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8-K - 8-K - Whiting Canadian Holding Co ULCa11-29731_98k.htm
EX-5.1 - EX-5.1 - Whiting Canadian Holding Co ULCa11-29731_9ex5d1.htm
EX-99.1 - EX-99.1 - Whiting Canadian Holding Co ULCa11-29731_9ex99d1.htm
EX-99.2 - EX-99.2 - Whiting Canadian Holding Co ULCa11-29731_9ex99d2.htm

Exhibit 1.1

 

Execution Version

 

42,000,000 Shares

 

KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.

 

Common Shares

 

UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

 

November 17, 2011

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC,

As Representative of the Several Underwriters,

Eleven Madison Avenue,

New York, N.Y. 10010-3629

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

1.  Introductory.  Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp., a Yukon Territory corporation (“Company”), agrees with the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (“Underwriters”) to issue and sell to the several Underwriters 42,000,000 shares (“Firm Securities”) of its common shares, no par value, (“Securities”) and also proposes to issue and sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than 6,300,000 additional shares (“Optional Securities”) of its Securities as set forth below. The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are herein collectively called the “Offered Securities”.

 

Substantially concurrent with the offering of the Offered Securities, the Company will conduct an offering under Rule 144A and Regulation S under the Act of its senior notes due 2019 (the “Concurrent Offering”). In addition, the Company has entered into the commitment letter, engagement letter, agent fee letter and facility fee letter each dated November 14, 2011 (the “Bridge Financing Documents”). In connection with the transactions described herein, the Company has entered into amendments of its existing Credit Agreement (as defined below).

 

2.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:

 

(a)   Filing and Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Certain Defined Terms.  The Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-173520), including a related prospectus or prospectuses, covering the registration of the Offered Securities under the Act, which became effective under Rule 462(e).  “Registration Statement” at any particular time means such registration statement in the form then filed with the Commission, including any amendment thereto, any document incorporated by reference therein and all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to such registration statement, that in any case has not been superseded or modified.  “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means the Registration Statement as of the Effective Time.  For purposes of this definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Registration Statement as of the time specified in Rule 430B.

 

For purposes of this Agreement:

 



 

430B Information” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(e) or retroactively deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430B(f).

 

430C Information” means information included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430C.

 

Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

 

Applicable Time” means 6:00pm (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.

 

Closing Date” has the meaning defined in Section 3 hereof.

 

Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

 

Credit Agreement” means, collectively, (a) the amended and restated credit agreement dated as of October 28, 2011, among the Guarantor, as borrower, the lenders party thereto and Wells Fargo Bank, N.A., as administrative agent, as amended by that certain first amendment and limited waiver dated as of November 14, 2011 and, subject to the satisfaction of the conditions precedent thereto stated therein, that certain second amendment dated as of November 14, 2011 and (b) the Amended and Restated Second Lien Credit Agreement, dated October 28, 2011, among the Guarantor, Wells Fargo Energy Capital, Inc., The Prudential Insurance Company of America, Prudential Retirement Insurance and Annuity Company, and Pruco Life Insurance Company, as amended by that certain second amendment and limited waiver, dated November 14, 2011.

 

Effective Time” of the Registration Statement relating to the Offered Securities means the time of the first contract of sale for the Offered Securities.

 

Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

 

Final Prospectus” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public offering price, other 430B Information and other final terms of the Offered Securities and otherwise satisfies Section 10(a) of the Act.

 

General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its being so specified in Schedule B to this Agreement.

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Offered Securities 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).

 

Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not a General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

Rules and Regulations” means the rules and regulations of the Commission.

 

Securities Laws” means, collectively, the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 (“Sarbanes-Oxley”), the Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations, the auditing principles, rules, standards and practices applicable to auditors of “issuers” (as defined in Sarbanes-Oxley) promulgated or approved by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board and, as applicable, the rules of NYSE Amex LLC, the New York Stock Exchange (the “NYSE”) and the NASDAQ Stock Market (“Exchange Rules”).

 

Statutory Prospectus” with reference to any particular time means the prospectus relating to the Offered Securities that is included in the Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including all 430B Information and all 430C Information with respect to the Registration Statement.  For purposes of the foregoing definition, 430B Information shall be considered to be included in the Statutory Prospectus only as of the actual time that form of prospectus (including a prospectus supplement) is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and not retroactively.

 

Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “Rule” is to the indicated rule under the Act.

