TABLE OF CONTENTS
Exhibit A –Form of Placement Notice
Exhibit B –Authorized Individuals for Placement Notices and Acceptances
Exhibit C –Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses
Exhibit D –Compensation
Exhibit E –Form of Corporate Opinion of Company Corporate Counsel
Exhibit F –Form of Officers’ Certificate
Exhibit G –Form of Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate
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Up to $50,000,000
February 27, 2026
PIPER SANDLER & CO.
350 North 5th Street, Suite 1000
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55401
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Each of Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), and its wholly-owned subsidiary, Bridgewater Bank, a Minnesota-state chartered bank (the “Bank”), confirms its agreement (this “Agreement”) with Piper Sandler & Co. (the “Distribution Agent”) on the terms and conditions provided herein.
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 Distribution Agent, acting as agent, up to $50,000,000 (the “Securities”) of the Company’s common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”); provided, however, that in no event shall the Company issue or sell through the Distribution Agent such number or dollar amount of Securities that would exceed: (i) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock registered on the effective Registration Statement (as defined below) pursuant to which the offering is being made, (ii) the number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock under the Company’s charter, (iii) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock permitted to be sold under Form S-3 (including General Instruction I.B.6 thereof, if applicable) or (iv) the number or dollar amount of shares of Common Stock for which the Company has filed a Prospectus Supplement (as defined below). Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained herein, except as set forth in a Placement Notice (as defined below) the parties hereto agree that compliance with the limitations set forth in this Section 1 on the number of the Securities issued and sold under this Agreement shall be the sole responsibility of the Company, and the Distribution Agent shall have no obligation in connection with such compliance. The issuance and sale of the Securities through the Distribution Agent will be effected pursuant to the Registration Statement (as defined below) filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”), although nothing in this Agreement shall be construed as requiring the Company to use the Registration Statement to offer, sell or issue the Securities.
The Company has filed in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-284662), including a base prospectus, relating to, among other securities of the Company, the Common Stock, including the Securities to be issued from time to time by the Company, and which incorporates by reference documents that the Company has filed or will file in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”). The Registration Statement became effective on February 10, 2025. The Company has prepared a prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Securities (the “Prospectus Supplement”) to the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement. The Company will furnish to the Distribution Agent, for use by the Distribution Agent, copies of the base prospectus included as part of such registration statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, relating to the Securities. Except where the context otherwise requires, such registration statement, as amended when it became effective, 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 or 462(b) of the Securities Act, or any substitute registration statement that may be filed to continue the registration of the Securities when it becomes effective, is herein called the “Registration Statement.” The base prospectus, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, included in the Registration Statement, as it may be supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, in the form in which such 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
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“Prospectus.” Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein, and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing after the execution hereof of any document with the Commission deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. Any reference herein 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. Any reference herein 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 the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“EDGAR”); all references in this Agreement to any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (as defined below) (other than any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses that, pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act, are not required to be filed with the Commission) shall be deemed to include the copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR.
Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “rule” in this Agreement is to the indicated rule under the Securities Act.
Each time that the Company wishes to issue and sell the Securities hereunder (each, a “Placement”), it will notify the Distribution Agent by email notice (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) containing the parameters in accordance with which it desires the Securities to be sold, which shall at a minimum include the maximum number of Securities to be issued (the “Placement Securities”), the time period during which sales are requested to be made by the Distribution Agent, any limitation on the number of Securities that may be sold in any one Trading Day (as defined below) and any minimum price below which sales may not be made (a “Placement Notice”), a form of which containing such minimum sales parameters necessary is attached hereto as Exhibit A. The Placement Notice shall originate from any of the individuals from the Company set forth on Exhibit B (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 Distribution Agent set forth on Exhibit B, as such Exhibit B may be amended from time to time. If the Distribution Agent wishes to accept such proposed terms included in the Placement Notice (which the Distribution Agent may decline to do so for any reason in its sole discretion) or, following discussion with the Company, wishes to accept amended terms, the Distribution Agent will, prior to 8:30 a.m., Eastern Time, on the Business Day (as defined below) following the Business Day on which such Placement Notice is delivered to the Distribution Agent, issue to the Company a notice by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and the Distribution Agent set forth on Exhibit B setting forth such