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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): August 26, 2024
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
Georgia
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000-53717
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58-2336689
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(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)
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(Commission File Number)
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(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
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Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 300, Atlanta, Georgia 30328
(Address of principal executive offices)
Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: 770-828-2000
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:
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☐
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Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)
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Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)
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☐
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))
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Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))
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Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:
Title of class
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Trading Symbol
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Name of exchange on which registered
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Common stock, no par value
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ATLC
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Nasdaq Global Select Market
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7.625% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value
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ATLCP
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Nasdaq Global Select Market
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6.125% Senior Notes due 2026
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ATLCL
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Nasdaq Global Select Market
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9.25% Senior Notes due 2029
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ATLCZ
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Nasdaq Global Select Market
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Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).
Emerging growth company ☐
If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act. ☐
Item 1.01.
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Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.
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On August 26, 2024, Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (the “Company”) entered into an Amended and Restated At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with B. Riley Securities, Inc. (the “Sales Agent”) providing for the sale by the Company of up to an aggregate offering price of $100,000,000 of the Company’s (i) 7.625% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value per share and liquidation preference of $25.00 per share (the “Preferred Stock”), and (ii) 9.25% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “ATM Notes” and, together with the Preferred Stock, the “Offered Securities”), from time to time through the Sales Agent, in connection with the Company’s “at-the-market” offering program (the “Offering”). The Sales Agreement amends and restates the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement that the Company had entered into with the Sales Agent on August 10, 2022.
The Offered Securities will be offered and sold pursuant to the Company’s shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (the “Shelf Registration Statement”) filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on May 10, 2024, which became effective on May 21, 2024. A prospectus supplement relating to the Offering has been filed today with the SEC.
From time to time during the term of the Sales Agreement, the Company may deliver a placement notice to the Sales Agent specifying the length of the selling period, any limitation on the aggregate principal amount of Offered Securities that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made.
Upon its acceptance of any placement notice from the Company, the Sales Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices to sell the Offered Securities up to the amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, the placement notice. Sales of the Offered Securities may be made in transactions that are deemed to be “at the market offerings” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, including sales made directly on or through the NASDAQ Global Select Market. The Company may instruct the Sales Agent not to sell the Offered Securities if the sales cannot be effected at or above the price designated by the Company in any placement notice. The Company or the Sales Agent may suspend the Offering at any time upon proper notice and subject to other conditions.
The Company will pay the Sales Agent a commission for its services in acting as agent in the sale of the Offered Securities, if any. The Sales Agent will be entitled to compensation in an amount equal to two percent (2.0%) of the gross proceeds of all of the Offered Securities, if any, sold through it under the Sales Agreement.
The Offering of Offered Securities pursuant to the Sales Agreement will terminate upon the earlier of (i) the sale of all Offered Securities subject to the Sales Agreement or (ii) termination of the Sales Agreement.
The Company made certain customary representations, warranties and covenants concerning the Company and the Offered Securities in the Sales Agreement and also agreed to indemnify the Sales Agent against certain liabilities.
The Company intends to use the net proceeds from the Offering, if any, for general corporate purposes.
The ATM Notes are an additional issue of the Company’s $117.25 million aggregate principal amount of 9.25% Senior Notes due 2029 that the Company sold in January, February and July 2024 (the “Existing Notes” and, together with the ATM Notes, unless the context requires otherwise, the “Notes”). The ATM Notes will form a single series with the Existing Notes and have the same terms as the Existing Notes (other than with respect to the price to the public, the issue date and the initial interest payment date). The ATM Notes will have the same CUSIP number and will be fungible and rank equally with the Existing Notes.
On August 26, 2024, the Company entered into a fifth supplemental indenture (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”) to its indenture dated as of November 22, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”; as previously supplemented and as further supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”) between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (successor to U.S. Bank National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”). The Indenture establishes the form, and provides for the issuance from time to time, if any, of the ATM Notes. The Indenture also contains customary events of default and cure provisions.
The Notes are general unsecured obligations of the Company and rank equally in right of payment with all of the Company’s existing and future senior unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness, and rank senior in right of payment to the Company’s future subordinated indebtedness, if any. The Notes are effectively subordinated to all of the Company’s existing and future secured indebtedness, to the extent of the value of the assets securing such indebtedness, and the Notes are structurally subordinated to all existing and future indebtedness and other liabilities (including trade payables) of the Company’s subsidiaries (excluding any amounts owed by such subsidiaries to the Company). The Notes bear interest at the rate of 9.25% per annum. Interest on the Notes is payable quarterly in arrears on January 15, April 15, July 15, and October 15 of each year. The Notes mature on January 31, 2029.
The foregoing description of the material terms of the Sales Agreement, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Notes is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Sales Agreement, the Fifth Supplemental Indenture and the Notes, copies of which are filed as Exhibit 1.1, Exhibit 4.1 and Exhibit 4.2, respectively, to this Current Report on Form 8-K and are incorporated herein by reference.
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP, counsel to the Company, has issued a legal opinion relating to the legality of the issuance and the sale of the Offered Securities. A copy of such legal opinion, including the consent included therein, is attached as Exhibit 5.1 hereto.
This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of these securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such an offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or other jurisdiction.
Item 2.03.
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Creation of a Direct Financial Obligation or an Obligation under an Off-Balance Sheet Arrangement of a Registrant.
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The information set forth in Item 1.01 of this Current Report on Form 8-K is incorporated by reference into this Item 2.03.
Item 9.01
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Financial Statements and Exhibits.
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(d) Exhibits.
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.
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ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
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Date: August 26, 2024
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By:
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/s/ William R. McCamey
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Name: William R. McCamey
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Title: Chief Financial Officer
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Exhibit 1.1
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
9.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
7.625% SERIES B CUMULATIVE PERPETUAL PREFERRED STOCK
Amended and Restated At Market Issuance Sales Agreement
August 26, 2024
B. Riley Securities, Inc.
299 Park Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, New York 10171
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”) and B. Riley Securities, Inc. (the “Agent”) are parties to that certain Sales Agreement dated August 10, 2024 (the “Original Agreement”). The Company and the Agent desire to amend and restate the Original Agreement as set forth in this agreement (this “Agreement”), and hereby agree as follows:
1. Issuance and Sale of Securities. The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through the Agent (i) the Company’s 9.25% Senior Notes Due 2029 (the “Notes”), to be issued under an indenture dated as of November 22, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 22, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 30, 2024 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 30, 2024 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture,”), the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 26, 2024 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture,” together with the Base Indenture, the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, and the Third Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), as will be further supplemented by a fifth supplemental indenture (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (“Trustee”), from time to time during the term of this Agreement (the “Placement Notes”), and (ii) shares of the Company’s 7.625% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value per share and liquidation preference of $25.00 per share (the “Preferred Shares”, and together with the Placement Notes, the “Placement Securities”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through the Agent such number of Placement Securities that (a) exceeds the number or dollar amount of Placement Securities registered on the effective Registration Statement (as defined below) pursuant to which the offering is being made or (b) the aggregate principal amount of Placement Securities authorized to be issued by the board of directors of the Company (the “Board”) from time to time (the lesser of (a) or (b) the “Maximum Amount”). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 on the number of Placement Securities issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that the Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of Placement Securities through the Agent will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue any Placement Securities.
The Placement Securities will be issued to Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”). The Indenture will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
The Company has filed, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), a registration statement on Form S-3 (333-279345), including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities including the Placement Securities to 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 (the “Exchange Act”). The Company has prepared a supplement to such base prospectus relating to the Placement Securities (the “Prospectus Supplement”). The Company will furnish to the Agent, for use by the Agent, copies of the Prospectus Supplement. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B or 430C of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference to the extent such information has not been superseded or modified in accordance with Rule 412 under the Securities Act (as qualified by Rule 430B(g) of the Securities Act), included in the Registration Statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement in the form in which such Prospectus Supplement has most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”).
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 the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System, or if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, “EDGAR”).
2. Placements. Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell Placement Securities hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify the Agent by electronic mail (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of the aggregate principal amount of Placement Securities, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the aggregate principal amount of Placement Securities that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (a “Placement Notice”), the form of which is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Securities shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 3 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Agent set forth on Schedule 3, as such Schedule 3 may be amended from time to time. The Placement Notice shall be effective immediately upon receipt by the Agent unless and until (i) the Agent declines in writing to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Securities thereunder has been sold, (iii) the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, which suspension and termination rights may be exercised by the Company in its sole discretion, or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 13. The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Securities shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 2. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Securities unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Agent and the Agent does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of Sections 2 or 3 of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control.
3. Sale of Placement Securities by the Agent. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period specified in a Placement Notice, the Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Nasdaq Global Select Market (the “Exchange”) and Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”), to sell the Placement Securities up to the amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice. The Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Securities hereunder setting forth the aggregate principal amount and series of Placement Securities sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to the Agent pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by the Agent (as set forth in Section 5(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the terms of a Placement Notice, the Agent may sell Placement Securities by any method permitted by law. “Trading Day” means any day on which Securities are purchased and sold on the Exchange.
4. Suspension of Sales. The Company or the Agent may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3), suspend any sale of Placement Securities (a “Suspension”); provided, however, that such Suspension shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Securities sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. While a Suspension is in effect, any obligation under Sections 7(l), 7(m), and 7(n) with respect to the delivery of certificates, opinions, or comfort letters to the Agent, shall be waived. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against any other party unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule 3 hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.
5. Sale and Delivery to the Agent; Settlement.
a. Sale of Placement Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Agent’s acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice, and unless the sale of the Placement Securities described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Exchange to sell such Placement Securities up to the amount and in the series specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Agent will be successful in selling Placement Securities, (ii) the Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Securities for any reason other than a failure by the Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Exchange to sell such Placement Securities as required under this Agreement and (iii) the Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase Placement Securities on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by the Agent and the Company.
b. Settlement of Placement Securities. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Securities will occur on the Trading Day (or such earlier time as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). The Agent shall notify the Company of each sale of Placement Securities no later than opening of trading the day following the Trading Day that the Agent sold Placement Securities. The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Securities sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by the Agent, after deduction for (i) the Agent’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, and (ii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.
c. Delivery of Placement Securities. On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent or the Trustee, as applicable, to, electronically transfer the Placement Securities being sold by crediting the Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided the Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee and such designee’s account information at least two Trading Days prior to the Settlement Date) at DTC through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered Placement Securities in good deliverable form. In connection with each Settlement Date, the Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, its transfer agent or the Trustee (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement Securities on a Settlement Date through no fault of the Agent, then in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 11(a) hereto, it will (i) hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable, documented expense (including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company, its transfer agent or the Trustee (if applicable) and (ii) pay to the Agent (without duplication) any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.
d. Limitations on Offering. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Securities if, after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Securities, the aggregate number or principal amount of Placement Securities sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the Maximum Amount. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized executive committee, and notified to the Agent in writing. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall not request the Agent to sell, and the Agent shall not sell, Placement Notes at a purchase price lower than the Minimum Fungibility Price.
