8-K
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UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

 

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of Earliest Event Reported): February 17, 2021

 

 

Avis Budget Group, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

 

 

Delaware   001-10308   06-0918165

(State or other jurisdiction

of incorporation)

 

(Commission

File Number)

 

(I.R.S. Employer

Identification No.)

 

6 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ

  07054
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (973) 496-4700

Not Applicable

Former name or former address, if changed since last report

 

 

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions:

 

Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

 

Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

 

Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

 

Title of Each Class

 

Trading

Symbol(s)

 

Name of Each Exchange

on Which Registered

Common stock, $0.01 par value   CAR   The NASDAQ Global Select Market

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

 

 

 


Item 8.01

Other Events

On February 17, 2021, Avis Budget Group, Inc. (the “Company”), entered into an Equity Distribution Agreement (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”) by and among the Company, on the one hand, and BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. (the “Sales Agents”), on the other hand. Pursuant to the terms of the Equity Distribution Agreement, the Company may sell, from time to time through or to the Sales Agents, as the Company’s sales agents or as principals, up to 10 million shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”). The sales, if any, of the Shares made under the Equity Distribution Agreement may be made in sales deemed to be “at-the-market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), including by sales made directly on or through the Nasdaq Global Select Market or another market for our common stock, sales made to or through a market maker other than on an exchange or otherwise, in negotiated transactions at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices, or as otherwise agreed with the applicable Sales Agent. The Sales Agents may also sell the Shares by any other method permitted by law.

For sales of Shares through the Sales Agents, as the Company’s sales agents, the Company will pay the Sales Agents a commission at a mutually agreed rate, not to exceed 2% of the gross sales price per Share. In addition, the Company has agreed to pay certain expenses incurred by the Sales Agents in connection with the offering. The Company may also sell Shares to one or more of the Sales Agents as principal for such Sales Agent’s own account at a price agreed upon at the time of sale. If the Company sells Shares to one or more of the Sales Agents as principal, the Company will enter into a separate terms agreement with such Sales Agent. The Company has no obligation to sell any shares under the Equity Distribution Agreement, and may at any time suspend the offering of shares under the Equity Distribution Agreement.

The Equity Distribution Agreement contains customary representations and warranties of the parties and indemnification and contribution provisions under which the Company and the Sales Agents have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. The Company expects to use the net proceeds from sales of the Shares under the Equity Distribution Agreement, if any, for general corporate purposes.

The Company filed a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-253195) and a prospectus supplement, dated February 17, 2021, with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares pursuant to the Equity Distribution Agreement.

The foregoing description of the Equity Distribution Agreement is not complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of such agreement, a copy of which is filed herewith as Exhibit 1.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K and is incorporated herein by reference.

The legal opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP relating to the Shares being offered is filed as Exhibit 5.1 to this Current Report on Form 8-K.

 

Item 9.01.

Financial Statements and Exhibits.

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.

  

Description of Exhibit

1.1    Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 17, 2021, by and among the Company, on the one hand, and BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.
5.1    Opinion of Kirkland & Ellis LLP
104    The cover page from this Current Report on Form 8-K formatted in Inline XBRL (included as Exhibit 101).


SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

 

Date: February 17, 2021     Avis Budget Group, Inc.
    By:  

/s/ Jean Sera

    Name:   Jean Sera
    Title:  

Senior Vice President, General Counsel, Chief

Compliance Officer and Corporate Secretary

EX-1.1

Exhibit 1.1

Avis Budget Group, Inc.

Offering of up to 10,000,000 Shares of

Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share

EQUITY DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

February 17, 2021

BofA Securities, Inc.

One Bryant Park

New York, New York 10036

Barclays Capital Inc.

745 Seventh Avenue

New York, New York 10019

Citigroup Global Markets Inc.

388 Greenwich Street

New York, New York 10013

Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc.

1301 Avenue of the Americas

New York, New York 10019

Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.

60 Wall Street

New York, New York 10005

Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC

1585 Broadway

New York, NY 10036

Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

250 Vesey Street

New York, New York 10281

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Avis Budget Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), confirms this equity distribution agreement (this “Agreement”) with BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. (each, a “Manager”, and collectively, the “Managers”) as follows:

SECTION 1: Description of Shares. The Company may, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, issue and sell through or to the Managers, as sales agents and/or principals, up to 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”) on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein. The shares of common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the “Common Stock.” The Company agrees that, whenever the Company determines to sell Shares directly to any Manager as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement (each, a “Terms Agreement”), in form and substance mutually satisfactory to the Company and such Manager, relating to such sale in accordance with Section 3 hereof.


The Company has filed not earlier than three years prior to the date hereof, or will file (the date of such filing, the “Execution Date”), in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), a registration statement on Form S-3, including a Base Prospectus (as defined below), which specifically relates to shares of Common Stock which may be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). The Company has prepared or will prepare a Prospectus Supplement (as defined below) to the Base Prospectus which specifically relates to the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Registration Statement,” as used herein, means the registration statement, including the Base Prospectus, as amended at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness or deemed effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to the Managers, including (1) all documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein, and (2) any information contained or incorporated by reference in a prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act, to the extent such information is deemed, pursuant to Rule 430B or Rule 430C under the Act, to be part of the registration statement at the time of such registration statement’s effectiveness or deemed effectiveness for purposes of Section 11 of the Act, as such section applies to the Managers. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Base Prospectus,” as used herein, means the prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement, together with any amendments or supplements thereto as of the date of this Agreement. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus Supplement,” as used herein, means the final prospectus supplement relating to the Shares, filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in connection with the offering of the Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, “Prospectus,” as used herein, means the Prospectus Supplement together with the Base Prospectus. “Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses,” as used herein, means the documents listed on Schedule A hereto and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus the use of which is consented to in writing by the Managers. “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 433”), including, without limitation, any “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) relating to the Shares that is (i) required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) a “road show that is a written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i), whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) exempt from filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Shares or of the offering thereof that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Act as of the date of such document (the “Incorporated Documents”). Any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing on or after the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, or the date of the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as the case may be, of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to the Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval (“EDGAR”) system. “Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.

SECTION 2: Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each Manager on and as of (i) the Execution Time, (ii) each date on which the Company executes and delivers a Terms Agreement, (iii) the time any Authorized Representative (as defined in Section 3(a)(i)) instructs any Manager to make sales of Shares as set forth in Section 3 hereof, (iv) the time of each sale of Shares pursuant to this Agreement, (v) each Settlement Date (as defined in Section 3(a)(iv)) and (vi) each Bring-Down Delivery Date (as defined in Section 4(n)) (each such date listed in (ii) through (vi), a “Representation Date”), that:

 

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(a) Registration. The Company satisfies the conditions for the use of Form S-3 in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares as contemplated hereby. The Registration Statement has become effective, or will become effective prior to any Representation Date. The Registration Statement at each Representation Date, and at all times during which a prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) in connection with any offer or sale of Shares, meets the requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). Copies of such Registration Statement and each of the amendments thereto have been delivered by the Company to the Managers by means of the Commission’s EDGAR system.

(b) No Stop Order. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission. The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Prospectus Supplement or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.

(c) Registration Statement and Prospectus Conform to the Requirements of the Act. On the date it became effective, the Registration Statement conformed, and, as then amended or supplemented, as of each Representation Date will conform, in all material respects, to the applicable requirements of the Act. When the Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and as of each Representation Date, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will conform, in all material respects to the applicable requirements of the Act and, except to the extent the Managers shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus used most recently prior to the Execution Time) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein. The Company meets, and at the time the Registration Statement was originally declared effective the Company met, the applicable requirements of Form S-3 under the Act. The documents incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, when they were filed (or, if any amendment with respect to any such document was filed, when such amendment was filed), conformed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; and any further such documents incorporated by reference will, when they are filed, conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

(d) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses Conform to the Requirements of the Act. Each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, conformed or will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act on the date of first use, and the Company has complied or will comply with all prospectus delivery and filing requirements applicable to each such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus pursuant to the Act. The Company has not made any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a Permitted Free Writing Prospectus without the prior written consent of the Managers. The Company has retained, in accordance with the Act, all Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, that were not required to be filed pursuant to the Act.