acceptance or, in the alternative, such other terms that the Distribution Agent is willing to accept. Where the terms provided in the Placement Notice are amended as provided for in the immediately preceding sentence, such terms will not be binding on the Company or the Distribution Agent until the Company delivers to the Distribution Agent an acceptance by email (or other method mutually agreed to in writing by the parties) of all of the terms of such Placement Notice, as amended (the “Acceptance”), which email shall be addressed to all of the individuals from the Company and the Distribution Agent set forth on Exhibit B. The Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) shall be effective upon receipt by the Company of the Distribution Agent’s acceptance of the terms of the Placement Notice or upon receipt by the Distribution Agent of the Company’s Acceptance, as the case may be, unless and until (i) the entire amount of the Placement Securities have been sold, (ii) the Company terminates the Placement Notice in writing (including via email) at any time and in its sole discretion, (iii) the Company issues a subsequent Placement Notice with parameters expressly superseding those on the earlier dated Placement Notice, (iv) this Agreement has been terminated under the provisions of Section 12, or (v) either party shall have suspended the sale of the Placement Securities in accordance with Section 4 below. The amount of any discount, commission or other compensation to be paid by the Company to the Distribution Agent in connection with the sale of the Placement Securities shall be calculated in accordance with the terms set forth in Exhibit D. It is expressly acknowledged and agreed that neither the Company nor the Distribution Agent will have any obligation whatsoever with respect to a Placement or any Placement Securities unless and until the Company delivers a Placement Notice to the Distribution Agent and either (i) the Distribution Agent accepts the terms of such Placement Notice or (ii) where the terms of such Placement Notice are amended, the Company accepts such amended terms by means of an Acceptance pursuant to the terms set forth above, and then only upon the terms specified in the Placement Notice (as amended by the
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corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) and herein. In the event of a conflict between the terms of this Agreement and the terms of a Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) will control. The term “Business Day” means each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday or Friday that is not a day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or obligated by law or executive order to close.
Subject to the provisions of Section 6(a), the Distribution Agent, for the period specified in the Placement Notice, will use commercially reasonable efforts consistent with their respective normal trading and sales practices and applicable state and federal laws to sell the Placement Securities up to the amount specified, and otherwise in accordance with the terms of such Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable); provided, however, that any obligation of the Distribution Agent to use such commercially reasonable efforts shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company herein, the performance by the Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder and the continuing satisfaction of the additional conditions specified in Section 9 of this Agreement. The Distribution Agent will provide written confirmation to the Company no later than the opening of the Trading Day (as defined below) immediately following the Trading Day on which the Distribution Agent has made sales of Placement Securities hereunder setting forth the number of Placement Securities sold on such day, the volume-weighted average price of the Placement Securities sold, the compensation payable by the Company to the Distribution 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 Distribution Agent (as set forth in Section 6(b)) from the gross proceeds that it receives from such sales. Subject to the terms of the Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Distribution Agent may sell Placement Securities by any method permitted by law deemed to be an “at-the-market” offering as defined in Rule 415 of the Securities Act, including without limitation sales made directly on the Nasdaq Stock Market (“Nasdaq”), on any other existing trading market for the Common Stock or to or through a market maker. If specified in a Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable), the Distribution Agent may also sell Placement Securities by any other method permitted by law, including but not limited to privately negotiated transactions or block trades. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Company is in possession of material non-public information, or during any period in which sales would violate Regulation M under the Exchange Act or any other applicable law or regulation, the Company and the Distribution Agent agree that (i) no sale of Securities will take place, (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Securities, and (iii) the Distribution Agent shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Securities. For the purposes hereof, “Trading Day” means any day on which Common Stock is purchased and sold on the principal market on which the Common Stock is listed or quoted and during which there has been no market disruption of, unscheduled closing of or suspension of trading on such principal market.
The Company or the Distribution 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 Exhibit B, 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 Exhibit B), suspend any sale of Placement Securities for any reason and at any time; provided, however, that such suspension shall not affect or impair the other party’s obligations with respect to any Placement Securities sold hereunder prior to the receipt of such notice. The parties agree that no such notice under this Section 4 shall be effective against the other party unless it is made to one of the individuals named on Exhibit B hereto, as such Exhibit may be amended from time to time.
Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, during any period in which the Registration Statement is no longer effective under the Securities Act, (i) the Company shall promptly notify the Distribution Agent, (ii) the Company shall not request the sale of any Placement Securities, and (iii) the Distribution Agent shall not be obligated to sell or offer to sell any Placement Securities. Further, under no circumstances shall any Securities be sold pursuant to this Agreement after the date which is three (3) years after the Registration Statement is first declared effective by the Commission.