 

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(b)   Compliance with Securities Act Requirements.  (i) (A) At the time the Registration Statement initially became effective, (B) at the time of each amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether by post-effective amendment, incorporated report or form of prospectus), (C) at the Effective Time relating to the Offered Securities and (D) on the Closing Date, the Registration Statement conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not and will not include any 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 (ii) (A) on its date, (B) at the time of filing the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) and (C) on the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will not include any 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 light of the circumstances which they were made not misleading.  The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any such document based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

(c)   Automatic Shelf Registration Statement.  (i)  Well-Known Seasoned Issuer Status.  (A)  At the time of initial filing of the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), and (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Offered Securities in reliance on the exemption of Rule 163, the Company was a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405.

 

(ii)          Effectiveness of Automatic Shelf Registration Statement.  The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405, that initially became effective within three years of the date of this Agreement.  If immediately prior to the Renewal Deadline (as hereinafter defined), any of the Offered Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration statement relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representative.  If the Company is no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representative, and will use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to be declared effective within 180 days after the Renewal Deadline.  The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the Offered Securities.  References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.  “Renewal Deadline” means the third anniversary of the initial effective time of the Registration Statement.

 

(iii)         Eligibility to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Form.  The Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form.  If at any time when Offered Securities remain unsold by the Underwriters the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representative, (ii) promptly file a new registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Offered Securities, in a form satisfactory to the Representative, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration statement or post-effective amendment to be declared effective as soon as practicable, and (iv) promptly notify the Representative of such effectiveness.  The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Offered Securities to continue as contemplated in the registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company has otherwise become ineligible.  References herein to the Registration

 

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Statement shall include such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.

 

(iv)         Filing Fees.  The Company has paid or shall pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the Offered Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).

 

(d)   Ineligible Issuer Status.  (i)  At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Offered Securities and (ii) at the date of this Agreement, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, including (x) the Company or any other subsidiary in the preceding three years not having been convicted of a felony or misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a judicial or administrative decree or order as described in Rule 405 and (y) the Company in the preceding three years not having been the subject of a bankruptcy petition or insolvency or similar proceeding, not having had a registration statement be the subject of a proceeding under Section 8 of the Act and not being the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, all as described in Rule 405.

 

(e)   General Disclosure Package.  As of the Applicable Time, neither (i) the General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time and the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated November 14, 2011 including the base prospectus, dated June 29, 2011, (which is the most recent Statutory Prospectus distributed to investors generally), and the other information, if any, stated in Schedule B to this Agreement to be included in the General Disclosure Package, all considered together (collectively, the “General Disclosure Package”), nor (ii) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Statutory Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.

 

(f)    Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.  Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the Offered Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (“Credit Suisse”) as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement.  If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then contained in the Registration Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, (i) the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify Credit Suisse and (ii) the Company has promptly amended or will promptly amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.

 

(g)   Good Standing of the Company.  The Company has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing with respect to the filing of all required annual returns under the laws of the Yukon Territory, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for any jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on

 

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the condition (financial or other), business, properties, prospects or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Effect”).

 

(h)   Subsidiaries.  Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated and is existing and in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the General Disclosure Package; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except for any such jurisdiction where the failure to be so qualified would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital stock of each subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and defects, except for the capital stock of Kodiak Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. which is pledged in connection with the Company’s Credit Agreement as described in the General Disclosure Package.

 

(i)    Offered Securities.  The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized; the authorized equity capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the General Disclosure Package; all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform in all material respects to the information in the General Disclosure Package; when the Offered Securities have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on each Closing Date, such Offered Securities will have been validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform in all respects to the information in the General Disclosure Package and to the description of such Offered Securities contained in the Final Prospectus; the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities; and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any security holder.  Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no outstanding (i) securities or obligations of the Company convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the Company, (ii) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for or purchase from the Company any such capital stock or any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations or (iii) obligations of the Company to issue or sell any shares of capital stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or any such warrants, rights or options.

 

(j)    No Finder’s Fee.  Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this offering.

 

(k)   Registration Rights.  Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to a Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company under the Act (collectively, “registration rights”), and any person to whom the Company has granted registration rights has agreed not to exercise such rights until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period referred to in Section 5 hereof.

 

(l)    Listing.  The Company has used its best efforts to effect the listing of the Offered Securities on NYSE and prior to the issuance of the Offered Securities by the Company, the Offered Securities will have been approved for listing on NYSE, subject to notice of issuance.

 

(m)  Absence of Further Requirements.  No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing or registration with, any Governmental Authority is required for the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the offering, issuance and sale of the Offered

 

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Securities by the Company, the consummation of the Concurrent Offering, the amendments of the Credit Agreement and the consummation of the Bridge Financing Documents, except such as have been obtained, or made and such as may be required under state securities laws. As used herein, “Governmental Authority” means any executive, legislative, judicial, administrative or regulatory body, whether foreign or domestic.