(e) No Material Misstatements or Omissions. As of the date it became effective the Registration Statement did not, and does not and will not, as then amended or supplemented, as of each Representation Date, 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; as of its date the Prospectus did not, and does not and will not, as then amended or supplemented, as of each Representation Date, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, as of its date, 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; each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, if any, hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, and each such Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, as supplemented by and taken together with the Prospectus as of its date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make

 

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the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and warranties set forth in this Section 2(e) do not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Manager expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any Manager consists of the information described as such in Section 7 hereof.

(f) Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its “significant subsidiaries” (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X), have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization (to the extent such terms have meaning in such jurisdictions), are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified, be in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, results of operations or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or on the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

(g) Due Authorization. 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 of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby or by the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, has been duly and validly taken on or prior to the applicable Settlement Date. The Company has full right, power and authority to issue, sell and deliver the Shares, in accordance with and upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as subsequently amended from time to time (the “Bylaws”).

(h) Shares. The Shares to be issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered and paid for as provided herein, will be duly and validly issued in accordance with the Bylaws, and will be fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date; and no such issuance of Shares is subject to any statutory, preemptive or other similar contractual rights to subscribe for the Shares.

(i) Outstanding Equity. The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date. All outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued in accordance with the Bylaws, fully paid and non-assessable and conform as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in or incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date; and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Shares. As of the date of the Company’s most recent Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has outstanding any options to purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to purchase, any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts or commitments to issue or sell, shares of its capital stock or any such options, rights, convertible securities or obligations. All outstanding shares of capital stock and options and other rights to acquire capital stock have been issued in compliance with the registration and qualification provisions of all applicable securities laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights. All the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, and are fully paid and non-assessable (except as otherwise described in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer (other than transfer restrictions under applicable securities laws) or any other claim of any third party, except as disclosed in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date.

 

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(j) Authorization, Execution and Delivery of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

(k) Margin Rules. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System or any other regulation of such Board of Governors.

(l) No Violation or Default. None of the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws (other than with respect to matters of immaterial compliance for which remediation is expected) or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, with notice or lapse of time or both, would constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any applicable law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(m) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated by the this Agreement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries; or (iii) result in the violation of any applicable law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, lien, charge, encumbrance or default that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(n) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, except for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as have been obtained or made prior to the applicable Settlement Date or that if not obtained or made could not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(o) Legal Proceedings. Except as described in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or may be the subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened or, to the best knowledge of the Company (without having undertaken any independent inquiry outside of the Company), contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or by others.

 

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(p) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP (the “Accountants”), who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Act.

(q) Title to Real and Personal Property. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, the Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to, or have valid rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property that are material to the respective businesses of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except for (i) those that are permitted by the Company’s debt facilities that are disclosed in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date; (ii) those that do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; or (iii) those that could not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(r) Financial Statements. The financial statements and the related notes thereto of the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and its 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 U.S. generally accepted accounting principles (“GAAP”), applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby; and the other financial information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby. The pro forma financial information, if any, including the pro forma financial statements and the related notes thereto, incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, and the Registration Statement have been, or shall be, prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable. The assumptions used in preparing such pro forma financial information are, or shall be, reasonable and the adjustments used therein are, or shall be, appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.

(s) Title to Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service mark registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) reasonably necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses except where the failure to own or possess such rights could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the conduct of their respective businesses does not, and will not, conflict in any respect with any such rights of others except which conflict could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement of or conflict with any such rights of others which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(t) Investment Company Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is, and solely after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, none of them will be, an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

 

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(u) Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess such licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made such declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, except where the failure to possess or make the same could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as described in Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any reason to believe that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, which, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(v) No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best knowledge (without having undertaken any independent inquiry outside of the Company) of the Company, is contemplated or threatened and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of the Company’s or any of its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(w) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect: (i) the Company and its subsidiaries (x) are, and at all prior times were, in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health or safety, the environment, natural resources, hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (y) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, and (z) have not received notice of any actual or potential material liability under or relating to any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries; and (iii)(x) there are no proceedings that are pending, or that are known to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws, (y) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws or concerning hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, and (z) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws.

(x) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, except as set forth in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, (i) there has not been any material change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or its subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, results of operations or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) none of the Company or any of its 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 the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date.

(y) Disclosure. The Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and files reports with the Commission on the EDGAR system.

 

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(z) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, including business interruption insurance, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as the Company’s management reasonably believes are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses; and none of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.

(aa) Accounting Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, 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 GAAP, 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 GAAP, 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 the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, there are no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ internal controls.

(bb) No Unlawful Payments. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or controlled affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment, giving or receipt of money, property, gifts or anything else of value 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, the OECD convention on Combating Bribery of Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, the Bribery Act of 2010 of the United Kingdom or any other anti-bribery, anti-corruption or other similar law applicable to any jurisdiction where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business (collectively, “Anti-Bribery Laws”); (iv) made any unlawful bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment; or (v) been found guilty of any violation, or been subject to any action, under Anti-Bribery Laws, pending or threatened, in any jurisdiction where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business. The Company and its subsidiaries instituted, maintained and enforced, and intend to continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with all applicable anti-bribery and anticorruption laws and have conducted their business in compliance with such policies and procedures.

(cc) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable 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”). No action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company, any of its subsidiaries or controlled affiliates with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any controlled affiliate has been found guilty of any violation, or been subject to any action, under Money Laundering Laws, pending or threatened, in any jurisdiction where the Company or any of its subsidiaries conducts business. The Company and its subsidiaries have instituted, maintained and enforced, and intend to continue to maintain and enforce, policies and procedures designed to promote and ensure compliance with Money Laundering Laws.

 

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(dd) Compliance with OFAC and Sanctions. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee, controlled affiliate or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to, or currently in breach of, any U.S. sanctions administered or enforced by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”), the U.S. State Department, or any similar sanction or measures administered by the United Nations Security Council, the European Union (or any member state thereof), the United Kingdom, including Her Majesty’s Treasury, or any other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor are any of the Company or any of its subsidiaries located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions, and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds (i) to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person or entity currently subject to any Sanctions, (ii) for the purpose of funding or facilitating any activities of or business in any country or territory that is, at the time of such funding or facilitating, subject to Sanctions, or (iii) in any other manner that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation by any person of Sanctions. None of Company or any of its subsidiaries has engaged in any dealings or transactions with or for the benefit of a Sanctioned Person, or with or in a Sanctioned Country, in the preceding 3 years.

(ee) No Broker’s Fees. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Company for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.

(ff) No Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, or as have been validly waived, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings involving the Company granting to any person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act.

(gg) No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares.

(hh) Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.

(ii) Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or any of its directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any provision of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith, including Section 402 related to loans and Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.

(jj) Status under the Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” and was or is (as the case may be) a “well-known seasoned issuer”, in each case as defined in Rule 405 under the Act. The Company has paid the registration fees for each offering of Shares contemplated hereby pursuant to Rule 456(b)(1) under the Act or will pay such fees within the time period required by such rule (without giving effect to the proviso therein) and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) under the Act.

 

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(kk) XBRL. The XBRL included or incorporated by reference in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

(ll) Listing of the Shares. Prior to the first Settlement Date, the Shares will have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Nasdaq”).

(mm) Common Stock. The Common Stock is an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by Rule 101(c)(1) thereunder.