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At the respective times the Registration Statement became or becomes effective and as of the date hereof, the Registration Statement complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act, and the conditions for the use of Form S-3, as set forth in the General Instructions thereto, have been complied with in all material respects and the Registration Statement meets, and the offering and sale of the Securities as contemplated hereby complies with in all material respects, the requirements of Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the Securities Act (including without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5)). The Registration Statement, as of the date hereof and each effective date with respect thereto, and as of each Representation Date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, as of their respective dates, and at each Applicable Time and each Settlement Date, as the case may be, included or will include any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The Prospectus, at the time the Prospectus is issued and at each Settlement Date, complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act.
The representations and warranties set forth in the immediately preceding paragraph shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the Distribution Agent expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is that described as such in Section 10(a) hereof.
The copies of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 under the Securities Act and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto delivered and to be delivered to the Distribution Agent (electronically or otherwise) in connection with the offering of the Securities were and will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act, relating to the Securities that (i) is required to be filed with the Commission by the Company, (ii) is a “road show” that is a “written communication” within the meaning of Rule 433(d)(8)(i) under the Securities Act whether or not required to be filed with the Commission, or (iii) is exempt from filing pursuant to Rule 433(d)(5)(i) under the Securities Act because it contains a description of the Securities or of the offering that
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does not reflect the final terms, and all free writing prospectuses that are listed in Exhibit C hereto, in each case, in the form furnished (electronically or otherwise) to the Distribution Agent for use in connection with the offering of the Securities. The parties hereto agree and understand that the content of any and all “road shows” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) related to the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby is solely the property of the Company.
Each document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will comply when filed in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act.
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conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
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Effect (as defined below). The Bank has been duly organized and is validly existing as a state chartered commercial bank regulated by the Minnesota Department of Commerce, Financial Institutions Division (the “MDOC”) and the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (“FDIC”), is in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota and its charter is in full force and effect; the Bank is duly licensed or qualified for transaction of business and in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect (as defined below); the Bank has all corporate power and authority necessary to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Bank have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, except for such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no outstanding rights, warrants or options to acquire or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock or equity securities of the Bank. The Bank is the only depository institution subsidiary of the Company, and the Bank is a member in good standing of the Federal Home Loan Bank System. The Bank is “well capitalized” (as that term is defined at 12 C.F.R. 6.4(b)(1)) and neither the Company nor the Bank has been informed by any Bank Regulatory Authority that its status as “well-capitalized” will change within one year.
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statutory trust or other entity, as applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization and has the power and authority (corporate or other) to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries is duly qualified as a foreign corporation, partnership, limited liability company, statutory trust or other entity, as applicable, to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not reasonably be expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a Material Adverse Effect. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock or other equity or ownership interests of each of the Company’s significant subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or adverse claim. The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2025 (other than any corporations, associations or other entities that, in the aggregate, do not constitute a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X).
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Company or any such subsidiary, which transaction would be material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
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expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able to (i) renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. There are no material claims by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is denying any coverage or liability which it has sought or for which it has applied or defending under a reservation of rights clause.
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transactions with any individual or entity that at the time of the dealing or transaction is or was the subject or the target of Sanctions or with any Sanctioned Country.
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Distribution Agent under the Securities Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 under the Securities Act), (i) the Company will notify the Distribution Agent promptly of the time when any subsequent amendment to the Registration Statement, other than documents incorporated by reference, has been filed with the Commission and/or has become effective or any subsequent supplement to the Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, other than documents incorporated by reference, and of any comment letter from the Commission or any request by the Commission for any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; (ii) unless otherwise advised by the Company’s legal counsel, the Company will prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon the Distribution Agent’s request, any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus that, in the Distribution Agent’s reasonable opinion, may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Placement Securities by the Distribution Agent (provided, however, that the failure of the Distribution Agent to make such request shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Distribution Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement); (iii) the Company will not file any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, relating to the Placement Securities or a security convertible into the Placement Securities unless (A) a copy thereof has been submitted to the Distribution Agent within a reasonable period of time before the filing and the Distribution Agent have not reasonably objected thereto (provided, however, that (x) the failure of the Distribution Agent to make such objection shall not relieve the Company of any obligation or liability hereunder, or affect the Distribution Agent’s right to rely on the representations and warranties made by the Company in this Agreement, or (y) the Company has no obligation to provide the Distribution Agent any advance copy of such filing or to provide the Distribution Agent an opportunity to object to such filing if the filing does not name the Distribution Agent or does not relate to a Placement or other transaction contemplated hereunder), or (B) the Company has been advised by legal counsel that a failure to do so could result in a violation of applicable securities laws, and the Company will furnish to the Distribution Agent at the time of filing thereof a copy of any document that upon filing is deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement or Prospectus, except for those documents available via EDGAR; and (iv) the Company will cause each amendment or supplement to the Prospectus, other than documents incorporated by reference, to be filed with the Commission as required pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) of the Securities Act (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) of the Securities Act).
