1,304,347 Shares* Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. Common Stock UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
1,304,347 Shares*
Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc.
Common Stock
St. Petersburg, Florida
March 4, 2014
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to sell to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc. (the “Underwriter”), an aggregate of 1,304,347 shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share (the “Common Stock”). The aggregate of 1,304,347 shares to be purchased from the Company are called the “Firm Shares.” In addition, the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriter, upon the terms and conditions stated herein, up to an additional 195,652 shares of Common Stock (the “Additional Shares”) to cover over-allotments by the Underwriter, if any. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are collectively referred to in this Agreement as the “Shares.”
* shares subject to Underwriter's over-allotment option.
The Company wishes to confirm as follows its agreement with the Underwriter, in connection with the several purchases of the Shares from the Company.
1. Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Act”), a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-191440), including a prospectus subject to completion, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time when it becomes effective and as thereafter amended by any post-effective amendment, is referred to in this Agreement as the “Registration Statement.” The prospectus in the form included in the Registration Statement or, if the prospectus included in the Registration Statement omits certain information in reliance upon Rule 430A under the Act and such information is thereafter included in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act or as part of a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement after the Registration Statement becomes effective, the prospectus as so filed, is referred to in this Agreement as the “Prospectus.” If the Company files another registration statement with the Commission to register a portion of the Shares pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference to “Registration Statement” herein shall be deemed to include the registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-191440) and the Rule 462 Registration Statement, as each such registration statement may be amended pursuant to the Act. The prospectus subject to completion in the form included in the Registration Statement at the time of the initial filing of such Registration Statement with the Commission and as such prospectus is amended from time to time until the date of the Prospectus is referred to in this Agreement as the “Preliminary Prospectus.” For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning ascribed to it in Rule 405 under the Act, and “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean each free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in connection with the offering of the Common Stock. “Time of Sale Information” shall mean, as of 4:00 p.m. (St. Petersburg, Florida, time) on the date hereof, the Preliminary Prospectus together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, each identified in Schedule I hereto, and the purchase price per Share, public offering price per Share, and the number of Firm Shares to be sold in the offering. All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462 Registration Statement, a Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents incorporated by reference therein, and shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“▇▇▇▇▇”).
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. Upon the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company hereby agrees to issue and sell the Firm Shares to the Underwriter and, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriter agrees to purchase from the Company the Firm Shares at a purchase price of $10.81 per Share (the “purchase price per Share”), being an amount equal to the public offering price of $11.50 less six percent (6%) of the public offering price.
The Company hereby also agrees to sell to the Underwriter, and, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriter shall have the right for 30 days from the date of the Prospectus to purchase from the Company up to 195,652 Additional Shares at the purchase price per Share for the Firm Shares. The Additional Shares may be purchased solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares. The option to purchase Additional Shares may be exercised at any time within 30 days after the date of the Prospectus, but no more than once.
3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company has been advised by the Underwriter that the Underwriter proposes to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in the Underwriter’s judgment is advisable and initially to offer the Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.
Not later than 12:00 p.m., St. Petersburg, Florida time on the second business day following the date the Shares are released by the Underwriter for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Underwriter shall reasonably request.
4. Delivery of the Shares and Payment Therefor. Delivery to the Underwriter of the Firm Shares and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ at 10:00 a.m., St. Petersburg, Florida time, on March 7, 2014, or such other place, time and date not later than 1:30 p.m., St. Petersburg, Florida time, on March 7, 2014 as the Underwriter shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”). The place of closing for the Firm Shares and the Closing Date may be varied by agreement between the Underwriter and the Company. The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the Underwriter may provide notice to postpone the Closing Date as originally scheduled include any determination by the Company or the Underwriter to recirculate to the public copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 11 hereof.
Delivery to the Underwriter of and payment for any Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriter shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, at 10:00 a.m., St. Petersburg, Florida time, on such date or dates (the “Additional Closing Date”) (which may be the same as the Closing Date, but shall in no event be earlier than the Closing Date nor earlier than three nor later than ten business days after the giving of the notice hereinafter referred to) as shall be specified in a written notice, from the Underwriter to the Company of the Underwriter’s determination to purchase a number, specified in such notice, of Additional Shares. Such notice may be given at any time within 30 days after the date of the Prospectus and must set forth the aggregate number of Additional Shares as to which the Underwriter is exercising the option. The place of closing for the Additional Shares and the Additional Closing Date may be varied by agreement between the Underwriter and the Company.
Delivery of the Firm Shares and any Additional Shares to be purchased hereunder shall be made to the Underwriter on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, against payment of the purchase price therefore by wire transfer of immediately available funds to an account specified in writing, not later than the close of business on the business day next preceding the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by the Company. Payment for the Shares sold by the Company hereunder shall be delivered by the Underwriter to the Company. The Company shall deliver the Firm Shares and any Additional Shares through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the account of the Underwriter unless the Underwriter shall otherwise instruct.
5. Covenants and Agreements.
The Company covenants and agrees with the Underwriter as follows:
(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto to become effective, if it has not already become effective, and will advise the Underwriter promptly and, if requested by the Underwriter, will confirm such advice in writing (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective and the time and date of any filing of any post-effective Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus and the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) if Rule 430A under the Act is employed, when the Prospectus has been timely filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, (iii) of the receipt of any comments of the Commission, or any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or for additional information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the suspension of qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation of any proceeding for such purposes and (v) within the period of time referred to in Section 5(h) below, of any change in the Company’s condition (financial or other), business, prospects, properties, net worth or results of operations, or of any event that comes to the attention of the Company that makes any statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any additions thereto or changes therein in order to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading in any material respect, or of the necessity to amend or supplement the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) to comply with the Act or any other law. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time. The Company will provide the Underwriter with copies of the form of Prospectus, in such number as the Underwriter may reasonably request, and file with the Commission such Prospectus in accordance with Rule 424(b) of the Act before the close of business on the first business day immediately following the date hereof.