(nn) Cyber Security. (i) There has been no security breach or other compromise of or relating to any of the Company and its subsidiaries’ information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customer, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”), except as would not, in each case, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have not been notified of, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any security breach or other compromise to the IT Systems and Data, except as would not, in each case, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; (iii) the Company and its subsidiaries are presently in compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or government or regulatory authority, internal policies and contractual obligations relating to the privacy and security of IT Systems and Data and to the protection of such IT Systems and Data from unauthorized use, access misappropriation or modification, except as would not, in each case, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (iv) the Company and its subsidiaries have implemented backup and disaster recovery technology reasonably consistent with industry standards and practices.

(oo) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders or other affiliates of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that would be required by the Act to be described in a registration statement to be filed with the Commission and that is not so described in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date.

(pp) Taxes. Except as could not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) the Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes, other than those being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings so long as there are adequate reserves for such taxes, and have filed all tax returns required to be paid or filed through the date hereof; and (ii) except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets.

(qq) Compliance With ERISA. Except as described in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, (i) 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 subject to ERISA, for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance in all material respects with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii)

 

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for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, no “accumulated funding deficiency” as defined in Section 412 of the Code, whether or not waived, has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; and (iv) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of ERISA or the Code, the fair market value of the assets of each such Plan is not less than the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan).

(rr) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that is designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as and when required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.

(ss) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained or incorporated by reference in any of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the relevant Representation Date, has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.

Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to a Manager or counsel for the Managers in connection with an offering of Shares hereunder shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Manager.

SECTION 3: Sale and Delivery of Shares. (a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell through or to the Managers, as sales agents and/or principals, as and when it provides instructions, in its discretion, for the sale of the Shares, and each Manager agrees to use its commercially reasonable efforts, consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations, to sell, as sales agent for the Company, the Shares on the terms set forth below. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, any Manager may decline, for any reason in its sole discretion, to act as sales agent for the Company hereunder with respect to one or more sets of Company instructions for the sale of the Shares.

(i) The Shares are to be sold by one of the Managers on a daily basis or otherwise as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Managers on any trading day for the Nasdaq (other than a day on which the Nasdaq is scheduled to close prior to its regular weekday closing time) (each, a “Trading Day”), on which (A) the Company, through any of the individuals listed as authorized representatives of the Company on Schedule B hereto, as such Schedule B may be amended from time to time (the “Authorized Representatives”), has instructed such Manager (with notice of such instruction to each of the other Authorized Representatives at such time) to make such sales and (B) the Company has satisfied its obligations under Sections 4, 5 and 6 hereof. On a Trading Day that the Company wishes to sell the Shares, the Company may sell the Shares through only one Manager and, if it determines to do so in its discretion, the Company will designate (x) in a notice delivered by electronic mail substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 3(a)(i) or (y) by telephone (confirmed promptly by electronic mail substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 3(a)(i)) the maximum amount of the Shares to be sold by such Manager daily as agreed to by such Manager (in any event the Company shall not instruct such Manager to sell Shares in excess of the amount available for issuance under the Prospectus and the Registration Statement or in an amount in excess of the amount of Shares authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement or, together with all sales of the Shares under this Agreement, any minimum price below which sales of the Shares may not be effected) and any other limitations specified by the Company and mutually agreed by such Manager. On any Trading Day, the Company shall give at least one business day’s prior notice (confirmed promptly by electronic mail) to the relevant Manager as to any change of the Manager through whom sales of the Shares as sales agent will be

 

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made. The Manager through whom sales of the Shares as sales agent are then being made pursuant to this Section 3(a) is referred to as the “Selling Manager”. For the avoidance of doubt, the foregoing limitation shall not apply to sales solely to employees or other security holders of the Company or to a trustee or other person acquiring the Shares for the accounts of such persons in which BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC or Scotia Capital (USA) Inc. is acting for the Company in a capacity other than as Manager under this Agreement. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 3(a), the Managers may sell the Shares by any method permitted by law including, without limitation, an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Act or sales made by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions, to or through a market maker at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices (such transactions are hereinafter referred to as “At the Market Offerings”). Subject to the terms and conditions of this Section 3(a) and the other terms and conditions specified herein (including, without limitation, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations contained herein and the satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 hereof), the applicable Manager shall use its commercially reasonable efforts to offer and sell all of the Shares designated; provided, however, that the Managers shall have no obligation to offer or sell any Shares, and the Company acknowledges and agrees that the Managers shall have no such obligation, in the event that an offer or sale of the Shares on behalf of the Company in the reasonable judgment of a Manager may cause such Manager to be deemed to be an “underwriter” under the Act in a transaction that is other than by means of ordinary brokers’ transactions between members of the Nasdaq that qualify for delivery of a Prospectus to the Nasdaq in accordance with Rule 153 under the Act.

(ii) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company, through any of the Authorized Representatives, may instruct the Managers (confirmed promptly by electronic mail) not to sell the Shares if such sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by the Company in any such instruction. In addition, the Company or any Manager may, upon notice to the other parties hereto (confirmed promptly by electronic mail), suspend the offering of the Shares for a specified period (a “Suspension Period”); provided, however, that such Suspension Period shall not affect or impair the parties’ respective obligations with respect to the Shares sold hereunder prior to the giving of such notice and provided, further, that there shall be no obligations under Sections 4(n), 4(o), 4(p), 4(q) and 4(u) with respect to the delivery of certificates, opinions, or comfort letters to the Managers, or the conducting of a due diligence session, in each case, during a Suspension Period, and that such obligations shall recommence on the termination of the Suspension Period.

(iii) Each of the Managers hereby covenants and agrees not to make any sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company, pursuant to this Section 3(a), other than (A) by means of At the Market Offerings and (B) such other sales of the Shares on behalf of the Company in its capacity as agent of the Company as shall be mutually agreed upon by the Company and such Manager.

(iv) The compensation to each Manager, as an agent of the Company, for sales of the Shares shall be at a mutually agreed rate, not to exceed 2.00% of the gross sales price of the Shares sold pursuant to this Section 3(a). The remaining proceeds, after further deduction for any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales, shall constitute the net proceeds to the Company for such Shares (the “Net Proceeds”).

(v) If acting as sales agent hereunder, each Manager shall provide written confirmation to the Company (which may be by electronic mail) as soon as is reasonably practicable following the close of trading on the Nasdaq each day in which the Shares are sold pursuant to this Section 3(a) setting forth (i) the number of Shares sold on such day, (ii) the Net Proceeds to the Company, and (iii) the compensation payable by the Company to such Manager with respect to such sales.

 

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(vi) Settlement for sales of the Shares pursuant to this Section 3(a) will occur on the second business day that is also a trading day on the Nasdaq following the date on which such sales are made (each such date, a “Settlement Date”). On each Settlement Date, the Shares sold through a Manager for settlement on such date shall be issued and delivered by the Company to such Manager against payment of the Net Proceeds, or, at such Manager’s election, the gross proceeds, for the sale of such Shares. Settlement for all such Shares shall be effected by free delivery of the Shares by the Company or its transfer agent to such Manager’s account, or to the account of such Manager’s designee, at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System (“DTC”) or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto, which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered units in good deliverable form, in return for payments in same day funds delivered to the account designated by the Company. In the event that the relevant Manager delivers the gross proceeds of a given sale of Shares to the Company on a Settlement Date, the compensation payable to such Manager for such sale shall be set forth and invoiced in a periodic statement from the Manager to the Company and payment of such compensation shall be made promptly by the Company as directed by such Manager after the Company’s receipt of such periodic statement. If the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), shall default upon its obligation to deliver the Shares on any Settlement Date, in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 7(a) hereof, the Company shall (A) indemnify and hold such Manager harmless against any loss, claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and (B) pay such Manager any commission to which it would otherwise be entitled absent such default. Any Authorized Representative shall be a permissible contact person for the Company for all matters related to the settlement of the transfer of the Shares through DTC for purposes of this Section 3(a)(vi).