 

(n)   Title to Property.  Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company and its subsidiaries (i) have defensible title to all their interests in the oil and gas properties described in the General Disclosure Package as being owned or leased by them, title investigations having been carried out by the Company in accordance with customary practice in the oil and gas industry, (ii) will, to their knowledge, have defensible title to all their interests in the oil and gas properties described in the General Disclosure Package as to be acquired by them, title investigations having been carried out by them in accordance with customary practice in the oil and gas industry and (iii) have defensible title to all other real property, all other properties and assets described in the General Disclosure Package as owned by them, in each case (and in the case of clause (ii) to their knowledge) free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other title defects, except such as do not materially affect the value of such property, taken as a whole, and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or its subsidiaries.  The Company and its subsidiaries do not hold any leased real or personal property under valid and enforceable leases with terms or provisions that would materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by them.  The working interests derived from oil, gas and mineral leases or mineral interests which constitute a portion of the real property held, leased or to be acquired, as the case may be, by the Company or any of its subsidiaries reflect the right of the Company and its subsidiaries to explore, develop or produce hydrocarbons from such real property, and the care taken by the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to acquiring or otherwise procuring such leases, options to lease, drilling rights and concessions or other property interests was consistent with standard industry practices in the areas in which the Company or its subsidiaries operate for acquiring or procuring leases and interests therein to explore, develop or produce hydrocarbons.

 

(o)   Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction.  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities, the application of the proceeds thereof as described under “Use of Proceeds” in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, compliance with the terms and provisions thereof, the consummation of the Concurrent Offering and the application of the proceeds thereof and the amendment of the Credit Agreement and the execution, delivery and performance of the Bridge Financing Documents (in each case as described in the General Disclosure Package), will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any Governmental Authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (iii) any agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject except (in the case of (ii) and (iii)) for breaches or violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and such lien, charge or encumbrance to be created pursuant to the Concurrent Offering and Bridge Financing, if any, as described the General Disclosure Package; a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition that gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture, or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

 

(p)   Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts.  Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or in default (or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of them

 

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is a party or by which any of them is bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject, except such defaults that would not result, individually or in the aggregate, in a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(q)   Authorization of Agreement.  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

(r)    Possession of Licenses and Permits.  The Company and its subsidiaries possess, and are in compliance with the terms of, all adequate certificates, authorizations, franchises, licenses and permits (“Licenses”) necessary or material to the conduct of the business now conducted and, with respect to the North Plains Assets (defined below), only to their knowledge, will possess and be in compliance with all such Licenses necessary or material to the business proposed in the General Disclosure Package to be conducted by them, and have not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any Licenses that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(s)   Absence of Labor Dispute.  No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that could have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(t)    Possession of Intellectual Property.  The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other intellectual property (collectively, “intellectual property rights”) necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(u)  Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, (A)(i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of, or has any liability under, any federal, state, local or non-U.S. statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, other requirement or rule of law (including common law), or decision or order of any Governmental Authority, relating to pollution, to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, discharge, disposal or release of Hazardous Substances, to the protection or restoration of the environment or natural resources (including biota), to health and safety including as such relates to exposure to Hazardous Substances, and to natural resource damages (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries owns, occupies, operates or uses any real property contaminated with Hazardous Substances, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is conducting or funding any investigation, remediation, remedial action or monitoring of actual or suspected Hazardous Substances in the environment, (iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is liable or allegedly liable for any release or threatened release of Hazardous Substances, including at any off-site treatment, storage or disposal site, (v) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any claim by any Governmental Authority or person relating to Environmental Laws or Hazardous Substances, and (vi) the Company and its subsidiaries have timely applied for and, where required for current operations, received and are in compliance with all, and have no liability under any, permits, licenses, authorizations, identification numbers or other approvals required under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, except in each case covered by clauses (i) — (vi) such as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (B) to the knowledge of the Company there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be expected to result in a violation of, liability under, or claim pursuant to, any Environmental Law that would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (C) to the knowledge of the Company there are no requirements proposed for adoption or implementation under any Environmental Law that would reasonably be expected to have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect; and (D) in the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically evaluates the effect, including associated costs and liabilities, of Environmental Laws on the business, properties, results of operations and financial condition of it and its subsidiaries, and, on the basis of such evaluation, the Company has reasonably concluded that such Environmental Laws will

 

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not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.  For purposes of this subsection “Hazardous Substances” means (A) petroleum and petroleum products, by-products or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and mold, and (B) any other chemical, material or substance defined or regulated as toxic or hazardous or as a pollutant, contaminant or waste under Environmental Laws.

 

(v)   Accurate Disclosure.  The statements in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the headings “Certain Material United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”, “Certain ERISA Considerations” and “Description of Common Stock” insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings.