(b) The Company will furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, two signed duplicate originals of the Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and of each amendment thereto, including financial statements and all exhibits thereto, and will also furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, such number of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(c) The Company will promptly file with the Commission any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that may, in the judgment of the Company or the Underwriter be required by the Act or requested by the Commission.
(d) The Company will furnish a copy of any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the Underwriter and counsel for Underwriter and obtain the Underwriter’s consent prior to filing any of those with the Commission, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed.
(e) The Company will not make any offer relating to the Common Stock that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus without the Underwriter’s prior consent.
(f) The Company will retain in accordance with the Act all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses not required to be filed pursuant to the Act; and if at any time after the date hereof any events shall have occurred as a result of which any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary to amend or supplement any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to notify the Underwriter and, upon its request, to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to the Underwriter as many copies as it may from time to time reasonably request of an amended or supplemented Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that will correct such conflict, statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(g) Prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company has delivered or will deliver to the Underwriter, without charge, in such quantities as the Underwriter has requested or may hereafter reasonably request, copies of each form of the Preliminary Prospectus. Consistent with the provisions of Section 5(h) hereof, the Company consents to the use, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Shares are offered by the Underwriter and by dealers, prior to the date of the Prospectus, of each Preliminary Prospectus so furnished by the Company.
(h) As soon after the execution and delivery of this Agreement as is practicable and thereafter from time to time for such period as in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriter a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriter or a dealer (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”), and for so long a period as the Underwriter may reasonably request for the distribution of the Shares, the Company will deliver to the Underwriter and each dealer, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) as they may reasonably request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Shares are offered by the Underwriter and by all dealers to whom Shares may be sold, both in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares and for such period of time thereafter as the Prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered in connection with sales by the Underwriter or dealer. If at any time prior to the later of (i) the completion of the distribution of the Shares pursuant to the offering contemplated by the Registration Statement or (ii) the expiration of prospectus delivery requirements with respect to the Shares under Section 4(3) of the Act and Rule 174 thereunder, any event shall occur that in the judgment of the Company or in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter is required to be set forth in the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented) or should be set forth therein in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary to supplement or amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act or any other law, the Company will forthwith prepare and, subject to Section 5(a) hereof, file with the Commission and use its best efforts to cause to become effective as promptly as possible an appropriate supplement or amendment thereto, and will furnish to the Underwriter, without charge, a reasonable number of copies thereof.
(i) The Company will cooperate with the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares for offering and sale by the Underwriter and by dealers under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may reasonably designate and will file such consents to service of process or other documents as may be reasonably necessary in order to effect and maintain such registration or qualification for so long as required to complete the distribution of the Shares; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of the Shares, as contemplated by this Agreement and the Prospectus, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject. In the event that the qualification of the Shares in any jurisdiction is suspended, the Company shall so advise the Underwriter promptly in writing. The Company will use its best efforts to qualify or register its Common Stock for sale in non-issuer transactions under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the Blue Sky laws of each state where necessary to permit market making transactions and secondary trading and will comply with such Blue Sky laws and will continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in effect for a period of two years after the date hereof.
(j) The Company will make generally available to its security holders a consolidated earnings statement (in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158), which need not be audited, covering a twelve-month period commencing after the effective date of the Registration Statement and the Rule 462 Registration Statement, if any, and ending not later than 15 months thereafter, as soon as practicable after the end of such period, which consolidated earnings statement shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.
(k) During the period ending five years from the date hereof, the Company will furnish to the Underwriter (i) as soon as available, a copy of each proxy statement, quarterly or annual report or other report of the Company mailed to stockholders or filed with the Commission, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) or the NASDAQ Global Market (“NASDAQ”) or any national securities exchange and (ii) from time to time such other information concerning the Company as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(l) If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated after execution pursuant to any provision hereof (except pursuant to a termination under Section 11 hereof) or if this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriter because of any inability, failure or refusal on the part of the Company to perform in all material respects any agreement herein or to comply in all material respects with any of the terms or provisions hereof or to fulfill in all material respects any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriter for all out-of-pocket expenses (including travel expenses and reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriter, but excluding wages and salaries paid by the Underwriter) reasonably incurred by the Underwriter in connection herewith.
(m) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares to be sold by it hereunder in accordance in all material respects with the statements under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
(n) For a period commencing on the date hereof and ending on the 90th day after the date of the Prospectus (the “Lock-Up Period”), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer for sale, sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction or device that is designed to, or would reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition by any person at any time in the future of) any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than the Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, equity-based compensation plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof (including future grants of restricted stock) or pursuant to currently outstanding options, warrants or rights), or sell or grant options, restricted stock, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock (other than the Common Stock issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, equity-based compensation plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof (including future grants of restricted stock)), (2) enter into any swap or other derivatives transaction that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic benefits or risks of ownership of such shares of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise, (3) file or cause to be filed a registration statement, including any amendments, with respect to the registration of any shares of Common Stock or securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable into Common Stock or any other securities of the Company, or (4) publicly disclose the intention to do any of the foregoing, in each case without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, and to cause each officer, director and stockholder of the Company set forth on Schedule II hereto to furnish to the Underwriter, prior to the Closing Date, a letter or letters, substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto (the “Lock-Up Agreements”); notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or announces material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, then the restrictions imposed in the preceding paragraph shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or the occurrence of the material event, unless the Underwriter waives such extension in writing.