6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (including the Incorporated Documents), the Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with the Agent that as of the date of this Agreement and as of each Applicable Time (as defined in Section 25 below), unless such representation, warranty or agreement specifies a different date or time:
a. Assuming no act or omission on the part of the Agent that would make this statement untrue, the transactions contemplated by this Agreement meet the requirements for and comply with the conditions for the use of Form S‑3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission and has been declared effective under the Securities Act. The Prospectus Supplement will name the Agent as the agent in the section entitled “Plan of Distribution.” The Company has not received, and has no notice of, any order of the Commission preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, or threatening or instituting proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement and the offer and sale of Placement Securities as contemplated hereby meet the requirements of Rule 415 under the Securities Act and comply in all material respects with said Rule. Any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement have been so described or filed, as applicable. Copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any such amendments or supplements and all documents incorporated by reference therein that were filed with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement have been delivered, or are available through EDGAR, to the Agent and its counsel. The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to occur of each Settlement Date and completion of the distribution of the Placement Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering or sale of the Placement Securities other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) to which the Agent has consented, which consent will not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, or that is required by applicable law or the listing maintenance requirements of the Exchange. The Company has not, in the 12 months preceding the date hereof, received notice from the Exchange to the effect that the Company is not in compliance with the listing or maintenance requirements of the Exchange. To the Company’s knowledge, it is in compliance with all such listing and maintenance requirements.
b. At each Settlement Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of such date, will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not, and will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto, on the date thereof and at each Applicable Time (defined below), did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such document or necessary to make the statements in such document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Company by the Agent specifically for use in the preparation thereof.
c. The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. The Company has not, directly or indirectly, distributed and will not distribute any offering material in connection with this offering other than the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
d. The Company and any subsidiary that is a significant subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission) (each, a “Subsidiary,” collectively, the “Subsidiaries”), have been duly incorporated, formed or organized, as applicable, are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation, formation or organization, as applicable. The Company and the Subsidiaries are duly licensed or qualified for the transaction of business and in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such license or qualification, and have all organizational power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except where the failure to be so qualified or 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 assets, business, operations, earnings, properties, condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, shareholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
e. The Company owns directly or indirectly, all of the equity interests of the Subsidiaries free and clear of any lien, charge, security interest, encumbrance, right of first refusal or other restriction, and all the equity interests of the Subsidiaries are validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive and similar rights.
f. The Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Indenture, and the Placement Securities and perform the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 11 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof.
g. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 11 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof.
h. The Placement Notes have been duly authorized for sale to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement and, when executed and delivered by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement and of the Indenture and Fifth Supplemental Indenture relating thereto, against payment of the consideration set forth in this Agreement, will be valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification and contribution provisions of Section 11 hereof may be limited by federal or state securities laws and public policy considerations in respect thereof. The Preferred Shares, when issued and delivered pursuant to the terms approved by the Board of Directors of the Company or a duly authorized committee thereof, against payment therefor as provided in this Agreement, will be duly and validly authorized and issued and fully paid and nonassessable, free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, security interest or other claim, including any statutory or contractual preemptive rights, resale rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights.
i. At the time of filing the Registration Statement, the Company met the then applicable requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act, including compliance with General Instruction I.B.1 of Form S-3, as applicable.
j. No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or any governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the Indenture and the Placement Securities, and the issuance and sale by the Company of the Placement Securities as contemplated hereby, except (i) as may be required under applicable state securities laws or by the by-laws and rules of FINRA or the Exchange, including any notices that may be required by the Exchange, in connection with the sale of the Placement Securities, (ii) as may be required under the Securities Act, (iii) any necessary qualification under the Trust Indenture Act, in connection with the offer and sale of the Notes, and (iv) as have been previously obtained by the Company or the absence of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
k. Since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been (i) any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that would result in a Material Adverse Effect, (ii) any transaction which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iii) any obligation or liability, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations), incurred by the Company or the Subsidiaries, which is material to the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, (iv) any material change in the Company’s capital stock (other than (A) the grant of additional options or other equity awards under the Company’s existing stock option and equity incentive plans, (B) changes in the number of shares of outstanding Common Stock of the Company due to the issuance of shares upon the exercise or conversion of securities exercisable for, or convertible into, Common Stock outstanding on the date hereof, or (C) any repurchases of capital stock of the Company or (v) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company or any Subsidiary, other than in each case above (x) in the ordinary course of business or as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement or Prospectus (including any document incorporated by reference therein) and (y) dividends on the Company’s Series A Convertible Preferred Stock and Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock.
l. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is (i) in violation of its articles of incorporation or by-laws 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 similar agreement or instrument to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary, except, in the case of each of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such violation or default that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no other party under any material contract or other material agreement to which it or any Subsidiary is a party is in default in any respect thereunder where such default would have a Material Adverse Effect.
m. (i) No person, as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated under the Securities Act (each, a “Person”) has the right to act as an underwriter or as a financial advisor to the Company in connection with the offer and sale of the Placement Securities, and (ii) no Person has the right, contractual or otherwise, to require the Company to register under the Securities Act any shares of capital stock or other securities of the Company, or to include any such shares or other securities in the Registration Statement or the offering contemplated thereby, whether as a result of the filing or effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the sale of the Placement Securities as contemplated thereby or otherwise, except in each case for such rights as have been waived on or prior to the date hereof or such rights which, if not waived, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
n. The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and, other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, are not subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. The description of the Notes and Preferred Stock in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus is complete and accurate in all material respects.
o. Each prospectus filed as part of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Placement Securities, complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
p. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is or, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Placement Securities, will be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company,” as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
q. The Company and the Subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, decisions and orders relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively, “Environmental Laws”); (ii) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and (iii) have not received notice of any actual or potential liability for the investigation or remediation of any disposal or release of hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants, except, in the case of any of clauses (i), (ii) or (iii) above, for any such failure to comply or failure to receive required permits, licenses, other approvals or liability as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
r. (i) Neither the Company nor, to the Company’s knowledge, the Subsidiaries, nor to the Company’s knowledge, any of their respective executive officers has, in the past five years, made any unlawful contributions to any candidate for any political office (or failed fully to disclose any contribution in violation of applicable law) or made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state, municipal, or foreign office or other person charged with similar public or quasi-public duty in violation of any applicable law or of the character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus; (ii) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the Subsidiaries or any affiliate of any of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers and shareholders of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the Subsidiaries, on the other hand, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not so described; (iii) no relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or the Subsidiaries or any affiliate of them, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, shareholders or directors of the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the Subsidiaries, on the other hand, that is required by the rules of FINRA to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that is not so described; (iv) there are no material outstanding loans or advances or material guarantees of indebtedness by the Company or, to the Company’s knowledge, the Subsidiaries to or for the benefit of any of their respective officers or directors or any of the members of the families of any of them; and (v) the Company has not offered, or caused any placement agent to offer, Placement Securities to any person with the intent to influence unlawfully (A) a customer or supplier of the Company or the Subsidiaries to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or the Subsidiaries or (B) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their respective products or services, and, (vi) neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or the Subsidiaries has made any payment of funds of the Company or the Subsidiaries or received or retained any funds in violation of any law, rule or regulation (including, without limitation, the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977), which payment, receipt or retention of funds is of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus.
s. The operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial record keeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions to which the Company or the Subsidiaries are subject, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency having jurisdiction over the Company (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”), except where the failure to be in such compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any Subsidiary with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
t. (i) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (collectively, the “Entity”), director, officer nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee, agent, affiliate or representative of the Entity, is a government, individual, or entity (in this paragraph (t), “Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:
(1) the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”), the United Nations Security Council (“UNSC”), the European Union (“EU”), His Majesty’s Treasury (“HMT”), or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor
(2) located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions.
(ii) The Entity will not, directly or indirectly, knowingly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:
(1) to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or
(2) in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).
(iii) The Entity represents and covenants that, except as detailed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, for the past 5 years, it has not knowingly engaged in and is not now knowingly engaged in any dealing or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.
u. The Company and the Subsidiaries own or possess adequate enforceable rights to use all patents, patent applications, trademarks (both registered and unregistered), trade names, trademark registrations, service marks, service mark registrations, Internet domain name registrations, copyrights, copyright registrations, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”), necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as conducted as of the date hereof, except to the extent that the failure to own or possess adequate rights to use such Intellectual Property would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company and the Subsidiaries have not received any written notice of any claim of infringement or conflict which asserted Intellectual Property rights of others, which infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no pending, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened judicial proceedings or interference proceedings challenging the Company’s or any Subsidiary’s rights in or to or the validity of the scope of any of the Company’s or its Subsidiaries’ patents, patent applications or proprietary information, except for such right or claim that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To the Company’s knowledge, no other entity or individual has any right or claim in any of the Company’s or any of its Subsidiary’s patents, patent applications or any patent to be issued therefrom by virtue of any contract, license or other agreement entered into between such entity or individual and the Company or any Subsidiary or by any non-contractual obligation, other than by written licenses granted by the Company or any Subsidiary, except for such right or claim that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not received any written notice of any claim challenging the rights of the Company or its Subsidiaries in or to any Intellectual Property owned, licensed or optioned by the Company or any Subsidiary which claim, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
v. Neither the execution of this Agreement and Indenture by the Company, nor the issuance, offering or sale of the Placement Securities, nor the consummation by the Company of any of the transactions contemplated herein, nor the compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions hereof will conflict with, or will result in a breach of, any of the terms and provisions of, or has constituted or will constitute a default under, or has resulted in or will result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any contract or other agreement to which the Company may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, except (i) such conflicts, breaches or defaults as may have been waived and (ii) such conflicts, breaches and defaults that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; nor will such action result (x) in any violation of the provisions of the organizational or governing documents of the Company, or (y) in any material violation of the provisions of any statute or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or of any court or of any federal, state or other regulatory authority or other government body having jurisdiction over the Company, except where such violation would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
w. The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and valid title in fee simple to all items of real property and good and valid title to all personal property described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus as being owned by them that are material to the businesses of the Company or such Subsidiary, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and claims, except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made of such property by the Company and the Subsidiaries or (ii) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Any real property described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus as being leased by the Company and the Subsidiaries is held by them under valid, existing and enforceable leases, except those that (A) do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or the Subsidiaries or (B) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
x. (i)(x) To the knowledge of the Company, there has been no material security breach or other compromise of the Company’s information technology and computer systems, networks, hardware, software, data (including the data of their respective customers, employees, suppliers, vendors and any third party data maintained by or on behalf of them), equipment or technology used in the Company’s business (collectively, “IT Systems and Data”) and (y) the Company has not been notified of, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in, any material security breach or other compromise to its IT Systems and Data; (ii) the Company is presently in material compliance with all applicable laws or statutes and all judgments, orders, rules and regulations of any court or arbitrator or governmental 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 the case of this clause (ii), individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) the Company has implemented backup and disaster recovery technology consistent with industry standards and practices.
y. The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns which have been required to be filed and paid all taxes shown thereon through the date hereof, to the extent that such taxes have become due and are not being contested in good faith, except where the failure to do so would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as otherwise disclosed in or contemplated by the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any Subsidiary which has had, or would have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no knowledge of any federal, state or other governmental tax deficiency, penalty or assessment which has been asserted or threatened against it which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
z. The consolidated financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related notes and schedules, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated financial position of the Company and the Subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of operations, cash flows and changes in shareholders’ equity of the Company and the Subsidiaries for the periods specified (subject, in the case of unaudited statements, to normal year-end audit adjustments which will not be material, either individually or in the aggregate) and have been prepared in compliance in all material respects with the published requirements of the Securities Act and Exchange Act, as applicable, and in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis (except (i) for such adjustments to accounting standards and practices as are noted therein and (ii) in the case of unaudited interim financial statements, to the extent they may exclude footnotes or may be condensed or summary statements) during the periods involved; the other financial and statistical data with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, are, in all material respects, accurately and fairly presented and prepared on a basis materially consistent with the financial statements and books and records of the Company; there are no financial statements (historical or pro forma) that are required to be included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus that are not included or incorporated by reference as required; and since the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and the Subsidiaries do not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off balance sheet obligations), not described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus which are required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus; and all disclosures contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, if any, regarding “non-GAAP financial measures” (as such term is defined by the rules and regulations of the Commission) comply in all material respects with Regulation G of the Exchange Act and Item 10 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, to the extent applicable.
aa. Each of BDO USA, P.C. (“BDO”), whose report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company is filed with the Commission as part of the Company’s most recent annual report on Form 10-K, filed with the Commission and incorporated into the Registration Statement, and Deloitte & Touche LLP (“Deloitte”; Deloitte and BDO together, the “Accountants”), whose report on the consolidated financial statements of the Company will be filed with the Commission as part of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K beginning with the year ended December 31, 2024, is and, during the periods covered by its report, was an independent public accountant within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) (the “PCAOB”). To the Company’s knowledge, the Accountants are not in violation of the auditor independence requirements of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (the “Sarbanes-Oxley Act”) with respect to the Company.
bb. The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls designed 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. The Company is not aware of any material weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting (other than as set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus). Since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (other than as set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus). The Company has established disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act. The Company’s certifying officers have evaluated the effectiveness of the Company’s controls and procedures as of a date within 90 days prior to the filing date of the most recent annual report on Form 10-K (such date, the “Evaluation Date”). The Company presented in its most recent annual report on Form 10-K, the conclusions of the certifying officers about the effectiveness of the disclosure controls and procedures based on their evaluations as of the most recent Evaluation Date.
cc. There are no transactions, arrangements and other relationships between and/or among the Company, and/or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its affiliates and any unconsolidated entity, including, but not limited to, any structured finance, special purpose or limited purpose entity (each, an “Off Balance Sheet Transaction”) that would affect materially the Company’s liquidity or the availability of or requirements for its capital resources, including those Off Balance Sheet Transactions described in the Commission Statement about Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations (Release Nos. 33-8056; 34-45321; FR-61), required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which have not been described as required.
dd. To the knowledge of the Company, (i) each material employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), that is maintained, administered or contributed to by the Company or any of its affiliates for employees or former employees of the Company and the Subsidiaries has been maintained in material compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”); (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred which would result in a material liability to the Company with respect to any such plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; and (iii) for each such 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 has been incurred, whether or not waived, and the fair market value of the assets of each such plan (excluding for these purposes accrued but unpaid contributions) equals or exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such plan determined using reasonable actuarial assumptions, other than, in the case of (i), (ii) and (iii) above, as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
ee. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) (a “Forward-Looking Statement”) contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
ff. Neither the issuance, sale and delivery of the Placement Securities nor the application of the proceeds thereof by the Company as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will violate Regulation T, U or X of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
gg. The Company and the Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by, insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as the Company and the Subsidiaries reasonably believe are adequate for the conduct of their business.
