales.
(a) The Company or Wells Fargo 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 2, 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 2), 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. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule 2 hereto, as such schedule may be amended from time to time.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Company is in possession of material non-public information, the Company and Wells Fargo agree that (i) no sale of Placement Shares will take place, (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Placement Shares, and (iii) Wells Fargo shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Placement Shares.
(c) If either Wells Fargo or the Company has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Class A Common Stock, it shall promptly notify the other party, and Wells Fargo may, at its sole discretion, suspend sales of the Placement Shares under this Agreement.
(d) The Registration Statement was declared effective on May 11, 2022. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Registration Statement is no longer effective under the Securities Act, the Company shall promptly notify Wells Fargo, the Company shall not request the sale of any Placement Shares, and Wells Fargo shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Placement Shares.
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 second (2nd) Trading 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” and the first such settlement date, the “First Delivery Date”). The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by Wells Fargo at which such Placement Shares were sold, after deduction for (i) Wells Fargo’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 Wells Fargo hereunder pursuant to Section 7(g) (Expenses) hereof, and (iii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.
(b) Delivery of Placement 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 Wells Fargo’s or its designee’s account (provided Wells Fargo shall have given the Company written notice of such designee prior to the Settlement Date) 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 which in all cases shall be freely tradeable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, Wells Fargo will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver duly authorized 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) (Indemnification and Contribution) hereto, it will (i) hold Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo 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, Wells Fargo that as of the date of this Agreement, each Representation Date (as defined in Section 7(m)), each date on which a Placement Notice is given, and each Time of Sale (as defined below):
(a) Registration Statement and Prospectus. Prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice by the Company, the Registration Statement will have been filed and declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act, and any required Rule 462(b) Registration Statement will have become effective under the Securities Act (a “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”). The Company has complied to the Commission’s satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or supplemental information related to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. No stop order preventing or suspending the use of any base prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission. The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S‑3 under the Securities Act. The proposed offering of the Placement Shares hereunder meets the requirements of General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3.
(b) No Misstatement or Omission. The Prospectus when filed complied and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments or supplements thereto, at the time it became effective or its date, as applicable, complied and as of each of the Settlement Dates, if any, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and, as of each Settlement Date, if any, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, did not and, as of each of the Settlement Dates, if any, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to Wells Fargo furnished to the Company in writing by Wells Fargo expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by Wells Fargo as aforesaid consists of the Agent’s Information (as defined below). There are no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required. As used herein, “Time of Sale” means with respect to each offering of Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement, the time of Wells Fargo’s initial entry into contracts with purchasers for the sale of such Placement Shares.
(c) Offering Materials Furnished to Wells Fargo. The Company has delivered to Wells Fargo one complete copy of the Registration Statement and a copy of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without exhibits) and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as Wells Fargo has reasonably requested. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus delivered to Wells Fargo for use in connection with the public offering of the Placement Shares contemplated herein have been and will be identical to the versions of such documents transmitted to the Commission for filing via EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) Not an Ineligible Issuer. The Company currently is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the rules and regulation of the Commission. The Company agrees to notify Wells Fargo promptly upon the Company becoming an “ineligible issuer.”
(e) Distribution of Offering Material by the Company. The Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the completion of Wells Fargo’s distribution of the Placement Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares other than the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(f) The Sales Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
(g) Authorization of the Class A Common Stock. The Placement Shares, when issued and delivered, will be duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company against payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; no holder of the Placement Shares is or will be subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder; and the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares to be sold by the Company under this Agreement are not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company or any other person or entity.
(h) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons or entities with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for persons and entities who have expressly waived such right in writing or who have been given timely and proper written notice and have failed to exercise such right within the time or times required under the terms and conditions of such right.
(i) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the business, properties, assets, general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its Subsidiaries (as defined in Section 6(m)), considered as one entity, or impair in any material respect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate any transactions contemplated by this Agreement, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company and its Subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than the issuance of shares of Class A Common Stock upon exercise of stock options and warrants described as outstanding in, and the grant of options and awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Prospectus) or long-term debt of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock.
(j) Independent Accountants. KPMG LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect to or certified, as the case may be, certain financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission or incorporated by reference as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its Subsidiaries within the meaning of Article 2-01 of Regulation S-X and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”) as required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(k) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial position and the results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries at the respective dates or for the respective periods therein specified. The supporting schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and related notes have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be set forth in the related notes thereto, and provided that the unaudited financial statements are subject to normal year end and audit adjustments and may not contain certain footnotes as permitted by the applicable rules of the Commission. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in or incorporated in the Registration Statement. The financial statements, together with the related notes, included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with Regulation S-X. The pro forma and any pro forma as adjusted financial information and the related notes included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus have been properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X and present fairly the information shown 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 summary and selected financial data included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus fairly present in all material respects the information shown therein as at the respective dates and for the respective periods specified and are derived from the consolidated financial statements filed with the Commission as a part of or included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and other financial information. All information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as defined in Regulation G) complies in all material respects with Regulation G and Item 10 of Regulation S-K, to the extent applicable.
(l) eXtensible Business Reporting Language. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(m) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries (the “Subsidiaries”) listed on Schedule 4 hereto. Each of the Company’s Subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or other legal entity in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other legal entity to transact business and is in good standing as foreign corporations or other legal entity in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification and has all power and authority (corporate or other) necessary to own or hold its properties and to conduct its business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. Except as described in the Prospectus, all of the issued and outstanding equity interests of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim.
(n) Capital Stock Matters. The Class A Common Stock conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. All of the Company’s options, warrants and other rights to purchase or exchange any securities for shares of the Company’s capital stock have been duly authorized and validly issued and were issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock was issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There were no authorized or outstanding shares of capital stock, options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries other than accurately described in the Prospectus.