(o) Prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company will furnish to the Underwriter, as promptly as possible, copies of any unaudited interim consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries for any period subsequent to the periods covered by the financial statements appearing in the Prospectus.
(p) The Company will comply with all provisions of any undertakings contained in the Registration Statement.
(q) The Company will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action designed, or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which will constitute, stabilization or manipulation of the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.
(r) The Company will timely file with NASDAQ all documents and notices required by NASDAQ of companies that have or will issue securities that are traded on NASDAQ.
(s) The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a transfer agent and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of its incorporation or the rules of any national securities exchange on which the Common Stock is listed, a registrar (which, if permitted by applicable laws and rules may be the same entity as the transfer agent) for the Common Stock.
6. Representations and Warranties.
The Company hereby represents and warrants to the Underwriter on the date hereof, and shall be deemed to represent and warrant to the Underwriter on the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, that:
(a) The Company was not at the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement and at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Act) of the Common Stock, is not on the date hereof and will not be on the applicable Closing Date an “ineligible issuer” (as defined in Rule 405).
(b) The Registration Statement conformed in all material respects, and any amendment to the Registration Statement filed after the date hereof will conform in all material respects when filed, to the requirements of the Act. The most recent Preliminary Prospectus conformed, and the Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of the Act when filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b).
(c) The Registration Statement does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(d) The Prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(e) The Time of Sale Information does not, and will not at the time of sale of the Shares, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from the Time of Sale Information in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(f) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (including, without limitation, any road show that is a free writing prospectus under Rule 433 of the Act), when considered together with the Time of Sale Information at the time of sale of the Shares, did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that no representation or warranty is made as to information contained in or omitted from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein.
(g) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act on the date of first use, and the Company has complied or will comply with all prospectus delivery and any filing requirements applicable to such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Act. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and which is not set forth on Schedule I hereto without the prior written consent of the Underwriter. The Company has retained in accordance with the Act all Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Act. The Company has taken all actions necessary so that any “road show” (as defined in Rule 433 of the Act) in connection with the offering of the Shares will not be required to be filed pursuant to the Act.
(h) The capitalization of the Company is and will be as set forth in the Prospectus as of the date set forth therein. All the outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company have been, and as of the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will be, duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are free of any preemptive or similar rights; except as set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to or bound by any outstanding options, warrants or similar rights to subscribe for, or contractual obligations to issue, sell, transfer or acquire, any of its capital stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable for any of such capital stock; the Shares to be issued and sold to the Underwriter by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriter against full payment therefor in accordance with the terms hereof will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and free of any preemptive or similar rights; the capital stock of the Company conforms to the description thereof in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and the delivery of the Shares being sold by the Company against payment therefor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement will pass valid title to the Shares being sold by the Company, free and clear of any claim, encumbrance or defect in title, to the Underwriter purchasing such shares in good faith and without notice of any lien, claim or encumbrance.
(i) The Company is a corporation duly organized and validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation with requisite corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except for those jurisdictions where the failure to so register or qualify has not had or would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties, net worth, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(j) Guaranty Bank, the Company’s only banking subsidiary (the “Bank”), is organized and validly existing and in good standing under the laws of Missouri, with requisite power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties, and to conduct its business as presently conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) and is duly registered and qualified to conduct its business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction or place where the nature of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such registration or qualification, except for those jurisdictions where the failure to so register or qualify has not had or would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), business, properties, net worth, results of operations or prospects of the Bank.
(k) The issued shares of capital stock of the Bank have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, free and clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims. The Company does not have any subsidiaries and does not own a material interest in or control, directly or indirectly, any other corporation, partnership, joint venture, association, trust or other business organization, except as set forth in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement. As used in this Agreement, subsidiaries shall mean direct and indirect subsidiaries of the Company.
(l) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against the Company or its subsidiaries or to which the Company or its subsidiaries or any of their properties are subject, that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) but are not described as required. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and Prospectus, there is no action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation by or before any court or governmental or other regulatory or administrative agency or commission pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or involving the Company or its subsidiaries, that would reasonably be expected to individually or in the aggregate prevent or adversely affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or result in a Material Adverse Effect, nor to the Company’s knowledge, is there any basis for any such action, suit, inquiry, proceeding or investigation. There are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not described, filed or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus as required by the Act. All such contracts to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or the applicable subsidiary, constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company or the applicable subsidiary and are enforceable against the Company or the applicable subsidiary in accordance with the terms thereof, except where the failure to be enforceable would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or except as enforceability thereof may be limited by (i) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought. Neither the Company nor the applicable subsidiary has received notice or been made aware that any other party is in breach of or default to the Company under any of such contracts.