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in all material respects with all applicable corporate governance requirements of Nasdaq that are then in effect.
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the Company shall furnish the Distribution Agent (but in the case of clause (iv) above only if the Distribution Agent determines that the information contained in such Form 8-K is material) with a certificate, in the form attached hereto as Exhibit F, dated as of such date; provided, however, the requirement to provide a certificate under this Section 7(a)(16) shall be waived for any Representation Date occurring at a time at which no Placement Notice (as amended by the corresponding Acceptance, if applicable) is pending, which waiver shall continue until the date the Company delivers a Placement Notice hereunder (which for such date shall be considered a Representation Date).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the Company subsequently decides to sell Securities following a Representation Date when the Company relied on such waiver and did not provide the Distribution Agent with a certificate under this Section 7(a)(16), opinions under Section 7(a)(17), a comfort letter under Section 7(a)(18), and a certificate(s) under Section 7(a)(19), then before the Distribution Agent sells any Securities pursuant to Section 3, the Company shall cause such certificates, opinions, comfort letter, and documents that would be delivered on a Representation Date to be delivered.
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other counsel satisfactory to the Distribution Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Distribution Agent and its counsel, dated the date that the opinion is required to be delivered, substantially similar to the form attached hereto as Exhibit E. The Distribution Agent shall cause to be furnished to itself a written opinion of Alston & Bird LLP, counsel to the Distribution Agent (“Counsel to the Distribution Agent ”), or other counsel satisfactory to the Distribution Agent, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Distribution Agent, dated the date that the letter is required to be delivered.
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expenses of any transfer agent or registrar, (vi) the filing fees and reasonable and documented fees and disbursements of the Distribution Agent’s counsel incident to any required review and approval by FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Securities, (vii) listing fees, if any, (viii) the cost and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations or any “roadshow” undertaken in connection with marketing of the Securities, and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder that are not otherwise specifically provided for herein. In addition to (iv) and (vi) above, the Company shall reimburse the Distribution Agent for its out-of-pocket expenses, including reasonable fees and disbursements of the Distribution Agent’s counsel incurred by the Distribution Agent in connection with this Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and the Prospectus Supplement; provided that such fees and disbursements shall not exceed: (A) $80,000 in the aggregate for services and disbursements through the date of the filing of the initial Prospectus Supplement pursuant to this Agreement and (B) $15,000 in the aggregate per quarter thereafter.
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As used in this Section 9:
“BHC Act Affiliate” has the meaning assigned to the term “affiliate” in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 U.S.C. § 1841(k).
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“Covered Entity” means any of the following:
(i) a “covered entity” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 252.82(b);
(ii) a “covered bank” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 47.3(b); or
(iii) a “covered FSI” as that term is defined in, and interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. § 382.2(b).
“Default Right” has the meaning assigned to that term in, and shall be interpreted in accordance with, 12 C.F.R. §§ 252.81, 47.2 or 382.1, as applicable.
“U.S. Special Resolution Regime” means each of (i) the Federal Deposit Insurance Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder and (ii) Title II of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
All opinions, certificates, letters and other documents described in this Section 9 will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are satisfactory in form and substance to the Distribution Agent and the Distribution Agent’s counsel. The Company will furnish the Distribution Agent with such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents as the Distribution Agent shall reasonably request.
and will reimburse the Distribution Agent for any reasonable and documented legal or other expenses incurred by it in connection with investigating or defending against such loss, expense, liability, damage or claim; provided, however, the Company and the Bank shall not be liable in the case of each of clauses (1) through (4), insofar as any such loss, expense, liability, damage or claim arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Prospectus, or any such amendment or supplement or necessary to make the
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statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, in each such case, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to the Distribution Agent and furnished in writing by the Distribution Agent to the Company expressly stating that such information is intended for inclusion in any document described in clause (a)(1) above.
The indemnifying party under this Section 10 shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there is a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 10, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
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proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than thirty (30) days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least thirty (30) days prior to such settlement being entered into, and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (a) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (b) 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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[Signature Page Follows]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement by and among the Distribution Agent and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
BRIDGEWATER BANCSHARES, INC.