(o) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
(p) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there is no legal or governmental proceeding pending to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or of which any property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is the named subject that is required to be described in the Prospectus and is not described therein, or which, singularly or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and, to the Company’s knowledge after reasonable investigation and due diligence inquiry (“Knowledge”), no such proceedings are threatened by governmental or regulatory authorities or by others.
(q) Absence of Further Requirements. (A) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign, (B) no authorization, approval, vote or consent of any holder of capital stock or other securities of the Company or creditor of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, (C) no authorization, approval, waiver or consent under any Company Document, and (D) no authorization, approval, vote or consent of any other person or entity, is necessary or required for the authorization, execution, delivery or performance of obligations by the Company of this Agreement, for the offering of the Placement Shares as contemplated by this Agreement, for the issuance, sale or delivery of the Placement Shares to be sold by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, or for the consummation of any of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, in each case on the terms contemplated by the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except those for which the failure to be obtained would not have a material adverse effect on the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, except such as have been obtained under the Securities Act, the Securities Act Rules, the Exchange Act and the Exchange Act Rules (as defined below) and except that no representation is made as to such as may be required under state or foreign securities laws.
(r) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, authorizations and permits issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate local, state, federal or foreign governmental or regulatory agencies or bodies that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Prospectus (collectively, the “Governmental Permits”), except where any failures to possess or make the same would not, singularly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance with all such Governmental Permits except where the failure to be in compliance would not, singularly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change; all such Governmental Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except where the invalidity or failure to be in full force and effect would not, singularly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received notification of any material revocation, modification, suspension, termination or invalidation (or proceedings related thereto) of any such Governmental Permit, and the Company has no Knowledge that any such Governmental Permit will not be renewed.
(s) Insurance Regulatory Matters. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries that conducts an insurance business (other than any entity which merely serves as a broker of insurance products) (an “Insurance Subsidiary”) is duly organized and licensed as an insurance company in its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation, as the case may be, and each of the Company and its Insurance Subsidiaries is duly licensed or authorized as an insurer in each other jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed or authorized to conduct its business, in each case, with such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, as would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; each of the Company and its Insurance Subsidiaries is in compliance with the requirements of the insurance laws and regulations of its jurisdiction of organization or incorporation, as the case may be, and the insurance laws and regulations of other jurisdictions which are applicable to it, and has filed all notices, reports, documents or other information required to be filed thereunder (“Notices”), in each case with such exceptions, individually or in the aggregate, as would not result in a Material Adverse Change; and, except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its Insurance Subsidiaries has received any notification from any insurance regulatory authority to the effect that any additional consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification (“Approval”) from such insurance regulatory authority is needed to be obtained by the Company or its Insurance Subsidiaries in any case where it would be reasonably expected that the failure to obtain such Approval would result in a Material Adverse Change.
(t) Insurance Matters Related to the Offering and Sale of the Placement Shares. Without limiting the foregoing, the Company has filed all Notices pursuant to, and has obtained all Approvals required to be obtained under, and has otherwise complied with all requirements of, all applicable insurance laws and regulations in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares, and no such Notices or Approvals are required to be filed or obtained by any of the Insurance Subsidiaries of the Company in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares.
(u) Tax Law Compliance. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries (i) has timely filed all necessary federal, state, local and foreign tax returns (or timely filed extensions with respect to such returns), and all such returns were true, complete and correct in all material respects, (ii) has paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes that are due and payable for which it is liable, including, without limitation, all sales and use taxes and all taxes which it is obligated to withhold from amounts owing to employees, creditors and third parties (other than such amounts being disputed in good faith and by appropriate proceedings and for which appropriate reserves, if required, have been established), and (iii) does not have any tax deficiency or claims outstanding or assessed or, to its Knowledge, proposed against it, except those, in each of the cases described in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, that would not, singularly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(v) Company Not an “Investment Company”. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is or, after giving effect to the offering of the Class A Common Stock and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company Act”), and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(w) Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries have good and, to the Company’s Knowledge, good and marketable title in and (in the case of real property) to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real or tangible personal property that are owned or used by the Company and its Subsidiaries and material to the business of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, security interests and claims other than those described in the Prospectus and other than those that (i) do not, singularly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or (ii) would not reasonably be expected, singularly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(x) No Labor Dispute. There is (A) no significant unfair labor practice complaint pending against the Company, or any of its Subsidiaries, nor to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against it or any of its Subsidiaries, before the National Labor Relations Board, any state or local labor relation board or any foreign labor relations board, and no significant grievance or significant arbitration proceeding arising out of or under any collective bargaining agreement is so pending against the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened against it or any of them, and (B) no labor disturbance by the employees of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s Knowledge, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its or its Subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or contractors that would reasonably be expected, singularly or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company is not aware that any key employee or significant group of employees of the Company or any Subsidiary plans to terminate employment with the Company or any such Subsidiary.
(y) Compliance with ERISA. No “prohibited transaction” (as defined in Section 406 of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (“ERISA”), or Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time (the “Code”)) or “accumulated funding deficiency” (as defined in Section 302 of ERISA) or any of the events set forth in Section 4043(b) of ERISA (other than events with respect to which the thirty (30)-day notice requirement under Section 4043 of ERISA has been waived) has occurred or would reasonably be expected to occur with respect to any employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries which would, singularly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. Each employee benefit plan of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with applicable law, including ERISA and the Code. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not incurred and would not reasonably be expected to incur material liability under Title IV of ERISA with respect to the termination of, or withdrawal from, any pension plan (as defined in ERISA). Each pension plan for which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries would have any liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and to the Company’s Knowledge nothing has occurred, whether by action or by failure to act, which would, singularly or in the aggregate, cause the loss of such qualification.
(z) Insurance. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as generally deemed adequate and customary (for companies engaged in similar businesses in similar industries) for the conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective properties. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries has received written notice from any insurer, agent of such insurer or the broker of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries that any material capital improvements or any other material expenditures (other than premium payments) are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance.
(aa) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of its officers, directors or affiliates has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed or intended to stabilize or manipulate the price of the Placement Shares, or which caused or resulted in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Placement Shares.