(m) Neither the Company nor the Bank is (i) in violation of (A) its certificate of incorporation or bylaws, or other organizational documents, (B) any law, ordinance, administrative or governmental rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the violation of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or (C) any decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, the violation of which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; or (ii) in default in any material respect in the performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in (A) any bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or (B) any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument (each of (A) and (B), an “Existing Instrument”) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their properties may be bound, which default would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and there do not exist any facts that constitute an event of default on the part of the Company or any of its subsidiaries as defined in such documents or that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such an event of default, where the event of default would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) The Company’s execution and delivery of this Agreement and the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by the Company and has been duly executed and delivered by the Company, and this Agreement constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent enforceability may be limited by (i) the application of bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency and other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and (ii) equitable principles being applied at the discretion of a court before which any proceeding may be brought and except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by federal or state securities laws.
(o) None of the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company, the execution, delivery or performance of this Agreement by the Company nor the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby (i) requires any consent, approval, authorization or other order of or registration or filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental body, agency or official (except such as may be required for the registration of the Shares under the Act, the listing of the Shares for trading on the NASDAQ, the registration of the Common Stock under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) and compliance with the securities or Blue Sky laws of various jurisdictions, all of which will be, or have been, effected in accordance with this Agreement and except for the FINRA’s clearance of the underwriting terms of the offering contemplated hereby as required under the FINRA’s Rules of Fair Practice), (ii) conflicts with or will conflict with or constitutes or will constitute a breach of, or a default under, the Company’s certificate of incorporation or the Company’s bylaws or any agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of its properties may be bound, (iii) violates any statute, law, regulation, ruling, filing, judgment, injunction, order or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iv) results in a breach of, or default under, or results 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 requires the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Except as described in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus including through incorporation of documents by reference therein, and except for options to purchase common stock awarded, and restricted stock that is to vest or that is to be granted, pursuant to the Company’s existing stock option plans and other equity plans, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has outstanding and at the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will have outstanding any options to purchase, or any warrants to subscribe for, or any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, any shares of Common Stock or any such warrants or convertible securities or obligations. No holder of securities of the Company has rights to the registration of any securities of the Company as a result of or in connection with the filing of the Registration Statement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby that have not been satisfied or heretofore waived in writing.
(q) BKD, LLP, the certified public accountants who have certified the financial statements (including the related notes thereto and supporting schedules) filed as part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), are independent public accountants as required by the Act.
(r) The financial statements, together with related schedules and notes, included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), present fairly the financial condition, results of operations, cash flows and changes in financial position of the Company on the basis stated in the Registration Statement at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which they apply; such statements and related schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed therein; and the other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company. No other financial statements or schedules are required to be included in the Registration Statement. 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.
(s) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), since December 31, 2012, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, indirect, direct or contingent, or entered into any transaction that is not in the ordinary course of business, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business or properties from fire, flood, windstorm, accident or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has paid or declared any dividends or other distributions with respect to its capital stock and the Company is not in default under the terms of any class of capital stock of the Company or any outstanding debt obligations, (iv) there has not been any change in the authorized or outstanding capital stock of the Company or any material change in the indebtedness of the Company (other than in the ordinary course of business) and (v) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect, or any development involving or that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) All offers and sales of the Company’s capital stock and other debt or other securities prior to the date hereof were made in compliance with or were the subject of an available exemption from the Act and all other applicable state and federal securities laws or regulations, or any actions under the Act or any state or federal securities laws or regulations in respect of any such offers or sales are effectively barred by effective waivers or statutes of limitation.
(u) The Common Stock (including the Shares) is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the NASDAQ, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from NASDAQ, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or NASDAQ is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.
(v) Other than excepted activity pursuant to Regulation M under the Exchange Act, the Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action that constituted, or any action designed to, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in or constitute, under the Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares or for any other purpose.
(w) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all tax returns required to be filed (other than state or local tax returns, as to which the failure to file, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect), which returns are complete and correct, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary is in default in the payment of any taxes that were payable pursuant to said returns or any assessments with respect thereto. Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, all deficiencies asserted as a result of any federal, state, local or foreign tax audits have been paid or finally settled and no issue has been raised in any such audit that, by application of the same or similar principles, would reasonably be expected to result in a proposed deficiency for any other period not so audited. There are no outstanding agreements or waivers extending the statutory period of limitation applicable to any federal, state, local or foreign tax return for any period. On the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, all stock transfer and other taxes that are required to be paid in connection with the sale of the shares to be sold by the Company to the Underwriter will have been fully paid by the Company and all laws imposing such taxes will have been complied with.
(x) Except as set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, there are no transactions with “affiliates” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Act) or any officer, director or security holder of the Company (whether or not an affiliate) that are required by the Act to be disclosed in the Registration Statement. Additionally, no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between the Company or any of its subsidiaries on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any subsidiary on the other hand that is required by the Act to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus that is not so disclosed.
(y) The Company is not an “investment company” or an “affiliated person” of, or “promoter” or “principal underwriter” for, an investment company within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(z) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and valid title to all property (real and personal) described in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus as being owned by it, free and clear of all liens, claims, security interests or other encumbrances except (i) such as are described in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus or (ii) such as do not have or would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. All property (real and personal) held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries is held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with only such exceptions as in the aggregate do not have or would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(aa) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all permits, licenses, franchises, approvals, consents and authorizations of governmental or regulatory authorities (hereinafter “permit” or “permits”) as are necessary to own its properties and to conduct its business in the manner described in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, subject to such qualifications as may be set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, except where the failure to have obtained any such permit has not had and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; each of the Company and its subsidiaries has operated and is operating its business in material compliance with and not in material violation of all of its obligations with respect to each such permit and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination of any such permit or result in any other material impairment of the rights of any such permit, subject in each case to such qualification as may be set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus; and, except as described in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, such permits contain no restrictions that would reasonably be expected to constitute a Material Adverse Effect.
