Exhibit h.3

 

EXECUTION VERSION

 

 

2,000,000 Shares

 

 

NEWTEK BUSINESS SERVICES CORP.

 

 

Common Stock, Par Value $0.02 Per Share

 

 

Underwriting Agreement

 

 

Dated October 8, 2015

 

 

 

 

TABLE OF CONTENTS

 

SECTION		PAGE
Section 1.	Representations and Warranties of the Company	2
Section 2.	Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Offered Shares	12
Section 3.	Additional Covenants of the Company	14
Section 4.	Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters	19
Section 5.	Payment of Expenses	23
Section 6.	Reimbursement of the Underwriters’ Expenses	23
Section 7.	Indemnification	23
Section 8.	Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters	26
Section 9.	Termination of This Agreement	27
Section 10.	Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery	28
Section 11.	Notices	28
Section 12.	Successors	29
Section 13.	Partial Unenforceability	29
Section 14.	Governing Law Provisions	29
Section 15.	WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL	30
Section 16.	No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship	30
Section 17.	General Provisions	30

   

list of EXHIBITS
EXHIBIT  A	FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
list of schedules
Schedule A	List of the Underwriters
Schedule B	OFFERING TERMS

 

  

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

October 8, 2015

 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.

As Representatives of the several Underwriters

named in Schedule A hereto

 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
787 7th Avenue
5th Floor
New York, NY 10019

 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33716

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Newtek Business Services Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “List of the Underwriters”) attached hereto (collectively, the “Underwriters”) an aggregate of 2,000,000 shares (the “Firm Offered Shares”) of its Common Stock, par value $0.02 per share (the “Common Stock”), in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in this Underwriting Agreement (the “Agreement”). In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 300,000 shares (the “Optional Offered Shares”) of Common Stock, as provided in Section 2 (the “Purchase, Sale, and Delivery of the Offered Shares”). The Firm Offered Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Optional Offered Shares are collectively called the “Offered Shares.” Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. (“Keefe, Bruyette & Woods”) and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. (“Raymond James”) have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares.

 

On October 1, 2013, the Company filed Form N-6F with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, including the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “1940 Act”), pursuant to which the Company announced its intention to elect to be regulated as a business development company (“BDC”).

 

On November 12, 2014, Newtek Business Services, Inc., a New York corporation (the “Predecessor Company”), merged with and into the Company (the “Merger”). In connection with the Merger, all issued and outstanding shares of common stock of the Predecessor Company were converted into shares of the Common Stock. For purposes of this Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, references to the Company shall be deemed to include the Predecessor Company for periods prior to the completion of the Merger.

 

  

On November 12, 2014, Form N-54A Notification to be Subject to Sections 55 through 65 of the 1940 Act (the “1940 Act Notification”) was filed by the Company with the Commission under the 1940 Act, pursuant to which the Company elected to be regulated as a BDC. The Company intends to elect to be taxable as a regulated investment company (“RIC”) within the meaning of Section 851(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2015.

 

The Company has prepared and filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form N-2 (File No. 333-204915), covering the registration of the offering and sale of the Offered Shares and certain of the Company’s other securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (including the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder, the “Securities Act”), which registration statement has been declared effective by the Commission. Such registration statement, including the amendments thereto, the exhibits thereto and any schedules thereto, at the time it became effective, and including any information that is deemed to be part thereof pursuant to Rule 430C of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is herein called the “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,” and after such filing the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The Company has also filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act a preliminary prospectus supplement, dated October 7, 2015, relating to the Offered Shares (the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement” and together with the base prospectus, dated August 19, 2015, included therewith (the “Base Prospectus”), collectively, the “Preliminary Prospectus”). The final prospectus supplement in the form filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act relating to the Offered Shares on or before the second business day after the date hereof (or such earlier time as may be required under the Securities Act), together with the Base Prospectus, is herein called the “Prospectus.”

 

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system or any successor system (“EDGAR”).

 

The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:

 

Section 1.          Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents, warrants, and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a)          The Company meets the requirements for use of Form N-2 under the Securities Act and the Securities Act Regulations; each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has been issued under the Securities Act, no order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued and no proceedings for any of those purposes have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with by the Company.

 

  

(b)          (1) At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective, at the Applicable Time (as defined below) and at the Closing Date (as defined below) (and, if any Optional Offered Shares are purchased, at the Second Closing Date), the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto, as the case may be, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and (2) at the time the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto were issued and at the Closing Date (and, if any Optional Offered Shares are purchased, at the Second Closing Date), neither the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will 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 representations and warranties in clauses (1) and (2) above shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, it being understood and agreed that the only such information provided by any Underwriter is that described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. No order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus has been issued by the Commission.

 

The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 497 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering were identical in all material respects to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

 

(c)          For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” is 5:30 p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement; the Preliminary Prospectus as supplemented by the information set forth in Schedule B (“Offering Terms”) attached hereto, taken together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”) as of the Applicable Time, did not 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 under which they were made, not misleading; provided that this representation and warranty shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the General Disclosure Package made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the General Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed that the only such information provided by any Underwriter is that described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.

 

(d)          This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed, and delivered by the Company. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver this Agreement and to perform its obligations hereunder; 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 have been duly and validly taken.

 

  

(e)          The Offered Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable. The issuance and sale of the Offered Shares is not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase the Offered Shares. The Offered Shares conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.

 

(f)          There are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities of the Company registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived by the holder or holders thereof.

 

(g)          Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) neither the Company nor any of its consolidated subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement that is material to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its consolidated subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in each case, as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(h)          McGladrey LLP and CohnReznick LLP, who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, are each an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its consolidated 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.

 

 

(i)          The financial statements and the related notes thereto of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and present fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and the supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein; and the selected financial data and the summary financial data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The pro forma financial statements and/or information of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement and the Preliminary Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.

 

(j)          The Company maintains a system of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “1934 Act”)) that complies with the requirements of the 1934 Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, 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, including, but not limited to internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls.

 

(k)          The Company maintains an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the 1934 Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the 1934 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, including its principal executive officer(s) and principal financial officer(s), as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company has carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of its disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the 1934 Act.

