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Exhibit 4.1

SECURITIES REGISTERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 12 
OF THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

The following description of the common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock), of Angel Oak Mortgage, Inc., a Maryland corporation (referred to herein as “we”, “us”, “our” or the “Company”), is a summary and does not purport to be complete. This summary is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to applicable Maryland law and to the provisions of our charter (our “charter”), and our Second Amended and Restated Bylaws (our “bylaws”), each of which are incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the Annual Report on Form 10-K of which this Exhibit 4.1 is a part. We encourage you to read our charter, bylaws and the applicable provisions of Maryland Law for additional information. We have one class of securities registered under Section 12 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”): our common stock. The term “stock” refers, unless the context requires otherwise, to all classes or series of stock of the Company.

Common Stock

General

Our charter authorizes us to issue up to 350,000,000 shares of our common stock, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.01 par value per share, of which 125 shares are classified and designated as shares of 12.0% Series A Cumulative Non-Voting Preferred Stock (the “Series A preferred stock”). 

Under Maryland law, a stockholder generally is not liable for our debts or obligations solely as a result of that stockholder’s status as a stockholder.

Voting Rights

Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and the terms of any other class or series of our stock, each outstanding share of our common stock entitles the holder thereof to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of holders of our common stock, including the election of directors. Cumulative voting in the election of our directors is not permitted. Our directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting at which directors are being elected and at which a quorum is present. This means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock can effectively elect all of the directors then standing for election, and the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any directors. Except as provided with respect to any other class or series of stock, the holders of our common stock will possess the exclusive voting power.

Dividends

Holders of our common stock are entitled to receive dividends if, as, and when authorized by our board of directors and declared by us out of assets legally available for the payment of dividends.

Liquidation

Holders of shares of our common stock are entitled to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our stockholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution, or winding up, after payment of, or adequate provision for, all of our known debts and liabilities. These rights are subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of our stock and to the provisions of our charter regarding restrictions on transfer of our stock.

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Rights and Preferences

Holders of our common stock have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights and have no preemptive rights to purchase or subscribe for any shares of our stock. Our charter provides that holders of our common stock generally have no appraisal rights unless our Board of Directors determines that appraisal rights will apply to one or more transactions in which holders of our common stock would otherwise be entitled to exercise such rights. Subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and the terms of any other class or series of our stock, all shares of our common stock will have equal dividend, liquidation and other rights.

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot dissolve, amend its charter, merge, sell all or substantially all of its assets, convert into another form of entity, engage in a statutory share exchange or engage in similar transactions unless such transaction is declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation's charter. Our charter provides for approval of these matters by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter, except that the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on such matter is required to amend the provisions of our charter relating to the removal of directors and the vote required to amend these provisions. Maryland law also permits a corporation to transfer all or substantially all of its assets without the approval of its stockholders to an entity all of the equity interests of which are owned, directly or indirectly, by the corporation. Because our operating assets may be held by our operating partnership or its subsidiaries, these subsidiaries may be able to merge or transfer all or substantially all of their assets without the approval of our stockholders.

Power to Reclassify Shares of Our Stock; Issuance of Additional Shares

Our charter authorizes our Board of Directors to reclassify any unissued shares of our common stock into other classes or series of stock, including classes or series of preferred stock, and to establish the designation and number of shares of each such class or series and to set, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and the terms of any other class or series of our stock, including our Series A preferred stock, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms and conditions of redemption of each such class or series. Thus, our Board of Directors could authorize the issuance of shares of common stock or preferred stock with terms and conditions which could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control of us that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our common stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests. Our Series A preferred stock is further described below, under the heading “Preferred Stock.”  In addition, a majority of our entire Board of Directors has the power, without stockholder approval, to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we are authorized to issue. 

Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer of Shares

In order for us to qualify as a real estate investment trust (“REIT”) under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the “Code”), shares of our stock must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months (other than the first year for which an election to be taxed as a REIT has been made) or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of the outstanding shares of our stock may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer “individuals” (as defined in the Code to include specific entities) at any time during the last half of a taxable year (other than the first year for which an election to be considered a REIT has been made).

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Our charter contains restrictions on the ownership and transfer of our stock that are intended to assist us in complying with these requirements and qualifying as a REIT, among other reasons. The relevant sections of our charter provide that, subject to the exceptions described below, no person may beneficially or constructively own (1) shares of common stock in excess of 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock or (2) shares of stock in excess of 9.8% in value of the outstanding shares of our stock. We refer to each of these restrictions as an “ownership limit” and collectively as the “ownership limits.” A person or entity that would have acquired actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of our stock but for the application of the ownership limits or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock discussed below is referred to as a “prohibited owner.”

The constructive ownership rules under the Code are complex and may cause stock owned actually or constructively by a group of related individuals and/or entities to be owned constructively by one individual or entity. As a result, the acquisition of less than 9.8% of our common stock (or the acquisition of an interest in an entity that owns, actually or constructively, our common stock) by an individual or entity could, nevertheless, cause that individual or entity, or another individual or entity, to own constructively in excess of 9.8% in value or in number of shares, whichever is more restrictive, of the outstanding shares of our common stock or 9.8% in value of our outstanding shares of stock and thereby violate the applicable ownership limit.