 

(w)  Absence of Manipulation.  The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

 

(x)    Statistical and Market-Related Data.  Any third-party statistical and market-related data included or incorporated by reference in a Registration Statement, a Statutory Prospectus or the General Disclosure Package are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes to be reliable and accurate.

 

(y)   Internal Controls and Compliance with the Sarbanes-Oxley Act.  Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Company, its subsidiaries and the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board”) are in compliance with Sarbanes-Oxley and all applicable Exchange Rules. The Company maintains a system of internal controls, including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over accounting matters and financial reporting and legal and regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “Internal Controls”) that comply with the Securities Laws and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with U.S. General Accepted Accounting Principles and to maintain accountability for assets, (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 Internal Controls are overseen by the Audit Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board in accordance with Exchange Rules. The Company has not publicly disclosed or reported to the Audit Committee or the Board, and within the next 90 days the Company does not reasonably expect to publicly disclose or report to the Audit Committee or the Board, a significant deficiency, material weakness, change in Internal Controls or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in Internal Controls (each, an “Internal Control Event”), any violation of, or failure to comply with, the Securities Laws, or any matter which, if determined adversely, would, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

(z)    Absence of Accounting Issues.  A member of the Audit Committee has confirmed to the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel that, except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Audit Committee is not reviewing or investigating, and neither the Company’s independent auditors nor its internal auditors have recommended that the Audit Committee review or investigate, (i) adding to, deleting, changing the application of, or changing the Company’s disclosure with respect to, any of the Company’s material accounting policies; (ii) any matter which could result in a restatement of the Company’s financial statements for any annual or interim period during the current or prior three fiscal years; or (iii) any Internal Control Event.

 

(aa) Litigation.  Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are no pending actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any Governmental Authority) against or affecting the Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate

 

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have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any Governmental Authority) are threatened or, to the Company’s knowledge, contemplated.

 

(bb) Financial Statements.  The financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis. The financial statements of the assets acquired by the Company’s subsidiary, Kodiak Oil & Gas (USA) Inc., in connection with the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated May 20, 2011 (the “Ursa Assets”), of the assets acquired by the Company’s subsidiary, Kodiak Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. in connection with the Purchase and Sale Agreement dated September 27, 2011 (the “BTA Assets”) and of the assets to be acquired by the Company’s subsidiary, Kodiak Oil & Gas (USA) Inc. in connection with the Purchase and Sale Agreements dated November 14, 2011 (the “North Plains Assets” and together with the Ursa Assets and the BTA Assets, the “Acquired Assets”) present fairly in all material respects the operating revenues and direct operating expenses of such Acquired Assets for the periods shown in conformity with the generally accepted accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis.  After giving effect to the express authorization by the Staff of the Commission pursuant to written letters addressed to the Company (“Staff Waivers”), (i) the pro forma financial statements included in each of the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act, (ii) the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial statements included in the Registration Statement and General Disclosure Package provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly attributable to the transactions or events described therein and (iii) the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma columns therein reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical financial statement amounts.  The summary and selected financial and statistical data included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and such data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company.  The Company does not have any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent (including any off-balance sheet obligations or any “variable interest entities” within the meaning of Financial Accounting Standards Board Interpretation No. 46 as revised), not disclosed in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus. After giving effect to the express authorization of the Staff of the Commission in the Staff Waivers, the are no financial statements that are required to be included in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus that are not included as required.

 

(cc) No Material Adverse Change in Business.  Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial statements included in the General Disclosure Package (i) there has been no change, nor any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is material and adverse, (ii) there has not been any material transaction entered into or any material transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business and changes and transactions described in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, (iii) there has not been any obligation, direct or contingent, which is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, incurred by the Company, except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (iv) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock and (v) there has been no material adverse change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness, long-term indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Company and its subsidiaries.

 

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(dd) Investment Company Act.  The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the General Disclosure Package, and the consummation of the Concurrent Offering and the application of the proceeds therefrom will not be an “investment company” as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the “Investment Company Act”).

 

(ee) Ratings.  No “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company’s retaining any rating assigned to the Company or any securities of the Company or (ii) has indicated to the Company that it is considering any of the actions described in Section 7(c)(ii) hereof.

 

(ff)  PFIC Status.  The Company was not a “passive foreign investment company” (“PFIC”) as defined in Section 1297 of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), for its most recently completed taxable year and, based on the Company’s current projected income, assets and activities, the Company does not expect to be classified as a PFIC for the foreseeable future.

 

(gg)  Insurance.  The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers with appropriately rated claims paying abilities against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary for the businesses in which they are engaged; all policies of insurance insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights clause; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that would not have, individually or in the aggregate, a Material Adverse Effect, except as set forth in or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package.

