UNITED STATES
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
Washington, D.C. 20549
Form
CURRENT REPORT
Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
Date of Report (Date of earliest event
reported):
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Commission File Number:
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Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:
| Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425) | |
| Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12) | |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b)) | |
| Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c)) |
| Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: | ||
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01 — Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
On August 13, 2020, Griffon Corporation (the “Company”) entered into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, as representative of the several underwriters named therein (the “Underwriters”) and Ronald J. Kramer, as selling stockholder (the “Selling Stockholder”), relating to an underwritten public offering (the “Offering”) of 8,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.25 per share (the “Common Stock”) by the Company at a public offering price of $21.50 per share, less underwriting discounts and commissions and other estimated expenses payable by the Company. In addition, pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, the Company and the Selling Stockholder granted the Underwriters a 30-day option (the “Underwriters’ Option”) to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock, which consist of 700,000 shares of Common Stock from the Company and 500,000 shares of Common Stock from the Selling Stockholder, which option has been exercised in full.
The Offering of 8,000,000 shares closed on August 18, 2020. The closing of the purchase of the 1,200,000 shares subject to the Underwriters’ Option is expected to close on August 21, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions. The total net proceeds to the Company from the sale of 8,700,000 shares by the Company pursuant to the Offering (which includes the sale of 700,000 shares by the Company pursuant to the Underwriters’ Option) will be approximately $177.2 million. The Company will use the net proceeds from this offering (i) for working capital and general corporate purposes, including to expand the Company’s current business through acquisitions of, or investments in, other businesses or products, and (ii) to temporarily repay a portion of the Company’s outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility (which will be subject to re-borrowing), and for the payment of related fees and expenses. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of Common Stock by the Selling Stockholder.
The Offering was made pursuant to the Company’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-224727) previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on May 7, 2018, as well as a preliminary prospectus supplement and a final prospectus supplement filed thereunder with the Commission on August 11, 2020 and August 14, 2020, respectively.
The Underwriting Agreement contains representations, warranties and covenants of the Company that are customary for transactions of this type and customary conditions to closing. Additionally, the Company has agreed to provide the Underwriters and the Selling Stockholder with customary indemnification rights under the Underwriting Agreement. The foregoing descriptions of the Underwriting Agreement are qualified in their entirety by reference to the Underwriting Agreement, a copy of which is filed as Exhibit 1.1 to this Form 8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
A copy of the opinion of Dechert LLP regarding the validity of the sale of the shares of Common Stock offered and sold by the Company and the Selling Stockholder in the Offering is attached hereto as Exhibit 5.1.
Item 8.01 — Other Events
On August 13, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing that the Offering priced at $21.50 per share. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and incorporated herein by reference.
On August 18, 2020, the Company issued a press release announcing the closing of the sale of 8,000,000 shares pursuant to the Offering, and the full exercise of the Underwriters’ Option. A copy of the press release is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.2 and incorporated herein by reference.
Item 9.01 — Financial Statements and Exhibits
(d) Exhibits
SIGNATURE
Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.
| Dated: August 18, 2020 | GRIFFON CORPORATION | |
| By: | /s/ Seth L. Kaplan | |
| Seth L. Kaplan | ||
| Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary | ||
Exhibit 1.1
Execution Version
GRIFFON CORPORATION
8,000,000 Shares of Common Stock
plus an option to purchase from the Company and the Selling Stockholder
up to 1,200,000 Shares of Common Stock
Underwriting Agreement
August 13, 2020
Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
As Representative of the
several Underwriters listed
in Schedule 1 hereto
c/o Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Griffon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representative (the “Representative”), up to 8,000,000 shares of common stock, par value $0.25 per share (the “Common Stock”), of the Company (the “Underwritten Shares”). In addition, the Company proposes to sell, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional 700,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company, and that certain stockholder of the Company named in Schedule 2 hereto (the “Selling Stockholder”) proposes to sell, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional 500,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (collectively, the “Option Shares”). The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the “Shares”. The shares of Common Stock of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sale of the Shares are referred to herein as the “Stock”.
The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby confirm their agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:
1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement (File No. 333-224727), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before
effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the final prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with the confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement. Any reference in this underwriting agreement (this “Agreement”) to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, as of the effective date of the Registration Statement or the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be and any reference to “amend”, “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex A, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus, dated August 11, 2020 and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.
“Applicable Time” means 5:40 P.M., New York City time, on August 13, 2020.
2. Purchase of the Shares.
(a) The Company and the Selling Stockholder agree to sell the Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase at a price per share of $20.47875 (the “Purchase Price”) from the Company the respective number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto.
In addition, the Company and the Selling Stockholder, as and to the extent indicated in Schedule 2 hereto in the case of the Selling Stockholder, agree to sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule
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1 hereto (or such number increased as set forth in Section 12 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Company and the Selling Stockholder by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make. Any such election to purchase Option Shares shall be made first, from the Company, up to an aggregate amount of 700,000 Option Shares, and second, if more than 700,000 Option Shares are elected to be purchased, from the Selling Stockholder, up to an aggregate amount of 500,000 Option Shares.
The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representative to the Company and the Selling Stockholder. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date nor later than the tenth full business day (as hereinafter defined) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 12 hereof). Other than in the case of Option Shares to be delivered and paid for on the Closing Date, any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein.
(b) The Company and the Selling Stockholder understand that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Pricing Disclosure Package. The Company and the Selling Stockholder acknowledge and agree that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.
(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Company and the Selling Stockholder (with regard to payment to the Selling Stockholder), to the Representative, (i) in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on August 18, 2020, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representative, the Company and the Selling Stockholder may agree upon in writing or (ii) in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representative in the written notice of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Option Shares. The time and date of such payment for the Underwritten Shares is referred to herein as the “Closing Date” and the time and date for such payment for the Option Shares, if other than the Closing Date, is herein referred to as the “Additional Closing Date”.
Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representative for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters of the Shares to be purchased on such date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Company and the Selling Stockholder, as applicable. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representative shall otherwise instruct. The certificates for the Shares will be made available for inspection and packaging by the Representative at the office of DTC or its desig-
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nated custodian not later than 1:00 P.M., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(d) Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that the Representative and the other Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company and the Selling Stockholder with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company, the Selling Stockholder or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representative nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company, the Selling Stockholder or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. The Company and the Selling Stockholder shall consult with their own advisors concerning such matters and each shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and neither the Representative nor any other Underwriter shall have any responsibility or liability to the Company or the Selling Stockholder with respect thereto. Any review by the Representative and the other Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of the Company or the Selling Stockholder. Moreover, the Selling Stockholder acknowledges and agrees that, although the Representative may be required or choose to provide the Selling Stockholder with certain Regulation Best Interest and Form CRS disclosures in connection with the offering, the Representative and the other Underwriters are not making a recommendation to the Selling Stockholder to participate in the offering, enter into a “lock up” agreement, or sell any Shares at the price determined in the offering, and nothing set forth in such disclosures is intended to suggest that the Representative or any Underwriter is making such a recommendation.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Selling Stockholder that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Selling Stockholder Information (as defined below), or any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof.