Our charter provides that our Board of Directors, subject to certain limits, upon receipt of such representations and agreements as our Board of Directors may require, may prospectively or retroactively exempt a person from either or both of the ownership limits and establish a different limit on ownership for such person. We have granted a waiver from the ownership limit contained in our charter to VPIP AO MF LLC (an affiliate of Vivaldi Capital Management, LLC), NHTV Atlanta Holdings LP (an affiliate of Morgan Stanley) and Xylem Finance LLC (an affiliate of Davidson Kempner Capital Management LP) to own up to approximately 12.2%, 20.5% and 28.7%, respectively, of the outstanding shares of our common stock in the aggregate, subject to representations, warranties, and covenants consistent with our continued compliance with the ownership requirements for qualification as a REIT under the Code.

As a condition of granting an exception, our Board of Directors may require a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or an opinion of counsel, in either case in form and substance satisfactory to our Board of Directors, as our Board of Directors may deem necessary or advisable in order to determine or ensure our qualification as a REIT and such representations or agreements as it may require. Notwithstanding the receipt of any ruling, opinion, representation or agreement, our Board of Directors may impose such conditions or restrictions as it deems appropriate in connection with granting such an exception.

Our Board of Directors may, in its sole and absolute discretion, increase or decrease one or both of the ownership limits for one or more persons, except that a decreased ownership limit will not be effective for any person whose actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of our stock exceeds the decreased ownership limit at the time of the decrease until the person’s actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of our stock equals or falls below the decreased ownership limit, although any further direct or indirect acquisition of shares of our stock (other than by a previously-exempted person) will violate the decreased ownership limit. Our Board of Directors may not increase or decrease any ownership limit if the new ownership limit would allow five or fewer persons to actually or beneficially own more than 49.9% in value of our outstanding stock or could cause us to be “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT. 

Our charter further prohibits:

•any person from beneficially or constructively owning shares of our stock that would result in us being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT (including, without limitation, beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our stock that would result in us owning (actually or constructively) an interest in a tenant that is described in Section 856(d)(2)(B) of the Code if the income we derive from such tenant, taking into account our other income that would not qualify under 
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the gross income requirements of Section 856(c) of the Code, would cause us to fail to satisfy any of the gross income requirements imposed by Section 856(c) of the Code); and

•any person from transferring shares of our stock if such transfer would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code).

Any person who acquires or attempts or intends to acquire actual, beneficial or constructive ownership of shares of our stock that will or may violate the ownership limits or any of the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above must give written notice immediately to us or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, provide us at least 15 days prior written notice, and provide us with such other information as we may request in order to determine the effect of such transfer on our qualification as a REIT.

The ownership limits and other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above will not apply if our Board of Directors determines that it is no longer in our best interests to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT or that compliance with any such restriction is no longer required in order for us to qualify as a REIT.

Pursuant to our charter, if any purported transfer of our stock or any other event would otherwise result in any person violating the ownership limits or such other limit established by our Board of Directors, could result in us being “closely held” within the meaning of Section 856(h) of the Code (without regard to whether the ownership interest is held during the last half of a taxable year) or otherwise would cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT, then the number of shares causing the violation (rounded up to the nearest whole share) will be automatically transferred to, and held by, a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries selected by us. The prohibited owner will have no rights in shares of our stock held by the trust. The automatic transfer will be effective as of the close of business on the business day prior to the date of the violative transfer or other event that results in the transfer to the trust. Any dividend or other distribution paid to the prohibited owner prior to our discovery that the shares had been automatically transferred to the trust as described above must be repaid to the trust upon demand. If the transfer to the trust as described above is not automatically effective, for any reason, to prevent a violation of the applicable restriction on ownership and transfer of our stock, then the transfer of the number of shares that otherwise would cause any person to violate the above restrictions will be void and of no force or effect, regardless of any action or inaction by our Board of Directors, and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in the shares. If any transfer of our stock would result in shares of our stock being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons (determined under the principles of Section 856(a)(5) of the Code), then any such purported transfer will be void and of no force or effect and the intended transferee will acquire no rights in the shares.

Shares of our stock transferred to the trust are deemed offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (1) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer of the shares to the trust (or, if the transfer or other event that resulted in the transfer of the shares to the trust did not involve a sale of the shares at market price, the market price of the shares, which is the last sale price reported on the New York Stock Exchange (“NYSE”) on the day of such event) and (2) the last sale price reported on the NYSE on the date we accept, or our designee accepts, such offer. We must reduce the amount payable to the trust by the amount of dividends and distributions paid to the prohibited owner and owed by the prohibited owner to the trust and pay the amount of such reduction to the trust for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. We have the right to accept such offer until the trustee has sold the shares of our stock held in the trust. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold terminates and the trustee must distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the prohibited owner and any dividends or other amounts held by the trustee with respect to such shares will be paid to the charitable beneficiary.

Within 20 days of receiving notice from us of the transfer of shares to the trust, the trustee must sell the shares to a person or persons designated by the trustee who could own the shares without violating the ownership limits or other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock. Upon such sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares will terminate and the trustee must distribute to the prohibited owner an amount equal 
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to the lesser of (1) the price paid by the prohibited owner for the shares (or, if the transfer or other event that resulted in the transfer of the shares to the trust did not involve a sale of the shares at market price, the market price of the shares) and (2) the price per share (net of commissions and other expenses of sale) received by the trustee for the sale or other disposition of the shares. The trustee must reduce the amount payable to the prohibited owner by the amount of dividends and other distributions paid to the prohibited owner and owed by the prohibited owner to the trust. Any net sales proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the prohibited owner and any other amounts held by the trust with respect to such shares will be immediately paid to the charitable beneficiary. In addition, if prior to discovery by us that shares of our stock have been transferred to the trust, such shares of stock are sold by a prohibited owner, then such shares will be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and, to the extent that the prohibited owner received an amount for or in respect of such shares that exceeds the amount that such prohibited owner was entitled to receive, such excess amount must be paid to the trust upon demand.