(bb) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient 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 generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(cc) The Company has established and maintains and evaluates “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15 and 15d-15 under the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and its Chief Financial Officer by others within those entities, and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective to perform the functions for which they were established; the Company’s independent auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which could adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial data and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting; since the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, except as described in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, there have been no significant changes in internal control over financial reporting or in other factors that could significantly affect internal control over financial reporting, including any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses; the principal executive officer (or his equivalent) and the principal financial officer (or his equivalent) of the Company have made all certifications required by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act (the “▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act”) and any related rules and regulations promulgated by the Commission, and the statements contained in each such certification are complete and correct; the Company and its subsidiaries are, and the Company has taken all necessary actions to ensure that the Company’s directors and officers in their capacities as such are, each in compliance in all material respects with all applicable effective provisions of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇▇ Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and NASDAQ promulgated thereunder.
(dd) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, since each has been a subsidiary of the Company, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, has, directly or indirectly, (i) made any unlawful contribution to any candidate for political office, or failed to disclose fully any contribution in violation of law or (ii) made any payment to any federal, state, local or foreign governmental official, or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duties, other than payments required or permitted by the laws of the United States or any jurisdiction thereof or applicable foreign jurisdictions.
(ee) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or other approvals would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been named as a "potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended. Except as set forth in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries owns, leases or occupies any property that appears on any list of hazardous sites compiled by any state or local governmental agency.
(ff) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns and has right, title and interest in and to, or has valid licenses to use, each material trade name, trademark, service ▇▇▇▇, patent, copyright, approval, trade secret and other similar rights (collectively “Intellectual Property”) under which the Company and its subsidiaries conduct all or any material part of its business, and the Company has not created any lien or encumbrance on, or granted any right or license with respect to, any such Intellectual Property except where the failure to own or obtain a license or right to use any such Intellectual Property has not and would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; there is no claim pending against the Company or its subsidiaries with respect to any Intellectual Property and the Company and its subsidiaries have not received notice or otherwise become aware that any Intellectual Property that it uses or has used in the conduct of its business infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has become aware that any material Intellectual Property that it uses or has used in the conduct of its business infringes upon or conflicts with the rights of any third party.
(gg) The Company has procured Lock-Up Agreements, in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto, from each of the Company’s senior executive officers and directors.
(hh) No officer or director of the Company has a direct or indirect affiliation or association with any member of FINRA.
(ii) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which it is engaged; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a comparable cost.
(jj) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA and all other applicable state and federal laws. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group or organization described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Code of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined in ERISA) that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code that would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, that would cause the loss of such qualification.
(kk) The Company is duly registered as a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the “BHC Act”). The Bank holds the requisite authority from the State of Missouri to do business as a Missouri state chartered trust company with banking powers. The Company and the Bank are in compliance in all material respects with all laws administered by and regulations of the U.S. Department of Treasury, Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (the “FDIC”), and any other federal or state bank regulatory authority with jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries (the “Bank Regulatory Authorities”), other than where such failures to comply would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any written agreement or memorandum of understanding with, or a party to any commitment letter or similar undertaking to, or is subject to any order or directive by, or is a recipient of any extraordinary supervisory letter from, or has adopted any board resolutions at the request of, any Bank Regulatory Authority which restricts materially the conduct of its business, or requires any material change in its policies or practices relating to capital, credit or management, nor have any of them been advised by any Bank Regulatory Authority that it is contemplating issuing or requesting (or is considering the appropriateness of issuing or requesting) any such order, decree, agreement, memorandum of understanding, extraordinary supervisory letter, commitment letter or similar submission, or any such board resolutions, except as previously disclosed to the Underwriter in writing.
7. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement becomes effective or is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in connection with the registration of the Shares under the Act and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof and of any Preliminary Prospectus to the Underwriter and dealers; (ii) the printing and delivery (including postage, air freight charges and charges for counting and packaging) of such copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information, this Agreement, and all amendments or supplements to any of them as may be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares; (iii) consistent with the provisions of Section 5(i), all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws or Blue Sky laws, including reasonable attorneys’ fees and out-of-pocket expenses of the counsel for the Underwriter in connection therewith; provided, however, that the Company’s obligation to pay such fees and expenses of the counsel for the Underwriter shall not exceed $10,000 without prior approval by the Company; (iv) the filing fees incident to securing any required review by FINRA of the fairness of the terms of the sale of the Shares and the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Underwriter’s counsel relating thereto; (v) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Shares on the NASDAQ; (vi) the cost of preparing any stock certificates; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; (viii) the cost of the tax stamps, if any, in connection with the issuance and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriter; (ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 13 of the Registration Statement; and (x) the transportation, lodging, graphics and other expenses incidental to the Company’s preparation for and participation in the “roadshow” for the offering contemplated hereby. Except as provided in this Section 7 and in Section 8 hereof, the Underwriter shall pay its own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of its counsel, except the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriter for its expenses relating to fees and disbursements of its counsel in an amount not to exceed $75,000, which amount shall not include the amount set forth in Section 7(iii). In addition, in the event that the proposed offering is terminated for the reasons set forth in Section 5(l) hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriter as provided in Section 5(l).