(b) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
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the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Selling Stockholder Information, or any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof. No statement of material fact included in the Prospectus has been omitted from the Pricing Disclosure Package and no statement of material fact included in the Pricing Disclosure Package that is required to be included in the Prospectus has been omitted therefrom.
(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representative. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complies in all material respects with the Securities Act, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement or the Pricing Disclosure Package, and, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with any Selling Stockholder Information, or any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof.
(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 of the Securities Act that has been filed with the Commission not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof; and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act has been received by the Company. No order suspending the effectiveness
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of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment, as of the date of such amendment, complied in all material respects and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation or warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with any Selling Stockholder Information, or any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 9(c) hereof.
(e) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act, and none of such documents contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package, when such documents are filed with the Commission will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(f) Financial Statements. The audited consolidated financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the financial position, results of operations and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries at the dates and for the periods to which they relate and have been prepared in accordance with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis, except as otherwise stated therein. The summary and selected financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the information shown therein with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries and have been prepared and compiled on a basis consistent with the audited consolidated financial statements includ-
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ed or incorporated by reference therein, except as otherwise stated therein. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and is prepared in all material respects in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except as described therein, (i) none of the Company or its subsidiaries has incurred any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent, or entered into or agreed to enter into any material transactions or contracts (written or oral) not in the ordinary course of business, (ii) there has not been any material change in the capital stock or long-term indebtedness of the Company or the subsidiaries and (iii) there has been no event or development that has had or would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “Material Adverse Effect” shall mean a material adverse effect on the management, business, financial condition, business prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(h) Organization and Good Standing. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly incorporated or organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of its respective jurisdiction of organization and has all requisite corporate or other power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as now conducted and as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, to the extent such concept exists in any given jurisdiction, each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation or other organization in good standing in all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(i) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Option Shares to be sold, at the option of the Underwriters, by the Selling Stockholder) have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights that have not been duly waived or satisfied), warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure
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Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any liens, encumbrances, equities and claims or restrictions on transferability (other than those imposed by the Securities Act and the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of certain jurisdictions) or voting (except for such liens, encumbrances, equities, claims or restrictions in connection with the Third Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of March 22, 2016, by and among the Company, Bank of America, N.A. (as successor to JPMorgan Chase Bank, N.A.), as administrative agent and the other lenders party thereto (as amended, amended and restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, the “Credit Agreement”), or as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus).
(j) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) to the knowledge of the Company, each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) to the knowledge of the Company, was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.
(k) Due Authorization. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform each of its obligations under this Agreement; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of this Agreement and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated hereby has been duly and validly taken.
(l) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(m) The Shares. The Shares to be sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized by the Company and, when delivered and paid for as provided herein,
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will be duly and validly issued, will be fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the descriptions thereof in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and the issuance of the Shares is not subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(n) Descriptions of the Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(o) No Violation or Default. None of the Company or its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational document), (ii) in breach or violation of any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to any of them or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any such breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or (iii) in breach of or default under (nor has any event occurred that, with notice or passage of time or both, would constitute a default under) or in violation of any of the terms or provisions of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease, license, franchise agreement, permit, certificate, contract or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or to which any of them or their respective properties or assets is subject (collectively, “Contracts”), except for any such breach, default, violation or event that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus will not conflict with or constitute or result in a breach of or a default under (or an event that with notice or passage of time or both would constitute a default under) or violation of any of (i) the terms or provisions of any Contract, except for any such conflict, breach, violation, default or event that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) the certificate of incorporation or bylaws (or similar organizational documents) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) (assuming compliance with all applicable state securities or “Blue Sky” laws) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any such conflict, breach or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except for the registration of the Shares under the Securities Act, filings or applications with the NYSE and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state
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securities or “Blue Sky” laws in connection with the purchase and resale of the Shares by the Underwriters.
(r) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is not pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation (“Actions”) to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party, or to which the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries are subject, before or brought by any court, arbitrator or governmental agency or body that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect or that seeks to restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise challenge the issuance and sale of the Shares to be sold hereunder or the consummation of the other transactions described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus; (i) there are no current or pending Actions that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes or regulations, or contracts or other documents, that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(s) Independent Accountants. Grant Thornton (the “Accountants”), who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.
(t) Title to Real and Personal Property. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all real property and good title to all personal property described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as being owned by it, in each case free and clear of all liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions, except (i) for liens under the Credit Agreement; (ii) as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or (iii) to the extent the failure to have such title or the existence of such liens, charges, encumbrances or restrictions would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. All leases, contracts and agreements to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound are valid and enforceable against the Company or such subsidiary, and, to the knowledge of the Company, are valid and enforceable against the other party or parties thereto and are in full force and effect with only such exceptions as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) Cyber Security; Data Protection. The Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology assets and equipment, computers, systems, networks, hardware,
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software, websites, applications, and databases (collectively, “IT Systems”) are adequate for, and operate and perform in all material respects as required in connection with the operation of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries as currently conducted, free and clear of all material bugs, errors, defects, Trojan horses, time bombs, malware and other corruptants. The Company and its subsidiaries have implemented and maintained commercially reasonable controls, policies, procedures, and safeguards to maintain and protect their material confidential information and the integrity, continuous operation, redundancy and security of all IT Systems and data (including all personal, personally identifiable, sensitive, confidential or regulated data (“Personal Data”)) used or held for use in connection with their businesses, and there have been no breaches, violations, disruptions, compromises or unauthorized uses of or accesses to same, except for the duty to notify any other person or where such breaches, violations, disruptions, compromises or unauthorized uses of or access to same, would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and its subsidiaries are presently in material compliance with all applicable laws, statutes and regulations (including the European Union General Data Protection Regulation) and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations and, to the extent applicable, PCI-DSS, relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Personal Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Personal Data from unauthorized use, access, misappropriation or modification.
(v) Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate licenses or other rights to use all material patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how necessary to conduct the businesses now or proposed to be operated by them as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and none of the Company or its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with (or knows of any such infringement of or conflict with) asserted rights of others with respect to any patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights or know-how that, if such assertion of infringement or conflict were sustained, would be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers, suppliers or other affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(x) Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof received by the Company as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will not be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
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(y) Taxes. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns (or has requested or received extensions thereof) and has paid all taxes shown as due thereon, except where the failure to so file such returns or pay such taxes would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and other than tax deficiencies that the Company or any subsidiary is contesting in good faith and for which the Company or such subsidiary has provided adequate reserves in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, there is no tax deficiency that has been asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries that would be reasonably expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.