The trustee will be designated by us and will be unaffiliated with us and with any prohibited owner. Prior to the sale of any shares by the trust, the trust will receive, in trust for the charitable beneficiary, all dividends and other distributions paid by us with respect to such shares, and the trustee may exercise all voting rights with respect to such shares for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary.

Subject to Maryland law, effective as of the date that the shares have been transferred to the trust, the trustee may, at the trustee's sole and absolute discretion:

•rescind as void any vote cast by a prohibited owner prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust; and

•recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary.

However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee may not rescind and recast the vote.

If our Board of Directors determines that a proposed transfer or other event has taken place that violates the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter, our Board of Directors may take such action as it deems advisable to refuse to give effect to or to prevent such transfer, including, without limitation, causing us to redeem shares of stock, refusing to give effect to the transfer on our books or instituting proceedings to enjoin the transfer.

Every owner of 5% or more (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the U.S. Treasury regulations promulgated thereunder) of the outstanding shares of our stock, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, must give written notice to us stating the name and address of such owner, the number of shares of each class and series of our stock that the owner actually or beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner also must provide us in writing with any additional information that we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of the person's actual or beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits and the other restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock set forth in our charter. In addition, any person that is an actual, beneficial owner or constructive owner of shares of our stock and any person (including the stockholder of record) who is holding shares of our stock for an actual, beneficial owner or constructive owner must disclose to us in writing such information as we may request in order to determine our status as a REIT and comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.

Any certificates representing shares of our stock will bear a legend referring to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock described above or, in lieu of a legend, a statement that we will furnish a full
statement about certain restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares to a stockholder on request and without
charge.

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These restrictions on ownership and transfer could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common stock or that our common stockholders otherwise believe to be in their best interests.

Transfer Agent and Registrar

The transfer agent and registrar for our common stock is currently Broadridge Corporate Issuer Solutions, Inc.

Listing

Our common stock is listed on the NYSE under the symbol “AOMR.”

Certain Provisions of the Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws

Our Board of Directors

Under our charter and bylaws, the number of our directors may be established, increased or decreased only by a majority of our entire Board of Directors but may not be fewer than the minimum number required under the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”) (which is one) nor, unless our bylaws are amended, more than 15. Our charter and bylaws also provide that, except as may be provided by our Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of stock, any and all vacancies on our Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors remaining in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and, if our Board of Directors is classified, any individual elected to fill such vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies.

Each of our directors will be elected by our stockholders to serve for a term ending at the next annual meeting of stockholders and when his or her successor is duly elected and qualifies. Our directors will be elected by a plurality of the votes cast at a meeting of which directors are being elected and at which a quorum is present. This means that the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our common stock can elect all of the directors then standing for election, and the holders of the remaining shares of our common stock will not be able to elect any directors. The presence in person or by proxy of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at a meeting constitutes a quorum.

Removal of Directors

Our charter provides that, subject to the rights of holders of one or more classes or series of preferred stock to elect or remove one or more directors, a director, or the entire Board of Directors, may be removed only for “cause,” and then only by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors. For this purpose, “cause” means, with respect to any particular director, conviction of a felony or a final judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction holding that such director caused demonstrable, material harm to us through bad faith or active and deliberate dishonesty. These provisions, when coupled with the exclusive power of our Board of Directors to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors, precludes stockholders from removing incumbent directors except for “cause” and with a substantial affirmative vote and filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.

Maryland Business Combination Act

Under the Maryland Business Combination Act (the “MBCA”), “business combinations” between a Maryland corporation and an interested stockholder or an affiliate of an interested stockholder, as such terms are defined in the MBCA, are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. Maryland law defines an interested stockholder as:

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•any person who beneficially owns, directly or indirectly, 10% or more of the voting power of the corporation's outstanding voting stock; or

•an affiliate or associate of the corporation who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of 10% or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding voting stock of the corporation.

A person is not an interested stockholder under the MBCA if the board of directors approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested stockholder. In approving a transaction, the board of directors may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of the approval, with any terms and conditions determined by it.

After such five-year period, any such business combination must be recommended by the board of directors of the corporation and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:

•80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of outstanding shares of voting stock of the corporation; and

•two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting stock of the corporation other than shares held by the interested stockholder with whom (or with whose affiliate) the business combination is to be effected or held by an affiliate or associate of the interested stockholder.

The MBCA does not apply if, among other conditions, the corporation's common stockholders receive a minimum price (as defined in the MBCA) for their shares and the consideration is received in cash or in the same form as previously paid by the interested stockholder for its shares.

These provisions of the MBCA do not apply, however, to business combinations that are approved or exempted by a corporation's board of directors prior to the time that the interested stockholder becomes an interested stockholder. As permitted by the MBCA, our Board of Directors has adopted a resolution exempting any business combination between us and any other person or group of persons from the provisions of this statute. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the supermajority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations involving us. As a result, any person will be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interests of our stockholders, without compliance with the supermajority vote requirements and other provisions of the statute. There is no assurance that our Board of Directors will not amend or revoke this exemption in the future.

Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act

The Maryland Control Share Acquisition Act (the “MCSAA”) provides that a holder of “control shares” of a Maryland corporation acquired in a “control share acquisition” has no voting rights with respect to those shares except to the extent approved by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by stockholders entitled to exercise or direct the exercise of the voting power in the election of directors generally but excluding: (1) the person who has made or proposes to make the control share acquisition; (2) any officer of the corporation; or (3) any employee of the corporation who is also a director of the corporation. “Control shares” are voting shares of stock that, if aggregated with all other such shares of stock previously acquired by the acquirer or in respect of which the acquirer is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquirer to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power in electing directors within one of the following ranges:

•one-tenth or more but less than one-third;

•one-third or more but less than a majority; or

•a majority or more of all voting power.