 

(l)          Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

 

  

(m)          Each of the Company and Newtek Small Business Finance, LLC has been duly incorporated, formed or organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, formation or organization and has the entity power and authority to own, lease, and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The Company is duly qualified as a foreign entity to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

(n)          The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association, or other entity other than the entities described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(o)          The authorized, issued, and outstanding capital stock of the Company are as set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Description of Our Capital Stock” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described therein). The Common Stock conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained under the caption “Description of Our Capital Stock” in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable. None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal, or other rights to purchase or equity or debt securities convertible into, exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries other than those described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus, and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options, and rights.

 

(p)          The Common Stock is registered pursuant to the Securities Act and is listed, or, as to the Offered Shares, shall be listed as set forth in Section 4(j), on the Nasdaq Global Market, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of the Offered Shares under the Securities Act, delisting the Common Stock from the Nasdaq Global Market, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or The NASDAQ Stock Market LLC (including any segment or tier thereof, collectively, the “Nasdaq Stock Market”) is contemplating terminating such registration or listing. The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all applicable listing (and continued listing) requirements of the Nasdaq Global Market. None of the issuance, sale or delivery of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement will violate or require approval of the stockholders of the Company pursuant to the Nasdaq Stock Market Rules.

 

  

(q)          Neither the Company nor any of its consolidated subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”) except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

(r)          The issuance and sale of the Offered Shares, the execution of this Agreement and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement, and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus: (i) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges, or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change, and (iii) no consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the Offered Shares or the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except the registration under the Securities Act of the Offered Shares and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws or the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Offered Shares by the Underwriters.

 

(s)          Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or of its consolidated subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the Company, individually or in the aggregate, would have or may reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change, or would prevent or impair the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are overtly threatened by governmental authorities or others.

 

(t)          No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries exists or, to the best knowledge of the Company, is threatened or imminent. The Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers that might be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

 

(u)          Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries own or possess sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, patents, know-how, collaborative research agreements, inventions, servicemarks, copyrights, licenses, approvals, trade secrets, and other similar rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) necessary to conduct their businesses as now conducted, as proposed to be conducted, as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any of its consolidated subsidiaries has received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries by others with respect to any Intellectual Property Rights. There is no claim being made against the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries regarding any kind of Intellectual Property Right. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries do not, in the conduct of their business as now or proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, infringe or conflict with any right or patent of any third party, or any discovery, invention, product, or process which is the subject of a patent application filed by any third party, known to the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries, which such infringement or conflict is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

(v)         The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries possess all permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations (collectively, “Permits”) issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the businesses now operated by them; the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and conditions of all such Permits and all of the Permits are valid and in full force and effect, except, in each case, where the failure so to comply or where the invalidity of such Permits or the failure of such Permits to be in full force and effect, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Change; and the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or material modification of any such Permits.

 

(w)          The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real and personal property and good and marketable title to all other properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(i) above (or elsewhere in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, pledges, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims, and other defects or restrictions of any kind, except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. The real property, improvements, buildings, equipment, and personal property held under lease by the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment, or personal property by the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries.

 

(x)          All United States federal income tax returns of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries required by law to be filed have been filed and all taxes shown by such returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been paid, except assessments against which appeals have been or will be promptly taken and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have filed all other tax returns that are required to have been filed by them pursuant to applicable foreign, state, local or other law, except insofar as the failure to file such returns, individually or in the aggregate, would not result in a Material Adverse Change, and have paid all taxes due pursuant to such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries in respect of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for additional income tax for any years not finally determined.

 

  

(y)          The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries are insured by recognized, financially sound, and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism, earthquakes, general liability, and Directors and Officers liability. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to (i) renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire, or (ii) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

(z)          Neither the Company nor any of its directors, officers or other affiliates has (i) taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action which constitutes, was designed to cause or to result in, or that might be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation (including, without limitation, as defined in Regulation M under the 1934 Act (“Regulation M”)) of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the issuance or the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or (ii) since the filing of the Registration Statement sold, bid for or purchased, or paid any person compensation for soliciting purchases of, shares of Common Stock.

 

(aa)         Neither the Company nor any of its consolidated subsidiaries nor, to the best knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; or (iv) made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment.

 

(bb)         The operations of the Company and its consolidated 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 (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 consolidated subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

 

(cc)         None of the Company, any of its consolidated subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Offered Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.

 

(dd)         There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or 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 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

 

(ee)         Except as described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, the Company is not in violation of any statute or any rule, regulation, decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, relating to the use, production, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), owns or operates any real property contaminated with any substance that is subject to any Environmental Laws, is liable for any off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any Environmental Laws, or is subject to any claim relating to any Environmental Laws, which violation, contamination, liability or claim, individually or in the aggregate, would have a Material Adverse Change; and the Company is not aware of any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.

 

(ff)         Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company for employees or former employees of the Company and its affiliates is, and has been maintained, in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code, except to the extent that failure to so comply, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Change. No prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code has occurred with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption.

 

(gg)         The Company is a closed-end, non-diversified management investment company and has elected to be regulated as a BDC under the 1940 Act, has duly filed the 1940 Act Notification with the Commission and is eligible to make such an election; the 1940 Act Notification when originally filed with the Commission and any amendment or supplement thereto when filed with the Commission did or will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1940 Act; the Company has not filed with the Commission any notice of withdrawal of the 1940 Act Notification; the 1940 Act Notification remains in full force and effect, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no order of suspension or revocation of such election under the 1940 Act has been issued or proceedings therefore initiated or threatened by the Commission; the operations of the Company are in compliance in all material respects with the provisions of the 1940 Act.

 

  

(hh)         Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, no director of the Company is an “interested person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of the Company or an “affiliated person” (as defined in the 1940 Act) of any Underwriter.