hh. The Company has not been advised, and has no reason to believe, that it and each of its Subsidiaries are not conducting business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, except where failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
ii. The Company and the Subsidiaries are in compliance with all applicable U.S. federal and state financial services or consumer protection laws, rules, regulations, licensing or other requirements applicable to the Company and the Subsidiaries, except to the extent that any non-compliance would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is a party to or otherwise subject to any consent decree, memorandum of understanding, cease and desist order, order of prohibition or suspension, written commitment, supervisory agreement, or other written agreement or order (collectively, “Regulatory Orders”) with any U.S. federal or state financial services or consumer protection regulatory authority (collectively, “Financial Regulatory Authorities”). None of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries has been advised in writing or otherwise by any Financial Regulatory Authority that such Financial Regulatory Authority is contemplating issuing or requesting any Regulatory Order which could reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
jj. The Company and its subsidiaries are, and at all prior times were, in material compliance with all applicable state and federal data privacy and security laws and regulations, including without limitation California Consumer Privacy Act (collectively, the “Privacy Laws”), except where failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. To ensure compliance with the Privacy Laws, the Company has in place, complies with, and takes appropriate steps to ensure compliance in all material respects with their policies and procedures relating to data privacy and security and the collection, storage, use, processing, disclosure, handling, and analysis of Personal Data and Confidential Data (the “Policies”), except where failure to be so in compliance would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has at all times made all disclosures to users or customers required by applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, and none of such disclosures made or contained in any Policy have been inaccurate or in violation of any applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements in any material respect. The Company further certifies that neither it nor any subsidiary: (i) has received notice of any actual or potential material liability under or relating to, or actual or potential material violation of, any of the Privacy Laws, and has no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice; (ii) is currently conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation, or other corrective action pursuant to any Privacy Law; or (iii) is a party to any order, decree, or agreement that imposes any material obligation or liability under any Privacy Law.
kk. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply in all material respects with any applicable provisions of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder. Each of the principal executive officer and the principal financial officer of the Company (or each former principal executive officer of the Company and each former principal financial officer of the Company as applicable) has made all certifications required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act with respect to all reports, schedules, forms, statements and other documents required to be filed by it or furnished by it to the Commission during the past 12 months. For purposes of the preceding sentence, “principal executive officer” and “principal financial officer” shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Exchange Act Rules 13a-15 and 15d-15.
ll. All agreements between the Company and third parties expressly referenced in the Prospectus, other than such agreements that have expired by their terms or whose termination is disclosed in documents filed by the Company on EDGAR, are legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company and, to the Company’s knowledge, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, except to the extent that (i) enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and by general equitable principles and (ii) the indemnification provisions of certain agreements may be limited by federal or state securities laws or public policy considerations in respect thereof, and except for any unenforceability that, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
mm. There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any Subsidiary is subject (i) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and proceedings that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, or on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Prospectus or (ii) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.
nn. The Company and the Subsidiaries possess or have obtained, all licenses, certificates, consents, orders, approvals, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all 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 currently conducted, as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (the “Permits”), except where the failure to possess, obtain or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has received written notice of any proceeding relating to revocation or modification of any such Permit or has any reason to believe that such Permit will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except where the revocation, modification or failure to obtain the renewal of any such Permit would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
oo. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has not filed a report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act since the filing of its last annual report on Form 10-K indicating that it (i) has failed to pay any dividend or sinking fund installment on preferred stock or (ii) has defaulted on any installment on indebtedness for borrowed money or on any rental on one or more long-term leases, which defaults, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
pp. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary has incurred any liability for any finder’s fees, brokerage commissions or similar payments in connection with the transactions herein contemplated, except as may otherwise exist with respect to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
qq. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any Subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is threatened which would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
rr. Neither the Company, nor any Subsidiary, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of their respective directors, officers or controlling persons has taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed, or that has constituted or would reasonably be expected to cause or result in, 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 Placement Securities.
ss. Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary (i) is required to register as a “broker” or “dealer” in accordance with the provisions of the Exchange Act or (ii) directly or indirectly, through one or more intermediaries, controls or is a “person associated with a member” or “associated person of a member” (within the meaning set forth in the FINRA Manual).
tt. The Company has not relied upon the Agent or legal counsel for the Agent for any legal, tax or accounting advice in connection with the offering and sale of the Placement Securities.
uu. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto in all material respects.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or to counsel for the Agent pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company, as applicable, to the Agent as to the matters set forth therein.
7. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Agent that:
a. Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a prospectus relating to any Placement Securities is required to be delivered by the Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”) (i) the Company will notify the Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference or amendments not related to any Placement, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus related to the Placement or for additional information related to the Placement, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, within a reasonable period following the Agent’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, upon the advice of the Company’s legal counsel, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Securities by the Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Agent to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the failure to make such filing shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities or a security convertible into the Placement Securities (other than an Incorporated Document) unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agent within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Agent has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that (A) the failure of the Agent to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and (B) the Company has no obligation to provide the Agent any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Agent an opportunity to object to such filing if the filing does not name the Agent or does not relate to the transaction herein provided; and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agent shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to provide the Agent the opportunity to object shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Agent at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will 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 Securities Act or, in the case of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed (the determination to file or not file any amendment or supplement with the Commission under this Section 7(a), based on the Company’s reasonable opinion or reasonable objections, shall be made exclusively by the Company).
b. Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise the Agent, promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued. The Company will advise the Agent promptly after it receives any request by the Commission for any amendments to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplements to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information related to the offering of the Placement Securities or for additional information related to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
c. Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430A and to notify the Agent promptly of all such filings. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such Prospectus Delivery Period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Agent to suspend the offering of Placement Securities during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; provided, however, that the Company may delay the filing of any amendment or supplement, if in the judgment of the Company, it is in the best interest of the Company.
d. Listing of Placement Securities. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Securities to be listed on the Exchange and to qualify the Placement Securities for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Agent reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in securities, file a general consent to service of process, or subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
e. Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Agent and its counsel (at the reasonable expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during the Prospectus Delivery Period (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request and, at the Agent’s request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Securities may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to the Agent to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.
f. Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act; provided that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such statement to its security holders to the extent it is available on EDGAR.
g. Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”
h. Notice of Other Sales. Without the prior written consent of the Agent, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities (other than the Placement Securities offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for securities, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, securities during the period beginning on the date on which any Placement Notice is delivered to the Agent hereunder and ending on the third (3rd) Trading Day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Securities sold pursuant to such Placement Notice (or, if the Placement Notice has been terminated or suspended prior to the sale of all Placement Securities covered by a Placement Notice, the date of such suspension or termination); and will not directly or indirectly in any other “at the market” or continuous equity transaction offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any securities (other than the Placement Securities offered pursuant to this Agreement) or securities convertible into or exchangeable for securities, warrants or any rights to purchase or acquire, securities prior to the termination of this Agreement; provided, however, that such restrictions will not apply in connection with the Company’s issuance or sale of (i) securities, or securities convertible into or exercisable for securities, offered and sold in a privately negotiated transaction to vendors, customers, strategic partners or potential strategic partners or other investors conducted in a manner so as not to be integrated with the offering of Placement Securities hereby; (ii) securities issuable upon the exercise of options or vesting of other equity awards, including any securities sold on behalf of an employee to cover tax withholding obligations, pursuant to any employee or director equity incentive or benefits plan of the Company whether now in effect or hereafter implemented; (iii) securities issuable upon conversion of securities or the exercise of warrants, options or other rights in effect or outstanding and disclosed in filings by the Company available on EDGAR or otherwise provided in writing to the Agent; (iv) securities in connection with any acquisition, strategic investment or other similar transaction (including any joint venture, strategic alliance or partnership) and (v) securities sold pursuant to the At-The-Market Sales Agreement, dated December 29, 2023, between the Company and BTIG, LLC, as amended from time to time. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall be construed to restrict the Company’s ability, or require the consent of the Agent, to file a registration statement under the Securities Act.
i. Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice, advise the Agent promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document required to be provided to the Agent pursuant to this Agreement.
j. Due Diligence Cooperation. During the term of this Agreement, the Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Agent or its representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as the Agent may reasonably request.
k. Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Securities. The Company shall either (A) include in its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q and its annual reports on Form 10-K, a summary detailing, for the relevant reporting period, (1) the number of Placement Securities sold through the Agent pursuant to this Agreement and (2) the net proceeds received by the Company from such sales or (B) prepare a prospectus supplement containing, or include in such other filing permitted by the Securities Act or Exchange Act (each an “Interim Prospectus Supplement”), such summary information and, at least once a quarter, file such Interim Prospectus Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (and within the time periods required by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430B under the Securities Act).
l. Representation Dates; Certificate. Each time during the term of this Agreement that the Company:
(i) amends or supplements (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to an offering of securities other than the Placement Securities) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Securities;
(ii) files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act (including any Form 10-K/A containing amended audited financial information or a material amendment to the previously filed Form 10-K);
(iii) files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or
(iv) files a current report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information “furnished” pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act;
(Each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) shall be a “Representation Date.”)
the Company shall furnish the Agent (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if the Agent reasonably determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l). The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) upon the delivery of the first Placement Notice hereunder and (ii) if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Securities following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Agent with a certificate under this Section 7(l), then before the Agent sells any Placement Securities, the Company shall provide the Agent with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l), dated the date of the Placement Notice.
m. Legal Opinion. On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent a written opinion and a negative assurance letter of Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, each in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent. Thereafter, within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable, and not more than once per calendar quarter, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agent a negative assurance letter of Company Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent; provided, however, that, in lieu of such negative assurance letter for subsequent periodic filings under the Exchange Act, counsel may furnish the Agent with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that the Agent may rely on the negative assurance letter previously delivered under this Section 7(m) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of the Reliance Letter).
n. Comfort Letter. On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder and within five (5) Trading Days after each subsequent Representation Date, other than pursuant to Section 7(l)(iii), the Company shall cause its independent accountants to furnish the Agent letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, which shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section 7(n). The Comfort Letter from the Company’s independent accountants shall be in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent, (i) confirming that they are an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.
o. Market Activities. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of Placement Securities or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase Placement Securities or the Company’s common shares, no par value per share (the “Common Stock”) in violation of Regulation M, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Securities other than the Agent.
p. Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor the Subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.
q. No Offer to Sell. Other than an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus approved in advance by the Company and the Agent in its capacity as agent hereunder pursuant to Section 23, neither of the Agent nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Agent in its capacity as such) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Placement Securities hereunder.
r. Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting its assets and maintain internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) provide reasonable assurance that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with management’s and the Company’s directors’ authorization, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company will maintain disclosure controls and procedures that comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
8. Representations and Covenants of the Agent. The Agent represents and warrants that it is duly registered as a broker-dealer under FINRA, the Exchange Act and the applicable statutes and regulations of each state in which the Placement Securities will be offered and sold, except such states in which the Agent is exempt from registration or such registration is not otherwise required. The Agent shall continue, for the term of this Agreement, to be duly registered as a broker-dealer under FINRA, the Exchange Act and the applicable statutes and regulations of each state in which the Placement Securities will be offered and sold, except such states in which it is exempt from registration or such registration is not otherwise required, during the term of this Agreement. The Agent shall comply with all applicable laws and regulations in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance and sale through the Agent of the Placement Securities.
9. Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, filing, including any fees required by the Commission, and printing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto and each Free Writing Prospectus, in such number as the Agent shall deem reasonably necessary, (ii) the printing and delivery to the Agent of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates, if any, for the Placement Securities to the Agent, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Securities to the Agent, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (v) the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of counsel to the Agent up to $50,000 in connection with this Agreement and up to $2,500 per calendar quarter, during the term of this Agreement, in connection with quarterly due diligence; (vi) the fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar for the Preferred Stock, (vii) the filing fees incident to any review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Placement Securities, and (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Placement Securities on the Exchange.