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Control shares do not include shares that the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained stockholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition, directly or indirectly, of ownership of, or the power to direct the exercise of voting power with respect to, issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.

A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition, upon satisfaction of certain conditions (including an undertaking to pay expenses and making an “acquiring person statement” as described in the MCSAA), may compel the board of directors of the Maryland corporation to call a special meeting of stockholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the control shares. If no request for a special meeting is made, the corporation may itself present the question at any stockholders meeting.

If voting rights of control shares are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an “acquiring person statement” as required by the MCSAA, then, subject to certain conditions and limitations, the corporation may redeem any or all of the control shares (except those for which voting rights have previously been approved) for fair value determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquirer or, if a meeting of stockholders is held at which the voting rights of such shares are considered and not approved, as of the date of such meeting. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a stockholders meeting and the acquirer becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other stockholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of such appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquirer in the control share acquisition.

The MCSAA does not apply (1) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or statutory share exchange if the corporation is a party to the transaction or (2) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the charter or bylaws of the corporation.

Our bylaws contain a provision exempting from the MCSAA any and all control share acquisitions by any person of shares of our stock. There is no assurance that such provision will not be amended or eliminated at any time in the future.

Subtitle 8

Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent directors to elect, by provision in its charter or bylaws or a resolution of its board of directors and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the charter or bylaws, to be subject to any or all of the following five provisions:

•a classified board of directors;

•a two-thirds vote requirement for removing a director;

•a requirement that the number of directors be fixed only by vote of the directors;

•a requirement that a vacancy on the board of directors be filled only by a vote of the remaining directors (whether or not they constitute a quorum) and for the remainder of the full term of the class of directors in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies; or

•a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of stockholders.

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Our charter provides that, except as may be provided by our Board of Directors in setting the terms of any class or series of stock, any and all vacancies on our Board of Directors may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the directors remaining in office, even if the remaining directors do not constitute a quorum, and, if our Board of Directors is classified, any individual elected to fill such vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the directorship of the class in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is duly elected and qualifies. We have not elected to be subject to any of the other provisions of Subtitle 8, including the provisions that would permit us to classify our Board of Directors without stockholder approval. Through provisions in our charter and bylaws unrelated to Subtitle 8, we (1) vest in our Board of Directors the exclusive power to fix the number of directors, (2) require, unless called by our Chairman of our Board of Directors, our Chief Executive Officer, our President or our Board of Directors, the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast at the meeting to call a special meeting of stockholders and (3) provide that a director may be removed only for cause, and then only by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast generally in the election of directors.

Amendments to Our Charter and Bylaws

Under Maryland law, a Maryland corporation generally cannot amend its charter unless declared advisable by the board of directors and approved by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter unless a lesser percentage (but not less than a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter) is set forth in the corporation’s charter.

If our Board of Directors declares the amendment advisable, our charter may be amended by the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter, except that the affirmative vote of stockholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter is required to amend the provisions of our charter relating to the removal of directors and the vote required to amend these provisions.

Our Board of Directors has the exclusive power to adopt, alter or repeal any provision of our bylaws and to make new bylaws.

Meetings of Stockholders

Under our bylaws and pursuant to Maryland law, annual meetings of stockholders will be held each year at a date and at the time and place determined by our Board of Directors. Special meetings of stockholders may be called by our Chairman of our Board of Directors, our Chief Executive Officer, our President or our Board of Directors. Additionally, subject to the provisions of our bylaws, special meetings of the stockholders to act on any matter must be called by our Secretary upon the written request of stockholders entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast on such matter at such meeting who have requested the special meeting in accordance with the procedures set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, our bylaws. Only matters set forth in the notice of the special meeting may be considered and acted upon at such a meeting. Our Secretary will inform the requesting stockholders of the reasonably estimated cost of preparing and delivering the notice of meeting (including our proxy materials), and the requesting stockholder must pay such reasonably estimated cost before our Secretary may prepare and deliver the notice of the special meeting.

Corporate Opportunities

Our charter provides that, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Maryland law, if any of our directors or officers who is also an officer, director, employee, agent, partner, manager, member or stockholder of Angel Oak Capital Advisors, LLC or its affiliates (“Angel Oak”) acquires knowledge of a potential business opportunity, we renounce any potential interest or expectation in, or right to be offered or to participate in, such business opportunity, unless such director or officer became aware of such business opportunity as a direct result of his or her capacity as our director or officer and (1) we are financially able to undertake such business opportunity, (2) we are not prohibited by contract or applicable law from pursuing or undertaking such business 
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opportunity, (3) such business opportunity, from its nature, is in line with our business, (4) such business opportunity is of practical advantage to us and (5) we have an interest or reasonable expectancy in such business opportunity (a “Retained Opportunity”). Accordingly, except for Retained Opportunities, to the maximum extent permitted from time to time by Maryland law and our charter, none of our directors or officers who is also an officer, director, employee, agent, partner, manager, member or stockholder of Angel Oak is required to present, communicate or offer any business opportunity to us and can hold and exploit any business opportunity, or direct, recommend, offer, sell, assign or otherwise transfer such business opportunity to any person or entity other than us.
 
Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business

Our bylaws provide that, with respect to an annual meeting of stockholders, nominations of individuals for election as directors and the proposal of business to be considered by stockholders at the annual meeting may be made only:

•pursuant to our notice of the meeting;

•by or at the direction of our Board of Directors; or

•by a stockholder who was a stockholder of record at the record date set by our Board of Directors for the meeting, at the time of giving of notice by the stockholder of the meeting and at the time of the annual meeting (and any postponement or adjustment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, our bylaws; and

with respect to special meetings of stockholders, only the business specified in the notice of the meeting may be brought before the special meeting of stockholders, and nominations of individuals for election as directors may be made only:

•by or at the direction of our Board of Directors; or

•provided that the meeting has been called in accordance with our bylaws for the purpose of electing directors, by a stockholder who is a stockholder of record at the record date set by our Board of Directors for the meeting, at the time of giving of the notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the special meeting (and any postponement or adjustment thereof), who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice provisions set forth in, and provided the information and certifications required by, our bylaws.

The purpose of requiring stockholders to give advance notice of nominations and other proposals is to afford our Board of Directors and our stockholders the opportunity to consider the qualifications of the proposed nominees or the advisability of the other proposals and, to the extent considered necessary by our Board of Directors, to inform stockholders and make recommendations regarding the nominations or other proposals. Although our bylaws do not give our Board of Directors the power to disapprove timely stockholder nominations and proposals, our bylaws may have the effect of precluding a contest for the election of directors or proposals for other action, if the proper procedures are not followed, and of discouraging or deterring a third party from conducting a solicitation of proxies to elect its own slate of directors to our Board of Directors or to approve its own proposal.

Anti-takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and of Our Charter and Bylaws

The restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock, the supermajority vote required to remove directors, our election to be subject to the provision of Subtitle 8 vesting in our Board of Directors the exclusive power to fill vacancies on our Board of Directors and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control of us. Likewise, if our Board of Directors were to elect to be subject 
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to the business combination provisions of the MBCA or if the provision in our bylaws opting out of the control share acquisition provisions of the MCSAA were amended or rescinded, these provisions of the MBCA and MCSAA could have similar anti-takeover effects.

Further, a majority of our entire Board of Directors, without any action by our stockholders, has the power to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series of stock that we have authority to issue, to authorize us to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to issue the classified or reclassified shares, and could authorize the issuance of shares of common stock or shares of another class or series of stock, including a class or series of preferred stock, that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a change in control of us. These actions can be taken without action by our stockholders, unless stockholder approval is required by applicable law, the terms of any class or series of our stock or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our stock may be listed or traded. We believe that the power of our Board of Directors to amend our charter to increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of stock or the number of shares of stock of any class or series that we have authority to issue, to authorize us to issue additional authorized but unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to classify or reclassify unissued shares of our common stock or preferred stock and to issue the classified or reclassified shares will provide us with increased flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs which might arise.

Our charter and bylaws also provide that the number of directors may be established only by our Board of Directors, which prevents our stockholders from increasing the number of our directors and filling any vacancies created by such increase with their own nominees. The provisions of our bylaws discussed above under the captions “—Meetings of Stockholders” and “—Advance Notice of Director Nominations and New Business” require stockholders seeking to call a special meeting, nominate an individual for election as a director or propose other business at an annual or special meeting to comply with certain notice and information requirements. We believe that these provisions will help to assure the continuity and stability of our business strategies and policies as determined by our Board of Directors and promote good corporate governance by providing us with clear procedures for calling special meetings, information about a stockholder proponent’s interest in us and adequate time to consider stockholder nominees and other business proposals. However, these provisions, alone or in combination, could make it more difficult for our stockholders to remove incumbent directors or fill vacancies on our Board of Directors with their own nominees and could delay, defer or prevent a change in control of us, including a proxy contest or tender offer that might involve a premium price for our common stockholders or otherwise be in the best interest of our stockholders.

Exclusive Forum

Our bylaws provide that, unless we consent in writing to the selection of an alternative forum, the Circuit Court for Baltimore City, Maryland, or, if that court does not have jurisdiction, the U.S. District Court for the District of Maryland, Northern Division, will be the sole and exclusive forum for (1) any Internal Corporate Claim, as such term is defined in the MGCL, (2) any derivative action or proceeding brought on our behalf, other than actions arising under U.S. federal securities laws, (3) any action asserting a claim of breach of any duty owed by any of our directors, officers or other employees to us or to our stockholders, (4) any action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees arising pursuant to any provision of the MGCL or our charter or bylaws or (5) any other action asserting a claim against us or any of our directors, officers or other employees that is governed by the internal affairs doctrine. None of the foregoing actions, claims or proceedings may be brought in any court sitting outside the State of Maryland unless we consent to such court.

Indemnification and Limitation of Directors’ and Officers’ Liability

Maryland law permits a Maryland corporation to include in its charter a provision eliminating the liability of its directors and officers to the corporation and its stockholders for money damages except for liability resulting 
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from actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or active and deliberate dishonesty that is established by a final judgment and is material to the cause of action. Our charter contains such a provision that eliminates such liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.

The MGCL requires a Maryland corporation (unless its charter provides otherwise, which our charter does not) to indemnify a director or officer who has been successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of any proceeding to which he or she is made or threatened to be made a party by reason of his or her service in that capacity. The MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or are threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:

•the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and:

•was committed in bad faith; or

•was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty;

•the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or

•in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful.

Under the MGCL, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify a director or officer for an adverse judgment in a suit by or on behalf of the corporation or if the director or officer was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless, in either case, a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. A court may order indemnification if it determines that the director or officer is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification, even though the director or officer did not meet the prescribed standard of conduct or was adjudged liable on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received.