 

(ii)         The Company has taken all required action under the Securities Act and the 1940 Act to make the public offering and consummate the sale of the Offered Shares as contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(jj)         All advertising, sales literature or other promotional material (including “prospectus wrappers,” “broker kits,” “road show slides” and “road show scripts”), whether in printed or electronic form, authorized in writing by or prepared by the Company for use in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares (collectively, “sales material”) complied and comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the 1940 Act and, if required to be filed with FINRA under FINRA’s conduct rules, were provided to Pepper Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, for filing; no sales material contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits 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.

 

(kk)         The Company’s directors’ and officers’ errors and omissions insurance policy and its fidelity bond required by Rule 17g-1 of the 1940 Act will be in full force and effect; the Company is in compliance with the terms of such policy and fidelity bond in all material respects; and there are no claims by the Company under any such policy or fidelity bond as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause.

 

(ll)         The Company will be in compliance with the requirements of Subchapter M of the Code necessary to qualify as a RIC; the Company intends to direct the investment of the net proceeds of the offering of the Offered Shares and to continue to conduct its activities in such a manner as to comply with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code; the Company intends to be treated as a RIC under Subchapter M of the Code for its taxable year ending December 31, 2015.

 

(mm)         The Company has duly authorized, executed and delivered any agreements pursuant to which it made the investments described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Portfolio Companies” (each a “Portfolio Company Agreement”) with corporations or other entities (each a “Portfolio Company”). To the Company’s knowledge, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, each Portfolio Company is current with respect to all of its material obligations under the applicable Portfolio Company Agreements, no event of default (or a default which with the giving of notice or the passage of time would become an event of default) has occurred under such agreements.

 

(nn)         Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters set forth therein.

 

  

(oo)         Except pursuant to this Agreement, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any transactions contemplated by this Agreement.

 

(pp)         The Company (i) has adopted and implemented written policies and procedures reasonably designed to prevent violation of the Federal Securities Laws (as that term is defined in Rule 38a-1 under the Investment Company Act) by the Company and (ii) is conducting its business in compliance with all laws, rules, regulations, decisions, directives and orders applicable to the Company, except in the case of (i) and (ii) as would not, either individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to, result in a Material Adverse Change.

 

Section 2.          Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Offered Shares.

 

(a)          The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters the Firm Offered Shares upon the terms herein set forth. On the basis of the representations, warranties, and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Offered Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A (the “List of the Underwriters”) attached hereto. The purchase price per Firm Offered Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall be $15.51 (the “Purchase Price”).

 

(b)          The Company shall deliver the Firm Offered Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) against payment of the Purchase Price therefor in Federal (same day) funds by official bank check or checks or wire transfer drawn to the order of the Company and payment therefor at the offices of Pepper Hamilton LLP, The New York Times Building, 37^th Floor, 620 Eighth Avenue, New York, New York 10018-1405 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Representatives) at 10:00 a.m. New York City time, on October 15, 2015 (the time and date of such closing are called the “First Closing Date”); provided, however, that if the Company has not made available to the Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time provided in Section 2(g) and Section 3(d) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole discretion, postpone the First Closing Date until no later than two (2) full business days following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives. The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the Representatives may provide notice to postpone the First Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to, any determination by the Company or the Representatives to recirculate to the public copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 8 (the “Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters”).

 

 

(c)          In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties, and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of 300,000 Optional Offered Shares from the Company at a purchase price per Optional Offered Share equal to the Purchase Price less the per share amount of the Company’s quarterly dividend for the third quarter of 2015 as declared by the board of directors on October 1, 2015; provided, that no holder of the Optional Offered Shares shall be entitled to receive from the Company the amount of such quarterly dividend. The option granted hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Offered Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised in whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) upon notice by the Representatives to which notice may be given at any time within thirty (30) days from the date of this Agreement. Such notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of Optional Offered Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in which the Optional Offered Shares are to be registered, and (iii) the time, date, and place at which the Optional Offered Shares will be delivered (which time and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the First Closing Date, and in such case the term “First Closing Date” shall refer to the time and date of delivery of the Firm Offered Shares and the Optional Offered Shares). Such time and date of delivery of the Optional Offered Shares, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is called the “Second Closing Date” and shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be earlier than three (3) nor later than five (5) full business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. The First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date are each a “Closing Date” as referenced herein. If any Optional Offered Shares are to be purchased, (i) each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Optional Offered Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Optional Offered Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm Offered Shares set forth on Schedule A (the “List of the Underwriters”) attached hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Offered Shares and (ii) the Company agrees to sell to each respective Underwriter the aggregate amount of Optional Offered Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Optional Offered Shares to be sold as the number of Firm Offered Shares set forth on Schedule A attached hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Offered Shares. The Representatives may cancel the option or exercise thereof at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.

 

(d)          The Representatives hereby advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Offered Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.

 

(e)          Payment for the Offered Shares shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company against delivery of such Offered Shares through the facilities of DTC. It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own accounts and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Offered Shares and any Optional Offered Shares that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. Each of Keefe, Bruyette & Woods and Raymond James, individually and not as Representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Offered Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.

 

  

(f)          The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, a credit representing the Firm Offered Shares to an account or accounts at DTC as designated by the Representatives for the accounts of the Representatives and the several Underwriters at the First Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, a credit representing the Optional Offered Shares that the Representative and the Underwriters have agreed to purchase to an account or accounts at DTC as designated by the Representative for the accounts of the Representative and the several Underwriters, at the Second Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company will cause the certificates for the Firm Offered Shares and the Optional Offered Shares, as the case may be, in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives request to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four hours prior to the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as applicable, at the office of DTC or its designated custodian.

 

(g)          Not later than 12:00 p.m. on the third business day following the date that the Offered Shares are first released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives shall request.

 

Section 3.          Additional Covenants of the Company. The Company further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:

 

(a)          The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time period specified by Rule 497 under the Securities Act and the Company will furnish, without charge, written and electronic copies of the Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters prior to 5:00 am, New York City time, on the next business day succeeding the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.

 

(b)          The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, 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 (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) in written and electronic form as the Representatives may reasonably request and, in each case, hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the Securities Act. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Offered Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Offered Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act), or in lieu thereof, the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act, in connection with sales of the Offered Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.

 

 

(c)          Before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any other filing permitted under the Securities Act to be made with the Commission in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the amendment or supplement or other filing for review and will not file any such proposed amendment or supplement or other filing to which the Representatives reasonably object.