(vii) At each Representation Date the Company shall be deemed to have affirmed each representation and warranty contained in this Agreement. Any obligation of any Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts to sell the Shares on behalf of the Company shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 6 hereof.

(b) If the Company wishes to issue and sell the Shares other than as set forth in Section 3(a) hereof, it will notify a Manager of the proposed terms of such issuance and sale (each, a “Placement”). If such Manager, acting as principal, wishes to accept such proposed terms (which it may decline to do for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussions with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Company and such Manager will enter into a Terms Agreement setting forth the terms of such Placement. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of any Terms Agreement, the terms of such Terms Agreement will control.

(c) Under no circumstances shall the aggregate number of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement exceed the lesser of (A) 10,000,000 shares and (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the Registration Statement, nor shall the aggregate amount of Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement exceed the amount of Shares authorized to be issued and sold from time to time under this Agreement by the Board of Directors of the Company, or a duly authorized committee thereof, and notified to the Managers in writing. The Managers shall have no responsibility for maintaining records with respect to Shares available for sale under the Registration Statement or for determining the aggregate number or minimum price of Shares duly authorized by the Company.

(d) Each sale of the Shares through or to any Manager shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement or, if applicable, a Terms Agreement. The applicable Manager’s commitment, if any, to purchase Shares from the Company as principal shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company, and performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations, herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth. At the time of each Terms Agreement, the applicable Manager shall specify the requirements, if any, for the officers’ certificate, opinions, letters of counsel and comfort letters and due diligence session pursuant to Section 4(n), (o), (p), (q) and (u), respectively, hereof.

 

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(e) Subject to the limitations set forth herein and except as otherwise may be mutually agreed upon by the Company and the Managers, sales effected pursuant to this Agreement may not be requested by the Company and need not be made by any Manager (i) during the 14 calendar days prior to the date (each, an “Announcement Date”) on which the Company shall issue a press release containing, or shall otherwise publicly announce, its earnings, revenues or other results of operations (each, an “Earnings Announcement”), (ii) at any time from and including an Announcement Date through and including the later to occur of (A) the day that the Company files a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q or an Annual Report on Form 10-K that includes consolidated financial statements as of and for the same period or periods, as the case may be, covered by such Earnings Announcement, and (B) the applicable Bring-Down Delivery Date of the Company referenced in Section 4(n) below, or (iii) during any other period in which the Company is, or could be deemed to be, in possession of material non-public information.

(f) The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that any Manager will be successful in selling the Shares, (ii) no Manager will incur liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Shares for any reason other than a failure by such Manager to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable law and regulations to sell such Shares in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, and (iii) no Manager shall be under any obligation to purchase Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement except as otherwise specifically agreed by such Manager and the Company pursuant to a Terms Agreement.

(g) If any of the Company or the Managers has reason to believe that the exemptive provisions set forth in Rule 101(c)(1) of Regulation M under the Exchange Act are not satisfied with respect to the Shares, it shall promptly notify the other parties, and sales of the Shares under this Agreement shall be suspended until that or other exemptive provisions have been satisfied in the judgment of each party.

SECTION 4: Covenants of the Company. The Company agrees with the Managers as follows:

(a) During the period in which a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), to notify the Managers promptly of the time when any amendment to the Registration Statement has become effective or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus has been filed by means of the Commission’s EDGAR system; to prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Managers’ request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that, in the Managers’ reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the offer of the Shares by the Managers; and to cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Act.

(b) To pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Shares within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) of the Act without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of the Act.

(c) To promptly advise the Managers, confirming such advice in writing (which may be made by electronic mail), of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus or for additional information with respect thereto, or of notice of examination, institution of proceedings for, or the entry of a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act and, if the Commission should enter a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or take any action with respect to such Section 8A, to use its commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting or removal of such order or resolution of such action, as applicable, as soon as possible; to promptly advise the Managers of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, and to provide the Managers and counsel for the Managers copies of any such documents (excluding any documents incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference) for review and comment in a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing and to file no such amendment or supplement (other than any prospectus supplement relating to the offering of other securities (including, without limitation, Common Stock)) to which the Managers shall have objected in writing.

 

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(d) To make available to the Managers, as soon as practicable after the date of this Agreement, and thereafter from time to time to furnish to the Managers, as many copies of the Prospectus (or of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such time if the Company shall have made any amendments or supplements thereto) as the Managers may reasonably request; in case the Managers are required to deliver (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule), in connection with the sale of the Shares, a prospectus after the nine-month period referred to in Section 10(a)(3) of the Act, or after the time a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement is required pursuant to Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Act, the Company will prepare, at its expense, such amendment or amendments to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as may be necessary to ensure compliance with the requirements of Section 10(a)(3) of the Act or Item 512(a) of Regulation S-K under the Act, as the case may be.

(e) Subject to Section 4(c) hereof, to file promptly all reports and documents and any preliminary or definitive proxy or information statement required to be filed by the Company with the Commission in order to comply with the Exchange Act for so long as a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by the Act to be delivered (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares and to provide the Managers with a copy of such reports and statements and other documents to be filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act during such period a reasonable amount of time prior to any proposed filing.

(f) To promptly notify the Managers of the happening of any event that could require the making of any change in the Registration Statement as then amended or supplemented so that the Registration Statement would 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 to prepare and furnish, at the Company’s expense, to each Manager promptly such amendments or supplements to such Registration Statement as may be necessary to reflect any such change in such quantities as such Manager may reasonably request. To promptly notify the Managers of the happening of any event that could require the making of any change in the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented so that the Prospectus would not contain an untrue statement of material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading, and, during any period during which a prospectus is required to be delivered (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or through compliance with Rule 172 under the Act or any similar rule) in connection with any sale of Shares, to prepare and furnish, at the Company’s expense, to each Manager promptly such amendments or supplements to such Prospectus as may be necessary to reflect any such change in such quantities as such Manager may reasonably request.

(g) To furnish such information as may be required and otherwise cooperate in qualifying the Shares for offer and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Managers may reasonably designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to consent to the service of process under the laws of any such jurisdiction (except service of process with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares); and to promptly advise the Managers of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer or sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening in writing of any proceeding for such purpose.

(h) To make generally available to its security holders, and to deliver to the Managers, an earnings statement of the Company (which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Commission thereunder, which may be satisfied by timely filing reports with the Commission on its EDGAR system) covering a period of twelve months beginning after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c) of the Act) as soon as is reasonably practicable after the termination of such twelve-month period but not later than sixteen months after the effective date of the Registration Statement (as such date is defined in Rule 158(c) under the Act).

 

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(i) To apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement in the manner set forth under the caption “Use of proceeds” in the Prospectus Supplement.

(j) At any time that the Company has instructed any Manager to sell the Shares pursuant to Section 3(a)(i) hereof but such instructions have not been fulfilled, settled or cancelled, not to sell, offer to sell, contract or agree to sell, hypothecate, pledge, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of or agree to dispose of, directly or indirectly, any Common Stock or securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock or warrants or other rights to purchase Common Stock or any other securities of the Company that are substantially similar to the Common Stock or permit the registration under the Act of any Common Stock, in each case without giving such Manager at least two business days’ prior written notice specifying the nature of the proposed sale and the date of such proposed sale. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may (i) register the offer and sale of the Shares through any Manager pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement or (ii) issue Common Stock pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified unit option plans or other employee compensation plans existing on the date hereof or disclosed in the Prospectus as of such date. In the event that notice of a proposed sale is provided by the Company pursuant to this Section 4(j), the Managers may suspend activity under this program for such period of time as may be requested by the Company or as may be deemed appropriate by the Managers. The Company agrees that any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sale of Shares under this Agreement shall be effected by or through only one Manager or sales agent on any single given day, and the Company shall in no event request that more than one of the Managers or sales agent sell Shares on the same day.