By: /s/ Jerry Baack
Name: Jerry Baack
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
BRIDGEWATER BANK
By:/s/ Jerry Baack
Name: Jerry Baack
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date first above written:
PIPER SANDLER & CO. | |
By: /s/ Connor Leahy
Name: Connor Leahy
Title: Directror
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From: [●]
Cc: [●]
To: [●]
Date: [●]
Subject: Equity Distribution — Placement Notice
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Pursuant to the terms and subject to the conditions contained in the Equity Distribution Agreement by and among Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc. (the “Company”), Bridgewater Bank and Piper Sandler & Co. (the “Distribution Agent”) dated February 27, 2026 (the “Agreement”), I hereby request on behalf of the Company that Distribution Agent sell up to [●] shares of the Company’s Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Securities”), at a minimum market price of $[●] per share, beginning on [the date hereof] and ending on [insert end date] [such date in the future as notified in writing (including by email) by the Company].
[ADDITIONAL SALES PARAMETERS MAY BE ADDED, SUCH AS THE MAXIMUM AGGREGATE OFFERING PRICE, THE TIME PERIOD IN WHICH SALES ARE REQUESTED TO BE MADE, SPECIFIC DATES THE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD ON, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF SECURITIES THAT MAY BE SOLD ON ANY SINGLE DAY, AND/OR THE MANNER IN WHICH SALES ARE TO BE MADE BY THE DISTRIBUTION AGENT]
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AUTHORIZED INDIVIDUALS FOR PLACEMENT NOTICES AND ACCEPTANCES
Piper Sandler & Co.
Connor Leahey
Connor.Leahey@psc.com
Neil A. Riley
Neil.Riley@psc.com
Michael W. Bassett
Michael.Bassett@psc.com
Connor N. Anderson
Connor.Anderson@psc.com
Mark Cieciura
Mark.Cieciura@psc.com
Jay A. Hershey
Jay.Hershey@psc.com
Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc.
| ● | Jerry Baack, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer |
| ● | Joe Chybowski, President and Chief Financial Officer |
| ● | Laura Espeseth, Chief Administrative Officer |
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The Distribution Agent shall be paid compensation equal to:
2.50% of the gross proceeds from the sales of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Agreement payable in cash (“Sales Commission”).
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Form of Opinion of Company Corporate Counsel
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FORM OF OFFICERS’ CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), the holding company for Bridgewater Bank (the “Bank”), pursuant to Section 7(a)(16) of the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 27, 2025 (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), by and among the Company, the Bank and Piper Sandler & Co. (the “Distribution Agent”), hereby certify that they are authorized to execute this Officers’ Certificate in the name and on behalf of the Company and the Bank. Each of the undersigned also hereby certifies, in his capacity as an officer of the Company, that:
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Each of Barack Ferrazzano Kirshbaum & Nagelberg LLP, counsel to the Company, and Alston & Bird LLP, counsel to the Distribution Agent, is entitled to rely upon this certificate in connection with any opinions given by such firms pursuant to Section 7(a)(18) of the Equity Distribution Agreement.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
[Signature page follows]
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IN WITNESS HEREOF, we have hereunto set our hands as of the date first written above.
By:
Name: Jerry Baack
Title: Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
By:
Name: Joe Chybowski
Title: President and Chief Financial Officer
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FORM OF CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER’S CERTIFICATE
The undersigned, the Chief Financial Officer of Bridgewater Bancshares, Inc., a Minnesota corporation (the “Company”), the holding company for Bridgewater Bank (the “Bank”), pursuant to Section 7(a)(19) of the Equity Distribution Agreement, dated as of February 27, 2026, (the “Equity Distribution Agreement”), by and between the Company, the Bank and Piper Sandler & Co. (the “Distribution Agent”), hereby certifies on behalf of the Company as follows:
| (ii) | I am authorized to execute this certificate in the name and on behalf of the Company. |
This certificate is being furnished to the Distribution Agent to assist in conducting and documenting its investigation of the Company in connection with the at-the-market offering of the Securities. Each of Barack Ferrazzano Kirshbaum & Nagelberg LLP, counsel to the Company, and Alston & Bird LLP, counsel to the Distribution Agent, is entitled to rely on this certificate in connection with the opinions that each firm is rendering pursuant to Section 7(a)(17) of the Equity Distribution Agreement.
Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings ascribed to such terms in the Equity Distribution Agreement.
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IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has executed this certificate as of the date first written above.
By:
Name: Joe Chybowski
Title: President and Chief Financial Officer
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