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UNITED STATES 

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION 

Washington, D.C. 20549 

 

 

 

FORM 8-K

 

CURRENT REPORT 

PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE 

SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

 

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): April 8, 2021

 

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP. 

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

 

New York   001-37997   81-3467779
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission
File Number)
  (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

698 Main Street, Branford, Connecticut   06405
(Address of Principal Executive Office)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant's telephone number, including area code (203) 433-4736

 

(Former Name or Former Address, if Changed Since Last Report)

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

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

 

Title of each class Ticker symbol(s) Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Shares, par value $.001 per share SACH NYSE American LLC
7.125% Notes due 2024 SCCB NYSE American LLC
6.875% Notes due 2024 SACC NYSE American LLC
7.75% Notes due 2025 SCCC NYSE American LLC

 

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

 

Emerging growth company     x

 

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01. Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On April 9, 2021, Sachem Capital Corp. (the “Company”) entered into an At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Sales Agreement”) with Ladenburg Thalmann & Co., Inc. and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, as distribution agents (collectively, the “Agents’), pursuant to which the Company may offer and sell, from time to time, through the Agents common shares, par value $0.001 per share of the Company (the “Placement Shares”), in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in the Sales Agreement.

 

Sales of Placement Shares, if any, made under the Sales Agreement will be made by any method permitted by law that is deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”). Under the terms of the Sales Agreement, the Agent may also purchase Placement Shares for its own account as principal if expressly authorized to do so by the Company. Under the Sales Agreement, the Company will pay the Agent commissions, discounts or other forms of compensation of up to 2.0% on the sale of Placement Shares. The Company has no obligation to sell any Placement Shares under the Sales Agreement.

 

The offer and sale of the Placement Shares will be pursuant to a prospectus supplement, dated April 9, 2021 (the “Prospectus Supplement”), to the Company’s Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-236097) (the “Registration Statement”) declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) on February 5, 2020, filed by the Company with the SEC on January 27, 2020. Under the Prospectus Supplement up to $43,636,250 of Placement Shares may be sold.

 

The Sales Agreement contains customary representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the Agent, indemnification rights and obligations of the parties, and termination provisions. Under the terms of the Sales Agreement, the Company agreed to indemnify the Agents against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments that the Agents may be required to make because of those liabilities.

 

The foregoing description of the Sales Agreement does not purport to be complete and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the full text of the Sales Agreement, a copy of which is attached to this Current Report on Form 8-K as Exhibit 1.1 and incorporated by reference herein and into the Prospectus Supplement and accompanying base prospectus, which form a part of the Registration Statement.

 

This Current Report on Form 8-K shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor shall there be any sale of the Placement Shares in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction.

 

Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers.

 

(e) In April 2021, the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors (the “Committee”) of the Company approved and adopted the recommendations of an independent compensation consulting firm (the “Expert”) hired by them to evaluate and provide recommendations with respect to the compensation payable to the Company’s two senior executive officers, John L. Villano and Peter J. Cuozzo, for 2021. Based on the recommendations of the Expert, the Committee approved the following 2021 compensation packages for Messrs. Villano and Cuozzo:

 

With respect to Mr. Villano:

 

· A base salary of $500,000 (compared to $360,000 in 2020);

 

· A “target” annual bonus of $250,000, the exact amount to be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and payable on or before March 31, 2022;

 

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· A time-based equity award of $500,000 payable in restricted common shares of the Company; and

 

· A one-time cash bonus of $250,000, of which $125,000 is immediately payable and $62,500 is payable on each of July 1 and October 1, 2021, subject to Mr. Villano’s continued employment by the Company.

 

With respect to Mr. Cuozzo:

 

· A base salary of $250,000 (same as 2020);

 

· A cash bonus of $25,000, payable immediately in one lump sum; and

 

· A time-based equity award of $25,000 payable in restricted common shares of the Company.

 

The Company issued (i) 89,928 restricted common shares to Mr. Villano based on the closing price of $5.56 per common share on April 8, 2021 (the grant date) and (ii) 4,753 restricted common shares to Mr. Cuozzo based on the closing price of $5.26 per common share on April 12, 2021 (the grant date). The shares were issued pursuant to the Company’s 2016 Equity Compensation Plan and are subject to restrictions on transfer and forfeiture of any unvested shares in the event of a voluntary resignation as an employee of the Company without “Good Reason” or of a termination of employment with the Company for “Cause,” as such terms are defined in their respective Employment Agreements. The restrictions on transfer and the forfeiture provisions will lapse with respect to one-third of the shares on each of January 1, 2022, 2023 and 2024. Each of Messrs. Villano and Cuozzo has the right to vote and receive dividends with respect to all the shares granted to him.

 

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits.

 

(d) Exhibits

 

Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1 At Market Issuance Sales Agreement between Sachem Capital Corp., on the one hand, and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, as agents, on the other hand, dated April 9, 2021.
   
10.1 Final Form of the Restrictive Stock Grant Agreement, dated April 2021, under the Sachem Capital Corp. 2016 Equity Compensation Plan between the Company and each of John L., Villano and Peter J. Cuozzo.  
   
10.2 Employment Letter to John L. Villano, dated April 8, 2021.
   
10.3 Employment Letter to Peter J. Cuozzo, dated April 12, 2021.
   
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).  

 

* * * * *

 

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SIGNATURES

 

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

 

  Sachem Capital Corp.
   
Dated: April 13, 2021 By: /s/John L. Villano
    John L. Villano, CPA
    Chief Executive Officer and
    Chief Financial Officer

 

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Exhibit Index

 

Exhibit
No.
Description
1.1 At Market Issuance Sales Agreement between Sachem Capital Corp., on the one hand, and Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC, as agents, on the other hand, dated April 9, 2021.  
   
10.1 Final Form of the Restrictive Stock Grant Agreement dated April 2021 under the Sachem Capital Corp. 2016 Equity Compensation Plan between the Company and each John L., Villano and Peter J. Cuozzo.  
   
10.2 Employment Letter to John L. Villano, dated April 8, 2021.
   
10.3 Employment Letter to Peter J. Cuozzo, dated April 12, 2021.
   
104 Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document).

 

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Exhibit 1.1

 

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.

Common Stock

($0.001 par value per share)

 

At Market Issuance Sales Agreement

 

April 9, 2021

 

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

277 Park Ave

New York NY 10172

 

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

1717 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

 

Sachem Capital Corp., a New York corporation (the “Company”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”), with Ladenburg Thalmann & Co (“Ladenburg”) and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”, each of Ladenburg and Janney, individually an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”), as follows:

 

1.            Issuance and Sale of Shares. The Company agrees that, from time to time during the term of this Agreement, on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein, it may issue and sell through the Agents, acting as agent and/or principal, common shares (the “Placement Shares”) of the Company, par value $0.001 per share (the “Common Stock”), provided however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through the Agents such number of Placement Shares that (a) exceeds the number of shares or dollar amount of Common Stock registered on the effective Registration Statement (as defined below) pursuant to which the offering is being made or (b) exceeds the number of shares or dollar amount registered on the Prospectus Supplement (as defined below) (the lesser of (a) or (b) the “Maximum Amount”); and provided further, however, that in no event shall the aggregate number of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement exceed the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 on the number of Placement Shares issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company and that the Agents shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of Placement Shares through the Agents will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to issue any Placement Shares.

 

 

 

 

The Company has filed, or shall file, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Securities Act”), with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), a registration statement on Form S-3, including a base prospectus, relating to certain securities including the Placement Shares to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “Exchange Act”). The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement specifically relating to the offering of the Placement Shares (the “Prospectus Supplement”). The Company will furnish to the Agents, for use by the Agents, copies of the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the offering of the Placement Shares. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, and any post-effective amendment thereto, including all documents filed as part thereof or incorporated by reference therein, and including any information contained in a Prospectus (as defined below) subsequently filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B of the Securities Act, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated or deemed incorporated therein by reference to the extent such information has not been superseded or modified in accordance with Rule 412 under the Securities Act (as qualified by Rule 430B(g) of the Securities Act), included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such base prospectus and/or Prospectus Supplement have most recently been filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act, is herein called the “Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein (the “Incorporated Documents”).

 

For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or to any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to include the most recent copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering Analysis and Retrieval System, or if applicable, the Interactive Data Electronic Application system when used by the Commission (collectively, “EDGAR”).

 

2.            Placements. Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell Placement Shares hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify an Agent (the “Designated Agent”) by electronic mail (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of the number of Placement Shares, the time period during which sales are requested to be made, any limitation on the number of Placement Shares that may be sold in any one day and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (a “Placement Notice”), the form of which is attached hereto as Schedule 1. The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Schedule 3 (with a copy to each of the other individuals from the Company listed on such schedule), and shall be addressed to each of the individuals from the Designated Agent set forth on Schedule 3, as such Schedule 3 may be amended from time to time. Provided that the Company is otherwise in compliance with the terms of this Agreement, Placement Notice shall be effective immediately upon receipt by the Designated Agent unless and until (i) the Designated Agent declines to accept the terms contained therein for any reason, in its sole discretion, (ii) the entire amount of the Placement Shares thereunder has been sold, (iii) the Company suspends or terminates the Placement Notice, which suspension and termination rights may be exercised by the Company in its sole discretion, or (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 13. The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Designated Agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Shares shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Schedule 2. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Designated Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Shares unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Designated Agent and the Designated Agent does not decline such Placement Notice pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified therein and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of Sections 2 or 3 of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice, the terms of the Placement Notice will control.

 

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3.            Sale of Placement Shares by the Agents. Subject to the terms and conditions of this Agreement, for the period specified in a Placement Notice, the Designated Agent will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of NYSE American LLC (the “Exchange”), to sell the Placement Shares up to the amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice. The Designated Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company prior to the commencement of trading on the Exchange on the first Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which it has made sales of Placement Shares hereunder setting forth the number of Placement Shares sold on such day, the compensation payable by the Company to the Designated Agent pursuant to Section 2 with respect to such sales, and the Net Proceeds (as defined below) payable to the Company, with an itemization of the deductions made by the Designated Agent (as set forth in Section 5(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the terms of a Placement Notice, the Designated Agent may sell Placement Shares by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at the market offering” as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 6(jj), the Designated Agent shall not purchase Placement Shares for its own account as principal unless expressly authorized to do so by the Company in a Placement Notice.  “Trading Day” means any day on which Common Stock is purchased and sold on the Exchange. During the term of this Agreement, neither the Agents nor any of its respective affiliates or subsidiaries, shall, for its own account, engage in (i) any short sale of any security of the Company, (ii) any sale of any security of the Company that such Agent does not own or any sale which is consummated by the delivery of a security of the Company borrowed by, or for the account of, such Agent or (iii) any proprietary trading or trading for such Agent’s (or its affiliates’ or subsidiaries’) own account. Notwithstanding the foregoing, these restrictions shall not apply to bona fide transactions executed by an Agent on behalf and at the direction of any third party customer accounts.