 

(hh) Independent Engineer.  Netherland Sewell & Associates, Inc. (“NSAI”) is a petroleum engineering consulting firm from whose reserve reports information is contained or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and acts as independent petroleum engineer with respect to the Company.  Other than (i) the production of reserves in the ordinary course of business, (ii) intervening price fluctuations or (iii) as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any facts or circumstances that would result in a material adverse change in its or the Acquired Asset’s proved net reserves in the aggregate, or the aggregate present value of estimated future net revenues of the Company or the Acquired Assets or, in each case, the standardized measure of discounted future net cash flows therefrom, as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and reflected in the reserve information as of the respective dates such information is given.  The information underlying the estimates of the proved net reserves of the Company, each of its subsidiaries and its Acquired Assets (with respect to the BTA Assets only) that was supplied by the Company and/or its subsidiaries to NSAI for the purposes of preparing the reports of NSAI referenced in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and estimates of proved reserves of the Company, its subsidiaries and the Acquired Assets disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, including, production, costs of operation, and future operations and sales of production, was true and correct in all material respects on the dates such information was provided, and such information was supplied and was prepared in accordance with customary industry practices. The estimates of proved reserves of the Company, its subsidiaries and the Acquired Assets that were prepared by or on behalf of the Company that are disclosed in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, including, production, costs of operation, and future operations and sales of production, are true and correct in all material respects. Except as described in each of the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, the General Disclosure Package, including the oil and natural gas production and reserve information and estimates of future net revenues and discounted

 

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future net cash flows included or incorporated by reference therein, complies and the Final Prospectus, including the oil and natural gas production and reserve information and estimates of future net revenues and discounted future net cash flows included or incorporated by reference therein, will comply, in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and Regulation S-X, Industry Guide 2 under the Act and Statement of Financial Accounting Standards Board No. 69, Disclosures about Oil and Petroleum Producing Activities, as amended to date (“SFAS 69”).

 

3.  Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities.  On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $7.3721875 per share, the respective number of shares of Firm Securities set forth opposite the names of the Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.

 

The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to or as instructed by the Representative for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representative against payment of the purchase price by the Underwriters in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to Credit Suisse drawn to the order of the Company at the office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, NY 10017, at 9:00 A.M., New York time, on November 23, 2011 or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as the Representative and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as the “First Closing Date”. For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Exchange Act, the First Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold pursuant to the offering. The Firm Securities so to be delivered or evidence of their issuance will be made available for checking at the above office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at least 24 hours prior to the First Closing Date.

 

In addition, upon written notice from the Representative given to the Company from time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of the Final Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Securities at the purchase price per Security to be paid for the Firm Securities. The Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of shares of Optional Securities specified in such notice and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase such Optional Securities. Such Optional Securities shall be purchased for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the number of shares of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name bears to the total number of shares of Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by the Representative to eliminate fractions) and may be purchased by the Underwriters only for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the sale of the Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless the Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by the Representative to the Company.

 

Each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities, being herein referred to as an “Optional Closing Date”, which may be the First Closing Date (the First Closing Date and each Optional Closing Date, if any, being sometimes referred to as a “Closing Date”), shall be determined by the Representative but shall be not later than five full business days after written notice of election to purchase Optional Securities is given. The Company will deliver the Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing Date to or as instructed by the Representative for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to the Representative against payment of the purchase price therefor in Federal (same day) funds by wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to the Representative drawn to the order of the Company, at the above office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP.  The Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing Date or evidence of their issuance will be made available for checking at the above office of Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP at a reasonable time in advance of such Optional Closing Date.

 

4.  Offering by Underwriters.  It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.

 

5.  Certain Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:

 

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(a)   Filing of Prospectuses.  The Company has filed or will file each Statutory Prospectus (including the Final Prospectus) pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b)(2) (or, if applicable and consented to by the Representative, subparagraph (5)) not later than the second business day following the earlier of the date it is first used or the execution and delivery of this Agreement.  The Company has complied and will comply with Rule 433.

 

(b)   Filing of Amendments; Response to Commission Requests.  The Company will promptly advise the Representative of any proposal to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus at any time and will offer the Representative a reasonable opportunity to comment on any such amendment or supplement; and the Company will also advise the Representative promptly of (i) the filing of any such amendment or supplement, (ii) any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to the Registration Statement, for any supplement to any Statutory Prospectus or for any additional information, (iii) the institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or the threatening of any proceeding for that purpose, and (iv) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose.  The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.

 

(c)   Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the Representative of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and the dealers and any other dealers upon request of the Representative, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such compliance.  Neither the Representative’s consent to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.