(bb) Related Party Transactions. No relationship or related party transaction, direct or indirect, exists or has occurred between or among the Company or any of its Subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders (or analogous interest holders), customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its affiliates on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Prospectus and which is not so described.
(cc) Exchange Act Compliance. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the Settlement Dates, 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 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.
(dd) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries nor any director, officer, or employee of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any agent, affiliate or other person or entity associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in: (A) the use of any funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity, (B) the making or taking of an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government or regulatory official or employee, including, without limitation, of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person or entity acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office, (C) a violation by any such person or entity of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption laws, or (D) the making, offering, requesting or taking of, or the agreement to take, an act in furtherance of any unlawful bribe or other unlawful benefit, including, without limitation, any rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful or improper payment or benefit. The Company and its Subsidiaries have instituted, maintain and enforce, and will continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anti-corruption laws.
(ee) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the applicable money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental or regulatory agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental or regulatory agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the Company’s Knowledge, threatened.
(ff) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, directors, officers or employees, nor, to the Company’s Knowledge, any agent, employee or affiliate or other person or entity associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is currently the subject or the target of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, (including, without limitation, the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (OFAC) or the U.S. Department of State and including, without limitation, the designation as a “specially designated national” or “blocked person”), the United Nations Security Council (UNSC), the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”) or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor is the Company or any of its Subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject or the target of Sanctions, including, without limitation, the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic, the so-called Luhansk People’s Republic or any other Covered Region of Ukraine identified pursuant to Executive Order 14065, the Crimea region of Ukraine, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, and Syria (each, a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use any Net Proceeds, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such Net Proceeds to any Subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity (A) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business with any person or entity that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject or the target of any Sanctions, (B) to fund or facilitate any activities of or any business in any Sanctioned Country or (C) in any other manner that could result in a violation by any person or entity (including any person or entity participating in the transaction, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise) of any Sanctions. For the past five years, the Company and its Subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any person or entity that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of any Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
(gg) Company’s Accounting System. Each of the Company and its Subsidiaries maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the General Rules and Regulations under the Exchange Act (the “Exchange Act Rules”)) that complies with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and has been designed by its principal executive and principal financial officers, or under their supervision, to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences and (v) any interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as described in the Prospectus, since the date of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (A) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and (B) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(hh) Disclosure Controls. Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company and its Subsidiaries maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act Rules) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act; such disclosure controls and procedures have been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company and its Subsidiaries in reports filed or submitted under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management to allow timely decisions regarding disclosures. The Company and its Subsidiaries have conducted evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.
(ii) Compliance with Environmental Laws. The Company and its Subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all foreign, federal, state and local rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of hazardous or toxic substances or waste and protection of health and safety or the environment which are applicable to their businesses (“Environmental Laws”). There has been no storage, generation, transportation, handling, treatment, disposal, discharge, emission, or other release of any kind of toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances by, due to, or caused by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any other entity for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is or may reasonably be expected to otherwise be liable) upon any of the property now or previously owned or leased by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or upon any other property, in violation of any law, statute, ordinance, rule, regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit or which would, under any law, statute, ordinance, rule (including rule of common law), regulation, order, judgment, decree or permit, give rise to any liability other than any such violation or liability that would not reasonably be expected to result in, singularly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Change; and there has been no disposal, discharge, emission or other release of any kind onto such property or into the environment surrounding such property of any toxic or other wastes or other hazardous substances with respect to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries has Knowledge that would reasonably be expected to result in, singularly or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Change.
(jj) Intellectual Property. The Company and its Subsidiaries own or possess the valid right to use all (i) valid and enforceable patents, patent applications, trademarks, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, Internet domain name registrations, copyrights, copyright registrations, licenses, trade secret rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) and (ii) inventions, software, works of authorships, trademarks, service marks, trade names, databases, formulae, know how, Internet domain names and other intellectual property (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary confidential information, systems, or procedures) (collectively, “Intellectual Property Assets”) necessary to conduct their respective businesses as currently conducted, and as proposed to be conducted, and described in the Prospectus, provided that the foregoing representation is made only to the Company’s Knowledge as it concerns third party rights and trademarks. The Company and its Subsidiaries have not received any opinion from their legal counsel concluding that any activities of their respective businesses as currently conducted infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate, valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person, and have not received written notice of any challenge, which is to the Company’s Knowledge still pending, by any other person to the rights of the Company and its Subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights or Intellectual Property Assets owned or used by the Company or its Subsidiaries. To the Company’s Knowledge, the Company and its Subsidiaries’ respective businesses as currently conducted do not infringe, misappropriate, or otherwise violate any valid and enforceable Intellectual Property Rights of any other person. All licenses for the use of the Intellectual Property Rights described in the Prospectus are valid, binding upon, and enforceable by or against the Company and its Subsidiaries, as the case may be, and, to the Company’s Knowledge, the other parties thereto in accordance to its terms, except (i) as limited by laws of general application relating to bankruptcy, insolvency and other relief of debtors and (ii) as limited by rules of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief and other equitable remedies and by general principles of equity. The Company has complied in all material respects with, and is not in breach in any material respect nor has received in writing any asserted or threatened claim of breach of, any Intellectual Property license, and the Company has no Knowledge of any breach or anticipated breach by any other person of any Intellectual Property license to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party. Except as described in the Prospectus, no claim has been made against the Company alleging the infringement by the Company of any patent, trademark, service mark, trade name, copyright, trade secret, license in or other intellectual property right or franchise right of any person. The Company has taken reasonable steps to protect, maintain and safeguard its Intellectual Property Rights, including the execution of appropriate nondisclosure and confidentiality agreements. The consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement will not result in the loss or impairment of or payment of any additional amounts with respect to, nor require the consent of any other person in respect of, the Company’s right to own, use, or hold for use any of the Intellectual Property Rights as owned, used or held for use in the conduct of the business as currently conducted. The Company has at all times complied with all applicable laws relating to privacy, data protection, and the collection and use of personal information collected, used, or held for use by the Company in the conduct of the Company’s business. No claims have been asserted or threatened against the Company alleging a violation of any person’s privacy or personal information or data rights, and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not breach or otherwise cause any violation of any law related to privacy, data protection, or the collection and use of personal information collected, used, or held for use by the Company in the conduct of the Company’s business. The Company takes reasonable measures to ensure that such information is protected against unauthorized access, use, modification, or other misuse. The Company has taken commercially reasonable measures to obtain ownership of all works of authorship and inventions made by its employees, consultants and contractors during the time they were employed by or under contract with the Company and that are material to the Company’s business.