8. Indemnification and Contribution. Subject to the limitations in this paragraph below, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents of the Underwriter, and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses, including reasonable costs of investigation and attorneys’ fees and expenses (collectively, “Damages”) arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except to the extent that any such Damages arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission that has been made therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with the information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter, expressly for use in connection therewith or (ii) any inaccuracy in or breach of the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein or any failure of the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law. This indemnification shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have.
In addition to its other obligations under this Section 8, the Company agrees that, as an interim measure during the pendency of any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon any statement or omission, or any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company herein or failure to perform its obligations hereunder, all as set forth in this Section 8, the party against whom indemnification is being sought will reimburse the Underwriter on a monthly basis for all reasonable legal or other out-of-pocket expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any such claim, action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding (to the extent documented by reasonably itemized invoices therefor), notwithstanding the absence of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the obligation of the Company to reimburse the Underwriter for such expenses and the possibility that such payments might later be held to have been improper by a court of competent jurisdiction. To the extent that any such interim reimbursement payment is so held to have been improper, the Underwriter shall promptly return it to the person(s) from whom it was received. Any such interim reimbursement payments that are not made to the Underwriter within 30 days of a proper request for reimbursement shall bear interest compounded daily at a rate determined on the basis of the base lending rate announced from time to time by The Wall Street Journal from the date of such request.
If any action or claim shall be brought against the Underwriter or any person controlling the Underwriter in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company, the Underwriter or such controlling person shall promptly notify in writing the party(s) against whom indemnification is being sought (the “indemnifying party” or “indemnifying parties”), and such indemnifying party(s) shall assume the defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter or such controlling person and the payment of all reasonable fees of and expenses incurred by such counsel. The Underwriter or any such controlling person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Underwriter or such controlling person, unless (i) the indemnifying party(s) has (have) agreed in writing to pay such fees and expenses, (ii) the indemnifying party(s) has (have) failed to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably acceptable to the Underwriter or such controlling person or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both the Underwriter or such controlling person and the indemnifying party(s), and the Underwriter or such controlling person shall have been advised by its counsel that one or more legal defenses may be available to the Underwriter that would reasonably be expected to conflict with or be inconsistent with those available to the Company, or that representation of such indemnified party and any indemnifying party(s) by the same counsel would be inappropriate under applicable standards of professional conduct (whether or not such representation by the same counsel has been proposed) due to actual or potential differing interests between them (in which case the indemnifying party(s) shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such Underwriter or such controlling person (but the Company shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for the Underwriter and such controlling persons)). The indemnifying party(s) shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its (their several) written consent, but if settled with such written consent, or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party(s) agree(s) to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriter and any such controlling person from and against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment, but in the case of a judgment only to the extent stated in the first paragraph of this Section 8.
The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration Statement and any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriter, but only with respect to information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto. If any action or claim shall be brought or asserted against the Company, any of its directors, any of its officers or any such controlling person based on the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any Preliminary Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, and in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Underwriter pursuant to this paragraph, the Underwriter shall have the rights and duties given to the Company by the immediately preceding paragraph (except that if the Company shall have assumed the defense thereof the Underwriter shall not be required to do so, but may employ separate counsel therein and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the Underwriter’s expense), and the Company, its directors, any such officers and any such controlling persons, shall have the rights and duties given to the Underwriter by the immediately preceding paragraph.
In any event, the indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any proceeding or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which the indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party or any person who controls the indemnified party within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act is a party to such claim, action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party and such controlling persons from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable or insufficient for any reason whatsoever to an indemnified party in respect of any Damages referred to herein, then an indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such Damages (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other hand, from the offering and sale of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative and several fault of the Company on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such Damages as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative and several benefits received by the Company on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other hand, shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, but before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus; provided that, in the event that the Underwriter shall have purchased any Additional Shares hereunder, any determination of the relative benefits received by the Company or the Underwriter from the offering of the Shares shall include the net proceeds (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, but before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter, from the sale of such Additional Shares, in each case computed on the basis of the respective amounts set forth in the notes to the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand, and the Underwriter on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand, or by the Underwriter on the other hand and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 was determined by a pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the Damages referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, the Underwriter shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount of the underwriting commissions received by the Underwriter in connection with the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Notwithstanding the second paragraph of this Section 8, any Damages for which an indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party as Damages are incurred after receipt of reasonably itemized invoices therefor. The indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8 and the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling the Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any person controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor hereunder and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to the Underwriter or any person controlling the Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 8.
It is agreed that any controversy arising out of the operation of the interim reimbursement arrangements set forth in the second paragraph of this Section 8, including the amounts of any requested reimbursement payments and the method of determining such amounts, shall be settled by arbitration conducted pursuant to the Code of Arbitration Procedure of FINRA. Any such arbitration must be commenced by service of a written demand for arbitration or written notice of intention to arbitrate, therein electing the arbitration tribunal. In the event the party demanding arbitration does not make such designation of an arbitration tribunal in such demand or notice, then the party responding to said demand or notice is authorized to do so. Such arbitration would be limited to the operation of the interim reimbursement provisions contained in the second and fourth paragraphs of this Section 8, and would not resolve the ultimate propriety or enforceability of the obligation to reimburse expenses that is created by the provisions of the second paragraph of this Section 8.
9. Conditions of Underwriter’s Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase the Firm Shares hereunder are subject to the following conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the date hereof, or at such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Underwriter, and all filings required by Rules 424(b), 430A and 462 under the Act shall have been timely made.