10. Conditions to the Agent’s Obligations. The obligations of the Agent hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein (other than those representations and warranties made as of a specified date or time), to the due performance in all material respects by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to the completion by the Agent of a due diligence review satisfactory to it in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing reasonable satisfaction (or waiver by the Agent in its sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:
a. Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement remain effective and shall be available for the sale of all Placement Securities contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.
b. No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post‑effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or receipt by the Company of notification of the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or receipt by the Company of notification of the initiation of, or a threat to initiate, any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material Incorporated Document untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any material Incorporated Document so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus or any material Incorporated Document, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
c. No Misstatement or Material Omission. The Agent shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in the Agent’s reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in the Agent’s reasonable opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
d. Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that would reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect, or a downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities) by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act (a “Rating Organization”), or a public announcement by any Rating Organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities), the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a Rating Organization described above, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent (without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
e. Company Counsel Legal Opinion. The Agent shall have received the opinion and negative assurance letter of Company Counsel required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(m) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion and negative assurance letter are required pursuant to Section 7(m).
f. Agent Counsel Legal Opinion. Agent shall have received from Duane Morris LLP, counsel for the Agent, such opinion or opinions, on or before the date on which the delivery of the Company Counsel legal opinion is required pursuant to Section 7(m), with respect to such matters as the Agent may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for enabling them to pass upon such matters.
g. Comfort Letter. The Agent shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such letter is required pursuant to Section 7(n).
h. Representation Certificate. The Agent shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(l) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(l).
i. Secretary’s Certificate. On or prior to the first Representation Date, the Agent shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by its corporate Secretary, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel.
j. No Suspension. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended on the Exchange and the Common Stock shall not have been delisted from the Exchange.
k. Other Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(l), the Company shall have furnished to the Agent such appropriate further information, certificates and documents as the Agent may reasonably request and which are usually and customarily furnished by an issuer of securities in connection with a securities offering of the type contemplated hereby. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof.
l. Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission related to the Placement Securities required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.
m. Approval for Listing. The Placement Securities shall either have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Securities on the Exchange at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.
n. No Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit the Agent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 13(a).
11. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Agent, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section 11(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be delayed or withheld; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above,
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made solely in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(b) Indemnification by the Agent. The Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and officers, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 11(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Agent and furnished to the Company in writing by the Agent expressly for use therein.
(c) Procedure. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 11 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 11, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 11 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provisions of this Section 11 unless, and only to the extent that, such omission results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict of interest exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such reasonable and documented out-of-pocket fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly after the indemnifying party receives a written invoice relating to fees, disbursements and other charges in reasonable detail. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 11 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 11 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company or the Agent, the Company and the Agent will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than the Agent, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and the Agent may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agent on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total Net Proceeds from the sale of the Placement Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by the Agent (before deducting expenses) from the sale of Placement Securities on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Agent, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 11(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 11(d) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 11(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 11(c) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11(d), the Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 11(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of the Agent, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer who signed the Registration Statement and director of the Company will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 11(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 11(d) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 11(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof.
12. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 11 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agent, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of their respective officers, directors or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Securities and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.
13. Termination.
a. The Agent may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (1) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that would have a Material Adverse Effect that, in the sole judgment of the Agent, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Placement Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Securities, (2) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Agent, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Placement Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Securities, (3) if trading in the Common Stock has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or if trading generally on the Exchange has been suspended or limited, or minimum prices for trading have been fixed on the Exchange, (4) if any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market shall have occurred and be continuing, (5) if a major disruption of securities settlements or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred and be continuing, or (6) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. Federal or New York authorities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If the Agent elects to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 13(a), the Agent shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 14 (Notices).
b. The Company shall have the right, by giving five (5) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
c. The Agent shall have the right, by giving five (5) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
d. Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 13, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Securities through the Agent on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.
e. This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 13(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not have any liability to the Agent for any discount, commission or other compensation with respect to any Placement Securities not otherwise sold by the Agent under this Agreement.
f. Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agent or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Securities, such Placement Securities shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.
14. Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified, and if sent to the Agent, shall be delivered to:
B. Riley Securities, Inc.
299 Park Avenue
21st Floor
New York, New York 10171
Attention: Legal Department
Email: atmdesk@brileyfin.com
with a copy to:
Duane Morris LLP
1540 Broadway
New York, NY 10036-4086
Attention: James T. Seery
Telephone: (973) 424-2088
Email: jtseery@duanemorris.com
Fax: (973) 556-1417
and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
Five Concourse Parkway
Suite 300
Atlanta, GA 30328
Attention: General Counsel
with a copy to:
Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
600 Peachtree Street, N.E.
Suite 3000
Atlanta, GA 30308
Attn: Paul Davis Fancher
Email: paul.fancher@troutman.com
Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally, by email, or by verifiable facsimile transmission on or before 4:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.
15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and the Agent and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 11 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither the Company nor the Agent may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.
16. Adjustments for Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all Placement Securities‑related numbers contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any consolidation, split, dividend, corporate domestication or similar event effected with respect to the Placement Securities.
17. Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability. Unless specifically provided otherwise in writing, this Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Agent. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.
18. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME. THE COMPANY AND THE AGENT EACH HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.
19. CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY SUBMITS TO THE NON-EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OF THE STATE AND FEDERAL COURTS SITTING IN THE CITY OF NEW YORK, BOROUGH OF MANHATTAN, FOR THE ADJUDICATION OF ANY DISPUTE HEREUNDER OR IN CONNECTION WITH ANY TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY, AND HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, AND AGREES NOT TO ASSERT IN ANY SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING, ANY CLAIM THAT IT IS NOT PERSONALLY SUBJECT TO THE JURISDICTION OF ANY SUCH COURT, THAT SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS BROUGHT IN AN INCONVENIENT FORUM OR THAT THE VENUE OF SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING IS IMPROPER. EACH PARTY HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES PERSONAL SERVICE OF PROCESS AND CONSENTS TO PROCESS BEING SERVED IN ANY SUCH SUIT, ACTION OR PROCEEDING BY MAILING A COPY THEREOF (CERTIFIED OR REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED) TO SUCH PARTY AT THE ADDRESS IN EFFECT FOR NOTICES TO IT UNDER THIS AGREEMENT AND AGREES THAT SUCH SERVICE SHALL CONSTITUTE GOOD AND SUFFICIENT SERVICE OF PROCESS AND NOTICE THEREOF. NOTHING CONTAINED HEREIN SHALL BE DEEMED TO LIMIT IN ANY WAY ANY RIGHT TO SERVE PROCESS IN ANY MANNER PERMITTED BY LAW.
20. Use of Information. The Agent may not use any information gained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including due diligence, to advise any party with respect to transactions not expressly approved by the Company.
21. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile transmission or email of a .pdf attachment.
22. Effect of Headings. The section, Schedule and Exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
23. Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Agent, and the Agent represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, in each case, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, delayed or conditioned, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Placement Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the Agent or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit 23 hereto are Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses.
24. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees that:
a. the Agent is acting solely as agent in connection with the public offering of the Placement Securities and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, shareholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and the Agent, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not the Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters, and the Agent has no obligation to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement;
b. it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
c. the Agent has not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;
d. it is aware that the Agent and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Agent has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and
e. it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agent for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of Placement Securities under this Agreement and agrees that the Agent shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company, employees or creditors of Company, other than in respect of the Agent’s obligations under this Agreement and to keep information provided by the Company to the Agent and its counsel confidential to the extent not otherwise publicly-available.
25. Definitions. As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:
“Applicable Time” means (i) each Representation Date and (ii) the time of each sale of any Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Placement Securities that (1) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (2) is 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 (3) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Placement Securities or of the offering 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) under the Securities Act.
“Minimum Fungibility Price” means an amount equal to (a) the principal amount of the Notes, reduced by (b) one-fourth of 1% (0.25%) of the principal amount, multiplied by the number of complete years to maturity, plus (c) any pre-issuance accrued interest on the Notes from the immediately preceding interest payment date to the date of issuance of the Notes.
“Rule 172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 424(b),” “Rule 430B,” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Securities by the Agent outside of the United States.
[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the Company and the Agent, please so indicate in the space provided below for that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement between the Company and the Agent.
Very truly yours, |
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ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS
CORPORATION
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By:
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/s/ William R. McCamey
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Name:
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William R. McCamey
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Title:
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Chief Financial Officer
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ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written: |
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B. RILEY SECURITIES, INC. |
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By:
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/s/ Patrice McNicoll
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Name: Patrice McNicoll |
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Title: Co-Head of Investment Banking |
SCHEDULE 1
FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE
From: Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
To: B. Riley Securities, Inc.
Attention: [•]
Subject: At Market Issuance--Placement Notice
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Amended and Restated At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Agreement”) between Atlanticus Holdings Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and B. Riley Securities, Inc. (the “Agent”), dated August 26, 2024, the Company hereby requests that the Agent sell up to [____] aggregate amount of the Company’s [9.25% Senior Notes due 2029 [and][or] [7.625% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value per share and liquidation preference of $25.00 per share] at a minimum market price of $[ ] per Placement Security, during the time period beginning [month, day, time] and ending [month, day, time].
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, the Company shall not request the Agent to sell, and the Agent shall not sell, Placement Notes (i) at a purchase price lower than the Minimum Fungibility Price and (ii) unless such Placement Notes are issued in a “qualified reopening” as provided for in Treasury Regulation Section 1.1275-2(k)(3).
All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement.
SCHEDULE 2
________________________
Compensation
________________________
The Company shall pay to the Agent in cash, upon each sale of Placement Securities pursuant to this Agreement, an amount equal to 2.0% of the gross proceeds from each sale of Placement Securities.
SCHEDULE 3
________________________
Notice Parties
________________________
The Company
Jeffrey A. Howard |
jeff.howard@atlanticus.com |
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William R. McCamey |
william.mccamey@atlanticus.com |
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Mitchell C. Saunders |
mitch.saunders@atlanticus.com |
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Bettie Lass |
bettie.lass@atlanticus.com |
with a copy to paul.fancher@troutman.com
B. Riley |
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Patrice McNicoll |
pmcnicoll@brileyfin.com |
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Keith Pompliano |
kpompliano@brileyfin.com |
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Scott Ammaturo |
sammaturo@brileyfin.com |
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Michael Cavanagh |
mcavanagh@brileyfin.com |
with a copy to atmdesk@brileyfin.com
EXHIBIT 7(l)
Form of Representation Date Certificate
___________, 20___
This Representation Date Certificate (this “Certificate”) is executed and delivered in connection with Section 7(l) of the Amended and Restated At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Agreement”), dated August 26, 2024, and entered into between Atlanticus Holdings Corporation (the “Company”) and B. Riley Securities, Inc. All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement.
The Company hereby certifies as follows:
1. As of the date of this Certificate (i) the Registration Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (iii) no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading for this paragraph 1 to be true.
2. Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Agreement were, when originally made, and are, as of the date of this Certificate, true and correct in all material respects (other than representations and warranties made as of a specific date or time, in which case such representations and warranties are true and correct in all material respects as of the time specified).
3. Except as waived by the Agent in writing, each of the covenants required to be performed by the Company in the Agreement on or prior to the date of the Agreement, this Representation Date, and each such other date prior to the date hereof as set forth in the Agreement, has been duly, timely and fully performed in all material respects and each condition required to be complied with by the Company on or prior to the date of the Agreement, this Representation Date, and each such other date prior to the date hereof as set forth in the Agreement has been duly, timely and fully complied with in all material respects.
4. Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Prospectus, and except as described in the Prospectus, including Incorporated Documents, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.
5. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been issued, and, to the Company’s knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission).
6. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the qualification or registration of the Placement Securities under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction are in effect and, to the Company’s knowledge, no proceeding for such purpose is pending before, or threatened by, any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission).
7. Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP and Duane Morris LLP are entitled to rely upon this Certificate in connection with the opinions given pursuant to the Agreement.
The undersigned has executed this Representation Date Certificate as of the date first written above.
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
EXHIBIT 23
Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses
None.
EXHIBIT 4.1
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
Up To
$100,000,000
9.25% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2029
FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
Dated as of August 26, 2024
To
INDENTURE
Dated as of November 22, 2021
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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Page |
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ARTICLE I DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
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2 |
Section 1.01
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Certain Definitions
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2
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Section 1.02
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Other Definitions
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2
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Section 1.03
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Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act
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3
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ARTICLE II APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND CREATION, FORMS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ATM NOTES
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3 |
Section 2.01
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Application of this Supplemental Indenture
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4
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Section 2.02
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Creation of the Notes
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4
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Section 2.03
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Form of the ATM Notes
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4
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Section 2.04
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Terms and Conditions of the ATM Notes
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5
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Section 2.05
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Offer to Repurchase Upon a Delisting Event
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7
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ARTICLE III REDEMPTION
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8 |
Section 3.01
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Optional Redemption.
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8
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Section 3.02
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Selection by Trustee of ATM Notes to be Redeemed
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9
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Section 3.03
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Open Market Repurchases
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9
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ARTICLE IV COVENANTS
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9 |
Section 4.01
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Reporting
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10
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Section 4.02
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Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets
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10
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ARTICLE V EVENTS OF DEFAULT
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11 |
Section 5.01
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Events of Default
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11
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ARTICLE VI MISCELLANEOUS
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12 |
Section 6.01
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Ratification of Indenture
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12
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Section 6.02
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Trust Indenture Act Controls
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12
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Section 6.03
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Notices
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12
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Section 6.04
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Governing Law
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12
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Section 6.05
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Successors
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13
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Section 6.06
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Multiple Originals
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13
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Section 6.07
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Headings
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13
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Section 6.08
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Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals
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14
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Section 6.09
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Paying Agent and Registrar
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14
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Section 6.10
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Benefits of Supplemental Indenture
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14
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Section 6.11
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No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements
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14
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Section 6.12
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Severability.