 

4.            Suspension of Sales. The Company or the Designated Agent may, upon notice to the other party in writing (including by email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3, if receipt of such correspondence is actually acknowledged by any of the individuals to whom the notice is sent, other than via auto-reply) or by telephone (confirmed immediately by verifiable facsimile transmission or email correspondence to each of the individuals of the other party set forth on Schedule 3), suspend any sale of Placement Shares (a “Suspension”); provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair any party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Shares sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. While a Suspension is in effect, any obligation under Sections 7(l), 7(m), and 7(o) with respect to the delivery of certificates, opinions, or comfort letters to the Agents, shall be waived. Each of the parties agrees that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against any other party unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Schedule 3 hereto, as such Schedule may be amended from time to time.

 

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5.            Sale and Delivery to the Designated Agent; Settlement.

 

a.            Sale of Placement Shares. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, upon the Designated Agent’s acceptance of the terms of a Placement Notice, and unless the sale of the Placement Shares described therein has been declined, suspended, or otherwise terminated in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Designated Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Exchange to sell such Placement Shares up to the amount specified in, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of, such Placement Notice. The Company acknowledges and agrees that (i) there can be no assurance that the Designated Agent will be successful in selling Placement Shares, (ii) the Designated Agent will incur no liability or obligation to the Company or any other person or entity if it does not sell Placement Shares for any reason other than a failure by the Designated Agent to use its commercially reasonable efforts consistent with its normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations and the rules of the Exchange to sell such Placement Shares as required under this Agreement and (iii) the Designated Agent shall be under no obligation to purchase Placement Shares on a principal basis pursuant to this Agreement, except as otherwise agreed by the Designated Agent and the Company.

 

b.            Settlement of Placement Shares. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Placement Notice, settlement for sales of Placement Shares will occur on the second (2nd) Trading Day (or such earlier day as is industry practice for regular-way trading) following the date on which such sales are made (each, a “Settlement Date”). The Designated Agent shall notify the Company in writing of each sale of Placement Shares prior to the commencement of trading on the Exchange on the first Trading Day following the Trading Day on which the Agent sold the Placement Shares. The amount of proceeds to be delivered to the Company on a Settlement Date against receipt of the Placement Shares sold (the “Net Proceeds”) will be equal to the aggregate sales price received by the Designated Agent, after deduction for (i) the Designated Agent’s commission, discount or other compensation for such sales payable by the Company pursuant to Section 2 hereof, and (ii) any transaction fees imposed by any governmental or self-regulatory organization in respect of such sales.

 

c.            Delivery of Placement Shares. On or before each Settlement Date, the Company will, or will cause its transfer agent to, electronically transfer the Placement Shares being sold by crediting the Designated Agent’s or its designee’s account (provided the Designated Agent shall have given the Company written notice of such designee and such designee’s account information at least one Trading Day prior to the Settlement Date) at The Depository Trust Company through its Deposit and Withdrawal at Custodian System or by such other means of delivery as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties hereto which in all cases shall be freely tradable, transferable, registered shares in good deliverable form. On each Settlement Date, the Designated Agent will deliver the related Net Proceeds in same day funds to an account designated by the Company on, or prior to, the Settlement Date. The Company agrees that if the Company, or its transfer agent (if applicable), defaults in its obligation to deliver Placement Shares on a Settlement Date through no fault of the Designated Agent, then in addition to and in no way limiting the rights and obligations set forth in Section 11(a) hereto, it will (i) hold the Designated Agent harmless against any loss, claim, damage, or reasonable, documented expense (including reasonable and documented legal fees and expenses), as incurred, arising out of or in connection with such default by the Company or its transfer agent (if applicable) and (ii) pay to the Designated Agent (without duplication) any commission, discount, or other compensation to which it would otherwise have been entitled absent such default.

 

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d.            Limitations on Offering Size. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares if, after giving effect to the sale of such Placement Shares, the aggregate number of Placement Shares sold pursuant to this Agreement would exceed the lesser of (A) together with all sales of Placement Shares under this Agreement, the Maximum Amount, (B) the amount available for offer and sale under the currently effective Registration Statement and (C) the amount authorized from time to time to be issued and sold under this Agreement by the Company’s board of directors, a duly authorized committee thereof or a duly authorized committee, and notified to the Designated Agent in writing. Under no circumstances shall the Company cause or request the offer or sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement at a price lower than the minimum price authorized from time to time by the Company’s board of directors or a duly authorized committee thereof and notified to the Designated Agent in writing.

 

e.            Sales Through Agents. The Company agrees that any offer to sell, any solicitation of an offer to buy, or any sales of Placement Shares or any other equity security of the Company shall only be effected by or through an Agent, and only a single Agent, on any single given date, and in no event shall the Company request that more than one Agent sell Placement Shares on the same day; provided however that (i) the foregoing limitation shall not apply to (A) exercise of any option, warrant, right or any conversion privilege set forth in the instrument governing such securities, (B) sales solely to employees, directors or security holders of the Company or its subsidiaries, or to a trustee or other person acquiring such securities for the accounts of such person and (ii) the foregoing limitation shall not apply (A) on any day during which no sales are made pursuant to this Agreement or (B) during a period in which the Company has notified the Agents that it will not sell Common Stock under this Agreement and (1) no Placement Notice is pending or (2) after a Placement Notice has been withdrawn.

 

6.            Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees each of the Agents that as of the date of this Agreement and as of each Applicable Time (as defined below), unless such representation, warranty or agreement specifies a different date or time:

 

a.            The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.

 

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b.            The Registration Statement, when it became effective, and the Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement thereto, on the date of such Prospectus or amendment or supplement, conformed and will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. At each Settlement Date, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of such date, will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act. The Registration Statement, when it became or becomes effective, did not, and will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus and any amendment and supplement thereto, on the date thereof and at each Applicable Time (defined below), did not or will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any Prospectus Supplement did not, and any further documents filed and incorporated by reference therein will not, when filed with the Commission, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated in such document or necessary to make the statements in such document, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing shall not apply to statements in, or omissions from, any such document made in reliance upon, and in conformity with, information furnished to the Company by either Agent specifically for use in the preparation thereof.

 

c.            The Registration Statement, the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, and the Incorporated Documents, when such documents were or are filed with the Commission under the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or became or become effective under the Securities Act, as the case may be, conformed or will conform in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable.

 

d.            The Company meets the applicable requirements for the use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. As of the close of trading on the Exchange on April 9, 2021 or in the sixty calendar days prior to the date hereof, the aggregate market value of the outstanding voting and non-voting common equity (as defined in Rule 405) of the Company held by persons other than affiliates of the Company (pursuant to Rule 144 of the Securities Act, those that directly, or indirectly through one or more intermediaries, control, or are controlled by, or are under common control with, the Company) (the “Non-Affiliate Shares”), exceeded $75 million (calculated by multiplying (x) the highest closing price for the common equity of the Company on the Exchange during the sixty calendar days prior to the date hereof, times (y) the number of Non-Affiliate Shares).

 

e.            The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act.  Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.  Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.  Except for the Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any, identified on Exhibit 23 hereto, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the Agent’s prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.

 

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f.            The Company has been incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and is qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect, or any development that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect, on the financial condition, business, properties, results of operations or prospects, whether or not owing from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (a “Material Adverse Effect”).

 

g.            Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or formed, is validly existing as a corporation, limited partnership or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or formation, has the corporate, limited partnership or limited liability company power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus and is qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued shares of capital stock or other ownership interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned by the Company, directly or indirectly, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.

 

h.            This Agreement has been authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

 

i.            The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters, in all material respects, to the description thereof contained in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

 

j.            The Placement Shares have been authorized and when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, the Placement Shares will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Placement Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.

 

k.            The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the charter or bylaws of the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or government agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Placement Shares.

 

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l.            Except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

 

m.            There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (A) other than proceedings accurately described in all material respects in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, proceedings that, if resolved adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect and proceedings that, if resolved adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would not reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the transactions contemplated by the Prospectus or (B) that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required.

 

n.            The Company and its subsidiaries are not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Placement Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

 

o.            The Company and its subsidiaries (A) are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (B) have received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (C) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

p.            There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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q.            Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, 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 Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the Placement Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.

 

r.            Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, nor any director, officer, or employee, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent or representative of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries or affiliates, has taken or will take any action in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay, or authorization or approval of the payment or giving of money, property, gifts or anything else of value, directly or indirectly, to any “government official” (including any officer or employee of a government or government-owned or controlled entity or of a public international organization, or any person acting in an official capacity for or on behalf of any of the foregoing, or any political party or party official or candidate for political office) to influence official action or secure an improper advantage; and the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates have conducted their businesses in compliance with applicable anti-corruption laws and have instituted and maintained and will continue to maintain policies and procedures designed to promote and achieve compliance with such laws and with the representation and warranty contained herein.

 

s.            The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in material compliance with all applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements, including those of the Bank Secrecy Act, as amended by Title III of the Uniting and Strengthening America by Providing Appropriate Tools Required to Intercept and Obstruct Terrorism Act of 2001 (USA PATRIOT Act), and the applicable anti-money laundering statutes of jurisdictions where the Company and its subsidiaries conduct business, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Anti-Money Laundering Laws”), and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Anti-Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.

 

t.            (A) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, nor any director, officer, or employee thereof, nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any agent, affiliate or representative of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, is an individual or entity (“Person”) that is, or is owned or controlled by a Person that is:

 

(1)            the subject of any sanctions administered or enforced by the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, the United Nations Security Council, the European Union, Her Majesty’s Treasury, or other relevant sanctions authority (collectively, “Sanctions”), nor

 

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(2)            located, organized or resident in a country or territory that is the subject of Sanctions (including, without limitation, Crimea, Cuba, Iran, North Korea, Sudan and Syria).

 

(B)            The Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other Person:

 

(1)            to fund or facilitate any activities or business of or with any Person or in any country or territory that, at the time of such funding or facilitation, is the subject of Sanctions; or

 

(2)            in any other manner that will result in a violation of Sanctions by any Person (including any Person participating in the offering, whether as underwriter, advisor, investor or otherwise).

 

(C)            The Company and its subsidiaries have not knowingly engaged in, are not now knowingly engaged in, and will not engage in, any dealings or transactions with any Person, or in any country or territory, that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject of Sanctions.

 

u.            Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (A) the Company and its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction; (B) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (C) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in each case as described in each of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, respectively.

 

v.            The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case except as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.

 

w.            The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently employed by them in connection with the business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

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x.            No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists, except as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that could have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

y.            The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew any 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 a Material Adverse Effect.

 

z.            The Company and its subsidiaries possess all material certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect.

 

aa.          The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and (E) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement is accurate in all material respects. Except as described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, since the date of the Company’s most recent audited balance sheet in the Registration Statement, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of disclosure controls and procedures (as defined in Rule 13a-15 and Rule 15d-15 under the Exchange Act) that are designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, and is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and principal financial officer or officers, as appropriate, to allow timely decisions regarding disclosure.