(kk) No Restrictions on Dividends. Except as described in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is a party to or otherwise bound by any instrument or agreement that limits or prohibits or could limit or prohibit, directly or indirectly, the Company from paying any dividends or making other distributions on its capital stock, and no Subsidiary is a party to or otherwise bound by any instrument or agreement that limits or prohibits or could limit or prohibit, directly or indirectly, any Subsidiary from paying any dividends or making any other distributions on its capital stock, limited or general partnership interests, limited liability company interests, or other equity interests, as the case may be, or from repaying any loans or advances from, or (except for instruments or agreements that by their express terms prohibit the transfer or assignment thereof or of any rights thereunder) transferring any of its properties or assets to, the Company or any other Subsidiary, in each case except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(ll) Minute Books. The minute books of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have been made available to Wells Fargo and counsel for Wells Fargo, and such books (i) contain an accurate summary of all meetings and actions of the board of directors (including each board committee) and stockholders of the Company (or analogous governing bodies and interest holders, as applicable), and each of its Subsidiaries since the time of its respective incorporation or organization through the date of the latest meeting and action, and (ii) accurately in all material respects reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes.
(mm) PFIC. The Company is not a Passive Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1296 of the Code, and the Company is not likely to become a PFIC.
(nn) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(oo) Listing. The Company is subject to and in compliance in all material respects with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act. The Class A Common Stock is registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the NYSE, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or reasonably likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Class A Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Class A Common Stock from NYSE, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or NYSE is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.
(pp) Brokers. Except for Wells Fargo, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(qq) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. Except as described in the Prospectus, there is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the Company’s Knowledge, any of the Company’s officers or directors, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(rr) No Reliance. The Company has not relied upon Wells Fargo or legal counsel for Wells Fargo for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Shares.
(ss) Wells Fargo Purchases. The Company acknowledges and agrees that Wells Fargo has informed the Company that Wells Fargo may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, purchase and sell shares of Class A Common Stock for its own account while this Agreement is in effect.
(tt) U.S. Real Property Holding Corporation. Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company is not, nor has it ever been, a U.S. real property holding corporation within the meaning of Section 897(c)(2) of the Code.
(uu) No Associated Persons. Neither the Company nor any of its affiliates (within the meaning of FINRA Rule 5121(f)(1)) directly or indirectly controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, or is an associated person (within the meaning of Article I, Section 1(ee) of the By-laws of FINRA) of, any member firm of FINRA.
(vv) Compliance with Laws. The Company has not been advised, and has no reason to believe, that each of the Company and its Subsidiaries is not conducting business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, except where failure to be so in compliance would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
(ww) Privacy Laws. The Company and each of its Subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with all applicable data privacy and security laws and regulations, including, without limitation, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (“HIPAA”), as amended by the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (the “HITECH Act”) (42 U.S.C. Section 17921 et seq.); and the Company and each its Subsidiaries have taken all necessary actions to comply with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation (“GDPR”) (EU 2016/679) (collectively, “Privacy Laws”). To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have in place, comply with, and take appropriate steps reasonably designed to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, disclosure, handling and analysis of Personal Data (the “Policies”). When required by applicable law, the Company provides accurate notice of its Policies to its customers, employees, third party vendors and representatives. The Policies provide accurate and sufficient notice of the Company’s then-current privacy practices relating to its subject matter and such Policies do not contain any material omissions of the Company’s then-current privacy practices. “Personal Data” means (i) a natural persons’ name, street address, telephone number, email address, photograph, social security number, bank information, or customer or account number; (ii) any information which would qualify as “personally identifying information” under the Federal Trade Commission Act, as amended; (iii) Protected Health Information as defined by HIPAA; (iv) “personal data” as defined by GDPR; and (v) any other piece of information that allows the identification of such natural person, or his or her family, or permits the collection or analysis of any data related to an identified person’s health or sexual orientation. None of such disclosures made or contained in any of the Policies have been inaccurate, misleading, deceptive or in violation of any Privacy Laws or Policies in any material respect. The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or any other agreement referred to in this Agreement will not result in a breach of any Privacy Laws or Policies. Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries, (i) has received written notice of any actual or potential liability under or relating to, or actual or potential violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposed any obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.
(xx) IT Systems. (i) (x)To the Company’s knowledge, there has been no security breach or attack or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company’s and its Subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (“IT Systems and Data”), and (y) the Company and its Subsidiaries have not been notified in writing of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any security breach, attack or compromise to their IT Systems and Data, (ii) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have complied in all material respects, and are presently in compliance in all material respects with, all applicable laws, statutes or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority and all industry guidelines, standards, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification and (iii) the Company and each of its Subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practice.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to Wells Fargo or to counsel for Wells Fargo shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to Wells Fargo as to the matters set forth therein.
The Company acknowledges that Wells Fargo and, for purposes of the opinions to be delivered pursuant to Section 7 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to Wells Fargo, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of the foregoing representations and hereby consents to such reliance.
7. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with Wells Fargo that:
(a) Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a Prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by Wells Fargo under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify Wells Fargo promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, 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 Wells Fargo’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in Wells Fargo’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by Wells Fargo (provided, however, that the failure of Wells Fargo to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect Wells Fargo’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Placement Shares or a security convertible into the Placement Shares unless a copy thereof has been submitted to Wells Fargo within a reasonable period of time before the filing and Wells Fargo has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that the failure of Wells Fargo to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect Wells Fargo’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to Wells Fargo 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; (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act, and (v) prior to the termination of this Agreement, the Company will notify Wells Fargo if at any time the Registration Statement shall no longer be effective as a result of the passage of time pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act or otherwise.
(b) Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise Wells Fargo, 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 commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued.
(c) Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. During any period in which a Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by Wells Fargo under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Placement Shares, (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and shall 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 Wells Fargo 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) Listing of Placement Shares. During any period in which the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares is required to be delivered by Wells Fargo under the Securities Act with respect to a pending sale of the Placement Shares (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on NYSE and to qualify the Placement Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as Wells Fargo 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 or file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.
(e) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo may from time to time reasonably request and, at Wells Fargo’s request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to Wells Fargo to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.
(f) Earning Statement. 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 earning statement of the Company covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act.
(g) Expenses. 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 the following expenses all 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 (provided, however, that any fees or disbursements of counsel for Wells Fargo in connection therewith shall be paid by Wells Fargo), (iv) the printing and delivery to Wells Fargo 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 NYSE, and (vi) the filing fees and expenses, if any, of the Commission and of FINRA’s Corporate Financing Department, if any.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”
(i) Notice of Other Sales. During the pendency of any Placement Notice given hereunder, and for 5 trading days following the termination of any Placement Notice given hereunder, the Company shall provide Wells Fargo 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 Class A Common Stock (other than Placement Shares offered pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Class A Common Stock, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire Class A Common Stock; provided, that such notice shall not be required in connection with the (i) issuance, grant or sale of Class A Common Stock, options to purchase shares of Class A Common Stock or Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of options or other equity awards pursuant to the any stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in the Prospectus, (ii) the issuance of securities in connection with an acquisition, merger or sale or purchase of assets, (iii) the issuance or sale of Class A Common Stock pursuant to any dividend reinvestment plan that the Company may adopt from time to time provided the implementation of such is disclosed to Wells Fargo in advance or (iv) any shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the exchange, conversion or redemption of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding.
(j) Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during a fiscal quarter in which the Company intends to tender a Placement Notice or sell Placement Shares, advise Wells Fargo promptly 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 provided to Wells Fargo pursuant to this Agreement.
(k) Due Diligence Cooperation. The Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by Wells Fargo or its agents in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as Wells Fargo may reasonably request.
(l) Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares. 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 Wells Fargo, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to Wells Fargo 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) Representation Dates; Certificate. On or prior to the First Delivery Date and 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; or (iv) files a report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than an earnings release furnished under 2.02 or other information furnished under 7.01) under the Exchange Act (each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a “Representation Date”); the Company shall furnish Wells Fargo with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m) within three (3) Trading Days of any Representation Date if requested by Wells Fargo. The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(m) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date; provided, however, that such waiver shall not apply for any Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide Wells Fargo with a certificate under this Section 7(m), then before the Company delivers the Placement Notice or Wells Fargo sells any Placement Shares, the Company shall provide Wells Fargo with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m), dated the date of the Placement Notice.
(n) Legal Opinion. On or prior to the First Delivery Date and within three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to Wells Fargo a written opinion of either Gennari Aronson, LLP or Baker & Hostetler LLP, counsel to the Company, and Howard and Howard Attorneys PLLC, regulatory counsel for the Company, or other counsel satisfactory to Wells Fargo, in form and substance satisfactory to Wells Fargo and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinions for subsequent Representation Dates, such counsels may furnish Wells Fargo with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that Wells Fargo 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); provided further, however, that the obligation of the Company under this Section 7(n) shall be deferred during any suspension period as described in Section 4.
(o) Comfort Letter. On or prior to the First Delivery Date and within three (3) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(m) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause its independent accountants to furnish Wells Fargo letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, in form and substance satisfactory to Wells Fargo, (i) confirming that they are an independent registered public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the PCAOB, (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 Wells Fargo in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that 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) [Reserved].
(q) Market Activities. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) 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 or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase the Common Stock to be issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Shares other than Wells Fargo; provided, however, that the Company may bid for and purchase shares of its Class A Common Stock in accordance with Rule 10b-18 under the Exchange Act.
(r) Insurance. The Company and its Subsidiaries shall maintain, or cause to be maintained, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is reasonable and customary for the business for which it is engaged.
(s) Compliance with Laws. 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 could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(t) Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor its Subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act, assuming no change in the Commission’s current interpretation as to entities that are not considered an investment company.
(u) Securities Act and Exchange Act. The Company will use its best efforts to 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.
(v) No Offer to Sell. Other than the Prospectus and any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, neither Wells Fargo nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than Wells Fargo 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 Class A Common Stock hereunder.
(w) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company and its Subsidiaries will use their best efforts to comply with all effective applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.
(x) Renewal. If immediately prior to the third anniversary (the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, the aggregate gross sales price of Placement Shares sold by the Company is less than the Maximum Amount and this Agreement has not expired or been terminated, the Company will, prior to the Renewal Deadline, file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new shelf registration statement relating to the Placement Shares, in a form satisfactory to Wells Fargo, and, if not automatically effective, will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline. The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the issuance and sale of the Placement Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Placement Shares. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new shelf registration statement.
8. Conditions to Wells Fargo’s Obligations. The obligations of Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo of a due diligence review satisfactory to Wells Fargo in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing satisfaction (or waiver by Wells Fargo in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall be effective and shall be available for (i) all sales of Placement Shares issued pursuant to all prior Placement Notices and (ii) the sale of all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.
(b) No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries 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 post-effective 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; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material 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 such documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially 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 materially 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.