In addition, the MGCL permits a Maryland corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of:

•a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and

•a written undertaking, which may be unsecured, by the director or officer or on the director’s or officer’s behalf to repay the amount paid if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct has not been met.

Our charter obligates us, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect from time to time, to indemnify and to pay or reimburse reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding without requiring a preliminary determination of the director’s or officer’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification to:

•any present or former director or officer who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity; or

•any individual who, while a director or officer of ours and at our request, serves or has served as a director, officer, partner, member, manager, trustee, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, real estate investment trust, trust, employee benefit plan or any other enterprise 
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and who is made or threatened to be made a party to, or witness in, a proceeding by reason of his or her service in that capacity.

Our charter also permits us, with the approval of our Board of Directors, to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served a predecessor of ours in any of the capacities described above and to any employee or agent of ours or a predecessor of ours.

REIT Qualification

Our charter provides that our Board of Directors may revoke or otherwise terminate our REIT election, without approval of our stockholders, if it determines that it is no longer in our best interest to attempt to, or continue to, qualify as a REIT.

Preferred Stock

Under the terms of our charter, our Board of Directors is authorized to classify any unissued shares of our preferred stock and to reclassify any previously classified but unissued shares of preferred stock into other classes or series of stock. Before the issuance of shares of each class or series, our Board of Directors is required by Maryland law and by our charter to set, subject to the provisions of our charter regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock and the terms of any other class or series of our stock, including our Series A preferred stock, the preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications or terms and conditions of redemption for each class or series.

As of December 31, 2021, there were 125 shares of our Series A preferred stock authorized, all of which were issued and outstanding. The shares of our Series A preferred stock have a $1,000 liquidation preference and a cumulative 12.0% per annum dividend preference. The shares of our Series A preferred stock are non-voting, except that the consent of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock, voting as a separate class, is required for (1) the authorization or issuance of any of our equity securities that rank senior to or on a parity with the shares of our Series A preferred stock, (2) any amendment to our charter that has a material adverse effect on the rights and preferences of our Series A preferred stock or that increases the number of authorized or issued shares of our Series A preferred stock or (3) any reclassification of our Series A preferred stock. Additionally, the shares of our Series A preferred stock may be redeemed at our option, in whole or in part, for cash equal to $1,000 per share plus all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to and including the date fixed for redemption. Unless full cumulative dividends on all outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock for all past dividend periods that have ended have been, or contemporaneously are, paid or set apart for payment for all past dividend periods, we may not pay dividends or make other distributions on our common stock or any other class or series of our stock ranking junior to our Series A preferred stock, redeem less than all of the outstanding shares of our Series A preferred stock or, generally, purchase or otherwise acquire, directly or indirectly, our equity securities that rank junior to our Series A preferred stock, including shares of our common stock, except by exchange for other equity securities that rank junior to our Series A preferred stock or pursuant to the provisions of our charter relating to the restrictions on ownership and transfer of our stock. The shares of our Series A preferred stock are not convertible into or exchangeable for any of our other property or securities. The shares of our Series A preferred stock rank senior to our common stock and all other equity securities we may issue from time to time with respect to dividend and redemption rights and rights upon our liquidation, dissolution or winding up.

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EXHIBIT 10.42
INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT

THIS INDEMNIFICATION AGREEMENT (“Agreement”) is made and entered into as of the 26th day of January 2022 (the “Effective Date”), by and between Angel Oak Mortgage, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and Jonathan S. Morgan (“Indemnitee”).
WHEREAS, at the request of the Company, Indemnitee currently serves as a director of the Company and may, therefore, be subjected to claims, suits or proceedings arising as a result of such service; 
WHEREAS, as an inducement to Indemnitee to serve or continue to serve in such capacity, the Company has agreed to indemnify Indemnitee and to advance expenses and costs incurred by Indemnitee in connection with any such claims, suits or proceedings, to the maximum extent permitted by law; and
WHEREAS, the parties by this Agreement desire to set forth their agreement regarding indemnification and advance of expenses;
NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the covenants contained herein, the Company and Indemnitee do hereby covenant and agree as follows:
Section 1.Definitions.  For purposes of this Agreement:
(a)“Change in Control” means the happening of any of the following: 
(1)any “person,” including a “group” (as such terms are used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), but excluding the Company, any entity controlling, controlled by or under common control with the Company, any trustee, fiduciary or other person or entity holding securities under any employee benefit plan or trust of the Company or any such entity), is or becomes the “beneficial owner” (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of shares of the Company representing 35% or more of either (A) the combined voting power of the Company’s then outstanding securities or (B) the then outstanding shares of common stock, $0.01 par value per share, of the Company (other than as a result of an acquisition of securities directly from the Company); or
(2)any consolidation or merger of the Company where the stockholders of the Company immediately prior to the consolidation or merger, would not, immediately after the consolidation or merger, beneficially own (as such term is defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, shares representing in the aggregate 50% or more of the combined voting power of the securities of the surviving or resulting entity in the consolidation or merger (or of its ultimate parent entity, if any); or
(3)there shall occur (A) any sale, lease, exchange or other transfer (in one transaction or a series of transactions contemplated or arranged by any party as a single plan) of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company, other than a sale or transfer by the Company of all or substantially all of the Company’s assets to an entity at least 50% of the combined voting power of the securities of which are owned by “persons” (as defined above) in substantially the same proportion as their ownership of the Company immediately prior to such sale or 