(b) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and Prospectus, (i) there shall not have been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any material change in the indebtedness (other than in the ordinary course of business) of the Company, (ii) except as set forth or contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information or the Prospectus, no material oral or written agreement or other transaction shall have been entered into by the Company that is not in the ordinary course of business or that would reasonably be expected to result in a material reduction in the future earnings of the Company, (iii) no loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company shall have been sustained that had or would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (iv) no legal or governmental action, suit or proceeding affecting the Company or any of its properties that is material to the Company or that affects or would reasonably be expected to affect the transactions contemplated by this Agreement shall have been instituted or threatened and (v) there shall not have been any material change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business, management, results of operations or prospects of the Company or its subsidiaries that makes it impractical or inadvisable in the Underwriter’s reasonable judgment to proceed with the public offering or purchase of the Shares as contemplated hereby.
(c) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date (and the Additional Closing Date, if any) an opinion of Husch ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel to the Company, in form and substance as set forth on Exhibit B attached hereto. In rendering such opinions, counsel may rely, to the extent they deem such reliance proper, as to matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Company and of government officials, provided that counsel shall state their belief that they are justified in relying thereon. Copies of all such certificates shall be furnished to the Underwriter and its counsel on the Closing Date and the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(d) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion of Barack ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, as counsel for the Underwriter, dated the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Registration Statement and other related matters as the Underwriter may reasonably request, and the Company and its counsel shall have furnished to the Underwriter’s counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(e) The Underwriter shall have received letters addressed to it and dated the date hereof and the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, from (i) the firm of BKD, LLP, independent certified public accountants and (ii) the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, substantially in the forms heretofore approved by the Underwriter.
(f) (i) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for that purpose shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, shall be threatened or contemplated by the Commission at or prior to the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; (ii) no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the qualification or registration of the Shares under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction shall be in effect and no proceeding for such purpose shall be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated by the authorities of any jurisdiction; (iii) any request for additional information on the part of the staff of the Commission or any such authorities shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of the staff of the Commission or such authorities; (iv) after the date hereof, no amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall have been filed unless a copy thereof was first submitted to the Underwriter and it did not object thereto in good faith; and (v) all of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct in all material respects (except for such representations and warranties qualified by materiality, which representations and warranties shall be true and correct in all respects) on and as of the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as if made on and as of the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Underwriter shall have received a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by the chief executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company (or such other officers as are acceptable to the Underwriter) to the effect set forth in this Section 9(f) and in Sections 9(b) and 9(h) hereof.
(g) The Company shall not have failed in any material respect at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, to have performed or complied with any of its agreements herein contained and required to be performed or complied with by it hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(h) The Company shall have furnished or caused to have been furnished to the Underwriter such further certificates and documents as it shall have reasonably requested.
(i) At or prior to the Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received Lock-Up Agreements from each of the Company’s senior executive officers and directors.
(j) At or prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Underwriter shall have received a letter from the Corporate Financing Department of FINRA confirming that such Department has determined to raise no objections with respect to the fairness or reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements of the offering contemplated hereby.
All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriter and its counsel.
The obligations of the Underwriter to purchase Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the satisfaction on and as of the Additional Closing Date of the conditions set forth in this Section 9, except that, if the Additional Closing Date is other than the Closing Date, the certificates, opinions and letters referred to in this Section 9 shall be dated as of the Additional Closing Date and the opinions called for by paragraphs (c) and (e) shall be revised to reflect the sale of Additional Shares.
If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 9 shall not have been satisfied when and as required by this Agreement, this Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriter by notifying the Company of such termination in writing or by telegram at or prior to such Closing Date, but the Underwriter shall be entitled to waive any of such conditions.
10. Effective Date of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the later of (a) the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto and (b) release of notification of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement by the Commission; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 7 and 8 shall at all times be effective.
11. Termination of Agreement. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the Underwriter’s absolute discretion, without liability on the part of the Underwriter to the Company by notice to the Company, if prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date (if different from the Closing Date and then only as to the Additional Shares), as the case may be, in the Underwriter’s sole judgment, (i) trading in the Company’s Common Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the NASDAQ, (ii) trading in securities generally on the NYSE or NASDAQ shall have been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on such exchange, or additional material governmental restrictions, not in force on the date of this Agreement, shall have been imposed upon trading in securities generally by any such exchange or by order of the Commission or any court or other governmental authority, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by either federal or Missouri authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other international or domestic calamity, crisis or change in political, financial or economic conditions or other material event the effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the Underwriter’s judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares. Notice of such cancellation shall be promptly given to the Company and its counsel by facsimile, e-mail or telephone and shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.
12. Information Furnished by the Underwriter. The Company acknowledges that (i) the concession and reallowance figures appearing under the subheading “Underwriting – Commissions and Expenses”, and (ii) the information contained under the subheading “Underwriting – Stabilization” in any Preliminary Prospectus, constitute the only information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriter as such information is referred to in Sections 6(a), 6(b), 6(f) and 8 hereof.
13. Miscellaneous. Except as otherwise provided in Sections 5 and 11 hereof, notice given pursuant to any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be delivered
(i) to the Company
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, President and CEO
Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
E-mail: ▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
with a copy to
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. Adoor, Esq.
Husch ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
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Telephone: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
E-mail: ▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
(ii) to the Underwriter
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc.
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▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
E-mail: ▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
with a copy to
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Barack ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
E-mail: ▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇@▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Underwriter, the Company and its directors and officers.