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14
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Section 6.13
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Language of Notices, Etc
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14
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Section 6.14
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Scope of this Supplemental Indenture
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14
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This FIFTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE (this “Supplemental Indenture”), by and between ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), and U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as trustee (the “Trustee”), is made and entered into as of this 26th day of August, 2024.
RECITALS
WHEREAS, the Company and the Trustee (as successor trustee to U.S. Bank National Association) have heretofore executed and delivered an indenture, dated as of November 22, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), providing for the issuance by the Company from time to time of its debt securities to be issued in one or more series;
WHEREAS, Sections 2.01, 2.03 and 8.01 of the Base Indenture provide, among other things, that the Company and the Trustee may, without the consent of Holders, enter into indentures supplemental to the Base Indenture to provide for the issuance of and establish the form or terms of Securities of any series;
WHEREAS, on January 30, 2024, the Company entered into the Third Supplemental Indenture (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”) establishing its “9.25% Senior Notes due 2029” (the “Notes”) and providing for the initial issuance of $57,250,000 of aggregate principal amount of the Notes (the “Original Notes”);
WHEREAS, on July 26, 2024, the Company entered into the Fourth Supplemental Indenture (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”) providing for the issuance of an additional $60,000,000 of aggregate principal amount of the Notes (the “Add-On Notes” and, together with the Original Notes, the “Initial Notes”);
WHEREAS, the Company intends by this Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of up to an additional $100,000,000 of the Notes, constituting a single fungible series with the Initial Notes for federal income tax purposes (the “ATM Notes”), under the Company’s at the market offering program pursuant to the Prospectus Supplement, dated and filed with the Commission on August 26, 2024 (the “ATM Program”);
WHEREAS, the Company has requested and hereby requests that the Trustee join with it in the execution of this Supplemental Indenture;
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 8.01(f) of the Base Indenture, the Trustee and the Company are authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture to provide for the issuance of the ATM Notes, without notice to or the consent of any Holder of Securities; and
WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the ATM Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee, issued upon the terms and subject to the conditions in this Supplemental Indenture and in the Base Indenture and delivered as provided in the Indenture against payment therefor, valid, binding and legal obligations of the Company according to their terms, and all actions required to be taken by the Company to make this Supplemental Indenture a valid, binding and legal agreement of the Company, have been done and performed.
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and for other good and valuable consideration, the sufficiency and adequacy of which are hereby acknowledged, the parties hereto hereby agree as follows:
ARTICLE I
DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE
Section 1.01 Certain Definitions.
Section 1.01 of the Base Indenture is hereby amended by adding the following definitions in their proper alphabetical order which, in the event of a conflict with the definition of terms in the Base Indenture, shall supersede and replace the corresponding definition in the Base Indenture. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Base Indenture. References in this Supplemental Indenture to an Article or Section refer to an Article or Section of this Supplemental Indenture, as the case may be.
“Applicable Premium” means, with respect to any Note on any Redemption Date prior to January 31, 2026, the greater of:
(1) 1.0% of the principal amount of the Note; and
(2) the excess of:
(a) the present value at such Redemption Date of (i) the Redemption Price of the Note at January 31, 2026 (such Redemption Price being set forth in the table appearing in Section 3.01(a)) plus (ii) all required interest payments due on the Note through January 31, 2026 (excluding accrued but unpaid interest to the Redemption Date), computed using a discount rate equal to the Treasury Rate as of such Redemption Date plus 50 basis points discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months), over
(b) the principal amount of the Note.
“Delisting Event” means with respect to the Notes, when for a period of 180 consecutive days, both (i) the Notes are not listed or quoted on The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”), the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”), the NYSE American LLC (“NYSE AMER”), or listed or quoted on an exchange or quotation system that is a successor to Nasdaq, the NYSE or NYSE AMER, and (ii) the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of the Exchange Act, and any Notes remain outstanding.
“Indenture” means the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 22, 2021, the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 30, 2024, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture and by any subsequent supplemental indentures applicable to this Supplemental Indenture or to the Notes, together with those terms made part of the Indenture by, or by reference to, the TIA.
“Treasury Rate” means, as of any Redemption Date, the yield to maturity as of the time of computation of United States Treasury securities with a constant maturity (as compiled and published in the most recent Federal Reserve Statistical Release H.15 (519) that has become publicly available at least two Business Days prior to the Redemption Date (or, if such Statistical Release is no longer published, any publicly available source of similar market data)) most nearly equal to the period from the Redemption Date to January 31, 2026; provided, however, that if the period from the Redemption Date to January 31, 2026 is less than one year, the weekly average yield on actually traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to a constant maturity of one year will be used.
Section 1.02 Other Definitions.
In addition to the terms defined elsewhere in this Supplemental Indenture, the following terms are defined in this Supplemental Indenture where indicated below:
Term
|
Defined in Supplemental Indenture Section
|
“Additional Notes”
|
2.04(f)
|
“Interest Payment Date”
|
2.04(c)
|
“Maturity Date”
|
2.04(b)
|
“Nasdaq”
|
1.01
|
“NYSE”
|
1.01
|
“NYSE AMER”
|
1.01
|
“Regular Record Date”
|
2.04(c)
|
“Surviving Entity”
|
4.02(a)
|
“Triggering Offer”
|
2.05(a)
|
“Triggering Payment”
|
2.05(a)
|
“Triggering Payment Date”
|
2.05(b)
|
Section 1.03 Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act.
The Indenture is subject to the provisions of the TIA, which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of the Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“indenture securities” means the ATM Notes.
“indenture security holder” means a Holder.
“indenture to be qualified” means the Indenture.
“indenture trustee” or “institutional trustee” means the Trustee.
“obligor” on the indenture securities means the Company and any other obligor on the indenture securities.
All other TIA terms used in the Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rules promulgated under the TIA have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.
ARTICLE II
APPLICATION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
AND CREATION, FORMS, TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ATM NOTES
Section 2.01 Application of this Supplemental Indenture.
This Supplemental Indenture supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith, replaces, the provisions of the Base Indenture, to which provisions reference is hereby made.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Supplemental Indenture, the provisions of this Supplemental Indenture, including the covenants in this Supplemental Indenture, are expressly and solely for the benefit of the Holders of the ATM Notes. The ATM Notes, together with the Initial Notes, constitute a separate series of Securities as provided in Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture. All Initial Notes, ATM Notes and Additional Notes, if any, shall be treated as a single class for all purposes of the Indenture, including waivers, amendments, and redemptions.
The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and govern the terms of, and shall be deemed expressly included in this Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of, the ATM Notes and shall not apply to any other series of Securities that has been or may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other series of Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.
Section 2.02 Creation of the Notes.
(a) In accordance with Section 2.01 of the Base Indenture, the Company created the Notes as a separate series of its Securities issued pursuant to the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, as designated as the Company’s 9.25% Senior Notes due 2029. The Company heretofore has issued an aggregate principal amount of $117,250,000 of Initial Notes. The aggregate principal amount of Notes that may be authenticated and delivered under this Supplemental Indenture is not limited. The ATM Notes shall be issued from time to time in accordance with the terms of the ATM Program in an aggregate principal amount of up to $100,000,000.
(b) With respect to any Additional Notes, there shall be (i) set forth or determined in the manner provided in an Officer’s Certificate or (ii) established in one or more indentures supplemental to the Indenture, prior to the issuance of such Additional Notes:
(i) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Notes to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to the Indenture; and
(ii) the issue date (and the corresponding date from which interest shall accrue thereon and the first interest payment date therefor) and the CUSIP or ISIN number of such Additional Notes.
Section 2.03 Form of the ATM Notes.
The Depositary for the ATM Notes shall initially be DTC. The ATM Notes shall each be initially issued in the form of a Global Security, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee, which shall be deposited with the Trustee as custodian for DTC and registered in the name of “Cede & Co.,” as the nominee of DTC. The ATM Notes shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A attached hereto. So long as DTC, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a Global Security, DTC or its nominee, as the case may be, shall be considered the sole owner or Holder of the ATM Notes represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture and under such ATM Notes. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security shall be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effective only through, records maintained by DTC or its nominee (with respect to beneficial interests of participants) or by participants or Persons that hold interests through participants (with respect to beneficial interests of beneficial owners). Notwithstanding Section 2.08 of the Base Indenture, ATM Notes shall be issued and delivered in physical, certificated form to all beneficial owners of any Global Security representing ATM Notes if, and only if:
(a) DTC notifies the Company at any time that DTC is unwilling or unable to continue as depositary for such Global Security;
(b) DTC ceases to be registered as a clearing agency under the Exchange Act; or
(c) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing.
Section 2.04 Terms and Conditions of the ATM Notes.
The ATM Notes shall be governed by all the terms and conditions of the Indenture, including this Supplemental Indenture. Except as expressly specified herein, each of the provisions of the Base Indenture shall apply to the ATM Notes. In particular, the following provisions shall be terms of the ATM Notes:
(a) Title and Conditions of the Notes. The title of the Notes shall be as specified in the recitals; and the aggregate principal amount of the ATM Notes shall be up to $100,000,000.
(b) Stated Maturity. The ATM Notes shall mature, and the principal of the ATM Notes shall be due and payable to the Holders thereof, together with all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, on January 31, 2029 (the “Maturity Date”).
(c) Payment of Principal and Interest. All principal of and interest on the ATM Notes shall be payable in U.S. Dollars. The ATM Notes shall bear interest at 9.25% per annum until the principal thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal. If an Interest Payment Date falls on a day that is not a Business Day, the applicable interest payment will be made on the next following Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on such Interest Payment Date, and no additional interest will accrue solely as a result of such delayed payment. Interest shall be calculated on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months. Interest on the ATM Notes shall be payable quarterly in arrears in U.S. Dollars on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year and at maturity (each such date, an “Interest Payment Date” for purposes of the Notes). Payments of interest shall be made to the Person in whose name an ATM Note (or predecessor ATM Note) is registered in the records of the Registrar (which shall initially be the Depositary or its nominee) at the close of business on the January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1 (and January 15, 2029 immediately preceding the maturity date), as applicable (whether or not a Business Day), immediately preceding such Interest Payment Date (each such date, a “Regular Record Date” for the purposes of the ATM Notes). The Company shall make payments on the ATM Notes so long as represented by a Global Security in accordance with the applicable procedures of the DTC in effect from time to time. If the ATM Notes are no longer represented by a Global Security, the Company will make payments on any ATM Notes (i) in the case of interest due on an Interest Payment Date, by check mailed on such Interest Payment Date to the Holder of such ATM Note at his or her address shown on the Register on the related Regular Record Date or (ii) in the case of principal, by check upon surrender of such ATM Note at the office of the Trustee in the contiguous United States or other offices that may be specified in the Indenture or a notice to Holder.
(d) Registration and Form. The ATM Notes shall be issuable as registered securities as provided in Section 2.03. The form of the ATM Notes shall be as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto. The ATM Notes shall be issued, and the transfer thereof may be registered, only in minimum denominations of $25.00 and integral multiples of $25.00 in excess thereof. All payments of principal, Redemption Price and accrued unpaid interest in respect of the ATM Notes shall be made by the Company as set forth in the ATM Notes. The registration, registration of transfers and exchanges of ATM Notes shall be effected in accordance with Section 2.08 of the Base Indenture. A transfer or exchange shall be made only if the Registrar is satisfied with a Holder’s proof of legal ownership.
(e) Legal Defeasance and Covenant Defeasance. The provisions for legal defeasance in Section 10.01(b) of the Base Indenture, and the provisions for covenant defeasance in Section 10.01(c) of the Base Indenture, shall be applicable to the ATM Notes. If the Company shall effect a defeasance of the ATM Notes pursuant to Section 10.01(b) or Section 10.01(c) of the Base Indenture, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in Section 10.01(d) of the Base Indenture (i) the Company shall be discharged and released from, and shall be deemed to have satisfied, its obligations as specified in Section 10.01(b) or Section 10.01(c) of the Base Indenture, as applicable, to the extent specified therein, (ii) the Company shall cease to have any obligation to comply with Article IV of this Supplemental Indenture, and (iii) payment of the ATM Notes may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default.
(f) Further Issuance. The Company may, from time to time, without the consent of or notice to the Holders, create and issue (i) additional debt securities, including additional series of Securities under the Base Indenture having the same terms as to interest rate, maturity and other terms (except for the issue date, the public offering price, the date on which interest first accrues on such Securities and the first interest payment date) as, and ranking equally and ratably with, the Initial Notes and the ATM Notes (such Securities having the same terms as the Initial Notes and the ATM Notes (except as aforesaid), “Additional Notes”). Any such Additional Notes may constitute a single fungible series with the Initial Notes and the ATM Notes for federal income tax purposes. If any such Additional Notes are not fungible with the Initial Notes and the ATM Notes for U.S. federal income tax purposes, such Additional Notes will have one or more separate CUSIP numbers. All references herein to the Notes shall include the Initial Notes, the ATM Notes and any such fungible Additional Notes. The Initial Notes, the ATM Notes and any Additional Notes subsequently issued upon original issue under the Indenture shall be considered collectively as a single class for all purposes of the Indenture, including directions, waivers, amendments, consents and redemptions. Holders of the Initial Notes, the ATM Notes and any Additional Notes therefore will vote and consent together on all matters to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent as one class, and none of the Holders of the Initial Notes, the ATM Notes or any Additional Notes shall have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any matter to which such Holders are entitled to vote or consent.