 

(d)          After the date of this Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing of (i) the receipt of any comments of, or requests for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional or supplemental information from, the Commission, (ii) the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (and to furnish the Representatives with copies thereof), (iii) the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, and (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to remove, suspend, or terminate from listing or quotation the Offered Shares from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threat or initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible moment.

 

(e)          The Company will comply with the Securities Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Offered Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period, in the opinion of counsel to the Company or counsel to the Underwriters, (i) any event 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 required to be stated therein or 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 the Securities Act, the Company will immediately 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 Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented 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 the Securities Act, and (2) if at any time prior to the First Closing Date, in the opinion of counsel to the Company or counsel to the Underwriters, (i) any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the General 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, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the General Disclosure Package to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will immediately 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 Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the General Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the General Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances, be misleading or so that the General Disclosure Package will comply with the Securities Act.

 

  

(f)          The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Offered Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of) the state securities or Blue Sky laws, or the securities laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such information as may be required for that purpose. The Company shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations, and exemptions in effect so long as required to continue such qualifications for so long a period as the Representatives may request for the distribution of the Offered Shares. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it is not presently subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Offered Shares for offering, sale, or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose. In the event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration, or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment. The Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act), or any amendment, supplement or revision to the Prospectus, will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably object. If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company will file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and at the time of filing either to pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or to give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Securities Act.

 

(g)          If at any time during the ninety (90) day period after the date of this Agreement, any rumor, publication, or event relating to or affecting the Company shall occur, as a result of which, in the sole opinion of the Representatives, the market price of the Offered Shares has been or is likely to be adversely affected (regardless of whether such rumor, publication, or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus), the Company will, after written notice from the Representatives advising the Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with the Representatives concerning the substance of and disseminate a press release, or other public statement, satisfactory to the Representatives, responding to or commenting on such rumor, publication, or event.

 

(h)          The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Offered Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.

 

(i)          The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Offered Shares.

 

 

(j)          The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available (within the meaning of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act) to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 12 months after the date hereof, an earnings statement in form complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the Securities Act for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.

 

(k)          During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the Nasdaq Stock Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the 1934 Act.

 

(l)          During the period of five (5) years hereafter, the Company will furnish as soon as practicable to the Representatives at Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., 787 7th Avenue, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10019, Attention: Capital Markets, and Raymond James & Associates, Inc., 880 Carillon Parkway, St. Petersburg, FL 33716, Attention: John Critchlow, Managing Director – Legal, Equity Capital Markets Division, to the extent not furnished or filed with the Commission, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished generally to holders of its securities, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed and such additional information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request (such financial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and the Subsidiaries are consolidated in reports furnished to its shareholders generally or to the Commission).

 

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

 

(n)          The Company will use its best efforts to list the Offered Shares, subject to notice of issuance, and maintain the listing of the Common Stock (including the Offered Shares), on the Nasdaq Global Market.

 

(o)          The Company will file all documents and information required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14, or 15 of the 1934 Act or the Securities Act in the manner and within the time periods required by such statutes.

 

(p)          The Company shall elect to be taxable as a RIC within the meaning of Section 851(a) of the Code commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2015 by timely filing its 2015 U.S. federal income tax return as a RIC on Internal Revenue Service Form 1120-RIC, and shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain such qualification and election in effect for each taxable year during which it is a BDC under the 1940 Act.

 

(q)          The Company, during a period of two years from the date of this Agreement, will use its commercially reasonable efforts to maintain its status as a BDC; provided, however, the Company may change the nature of its business so as to cease to be, or to withdraw its election as, a BDC, with the approval of the board of directors and a vote of stockholders as required by Section 58 of the 1940 Act or any successor provision.

 

 

(r)           During a period of 90 days from the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, (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, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (A) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (B) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The Company shall promptly notify the Representatives of any earnings release, news or event that may give rise to an extension of the initial 90-day restricted period. Notwithstanding any other provision to the contrary, the restrictions in this Section 3(r) shall not apply to (i) the Offered Shares to be sold hereunder, (ii) any shares of Common Stock issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted pursuant to existing dividend reinvestment plans or employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Prospectus, but only if the holders of such shares, options or shares issued upon the exercise of any such options agree in writing not to sell, offer, dispose of or otherwise transfer any such shares or options during the 90-day restricted period without the prior written consent of the Representative (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), (iii) any shares of Common Stock issued to directors in lieu of directors’ fees, and any registration related thereto, (iv) Common Stock issued in connection with any regular or special dividend declared by the Company, and (v) the issuance by the Company of any shares of Common Stock as consideration for any strategic acquisitions.

 

(s)          The Company acknowledges that (a) the Underwriters’ research analysts and research departments are required to be independent from their respective investment banking divisions and are subject to certain regulations and internal policies and (b) the Underwriters’ research analysts may hold views and make statements or investment recommendations and/or publish research reports with respect to the Company, the value of the Common Stock and/or the offering that differ from the views of their respective investment banking divisions. The Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that it may have against the Underwriters with respect to any conflict of interest that may arise from the fact that the views expressed by the Underwriters’ independent research analysts and research departments may be different from or inconsistent with the views or advice communicated to the Company by any Underwriter’s investment banking division. The Company acknowledges that each of the Underwriters is a full service securities firm and as such, from time to time, subject to applicable securities laws, may effect transactions for its own account or the account of its customers and hold long or short positions in debt or equity securities of the Company.

 

The Representatives, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in their sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.

 

  

Section 4.          Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Offered Shares as provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Offered Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1 (the “Representations and Warranties”) hereof as of the date hereof and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Offered Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:

 

(a)          On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received from each of McGladrey LLP and CohnReznick LLP, independent registered public accounting firms for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives (the “Original Comfort Letter”), confirming that they are independent registered public accounting firms with respect to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act and 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 in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.

 

(b)          The Representatives shall have received on the First Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter (the “Bring-down Comfort Letter”) from each of McGladrey LLP and CohnReznick LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, re-confirming that they are independent registered public accounting firms with respect to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act, and based upon the procedures described in the Original Comfort Letter, but carried out to a date not more than three (3) business days prior to the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and additions to the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Comfort Letter which are necessary to reflect any changes in the facts described in the Original Comfort Letter since the date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of more recent financial statements, data, or information.