(k) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to constitute under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.

(l) To use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Common Stock to maintain its listing on the Nasdaq.

(m) To advise the Managers promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge of any information or fact that would materially alter or affect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document provided to the Managers pursuant to Section 6 hereof.

(n) Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following a Suspension Period) and promptly after each date that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than pursuant to subclause (ii) below and other than by a prospectus supplement filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Shares), (ii) there is filed with the Commission any document incorporated by reference into the Prospectus or (iii) the Managers shall otherwise reasonably request (the date of commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement and each date referred to in subclauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above, are each referred to as a “Bring-Down Delivery Date”), to furnish or cause to be furnished to the Managers forthwith a certificate dated and delivered on the Bring-Down Delivery Date, in form satisfactory to the Managers, to the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in Section 6(g) of this Agreement which was last furnished to the Managers are true and correct as of such Bring-Down Delivery Date, as though made at and as of such date (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu of such certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in said Section 6(g), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such certificate; provided that the filing of a Current Report on Form 8-K will not constitute a Bring-Down Delivery Date under clause (ii) above unless either (A)(x) such Current Report on Form 8-K is filed at any time during which either a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered under the Act (whether physically, deemed to be delivered pursuant to Rule 153 or through compliance with Rule 172 or any similar rule) or such Current Report on Form 8-K is filed at any time from and including the date of a Terms Agreement through and including the relevant Settlement Date and (y) the Managers have reasonably requested that such date be

 

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deemed to be a Bring-Down Delivery Date based upon the event or events reported in such Current Report on Form 8-K or (B) such Current Report on Form 8-K contains capsule financial information, historical or pro forma financial statements, supporting schedules or other financial data, including any Current Report on Form 8-K or part thereof under Item 2.02 of Regulation S-K of the Commission that is considered “filed” under the Exchange Act; provided, further, that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (n) shall be deferred during any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period; and provided, further, that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (n) shall be deferred until such time as the Company executes and delivers a Terms Agreement or such time as an Authorized Representative instructs any Manager to make a sale of Shares under this Agreement.

(o) To furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to the Managers, at or promptly after each Bring-Down Delivery Date (and upon recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following a Suspension Period), (i) a written opinion and negative assurance letter of Kirkland & Ellis LLP, counsel to the Company (together with any other counsel satisfactory to the Managers, “Company Counsel”), each dated and delivered as of such Bring-Down Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, of the same tenor as the opinion and negative assurance letter referred to in Section 6(c) of this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion and negative assurance letter and (ii) a written opinion of the General Counsel of the Company (the “General Counsel”), dated and delivered as of such Bring-Down Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, of the same tenor as the opinion referred to in Section 6(e) of this Agreement, but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such opinion; provided, however, that in lieu of such opinions and negative assurance letters for subsequent Bring-Down Delivery Dates, Company Counsel and the General Counsel may furnish the Managers with a letter to the effect that the Managers may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 4(o) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented at such Bring-Down Delivery Date); provided further that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (o) shall be deferred during any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period; and provided, further that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (o) shall be deferred until such time as the Company executes and delivers a Terms Agreement or such time as an Authorized Representative instructs any Manager to make a sale of Shares under this Agreement.

(p) At or promptly after each Bring-Down Delivery Date (and upon recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following a Suspension Period), Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, or other counsel to the Managers, shall deliver a written opinion and negative assurance letter, dated and delivered as of such Bring-Down Delivery Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers; provided that the obligation under this subsection (p) shall be deferred during any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period; and provided, further, that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (p) shall be deferred until such time as the Company executes and delivers a Terms Agreement or such time as an Authorized Representative instructs any Manager to make a sale of Shares under this Agreement.

(q) Upon commencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement (and upon recommencement of the offering of the Shares under this Agreement following a Suspension Period), and promptly after each date that (i) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented to include additional or amended financial information, (ii) the Company shall file an annual report on Form 10-K or a Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, or (iii) the Managers shall otherwise reasonably request, to cause the Accountants (or other independent accountants of the Company satisfactory to the Managers) and any other applicable accounting firm reasonably requested by the Managers, forthwith to furnish to the Managers a letter (“Comfort Letter”), dated the date of the commencement of the offering, the date of effectiveness of such amendment or the date of filing of such supplement or other document with the Commission, as the case may be, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, of the same tenor as the letters referred to in Section 6(f) of this Agreement but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter; provided that the

 

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obligation of the Company under this subsection (q) shall be deferred during any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period; and provided, further, that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (q) shall be deferred until such time as the Company executes and delivers a Terms Agreement or such time as an Authorized Representative instructs any Manager to make a sale of Shares under this Agreement.

(r) That the Company acknowledges that each of the Managers may trade in Common Stock for such Manager’s own account and for the account of its clients at the same time as sales of the Shares occur pursuant to this Agreement; provided, that such activity of the Managers is conducted in compliance with Regulation M under the Exchange Act.

(s) If, to the knowledge of the Company, any condition set forth in Section 6(a) or 6(j) hereof shall not have been satisfied on the applicable Settlement Date, to offer to any person who has agreed to purchase the Shares from the Company as the result of an offer to purchase solicited by any Manager the right to refuse to purchase and pay for such Shares.

(t) To disclose in its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and in its annual report on Form 10-K the number of the Shares sold through or to the Managers under this Agreement, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation paid to the Managers by the Company with respect to sales of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement during the period covered by the report.

(u) At each Bring-Down Delivery Date, to conduct a due diligence session, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, which shall include representatives of the management and the accountants of the Company; provided that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (u) shall be deferred during any Suspension Period and shall recommence upon the termination of such Suspension Period; and provided, further, that the obligation of the Company under this subsection (u) shall be deferred until such time as the Company executes and delivers a Terms Agreement or such time as an Authorized Representative instructs any Manager to make a sale of Shares under this Agreement.

(v) To ensure that prior to instructing any Manager to sell Shares, the Company shall have obtained all necessary corporate authorizations for the offer and sale of such Shares.

(w) If, immediately prior to the third anniversary of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any of the Shares remain unsold hereunder, the Company will, prior to such third anniversary, file a new prospectus supplement (the “New Prospectus Supplement”) relating to the Shares to its subsequent registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Subsequent Registration Statement”), and will take all other reasonable actions necessary or appropriate to permit the offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to such Shares and this Agreement. If, at any time, during the term of this Agreement or otherwise when any of the Shares remain unsold hereunder, the Company receives a notice from the Commission pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Managers, (ii) promptly file a Subsequent Registration Statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to such Shares, in form and substance satisfactory to the Managers, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such Subsequent Registration Statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable and (iv) promptly notify the Managers of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action which is reasonably necessary to permit the offering and sale of the Shares to continue as contemplated in the Registration Statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible. Upon filing of the New Prospectus Supplement, except where the context otherwise requires, references herein to the “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to refer to the Subsequent Registration Statement, and references herein to the “Prospectus Supplement” shall be deemed to refer to the New Prospectus Supplement.

(x) To not, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Managers, make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” or portion thereof, required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433.