 

(d)   Rule 158.  As soon as practicable, but not later than 16 months, after the date of this Agreement, the Company will make generally available to its securityholders an earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the date of this Agreement and satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.

 

(e)   Furnishing of Prospectuses.  The Company will furnish to the Representative copies of the Registration Statement, including all exhibits, any Statutory Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representative reasonably requests.  The Company will pay the expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.

 

(f)    Blue Sky Qualifications.  The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative designates and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution.

 

(g)   Reporting Requirements.  During the period of five years hereafter, the Company will furnish to the Representative and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year or quarter, a copy of its annual or quarterly report to stockholders for such year or quarter, as applicable; and the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as available, a copy of each other report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning the Company as the Representative may reasonably request.  However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the

 

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Exchange Act and is timely filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”), it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.

 

(h)   Payment of Expenses.  The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including but not limited to (i) any filing fees and other expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred in connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions, other than the federal laws of the United States, as the Representative designates and the preparation and printing of memoranda relating thereto, provided that the Representative shall provide the Company with an estimate of any such fees and expenses for the Company’s review and approval prior to incurring any such fees and expenses, (ii) costs and expenses related to the review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority of the Offered Securities (including filing fees and the fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such review), (iii) fees and expenses incident to listing the Offered Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, NYSE Amex, NASDAQ Stock Market and other national and foreign exchanges, (iv) fees and expenses in connection with the registration of the Offered Securities under the Exchange Act and (v) expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters and for expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Underwriters will reimburse the Company for those costs and expenses incurred by the Company in connection with the foregoing in an amount of $25,000.  The Underwriters will pay all costs and expenses relating to investor presentations or any “road show” in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities.  Except as otherwise expressly provided by this Agreement, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, fees and expenses of their counsel.

 

(i)    Use of Proceeds.  The Company will use the net proceeds received in connection with this offering in the manner described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of the General Disclosure Package and, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any Underwriter.

 

(j)    Absence of Manipulation.  The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.

 

(k)   Taxes.  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters against any documentary, stamp or similar issue tax, including any interest and penalties, on the creation, issue and sale of the Offered Securities and on the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All payments to be made by the Company hereunder shall be made without withholding or deduction for or on account of any present or future taxes, duties or governmental charges whatsoever unless the Company is compelled by law to deduct or withhold such taxes, duties or charges. In that event, the Company shall pay such additional amounts as may be necessary in order that the net amounts received after such withholding or deduction shall equal the amounts that would have been received if no withholding or deduction had been made.

 

(l)    Restriction on Sale of Securities.  For the period specified below (the “Lock-Up Period”), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, take any of the following actions with respect to its Securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any of its Securities (“Lock-Up Securities”):

 

(i) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of Lock-Up Securities;

 

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(ii) offer, sell, issue, contract to sell, contract to purchase or grant any option, right or warrant to purchase Lock-Up Securities;

 

(iii) enter into any swap, hedge or any other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of ownership of Lock-Up Securities;

 

(iv) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call equivalent position in Lock-Up Securities within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act; or

 

(v) file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act relating to Lock-Up Securities, or publicly disclose the intention to take any such action, without the prior written consent of the Representative;

 

except that such restrictions shall not apply to:

 

(A) the Offered Securities to be sold hereunder;

 

(B) Lock-Up Securities issuable upon conversion or exercise of any outstanding securities of the Company as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package;

 

(C) Lock-Up Securities issued pursuant to any employee benefit plan or arrangement of the Company in effect on the date hereof, which plan or arrangement is disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, including the issuance of securities upon the exercise or sale of any securities issued or outstanding under such plan; and

 

(D) Lock-Up Securities issued to the sellers in connection with the acquisition of the North Plains Assets in the amount specified in those certain Purchase and Sale Agreements dated November 14, 2011.

 

The initial Lock-Up Period will commence on the date hereof and continue for 90 days after the date hereof or such earlier date that the Representative consents to in writing; provided, however, that if (1) during the last 17 days of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Company releases earnings results or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the initial Lock-Up Period, then in each case the Lock-Up Period will be extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of release of the earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless the Representative waives, in writing, such extension.  The Company will provide the Representative with notice of any announcement described in clause (2) of the preceding sentence that gives rise to an extension of the Lock-Up Period.

 

(m) Non-Waiver of Other Lock-Ups. During the Lock-Up Period (and any extension described herein), the Company will not waive, amend or disregard (by action, inaction or otherwise) any agreement to restrict, any provision within any agreement that restricts, or agreement that provides for the restriction of the transfer of any Securities issued or to be issued pursuant to those certain Purchase and Sale Agreements dated November 14, 2011 or any related agreement or letter, including any such agreement or letter with subsequent holders of such Securities.