 

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bb.         The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents the information called for in all material respects and has been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.

 

cc.          The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of the Placement Shares are listed on the Exchange and the Company is currently in compliance in all material respects with all continued listing standards and corporate governance standards of the Exchange and the Company has no knowledge of any proceeding intended to suspend or terminate listing of the Common Stock on the Exchange. The Common Stock is registered under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act.

 

dd.         The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local and foreign tax returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or have requested extensions thereof (except where the failure to file would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect) and have paid all taxes required to be paid thereon (except for cases in which the failure to file or pay would not have a Material Adverse Effect, or, except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves required by U.S. generally accepted accounting principles have been created in the financial statements of the Company), and no tax deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries which has had (nor does the Company nor any of its subsidiaries have any notice or knowledge of any tax deficiency which could reasonably be expected to be determined adversely to the Company or its subsidiaries and which could reasonably be expected to have) a Material Adverse Effect.

 

ee.          The Company is an “emerging growth company,” as defined in Section 2(a) of the Securities Act (an “Emerging Growth Company”).

 

ff.           Intentionally Omitted.

 

gg.         The statements in the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2020 filed with the Commission on March 31, 2021 under the headings “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations,” “Legal Proceedings,” and “Certain Relationships and Related Transactions and Director Independence’ insofar as such statements constitute summaries of legal proceedings, agreements or documents discussed therein are correct in all material respects and fairly summarize such legal proceedings, agreements or documents.

 

hh.         Commencing with its taxable year ending December 31, 2019, the Company has been organized and operated in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a “real estate investment trust” (a “REIT”) under Sections 856 through 860 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the treasury regulations thereunder (the “Code”), and the Company’s current and proposed method of operation as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will enable the Company to continue to meet the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the Code, and no actions have been taken (or not taken which are required to be taken) which would reasonably be expected to cause such qualification and taxation to be lost. The Company has no current intention of changing its operations or engaging in activities which would reasonably be expected to cause it to fail to qualify, or make economically undesirable its continued qualification, as a REIT under the Code.

 

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ii.            The Company’s and its subsidiaries’ conflicts of interest, investment allocation and operating policies and investment guidelines described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus accurately reflect in all material respects the current intentions of the Company and its subsidiaries with respect to the operation of its business.

 

jj.            The Company acknowledges and agrees that the Agent has informed the Company that the Agent may, to the extent permitted under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and subject to the Ownership Limitation set forth in Section 12.1.2 of the Company’s certificate of incorporation, as amended (the “Ownership Limitation”), purchase and sell shares of Common Stock on a principal basis while this Agreement is in effect.

 

Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the Agent or to counsel for the Agent pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the Agent as to the matters set forth therein.

 

7.            Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the Agents that:

 

a.            Registration Statement Amendments. After the date of this Agreement and during any period in which a prospectus relating to any Placement Shares is required to be delivered by the Agents under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act) (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”) (i) the Company will notify the Agents promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference or amendments not related to any Placement, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed and of any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus related to the Placement or for additional information related to the Placement, (ii) the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, within a reasonable period of time following the Agents’ written request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Agents’ reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Shares by the Agents (provided, however, that the failure of the Agents to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agents’ right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agents shall have with respect to the failure to make such filing shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement until such amendment or supplement is filed); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares or a security convertible into the Placement Shares (other than an Incorporated Document) unless a copy thereof has been submitted to the Agents within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Agents has not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that (A) the failure of the Agents to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Agents’ right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement and (B) the Company has no obligation to provide the Agents any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Agents an opportunity to object to such filing if the filing does not name the Agents or does not relate to the transaction herein provided; and provided, further, that the only remedy the Agents shall have with respect to the failure by the Company to obtain such consent shall be to cease making sales under this Agreement) and the Company will furnish to the Agents at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act or, in the case of any document to be incorporated therein by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the Exchange Act, within the time period prescribed (the determination to file or not file any amendment or supplement with the Commission under this Section 7(a), based on the Company’s reasonable opinion or reasonable objections, shall be made exclusively by the Company).

 

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b.            Notice of Commission Stop Orders. The Company will advise the Agents promptly after it receives notice or obtains knowledge thereof, of the issuance or threatened issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, of the suspension of the qualification of the Placement Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose; and it will promptly use its commercially reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order or to obtain its withdrawal if such a stop order should be issued. The Company will advise the Agents promptly after it receives any request by the Commission for any amendments to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplements to the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional information related to the offering of the Placement Shares or for additional information related to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.

 

c.            Delivery of Prospectus; Subsequent Changes. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will comply with all requirements imposed upon it by the Securities Act, as from time to time in force, and to file on or before their respective due dates all reports and any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14, 15(d) or any other provision of or under the Exchange Act. If the Company has omitted any information from the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, it will use its commercially reasonable efforts to comply with the provisions of and make all requisite filings with the Commission pursuant to said Rule 430A and to notify the Agent promptly of all such filings. If during the Prospectus Delivery Period any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then existing, not misleading, or if during such Prospectus Delivery Period it is necessary to amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act, the Company will promptly notify the Agents to suspend the offering of Placement Shares during such period and the Company will promptly amend or supplement the Registration Statement or Prospectus (at the expense of the Company) so as to correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance; provided, however, that the Company may delay the filing of any amendment or supplement, if in the judgment of the Company, it is in the best interest of the Company.

 

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d.            Listing of Placement Shares. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company will use its commercially reasonable efforts to cause the Placement Shares to be listed on the Exchange and to qualify the Placement Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions in the United States as the Agents reasonably designates and to continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Placement Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation or dealer in securities, file a general consent to service of process, or subject itself to taxation in any jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject

 

e.            Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will furnish to the Agents and its counsel (at the reasonable expense of the Company) copies of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (including all documents incorporated by reference therein) and all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that are filed with the Commission during the Prospectus Delivery Period (including all documents filed with the Commission during such period that are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein), in each case as soon as reasonably practicable and in such quantities as the Agent may from time to time reasonably request and, at the Agent’s request, will also furnish copies of the Prospectus to each exchange or market on which sales of the Placement Shares may be made; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to furnish any document (other than the Prospectus) to the Agent to the extent such document is available on EDGAR.

 

f.            Earnings Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 15 months after the end of the Company’s current fiscal quarter, an earnings statement covering a 12-month period that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) and Rule 158 of the Securities Act.

 

g.            Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the Net Proceeds as described in the Prospectus in the section entitled “Use of Proceeds.”

 

h.            Notice of Other Sales. During the period beginning on the date on which any Placement Notice is delivered to a Designated Agent hereunder and ending on the third (3rd) Trading Day immediately following the final Settlement Date with respect to Placement Shares sold pursuant to such Placement Notice (or, if the Placement Notice has been terminated or suspended prior to the sale of all Placement Shares covered by a Placement Notice, the date of such suspension or termination), without the prior written consent of the Agents, the Company will not, directly or indirectly, offer to sell, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to sell or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock (other than the Placement Shares offered pursuant to this Agreement), any securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock or any warrants or rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock, except for Company securities issued under the Sachem Capital Corp. 2016 Equity Compensation Plan or shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of outstanding warrants or options.

 

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i.            Change of Circumstances. The Company will, at any time during the pendency of a Placement Notice advise the Agents promptly after it shall have received notice or obtained knowledge thereof, of any information or fact that would alter or affect in any material respect any opinion, certificate, letter or other document required to be provided to the Agents pursuant to this Agreement.

 

j.            Due Diligence Cooperation. During the term of this Agreement, the Company will cooperate with any reasonable due diligence review conducted by the Agents or their representatives in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, providing information and making available documents and senior corporate officers, during regular business hours and at the Company’s principal offices, as the Agents may reasonably request.

 

k.            Required Filings Relating to Placement of Placement Shares. The Company agrees that on such dates as the Securities Act shall require, the Company will (i) file a prospectus supplement with the Commission under the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act (each and every date a filing under Rule 424(b) is made, a “Filing Date”), which prospectus supplement will set forth, within the relevant period, the amount of Placement Shares sold through the Agents, the Net Proceeds to the Company and the compensation payable by the Company to the Agents with respect to such Placement Shares, and (ii) deliver such number of copies of each such prospectus supplement to each exchange or market on which such sales were effected as may be required by the rules or regulations of such exchange or market.

 

l.            Representation Dates; Certificate. Each time during the term of this Agreement that the Company (each date of filing of one or more of the documents referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) below shall be a “Representation Date”):

 

(i)            amends or supplements (other than a prospectus supplement relating solely to an offering of securities other than the Placement Shares) the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares by means of a post-effective amendment, sticker, or supplement but not by means of incorporation of documents by reference into the Registration Statement or the Prospectus relating to the Placement Shares;

 

(ii)            files an annual report on Form 10-K under the Exchange Act (including any Form 10-K/A containing amended financial information or a material amendment to the previously filed Form 10-K);

 

(iii)            files its quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; or

 

(iv)            files a current report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information (other than information “furnished” pursuant to Items 2.02 or 7.01 of Form 8-K or to provide disclosure pursuant to Item 8.01 of Form 8-K relating to the reclassification of certain properties as discontinued operations in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No. 144) under the Exchange Act;

 

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the Company shall furnish the Agents (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if any Agent determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l). The requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(l) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice is pending, which waiver shall continue until the earlier to occur of the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such calendar quarter shall be considered a Representation Date) and the next occurring Representation Date on which the Company files its annual report on Form 10-K. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) upon the delivery of the first Placement Notice hereunder and (ii) if the Company subsequently decides to sell Placement Shares following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Agents with a certificate under this Section 7(l), then before any Agent sells any Placement Shares, the Company shall provide the Agents with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l), dated the date of the Placement Notice.

 

m.           Legal Opinion. On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agents a written opinion, a negative assurance letter and a written tax opinion as to the Company’s status as a REIT of Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever, LLP (“Company Counsel”), or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent and its counsel, dated the date that such opinions and negative assurance letter are required to be delivered. Thereafter, within five (5) Trading Days of each Representation Date with respect to which the Company is obligated to deliver a certificate in the form attached hereto as Exhibit 7(l) for which no waiver is applicable, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Agents a negative assurance letter of Company Counsel, modified, as necessary, to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented; provided that, in lieu of such negative assurance letter for subsequent periodic filings under the Exchange Act, Company Counsel may furnish the Agents with a letter (a “Reliance Letter”) to the effect that the Agents may rely on the negative assurance letter previously delivered under this Section 7(m) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such prior letter shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of the date of the Reliance Letter).

 

n.            Negative Assurance Letter of Agent Counsel. On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder, Blank Rome LLP, counsel to the Agents (“Agent Counsel”), shall furnish to the Agent a negative assurance letter of Agent Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agent.