 

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SECTION 5: Payment of Expenses. Except as otherwise agreed in writing among the Company and the Managers, the Company agrees with the Managers, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all of the Company’s expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including, but not limited to, such costs, expenses, fees and taxes in connection with (i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, and the printing and furnishing of copies of each such document to the Managers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (ii) the registration, issue, sale and delivery of the Shares including any stock or transfer taxes and stamp or similar duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Shares, (iii) the producing, word processing and/or printing of this Agreement, and any closing documents (including compilations thereof) and the reproduction and/or printing and furnishing of copies of each such document to the Managers (including costs of mailing and shipment), (iv) the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state laws, (v) the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq, (vi) any filing for review of the public offering of the Shares by FINRA, (vii) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Shares, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations or any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the Shares and (ix) the reasonable fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel and of the Company’s accountants. The Company further agrees with the Managers, whether or not the transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay all reasonable and documented fees, costs and expenses of one external counsel to the Managers. Each Manager will otherwise pay all of its out-of-pocket costs and expenses incurred in connection with entering into this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including, without limitation, travel, reproduction, printing and similar expenses.

SECTION 6: Conditions of the Managers’ Obligations. The obligations of each Manager hereunder are subject to (i) the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company as of the Execution Time and each Representation Date, (ii) the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and (iii) to the following additional conditions precedent.

(a) (i) No stop order with respect to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Act or proceedings initiated under Section 8(d) or 8(e) of the Act, and no order directed at or in relation to any document incorporated by reference therein and no order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus shall have been issued by the Commission, and no suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer or sale in any jurisdiction, or to the knowledge of the Company or any Manager, no initiation or threatening in writing of any proceedings for any of such purposes or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act, shall have occurred; (ii) the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto shall not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (iii) none of the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus, and no amendment or supplement thereto, shall include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading; and (iv) no Prospectus and no amendment or supplement thereto, shall include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading.

(b) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus and the Prospectus, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Effect.

(c) On every date specified in Section 4(o) hereof, the Managers shall have received an opinion and negative assurance letter of Company Counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, dated as of such date.

(d) [Reserved].

(e) On every date specified in Section 4(o) hereof, the Managers shall have received an opinion of the General Counsel, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, dated as of such date.

 

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(f) On every date specified in Section 4(q) hereof, the Managers shall have received from the Accountants and each other accounting firm reasonably requested by the Managers, in each case in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, a Comfort Letter, dated as of such date.

(g) On every date specified in Section 4(n) hereof, the Managers shall have received a certificate to the effect that (i) the representations and warranties of the Company as set forth in this Agreement are true and correct as of the Bring-Down Delivery Date, (ii) the Company has performed its obligations under this Agreement that it is required to perform on or prior to such Bring-Down Delivery Date, and (iii) the conditions set forth in paragraphs (a) and (b) of Section 6 hereof have been met. The certificate shall also state that the Shares have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, that all corporate action required to be taken for the issuance and sale of the Shares has been validly and sufficiently taken, and that the Company’s Board of Directors or any other body with authority has not revoked, rescinded or otherwise modified or withdrawn such authorization.

(h) On every date specified in Section 4(p) hereof, the Managers shall have received an opinion and negative assurance letter of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett LLP, or other counsel to the Managers, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Managers, dated as of such date.

(i) All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Act to have been filed by any Settlement Date shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

(j) The Shares shall have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq, subject only to notice of issuance at or prior to the Settlement Date.

SECTION 7: Indemnification and Contribution.

(a) The Company agrees to indemnify, defend and hold harmless each Manager, its employees, agents, directors and officers, any person who controls such Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and any “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act) of such Manager that has, or is alleged to have, participated in the distribution of Shares, and the successors and assigns of all the foregoing persons, from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including, without limitation, the reasonable cost of investigation and any legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any suit, action, investigation or proceeding or any claim asserted), joint or several, which such Manager or any such person may incur under the Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Company) or that arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Manager to the Company expressly for use in, the Registration Statement or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in the Registration Statement in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was required to be stated in such Registration Statement or was necessary to make such information not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any Prospectus (the term Prospectus for the purpose of this Section 7 being deemed to include the Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements to the foregoing), in any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Act) of the Company, in any road show as defined under Rule 433(h) under the Act (a “road show”) or in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission 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, except, with respect to such Prospectus, insofar as any such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in, and in conformity with information furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Manager

 

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to the Company expressly for use in, such Prospectus or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Prospectus in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was necessary in order to make the statements in such information, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

If any action, suit or proceeding (together, a “Proceeding”) is brought against any Manager or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against the Company pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, such Manager or such person shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and the Company shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the failure to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company from any liability which the Company may have to such Manager or any such person or otherwise except to the extent the Company did not otherwise learn of such Proceeding and such failure results in the forfeiture by the Company of substantial rights and defenses. The Manager or such person 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 Manager or of such person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the Company in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or the Company shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from, additional to or in conflict with those available to the Company (in which case the Company shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by the Company, and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that the Company shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding, except in the case of a conflict of interest among indemnified parties). The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent but, if settled with the written consent of the Company, the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the relevant Manager and any such person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested the Company to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then the Company agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request, (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given the Company at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or may be a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include any statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified party.

(b) Each Manager, severally and not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its employees, agents, directors and each officer that signed the Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and the successors and assigns of all of the foregoing persons from and against any loss, damage, expense, liability or claim (including, without limitation, the reasonable cost of investigation and any legal fees and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with any suit, action, investigation or proceeding or any claim asserted), joint or several, which the Company or any such person may incur under the Act, the Exchange Act, the common law or otherwise, insofar as such loss, damage, expense, liability or claim arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Manager furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Manager to the Company expressly for use with reference to such Manager in the Registration Statement (or in the Registration Statement as amended by any post-effective amendment thereof by the Company), or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact in such Registration Statement in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was required to be stated in such Registration Statement or was necessary to make such information not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged

 

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untrue statement of a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Manager furnished in writing by or on behalf of such Manager to the Company expressly for use with reference to such Manager in the Prospectus, in any road show or in any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus or arises out of or is based upon any omission or alleged omission to state a material fact therein in connection with such information, which material fact was not contained in such information and which material fact was necessary in order to make the statements in such information, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Company acknowledges that the information contained under the heading “Plan of Distribution” in the Prospectus Supplement in the paragraph related to stabilizing transactions constitutes the only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of any Manager for inclusion in any of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, a road show, or any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.

If any Proceeding is brought against the Company or any such person in respect of which indemnity may be sought against any Manager pursuant to the foregoing paragraph, the Company or such person shall promptly notify such Manager in writing of the institution of such Proceeding and such Manager shall assume the defense of such Proceeding, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses; provided, however, that the failure to so notify such Manager shall not relieve such Manager from any liability which such Manager may have to the Company or any such person or otherwise except to the extent such Manager did not otherwise learn of such Proceeding and such failure results in the forfeiture by such Manager of substantial rights and defenses. The Company or such person shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any such case, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the Company or such person unless the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the relevant Manager in connection with the defense of such Proceeding or such Manager shall not have, within a reasonable period of time in light of the circumstances, employed counsel to have charge of the defense of such Proceeding or 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 or in conflict with those available to such Manager (in which case such Manager shall not have the right to direct the defense of such Proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties, but such Manager may employ counsel and participate in the defense thereof but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such Manager), in any of which events such fees and expenses shall be borne by such Manager and paid as incurred (it being understood, however, that such Manager shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (in addition to any local counsel) in any one Proceeding or series of related Proceedings in the same jurisdiction representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such Proceeding). The relevant Manager shall not be liable for any settlement of any such Proceeding effected without the written consent of such Manager but, if settled with the written consent of such Manager, such Manager agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and any such person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested the relevant Manager to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second sentence of this paragraph, then such Manager agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any Proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 business days after receipt by such Manager of the aforesaid request, (ii) such Manager shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement and (iii) such indemnified party shall have given such Manager at least 30 days’ prior notice of its intention to settle. The relevant Manager shall not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened Proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such Proceeding and does not include any statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of such indemnified party.