 

(c)          For the period from and after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Offered Shares, prior to the Second Closing Date:

 

(i)          the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the information required by Rule 430C under the Securities Act (the “Rule 430C Information”)) in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 497 under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the Rule 430C Information, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective;

 

  

(ii)         no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted or are pending, contemplated, or threatened by the Commission or any state securities commission;

 

(iii)        any request of the Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of Underwriters’ counsel; and

 

(iv)        FINRA shall have confirmed in writing that it has raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.

 

(d)          For the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Offered Shares, prior to the Second Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.

 

(e)          In the judgment of the Representatives, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus any material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Pricing Prospectus, and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, earnings, operations, business, or prospects, whether or not arising from transaction in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, considered as one entity, from that set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, which makes it, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Offered Shares being delivered on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date, as the case may be, as contemplated by the Prospectus.

 

(f)          On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received an opinion of Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and the Representatives shall have received such additional number of conformed copies of such counsel’s legal opinion as the Representatives may reasonably request for each of the several Underwriters. The Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as such may have requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

  

(g)          On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received an opinion of Pepper Hamilton LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and the Representatives shall have received such additional number of conformed copies of such counsel’s legal opinion as the Representatives may reasonably request for each of the several Underwriters. The Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as such may have requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.

 

(h)          On each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect set forth in Section 4(c)(ii) and (d) hereof, and further to the effect that:

 

(i)          Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus, there has not been (a) any Material Adverse Change, (b) any transaction that is material to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, considered as one entity, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, considered as one entity, incurred by the Company or its consolidated subsidiaries, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (d) any change in the capital stock or outstanding indebtedness that is material to the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, considered as one entity, (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid, or made on the capital stock of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries, or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries which has been sustained or will have been sustained which has a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business, or business prospects of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, considered as one entity;

 

(ii)         When the Registration Statement became effective and at all times subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, (a) the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, contained all material information required to be included therein by the Securities Act, and in all material respects conformed to the requirements of the Securities Act; (b) the Registration Statement and any amendments or supplements thereto, did not and does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (c) the General Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, did not and does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and (d) there has occurred no event required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package, or an amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been so set forth;

 

  

(iii)        the representations, warranties, and covenants of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and

 

(iv)        the Company has complied with all the covenants hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date.

 

(i)          On the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives an agreement in the form of Exhibit A (the “Form of Lock-up Agreement”) attached hereto executed by each executive officer and director of the Company. Each such agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date.

 

(j)          On or before each of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such certificates, information, documents, and opinions as they may require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.

 

(k)          The Shares to be delivered on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Market as of each respective date, subject to official notice of issuance.

 

(l)          On or after the Applicable Time there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or NASDAQ Stock Market; (ii) a suspension or limitation in trading in the Company’s securities on the NASDAQ Global Market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by any of Maryland, New York State or United States federal authorities or a material disruption in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States; (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war or (v) the occurrence of any other calamity or crisis or any change in financial, political or economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere, if the effect of any such event specified in clause (iv) or (v) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares being delivered on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus

 

If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated, subject to the provisions of Section 9 hereof, by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Offered Shares, at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 5 (the “Payment of Expenses”), Section 6 (the “Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses”), Section 7 (“Indemnification”) and Section 9 (the “Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery”) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

  

Section 5.          Payment of Expenses. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that, whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel, accountants and other advisors; (ii) filing fees and all other expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the General Disclosure Package and amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (iii) the cost of printing or producing this Agreement, the Offered Shares, closing documents (including any compilations thereof) and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Offered Shares; (iv) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Offered Shares for offering and sale under state securities laws, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky survey; (v) all fees and expenses in connection with listing the Offered Shares on the Nasdaq Global Market; (vi) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, securing any required review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Offered Shares; (vii) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates representing the Offered Shares to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Offered Shares to the Underwriters; (viii) the cost and charges of any transfer agent or registrar; (ix) the transportation, roadshow and other expenses incurred by the Company in connection with presentations to prospective purchasers of Offered Shares; and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. Except as provided in this Section 5, Section 6 (the “Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses”) and Section 7 (“Indemnification”) hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.

 

Section 6.          Reimbursement of the Underwriters’ Expenses.

 

If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4 (“Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters”) or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Offered Shares on the First Closing Date is not consummated, in either case because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been incurred by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the Offered Shares.

 

  

Section 7.          Indemnification.

  

(a)          The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers, employees and affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act), and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the 1934 Act against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) 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 any post-effective amendment thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereof, the Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter is the information described as such in Section 7(b) below.

 

(b)          Each Underwriter severally, and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of the directors of the Company, each of the officers of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement, and each other person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20(a) of the 1934 Act, against any losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses whatsoever as incurred (including without limitation, reasonable attorneys’ fees and any and all reasonable expenses whatsoever incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever, and any and all amounts paid in settlement of any claim or litigation), joint or several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereof, or the Preliminary Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that any such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriters consists of the following information in the Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: each of the third, tenth and seventeenth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting.”

 

  

(c)          Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b) of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such Section, notify each party against whom indemnification is to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have under this Section 7). In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein, and jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnified party). Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by one of the indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action, (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the indemnifying parties. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances, which counsel, in the event of indemnified parties under Section 7(a), shall be selected by the Representatives and, in the event of indemnified parties under Section 7(b) shall be selected by the Company. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

 

(d)          If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under Section 7(a) or 7(b) in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Offered Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Offered Shares shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

 

The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Offered Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

 

No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this Section 7(d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.

 

(e)          The obligations of the parties to this Agreement contained in this Section 7 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.

 

(f)          Any indemnification and contribution by the Company shall be subject to the requirements and limitations of Section 17(i) of the 1940 Act.