 

o.            Comfort Letter. On or prior to the date of the first Placement Notice given hereunder and within five (5) Trading Days after each subsequent Representation Date, other than pursuant to Section 7(l)(iii), Company shall cause its independent accountants to furnish the Agents letters (the “Comfort Letters”), dated the date the Comfort Letter is delivered, which shall meet the requirements set forth in this Section 7(o); provided, that if requested by the Agents, the Company shall cause a Comfort Letter to be furnished to the Agent within ten (10) Trading Days of such request following the date of occurrence of any restatement of the Company’s financial statements. The Comfort Letter from the Company’s independent accountants shall be in a form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, (i) confirming that they are an independent public accounting firm within the meaning of the Securities Act and the PCAOB, (ii) stating, as of such date, the conclusions and findings of such firm with respect to the financial information and other matters ordinarily covered by accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters in connection with registered public offerings (the first such letter, the “Initial Comfort Letter”) and (iii) updating the Initial Comfort Letter with any information that would have been included in the Initial Comfort Letter had it been given on such date and modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such letter.

 

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p.            Market Activities. The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (i) take any action designed to cause or result in, or that constitutes or would reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of Common Stock or (ii) sell, bid for, or purchase Common Stock in violation of Regulation M, or pay anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of the Placement Shares other than the Agents.

 

q.            Investment Company Act. The Company will conduct its affairs in such a manner so as to reasonably ensure that neither it nor the subsidiaries will be or become, at any time prior to the termination of this Agreement, an “investment company,” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act.

 

r.            No Offer to Sell. Other than an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus approved in advance by the Company and the Agents in their capacity as agents hereunder pursuant to Section 23, neither of the Agents nor the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Agents in their capacity as such) will make, use, prepare, authorize, approve or refer to any written communication (as defined in Rule 405), required to be filed with the Commission, that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy Placement Shares hereunder.

 

s.            Sarbanes-Oxley Act. The Company will maintain and keep accurate books and records reflecting its assets and maintain internal accounting controls in a manner designed to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP and including those policies and procedures that (i) pertain to the maintenance of records that in reasonable detail accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of the assets of the Company, (ii) provide reasonable assurance that transactions are recorded as necessary to permit the preparation of the Company’s consolidated financial statements in accordance with GAAP, (iii) reasonably assure that receipts and expenditures of the Company are being made only in accordance with management’s and the Company’s directors’ authorization, and (iv) provide reasonable assurance regarding prevention or timely detection of unauthorized acquisition, use or disposition of the Company’s assets that could have a material effect on its financial statements. The Company will maintain such controls and other procedures, including, without limitation, those required by Sections 302 and 906 of the Sarbanes-Oxley Act, and the applicable regulations thereunder that comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.

 

8.            Representations and Covenants of the Agents. Each of the Agents represents and warrants that it is duly registered as a broker-dealer under FINRA, the Exchange Act and the applicable statutes and regulations of each state in which the Placement Shares will be offered and sold, except such states in which such Agent is exempt from registration or such registration is not otherwise required. Each of the Agents shall continue, for the term of this Agreement, to be duly registered as a broker-dealer under FINRA, the Exchange Act and the applicable statutes and regulations of each state in which the Placement Shares will be offered and sold, except such states in which it is exempt from registration or such registration is not otherwise required, during the term of this Agreement. Each of the Agents shall comply with all applicable law and regulations in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including the issuance and sale through such Agent of the Placement Shares.

 

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9.            Payment of Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, filing, including any fees required by the Commission, and printing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment and supplement thereto and each Free Writing Prospectus, in such number as the Agents shall deem reasonably necessary, (ii) the printing and delivery to the Agents of this Agreement and such other documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates, if any, for the Placement Shares to the Agents, including any stock or other transfer taxes and any capital duties, stamp duties or other duties or taxes payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Placement Shares to the Agents, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the counsel, accountants and other advisors to the Company, (v) the fees and disbursements of Agents’ Counsel incurred in connection with this Agreement and the offering of the Placement Shares contemplated hereby not to exceed $30,000, (vi) the fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock, (vii) the filing fees incident to any review by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Placement Shares, and (viii) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange.

 

10.            Conditions to the Agents’ Obligations. The obligations of the Agents hereunder with respect to a Placement will be subject to the continuing accuracy and completeness of the representations and warranties made by the Company herein (other than those representations and warranties made as of a specified date or time), to the due performance in all material respects by the Company of its obligations hereunder, to the completion by the Agents of a due diligence review satisfactory to it in its reasonable judgment, and to the continuing reasonable satisfaction (or waiver by the Agents in their sole discretion) of the following additional conditions:

 

a.            Registration Statement Effective. The Registration Statement shall remain effective and shall be available for the sale of all Placement Shares contemplated to be issued by any Placement Notice.

 

b.            No Material Notices. None of the following events shall have occurred and be continuing: (i) receipt by the Company of any request for additional information from the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority during the period of effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the response to which would require any post-effective amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus; (ii) the issuance by the Commission or any other federal or state governmental authority of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification or exemption from qualification of any of the Placement Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; or (iv) the occurrence of any event that makes any material statement made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any material document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated therein by reference untrue in any material respect or that requires the making of any changes in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or documents so that, in the case of the Registration Statement, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and, that in the case of the Prospectus, it will not contain any materially untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

 

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c.            No Misstatement or Material Omission. The Agents shall not have advised the Company that the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact that in the Agents’ reasonable opinion is material, or omits to state a fact that in the Agents’ reasonable opinion is material and is required to be stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.

 

d.            Material Changes. Except as contemplated in the Prospectus, or disclosed in the Company’s reports filed with the Commission, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that could reasonably be expected to cause a Material Adverse Effect, or a downgrading in or withdrawal of the rating assigned to any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities) by any rating organization or a public announcement by any rating organization that it has under surveillance or review its rating of any of the Company’s securities (other than asset backed securities), the effect of which, in the case of any such action by a rating organization described above, in the reasonable judgment of the Agent (without relieving the Company of any obligation or liability it may otherwise have), is so material as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering of the Placement Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

 

e.            Legal Opinion. The Agents shall have received the opinions and negative assurance letter of Company Counsel required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(m) on or before the date on which such delivery of such opinion and/or negative assurance letter is required pursuant to Section 7(m).

 

f.            Negative Assurance Letter of Agents Counsel. The Agents shall have received the negative assurance letter of Agents Counsel required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(n) on or before the date on which such delivery of such negative assurance letter is required pursuant to Section 7(n).

 

g.            Comfort Letter. The Agents shall have received the Comfort Letter required to be delivered pursuant Section 7(o) on or before the date on which such delivery of such letter is required pursuant to Section 7(o).

 

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h.           Representation Certificate. The Agents shall have received the certificate required to be delivered pursuant to Section 7(l) on or before the date on which delivery of such certificate is required pursuant to Section 7(l).

 

i.             Secretary’s Certificate. On or prior to the first Representation Date, the Agents shall have received a certificate, signed on behalf of the Company by its corporate Secretary, in form and substance satisfactory to the Agents and their counsel.

 

j.            No Suspension. Trading in the Common Stock shall not have been suspended on the Exchange and the Common Stock shall not have been delisted from the Exchange.

 

k.            Other Materials. On each date on which the Company is required to deliver a certificate pursuant to Section 7(l), the Company shall have furnished to the Agents such appropriate further information, certificates and documents as the Agents may reasonably request. All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents will be in compliance with the provisions hereof. The Company will furnish the Agents with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Agents shall reasonably request.

 

l.             Securities Act Filings Made. All filings with the Commission required by Rule 424 under the Securities Act to have been filed prior to the issuance of any Placement Notice hereunder shall have been made within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by Rule 424.

 

m.           Approval for Listing. The Placement Shares shall either have been approved for listing on the Exchange, subject only to notice of issuance, or the Company shall have filed an application for listing of the Placement Shares on the Exchange at, or prior to, the issuance of any Placement Notice.

 

n.            No Termination Event. There shall not have occurred any event that would permit the Agent to terminate this Agreement pursuant to Section 13(a).

 

11.            Indemnification and Contribution.

 

(a)          Company Indemnification. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold

 

harmless the Agents, its partners, members, directors, officers, employees and agents and each person, if any, who controls the Agents within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act as follows:

 

(i)            against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;

 

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(ii)            to the extent that any such expense is not paid under clause (i) of this Section 11(a), against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as incurred, joint or several, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, described in clause (i) of this Section 11(a); provided that any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which consent shall not unreasonably be delayed or withheld; and

 

(iii)            to the extent that any such expense is not paid under clause (i) or (ii) of this Section 11(a), against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including the fees and disbursements of counsel), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission, described in clause (i) of this Section 11(a);

 

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made solely in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Agent expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

 

(b)            Indemnification by the Agents. Each Agent, severally, but not jointly, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and its directors and each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who (i) controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or (ii) is controlled by or is under common control with the Company against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in Section 11(a), as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendments thereto) or in any related Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to such Agent and furnished to the Company in writing by such Agent expressly for use therein.

 

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(c)            Procedure. Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section 11 will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this Section 11, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, enclosing a copy of all papers served, but the failure to promptly notify such indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying party from (i) any liability that it might have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 11 and (ii) any liability that it may have to any indemnified party under the foregoing provision of this Section 11 unless, and only to the extent that, such failure results in the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses by the indemnifying party. If any such action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the indemnifying party of its commencement, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it elects by delivering written notice to the indemnified party promptly after receiving notice of the commencement of the action from the indemnified party, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense of the action, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified party of its election to assume the defense, the indemnifying party will not be liable to the indemnified party for any legal or other expenses except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs of investigation subsequently incurred by the indemnified party in connection with the defense. The indemnified party will have the right to employ its own counsel in any such action, but the fees, expenses and other charges of such counsel will be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (1) the employment of counsel by the indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (2) the indemnified party has reasonably concluded (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) that there may be legal defenses available to it or other indemnified parties that are different from or in addition to those available to the indemnifying party, (3) a conflict or potential conflict exists (based on advice of counsel to the indemnified party) between the indemnified party and the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party will not have the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (4) the indemnifying party has not in fact employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a reasonable time after receiving notice of the commencement of the action, in each of which cases the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of counsel will be at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties. It is understood that the indemnifying party or parties shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees, disbursements and other charges of more than one separate firm admitted to practice in such jurisdiction at any one time for all such indemnified party or parties. All such reasonable and documented fees, disbursements and other charges will be reimbursed by the indemnifying party promptly after the indemnifying party receives a written invoice relating to fees, disbursements and other charges in reasonable detail. An indemnifying party will not, in any event, be liable for any settlement of any action or claim effected without its written consent. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of each indemnified party, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action or proceeding relating to the matters contemplated by this Section 11 (whether or not any indemnified party is a party thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (1) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (2) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

 

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(d)            Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in the foregoing paragraphs of this Section 11 is applicable in accordance with its terms but for any reason is held to be unavailable from the Company or an Agent, the Company and such Agent will contribute to the total losses, claims, liabilities, expenses and damages (including any investigative, legal and other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by the Company from persons other than the Agents, such as persons who control the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, officers of the Company who signed the Registration Statement and directors of the Company, who also may be liable for contribution) to which the Company and the Agents may be subject in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agents on the other hand. The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Agents on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total Net Proceeds from the sale of the Placement Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total compensation received by the Agents (before deducting expenses) from the sale of Placement Shares on behalf of the Company. If, but only if, the allocation provided by the foregoing sentence is not permitted by applicable law, the allocation of contribution shall be made in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in the foregoing sentence but also the relative fault of the Company, on the one hand, and such Agent, on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omission that resulted in such loss, claim, liability, expense or damage, or action in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations with respect to such offering. Such relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or such Agent, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and each Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 11(d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the loss, claim, liability, expense, or damage, or action in respect thereof, referred to above in this Section 11(d) shall be deemed to include, for the purpose of this Section 11(d), any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim to the extent consistent with Section 11(c) hereof. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 11(d), an Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the commissions received by it under this Agreement and no person found guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) will be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 11(d), any person who controls a party to this Agreement within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, and any officers, directors, partners, employees or agents of an Agent, will have the same rights to contribution as that party, and each officer who signed the Registration Statement and director of the Company will have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the provisions hereof. Any party entitled to contribution, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action against such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made under this Section 11(d), will notify any such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify will not relieve that party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have under this Section 11(d) except to the extent that the failure to so notify such other party materially prejudiced the substantive rights or defenses of the party from whom contribution is sought. Except for a settlement entered into pursuant to the last sentence of Section 11(c) hereof, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to any action or claim settled without its written consent if such consent is required pursuant to Section 11(c) hereof.