(z) Licenses and Permits. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, permits, certificates, consents, orders, approvals and other authorizations from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all of the appropriate federal, state, local and other governmental authorities, all of the appropriate self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, presently required or necessary to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its respective properties and to carry on its respective businesses as set forth in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (“Permits”), except where the failure to possess or obtain such Permits would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; to the knowledge of the Company, each of the Company and its subsidiaries has fulfilled and performed all of its obligations with respect to such Permits and no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Permit; and none of the Company or its Subsidiaries has received any notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit, except as described in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus and except where such revocation or modification would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(aa) No Labor Disputes. There is no strike, labor dispute, slowdown or work stoppage with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(bb) Certain Environmental Matters. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a Material Adverse Effect (A) each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance with, and has not received any notice of any liability under, applicable Environmental Laws (as defined below), (B) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has made all filings and provided all notices required under any applicable Environmental Law, and has and is in compliance with all Permits required under any applicable Environmental Laws and each of them is in full force and effect, (C) there is no civil, criminal or administrative action, suit, demand, claim, hearing, notice of violation, investigation, proceeding, notice or demand letter or request for information pending or, to the knowledge of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Law, (D) no lien, charge, encumbrance or restriction has been recorded under any Environmental
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Law with respect to any assets, facility or property owned, operated, leased or controlled by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (E) none of the Company or its subsidiaries has received notice that it has been identified as a potentially responsible party under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (“CERCLA”), or any comparable state law and (F) no property or facility of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is (i) listed or, to the knowledge of the Company, proposed for listing on the National Priorities List under CERCLA or is (ii) listed in the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, Liability Information System List promulgated pursuant to CERCLA, or on any comparable list maintained by any state or local governmental authority.
For purposes of this Agreement, “Environmental Laws” means the common law and all applicable federal, state and local laws or regulations, codes, orders, decrees, judgments or injunctions issued, promulgated, approved or entered thereunder, relating to pollution or protection of public health and safety or the environment, including, without limitation, laws relating to (i) emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of hazardous materials into the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, ground water, land surface or subsurface strata), (ii) the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, generation, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of hazardous materials, and (iii) underground and above ground storage tanks and related piping, and emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases therefrom.
(cc) Compliance with ERISA. Except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, none of the Company or the subsidiaries has any material liability for any prohibited transaction or funding deficiency, except as set forth in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any complete or partial withdrawal liability with respect to any pension, profit sharing or other plan that is subject to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries makes or ever has made a contribution and in which any employee of the Company or of any subsidiary is or has ever been a participant. With respect to such plans, the Company and each subsidiary are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable provisions of ERISA.
(dd) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations, with the participation of management, of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.
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(ee) Accounting Controls. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries (i) makes and keeps accurate books and records and (ii) maintains internal accounting controls that provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s authorization, (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of its financial statements and to maintain accountability for its assets, (C) access to its assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s authorization, (D) the reported accountability for its assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action taken with regard to any differences and (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, management to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
(ff) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries carries insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the conduct of its business and the value of its properties.
(gg) No Unlawful Payments. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has: (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made or taken an act in furtherance of an offer, promise or authorization of any direct or indirect unlawful payment or benefit to any foreign or domestic government official or employee, including of any government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (the “FCPA”) or any applicable law or regulation implementing the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, or committed an offence under the Bribery Act 2010 of the United Kingdom, or any other applicable anti-bribery or anti-corruption law; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment. The Company has instituted and maintains policies and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure, continued compliance with the FCPA.
(hh) Compliance with Anti-Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency
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(collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(ii) No Conflicts with Sanctions Laws. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. government, including without limitation, by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department the U.S. Department of Commerce, the U.S. Department of State, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury or other relevant sanctions authority (“Sanctions”) nor is located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of comprehensive Sanctions (a “Sanctioned Country”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering contemplated hereby, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, (i) to fund or facilitate any activities of or business in any Sanctioned Country in violation of Sanctions or (ii) for the purpose of financing the activities of any person that at the time of such financing is subject to any Sanctions or in any other manner that will result in a violation by any person (including any person participating in the transaction, whether as an initial purchaser, advisor, investor or otherwise) of Sanctions.
(jj) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock or similar ownership interest, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.
(kk) No Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against any of them or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
(ll) No Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure and the Prospectus and as have been validly waived or complied with, no person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, the sale of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder.
(mm) No Stabilization. None of the Company or its subsidiaries has taken, nor will any of them take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be rea-
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sonably expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.
(nn) Margin Rules. None of the Company or its subsidiaries or any agent acting on their behalf has taken or will take any action that might cause this Agreement or the sale of the Shares to violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, in each case as in effect, or as the same may hereafter be in effect, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as applicable.
(oo) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) included or incorporated by reference in any of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(pp) Statistical and Market Data. The statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.
(qq) Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002, as amended and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
(rr) Status under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer”, and is a well-known seasoned issuer, in each case, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
4. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Company that:
(a) Required Consents; Authority. Except (i) as may be required under the Act, the Exchange Act or the regulations thereunder or under the rules and regulations of FINRA or the New York Stock Exchange, (ii) as may be required under foreign or state securities or Blue Sky laws and (iii) for such consents, approvals, authorizations and orders as the failure to obtain or make of which would not individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of the Selling Stockholder to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, all consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary for the execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder of this Agreement and for the sale and delivery of the Option Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, have been obtained; and the Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer
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and deliver the Option Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder; this Agreement has each been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder.
(b) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Selling Stockholder of this Agreement, the sale of the Option Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder and the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated herein or therein will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, result in the termination, modification or acceleration of, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property, right or asset of the Selling Stockholder pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which the Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property, right or asset of the Selling Stockholder is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Selling Stockholder or (iii) result in the violation of any applicable law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory agency having jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder or its property, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii), as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to materially impair the ability of the Selling Stockholder to consummate the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(c) Title to Option Shares. The Selling Stockholder has good and valid title to the Option Shares (or security entitlements in respect thereto) to be sold at the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by the Selling Stockholder hereunder, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or adverse claims; and the Selling Stockholder will have, immediately prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, good and valid title (or security entitlements in respect thereto) to the Option Shares to be sold at the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by the Selling Stockholder, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or adverse claims; and upon payment for the Option Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such Option Shares, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be designated by the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registration of such Option Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Option Shares on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriters (assuming that none of either DTC, Cede (or other such nominee) nor the Underwriters has notice of any adverse claim (as defined in Section 8-105 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (“UCC”)) with respect to such Option Shares, (1) DTC shall be a “protected purchaser” of such Option Shares (as defined in Section 8-302 of the UCC) of such Option Shares, (2) the Underwriters will acquire a valid “security entitlement” (as defined in Section 8-102(a)(17) of the UCC and as used in Section 8-501(b) of the UCC) to the Option Shares and (3) no action based on any “adverse claim” (as defined in Section 8-102 of the UCC and as used in Section 8-502 of the UCC) may be asserted against the Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement (assuming that the Underwriters are without notice of such adverse claim).