(c) No Misstatement or Material Omission. Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in Wells Fargo’s opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(d) Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any material adverse change, on a consolidated basis, in the authorized capital stock of the Company or any Material Adverse Change or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, or any downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s securities (other than asset-backed 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 (other than asset backed securities), the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a rating organization described above, in the reasonable judgment of Wells Fargo (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) Company Counsel Legal Opinion. Wells Fargo shall have received the opinions of Gennari Aronson, LLP and Howard and Howard Attorneys PLLC required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(n).
(f) Wells Fargo Counsel Legal Opinion. Wells Fargo shall have received from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for Wells Fargo, such opinion or opinions, on or before the date on which the delivery of the Company Counsel legal opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(n), with respect to such matters as Wells Fargo may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(g) Comfort Letter. Wells Fargo shall have received the Comfort Letter(s) required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(o) on or before the date on which such delivery of such Comfort Letter is required pursuant to Section 7(o).
(h) Representation Certificate. Wells Fargo shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(m).
(i) Secretary’s Certificate. On or prior to the First Delivery Date, Wells Fargo shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by its corporate Secretary, in form and substance satisfactory to Wells Fargo and its counsel.
(j) No Suspension. Trading in the Class A Common Stock shall not have been suspended on NYSE.
(k) Other Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(m), the Company shall have furnished to Wells Fargo such appropriate further information, certificates and documents as Wells Fargo may have reasonably requested. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents shall have been in compliance with the provisions hereof. The Company will furnish Wells Fargo with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as Wells Fargo shall have reasonably requested.
(l) Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.
(m) Approval for Listing. The Placement Shares shall either have been (i) approved for listing on NYSE, subject only to notice of issuance, or (ii) the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on NYSE at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.
(n) No Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit Wells Fargo to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 11(a).
9. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Wells Fargo, the directors, officers, partners, employees and agents of Wells Fargo and each person, if any, who (i) controls Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo (a “Wells Fargo Affiliate”) from and against any and all losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including, but not limited to, any and all reasonable investigative, legal and other expenses incurred in connection with, and any and all amounts paid in settlement (in accordance with Section 9(c)) 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 Wells Fargo, 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 (x) 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 free writing 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 Class A Common Stock under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, (y) the omission or alleged omission to state in any such document a material fact required to be stated in it or necessary to make the statements in it not misleading or (z) 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 or indirectly by an untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Agent’s Information (as hereinafter defined). This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the Company might otherwise have.
(b) Wells Fargo Indemnification. Wells Fargo agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company that 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 the Agent’s Information.
(c) Procedure. 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 (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising or that may arise out of such claim, action or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. 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 Wells Fargo, the Company and Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo, 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 Wells Fargo may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and Wells Fargo on the other. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and Wells Fargo on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total Net Proceeds from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo, on the other, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, 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 Wells Fargo, 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 Wells Fargo 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 that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 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), Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo, 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 substantive rights or 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. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 9 of this Agreement and 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 Wells Fargo, 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) Wells Fargo shall have the right by giving notice as hereinafter specified at any time to terminate this Agreement if (i) any Material Adverse Change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change has occurred that, in the reasonable judgment of Wells Fargo, may materially impair the ability of Wells Fargo to sell the Placement Shares hereunder, (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), Wells Fargo’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 such delivery was required; (iii) any other condition of Wells Fargo’s obligations hereunder is not fulfilled, or (iv), any suspension or limitation of trading in the Placement Shares or in securities generally on NYSE 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) (Expenses), Section 9 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 10 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 16 (Applicable Law; Consent to Jurisdiction) and Section 17 (Waiver of Jury Trial) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If Wells Fargo elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 11(a), Wells Fargo shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 12 (Notices).
(b) The Company shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time 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 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(c) Wells Fargo shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time 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 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(d) Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 11, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares through Wells Fargo on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein; provided that the provisions of Section 7(g), Section 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
(e) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 11(a), (b), (c), or (d) 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 9, Section 10, Section 16 and Section 17 shall remain in full force and effect.
(f) 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 Wells Fargo 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, unless otherwise specified in this Agreement, and if sent to Wells Fargo, shall be delivered to Wells Fargo at Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, 500 West 33rd Street, New York, New York, 10001, Attention of Equity Syndicate, fax no. 212-214-5918 (with such fax or other electronic communication to be confirmed by telephone to 212-214-6144); or if sent to the Company, shall be delivered to Boston Omaha Corporation, Attention: Adam K. Peterson, 1411 Harney Street, Suite 200, Omaha, Nebraska 68102, Fax: 857-228-0290; with a copy to Gennari Aronson LLP, Attention Neil H. Aronson, 250 1st Ave, Suite 200, Needham Heights, MA 02494, Fax: 781-719-9853, email: naronson@galawpartners.com. 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 received by verifiable facsimile transmission or other electronic means (with an original to follow and the receipt of such fax or other electronic communication to be confirmed by telephone) on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day (as defined below), 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 NYSE 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 Wells Fargo 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; provided, however, that Wells Fargo may assign its rights and obligations hereunder to an affiliate of Wells Fargo without obtaining the Company’s consent.
14. Adjustments for Share Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any share split, share dividend or similar event effected with respect to the Class A Common Stock.
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 Wells Fargo. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.
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 Wells Fargo 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. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:
(a) Wells Fargo has been retained solely to act as an arm’s length sales agent in connection with the sale of the Class A Common Stock and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and Wells Fargo has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and that Wells Fargo 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 Wells Fargo, for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that Wells Fargo shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, partners, employees or creditors of the Company.
19. Research Analyst Independence. The Company acknowledges that Wells Fargo’s research analysts and research department are required to be independent from its investment banking division and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies, and that Wells Fargo’s research analysts and research department may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company and/or the offering that differ from the views of its investment banking division. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, any claims that the Company may have against Wells Fargo with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by its research analysts and research department may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by Wells Fargo’s investment banking division. The Company acknowledges that Wells Fargo is a full service securities firm and as such from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the Company and other entities that may be the subject of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
20. 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, electronic mail (including any electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law, e.g., www.docusign.com) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes.
21. Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(a) In the event that Wells Fargo is a Covered Entity and becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from Wells Fargo of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(b) In the event that Wells Fargo is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of Wells Fargo becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against Wells Fargo are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(c) As used in this Section 21:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
22. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following term has the meaning set forth below:
(a) “Agent’s Information” means, solely the following information in the Prospectus: last sentence of eighth paragraph under the caption “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement.
(b) “Securities Act Rules” means the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act.
[Remainder of Page Intentionally Blank]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and Wells Fargo, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and Wells Fargo.
Very truly yours,
WELLS FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
By: /s/ Elizabeth Alvarez
Name: Elizabeth Alvarez
Title: Managing Director
ACCEPTED as of the date
first-above written:
BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
By: /s/ Adam K. Peterson
Name: Adam K. Peterson
Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer
SCHEDULE 1
FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE
From: [ ]
Cc: [ ]
To: [ ]
Subject: Wells Fargo At the Market Offering—Placement Notice
Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Sales Agreement between Boston Omaha Corporation (the “Company”) and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (“Wells Fargo”) dated December 8, 2022, (the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that Wells Fargo sell up to [⦁] shares of the Company’s Class A Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share, at a minimum market price of $_______ per share. Sales should begin on the date of this Notice and shall continue until [DATE] [all shares are sold].
SCHEDULE 2
Placement Notice Parties
Adam K. Peterson
Boston Omaha Corporation
1601 Dodge Street, Suite 3300
Omaha, NE 68102
Email [********]
Phone[********]
Alex B. Rozek
Boston Omaha Corporation
1601 Dodge Street, Suite 3300
Omaha, NE 68102
Email [********]
Phone[********]
SCHEDULE 3
Compensation
Wells Fargo shall be paid compensation equal to 3% of the gross proceeds from the sales of Class A Common Stock pursuant to the terms of this Agreement.
SCHEDULE 4
List of Subsidiaries
|
Subsidiary |
Jurisdiction |
|
American Contracting Services, Inc. |
Ohio |
|
BOAM BFR LLC |
Delaware |
|
BOC Business Services LLC |
Delaware |
|
BOC DFH, LLC |
Delaware |
|
BOC OPS LLC |
Delaware |
|
BOC YAC Funding LLC |
Delaware |
|
BOC Yellowstone LLC |
Delaware |
|
BOC Yellowstone II LLC |
Delaware |
|
Boston Omaha Asset Management, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Boston Omaha Broadband, LLC |
Delaware |
| Boston Omaha Investments, LLC |
Delaware |
|
FIF AireBeam LLC |
Delaware |
|
FIF St George, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Fiber Fast Homes, LLC |
Delaware |
|
FIF Utah LLC |
Delaware |
|
General Indemnity Group, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Link Billboards Oklahoma, LLC |
Oklahoma |
|
Link Media Alabama, LLC |
Alabama |
|
Link Media Florida, LLC |
Florida |
|
Link Media Georgia, LLC |
Georgia |
|
Link Media Holdings, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Link Media Midwest, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Link Media Omaha, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Link Media Properties, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Link Media Services, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Link Media Southeast, LLC |
Delaware |
|
Link Media Wisconsin, LLC |
Wisconsin |
|
South Coast Surety Insurance Services, LLC |
California |
|
Surety Support Services, Inc. |
Kansas |
|
The Warnock Agency, Inc. |
Georgia |
|
United Casualty and Surety Insurance Company |
Nebraska |
Exhibit 7(m)
OFFICER CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, the duly qualified and elected Co-Chief Executive Officer, of Boston Omaha Corporation (“Company”), a Delaware corporation, does hereby certify in such capacity and on behalf of the Company, pursuant to Section 7(m) of the Sales Agreement dated December 8, 2022 (the “Sales Agreement”) between the Company and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC, that to the knowledge of the undersigned:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in Section 6 of the Sales Agreement (A) to the extent such representations and warranties are subject to qualifications and exceptions contained therein relating to materiality or Material Adverse Change, 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, except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date, and (B) to the extent such representations and warranties are not subject to any qualifications or exceptions, are true and correct in all material respects as of the date hereof as if made on and as of the date hereof with the same force and effect as if expressly made on and as of the date hereof except for those representations and warranties that speak solely as of a specific date and which were true and correct as of such date; and
(ii) The Company has complied with all 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.
BOSTON OMAHA CORPORATION
By:
Name: Adam K. Peterson
Title: Co-Chief Executive Officer
Date: [●], 20[●]
Exhibit 5.1
December 8, 2022
Boston Omaha Corporation
1601 Dodge Street, Suite 3300
Omaha, NE 68102
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to you in connection with your filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of (i) a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (as amended or supplemented, the “Registration Statement”) (File No. 333-264470) pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), relating to the registration of securities of Boston Omaha Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), including shares of Class A common stock, par value $0.001 per share, of the Company (“Class A Common Stock”), all of which may be issued and sold by the Company from time to time on a delayed or continuous basis under the Securities Act as set forth in the Registration Statement and the prospectus contained therein, and (ii) a prospectus supplement, dated December 8, 2022 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), relating to the issuance and sale from time to time by the Company of shares of Class A Common Stock having an aggregate offering price of up to $100,000,000.00 (the “Placement Shares”).
The Placement Shares may be issued and sold by the Company under the Sales Agreement, dated December 8, 2022 between the Company and Wells Fargo Securities, LLC (the “Sales Agreement”). The Sales Agreement will be filed with the Commission as Exhibit 1.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed in connection with the Sales Agreement on the date hereof. We are acting as counsel for the Company in connection with the issuance and sale by the Company of the Placement Shares.
We have reviewed such documents and made such examination of law as we have deemed appropriate to give the opinions set forth below, including the Registration Statement as filed with the Commission, including the exhibits thereto, the Prospectus Supplement as filed with the Commission, and the Sales Agreement. We have relied, without independent verification, on certificates of public officials and, as to matters of fact material to the opinions set forth below, on certificates of officers of the Company. In our examination of the foregoing documents, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, the authenticity of the originals of such latter documents and the legal competence of all signatories to such documents.