 

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12.            Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in Section 11 of this Agreement and all representations and warranties of the Company and the Agents herein or in certificates delivered pursuant hereto shall survive, as of their respective dates, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents, any controlling persons, or the Company (or any of their respective officers, directors or controlling persons), (ii) delivery and acceptance of the Placement Shares and payment therefor or (iii) any termination of this Agreement.

 

13.            Termination.

 

a.            The Agents may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, as hereinafter specified at any time (1) if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the date as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Effect, or any development that is reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect or, in the sole judgment of such Agent, is material and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market the Placement Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Shares, (2) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Agents, impracticable or inadvisable to market the Placement Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Placement Shares, (3) if trading in the Common Stock has been suspended or limited by the Commission or the Exchange, or if trading generally on the Exchange has been suspended or limited, or minimum prices for trading have been fixed on the Exchange, (4) if a major disruption of securities settlements or clearance services in the United States shall have occurred and be continuing, or (5) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either U.S. Federal or New York authorities. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 14 (Notices), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination. If the Agents elect to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 13(a), the Agents shall provide the required notice as specified in Section 14 (Notices).

 

b.            The Company shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 14 (Notices), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

c.            Each Agent shall have the right, by giving ten (10) days’ notice as hereinafter specified to terminate its participation as a Party to this Agreement in its sole discretion at any time after the date of this Agreement. Any such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 14 (Notices), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

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d.            Unless earlier terminated pursuant to this Section 13, this Agreement shall automatically terminate upon the issuance and sale of all of the Placement Shares through the Agents on the terms and subject to the conditions set forth herein except that the provisions of Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 14 (Notices), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) hereof shall remain in full force and effect notwithstanding such termination.

 

e.            This Agreement shall remain in full force and effect unless terminated pursuant to Sections 13(a), (b), (c), or (d) above or otherwise by mutual agreement of the parties; provided, however, that any such termination by mutual agreement shall in all cases be deemed to provide that Section 9 (Payment of Expenses), Section 11 (Indemnification and Contribution), Section 12 (Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery), Section 14 (Notices), Section 18 (Governing Law and Time; Waiver of Jury Trial) and Section 19 (Consent to Jurisdiction) shall remain in full force and effect. Upon termination of this Agreement, the Company shall not have any liability to an Agent for any discount, commission or other compensation with respect to any Placement Shares not otherwise sold by an Agent under this Agreement.

 

f.            Any termination of this Agreement shall be effective on the date specified in such notice of termination; provided, however, that such termination shall not be effective until the close of business on the date of receipt of such notice by the Agents or the Company, as the case may be. If such termination shall occur prior to the Settlement Date for any sale of Placement Shares, such Placement Shares shall settle in accordance with the provisions of this Agreement.

 

14.            Notices. All notices or other communications required or permitted to be given by any party to any other party pursuant to the terms of this Agreement shall be in writing, unless otherwise specified, and if sent to the Agents, shall be delivered to:

 

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc.

277 Park Ave

New York NY 10172

Attention: Steven Kaplan, Head of Equity Capital Markets

Telephone: 212 409-2191

Email: Skaplan@ladenburg.com

 

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Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

1717 Arch Street

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Fax No.: 617 367-1153

Attn: David Lau, Head of Equity Syndicate

Email: dlau@janney.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Blank Rome LLP

1271 Avenue of the Americas

New York, NY 10020

Attention: Brad L. Shiffman

Telephone: (212) 885-5442

Email: bshiffman@blankrome.com

 

and if to the Company, shall be delivered to:

 

Sachem Capital Corp.

698 Main Street

Branford, CT 06405

Attention: John L. Villano, CEO

Telephone: (203) 433-4736

Email: jlv@sachemcapitalcorp.com

 

with a copy to:

 

Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever, LLP

One N. Broadway, 12th Floor

White Plains, NY 10601

Attention: Joel J. Goldschmidt, Esq.

Telephone: (914) 286-6362

Email: JJGoldschmidt@kelaw.com

 

Each party to this Agreement may change such address for notices by sending to the parties to this Agreement written notice of a new address for such purpose. Each such notice or other communication shall be deemed given (i) when delivered personally, by email, or by verifiable facsimile transmission (with an original to follow) on or before 5:30 p.m., New York City time, on a Business Day or, if such day is not a Business Day, on the next succeeding Business Day, (ii) on the next Business Day after timely delivery to a nationally-recognized overnight courier and (iii) on the Business Day actually received if deposited in the U.S. mail (certified or registered mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid). For purposes of this Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day on which the Exchange and commercial banks in the City of New York are open for business.

 

An electronic communication (“Electronic Notice”) shall be deemed written notice for purposes of this Section 14 if sent to the electronic mail address specified by the receiving party under separate cover. Electronic Notice shall be deemed received at the time the party sending Electronic Notice receives confirmation of receipt by the receiving party. Any party receiving Electronic Notice may request and shall be entitled to receive the notice on paper, in a nonelectronic form (“Nonelectronic Notice”) which shall be sent to the requesting party within ten (10) days of receipt of the written request for Nonelectronic Notice.

 

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15.            Successors and Assigns. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Company and each Agent and their respective successors and the affiliates, controlling persons, officers and directors referred to in Section 11 hereof. References to any of the parties contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to include the successors and permitted assigns of such party. Nothing in this Agreement, express or implied, is intended to confer upon any party other than the parties hereto or their respective successors and permitted assigns any rights, remedies, obligations or liabilities under or by reason of this Agreement, except as expressly provided in this Agreement. Neither the Company nor the Agents may assign its rights or obligations under this Agreement without the prior written consent of the other party.

 

16.            Adjustments for Stock Splits. The parties acknowledge and agree that all share-related numbers, if any, contained in this Agreement shall be adjusted to take into account any share consolidation, stock split, stock dividend, corporate domestication or similar event effected with respect to the Placement Shares.

 

17.            Entire Agreement; Amendment; Severability. This Agreement (including all schedules and exhibits attached hereto and Placement Notices issued pursuant hereto) constitutes the entire agreement and supersedes all other prior and contemporaneous agreements and undertakings, both written and oral, among the parties hereto with regard to the subject matter hereof. Neither this Agreement nor any term hereof may be amended except pursuant to a written instrument executed by the Company and the Agents. In the event that any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable as written by a court of competent jurisdiction, then such provision shall be given full force and effect to the fullest possible extent that it is valid, legal and enforceable, and the remainder of the terms and provisions herein shall be construed as if such invalid, illegal or unenforceable term or provision was not contained herein, but only to the extent that giving effect to such provision and the remainder of the terms and provisions hereof shall be in accordance with the intent of the parties as reflected in this Agreement.

 

18.            GOVERNING LAW AND TIME; WAIVER OF JURY TRIAL. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO THE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS. SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME. EACH PARTY HERETO HEREBY IRREVOCABLY WAIVES, TO THE FULLEST EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, ANY AND ALL RIGHT TO TRIAL BY JURY IN ANY LEGAL PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT OR THE TRANSACTIONS CONTEMPLATED HEREBY.

 

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19.            CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. EXCEPT AS SET FORTH BELOW, NO CLAIM HEREUNDER MAY BE COMMENCED, PROSECUTED OR CONTINUED IN ANY COURT OTHER THAN THE COURTS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK LOCATED IN THE CITY AND COUNTY OF NEW YORK OR IN THE UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK, WHICH COURTS SHALL HAVE EXCLUSIVE JURISDICTION OVER THE ADJUDICATION OF SUCH MATTERS, AND THE COMPANY CONSENTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF SUCH COURTS AND PERSONAL SERVICE WITH RESPECT THERETO. THE COMPANY AND EACH AGENT HEREBY CONSENTS TO PERSONAL JURISDICTION, SERVICE AND VENUE IN ANY COURT IN WHICH ANY CLAIM ARISING OUT OF OR IN ANY WAY RELATING TO THIS AGREEMENT IS BROUGHT BY ANY THIRD PARTY AGAINST ANY AGENT OR ANY INDEMNIFIED PARTY. THE COMPANY AGREES THAT A FINAL JUDGMENT IN ANY SUCH ACTION, PROCEEDING OR COUNTERCLAIM BROUGHT IN ANY SUCH COURT SHALL BE CONCLUSIVE AND BINDING UPON THE COMPANY AND MAY BE ENFORCED IN ANY OTHER COURTS TO THE JURISDICTION OF WHICH THE COMPANY IS OR MAY BE SUBJECT, BY SUIT UPON SUCH JUDGMENT.

 

20.            Use of Information. The Agents may not use any information gained in connection with this Agreement and the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, including due diligence, to advise any party with respect to transactions not expressly approved by the Company.

 

21.            Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument. Delivery of an executed Agreement by one party to the other may be made by facsimile transmission or email of a .pdf attachment.

 

22.            Effect of Headings. The section and Exhibit headings herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

 

23.            Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of each Agent, and each Agent represents, warrants and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Placement Shares 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 Agents or by the Company, as the case may be, is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents and warrants that it has treated and agrees that it will treat each Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 applicable to any Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission where required, legending and record keeping. For the purposes of clarity, the parties hereto agree that all free writing prospectuses, if any, listed in Exhibit 23 hereto are Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses.