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(d) No Stabilization. The Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.
(e) Accurate Disclosure. The Pricing Disclosure Package, as of the Applicable Time did not, and the Prospectus, as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, that the foregoing representation and warranty shall only apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Selling Stockholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the Selling Stockholder Information applicable to the Selling Stockholder consists solely of the name and address of the Selling Stockholder, the number of shares owned and the number of shares proposed to be sold by the Selling Stockholder (in all cases excluding percentages) and the other information with respect to the Selling Stockholder that appears in the table and corresponding footnotes describing the Selling Stockholder under the caption “Selling Stockholder” in the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (the “Selling Stockholder Information”).
(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. The Selling Stockholder has not prepared, made, used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus relating to the Option Shares, other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Company and the Representatives.
(g) Fiduciary Duty. The Selling Stockholder is not (i) an employee benefit plan subject to Title I of ERISA, (ii) a plan or account subject to Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended or (iii) an entity deemed to hold “plan assets” of any such plan or account under Section 3(42) of ERISA, 29 C.F.R. 2510.3-101, or otherwise.
(h) Material Information. As of the date hereof, the Closing Date and as of any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the sale of the Option Shares by the Selling Stockholder is not and will not be prompted by any material information concerning the Company which is not set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus.
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5. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and the Company will file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of the Shares; and the Company will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representative may reasonably request. The Company will pay the registration fee for this offering within the time period required by Rule 456(b)(1) under the Securities Act (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and in any event prior to the Closing Date.
(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representative, two signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith and documents incorporated by reference therein; and (ii) to each Underwriter (A) a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto (without exhibits) and (B) during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representative may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.
(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before making, preparing, using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, whether before or after the time that the Registration Statement becomes effective, the Company will furnish to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not make, prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably objects.
(d) Notice to the Representative. The Company will advise the Representative promptly, and confirm such advice in writing (which may be by electronic mail), (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the
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Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (v) of the issuance by the Commission or any other governmental or regulatory authority of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act; (vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading; (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice of objection of the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and (viii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain as soon as reasonably practicable the withdrawal thereof.
(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any 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 existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any 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 existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is
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delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and forthwith prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representative may designate such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package (or any document to be filed with the Commission and incorporated by reference therein) as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.
(f) Blue Sky Compliance. If exemptions from the relevant securities laws or “Blue Sky” laws of applicable jurisdictions are not available, the Company will use its best efforts to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(g) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available (electronically or otherwise) to its security holders and the Representative as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement, provided that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such statement to its security holders to the extent it is filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”).
(h) Clear Market. For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or submit to or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition, submission or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representative, other than (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder and (B) any shares of Stock of the Company issued upon the exercise of options granted under Company Stock Plans or warrants, if any, described as outstanding in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, (C) any options or other awards granted under a Company Stock Plan described in the Registration Statement, the
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Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package, (D) the filing by the Company of any registration statement on Form S-8 or a successor form thereto relating to a Company Stock Plan described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Pricing Disclosure Package and (E) any shares of Stock, or securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for shares of Stock, issued or to be issued in connection with mergers or acquisitions of securities, businesses, properties or other assets, joint ventures or strategic alliances; provided that (x) the aggregate number of shares issued pursuant to this clause (E) shall not exceed five percent (5%) of the total number of outstanding shares of Stock immediately following the issuance and sale of the Shares pursuant hereto and (y) the recipient of any such shares of Stock and securities issued pursuant to this clause (E) during the 90-day restricted period described above shall enter into an agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto.
(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will apply the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares as described in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Use of Proceeds”.
(j) No Stabilization. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Stock.
(k) Exchange Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the Shares on the New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”).
(l) Reports. For a period of two years from the date of this Agreement, the Company will furnish to the Representative, as soon as they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representative to the extent they are filed on EDGAR.
(m) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
6. Further Agreements of the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) Tax Form. It will deliver to the Representative prior to or at the Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other applicable form or statement specified by the Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof) in order to facilitate the Underwriters’ documentation of their compliance with the reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act of 1982 with respect to the transactions herein contemplated.
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7. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:
(a) It has not used, authorized the use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and not incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included (including through incorporation by reference) in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing (each such free writing prospectus referred to in clauses (i) or (iii), an “Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”).
(b) It has not and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; provided that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.
(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company and the Selling Stockholder if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).
8. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose, pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representative.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The representations and warranties of the Company contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as
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of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the representations and warranties of the Selling Stockholder contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Selling Stockholder and its officers, as applicable, made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization”, as such term is defined under Section 3(a)(62) under the Exchange Act and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock issued or guaranteed by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).
(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(g) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representative makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, (x) a certificate of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is satisfactory to the Representative (i) confirming that such officers, solely in their capacity as officers of the Company, have carefully reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations of the Company set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above and (y) in the case of the election by the Underwriters to purchase the Option Shares, a certificate of the Selling Stockholder, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the representative, (A) confirming that the representations of the Selling Stockholder set forth in Sections 4(e), 4(f) and 4(h) hereof are true and correct and (B) confirming that the Selling Stockholder has complied with all agreements and satisfied all
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conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder in all material respects at or prior to such Closing Date.
(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Accountants shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. Dechert LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representative, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.
(h) [Reserved.]
(i) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representative may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(j) No Legal Impediment to Issuance and/or Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company or the sale of the Option Shares by the Selling Stockholder; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the issuance or sale of the Shares by the Company or the sale of the Option Shares by the Selling Stockholder.
(k) Good Standing. The Representative shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in its jurisdiction of organization and its good standing in such other jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably request, in each case in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
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(l) Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.
(m) Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between the Representative and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the Company listed on Annex B hereto relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Stock or certain other securities, delivered to the Representative on or before the date hereof, shall be full force and effect on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(n) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished to the Representative such further certificates and documents as the Representative may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
9. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters and the Selling Stockholder by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the Selling Stockholder from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable and documented legal fees and other expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”) or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with (x) any information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (c) below, or (y) the Selling Stockholder Information.
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(b) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Selling Stockholder. The Selling Stockholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Selling Stockholder Information relating to the Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company in writing by the Selling Stockholder; provided, however, that the liability of the Selling Stockholder pursuant to this paragraph (b) and the contribution by the Selling Stockholder under paragraphs (e) and (f) of this Section 9 shall not exceed the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Selling Stockholder from the sale of the Option Shares sold by the Selling Stockholder hereunder (the “Selling Stockholder Net Proceeds”).
(c) Indemnification of the Company and the Selling Stockholder. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the Selling Stockholder to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)”, and the information contained in the twelfth, thirteenth and fourteenth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)”.