 

 

Section 8.          Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Offered Shares that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Offered Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed ten percent (10%) of the aggregate number of the Offered Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Firm Offered Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A (the “List of the Underwriters”) attached hereto bears to the aggregate number of Firm Offered Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Offered Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Offered Shares and the aggregate number of Offered Shares with respect to which such default occurs exceeds ten percent (10%) of the aggregate number of Offered Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Shares are not made within forty-eight (48) hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 5 (“Payment of Expenses”), Section 6 (“Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses”), and Section 7 (“Indemnification”) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case, either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven business days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.

 

As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.

  

 

Section 9.          Termination of This Agreement. Prior to the First Closing Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the Nasdaq Stock Market or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York or Delaware authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’ or international political, financial, or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Offered Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident, terrorist attack, act of war or other calamity of such character as in the sole judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse all expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 5 (the “Payment of Expenses”) and Section 6 (the “Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses”) hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7 (“Indemnification”) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.

 

Section 10.         Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers, or directors or any controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.

 

Section 11.         Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:

 

If to the Representatives:

 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
787 7th Avenue
5th Floor
New York, NY 10019
Attention: Capital Markets

 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway

St. Petersburg, FL 33716
Attention: John Critchlow, Managing Director – Legal, Equity Capital Markets Division

 

with a copy to:

 

Pepper Hamilton LLP
The New York Times Building
37th Floor
620 Eighth Avenue
New York, New York 10018-1405
Facsimile: 212.286.9806
Attention: Thomas S. Gallagher

 

If to the Company:

 

Newtek Business Services Corp.
212 West 35^th Street, 2^nd Floor
New York, New York 10001
Facsimile: 212.356.9500
Attention: Barry Sloane

 

  

with a copy to:

 

Sutherland Asbill & Brennan LLP
700 Sixth Street, N.W., Suite 700
Washington, D.C. 20001
Facsimile: 202.383.0100
Attention: Cynthia M. Krus

 

Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice to the others by the means provided for notice as set forth in this Section 11.

 

Section 12.         Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 8 (the “Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters”), and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7 (“Indemnification”), and in each case their respective successors, and personal representatives, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Offered Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.

 

Section 13.         Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section, paragraph, or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph, or provision of this Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and enforceable.

 

Section 14.         Governing Law Provisions.

 

(a)          THIS AGREEMENT, AND ANY CLAIM, DISPUTE OR ACTION ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING HERETO, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.

 

(b)          Any legal suit, action, or proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action, or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice, or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any suit, action, or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action, or other proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action, or other proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

 

 

(c)          With respect to any Related Proceeding, each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction, service of process, attachment (both before and after judgment), and execution to which it might otherwise be entitled in the Specified Courts. With respect to any Related Judgment, each party waives any such immunity in the Specified Courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction, and will not raise or claim or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such Related Proceeding or Related Judgment, including, without limitation, any immunity pursuant to the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended.

 

Section 15.         WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THE COMPANY AND EACH OF THE REPRESENTATIVES, ON BEHALF OF ITSELF AND EACH UNDERWRITER, HEREBY KNOWINGLY, VOLUNTARILY AND IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

Section 16.         No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (a) the purchase and sale of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price of the Offered Shares and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or any of their stockholders, creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.

 

Section 17.         General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings, and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement. The term “including” in this Agreement shall be construed to mean “including, without limitation.”

 

  

Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 7 (“Indemnification”), and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Section 7 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs, and its business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act.

 

[Signature pages follow]

 

  

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.

 

	Very truly yours,
	NEWTEK BUSINESS SERVICES CORP.
	By:	/s/ Barry Sloane
	Name: Barry Sloane
	Title: Chief Executive Officer & President

 

[Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement]

 

  

The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representatives as of the date first above written.

 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
Acting as Representatives of the several Underwriters named in the Schedule A (the “List of the Underwriters”) attached hereto.
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.			Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
By:	/s/ Victor Sack		By:	/s/ Keith Meyers
	Name:  Victor Sack			Name: Keith Meyers
	Title:  Managing Director			Title: Managing Director

 

 

EXHIBIT a

 

FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT

 

October [    ], 2015

 

Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
787 7th Avenue
5th Floor
New York, NY 10019

 

Raymond James & Associates, Inc.
880 Carillon Parkway
St. Petersburg, FL 33716

 

Re:	Newtek Business Services Corp. (the “Company”)

 

Ladies & Gentlemen:

 

The undersigned is an officer or director of the Company, or an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of common stock, par value $0.02 per share, of the Company (“Common Stock”) or securities convertible into, exchangeable, or exercisable for Common Stock (“Securities”). The Company proposes to carry out a public offering of Common Stock (the “Offering”) for which you will act as the Representatives of the underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company with respect to the Offering.

 

In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract to sell, sell, any option to contract to purchase (including without limitation any short sale), purchase any option or contract to sell, pledge, transfer, grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of, establish or increase an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position within the meaning of Rule 16a-16b under the Exchange Act or otherwise dispose of any shares (collectively, a “Disposition”) of Securities currently or hereafter owned either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) by the undersigned, or publicly announce the undersigned’s intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date 90 days after the date hereof (the “Lock-up Period”). The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

 

The foregoing restriction has been expressly agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale, or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any Securities or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that included, relates to, or derives any significant part of its value from Securities.

 

If during the last 17 days of the Lock-Up Period, the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs, or (2) prior to the expiration of the Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the Lock-Up Period, the restrictions imposed by this Agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event.

 

Notwithstanding the foregoing, the undersigned may transfer the Securities (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided that the donee or donees thereof agree to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, (ii) to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value, (iii) as a distribution to partners or shareholders of such person (or in the case of a trust, to the beneficiaries thereof), provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by the terms of the restrictions set forth herein, (iv) to any corporation controlled by the undersigned or trust for the direct or indirect benefit of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, provided that in the case of a transfer to any such corporation that the corporation shall be required to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein; and, provided further, that in the case of a transfer to any such trust that the trustee of the trust agrees to be bound in writing by the restrictions set forth herein, and any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value other than for the benefit of the undersigned’s immediate family, (v) charitable dispositions of the Securities, provided that the charity or any other donee of such Securities agrees in writing to be bound by the restrictions set forth herein and any such disposition shall not involve a disposition for value, (vi) as pledges of Securities in connection with the purchase of such Securities upon the exercise of employee stock options following termination of employment with the Company, (vii) upon the exercise or conversion of any Security exercisable or convertible into Common Stock so long as the Common Stock received upon such exercise or conversion remains subject to this agreement, (viii) for shares acquired in connection with the participation in the Company’s dividend reinvestment plan, (ix) for shares acquired upon the exercise of stock options pursuant to the Company’s employee benefit plans, (x) sale of Shares in connection with net issuances of shares to satisfy tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of shares of restricted stock or the exercise of stock options to purchase shares of the Company’s common stock that were granted pursuant to the Company’s executive compensation plans, (xi) with the prior written consent of Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters.