 

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

 

a.            each Agent is acting solely as agent in connection with the public offering of the Placement Shares and in connection with each transaction contemplated by this Agreement and the process leading to such transactions, and no fiduciary or advisory relationship between the Company or any of its respective affiliates, stockholders (or other equity holders), creditors or employees or any other party, on the one hand, and the Agents, on the other hand, has been or will be created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, irrespective of whether or not any Agent has advised or is advising the Company on other matters, and the Agents has no obligation to the Company with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement except the obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement;

 

29

 

 

b.            it is capable of evaluating and understanding, and understands and accepts, the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;

 

c.            neither of the Agents has provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and it has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it has deemed appropriate;

 

d.            it is aware that the Agents and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company and neither Agent has any obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the Company by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship or otherwise; and

 

e.            it waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims it may have against the Agents for breach of fiduciary duty or alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the sale of Placement Shares under this Agreement and agrees that the Agents shall not have any liability (whether direct or indirect, in contract, tort or otherwise) to it in respect of such a fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on its behalf or in right of it or the Company, employees or creditors of Company, other than in respect of the Agents’ obligations under this Agreement and to keep information provided by the Company to the Agent and the Agents’ counsel confidential to the extent not otherwise publicly-available.

 

25.            Definitions.

 

As used in this Agreement, the following terms have the respective meanings set forth below:

 

Applicable Time” means (i) each Representation Date and (ii) the time of each sale of any Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement.

 

Gross Proceeds” means the aggregate consideration paid for Placement Shares before deducting any transaction expenses relating to and Agent compensation earned in connection with the sale of such Placement Shares.

 

Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, relating to the Placement Shares that (1) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (2) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (3) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) because it contains a description of the Placement Shares or of the offering that does not reflect the final terms, in each case in the form filed or required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g) under the Securities Act.

 

30

 

 

Rule 172,” “Rule 405,” “Rule 415,” “Rule 424,” “Rule 424(b),” “Rule 430B,” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Securities Act.

 

All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information that is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

 

All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR; and all references in this Agreement to “supplements” to the Prospectus shall include, without limitation, any supplements, “wrappers” or similar materials prepared in connection with any offering, sale or private placement of any Placement Shares by the Agents outside of the United States.

 

[Remainder of the page intentionally left blank]

 

31

 

 

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

 

  Very truly yours,
   
  SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
   
  By: /s/ John L. Villano
    Name: John L. Villano
    Title: CEO
   
  ACCEPTED as of the date first-above written:
   
  LADENBURG THALMANN & CO.
   
  By: /s/ Steven Kaplan
    Name: Steven Kaplan
    Title: Head of Capital Markets
   
  JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT LLC
   
  By: /s/ David Lau
    Name: David Lau
    Title: Managing Director

 

32

 

 

SCHEDULE 1

 

  FORM OF PLACEMENT NOTICE  

 

  From: Sachem Capital Corp.
     
  To: [identify Designated Agent]
     
  Attention:  
     
  Subject: At Market Issuance--Placement Notice
     
  Gentlemen:  

 

Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement between (i) Sachem Capital Corp., a New York corporation (the “Company”), and (ii) Ladenburg Thalmann & Co (“Ladenburg”) and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”, each of Ladenburg and Janney, individually an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”), dated April 9, 2021, the Company hereby requests that [identify Designated Agent] sell up to [____] of the Company’s Common Stock, $0.001 par value per share, of the Company, at a minimum market price of $[_______] per share, during the time period beginning [month, day, time] and ending [month, day, time].

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 2

 

  Compensation  

 

The Company shall pay to the Designated Agent in cash, upon each sale of Placement Shares pursuant to this Agreement, an amount equal to 2.0% of the Gross Proceeds from each sale of Placement Shares.

 

 

 

 

SCHEDULE 3

 

  Notice Parties  

 

The Company

 

John L. Villano jlv@sachemcapitalcorp.com

 

Ladenburg Thalmann & Co.

 

Skaplan@ladenburg.com

 

with a copy to

 

Janney Montgomery Scott LLC

 

equitysyndicate@janney.com

 

with a copy to capitalmarketscompliance@janney.com

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 7(l)

 

Form of Representation Date Certificate

 

_____________, 20___

 

This Representation Date Certificate (this “Certificate”) is executed and delivered in connection with Section 7(l) of the At Market Issuance Sales Agreement (the “Agreement”), between (i) Sachem Capital Corp., a New York corporation (the “Company”), and (ii) Ladenburg Thalmann & Co (“Ladenburg”) and Janney Montgomery Scott LLC (“Janney”, each of Ladenburg and Janney, individually an “Agent” and collectively, the “Agents”), dated April 9, 2021. All capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Agreement.

 

The Company hereby certifies as follows:

 

1.            As of the date of this Certificate (i) the Registration Statement does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (iii) no event has occurred as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not untrue or misleading for this paragraph 1 to be true.

 

2.            Each of the representations and warranties of the Company contained in the Agreement were, when originally made, and are, as of the date of this Certificate, true and correct in all material respects.

 

3.            Except as waived by each of the Agents in writing, each of the covenants required to be performed by the Company in the Agreement on or prior to the date of the Agreement, this Representation Date, and each such other date prior to the date hereof as set forth in the Agreement, has been duly, timely and fully performed in all material respects and each condition required to be complied with by the Company on or prior to the date of the Agreement, this Representation Date, and each such other date prior to the date hereof as set forth in the Agreement has been duly, timely and fully complied with in all material respects.

 

4.            Subsequent to the date of the most recent financial statements in the Prospectus, and except as described in the Prospectus, including Incorporated Documents, there has been no Material Adverse Effect.

 

5.            No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened by any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission).

 

 

 

 

6.            No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the qualification or registration of the Placement Shares under the securities or Blue Sky laws of any jurisdiction are in effect and no proceeding for such purpose is pending before, or threatened, to the Company’s knowledge or in writing by, any securities or other governmental authority (including, without limitation, the Commission).

 

7.            The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of the Agreement do not, and compliance by the Company with the terms and provisions thereunder will not, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under, any judgment, decree, permit or order of any state or federal court or other governmental authority binding on the Company.

 

The undersigned has executed this Representation Date Certificate as of the date first written above.

 

  SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
   
  By:           

 

  Name:  

 

  Title:  

 

 

 

 

EXHIBIT 23

 

Permitted Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses

 

None.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.1

 

final FORM

of

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.

2016 Equity COMPENSATION Plan

RESTRICTED STOCK - Notice of Grant

 

Sachem Capital Corp. (the “Company”), a New York corporation and internally managed real estate investment trust, hereby grants to the Grantee set forth below (the “Grantee”) Restricted Stock (the “Restricted Stock”), pursuant to the terms and conditions of this Notice of Grant (the “Notice”), the Restricted Stock Award Agreement attached hereto as Exhibit A (the “Award Agreement”), and the Sachem Capital Corp. 2016 Equity Compensation Plan (the “Plan”). Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning attributed to such terms in the Award Agreement or, if not defined therein, in the Plan, unless the context requires otherwise. Each share of Restricted Stock represents one Share, subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Award Agreement.

 

Date of Grant:  
 
Name of Grantee:  
 
Number of Shares of Restricted Stock:  
 
Lapse of Restrictions/Vesting: The Restricted Stock shall vest pursuant to the terms and conditions set forth in Section 3 of the Award Agreement.
 
Vesting Start Date  

 

The grant of Restricted Stock shall be subject to the execution and return of this Notice by the Grantee to the Company within 10 days of the date hereof (including by utilizing an electronic signature and/or web-based approval and notice process or any other process as may be authorized by the Company). By executing this Notice, the Grantee acknowledges that his or her agreement to the covenants set forth in Section 6 of the Award Agreement is a material inducement to the Company in granting this Award to the Grantee.

 

This Notice may be executed by facsimile or electronic means (including, without limitation, PDF) and in one or more counterparts, each of which shall be considered an original instrument, but all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement and shall become binding when one or more counterparts have been signed by each of the parties hereto and delivered to the other party hereto.

 

[Signature Page Follows]

 

 

 

 

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Notice of Grant as of the Date of Grant set forth above.

 

  SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.
   
  By:           
  Name: Leslie Bernhard
  Title: Chair, Compensation Committee
     
     
    [NAME OF GRANTEE]

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.

2016 EQUITY COMPENSATION PLAN

RESTRICTED STOCK UNIT

Award Agreement

 

THIS RESTRICTED STOCK AWARD AGREEMENT (the “Award Agreement”) is entered into by and among Sachem capital Corp (the “Company”) and the individual set forth on the signature page to that certain Notice of Grant (the “Notice”) to which this Award Agreement is attached. The terms and conditions of the Restricted Stock granted hereby, to the extent not controlled by the terms and conditions contained in the Plan, shall be as set forth in the Notice and this Award Agreement. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning attributed to such terms in the Notice or, if not defined therein, in the Plan, unless the context requires otherwise.

 

1. No Right to Continued Employee Status or Consultant Service

 

Nothing contained in this Award Agreement shall confer upon the Grantee the right to the continuation of his or her Employee status or to interfere with the right of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or other Affiliates to Terminate the Grantee.

 

2. Term of Restricted Stock Award

 

This Award Agreement shall remain in effect until all the transfer restrictions on the Shares of Restricted Stock have fully lapsed and the underlying Shares of Restricted Stock have vested or been forfeited by the Grantee as provided in this Award Agreement.

 

3. Lapse of Restrictions and Vesting of Restricted Stock.

 

(a) Subject to the remainder of this Section 3, the Transfer Restrictions on the Shares of Restricted Stock will lapse and the Shares of Restricted Stock granted hereunder will vest in accordance with the following schedule, subject to the Grantee’s not having Terminated prior to such applicable anniversary, such that the shares of Restricted Stock shall be fully (100%) vested upon January 1, 2024:

 

Vesting Percentage Vesting Date
33.33% January 1, 2022
66.66% January 1, 2023
100% January 1, 2024

 

 

 

 

If the Grantee Terminates for any reason, the portion of the Restricted Stock for with the Transfer Restrictions have not lapsed and has not vested as of such date shall be forfeited by the Grantee upon such Termination without consideration.

 

(b)       Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Transfer Restrictions shall lapse and the Shares of Restricted Stock shall vest in respect of one-hundred percent (100%) upon the Grantee’s Termination by the Company without Cause or by the Grantee’s resignation for Good Reason, in accordance with the Employment Agreement, dated as of [ ], as amended (the “Employment Agreement”), between the Company and the Grantee.

 

4. Issuance of Shares; Rights as a Stockholder;

 

The Grantee shall have all rights of a stockholder with respect to the Shares of Restricted Stock as of the issuance of the Shares on the Grant Date and the entry of the Grantee’s name as a shareholder of record on the books of the Company, including the right to vote in respect of such Shares and the right to dividends issued to holders of such Shares (in each case, irrespective of whether the Shares are considered vested or unvested at the time of such dividend). Notwithstanding the foregoing, prior to the vesting of the Shares of Restricted Stock pursuant to Section 3, the Grantee shall not be entitled to transfer, sell, pledge, hypothecate or assign the Shares of Restricted Stock (collectively, the “Transfer Restrictions”) and the Shares of Restricted Stock will be subject to forfeiture as provided in Section 5.