(d) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 9. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of such counsel
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related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Indemnified Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceeding in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and any such separate firm for the Company, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company and any such separate firm for the Selling Stockholder shall be designated in writing by the Selling Stockholder. The Indemnifying Person shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of such request and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
(e) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause
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(i) but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling Stockholder from the sale of the Shares, as applicable, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholder, on the one hand, and the Underwriters on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling Stockholder or by the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(f) Limitation on Liability. The Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (e) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Selling Stockholder or the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (e) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (e) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraph (e) above and this paragraph (f), (i) in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission and (ii) no Selling Stockholder shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the Selling Stockholder Net Proceeds exceed the amount of any damages that the Selling Stockholder has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. The Selling Stockholder’s obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraph (e) above and this paragraph (f) are several and not joint and limited in the manner and to the extent set forth in paragraph (b) above. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraph (e) above and this paragraph (f) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(g) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in paragraphs (a) through (f) of this Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity. For the avoidance of doubt, the provisions of this Section 9 shall not affect any agreement among the Company and the Selling Stockholder with respect to indemnification or contribution.
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10. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective as of the date first written above.
11. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representative, by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholder, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and on or prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by any of the New York Stock Exchange or The Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
12. Defaulting Underwriter.
(a) If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters may in their discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company and the Selling Stockholder on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriters do not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriters or the Company and the Selling Stockholder may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company, counsel for the Selling Stockholder or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 12, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholder as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder
| -30- |
on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the non-defaulting Underwriters, the Company and the Selling Stockholder as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 12 shall be without liability on the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholder, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 13 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 9 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, the Selling Stockholder or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
13. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its and the Selling Stockholder’s obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the authorization, issuance, sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the fees and expenses of the Company’s and the Selling Stockholder’s counsel and the Company’s independent accountants, including the Accountants; (iv) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification and determination of eligibility for investment of the Shares under the state or foreign securities or “Blue Sky” laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may reasonably designate and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters; provided that such fees and expenses of counsel under this clause (iv) shall not exceed $15,000); (v) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (vii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA (including the related reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters; provided that such fees and expenses of counsel under this clause (vii) shall not exceed $15,000); (viii) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors, it being understood that, except as provided in this Section 13 or Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters will pay (A) all of the travel, lodging and other expenses of the Underwriters or any of their respective employees incurred by them in
| -31- |
connection with any “roadshow” presentation to potential investors and (B) 50% of the costs of any aircraft chartered in connection with any “roadshow” presentation; and (ix) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange.
(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11, (ii) the Company or the Selling Stockholder for any reason fail to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable and documented fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby. It is understood that the Company shall not pay or reimburse any costs, fees and expenses incurred by an Underwriter that defaults on the obligations to purchase the Shares as contemplated in Section 12 hereof.
(c) The provisions of this Section 13 shall not affect or modify any agreement (including, without limitation, any registration rights agreement) that the Company and the Selling Stockholder may have made or may make for the allocation of payment of expenses or costs amongst any person subject to the allocation of payment of expenses or costs pursuant to such agreement.
14. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to herein and the affiliates of each Underwriter referred to in Section 9 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
15. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, the Selling Stockholder and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholder or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, the Selling Stockholder or the Underwriters.
16. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, but shall not, for the avoidance of doubt, in the case of any representation of the Company, include the Selling Stockholder; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; and (d) the term “significant subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.
17. Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Underwrit-
| -32- |
ers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company and the Selling Stockholder, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly identify their respective clients.
18. Miscellaneous.
(a) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be given to the Representative c/o Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Attention: Syndicate Department, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202 (facsimile (414) 298-7474), with a copy to Legal Department (facsimile (414) 298-7800); with a copy to Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP, 80 Pine Street, New York, New York 10005, Attention: John A. Tripodoro and Marc R. Lashbrook. Notices to the Company shall be given to it at c/o Griffon Corporation, 712 Fifth Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attention: General Counsel; with a copy to Dechert LLP, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, Attention: Martin Nussbaum. Notices to the Selling Stockholder shall be given to him at c/o Griffon Corporation, 712 Fifth Avenue, 18th Floor, New York, New York 10019, Attention: Ronald J. Kramer; with a copy to Dechert LLP, 1095 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10036, Attention: Martin Nussbaum.
(b) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
(c) Submission to Jurisdiction. Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby submit to the exclusive jurisdiction of the U.S. federal and New York state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby. Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder waive any objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such suit or proceeding in such courts. Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder agree that final judgment in any such suit, action or proceeding brought in such court shall be conclusive and binding upon the Company and the Selling Stockholder, as applicable, and may be enforced in any court to the jurisdiction of which Company and the Selling Stockholder, as applicable, is subject by a suit upon such judgment. The Company and the Selling Stockholder irrevocably appoint CT Corporation, located at 111 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10011, as its authorized agent in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York upon which process may be served in any such suit or proceeding, and agrees that service of process upon such authorized agent, and written notice of such service to the Company or the Selling Stockholder, as the case may be, by the person serving the same to the address provided in this Section 18, shall be deemed in every respect effective service of process upon the Company and the Selling Stockholder in any such suit or proceeding. Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby represent and warrant that such authorized agent has accepted such appointment and has agreed to act as such authorized agent for service of process.
(d) Waiver of Jury Trial. Each of the parties hereto hereby waives any right to trial by jury in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement.
| -33- |
(e) Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.
(i) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Underwriter of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
(ii) In the event that any Underwriter that is a Covered Entity or a BHC Act Affiliate of such Underwriter becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Underwriter are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.
As used in this Section 18(e):
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(f) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of a signed counterpart of this Agreement by facsimile transmission or email of a .pdf attachment shall constitute valid and sufficient delivery thereof. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” and words of like import in this Agreement or in any other certificate, agreement or document related to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall include images of manually executed signatures transmitted by facsimile or other electronic format (including,
| -34- |
without limitation, “pdf”, “tif” or “jpg”) and other electronic signatures (including, without limitation, DocuSign and AdobeSign). The use of electronic signatures and electronic records (including, without limitation, any contract or other record created, generated, sent, communicated, received, or stored by electronic means) shall be of the same legal effect, validity and enforceability as a manually executed signature or use of a paper-based record-keeping system to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, including the Federal Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act, the New York State Electronic Signatures and Records Act and any other applicable law, including, without limitation, any state law based on the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or the Uniform Commercial Code.