 

(n)  Sale of Securities by Officers and Directors.  During the Lock-Up Period, the Company will monitor and keep a written record of all sales of Securities by its officers and directors.  The Company will provide written notice, as described in Section 11 hereof, to the Representative within five business days when the aggregate number of Securities sold by the Company’s officers and directors during the Lock-Up Period first exceeds 800,000 common shares.  In addition, the Company, either itself or through its transfer agent and registrar, shall decline to make any transfer of Securities in connection with a sale of Securities by the Company’s officers and directors during the Lock-Up Period when the aggregate number of Securities sold by such officers and directors exceeds 1,000,000 common shares.

 

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6.  Free Writing Prospectuses.  The Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of Credit Suisse, and each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and Credit Suisse, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered 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 Company and Credit Suisse is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.”  The Company represents 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 Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where required, legending and record keeping.

 

7.  Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased on each Optional Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein (as though made on such Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:

 

(a)  Accountants’ Comfort Letters.  The Representative shall have received letters, dated, respectively, the date hereof and each Closing Date, of Hein & Associates LLP (in relation to the Company and to the North Plains Assets, Ernst & Young LLP (in relation to the Company and to the BTA Assets) and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (in relation to the Ursa Assets), confirming that they are a registered public accounting firm and independent public accountants within the meaning of the Securities Laws and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.

 

(b)  Filing of Prospectus.  The Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a) hereof. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Underwriter, shall be contemplated by the Commission.  Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433.

 

(c)  No Material Adverse Change.  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole which, in the judgment of the Representative, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Company by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities or preferred stock of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii)  any change in either U.S., Canadian or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representative, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities, whether in the primary market or in respect of dealings in the secondary market; (iv) any suspension or material limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on such exchange; (v) any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S. federal, New York or Canadian authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements of securities, payment, or clearance services in the United States, Canada or any other country where such securities are listed or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States or Canada, any declaration of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the judgment of the Representative, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act, declaration, calamity or

 

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emergency is such as to make it impractical or inadvisable to market the Offered Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities.

 

(d)  Opinion of Miller Thomson LLP.  The Representative shall have received an opinion, dated such Closing Date, of Miller Thomson LLP, Canadian counsel for the Company, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B-1 hereto.

 

(e)  Opinion of Dorsey & Whitney LLP.  The Representative shall have received an opinion, dated such Closing Date, of Dorsey & Whitney LLP, counsel for the Company, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B-2 hereto.

 

(g)  Opinion of Lathrop & Gage LLP. The Representative shall have received an opinion, dated the Closing Date, of Lathrop & Gage LLP, special counsel for the Company, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B-3 hereto.

 

(h)  Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters.  The Representative shall have received from Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Representative may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.  In rendering such opinion, Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP may rely as to the incorporation of the Company and all other matters governed by Yukon Territory law upon the opinion of Miller Thomson LLP referred to above.

 

(i)  Lock-Up Letters. The Representative shall have received lock-up letters, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, from certain officers and directors of the Company, delivered to the Representative on or before the date hereof, which lock-up letters shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.

 

(j)  Officers’ Certificate.  The Representative shall have received a certificate, dated such Closing Date, of an executive officer of the Company and a principal financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers shall state that: the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct; the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the best of their knowledge and after reasonable investigation, are contemplated by the Commission; and, subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package or as described in such certificate.

 

(k)  Engineering Firm Letter. At the time of execution of this Agreement and each Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received from NSAI, a letter, in form and substance satisfactory to and addressed to the Underwriters with respect to: (i) the estimated quantities of the Company’s, Ursa Resources Group LLC’s, BTA Oil Producers, LLC’s proved net reserves, (ii) the future net revenues from those reserves, (iii) their present value as set forth in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and (iv) such related matters as the Underwriter shall reasonably request.

 

(l)  Amendments of Revolving Credit Agreement. On or prior to the First Closing Date, the amendments to the existing Credit Agreement (subject to in the case of the second amendment thereto the conditions precedent therein, as applicable) as described in the General Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus shall have become effective.

 

The Company will furnish the Representative with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representative reasonably requests.  The Representative may in its sole discretion waive

 

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on behalf of the Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or otherwise.

 

8.  Indemnification and Contribution.  (a)  Indemnification of Underwriters.  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “Indemnified Party”), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal, state or Canadian statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in subsection (b) below.

 

(b)  Indemnification of Company.  Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers who signs a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “Underwriter Indemnified Party”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Underwriter Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information in the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession figure appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption “Underwriting”.

 

(c)  Actions against Parties; Notification.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a) or (b) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above.  In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate

 

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therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.

 

(d)  Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Offered Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.  The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 8(d).