 

5. Termination of Service

 

If the Grantee incurs a Termination for any reason, whether voluntarily or involuntarily, then the portion of the Shares of Restricted Stock for which the transfer restrictions have not previously lapsed (except as set forth in Section 3(b)) shall terminate and be forfeited as of the date of the Grantee’s Termination. If the Grantee incurs a Termination for Cause, then all outstanding Shares of Restricted Stock (whether or not vested) shall be forfeited and terminate immediately without consideration upon the effective date of such Termination for Cause.

 

6. Prohibited Activities

 

(a)               Right to Terminate Restricted Stock and Recovery. The Grantee understands and agrees that the Company has granted the Restricted Stock to the Grantee to reward the Grantee for the Grantee’s future efforts and loyalty to the Company and its Affiliates by giving the Grantee the opportunity to participate in the potential future appreciation of the Company. Accordingly, if (a) the Grantee materially violates the Grantee’s obligations relating to the non-disclosure or non-use of confidential or proprietary information under any Restrictive Agreement to which the Grantee is a party, or (b) the Grantee materially breaches or violates the Grantee’s obligations relating to non-disparagement under any Restrictive Agreement to which the Grantee is a party, or (c) the Grantee engages in any activity prohibited by Section 6 of this Award Agreement, or (d) the Grantee materially breaches or violates any non-solicitation obligations under any Restrictive Agreement to which the Grantee is a party, or (e) the Grantee breaches or violates any non-competition obligations under any Restrictive Agreement to which the Grantee is a party, or (f) the Grantee is convicted of a felony against the Company or any of its Affiliates, then, in addition to any other rights and remedies available to the Company, the Company shall be entitled, at its option, exercisable by written notice, to terminate the Restricted Stock (including the vested portion of the Shares of Restricted Stock) without consideration, and such Shares will be terminated and of no further force and effect. “Restrictive Agreement” shall mean any agreement between the Company or any Subsidiary and the Grantee that contains non-competition, non-solicitation, non-hire, non-disparagement, or confidentiality restrictions applicable to the Grantee, including, but not limited to, the Employment Agreement.

 

 

 

 

(b)               Other Remedies. The Grantee specifically acknowledges and agrees that its remedies under this Section 6 shall not prevent the Company or any Subsidiary from seeking injunctive or other equitable relief in connection with the Grantee’s breach of any Restrictive Agreement. In the event that the provisions of this Section 6 should ever be deemed to exceed the limitation provided by applicable law, then the Grantee and the Company agree that such provisions shall be reformed to set forth the maximum limitations permitted.

 

7. Taxation Upon Vesting of the Restricted Stock; Tax Withholding; Parachute Tax Provisions

 

The Grantee understands that the Grantee will recognize income, for Federal, state and local income tax purposes, as applicable, in respect of the vesting of those Shares of Restricted Stock vesting on each applicable vesting date. By acceptance of this grant of Restricted Stock, the Grantee agrees to report the relevant income in accordance with then applicable law and to cooperate with Company and its subsidiaries in establishing the amount of such income and corresponding deduction to the Company and/or its subsidiaries for its income tax purposes.

 

The Grantee is responsible for all tax obligations that arise as a result of the vesting of the Restricted Stock. The Company may withhold from any amount payable to the Grantee an amount sufficient to cover any Federal, state or local withholding taxes which may become required with respect to such vesting or take any other action it deems necessary to satisfy any income or other tax withholding requirements as a result of the vesting of the Restricted Stock. The Company shall have the right to require the payment of any such taxes and require that the Grantee, or the Grantee’s beneficiary, to furnish information deemed necessary by the Company to meet any tax reporting obligation pursuant to vesting of Shares of Restricted Stock. The Grantee may pay his or her withholding tax obligation in connection with the vesting of Shares of Restricted Stock, by making a cash payment to the Company. In addition, the Committee, in its sole discretion, may allow the Grantee, to pay his or her withholding tax obligation in connection with the vesting of the Restricted Stock, by (x) surrendering Shares pursuant to the grant of Restricted Stock or (z) surrendering other Shares that have been held by the Grantee for at least six (6) months (or such lesser period as may be permitted by the Committee) prior to the vesting of the Restricted Stock, in each case having an aggregate Fair Market Value equal to the withholding taxes.

 

 

 

 

In connection with the grant of the Restricted Stock, the parties wish to memorialize their agreement regarding the treatment of any potential golden parachute payments as set forth in Exhibit A attached hereto.

 

8. Securities Laws

 

(a)       Upon the acquisition of the Shares pursuant to this Restricted Stock Award Agreement, the Grantee will make such written representations, warranties, and agreements as the Committee may reasonably request to comply with securities laws or with this Award Agreement. Grantee hereby agrees not to offer, sell or otherwise attempt to dispose of any Shares issued to the Grantee pursuant to this Restricted Stock award in any way which would: (x) require the Company to file any registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (or any similar filing under state law or the laws of any other county) or to amend or supplement any such filing or (y) violate or cause the Company to violate the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, or any other Federal, state or local law, or the laws of any other country. The Company reserves the right to place restrictions on any Shares the Grantee receives as pursuant to this grant of Restricted Stock.

 

(b)       Notwithstanding anything to the contrary herein, in the event that (i) the Grantee is subject to the Company’s insider trading policy, including any policy permitting officers and directors to sell Shares only during certain “window” periods, in effect from time to time (collectively, the “Policy”) or the Grantee is otherwise prohibited from selling Shares in the public market and any Shares of Restricted Stock for which the Transfer Restrictions are scheduled to lapse and Shares scheduled to vest (the “Original Vesting Date”) that (A) does not occur during an open “window period” applicable to the Grantee or on a day on which the Grantee is permitted to sell Shares underlying any portion of the Restricted Stock that has vested pursuant to a written plan that meets the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Exchange Act, as determined by the Company in accordance with the Policy, as applicable, or (B) does not occur on a date when the Grantee is otherwise permitted to sell Shares on the open market, and (ii) the Company elects not to satisfy the Grantee’s tax withholding obligations by the Grantee surrendering Shares to the Company, then such restrictions shall not lapse and such Shares shall not vest on such Original Vesting Date and shall instead be deemed to be vested, as applicable, on (x) the first business day of the next occurring open “window period” applicable to the Grantee pursuant to the Policy, or (y) the next business day on which the Grantee is not otherwise prohibited from selling Shares in the open market, but in no event later than March 31st of year following the year in which applicable portion of the Shares of Restricted Stock vests.

 

9. Modification, Amendment, and Termination of Restricted Stock

 

This Award Agreement may not be modified, amended, terminated and no provision hereof may be waived in whole or in part except by a written agreement signed by the Company and the Grantee and no modification shall, without the consent of the Grantee, alter to the Grantee’s material detriment or materially impair any rights of the Grantee under this Award Agreement except to the extent permitted under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

10. Notices

 

Unless otherwise provided herein, any notices or other communication given or made pursuant to the Notice, this Award Agreement or the Plan shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given (i) as of the date delivered, if personally delivered (including receipted courier service) or overnight delivery service, with confirmation of receipt; (ii) on the date the delivering party receives confirmation, if delivered by facsimile to the number indicated or by email to the address indicated or through an electronic administrative system designated by the Company; (iii) one (1) business day after being sent by reputable commercial overnight delivery service courier, with confirmation of receipt; or (iv) three (3) business days after being mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid and addressed to the intended recipient as set forth below:

 

(a) If to the Company at the address below:

 

Sachem Capital Corp.

698 Main Street

Branford, CT 06405

Attn: Peter Giannotti, Esq

Phone: 203-433-4736

Email: pgg@sachemcapitalcortp.com

 

With a copy to:

 

Kurzman Eisenberg Corbin & Lever, LLP

One N. Broadway, 12th Floor

White Plains, NY 10601

Attention: Joel J. Goldschmidt, Esq.

Phone: 914-286-6362

Email: jgoldschmidt@kelaw.com

 

(b)          If to the Grantee, at the most recent address, facsimile number or email contained in the Company’s records.

 

11. Award Agreement Subject to Plan and Applicable Law

 

This Award Agreement is made pursuant to the Plan and shall be interpreted to comply therewith. A copy of the Plan is attached hereto. Any provision of this Award Agreement inconsistent with the Plan shall be considered void and replaced with the applicable provision of the Plan. The Plan shall control in the event there shall be any conflict between the Plan, the Notice, and this Award Agreement, and it shall control as to any matters not contained in this Award Agreement. The Committee shall have authority to make constructions of this Award Agreement, and to correct any defect or supply any omission or reconcile any inconsistency in this Award Agreement, and to prescribe rules and regulations relating to the administration of this Award and other Awards granted under the Plan.

 

 

 

 

This Award Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New York without regard to the conflicts of law principles thereof, and subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts therein. The Grantee hereby consents to personal jurisdiction in any action brought in any court, federal or state, within the State of New York having subject matter jurisdiction in the matter.

 

12. Section 409A

 

The Restricted Stock is intended to be exempt from Section 409A of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”) and, accordingly, to the maximum extent permitted, this Award Agreement shall be interpreted to be exempt from Section 409A of the Code or, if not exempt, in compliance therewith. Nothing contained herein shall constitute any representation or warranty by the Company regarding compliance with Section 409A of the Code. The Company shall have no obligation to take any action to prevent the assessment of any additional income tax, interest or penalties under Section 409A of the Code on any Person and the Company, its Subsidiaries and Affiliates, and each of their respective employees and representatives, shall have no liability to the Grantee with respect thereto.

 

13. Headings and Capitalized Terms

 

Unless otherwise provided herein, capitalized terms used herein that are defined in the Plan and not defined herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Plan. Headings are for convenience only and are not deemed to be part of this Award Agreement. Unless otherwise indicated, any reference to a Section herein is a reference to a Section of this Award Agreement.

 

14. Severability and Reformation

 

If any provision of this Award Agreement shall be determined by a court of law of competent jurisdiction to be unenforceable for any reason, such unenforceability shall not affect the enforceability of any of the remaining provisions hereof; and this Award Agreement, to the fullest extent lawful, shall be reformed and construed as if such unenforceable provision, or part thereof, had never been contained herein, and such provision or part thereof shall be reformed or construed so that it would be enforceable to the maximum extent legally possible.

 

15. Binding Effect

 

This Award Agreement shall be binding upon the parties hereto, together with their personal executors, administrator, successors, personal representatives, heirs and permitted assigns.

 

16. Entire Agreement

 

This Award Agreement, together with the Plan, supersedes all prior written and oral agreements and understandings among the parties as to its subject matter and constitutes the entire agreement of the parties with respect to the subject matter hereof. If there is any conflict between the Notice, this Award Agreement and the Plan, then the applicable terms of the Plan shall govern.

 

 

 

 

17. Waiver

 

Waiver by any party of any breach of this Award Agreement or failure to exercise any right hereunder shall not be deemed to be a waiver of any other breach or right whether or not of the same or a similar nature. The failure of any party to take action by reason of such breach or to exercise any such right shall not deprive the party of the right to take action at any time while or after such breach or condition giving rise to such rights continues.