(g) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(h) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
| -35- |
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
| Very truly yours, | |||
| GRIFFON CORPORATION | |||
| By: | /s/ Seth L. Kaplan | ||
| Name: Seth L. Kaplan | |||
| Title: Senior Vice President | |||
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
| RONALD J. KRAMER, as Selling Stockholder | |||
| By: | /s/ Ronald J. Kramer | ||
| Name: Ronald J. Kramer | |||
| Title: | |||
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Accepted: As of the date first written above
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED
For itself and on behalf of the
several Underwriters listed
in Schedule 1 hereto.
| By: | /s/ Justin Holsen | |
| Authorized Signatory |
[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]
Schedule 1
| Underwriter | Number of Underwritten Shares | ||
| Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated | 3,789,474 | ||
| Raymond James & Associates, Inc. | 1,263,158 | ||
| Stephens Inc. | 1,263,158 | ||
| Truist Securities, Inc. | 1,263,158 | ||
| CJS Securities, Inc. | 210,526 | ||
| Sidoti & Company, LLC | 210,526 | ||
| Total 8,000,000 |
| Schedule 1-1 |
Schedule 2
| Selling Stockholder | Number of Option Shares | ||
| Ronald J. Kramer | 500,000 | ||
| Total 500,000 |
| Schedule 2-1 |
Annex A
| a. | Pricing Disclosure Package |
None.
| b. | Pricing Information Provided Orally by Underwriters |
8,000,000 shares at $21.50 per share
| Annex A-1 |
Annex B
List of Persons to Sign Lock-Up Agreement
Kevin F. Sullivan
Henry A. Alpert
Louis J. Grabowsky
William H. Waldorf
Thomas J. Brosig
Rear Admiral Robert G. Harrison
Ronald J. Kramer
General Victor Eugene Renuart
Cheryl Turnbull
Robert F. Mehmel
Brian G. Harris
Seth L. Kaplan
Lacy M. Johnson
James W. Sight
Samanta Hegedus Stewart
Jerome L. Coben
| Annex B-1 |
Exhibit A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
____ __, 20__
ROBERT W. BAIRD & CO. INCORPORATED
As Representative of
the several Underwriters listed in
Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement referred to below
777 East Wisconsin Avenue
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202
| Re: | Griffon Corporation --- Public Offering |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you, as Representative of the several Underwriters, propose to enter into an underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Griffon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) and the Selling Stockholder listed on Schedule 2 to the Underwriting Agreement, providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by the several Underwriters named in Schedule 1 to the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriters”), of common stock, par value $0.25 per share, of the Company (the “Securities”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Securities, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, during the period beginning on the date of this letter agreement (this “Letter Agreement”) and ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”) (such period, the “Restricted Period”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of common stock, par value $0.25 per share, of the Company (the “Common Stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) make any demand for or exercise any right with respect to the registration of any
| A-1 |
shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, in each case other than (A) the Securities to be sold by the undersigned pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, (B) transfers of shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock as a bona fide gift or gifts, (C) distributions of shares of Common Stock to partners, members or stockholders of the undersigned, (D) transfers to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned; (E) if the undersigned is a trust, transfers to any beneficiary of the trust or a member of the immediate family of any such beneficiary, (F) transfers to any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity, the beneficial ownership interests of which are held by the undersigned, (G) transfers by will, other testamentary document or intestate succession to the legal representative, heir, beneficiary or a member of the immediate family of the undersigned, (H) transfers to a spouse, former spouse, child or other dependent pursuant to a domestic relations order or in connection with a divorce settlement or (I) transfers to any affiliate of the undersigned or any investment fund or other entity (including any joint venture entity) controlled or managed by the undersigned; provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H) or (I), each donee, transferee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representative a lock-up letter in the form of this paragraph; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H) or (I), no filing by, or on behalf of, any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period referred to above); and provided further, that (i) in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (B), (C), (D), (E), (F), (G), (H) or (I), any such transfer or distribution shall not involve a disposition for value, other than with respect to any such transfer or distribution for which the transferor or distributor receives (i) equity interests of such transferee or (ii) such transferee’s interests in the transferor. For purposes of this Letter Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin.
The foregoing restrictions shall also not apply to (i) the establishment of a contract, instruction or plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (a “Rule 10b5-1 Plan”), provided that (x) no sales of Common Stock or securities convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, Common Stock shall be made pursuant to such Rule 10b5-1 Plan prior to the expiration of the Restricted Period referred to above, and (y) no filing by, or on behalf of, any party under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with the establishment of such trading plan, or (ii) the disposition of shares of Common Stock to the Company for the purpose of covering tax liabilities and/or the exercise price in connection with the exercise of options to purchase shares of Common Stock or the vesting of restricted stock units or shares of restricted stock or to effect the cashless exercise or net share settlement of options to purchase shares of Common Stock, in each case, awarded pursuant to the Company’s existing equity compensation plans that have been entered into prior to the date of this Letter Agreement and are disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, provided no filing by, or on behalf of, any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or
| A-2 |
distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the Restricted Period referred to above).
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representative of the undersigned.
The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective by September 13, 2020, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement. The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.
| A-3 |
This Letter Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
| Very truly yours, | |||
| By: | |||
| [NAME OF STOCKHOLDER] | |||
| A-4 |
Exhibit 5.1
 |
1095 Avenue of the Americas New York, NY 10036-6797 +1 212 698 3500 Main +1 212 698 3599 Fax www.dechert.com |
August 18, 2020
Griffon Corporation
712 Fifth Avenue, 18th Floor
New York, New York 10019
| Re: | Prospectus Supplement to Registration Statement on Form S-3 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special counsel to Griffon Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the ”Company”), in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-224727) (the “Registration Statement”) and the related prospectus contained therein (the “Base Prospectus”), which was filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) and became immediately effective upon filing on May 7, 2018 pursuant to Rule 462(e) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Act”), as supplemented by the prospectus supplement, dated August 11, 2020 (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement”) and the final prospectus supplement filed with the Commission on August 17, 2020 (the “Prospectus Supplement” and, together with the Base Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus, the “Prospectus”) in connection with (i) the sale by the Company of 8,000,000 shares (the ”Company Securities”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.25 per share (the “Common Stock”), (ii) the offering by the Company of up to 700,000 shares (the “Company Option Securities”) of Common Stock pursuant to an overallotment option (the “Overallotment Option”) provided in the Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) and (iii) the offering by Ronald J. Kramer (the “Selling Stockholder”) of up to 500,000 shares of Common Stock (the “Selling Stockholder Securities” and, together with the Company Securities and the Company Option Securities, the “Offered Securities”) pursuant to the Overallotment Option. All of the Offered Securities are to be sold by the Company or the Selling Stockholder, as applicable, as described in the Registration Statement and the related Prospectus.
In connection with this opinion (this “Opinion”), we have examined originals or copies (in each case signed, certified or otherwise proven to our satisfaction to be genuine) of: (i) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; (ii) the Company’s Restated Certificate of Incorporation (as amended to date) (the “Certificate of Incorporation”); (iii) the Company’s Amended and Restated Bylaws as currently in effect (the ”Bylaws”); (iv) the Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated August 13, 2020, for which Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated is acting as Representative (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement) to the several underwriters named therein; (v) minutes evidencing corporate actions of the Company authorizing, among other things,
|
Griffon Corporation August 18, 2020 Page 2 |
the offering and sale of the Offered Securities; and (vi) a certificate of an officer of the Company as to matters of fact material to this Opinion.