transfer or (B) the approval by stockholders of the Company of any plan or proposal for the liquidation or dissolution of the Company; or
(4)the members of the Board of Directors of the Company (the “Board of Directors”) at the beginning of any consecutive 24-calendar-month period (the “Incumbent Directors”) cease for any reason other than due to death to constitute at least a majority of the members of the Board of Directors; provided that any director whose election, or nomination for election by the Company’s stockholders, was approved or ratified by a vote of a majority of the members of the Board of Directors (or a committee thereof) then still in office who were Incumbent Directors at the beginning of such 24-calendar-month period shall be deemed to be an Incumbent Director for purposes of the foregoing; provided further that any such director whose initial assumption of office occurs as a result of either an actual or threatened election contest or other actual or threatened solicitation of proxies or consents by or on behalf of an individual, entity or group other than the Board of Directors shall not be considered an Incumbent Director.
(b)“Corporate Status” means the status of a person as a present or former director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company.  As a clarification and without limiting the circumstances in which Indemnitee may be serving at the request of the Company, service by Indemnitee shall be deemed to be at the request of the Company:  (i) if Indemnitee serves or served as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (1) of which a majority of the voting power or equity interest is or was owned directly or indirectly by the Company or (2) the management of which is controlled directly or indirectly by the Company and (ii) if, as a result of Indemnitee’s service to the Company or any of its affiliated entities, Indemnitee is subject to duties to, or required to perform services for, an employee benefit plan or its participants or beneficiaries, including as a deemed fiduciary thereof.
(c)“Disinterested Director” means a director of the Company who is not and was not a party to the Proceeding in respect of which indemnification and/or advance of Expenses is sought by Indemnitee.
(d)“Effective Date” means the date set forth in the first paragraph of this Agreement.
(e)“Expenses” means any and all reasonable and out-of-pocket attorneys’ fees and costs, retainers, court costs, arbitration and mediation costs, transcript costs, fees of experts, witness fees, travel expenses, duplicating costs, printing and binding costs, telephone charges, postage, delivery service fees, federal, state, local or foreign taxes imposed on Indemnitee as a result of the actual or deemed receipt of any payments under this Agreement, ERISA excise taxes and penalties and any other disbursements or expenses incurred in connection with prosecuting, defending, preparing to prosecute or defend, investigating, being or preparing to be a witness in or otherwise participating in a Proceeding.  Expenses shall also include Expenses incurred in connection with any appeal resulting from any Proceeding, including, without limitation, the premium for, security for and other costs relating to any cost bond, supersedeas bond or other appeal bond or its equivalent.  
(f)“Independent Counsel” means a law firm, or a member of a law firm, that is experienced in matters of corporation law and neither is, nor in the past five years has been, 
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retained to represent: (i) the Company or Indemnitee in any matter material to either such party (other than with respect to matters concerning Indemnitee under this Agreement or of other indemnitees under similar indemnification agreements), or (ii) any other party to or participant or witness in the Proceeding giving rise to a claim for indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, the term “Independent Counsel” shall not include any person who, under the applicable standards of professional conduct then prevailing, would have a conflict of interest in representing either the Company or Indemnitee in an action to determine Indemnitee’s rights under this Agreement.  
(g)“Proceeding” means any threatened, pending or completed action, suit, arbitration, alternate dispute resolution mechanism, investigation, inquiry, administrative hearing, claim, demand or discovery request or any other actual, threatened or completed proceeding, whether brought by or in the right of the Company or otherwise and whether of a civil (including intentional or unintentional tort claims), criminal, administrative or investigative (formal or informal) nature, including any appeal therefrom, except one pending or completed on or before the Effective Date, unless otherwise specifically agreed in writing by the Company and Indemnitee.  If Indemnitee reasonably believes that a given situation may lead to or culminate in the institution of a Proceeding, such situation shall also be considered a Proceeding.
Section 2.Services by Indemnitee.  Indemnitee serves or will serve in the capacity or capacities set forth in the first WHEREAS clause above.  However, this Agreement shall not impose any independent obligation on Indemnitee or the Company to continue Indemnitee’s service to the Company.  This Agreement shall not be deemed an employment contract between the Company (or any other entity) and Indemnitee.
Section 3.General.  The Company shall indemnify, and advance Expenses to, Indemnitee (a) as provided in this Agreement and (b) otherwise to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law in effect on the Effective Date and as amended from time to time; provided, however, that no change in Maryland law shall have the effect of reducing the benefits available to Indemnitee hereunder based on Maryland law as in effect on the Effective Date.  The rights of Indemnitee provided in this Section 3 shall include, without limitation, the rights set forth in the other sections of this Agreement, including any additional indemnification permitted by the Maryland General Corporation Law (the “MGCL”), including, without limitation, Section 2-418 of the MGCL.
Section 4.Standard for Indemnification.  If, by reason of service in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee against all judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with any such Proceeding unless it is established by clear and convincing evidence that (a) the act or omission of Indemnitee was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty, (b) Indemnitee actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (c) in the case of any criminal Proceeding, Indemnitee had reasonable cause to believe that Indemnitee’s act or omission was unlawful.
Section 5.Certain Limits on Indemnification.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement (other than Section 6), Indemnitee shall not be entitled to:
(a)indemnification hereunder if the Proceeding was one by or in the right of the Company and Indemnitee is adjudged, in a final adjudication of the Proceeding not subject to further appeal, to be liable to the Company; 
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(b)indemnification hereunder if Indemnitee is adjudged, in a final adjudication of the Proceeding not subject to further appeal, to be liable on the basis that personal benefit in money, property or services was improperly received in any Proceeding charging improper personal benefit to Indemnitee, whether or not involving action in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status; or