14. Applicable Law; Counterparts. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of Florida without reference to choice of law principles thereunder.
This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts, which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
This Agreement shall be effective when, but only when, at least one counterpart hereof shall have been executed on behalf of each party hereto.
The Company and the Underwriter each hereby irrevocably waive any right they may have to a trial by jury in respect to any claim based upon or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
15. No Fiduciary Duty. Notwithstanding any pre-existing relationship, advisory or otherwise, between the parties or any oral representations or assurances previously or subsequently made by the Underwriter, the Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) nothing herein shall create a fiduciary or agency relationship between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand; (ii) the Underwriter has been retained solely to act as underwriter and is not acting as advisor, expert or otherwise, to either the Company in connection with this offering, the sale of the Shares or any other services the Underwriter may be deemed to be providing hereunder, including, without limitation, with respect to the public offering price of the Shares; (iii) the relationship between the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other hand, is entirely and solely commercial, and the price of the Shares was established by the Company and the Underwriter based on discussions and arms’ length negotiations and the Company understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; (iv) any duties and obligations that the Underwriter may have to the Company shall be limited to those duties and obligations specifically stated herein; and (v) notwithstanding anything in this Agreement to the contrary, the Company acknowledges that the Underwriter may have financial interests in the success of the Offering that are not limited to the difference between the price to the public and the purchase price paid to the Company for the shares and such interests may differ from the interests of the Company, and the Underwriter has no obligation to disclose, or account to the Company for any benefit they may derive from such additional financial interests. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by the applicable law, any claims it may have against the Underwriter with respect to any breach or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Underwriter shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company or any of its shareholders, managers, employees or creditors.
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among the Company and the Underwriter.
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Very truly yours, |
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Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. |
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President and Chief Executive Officer |
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▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ASSOCIATES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
Senior Vice President
EXHIBIT A
_______, 2014
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc.
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Re: |
Guaranty Federal Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”) - Restriction on Stock Sales |
Dear Sirs and Madams:
This letter is delivered to you pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) to be entered into by the Company, as issuer, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc., (the “Underwriter”). Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the Underwriter intends to effect a public offering of Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, of the Company (the “Shares”), as described in and contemplated by the registration statement of the Company on Form S-1, File No. 333-191440 (the “Registration Statement”), as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on September 27, 2013 (the “Offering”), including all amendments thereto.
The undersigned recognizes that it is in the best financial interests of the undersigned, as an officer or director, or an owner of stock, options, warrants, restricted stock or other securities of the Company (the “Company Securities”), that the Company complete the proposed Offering.
The undersigned further recognizes that the Company Securities held by the undersigned are, or may be, subject to certain restrictions on transferability, including those imposed by United States federal securities laws. Notwithstanding these restrictions, the undersigned has agreed to enter into this letter agreement to further assure the Underwriter that the Company Securities of the undersigned, now held or hereafter acquired, will not enter the public market at a time that might impair the underwriting effort.
Therefore, as an inducement to the Underwriter to execute the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned hereby acknowledges and agrees that the undersigned will not (i) offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of (collectively, a “Disposition”) any Company Securities beneficially owned by the undersigned, or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for, or any rights to purchase or otherwise acquire, any Company Securities held by the undersigned or acquired by the undersigned after the date hereof, or that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned (collectively, the “Lock-Up Shares”), pursuant to the Rules and Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, for a period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the Company’s Prospectus first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, inclusive (the “Lock-Up Period”), without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Associates, Inc. or (ii) exercise or seek to exercise or effectuate in any manner any rights of any nature that the undersigned has or may have hereafter to require the Company to register under the Act the undersigned’s sale, transfer or other disposition of any of the Lock-Up Shares or other securities of the Company held by the undersigned, or to otherwise participate as a selling securityholder in any manner in any registration effected by the Company under the Act, including under the Registration Statement, during the Lock-Up Period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (x) during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issues a release concerning earnings or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (y) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces it will release earnings results during the 16 day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period; the restrictions imposed in this letter agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18 day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The foregoing restrictions are expressly agreed to preclude the undersigned from engaging in any hedging, collar (whether or not for any consideration) or other transaction that is designed to or would reasonably be expected to lead or result in a Disposition of Lock-Up Shares during the Lock-Up Period, even if such Lock-Up Shares would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include any short sale or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including any put or call option or reversal or cancellation thereof) with respect to any Lock-Up Shares or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from Lock-Up Shares.
Notwithstanding the agreement not to make any Disposition during the Lock-Up Period, you have agreed that the foregoing restrictions shall not apply to:
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the Company Securities being offered in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement; |
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any grant of restricted stock or award or exercise of options pursuant to the Company’s equity incentive plans and stock option plans; |
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exercising options, on or immediately prior to their expiration date, through the use of a “cashless exercise” method with a broker; |
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a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein; |
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a transfer to any trust or family limited partnership for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust or general partner of the limited partnership agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value; or |
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Company Securities pledged in a bona fide transaction entered into prior to the date hereof to a lender, with respect to a transfer pursuant to the terms of such pledge. |
It is understood that, if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof that survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Shares, you will release the undersigned from the obligations under this letter agreement.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company and its transfer agent and registrar are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of Lock-Up Shares if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this letter. This letter shall be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of the undersigned. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the respective meanings assigned to such terms in the Underwriting Agreement.
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Very truly yours, |
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Signature of Securityholder |
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SCHEDULE I
Investor Presentation dated March 2014, as filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on March 3, 2014.
SCHEDULE II
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