 

 

 

 

Exhibit A

 

PARACHUTE TAX PROVISIONS

 

This Exhibit A sets forth the terms and provisions applicable to the Grantee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7 of the Award Agreement. This Exhibit A shall be subject in all respects to the terms and conditions of the Award Agreement.

 

(a)       To the extent that the Grantee, would otherwise be eligible to receive a payment or benefit pursuant to the terms of this Award Agreement, any employment or other agreement with the Company or any Subsidiary or otherwise in connection with, or arising out of, the Grantee’s employment with the Company or a change in ownership or effective control of the Company or of a substantial portion of its assets (any such payment or benefit, a “Parachute Payment”), that a nationally recognized United States public accounting firm selected by the Company (the “Accountants”) determines, but for this sentence would be subject to excise tax imposed by Section 4999 of the Code (the “Excise Tax”), subject to clause (c) below, then the Company shall pay to the Grantee whichever of the following two alternative forms of payment would result in the Grantee’s receipt, on an after-tax basis, of the greater amount of the Parachute Payment notwithstanding that all or some portion of the Parachute Payment may be subject to the Excise Tax: (1) payment in full of the entire amount of the Parachute Payment (a “Full Payment”), or (2) payment of only a part of the Parachute Payment so that the Grantee receives the largest payment possible without the imposition of the Excise Tax (a “Reduced Payment”).

 

(b)       If a reduction in the Parachute Payment is necessary pursuant to clause (a), then the reduction shall occur in the following order: (1) cancellation of acceleration of vesting on any equity awards for which the exercise price exceeds the then fair market value of the underlying equity; (2) reduction of cash payments (with such reduction being applied to the payments in the reverse order in which they would otherwise be made, that is, later payments shall be reduced before earlier payments); and (3) cancellation of acceleration of vesting of equity awards not covered under (1) above; provided, however, that in the event that acceleration of vesting of equity awards is to be cancelled, acceleration of vesting of full value awards shall be cancelled before acceleration of options and stock appreciation rights and within each class such acceleration of vesting shall be cancelled in the reverse order of the date of grant of such equity awards, that is, later equity awards shall be canceled before earlier equity awards; and provided, further, that to the extent permitted by Code Section 409A and Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, if a different reduction procedure would be permitted without violating Code Section 409A or losing the benefit of the reduction under Sections 280G and 4999 of the Code, the Grantee may designate a different order of reduction.

 

(c)       For purposes of determining whether any of the Parachute Payments (collectively the “Total Payments”) will be subject to the Excise Tax and the amount of such Excise Tax, (i) the Total Payments shall be treated as “parachute payments” within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(2) of the Code, and all “parachute payments” in excess of the “base amount” (as defined under Section 280G(b)(3) of the Code) shall be treated as subject to the Excise Tax, unless and except to the extent that, in the opinion of the Accountants, such Total Payments (in whole or in part): (1) do not constitute “parachute payments,” including giving effect to the recalculation of stock options in accordance with Treasury Regulation Section 1.280G-1, Q&A 33, (2) represent reasonable compensation for services actually rendered within the meaning of Section 280G(b)(4) of the Code in excess of the “base amount” or (3) are otherwise not subject to the Excise Tax, and (ii) the value of any non-cash benefits or any deferred payment or benefit shall be determined by the Accountants in accordance with the principles of Section 280G of the Code.

 

 

 

 

(d)        All determinations hereunder shall be made by the Accountants, which determinations shall be final and binding upon the Company and the Grantee.

 

(e)        The federal tax returns filed by the Grantee (and any filing made by a consolidated tax group which includes the Company) shall be prepared and filed on a basis consistent with the determination of the Accountants with respect to the Excise Tax payable by the Grantee. The Grantee shall make proper payment of the amount of any Excise Tax, and at the request of the Company, provide to the Company true and correct copies (with any amendments) of his or her federal income tax return as filed with the Internal Revenue Service, and such other documents reasonably requested by the Company, evidencing such payment (provided that the Grantee may delete information unrelated to the Parachute Payment or Excise Tax and provided, further that the Company at all times shall treat such returns as confidential and use such return only for purpose contemplated by this paragraph).

 

(f)        In the event of any controversy with the Internal Revenue Service (or other taxing authority) with regard to the Excise Tax, the Grantee shall permit the Company to control issues related to the Excise Tax (at its expense), provided that such issues do not potentially materially adversely affect the Grantee but the Grantee shall control any other issues. In the event that the issues are interrelated, the Grantee and the Company shall in good faith cooperate so as not to jeopardize resolution of either issue. In the event of any conference with any taxing authority as to the Excise Tax or associated income taxes, the Grantee shall permit the representative of the Company to accompany the Grantee, and the Grantee and his representative shall cooperate with the Company and its representative.

 

(g)       The Company shall be responsible for all charges of the Accountants.

 

(h)       The Company and the Grantee shall promptly deliver to each other copies of any written communications, and summaries of any verbal communications, with any taxing authority regarding the Excise Tax covered by this Exhibit A.

 

(i)        Nothing in this Exhibit A is intended to violate the Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 and to the extent that any advance or repayment obligation hereunder would do so, such obligation shall be modified so as to make the advance a nonrefundable payment to the Grantee and the repayment obligation null and void.

 

 

 

 

(j)        Notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or reimbursement made pursuant to this Exhibit A shall be paid to the Grantee promptly and in no event later than the end of the calendar year next following the calendar year in which the related tax is paid by the Grantee or where no taxes are required to be remitted, the end of the Grantee’s calendar year following the Grantee’s calendar year in which the audit is completed or there is a final and non-appealable settlement or other resolution of the litigation.

 

(k)       The provisions of this Exhibit A shall survive the termination of the Grantee’s employment with the Company for any reason and the termination of the Award Agreement.

 

 

 

Exhibit 10.2

 

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.

698 Main Street

Branford, Connecticut 06405

 

April 8, 2021

 

Mr. John L. Villano, CPA

Chief Executive Officer

Sachem Capital Corp.

698 Main Street

Branford, CT 06405

 

Dear John,

 

I am pleased to inform you that the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Sachem Capital Corp. (the “Company”) has authorized the following compensation package for you for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2021:

 

· A base salary of $500,000.00 per year, retroactive to January 1, 2021, payable in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll practices applicable to employees, including withholding for federal, state and local income taxes. Your base salary is subject to adjustment on or after January 1, 2022 in the discretion of the Committee.

 

· A “target” annual bonus equal to fifty percent (50%) of your base salary for such year, the exact amount of which to be determined by the Committee in its sole discretion, and which will be payable on or before March 31, 2022.

 

· A “time-based” equity award equal to the result obtained by dividing your base salary by the closing price of one (1) common share of the Company as reported on the NYSE American on the date of grant. Such shares shall vest in three equal installments on each of January 1, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The shares will be granted pursuant to the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan. The issuance of the shares shall be subject to your execution and delivery of a Restricted Stock Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee and Company counsel. The Agreement shall include provisions restricting their transfer and will provide for the forfeiture of any unvested shares in the event you voluntary resign your positions as an employee of the Company without “Good Reason” or your employment is terminated for “Cause,” as such terms are defined in your Employment Agreement (as defined below).

 

The program outlined above will remain in effect until amended or modified by the Committee at any time in its sole discretion.

 

In addition to the foregoing, the Committee has also agreed to grant you a one-time cash bonus of $250,000.00, payable $125,000 as soon as practicable following receipt by the Company of countersigned copy of this letter and $62,500 on each of July 1 and October 1, 2021. Each payment will be conditioned on your continued employment by the Company, unless you resign for “Good Reason” or are terminated without “Cause,” as such terms are defined in your Employment Agreement.

 

The compensation program outlined above is intended to satisfy and supersede the Company’s obligations to you pursuant to Section 3 of your Employment Agreement, dated August 8, 2016, as amended (the “Employment Agreement”). You hereby acknowledge that all amounts payable to you under the Employment Agreement through December 31, 2020 have been paid in full. Except as otherwise set forth in this letter, the Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

 

John L. Villano

April 8, 2021

Page Two

 

Please countersign and date the enclosed copy of this letter in place provided below as an indication of your acceptance of the terms hereof.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/Leslie Bernhard

Leslie Bernhard

Chair, Compensation Committee

 

AGREED TO ACKNOWLEDGED:

 

/s/ John L. Villano  
John L. Villano  
April 8, 2021  

 

 

Exhibit 10.3

 

SACHEM CAPITAL CORP.

698 Main Street

Branford, Connecticut 06405

 

April 12, 2021

 

Mr. Peter J. Cuozzo

Executive Vice President and

Chief Operating Officer

Sachem Capital Corp.

8944 St. Lucia Drive, Suite 102

Naples, FL 34114

 

Dear Peter,

 

I am pleased to inform you that the Compensation Committee (the “Committee”) of the Board of Directors of Sachem Capital Corp. (the “Company”) has authorized the following compensation package for you for the Company’s fiscal year ending December 31, 2021:

 

· A base salary of $250,000.00, payable in accordance with the Company’s usual payroll practices applicable to employees, including withholding for federal, state and local income taxes. Your base salary is subject to adjustment on or after January 1, 2022 in the discretion of the Committee.

 

· A one-time bonus equal to $25,000.00, payable in one lump sum as soon as practicable following your execution and delivery of a copy of this letter to the Company.

 

· A “time-based” equity award equal to the result obtained by dividing $25,000.00 by the closing price of one (1) common share of the Company as reported on the NYSE American on the date hereof. Such shares shall vest in three equal installments on each of January 1, 2022, 2023 and 2024. The shares will be granted pursuant to the Company’s Incentive Compensation Plan. The issuance of the shares shall be subject to your execution and delivery of a Restricted Stock Agreement in form and substance satisfactory to the Committee and Company counsel. The Agreement shall include provisions restricting their transfer and will provide for the forfeiture of any unvested shares in the event you voluntary resign your positions as an employee of the Company without “Good Reason” or your employment is terminated for “Cause,” as such terms are defined in your Employment Agreement (as defined below).

 

The program outlined above will remain in effect until amended or modified by the Committee at any time in its sole discretion.

 

The compensation package described above is intended to satisfy and supersede the Company’s obligations to you pursuant to Section of your Employment Agreement, dated as of July 1, 2020 (the “Employment Agreement”). You hereby acknowledge that all amounts payable to you under the Employment Agreement through December 31, 2020 have been paid in full. Except as otherwise set forth in this letter, the Employment Agreement shall remain in full force and effect.

 

 

 

Peter J. Cuozzo

April 12, 2021

Page Two

 

Please countersign and date the enclosed copy of this letter in place provided below as an indication of your acceptance of the terms hereof.

 

Very truly yours,

 

/s/ Leslie Bernhard

Leslie Bernhard

Chair, Compensation Committee

 

AGREED TO ACKNOWLEDGED:

 

/s/ Peter J. Cuozzo  
Peter J. Cuozzo  
April 12, 2021