 

 

For purposes of this Lock-Up Agreement, “immediate family” shall mean any relationship by blood, marriage or adoption, not more remote than first cousin. In addition, notwithstanding the foregoing, if the undersigned is (a) a corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including a limited partnership) or other entity, such corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including a limited partnership) or other entity may transfer the Securities to any wholly-owned subsidiary of such corporation, limited liability company, partnership (including a limited partnership) or other entity; or (b) a limited liability company or partnership (including a limited partnership), such limited liability company or partnership (including a limited partnership) may transfer the Securities to any member or partner of such limited liability company or partnership (including a limited partnership); provided, however, that in any such case, it shall be a condition to the transfer that the transferee execute an agreement stating that the transferee is receiving and holding such Securities subject to the provisions of this Agreement and there shall be no further transfer of such Securities except in accordance with this Agreement, and provided further that any such transfer shall not involve a disposition for value. The undersigned now has, and, except as contemplated by clauses (i) – (xi) above, for the duration of this Agreement will have, good and marketable title to the Securities, if any, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, and claims whatsoever. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or Securities held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.

 

With respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any registration rights relating to registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, of any Common Stock owned either of record or beneficially by the undersigned, including any rights to receive notice of the Offering.

 

This letter, and any claim, dispute, or action arising out of or relating hereto, shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York.

 

This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the undersigned.

 

Delivery of an executed letter by facsimile or electronic transmission (including electronic mail and PDF) shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this letter. A signature transmitted by facsimile or electronic transmission shall be deemed to be an original signature for all purposes.

 

[Signature page follows]

 

  

Printed Name of Holder
By:
Signature
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing if signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)

 

 

SCHEDULE A

 

list of the Underwriters

 

		Number of
		Firm Offered
		Shares To be
Underwriters		Purchased
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.			680,000
Raymond James & Associates, Inc.			680,000
JMP Securities LLC			300,000
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.			240,000
Compass Point Research & Trading, LLC			100,000
Total			2,000,000

 

 

SCHEDULE B

 

OFFERING TERMS

 

Public offering price: $16.50 per share

 

Number of Firm Offered Shares: 2,000,000

 

Net proceeds to the Company per Firm Offered Share: $15.51 per share

 

Number of Optional Offered Shares: 300,000

 

Net proceeds to the Company per Optional Offered Share: $15.51 per share

 

 

 

 

Exhibit l.3

 

SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP 700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001-3980 202.383.0100 Fax 202.637.3593 www.sutherland.com

 

October 15, 2015

 

Newtek Business Services Corp.

212 West 35^th Street, 2^nd Floor

New York, NY 10001

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form N-2

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Newtek Business Services Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) of a registration statement on Form N-2, initially filed on June 12, 2015, amended by filing of a pre-effective amendments on August 13, 2015 and August 19, 2015, and amended by post-effective amendment on September 23, 2015 (the “Post-Effective Amendment,” and such registration statement, at the time the Post-Effective Amendment became effective on September 23, 2015, the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), previously declared effective by the Commission, relating to the public offering of securities of the Company that may be offered by the Company from time to time as set forth in the prospectus included in Pre-Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement, filed on August 13, 2015, and which forms a part of the Registration Statement (the “Prospectus”), as may be set forth from time to time in one or more supplements to the Prospectus. This opinion letter is rendered in connection with the public offering of 2,000,000 shares of common stock of the Company, par value $0.02 (the “Shares”), including 300,000 shares issuable by the Company to cover the underwriters’ over-allotment option, as described in the Prospectus and a prospectus supplement dated October 8, 2015 (the “Prospectus Supplement”). All of the Shares are to be sold by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and related Prospectus and Prospectus Supplement.

 

The Shares are to be sold by the Company pursuant to a underwriting agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), dated as of October 8, 2015, by and among the Company, Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc. and Raymond James & Associates, Inc. as representatives of the several underwriters named in Schedule A thereto, which is being filed as Exhibit (h)(3) to the Company’s Post-Effective Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement (“Post-Effective Amendment No. 2”), to be filed with the Commission on the date hereof.

 

As counsel to the Company, we have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and the Prospectus Supplement and have examined the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of the following:

 

(i)

The Articles of Amendment and Restatement of the Company, certified as of a recent date by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland (the “Charter”);

 

(ii)

The Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company (the “Bylaws”);

 

(iii)

A Certificate of Good Standing with respect to the Company issued by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland as of a recent date (the “Certificate of Good Standing”); and

 

(iv)

The resolutions of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) relating to, among other things, (a) the authorization and approval of the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, and (b) the authorization of the issuance, offer and sale of the Securities pursuant to the Registration Statement and (collectively, the “Resolutions”).

 

 

With respect to such examination and our opinions expressed herein, we have assumed, without any independent investigation or verification, (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us for examination, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (iv) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or reproduced copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copied documents, and (v) that all certificates issued by public officials have been properly issued. We also have assumed without independent investigation or verification the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records made available to us by the Company.

 

As to certain matters of fact relevant to the opinions in this opinion letter, we have relied upon certificates of public officials (which we have assumed remain accurate as of the date of this opinion), upon certificates and/or representations of officers and employees of the Company, upon such other certificates as we deemed appropriate, and upon such other data as we have deemed to be appropriate under the circumstances. We have not independently established the facts, or in the case of certificates of public officials, the other statements, so relied upon.