(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable to an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) of this Section 7 or insufficient to hold an indemnified party harmless in respect of any losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims referred to therein, then the relevant indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the relevant Manager, on the other hand, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of such Manager, on the

 

22


other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, damages, expenses, liabilities or claims, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one hand, and the relevant Manager, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total proceeds from the offering (net of commissions paid hereunder but before deducting expenses) received by the Company, and the total commissions received by such Manager hereunder, bear to the aggregate gross sales price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and of the relevant Manager, on the other, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Company or by such Manager and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, damages, expenses, liabilities and claims referred to in this subsection (c) shall be deemed to include any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating, preparing to defend or defending any Proceeding. For the avoidance of doubt, any obligations of the Managers under this Section 7(c) shall be several, and not joint.

(d) The Company and each Manager agrees that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in subsection (c) above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Manager shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of commissions received by it under this Agreement. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

(e) The Company and each Manager agrees promptly to notify each other of the commencement of any Proceeding against it and, in the case of the Company, against any of the Company’s officers or directors in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares, or in connection with the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Prospectus.

SECTION 8: Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 7 hereof and the covenants, warranties and representations of the Company contained in this Agreement or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Manager, its employees, agents, directors or officers, any person (including each employee, agent, officer or director of such person) who controls such Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, any “affiliate” (within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Act) of such Manager that has, or is alleged to have, participated in the distribution of Shares or the successors and assigns of the foregoing, or by or on behalf of the Company, their directors or officers or any person who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and shall survive any termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Shares.

SECTION 9: Termination.

(a) The Company shall have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that (i) with respect to any pending sale, through any Manager for the Company, the obligations of the Company, including in respect of compensation of such Manager, shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding the termination and (ii) the provisions of Sections 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19 and 23 hereof and the terms of any Terms Agreement shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

(b) Each Manager shall, as to itself, have the right, by giving written notice as hereinafter specified, to terminate its own obligations under this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time; provided, however, that this Agreement and the obligations hereunder will remain in full force and effect with respect to the Managers that have not so terminated their obligations. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Sections 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19 and 23 hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

23


(c) This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 9(a) or (b) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Sections 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19 and 23 hereof shall remain in full force and effect.

(d) Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by each other party hereto. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of the Shares, such sale shall settle in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(a)(vi) hereof.

(e) Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 9, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Shares through any Manager on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, except that Sections 5, 7, 8, 10, 11, 12, 17, 19 and 23 shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 10: Notices. Except as otherwise herein provided, all statements, requests, notices and agreements under this Agreement shall be in writing and delivered by hand, overnight courier, mail, electronic mail or facsimile and, if to the Managers, shall be delivered or sent to, as applicable, BofA Securities, Inc., One Bryant Park, New York, NY 10036, Attention: ATM Execution Team, Email: dg.atm_execution@bofa.com, with a copy to ECM Legal; Barclays Capital Inc., 745 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019, Attention: Syndicate Registration; Citigroup Global Markets Inc., 388 Greenwich Street, New York, NY 10013, Attention: General Counsel, fax: (646) 291-1469; Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., 1301 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10019, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, Email: equitycapitalmarkets@ca-cib.com; Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, New York, NY 10005, Attention: Equity Capital Markets – Syndicate Desk, with a copy to Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., 60 Wall Street, 36th Floor, New York, New York 10005, Attention: General Counsel, fax: (646) 374-1071; Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 1585 Broadway, New York, NY 10036, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., 250 Vesey Street, New York, NY 10281, Attention: Equity Capital Markets, Email: us.ecm@scotiabank.com; us.legal@scotiabank.com; and, if sent to the Company, shall be emailed to Jean.Sera@avisbudget.com, and confirmed to it at 6 Sylvan Way, Parsippany, NJ 07054, Attention: General Counsel. Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose.

SECTION 11: Parties at Interest. The Agreement herein set forth has been and is made solely for the benefit of the Company and the Managers and, to the extent provided in Section 7 hereof, the other indemnified parties referred to in such section, and their respective successors, assigns, heirs, personal representatives and executors and administrators. No other person, partnership, association or corporation (including a purchaser, as such purchaser, through or from any Manager) shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement.

SECTION 12: No Fiduciary Relationship. The Company hereby acknowledges that each Manager is acting solely as sales agent and/or principal in connection with the purchase and sale of the Shares. The Company further acknowledges that each Manager is acting pursuant to a contractual relationship created solely by this Agreement entered into on an arm’s length basis, the purchase and sale of the Shares does not constitute a recommendation, investment advice or solicitation of any action by the Managers, and, in no event, do the parties intend that any Manager act or be responsible as a fiduciary to the Company or its management, shareholders or creditors or any other person in connection with any activity that any Manager may undertake or have undertaken in furtherance of the purchase and sale of the Company’s securities, either before or after the date hereof. Each Manager hereby expressly disclaims any fiduciary or similar obligations to the Company, either in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions, and the Company hereby confirms its understanding and agreement to that effect. The Company and each Manager agrees that the Company is responsible for making its own independent judgments with respect to any such transactions and that any opinions or views expressed by any Manager to the Company regarding such transactions, including, but not limited to, any opinions or views with respect to the price or market for the Company’s securities, do not constitute advice or recommendations to the Company. The

 

24


Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company may have against any Manager with respect to any breach or alleged breach of any fiduciary or similar duty to the Company in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any matters leading up to such transactions. None of the activities of the Managers in connection with the transactions contemplated herein constitutes a recommendation, investment advice or solicitation of any action by the Managers with respect to any entity or natural person.

SECTION 13: Press Releases and Disclosure. The Company may issue a press release in compliance with Rule 134 under the Act describing the material terms of the transactions contemplated hereby as soon as practicable following the date hereof and may file with the Commission a Current Report on Form 8-K describing the material terms of the transaction contemplated hereby, and the Company shall consult with the Managers prior to making such disclosures, and the parties shall use commercially reasonable efforts, acting in good faith, to agree upon the text of such disclosure that is reasonably satisfactory to all parties.

SECTION 14: Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any stock split effected with respect to the Shares.

SECTION 15: Entire Agreement. This Agreement, together with any Terms Agreement, constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof.

SECTION 16: Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed by the parties in one or more counterparts which together shall constitute one and the same agreement among the parties. Counterparts may be delivered via facsimile, electronic mail (including via www.docusign.com and any other electronic signature covered by the U.S. federal ESIGN Act of 2000, Uniform Electronic Transactions Act, the Electronic Signatures and Records Act or other applicable law) or other transmission method and any counterpart so delivered shall be deemed to have been duly and validly delivered and be valid and effective for all purposes. The words “execution,” “signed,” “signature,” “delivery,” and words of like import in or relating to this Agreement or any document to be signed in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to include electronic signatures, deliveries or the keeping of records in electronic form, each of which shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature, physical delivery thereof or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be, and the parties hereto consent to conduct the transactions contemplated hereunder by electronic means.

SECTION 17: Law; Construction. This Agreement and any claim, counterclaim or dispute of any kind or nature whatsoever arising out of or in any way relating to this Agreement, directly or indirectly, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 18: Headings. The Section headings in this Agreement have been inserted as a matter of convenience of reference and are not a part of this Agreement.

SECTION 19: Submission to Jurisdiction. Except as set forth below, no claim, proceeding, counterclaim or other action related to or arising out of this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (each, a “Claim”) may be commenced, prosecuted or continued in any court other than the courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York, Borough of Manhattan, or in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York, which courts shall have jurisdiction over the adjudication of such matters, and the Company and each Manager consents to the jurisdiction of such courts and personal service with respect thereto. Each of the Managers and the Company waives all right to trial by jury in any Claim (whether based upon contract, tort or otherwise).

SECTION 20: Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall be binding upon the Company and each Manager and their respective successors and assigns and any successor or assign of all or substantially all of the Company’s or such Manager’s respective businesses and/or assets.