In our examination, we have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as original documents, and the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as copies, the legal capacity of natural persons who are signatories to the documents examined by us and the legal power and authority of all persons signing on behalf of parties (other than the Company) to all documents.
We have further assumed that the Offered Securities will be sold in the manner stated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and in compliance with the applicable provisions of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of various states and the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement.
Our opinions set forth herein are based solely upon the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware as in effect on the date hereof, and we express no opinion with respect to any other laws, rules or regulations (including, without limitation, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of any state to the offer and/or sale of the Offered Securities).
Based upon and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, (i) as of the date hereof, the Company Securities have been duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, (ii) the Company Option Securities will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when sold by the Company in accordance with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and (iii) the Selling Stockholder Securities will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when sold by the Selling Stockholder in accordance with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
We hereby consent to the filing of this Opinion as an exhibit to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the Commission on August 18, 2020 and as an exhibit to any application under the securities or other laws of any state of the United States which relate to the offer and sale of the Offered Securities. We further consent to the use of our name under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not admit hereby that we come within the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
This Opinion is furnished to you in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Securities and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose, except as expressly provided in the preceding paragraph. This Opinion is furnished as of the date hereof and we disclaim any undertaking to update this Opinion aVfter the date hereof or to advise you of any
|
Griffon Corporation August 18, 2020 Page 3 |
subsequent changes of the facts stated or assumed herein or of any subsequent changes in applicable law.
| Very truly yours, | |
| /s/ Dechert LLP |
Exhibit 99.1
Griffon Corporation Announces Pricing of
Offering of Common Stock
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, August 13, 2020 – Griffon Corporation (“Griffon” or the “Company”) (NYSE:GFF) announced today the pricing of an underwritten offering of 8,000,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $21.50 per share. In addition, Griffon and a selling stockholder of Griffon have granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,200,000 shares of common stock.
Griffon expects to use the net proceeds received by it from this offering (i) for working capital and general corporate purposes, including to expand its current business through acquisitions of, or investments in, other businesses or products, and (ii) to temporarily repay a portion of its outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility (which will be subject to re-borrowing), and for the payment of related fees and expenses. Griffon will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by the selling stockholder. The offering is expected to close on August 18, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Baird is acting as lead book-running manager and representative of the underwriters for this offering. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Stephens Inc., and Truist Securities, Inc. are also acting as additional joint book-running managers for this offering. CJS Securities, Inc. and Sidoti & Company, LLC are acting as co-managers for this offering.
This offering is being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 7, 2018. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the other documents Griffon has filed or will file with the SEC for more complete information about Griffon and this offering. The offering of these shares may be made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting: Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Attention: Syndicate Department, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, by telephone at (800) 792-2473, or by email at syndicate@rwbaird.com. Alternatively, electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus are also available free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
Forward-looking Statements
“Safe Harbor” Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All statements related to, among other things, income (loss), earnings, cash flows, revenue, changes in operations, operating improvements, industries in which Griffon operates, the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and
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the United States and global economies, that are not historical, are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” and may be indicated by words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “supports,” “plans,” “projects,” “expects,” “believes,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “hope,” “forecast,” “management is of the opinion,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “explores,” “opportunities,” the negative of these expressions, use of the future tense and similar words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: current economic conditions and uncertainties in the housing, credit and capital markets; Griffon’s ability to achieve expected savings from cost control, restructuring, integration and disposal initiatives; the ability to identify and successfully consummate and integrate value-adding acquisition opportunities; increasing competition and pricing pressures in the markets served by Griffon’s operating companies; the ability of Griffon’s operating companies to expand into new geographic and product markets and to anticipate and meet customer demands for new products and product enhancements and innovations; reduced military spending by the government on projects for which Telephonics Corporation (“Telephonics”) supplies products, including as a result of defense budget cuts or other government actions; the ability of the federal government to fund and conduct its operations; increases in the cost or lack of availability of raw materials such as resin, wood and steel, components or purchased finished goods, including any potential impact on costs or availability resulting from tariffs; changes in customer demand or loss of a material customer at one of Griffon’s operating companies; the potential impact of seasonal variations and uncertain weather patterns on certain of Griffon’s businesses; political events that could impact the worldwide economy; a downgrade in Griffon’s credit ratings; changes in international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange fluctuations; the reliance by certain of Griffon’s businesses on particular third party suppliers and manufacturers to meet customer demands; the relative mix of products and services offered by Griffon’s businesses, which impacts margins and operating efficiencies; short-term capacity constraints or prolonged excess capacity; unforeseen developments in contingencies, such as litigation, regulatory and environmental matters; unfavorable results of government agency contract audits of Telephonics; Griffon’s ability to adequately protect and maintain the validity of patent and other intellectual property rights; the cyclical nature of the businesses of certain of Griffon’s operating companies; possible terrorist threats and actions and their impact on the global economy; the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. and the global economy, including business disruptions, reductions in employment and an increase in business and operating facility failures, specifically among our customers and suppliers; Griffon’s ability to service and refinance its debt; and the impact of recent and future legislative and regulatory changes, including, without limitation, the Tax Cuts Jobs Act of 2017. Such statements reflect the views of Griffon with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, as previously disclosed in Griffon’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Griffon undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
About Griffon Corporation
Griffon is a diversified management and holding company that conducts business through wholly-owned subsidiaries. Griffon oversees the operations of its subsidiaries, allocates resources among them and manages their capital structures. Griffon provides direction and assistance to its subsidiaries in connection with acquisition and growth opportunities as well as in connection with divestitures. In order to further diversify, Griffon also seeks out, evaluates and, when appropriate, will acquire additional businesses that offer potentially attractive returns on capital.
Headquartered in New York, N.Y., Griffon was founded in 1959 and is incorporated in Delaware. Griffon is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol GFF.