It is understood that this opinion is to be used only in connection with the offer and sale of the Placement Shares while the Registration Statement is in effect.
The opinions set forth below are limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law (which includes reported judicial decisions interpreting the Delaware General Corporation Law) and the federal laws of the United States of America. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, we express no opinion with respect to (i) state securities or "blue sky" laws, or (ii) state or federal antitrust laws.
For purposes of the opinions set forth below, without limiting any other exceptions or qualifications set forth herein, we have assumed that after the issuance of any Placement Shares, the total number of issued shares of Class A Common Stock then outstanding will not exceed the total number of authorized shares of Class A Common Stock under the Company’s certificate of incorporation as then in effect.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the additional qualifications set forth below, we are of the opinion that the Placement Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Sales Agreement, the Placement Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
The opinions expressed above are subject to bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws of general application affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and to general principles of equity.
This opinion letter and the opinions it contains shall be interpreted in accordance with the Legal Opinion Principles issued by the Committee on Legal Opinions of the American Bar Association’s Business Law Section as published in 53 Business Lawyer 831 (May 1998).
We hereby consent to the inclusion of this opinion as Exhibit 5.1 to the Current Report on Form 8-K to be filed by the Company on the date hereof in connection with the Sales Agreement in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act and to the references to our firm under the caption “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus Supplement. In giving our consent, we do not admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations thereunder.
Very truly yours,
/s/ Gennari Aronson, LLP
Gennari Aronson, LLP
Exhibit 99.1
Potential future impairment charges for holdings in Sky Harbour Group Corporation Class A common stock and potential volatility in earnings due to mark-to-market measurement of our investments in other public securities.
The value of the Class A common stock and warrants we hold in Sky Harbour Group Corporation (NYSE:SKYH), which we refer to as Sky Harbour, through our subsidiaries is subject to the volatility of the market price of Sky Harbour’s Class A common stock. This volatility subjects our financial statements to volatility. The market price of Sky Harbour’s Class A common stock has experienced significant volatility since it commenced trading on January 26, 2022, and that volatility may continue in the future and may also be subject to wide fluctuations in response to many factors, including factors beyond the control of Sky Harbour. These factors include, but are not limited to:
|
● |
actual or anticipated fluctuations in Sky Harbour’s reported results of operations or financial position, including due to a significant impairment of goodwill, intangible assets, or other long-lived assets; |
|
● |
recommendations and reports by securities and industry analysts; |
|
● |
Sky Harbour’s ability to timely complete the construction of its various airport hangar developments and its ability to successfully lease these facilities at profitable rental rates; |
|
● |
Sky Harbour’s ability to continue to access capital and debt on commercially reasonable terms; |
|
● |
impact of inflation and any possible recession on Sky Harbour’s operations, revenues, and ability to access financial markets as well as, on the private jet hangar industry generally; |
|
● |
significant acquisitions, investments, and/or equity issuances by Sky Harbour; |
|
● |
changes in the performance or market valuations of companies in Sky Harbour’s industry; |
|
● |
announcement of developments and material events by Sky Harbour or its competitors; |
|
● |
fluctuations in the costs of construction, maintenance and other materials and services; |
|
● |
addition or departure of Sky Harbour’s executive officers or other key personnel; |
|
● |
speculative trading activity by certain investors; and |
|
● |
news reports relating to trends, concerns, economic or competitive developments, regulatory changes and other related issues in Sky Harbour’s industry or target markets. |
We currently account for our investment in Sky Harbour Class A common stock under the equity method. There may be a future impairment of our Sky Harbour equity method investment if Sky Harbour’s stock price remains below our carrying value of that investment and does not recover in the near-term or if our expectations about Sky Harbour’s prospective results and cash flows decline, which could be influenced by a variety of factors including those listed above. We have evaluated our investment in Sky Harbour as of September 30, 2022, and determined that there was not an other-than-temporary impairment as of that date. Our conclusion was based on several contributing factors, including: (i) our assessment that the underlying business and financial condition of Sky Harbour is favorable; (ii) the period of time for which the fair value has been less than the carrying value, (iii) an expectation that Sky Harbour's stock price will recover in the near-term, and (iv) our ability and intent to hold the investment until that recovery. We will continue to review our investment in Sky Harbour for an other-than-temporary impairment on a quarterly basis or upon the occurrence of certain events.
If Sky Harbour's stock price does not recover above our carrying value of $8.16 per share in the near-term, it will likely result in an impairment of our investment. As of December 7, 2022, the closing price of Sky Harbour Class A common stock was $3.03 per share and we hold 13,118,474 shares of Sky Harbour Class A common stock and warrants to purchase 7,719,779 shares of Class A common Stock at a price of $11.50 per share, which exercise price is subject to adjustment. There may also be a future impairment of our investment if our expectations about Sky Harbour's prospective results and cash flows decline, which could be influenced by a variety of factors including adverse market conditions. As a result, we could incur a material impairment charge at any time in the future if we deem our investment to be impaired.
As a result of a change in generally accepted accounting principles effective in 2018, we are required to include the unrealized changes in market prices of investments in public equity securities in our reported earnings. Due to the size of our percentage ownership interest in Sky Harbour's common stock, approximately 23% as of September 30, 2022, our investment is recorded under the equity method using the fair market value of Sky Harbour's Class A common stock as of the date of the business combination and we do not include any unrealized gains or losses related to the change in Sky Harbour's stock price in our reported earnings. In the future, if our ownership interest in Sky Harbour's common stock drops below 20%, we will no longer be able to record our investment under the equity method and will be required to include any unrealized gains or losses related to the change in Sky Harbour's stock price in our reported earnings. While we intend to hold our current publicly-traded securities for the longer term, we may in the future choose to sell them for a variety of reasons resulting in realized losses or gains.