 

9.  Default of Underwriters.  If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the First or any Optional Closing Date and the number of shares of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, Credit Suisse may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to Credit Suisse and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other

 

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persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except as provided in Section 10 (provided that if such default occurs with respect to Optional Securities after the First Closing Date, this Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Securities or any Optional Securities purchased prior to such termination). As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

 

10.  Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, and the respective obligations of the Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8 hereof shall remain in effect.  In addition, if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5 shall also remain in effect.

 

11.  Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to the Representative, c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10010-3629, Attention:  LCD-IBD, or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at Kodiak Oil & Gas Corp., 1625 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, Colorado 80202, Attention: Lynn A. Peterson; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter or the Company pursuant to Section 8 will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such recipient.

 

12.  Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

 

13.  Representation of Underwriters.  The Representative will act for the several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under this Agreement taken by the Representative will be binding upon all the Underwriters.

 

14.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.

 

15.  Absence of Fiduciary Relationship.  The Company acknowledges and agrees that:

 

(a)   No Other Relationship.  The Representative has been retained solely to act as underwriter in connection with the sale of Offered Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship between the Company and the Representative has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the Final Prospectus, irrespective of whether the Representative has advised or is advising the Company on other matters;

 

(b)   Arms’ Length Negotiations.  The price of the Offered Securities set forth in this Agreement was established by the Company following discussions and arms-length negotiations with the Representative and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

(c)   Absence of Obligation to Disclose.  The Company has been advised that the Representative and its affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ

 

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from those of the Company and that the Representative has no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship; and

 

(d)   Waiver.  The Company waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Representative for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agrees that the Representative shall have no liability (whether direct or indirect) to the Company in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.

 

16.  Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

 

The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.  The Company irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York (“New York Court”) and irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any New York Court that any such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.

 

The Company has appointed National Corporate Research, Ltd., as its authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon whom process may be served in any such action arising out of or based on this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby which may be instituted in any New York Court by any Underwriter or by any director, officer, employee or agent of any Underwriter or any person who controls any Underwriter, expressly consents to the jurisdiction of any such court in respect of any such action, and waives any other requirements of or objections to personal jurisdiction with respect thereto.  Such appointment shall be irrevocable.  The Company represents and warrants that the Authorized Agent has agreed to act as such agent for service of process and agrees to take any and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid.  Service of process upon the Authorized Agent and written notice of such service to the Company shall be deemed, in every respect, effective service of process upon the Company.

 

The obligation of the Company pursuant to this Agreement in respect of any sum due to any Underwriter shall, notwithstanding any judgment in a currency other than United States dollars, not be discharged until the first business day, following receipt by such Underwriter of any sum adjudged to be so due in such other currency, on which (and only to the extent that) such Underwriter may in accordance with normal banking procedures purchase United States dollars with such other currency; if the United States dollars so purchased are less than the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder, the Company agrees, as a separate obligation and notwithstanding any such judgment, to indemnify such Underwriter against such loss.  If the United States dollars so purchased are greater than the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder, such Underwriter agrees to pay to the Company an amount equal to the excess of the dollars so purchased over the sum originally due to such Underwriter hereunder.

 

[Signature Pages Follow]

 

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If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representative’s understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.

 

 

Very truly yours,

 

 

 

KODIAK OIL & GAS CORP.

 

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ James P. Henderson

 

 

Name: James P. Henderson

 

 

Title: CFO

 

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

 

Acting on behalf of itself and as the Representative of the several Underwriters.

 

 

CREDIT SUISSE SECURITIES (USA) LLC

 

 

 

 

By:

/s/ Robert Santangelo

 

 

 

Name:

Robert Santangelo

 

 

 

Title:

Managing Director

 

 

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SCHEDULE A

 

Underwriter

 

Number of
Firm Securities

 

Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC

 

13,020,000

 

Keybanc Capital Markets Inc.

 

7,980,000

 

RBC Capital Markets, LLC

 

7,980,000

 

Wells Fargo Securities, LLC

 

7,980,000

 

BMO Capital Markets Corp.

 

1,575,000

 

Howard Weil Incorporated

 

1,155,000

 

Johnson Rice & Company L.L.C.

 

1,155,000

 

Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated

 

1,155,000

 

 

 

 

 

Total

 

42,000,000

 

 



 

SCHEDULE B

 

1.     General Use Free Writing Prospectuses (included in the General Disclosure Package)

 

Free Writing Prospectus dated November 14, 2011

 

2.     Other Information Included in the General Disclosure Package

 

The initial price to the public of the Offered Securities: $7.75 per share

Number of Firm Securities: 42,000,000 shares

Number of Optional Securities: Not more than 6,300,000 shares