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Griffon currently conducts its operations through three reportable segments:
| • | Consumer and Professional Products (“CPP”) conducts its operations through The AMES Companies, Inc. (“AMES”). Founded in 1774, AMES is the leading North American manufacturer and a global provider of branded consumer and professional tools and products for home storage and organization, landscaping, and enhancing outdoor lifestyles. CPP sells products globally through a portfolio of leading brands including True Temper, AMES, and ClosetMaid. |
| • | Home and Building Products (“HBP”) conducts its operations through Clopay Corporation (“Clopay”). Founded in 1964, Clopay is the largest manufacturer and marketer of garage doors and rolling steel doors in North America. Residential and commercial sectional garage doors are sold through professional dealers and leading home center retail chains throughout North America under the brands Clopay, Ideal, and Holmes. Rolling steel door and grille products designed for commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail use are sold under the CornellCookson brand. |
| • | Defense Electronics (“DE”) conducts its operations through Telephonics, founded in 1933, a globally recognized leading provider of highly sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and communications solutions for defense, aerospace and commercial customers. |
| Company Contact: | Investor Relations Contact: |
| Brian G. Harris | Michael Callahan |
| SVP & Chief Financial Officer | Managing Director |
| Griffon Corporation | ICR Inc. |
| (212) 957-5000 | (203) 682-8311 |
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Exhibit 99.2
Griffon Corporation Announces Closing of
Offering of Common Stock and Full Exercise by
Underwriters of Option to Purchase Additional Shares
NEW YORK, NEW YORK, August 18, 2020 – Griffon Corporation (“Griffon” or the “Company”) (NYSE:GFF) announced today the closing of its previously announced underwritten offering of 8,000,000 shares of common stock at a public offering price of $21.50 per share, and the full exercise by the underwriters of their 30-day option to purchase 1,200,000 additional shares offered by the Company and a selling stockholder, also at a price of $21.50 per share. The closing of the purchase of the 1,200,000 shares subject to the underwriters’ option is expected to close on August 21, 2020, subject to the satisfaction of customary closing conditions.
Griffon intends to use the net proceeds received by it from this offering (i) for working capital and general corporate purposes, including to expand its current business through acquisitions of, or investments in, other businesses or products, and (ii) to temporarily repay a portion of its outstanding borrowings under its revolving credit facility (which will be subject to re-borrowing), and for the payment of related fees and expenses. Griffon will not receive any proceeds from the sale of common stock by the selling stockholder.
Baird acted as lead book-running manager and representative of the underwriters for this offering. Raymond James & Associates, Inc., Stephens Inc., and Truist Securities, Inc. acted as additional joint book-running managers for this offering. CJS Securities, Inc. and Sidoti & Company, LLC acted as co-managers for this offering.
This offering was made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 previously filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 7, 2018. The offering of these shares was made only by means of a prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, copies of which may be obtained by contacting: Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated, Attention: Syndicate Department, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, WI 53202, by telephone at (800) 792-2473, or by email at syndicate@rwbaird.com. Alternatively, electronic copies of the prospectus supplement and accompanying prospectus are also available free of charge on the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.
Forward-looking Statements
“Safe Harbor” Statements under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: All statements related to, among other things, income (loss), earnings, cash flows, revenue, changes in operations, operating
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improvements, industries in which Griffon operates, the effects of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and the United States and global economies, that are not historical, are hereby identified as “forward-looking statements” and may be indicated by words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “supports,” “plans,” “projects,” “expects,” “believes,” “should,” “would,” “could,” “hope,” “forecast,” “management is of the opinion,” “may,” “will,” “estimates,” “intends,” “explores,” “opportunities,” the negative of these expressions, use of the future tense and similar words or phrases. Such forward-looking statements are subject to inherent risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in any forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, among others: current economic conditions and uncertainties in the housing, credit and capital markets; Griffon’s ability to achieve expected savings from cost control, restructuring, integration and disposal initiatives; the ability to identify and successfully consummate and integrate value-adding acquisition opportunities; increasing competition and pricing pressures in the markets served by Griffon’s operating companies; the ability of Griffon’s operating companies to expand into new geographic and product markets and to anticipate and meet customer demands for new products and product enhancements and innovations; reduced military spending by the government on projects for which Telephonics Corporation (“Telephonics”) supplies products, including as a result of defense budget cuts or other government actions; the ability of the federal government to fund and conduct its operations; increases in the cost or lack of availability of raw materials such as resin, wood and steel, components or purchased finished goods, including any potential impact on costs or availability resulting from tariffs; changes in customer demand or loss of a material customer at one of Griffon’s operating companies; the potential impact of seasonal variations and uncertain weather patterns on certain of Griffon’s businesses; political events that could impact the worldwide economy; a downgrade in Griffon’s credit ratings; changes in international economic conditions including interest rate and currency exchange fluctuations; the reliance by certain of Griffon’s businesses on particular third party suppliers and manufacturers to meet customer demands; the relative mix of products and services offered by Griffon’s businesses, which impacts margins and operating efficiencies; short-term capacity constraints or prolonged excess capacity; unforeseen developments in contingencies, such as litigation, regulatory and environmental matters; unfavorable results of government agency contract audits of Telephonics; Griffon’s ability to adequately protect and maintain the validity of patent and other intellectual property rights; the cyclical nature of the businesses of certain of Griffon’s operating companies; possible terrorist threats and actions and their impact on the global economy; the impact of COVID-19 on the U.S. and the global economy, including business disruptions, reductions in employment and an increase in business and operating facility failures, specifically among our customers and suppliers; Griffon’s ability to service and refinance its debt; and the impact of recent and future legislative and regulatory changes, including, without limitation, the Tax Cuts Jobs Act of 2017. Such statements reflect the views of Griffon with respect to future events and are subject to these and other risks, as previously disclosed in Griffon’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made. Griffon undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
About Griffon Corporation
Griffon is a diversified management and holding company that conducts business through wholly-owned subsidiaries. Griffon oversees the operations of its subsidiaries, allocates resources among them and manages their capital structures. Griffon provides direction and assistance to its subsidiaries in connection with acquisition and growth opportunities as well as in connection with divestitures. In order to further diversify, Griffon also seeks out, evaluates and, when appropriate, will acquire additional businesses that offer potentially attractive returns on capital.
Headquartered in New York, N.Y., Griffon was founded in 1959 and is incorporated in Delaware. Griffon is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and trades under the symbol GFF.
| 2 |
Griffon currently conducts its operations through three reportable segments:
| • | Consumer and Professional Products (“CPP”) conducts its operations through The AMES Companies, Inc. (“AMES”). Founded in 1774, AMES is the leading North American manufacturer and a global provider of branded consumer and professional tools and products for home storage and organization, landscaping, and enhancing outdoor lifestyles. CPP sells products globally through a portfolio of leading brands including True Temper, AMES, and ClosetMaid. |
| • | Home and Building Products conducts its operations through Clopay Corporation (“Clopay”). Founded in 1964, Clopay is the largest manufacturer and marketer of garage doors and rolling steel doors in North America. Residential and commercial sectional garage doors are sold through professional dealers and leading home center retail chains throughout North America under the brands Clopay, Ideal, and Holmes. Rolling steel door and grille products designed for commercial, industrial, institutional, and retail use are sold under the CornellCookson brand. |
| • | Defense Electronics conducts its operations through Telephonics Corporation, founded in 1933, a globally recognized leading provider of highly sophisticated intelligence, surveillance and communications solutions for defense, aerospace and commercial customers. |
| Company Contact: | Investor Relations Contact: | |
| Brian G. Harris | Michael Callahan | |
| SVP & Chief Financial Officer | Managing Director | |
| Griffon Corporation | ICR Inc. | |
| (212) 957-5000 | (203) 682-8311 |
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