 

This opinion letter is limited to the effect of the Maryland General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland as in effect on the date of this opinion letter, and reported judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing, and we express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any other laws of such jurisdictions or the laws of any other jurisdictions. Without limiting the preceding sentence, we express no opinion as to any federal or state securities or broker dealer laws or regulations thereunder relating to the offer, issuance and sale of the Shares. This opinion letter has been prepared, and should be interpreted, in accordance with customary practice followed in the preparation of opinion letters by lawyers who regularly give, and such customary practice followed by lawyers who on behalf of their clients regularly advise opinion recipients regarding, opinion letters of this kind.

 

On the basis of and subject to the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, the Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

 

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter (i) are strictly limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter, and without limiting the foregoing, no other opinions are to be implied and (ii) are only as of the date of this opinion letter, and we are under no obligation, and do not undertake, to advise the addressee of this opinion letter or any other person or entity either of any change of law or fact that occurs, or of any fact that comes to our attention, after the date of this opinion letter, even though such change or such fact may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion in this opinion letter.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to Post-Effective Amendment No. 2. We do not admit by giving this consent that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

	Respectfully submitted,
	/s/ SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP

 

 

 

Exhibit l.4

 

SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP 700 Sixth Street, NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20001-3980 202.383.0100 Fax 202.637.3593 www.sutherland.com

 

October 15, 2015

 

Newtek Business Services Corp.

212 West 35^th Street, 2^nd Floor

New York, NY 10001

 

Re:

Registration Statement on Form N-2

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

We have acted as counsel to Newtek Business Services Corp., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation and filing by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission of a registration statement on Form N-2, initially on June 12, 2015, and amended on August 13, 2015, and August 19, 2015 (File No. 333-204915) (the “Registration Statement”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the final prospectus supplement dated September 17, 2015 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), with respect to the issuance pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of $124,000 in aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 7.5% Notes due 2022 (the “Notes”).

 

As counsel to the Company, we have participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the prospectus contained therein and the Prospectus Supplement, and have examined the originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction as being true copies, of the following:

 

(i)

The Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, certified as of a recent date by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland (the “Charter”);

 

(ii)

The Bylaws of the Company, certified as of the date hereof by an officer of the Company (the “Bylaws”);

 

(iii)

A Certificate of Good Standing with respect to the Company issued by the State Department of Assessments and Taxation of the State of Maryland, dated October 15, 2015 (the “Certificate of Good Standing”);

 

(iv)

The Underwriting Agreement, dated September 16, 2015, by and among the Company and JMP Securities LLC and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc., as the representatives of the Underwriters named therein, relating to the issuance and sale of the Notes (the “Underwriting Agreement”);

 

ATLANTA

AUSTIN

GENEVA

HOUSTON

LONDON

NEW YORK

SACRAMENTO

WASHINGTON D.C.

 

(v)

The Indenture (the “Base Indenture”), dated as of September 23, 2015, between the Company and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”);

 

(vi)

The First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of September 23, 2015, between the Company and the Trustee (the “First Supplemental Indenture” and together with the Base Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement and the Notes, the “Transaction Documents”); and

 

(vii)

The resolutions of the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) relating to, among other things, (a) the authorization and approval of the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, and (b) the authorization of the issuance, offer and sale of the Notes pursuant to the Registration Statement and (collectively, the “Resolutions”).

 

With respect to such examination and our opinions expressed herein, we have assumed, without any independent investigation or verification, (i) the genuineness of all signatures on all documents submitted to us for examination, (ii) the legal capacity of all natural persons, (iii) the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, (iv) the conformity to original documents of all documents submitted to us as conformed or reproduced copies and the authenticity of the originals of such copied documents, and (v) that all certificates issued by public officials have been properly issued. We also have assumed without independent investigation or verification (i) the accuracy and completeness of all corporate records made available to us by the Company and (ii) that the Transaction Documents will be a valid and legally binding obligation of the parties thereto (other than the Company).

 

As to certain matters of fact relevant to the opinions in this opinion letter, we have relied upon certificates of public officials (which we have assumed remain accurate as of the date of this opinion), upon certificates and/or representations of officers and employees of the Company, upon such other certificates as we deemed appropriate, and upon such other data as we have deemed to be appropriate under the circumstances. We have not independently established the facts, or in the case of certificates of public officials, the other statements, so relied upon.

 

This opinion letter is limited to the effect of the Maryland General Corporation Law of the State of Maryland as in effect on the date of this opinion letter, and reported judicial decisions interpreting the foregoing, and we express no opinion as to the applicability or effect of any other laws of such jurisdictions or the laws of any other jurisdictions. Without limiting the preceding sentence, we express no opinion as to any federal or state securities or broker-dealer laws or regulations thereunder relating to the offer, issuance and sale of the Notes. This opinion letter has been prepared, and should be interpreted, in accordance with customary practice followed in the preparation of opinion letters by lawyers who regularly give, and such customary practice followed by lawyers who on behalf of their clients regularly advise opinion recipients regarding, opinion letters of this kind.

 

 

 

The opinion expressed below is subject to the following qualifications and exceptions: (i) the effect of bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) limitations imposed by general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).

 

On the basis of and subject to the foregoing, and in reliance thereon, and subject to the limitations and qualifications set forth in this opinion letter, we are of the opinion that, when the Notes are duly executed and delivered by duly authorized officers of the Company and duly authenticated by the Trustee, all in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture, and delivered to the purchasers thereof against payment of the agreed consideration therefor, the Notes will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company.

 

The opinions expressed in this opinion letter (i) are strictly limited to the matters stated in this opinion letter, and without limiting the foregoing, no other opinions are to be implied and (ii) are only as of the date of this opinion letter, and we are under no obligation, and do not undertake, to advise the addressee of this opinion letter or any other person or entity either of any change of law or fact that occurs, or of any fact that comes to our attention, after the date of this opinion letter, even though such change or such fact may affect the legal analysis or a legal conclusion in this opinion letter.

 

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion letter as an exhibit to the Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement. We do not admit by giving this consent that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act.

 

	Respectfully submitted,
	/s/ SUTHERLAND ASBILL & BRENNAN LLP