(g) Redemption. The ATM Notes are subject to redemption by the Company in whole or in part in the manner described in Article III of this Supplemental Indenture.
(h) Sinking Fund. The ATM Notes are not entitled to any sinking fund.
(i) Other Terms and Conditions. The ATM Notes shall have such other terms and conditions as provided elsewhere in the Indenture and in the form thereof attached as Exhibit A hereto.
Section 2.05 Offer to Repurchase Upon a Delisting Event.
(a) Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.05(g), if a Delisting Event occurs, each Holder of the ATM Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any portion of such Holder’s ATM Notes as set forth in this Section 2.05 (the “Triggering Offer”), for payment in cash at a purchase price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of the ATM Notes purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date of repurchase (the “Triggering Payment”).
(b) Within 30 days following the date that a Triggering Offer is required pursuant to Section 2.05(a), the Company shall send, by mail, or with respect to ATM Notes issued in global form, transmit in accordance with the Depositary’s applicable procedures therefor, a notice to each Holder of ATM Notes describing the transaction or transactions that constitute the Delisting Event and offering to purchase such ATM Notes on the date specified in the notice, which date shall be no earlier than 15 days and no later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed or transmitted (the “Triggering Payment Date”), pursuant to the procedures required by this Supplemental Indenture and described in such notice. The notice shall, if mailed or transmitted prior to the date of the occurrence of a Delisting Event, state that the offer to purchase is conditioned on the Delisting Event occurring on or prior to the Triggering Payment Date. Holders of ATM Notes electing to have ATM Notes purchased pursuant to a Triggering Offer will be required to surrender their ATM Notes, in the case of ATM Notes issued and held in certificated form, with the form entitled “Option of Holder to Elect Repurchase” on the reverse of such ATM Notes completed, to the Paying Agent at the address specified in the notice, or, in the case of ATM Notes held in the form of one or more Global Securities, transfer their ATM Notes to the Depositary by book-entry transfer pursuant to the applicable procedures of the Depositary, on the date specified in the notice of the Company delivered in connection with such Triggering Offer.
(c) The Company shall comply with the requirements of Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act and any other securities laws and regulations thereunder to the extent those laws and regulations are applicable in connection with the repurchase of ATM Notes as a result of a Delisting Event. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with the Triggering Offer provisions of the Indenture, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under the Triggering Offer provisions of the Indenture by virtue of such conflicts.
(d) On the Triggering Payment Date, the Company shall, to the extent lawful:
(i) accept for payment all ATM Notes or portions of ATM Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Triggering Offer;
(ii) deposit, to the extent not previously deposited for such purpose, with the Paying Agent an amount equal to the Triggering Payment in respect of all ATM Notes or portions of ATM Notes tendered; and
(iii) deliver or cause to be delivered to the Trustee the ATM Notes properly accepted together with an Officer’s Certificate stating the aggregate principal amount of ATM Notes or portions of ATM Notes being repurchased by the Company.
(e) The Paying Agent will promptly mail, or with respect to ATM Notes held in the form of one or more Global Securities, transmit in accordance with the Depositary’s standard procedures therefor, to each Holder of ATM Notes properly tendered the Triggering Payment for such ATM Notes, and the Trustee will promptly authenticate (or cause to be transferred by book-entry) a new ATM Note of such series equal in principal amount to any unpurchased portion of any ATM Notes surrendered.
(f) The Trustee shall not be responsible for determining whether a Delisting Event has occurred or is continuing.
(g) The Company will not be required to make a Triggering Offer for any ATM Notes upon a Delisting Event if (1) a third party makes such an offer in the manner, at the times and otherwise in compliance with the requirements for a Triggering Offer, and such third party purchases all ATM Notes properly tendered and not withdrawn under its offer; (2) the Company has given written notice of a full redemption of all of the ATM Notes to the Holders thereof pursuant to Section 3.01, unless the Company fails to pay the Redemption Price on the Redemption Date or (3) the Delisting Event has been cured.
ARTICLE III
REDEMPTION
The provisions of Article 12 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the ATM Notes, except as otherwise stated in, or to the extent inconsistent with, this Article III. Paragraph five of Section 12.02 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the ATM Notes and shall be deemed replaced by Section 3.02, and any references to paragraph five of Section 12.02 of the Base Indenture shall be deemed to refer to Section 3.02 of this Supplemental Indenture.
Section 3.01 Optional Redemption.
(a) On or after January 31, 2026, the ATM Notes are subject to redemption, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the Company’s option at a Redemption Price equal to the price set forth below per $25.00 principal amount of ATM Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on such ATM Notes to, but excluding, the Redemption Date:
Redemption Date
|
|
Redemption Price
|
|
On or after January 31, 2026, but prior to January 31, 2027
|
|
$ |
25.50 |
|
On or after January 31, 2027, but prior to January 31, 2028
|
|
$ |
25.25 |
|
On or after January 31, 2028
|
|
$ |
25.00 |
|
(b) At any time prior to January 31, 2026, the ATM Notes are subject to redemption, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the Company’s option at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the ATM Notes to be redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
The Company will, in the case of a Redemption Date prior to January 31, 2026, (i) calculate the Treasury Rate on the second Business Day preceding the applicable Redemption Date and (ii) prior to such Redemption Date file with the Trustee an Officers’ Certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.
(c) In each case of the foregoing Sections 3.01(a) or (b), the Redemption Price shall be subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.
(d) The Trustee shall have no obligation to calculate any Redemption Price, or any component thereof, and the Trustee shall be entitled to receive and conclusively rely upon an Officers’ Certificate delivered by the Company that specifies any Redemption Price.
Section 3.02 Selection by Trustee of ATM Notes to be Redeemed.
If less than all of the ATM Notes are to be redeemed at any time, the Trustee will, subject to applicable law, select ATM Notes for redemption not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date on a pro-rata basis or by-lot or any other method the Trustee deems fair and appropriate, provided, that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any ATM Notes will be in an authorized denomination (which will not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for the ATM Notes.
The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the ATM Notes selected for redemption and, in the case of any ATM Notes selected for partial redemption, the principal amount thereof to be redeemed.
Beneficial interests in any ATM Notes called for redemption that are represented by Global Securities will be selected by DTC or any successor Depositary in accordance with DTC’s or such successor Depositary’s applicable procedures.
If the ATM Notes are listed on any national securities exchange, ATM Notes will be selected in compliance with the requirements of the principal national securities exchange on which the ATM Notes are listed.
Section 3.03 Open Market Repurchases.
The Company may at any time, and from time to time, purchase ATM Notes at any price or prices in the open market or otherwise, including in the open market at prevailing prices or in private transactions at negotiated prices. ATM Notes that the Company purchases may, at the Company’s discretion, be held, resold or canceled.
ARTICLE IV
COVENANTS
The provisions of Article 3 of the Base Indenture shall apply to the ATM Notes, except as otherwise stated in, or to the extent inconsistent with, this Article IV.
Section 4.01 Reporting.
If, at any time, the Company is not subject to the reporting requirements of Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act to file any periodic reports with the Commission, the Company agrees to furnish to Holders and the Trustee, for the period of time during which the ATM Notes are outstanding, its audited annual consolidated financial statements, within 90 days of its fiscal year end, and unaudited interim consolidated financial statements, within 45 days of its fiscal quarter end (other than our fourth fiscal quarter). All such financial statements will be prepared, in all material respects, in accordance with Generally Accepted Accounting Principles, as applicable.
Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee pursuant to this Section 4.01 is for informational purposes only and the Trustee’s receipt of such shall not constitute actual or constructive knowledge or notice of any information contained therein or determinable from information contained therein, including the Company’s compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on an Officer’s Certificate).
Section 4.02 Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets. Solely with respect to the ATM Notes:
The Company shall not merge or consolidate with or into any other Person (other than a merger of a wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company into the Company) or sell, transfer, lease, convey or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its property (provided that, for the avoidance of doubt, a pledge of assets pursuant to any secured debt instrument of the Company or its Subsidiaries shall not be deemed to be any such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition) in one transaction or series of related transactions unless:
(a) the Company shall be the surviving Person (the “Surviving Person”) or the Surviving Person (if other than the Company) formed by such merger or consolidation or to which such sale, transfer, lease, conveyance or disposition is made shall be a corporation or limited liability company organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or the District of Columbia;
(b) the Surviving Person (if other than the Company) expressly assumes, by supplemental indenture in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee by such Surviving Person, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest on, all the ATM Notes outstanding, and the due and punctual performance and observance of all the covenants and conditions of the Indenture to be performed by the Company;
(c) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or series of related transactions, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and
(d) in the case of a merger where the Surviving Person is other than the Company, the Company or such Surviving Person shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Trustee, an Officer’s Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such transaction and the supplemental indenture, if any, in respect thereto comply with this Section 4.02 and that all conditions precedent in the Indenture relating to such transaction have been complied with.
The Surviving Person (if other than the Company) will succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under the ATM Notes and the Indenture, and the Company will automatically and unconditionally be released and discharged from its obligations under the ATM Notes and the Indenture.
ARTICLE V
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
Sections 5.01 of the Base Indenture shall not apply to the ATM Notes and shall be deemed replaced by this Section 5.01.
Section 5.01 Events of Default. “Event of Default”, wherever used herein with respect to the ATM Notes, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body):
|
(a)
|
default in the payment of any interest upon any ATM Note when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days;
|
|
(b)
|
default in the payment of the principal of any ATM Note when due and payable;
|
|
(c)
|
default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant of the Company in the Indenture with respect to the ATM Notes, and continuance of such default or breach for a period of 60 days after there has been sent to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Notes, a written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a “Notice of Default” hereunder;
|
|
(d)
|
the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect of the Company under any applicable federal or state law, or appointing a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days;
|
|
(e)
|
the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable federal or state law, or the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or the making by the Company of an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by the Company in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any such action; or
|
|
(f)
|
default in payment of the Triggering Payment on the Triggering Date.
|
The Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice or be charged with knowledge of any Default or Event of Default hereunder unless written notice of such Default or Event of Default from the Company or by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the then outstanding Notes of such Series is received by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee, and such notice references the Notes and this Indenture.
At the Company’s election, the sole remedy with respect to an Event of Default due to a failure to comply with reporting requirements under the Trust Indenture Act or under Section 4.01 hereof, for the first 180 calendar days after the occurrence of such Event of Default, shall consist exclusively of the right to receive default interest on the Notes at an additional annual rate equal to (1) 0.25% for the first 90 calendar days after such default and (2) 0.50% for calendar days 91 through 180 after such default. On the 181st day after such Event of Default, if such violation is not cured or waived, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% of the outstanding principal amount of the Notes may declare the principal, together with accrued and unpaid interest, if any, on the Notes to be due and payable immediately. If the Company chooses to pay such default interest, the Company must notify the Trustee and the Holders of the Notes by certificate of the Company’s election at any time on or before the close of business on the first business day following the applicable Event of Default and the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate (upon which the Trustee may rely conclusively) to that effect stating (i) the amount of such additional interest that is payable and (ii) the date on which such additional interest is payable. Unless and until the Trustee receives such a certificate, the Trustee may assume without inquiry that no such additional interest is payable and the Trustee shall not have any duty to verify the Company’s calculation of additional interest.
ARTICLE VI
MISCELLANEOUS
Section 6.01 Ratification of Indenture.
This Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be constructed as an indenture supplemental to the Base Indenture, and as supplemented and modified hereby, the Base Indenture is in all respects ratified and confirmed, and the Base Indenture and this Supplemental Indenture shall be read, taken and constructed as one and the same instrument. This Supplemental Indenture shall form a part of the Indenture for all purposes, and every Holder of ATM Notes shall be bound hereby.
Section 6.02 Trust Indenture Act Controls.
If any provision of this Supplemental Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision that is required or deemed to be included in this Supplemental Indenture by the TIA, the required or deemed provision shall control.
Section 6.03 Notices.
All notices and other communications shall be given as provided in the Base Indenture.
Section 6.04 Governing Law.
THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE AND THE ATM NOTES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THERETO (OTHER THAN N.Y. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW § 5-1401). EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE, AND EACH HOLDER OF AN ATM NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, THE INDENTURE, THE ATM NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
Section 6.05 Successors.
All agreements of the Company in this Supplemental Indenture and the ATM Notes shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Supplemental Indenture shall bind its successors.