 

25


SECTION 21: Miscellaneous. Securities sold, offered or recommended by any Manager are not deposits, are not insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, are not guaranteed by a branch or agency, and are not otherwise an obligation or responsibility of a branch or agency. Lending affiliates of any Manager have or may in the future have lending relationships with issuers of securities underwritten or privately placed by such Manager. Prospectuses and other disclosure documents for securities underwritten or privately placed by any Manager may disclose the existence of any such lending relationships and whether the proceeds of the issue may be used to repay debts owed to affiliates of such Manager.

SECTION 22: Compliance with USA Patriot Act. In accordance with the requirements of the USA Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the Managers are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies their respective clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of their respective clients, as well as other information that will allow the Managers to properly identify their respective clients.

SECTION 23: Recognition of the U.S. Special Resolution Regimes.

(i) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, the transfer from such Manager of this Agreement, and any interest and obligation in or under this Agreement, will be effective to the same extent as the transfer would be effective under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement, and any such interest and obligation, were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

(ii) In the event that any Manager that is a Covered Entity or any BHC Act Affiliate of such Manager becomes subject to a proceeding under a U.S. Special Resolution Regime, Default Rights under this Agreement that may be exercised against such Manager are permitted to be exercised to no greater extent than such Default Rights could be exercised under the U.S. Special Resolution Regime if this Agreement were governed by the laws of the United States or a state of the United States.

As used in this Section 23:

BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).

Covered Entity” means any of the following:

(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);

(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or

(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).

Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.

U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.

[Signature Pages Follow.]

 

26


If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the Managers, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this Agreement and your acceptance shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Managers.

 

Very truly yours,
AVIS BUDGET GROUP, INC.
By:  

/s/ David Calabria

  Name: David Calabria
  Title: Senior Vice President and Treasurer


ACCEPTED as of the date

first above written

BOFA SECURITIES, INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Andrew Stinson

  Name: Andrew Stinson
  Title:  Managing Director


ACCEPTED as of the date

first above written

BARCLAYS CAPITAL INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Victoria Hale

  Name: Victoria Hale
  Title: Authorized Signatory


ACCEPTED as of the date

first above written

CITIGROUP GLOBAL MARKETS INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Chad Hoeft

  Name: Chad Hoeft
  Title:  Managing Director


ACCEPTED as of the date

first above written

CREDIT AGRICOLE SECURITIES (USA) INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Jean S. Bel

  Name: Jean S. Bel
  Title:  Managing Director, Co-Head GIB Americas


ACCEPTED as of the date

first above written

DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.

 

By:  

/s/ Ben Selinger

  Name: Ben Selinger
  Title:  Director
By:  

/s/ Manoj Mahtani

  Name: Manoj Mahtani
  Title:  Director


ACCEPTED as of the date

first above written

MORGAN STANLEY & CO. LLC

 

By:  

/s/ Akanksha Agarwal

  Name: Akanksha Agarwal
  Title:  Executive Director


ACCEPTED as of the date

first above written

SCOTIA CAPITAL (USA) INC.

 

By:  

/s/ John Cronin

  Name: John Cronin
  Title:  Managing Director & Head


Schedule A

Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses

None.


Schedule B

Authorized Representatives

Bernardo Hees

Joseph Ferraro, and any successor Chief Executive Officer of the Company

Brian Choi, and any successor Chief Financial Officer of the Company

David Calabria, and any successor Treasurer of the Company

Alan Koines, and any successor Assistant Treasurer of the Company

Jean Sera, and any successor General Counsel of the Company

 

36


Exhibit 3(a)(i)

 

From:    [    ]
Cc:    [    ]
To:    [     ]
Subject:    At-the-Market Offering

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement among Avis Budget Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc., as managers, dated February 17, 2021 (the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that [●] sell up to [●] shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 (the “Shares”) at a minimum market price of $[●] per Share between [ ], 20[ ] and [ ], 20[ ]. [There shall be no limitation on the number of Shares that may be sold on any one (1) day.][No more than [●] Shares may be sold on any one (1) day.] [Other sales parameters]

 

Very truly yours,
By:  

 

Name:
Title:

 

37

EX-5.1

Exhibit 5.1

 

LOGO

 

 

601 Lexington Avenue

New York, NY 10022

United States

 

+1 212 446 4800

  

Facsimile:

+1 212 446 4900

  www.kirkland.com   

February 17, 2021

Avis Budget Group, Inc.

6 Sylvan Way

Parsippany, NJ 07054

Ladies and Gentlemen:

We are acting as special counsel to Avis Budget Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), of the offer and sale from time to time of up to 10,000,000 shares of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Shares”), in “at the market offerings,” as defined in Rule 415 promulgated under the Securities Act, pursuant to the terms of an Equity Distribution Agreement, dated February 17, 2021 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), among the Company, BofA Securities, Inc., Barclays Capital Inc., Citigroup Global Markets Inc., Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc., Deutsche Bank Securities Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC and Scotia Capital (USA) Inc.

The Shares are being offered and sold by the Company under a registration statement on Form S-3ASR filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) on February 17, 2021 (Registration No. 333-253195) (the “Registration Statement”), including a base prospectus dated February 17, 2021 (the “Base Prospectus”), as supplemented by a prospectus supplement dated February 17, 2021 (together with the Base Prospectus, the “Prospectus”).

In connection with the registration of the Shares, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such documents, corporate records and other instruments as we have deemed necessary for the purposes of this opinion, including (i) the organizational documents of the Company, (ii) minutes and records of the corporate proceedings of the Company, (iii) the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto, (iv) the Prospectus and (v) the Equity Distribution Agreement.

For purposes of this opinion, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents submitted to us as originals, the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies and the authenticity of the originals of all documents submitted to us as copies. We have also assumed the legal capacity of all natural persons, the genuineness of the signatures of persons signing all documents in connection with which this opinion is rendered, the authority of such persons signing on behalf of the parties thereto other than the Company and the due authorization, execution and delivery of all documents by the parties thereto other than the Company. We have not independently established or verified any facts relevant to the opinions expressed herein, but have relied upon statements and representations of the officers and other representatives of the Company.

 

Beijing    Boston    Chicago    Dallas    Hong Kong     Houston    London    Los Angeles    Munich    Palo Alto    Paris    San Francisco    Shanghai    Washington, D.C.


 

LOGO

Avis Budget Group, Inc.

February 17, 2021

Page 2

 

Based upon and subject to the foregoing qualifications, assumptions and limitations and the further limitations set forth below, we are of the opinion that the Shares have been duly authorized, and when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with the Equity Distribution Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.

Our opinion expressed above is subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with, or effect of any laws except the laws of the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, including the applicable provisions of the Delaware constitution and reported judicial decisions interpreting these laws.

We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion with the Commission as Exhibit 5.1 to the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K and to its incorporation by reference into the Registration Statement. We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading “Legal Matters” in the Prospectus constituting part of the Registration Statement. In giving this consent, we do not thereby admit that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission.

We do not find it necessary for the purposes of this opinion, and accordingly we do not purport to cover herein, the application of the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of the various states to the sale of the Shares.

This opinion is limited to the specific issues addressed herein, and no opinion may be inferred or implied beyond that expressly stated herein. The Shares may be sold from time to time, and this opinion is limited to the laws, including the rules and regulations, as in effect on the date hereof, which laws are subject to change with possible retroactive effect. We assume no obligation should the present federal securities laws of the United States, laws of the State of New York or the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware be changed by legislative action, judicial decision or otherwise.

This opinion is furnished to you in connection with the filing of the Company’s Current Report on Form 8-K, which is incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, and is not to be used, circulated, quoted or otherwise relied upon for any other purpose.

 

 

Sincerely,
/s/ KIRKLAND & ELLIS LLP