Section 6.06 Multiple Originals.
The parties may sign any number of copies of this Supplemental Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Supplemental Indenture. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto transmitted by facsimile or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature transmission shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes.
The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages by facsimile or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature transmission shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. The exchange of copies of this Supplemental Indenture and of signature pages that are executed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or by other electronic signing created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signing (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, shall constitute effective execution and delivery of this Supplemental Indenture for all purposes. Signatures of the parties hereto that are executed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or by other electronic signing created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signing (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, shall be deemed to be their original signatures for all purposes of this Supplemental Indenture as to the parties hereto and may be used in lieu of the original.
Anything in this Supplemental Indenture, the Indenture or the ATM Notes to the contrary notwithstanding, for the purposes of the transactions contemplated by the Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture, any ATM Note and any document to be signed in connection with the Indenture, this Supplemental Indenture or any ATM Note (including any Global Security and amendments, supplements, waivers, consents and other modifications, Officer’s Certificates, Issuer Orders and Opinions of Counsel and other issuance, authentication and delivery documents) or the transactions contemplated hereby may be signed by manual signatures that are scanned, photocopied or faxed or other electronic signatures created on an electronic platform (such as DocuSign) or by digital signature (such as Adobe Sign), in each case that is approved by the Trustee, and contract formations on electronic platforms approved by the Trustee, and the keeping of records in electronic form, are hereby authorized, and each shall be of the same legal effect, validity or enforceability as a manually executed signature in ink or the use of a paper-based recordkeeping system, as the case may be.
Section 6.07 Headings.
The headings of the Articles and Sections of this Supplemental Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.
Section 6.08 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals.
The statements and recitals contained in this Supplemental Indenture shall be taken as statements and recitals of the Company, and the Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to the validity, adequacy or sufficiency of this Supplemental Indenture, except that the Trustee represents that it is duly authorized to execute and deliver this Supplemental Indenture and perform its obligations hereunder.
Section 6.09 Paying Agent and Registrar.
The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Paying Agent and Registrar with respect to the ATM Notes.
Section 6.10 Benefits of Supplemental Indenture.
Nothing in this Supplemental Indenture or the ATM Notes, express or implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties to this Supplemental Indenture and their successors hereunder and the Holders of the ATM Notes, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Supplemental Indenture or the ATM Notes.
Section 6.11 No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements.
The Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) insofar as relating to the ATM Notes may not be used to interpret any other indenture, loan or debt agreement (including the Indenture (including any other supplemental indenture thereto) insofar as relating to any series of Securities other than the Notes) of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or of any other Person. Any such indenture, loan or debt agreement (including the Indenture (including any other supplemental indenture thereto) insofar as relating to any series of Securities other than the Notes) may not be used to interpret the Indenture (including this Supplemental Indenture) insofar as relating to the ATM Notes.
Section 6.12 Severability.
In case any provision in this Supplemental Indenture or the ATM Notes shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby.
Section 6.13 Language of Notices, Etc.
Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or act required or permitted under this Supplemental Indenture shall be in the English language, except that any published notice may be in an official language of the country of publication.
Section 6.14 Scope of this Supplemental Indenture.
The changes, modifications and supplements to the Base Indenture effected by this Supplemental Indenture shall be applicable only with respect to, and shall only govern the terms of, and shall be deemed expressly included in this Supplemental Indenture solely for the benefit of, the ATM Notes which may be issued from time to time, and shall not apply to any other Securities that may be issued under the Base Indenture unless a supplemental indenture with respect to such other Securities specifically incorporates such changes, modifications and supplements.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have caused this Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed as of the date first written above.
COMPANY:
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
By: /s/ William R. McCamey
Name: William R. McCamey
Title: Chief Financial Officer
Signature Page to Fifth Supplemental Indenture
TRUSTEE:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, as Trustee
By: /s/ Gregory M. Jackson
Name: Gregory M. Jackson
Title: Vice President
Signature Page to Fifth Supplemental Indenture
EXHIBIT A
FORM OF NOTE
UNLESS AND UNTIL IT IS EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR SECURITIES IN DEFINITIVE REGISTERED FORM, THIS NOTE MAY NOT BE TRANSFERRED EXCEPT AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY TO CEDE & CO. OR BY CEDE & CO. TO THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR BY THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY OR ANY SUCH NOMINEE TO A SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF SUCH SUCCESSOR DEPOSITARY.
CUSIP NO. 04914Y 409
ISIN NO. US04914Y4098
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
9.25% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2029
The principal amount set forth
on Schedule I hereto
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No.: [ ] |
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION, a Georgia corporation (herein called the “Company”), for value received, hereby promises to pay to [Cede & Co.], or registered assigns, the principal sum of up to $100,000,000 or such other principal amount as shall be set forth on Schedule I hereto on January 31, 2029 and to pay interest thereon at the rate of 9.25% per annum, subject to adjustment from time to time pursuant to the terms hereof from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, on January 15, April 15, July 15 and October 15 of each year and at maturity (each, an “Interest Payment Date”), until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment.
The interest so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, except as provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on the regular record date for such interest, which will be the January 1, April 1, July 1 and October 1 (and January 15, 2029 immediately preceding the maturity date) (whether or not that date is a Business Day), as the case may be (each, a “Regular Record Date”), immediately preceding each Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date and either may be paid to the Person in whose name this Note (or one or more predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a special record date for the payment of such defaulted interest to be fixed by the Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to the Holders not less than ten days prior to such special record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner, all as more fully provided in the Indenture. Payment of the principal of and interest on this Note (including, without limitation, any Redemption Price) will be made in such coin or currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts (i) if this Note is a Global Security, in accordance with the applicable policies of DTC in effect from time to time; or (ii) otherwise at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose pursuant to the Indenture (initially the principal corporate trust office of the Trustee in Atlanta, Georgia (the “Corporate Trust Office”)); provided, however, that payment of interest that is due on an Interest Payment Date shall be made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Register on the Regular Record Date and (ii) payments of principal will be made by check against presentation of this Note at the Corporate Trust Office (or such other office as may be specified in the Indenture or in a notice to Holders).
Reference is hereby made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on the reverse side hereof, which further provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the Trustee or an authenticating agent under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof by the manual or PDF or other electronically imaged (such as DocuSign or Adobe Sign) signature of an authorized signatory of the Trustee, which signature shall be conclusive evidence that this Note has been authenticated under the Indenture, this Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.
[Signature Pages Follow]
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this Note to be duly executed as of the date set forth below.
Date:
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
By:
Name:
Title:
TRUSTEE’S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
This is one of the Notes designated therein and referred to in the within-mentioned Supplemental Indenture.
Dated:
U.S. BANK TRUST COMPANY,
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION,
as Trustee
By:
Authorized Officer
(Reverse of Note)
ATLANTICUS HOLDINGS CORPORATION
9.25% SENIOR NOTE DUE 2029
1. This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of Securities of the Company designated as its 9.25% Senior Notes due 2029 (the “ATM Notes”) unlimited in aggregate principal amount issued and to be issued under an Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association, as trustee (herein called the “Trustee,” which term includes any successor Trustee under the Indenture), as previously supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), the Second Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 30, 2024 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), the Third Supplemental Indenture, dated as of January 30, 2024 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”) and the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of July 26, 2024 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”) and as further supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, dated as of August 26, 2024 (the “Supplemental Indenture”) (the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture and the Supplemental Indenture and as may be further supplemented or amended from time to time, together with those terms made part of the Indenture by, or by reference to, the TIA, is herein referred to as the “Indenture”), between the Company and the Trustee. Reference is hereby made to the Indenture for a statement of the respective rights thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the Holders of the ATM Notes, and the terms upon which the ATM Notes are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.
2. On or after January 31, 2026, the ATM Notes are subject to redemption, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the Company’s option at a Redemption Price equal to the price set forth below per $25.00 principal amount of ATM Notes, plus accrued and unpaid interest on such ATM Notes to, but excluding, the Redemption Date:
Redemption Date
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Redemption Price
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On or after January 31, 2026, but prior to January 31, 2027
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$ |
25.50 |
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On or after January 31, 2027, but prior to January 31, 2028
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$ |
25.25 |
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On or after January 31, 2028
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$ |
25.00 |
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At any time prior to January 31, 2026, the ATM Notes are subject to redemption, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the Company’s option at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the ATM Notes to be redeemed, plus the Applicable Premium as of, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to, but excluding, the Redemption Date.
The Company will, in the case of a Redemption Date prior to January 31, 2026, (i) calculate the Treasury Rate on the second Business Day preceding the applicable Redemption Date and (ii) prior to such Redemption Date file with the Trustee an Officer’s Certificate setting forth the Applicable Premium and the Treasury Rate and showing the calculation of each in reasonable detail.
In each case of the foregoing, the Redemption Price shall be subject to the rights of Holders on the relevant Regular Record Date to receive interest due on the relevant Interest Payment Date.
3. If a Triggering Event occurs, each Holder of the ATM Notes shall have the right to require the Company to repurchase all or any portion of such Holder’s ATM Notes for a payment in cash at a purchase price equal to 100% of the aggregate principal amount of such ATM Notes purchased, plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to but excluding the date of repurchase, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 2.05 of the Supplemental Indenture.
4. Subject to certain conditions and exceptions set forth in the Indenture, if an Event of Default as set forth in the Indenture shall occur and be continuing, among other remedies exercisable by the Trustee, the principal of the ATM Notes may be declared (or in certain circumstances, may become) due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.
5. The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the amendment thereof and of the ATM Notes and the modification of the rights and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of ATM Notes under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes, ATM Notes and any Additional Notes at the time outstanding. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Initial Notes, ATM Notes and any Additional Notes at the time outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of Initial Notes, ATM Notes and any Additional Notes Initial Notes, ATM Notes and any Additional Notes, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this ATM Note shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this ATM Note and of any ATM Note issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this ATM Note.
6. No reference herein to the Indenture and no provisions of this ATM Note or of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of and interest on this ATM Note at the times, places and rate, and in the coin or currency, herein prescribed.
7. As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth and herein, unless this ATM Note is a Global Security, the transfer of this ATM Note may be registered on the Register of the Company, upon surrender of this ATM Note for registration of transfer at the Corporate Trust Office, duly endorsed by, or accompanied by a written instruction of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company, and duly executed by the Holder hereof or such Holder’s attorney, duly authorized in writing, on which instruction the Company can rely, and thereupon one or more new ATM Notes, of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
8. The ATM Notes are issuable only in fully registered form, without coupons, in minimum denominations of $25.00 or any amount in excess thereof which is an integral multiple of $25.00. As provided in the Indenture, and subject to certain limitations therein set forth, the ATM Notes (other than those represented by a Global Security) are exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of ATM Notes in authorized denominations, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.
9. No service charge shall be made to the Holder for any such registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
10. Prior to the due presentment of this ATM Note for registration of transfer or exchange, the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat the Person in whose name this ATM Note is registered as the owner hereof for all purposes, whether or not this ATM Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the Trustee, nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.
11. Interest on the ATM Notes shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
12. Subject to certain limitations set forth in the Indenture, the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may make loans to, accept deposits from, and perform services for the Company or its affiliates, and may otherwise deal with the Company or its affiliates, as if it were not the Trustee.
13. This ATM Note shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual signature of the Trustee or an authenticating agent.
14. Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Holder or an assignee, such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common), TEN ENT (= tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (= joint tenants with right of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUT (= Custodian), and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors Act).
15. Each Holder of this ATM Note covenants and agrees by such Holder’s acceptance hereof to comply with and be bound by the foregoing provisions.
16. THIS ATM NOTE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THERETO (OTHER THAN N.Y. GENERAL OBLIGATIONS LAW § 5-1401). EACH OF THE COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE, AND EACH HOLDER OF AN ATM NOTE BY ITS ACCEPTANCE THEREOF, HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THE INDENTURE, THE ATM NOTES OR THE TRANSACTION CONTEMPLATED HEREBY OR THEREBY.
17. All capitalized terms used in this ATM Note that are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.
18. Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures, the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the ATM Notes. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers as printed on the ATM Notes and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon.
ASSIGNMENT FORM
FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned hereby sell(s), assign(s) and transfer(s) unto
PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR
OTHER IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE
the within Note and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably constituting and appointing attorney to transfer said Note on the books of the Company, with full power of substitution in the premises.
Dated:
Signature:
NOTICE:
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THE SIGNATURE TO THIS ASSIGNMENT MUST CORRESPOND WITH THE NAME AS WRITTEN UPON THE FACE OF THE WITHIN INSTRUMENT IN EVERY PARTICULAR, WITHOUT ALTERATION OR ENLARGEMENT OR ANY CHANGE WHATEVER.
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Signature Guarantee:
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE
Signatures must be guaranteed by an “eligible guarantor institution” meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements include membership or participation in the Security Transfer Agent Medallion Program (“STAMP”) or such other “signature guarantee program” as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.
Schedule I
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF GLOBAL SECURITY
The following increases or decreases in principal amount of this Global Security have been made:
Date
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Amount of Decrease in
Principal
Amount of this
Global
Security
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Amount of
Increase in
Principal
Amount
of this Global
Security
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Principal
Amount
of this Global
Security
following
such Decrease
or
Increase
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Signature of Authorized Signatory of trustee or
Custodian
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Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
600 Peachtree Street NE, Suite 3000
Atlanta, GA 30308-2216
troutman.com
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Exhibit 5.1
August 26, 2024
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 300
Atlanta, Georgia 30328
Re: At-the-Market Offering Prospectus Supplement
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel to Atlanticus Holdings Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the “Company”), in connection with the preparation of a registration statement on Form S-3, file number 333-279345 (the registration statement, including all information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430B of the general rules and regulations under the Securities Act (as defined below), the exhibits and schedules thereto and all documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein referred to as the “Registration Statement”), filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on May 10, 2024 and declared effective under the Securities Act on May 21, 2024, including the base prospectus contained therein (the “Base Prospectus”), and the preparation of the prospectus supplement, dated August 26, 2024 (the “Prospectus Supplement,” and together with the Base Prospectus and all documents incorporated by reference therein, the “Prospectus”), related to the offer and sale from time to time of up to $100,000,000 in aggregate amount of the Company’s (i) 7.625% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, no par value per share (the “Preferred Stock”), and (ii) 9.25% Senior Notes Due 2029 (the “Notes” and, together with the Preferred Stock, the “Offered Securities”) pursuant to the Amended and Restated At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”), dated as of August 26, 2024, by and between the Company and B. Riley Securities, Inc.
This opinion is being furnished in accordance with the requirements of Item 601(b)(5)(i) of Regulation S-K.
In connection with our representation of the Company, and as a basis for the opinions hereinafter set forth, we have examined originals, or copies certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of all such documents as we considered necessary to enable us to render this opinion, including but not limited to the following documents (hereinafter collectively referred to as the “Transaction Documents”):
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a.
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the Registration Statement, including the Prospectus;
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Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
Re: At-the-Market Offering Prospectus Supplement
August 26, 2024
Page 2
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b.
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the Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended through the date hereof, certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Company (the “Articles of Incorporation”);
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c.
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the Company’s Amended and Restated Articles of Amendment Establishing the 7.625% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock, as amended through the date hereof, certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Company (the “Amended and Restated Articles of Amendment”);
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d.
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the Amended and Restated Bylaws of the Company, as amended through the date hereof, certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Company;
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e.
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the resolutions adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board”) and by a duly authorized committee thereof, relating to the offer and sale of the Offered Securities pursuant to the Sales Agreement (the “Resolutions”), certified as of a recent date by an officer of the Company;
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f.
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a certificate of existence of the Company from the Secretary of State of the State of Georgia;
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h.
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the Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2021 (the “Base Indenture”), between the Company and U.S. Bank Trust Company, National Association (as successor to U.S. Bank, National Association), as trustee (the “Trustee”), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 22, 2021 (the “First Supplemental Indenture”), as further supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 30, 2024 (the “Second Supplemental Indenture”), as further supplemented by the Third Supplemental Indenture dated as of January 30, 2024 (the “Third Supplemental Indenture”), as further supplemented by the Fourth Supplemental Indenture dated as of July 26, 2024 (the “Fourth Supplemental Indenture”), and as further supplemented by the Fifth Supplemental Indenture dated as of August 26, 2024 (the “Fifth Supplemental Indenture”; the Base Indenture, as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture, the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Third Supplemental Indenture, the Fourth Supplemental Indenture, and the Fifth Supplemental Indenture, the “Indenture”), as in effect on the date hereof; and
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i.
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such other documents, records, instruments, and matters as we have deemed necessary or appropriate to express the opinion set forth below, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications stated herein.
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In expressing the opinions set forth below, we have assumed, and so far as is known to us there are no facts inconsistent with, the following:
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i.
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each individual executing or delivering any of the Transaction Documents, whether on behalf of such individual or another person, is legally competent to do so;
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Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
Re: At-the-Market Offering Prospectus Supplement
August 26, 2024
Page 3
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ii.
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each individual executing or delivering any of the Transaction Documents on behalf of a party (other than the Company) is duly authorized to do so;
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iii.
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all Transaction Documents submitted to us as originals are authentic;
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iv.
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the form and content of all Transaction Documents submitted to us as unexecuted drafts do not differ in any respect relevant to this opinion from the form and content of such Transaction Documents as executed and delivered;
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v.
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all Transaction Documents submitted to us as certified or photostatic copies conform to the original documents;
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vi.
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all signatures on all Transaction Documents are genuine;
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vii.
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all public records reviewed or relied upon by us or on our behalf are true and complete;
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viii.
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all statements and information contained in the Transaction Documents are true and complete;
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ix.
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there has been no oral or written modification of or amendment to any of the Transaction Documents;
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x.
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there has been no waiver of any provision of any of the Transaction Documents, by action or conduct of the parties or otherwise; and
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xi.
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a sufficient number of authorized but unissued shares of Preferred Stock will be available for issuance when shares of Preferred Stock are issued and sold under the Sales Agreement.
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We note that the Preferred Stock is convertible into shares of the Company’s common stock, no par value per share (“Common Stock”), only if certain future events specified in Section 8 of the Amended and Restated Articles of Amendment relating to the Preferred Stock occur. Because we do not know whether those events will ever occur or the circumstances that may exist if and when they occur, we do not express any opinion with respect to the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Preferred Stock.
Our opinions expressed below are subject to the qualifications that we express no opinion as to the applicability of, compliance with or effect of: (i) any bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, preference, fraudulent conveyance, fraudulent transfer, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors generally; (ii) general principles of equity, whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law (including the possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief), concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the discretion of the court before which a proceeding is brought; or (iii) public policy considerations that may limit the rights of parties to obtain certain remedies.
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
Re: At-the-Market Offering Prospectus Supplement
August 26, 2024
Page 4
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With respect to the Transaction Documents, we express no opinion as to (i) any provision to the extent it requires any party to indemnify any other person against loss in obtaining the currency due following a court judgment rendered in another currency; (ii) any provision providing for the indemnification of or contribution to a party with respect to a liability where such indemnification or contribution is contrary to public policy; (iii) any provision for liquidated damages, default interest, late charges, monetary penalties, prepayment or make-whole premiums or other economic remedies to the extent such provisions are deemed to constitute a penalty; (iv) consents to, or restrictions upon, governing law, jurisdiction, venue, arbitration, remedies or judicial relief; (v) any provision requiring the payment of attorneys’ fees, where such payment is contrary to law or public policy; (vi) any provision requiring the payment of interest on interest; (vii) the creation, validity, attachment, perfection, or priority of any lien or security interest; (viii) advance waivers of claims, defenses, rights granted by law, or notice, opportunity for hearing, evidentiary requirements, statutes of limitation, trial by jury or at law, or other procedural rights; (ix) waivers of broadly or vaguely stated rights; (x) provisions for exclusivity, election or cumulation of rights or remedies; (xi) provisions authorizing or validating conclusive or discretionary determinations; (xii) grants of setoff rights; (xiii) proxies, powers and trusts; (xiv) provisions prohibiting, restricting, or requiring consent to assignment or transfer of any right or property; (xv) provisions purporting to make a guarantor primarily liable rather than as a surety; (xvi) provisions purporting to waive modifications of any guaranteed obligation to the extent such modification constitutes a novation; (xvii) any provision to the extent it requires that a claim with respect to a security denominated in other than U.S. dollars (or a judgment in respect of such a claim) be converted into U.S. dollars at a rate of exchange at a particular date, to the extent applicable law otherwise provides; (xviii) compliance with any usury laws; (xix) the severability, if invalid, of provisions to the foregoing effect; (xx) the securities or “Blue Sky” laws of any state to the offer or sale of the Offered Securities; and (xxi) the antifraud provisions of the securities or other laws of any jurisdiction.
We also have assumed, with your consent, that: (i) each of the Sales Agreement and the Indenture have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the parties thereto other than the Company; (ii) each of the Sales Agreement and the Indenture will constitute legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto other than the Company, enforceable against each of them in accordance with their respective terms; and (iii) the status of each of the Sales Agreement and the Indenture as legally valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto will not be affected by any (a) breaches of, or defaults under, any agreements or instruments, (b) violations of any statutes, rules, regulations or court or governmental orders, or (c) failures to obtain required consents, approvals or authorizations from, or to make required registrations, declarations or filings with, any governmental authorities or other third parties.
Subject to the foregoing and the other matters set forth herein, it is our opinion that, as of the date hereof:
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1.
|
the Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly existing under and by virtue of the laws of the State of Georgia;
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|
2.
|
when (a) the purchase price or prices for the shares of Preferred Stock to be offered and sold from time to time under the Sales Agreement have been duly established and approved by resolutions duly adopted by the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof and (b) such shares of Preferred Stock have been issued and delivered by the Company against payment of such purchase price or prices, as the case may be, in accordance with the Sales Agreement and resolutions duly adopted by the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, such shares of Preferred Stock will be duly authorized, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; and
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Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
Re: At-the-Market Offering Prospectus Supplement
August 26, 2024
Page 5
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3.
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when (a) the purchase price or prices for the Notes to be offered and sold from time to time under the Sales Agreement have been duly established and approved by resolutions duly adopted by the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, (b) the Notes have been duly authorized, executed and delivered pursuant to the Indenture, and (c) the Notes have been issued and delivered by the Company against payment of such purchase price or prices, as the case may be, in accordance with the Sales Agreement and resolutions duly adopted by the Board, or a duly authorized committee thereof, such Notes will be legally issued binding obligations of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their respective terms.
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We are, in this opinion, opining only on the laws of the State of Georgia and, with respect to the opinion set forth in paragraph 3 above, the internal laws of the State of New York. We do not express any opinion herein concerning any other statutes, rules or regulations. We express no opinion as to compliance with any federal or state securities laws, including the securities laws of the State of Georgia and the State of New York, or as to federal or state laws regarding fraudulent transfers. We assume no obligation to supplement this opinion letter if any applicable law changes after the date hereof or if we become aware of any fact that might change the opinions expressed herein after the date hereof.
No opinion is rendered as to matters not specifically referred to herein and under no circumstances are you to infer from anything stated or not stated herein any opinion with respect to which such reference is not made.
This opinion is being furnished to you for your submission to the Commission as an exhibit to a Current Report filed on Form 8-K (the “Form 8-K”), to be filed by the Company with the Commission on or about the date hereof.
We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the Form 8-K and to the use of the name of this firm therein and under the section “Legal Matters” in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. In giving this consent, we do not admit that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required by Section 7 of the Securities Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
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Very truly yours,
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/s/ Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders LLP
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v3.24.2.u1
Document And Entity Information
|
Aug. 26, 2024 |
Document Information [Line Items] |
|
Entity, Registrant Name |
Atlanticus Holdings Corporation
|
Document, Type |
8-K
|
Document, Period End Date |
Aug. 26, 2024
|
Entity, Incorporation, State or Country Code |
GA
|
Entity, File Number |
000-53717
|
Entity, Tax Identification Number |
58-2336689
|
Entity, Address, Address Line One |
Five Concourse Parkway, Suite 300
|
Entity, Address, City or Town |
Atlanta
|
Entity, Address, State or Province |
GA
|
Entity, Address, Postal Zip Code |
30328
|
City Area Code |
770
|
Local Phone Number |
828-2000
|
Written Communications |
false
|
Soliciting Material |
false
|
Pre-commencement Tender Offer |
false
|
Pre-commencement Issuer Tender Offer |
false
|
Entity, Emerging Growth Company |
false
|
Amendment Flag |
false
|
Entity, Central Index Key |
0001464343
|
CommonStock Custom [Member] |
|
Document Information [Line Items] |
|
Title of 12(b) Security |
Common stock
|
Trading Symbol |
ATLC
|
Security Exchange Name |
NASDAQ
|
SeriesBCumulativePerpetualPreferredStock7625 Custom [Member] |
|
Document Information [Line Items] |
|
Title of 12(b) Security |
7.625% Series B Cumulative Perpetual Preferred Stock
|
Trading Symbol |
ATLCP
|
Security Exchange Name |
NASDAQ
|
SeniorNotesDue20266125 Custom [Member] |
|
Document Information [Line Items] |
|
Title of 12(b) Security |
6.125% Senior Notes due 2026
|
Trading Symbol |
ATLCL
|
Security Exchange Name |
NASDAQ
|
SeniorNotesDue2029925 Custom [Member] |
|
Document Information [Line Items] |
|
Title of 12(b) Security |
9.25% Senior Notes due 2029
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Trading Symbol |
ATLCZ
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Security Exchange Name |
NASDAQ
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