(c)indemnification or advance of Expenses hereunder if the Proceeding was brought by Indemnitee, unless: (i) the Proceeding was brought to enforce indemnification under this Agreement, and then only to the extent in accordance with and as authorized by Section 12 of this Agreement, or (ii) the Company’s charter or bylaws, a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors or an agreement approved by the Board of Directors to which the Company is a party expressly provide otherwise.
Section 6.Court-Ordered Indemnification.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, a court of appropriate jurisdiction, upon application of Indemnitee and such notice as the court shall require, may order indemnification of Indemnitee by the Company in the following circumstances:
(a)if such court determines that Indemnitee is entitled to reimbursement under Section 2-418(d)(1) of the MGCL, the court shall order indemnification, in which case Indemnitee shall also be entitled to recover the Expenses of securing such reimbursement; or
(b)if such court determines that Indemnitee is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnification in view of all the relevant circumstances, whether or not Indemnitee (i) has met the standards of conduct set forth in Section 2-418(b) of the MGCL or (ii) has been adjudged liable for receipt of an improper personal benefit under Section 2-418(c) of the MGCL, the court may order such indemnification as the court shall deem proper without regard to any limitation on such court-ordered indemnification contemplated by Section 2-418(d)(2)(ii) of the MGCL.  
Section 7.Indemnification for Expenses of an Indemnitee Who is Wholly or Partially Successful.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, and without limiting any such provision, to the extent that Indemnitee was or is, by reason of service in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, made a party to (or otherwise becomes a participant in) any Proceeding and is successful, on the merits or otherwise, in the defense of such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith.  If Indemnitee is not wholly successful in such Proceeding but is successful, on the merits or otherwise, as to one or more but less than all claims, issues or matters in such Proceeding, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee under this Section 7 for all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection with each such claim, issue or matter, allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis.  For purposes of this Section 7 and without limitation, the termination of any claim, issue or matter in such a Proceeding by dismissal, with or without prejudice, shall be deemed to be a successful result as to such claim, issue or matter.
Section 8.Advance of Expenses for Indemnitee.  If, by reason of service in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a party to any Proceeding, the Company shall, without requiring a preliminary determination of Indemnitee’s ultimate entitlement to indemnification hereunder, advance all Expenses incurred by or on behalf of Indemnitee in connection with such Proceeding.  The Company shall make such advance of incurred Expenses within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting such advance from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding, which advance may be in the form of, in the reasonable discretion of Indemnitee (but without duplication), (a) payment of such Expenses directly to third parties on behalf of Indemnitee, (b) advance of funds to Indemnitee in an amount sufficient to pay such Expenses or 
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(c) reimbursement to Indemnitee for Indemnitee’s payment of such Expenses.  Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall include or be preceded or accompanied by a written affirmation by Indemnitee and a written undertaking by or on behalf of Indemnitee, in substantially the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or in such form as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time of the execution thereof.  To the extent that Expenses advanced to Indemnitee do not relate to a specific claim, issue or matter in the Proceeding, such Expenses shall be allocated on a reasonable and proportionate basis.  The undertaking required by this Section 8 shall be an unlimited general obligation by or on behalf of Indemnitee and shall be accepted without reference to Indemnitee’s financial ability to repay such advanced Expenses and without any requirement to post security therefor.
Section 9.Indemnification and Advance of Expenses as a Witness or Other Participant.  Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if, by reason of service in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, Indemnitee is, or is threatened to be, made a witness or otherwise asked to participate in any Proceeding, whether instituted by the Company or any other person, and to which Indemnitee is not a party, Indemnitee shall be advanced and indemnified against all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee or on Indemnitee’s behalf in connection therewith within ten days after the receipt by the Company of a statement or statements requesting any such advance or indemnification from time to time, whether prior to or after final disposition of such Proceeding.  Such statement or statements shall reasonably evidence the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee.  In connection with any such advance of Expenses, the Company may require Indemnitee to provide an undertaking and affirmation substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A or in such form as may be required under applicable law as in effect at the time of execution thereof. 
Section 10.Procedure for Determination of Entitlement to Indemnification.
(a)To obtain indemnification under this Agreement, Indemnitee shall submit to the Company a written request, including therein or therewith such documentation and information as is reasonably available to Indemnitee and is reasonably necessary or appropriate to determine whether and to what extent Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification.  Indemnitee may submit one or more such requests from time to time and at such time(s) as Indemnitee deems appropriate in Indemnitee’s sole discretion.  The officer of the Company receiving any such request from Indemnitee shall, promptly upon receipt of such a request for indemnification, advise the Board of Directors in writing that Indemnitee has requested indemnification.
(b)Upon written request by Indemnitee for indemnification pursuant to Section 10(a) above, a determination, if required by applicable law, with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement thereto shall promptly be made in the specific case: (i) if a Change in Control has occurred, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee, which Independent Counsel shall be selected by Indemnitee and approved by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld; or (ii) if a Change in Control has not occurred, (A) by a majority vote of the Disinterested Directors or by the majority vote of a  group of Disinterested Directors designated by the Disinterested Directors to make the determination, (B) if Independent Counsel has been selected by the Board of Directors in accordance with Section 2-418(e)(2)(ii) of the MGCL and approved by Indemnitee, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, by Independent Counsel, in a written opinion to the Board of Directors, a copy of which shall be delivered to Indemnitee or (C) if so directed by the Board of Directors, by the stockholders of the Company, other than directors or officers who are parties to the Proceeding.  If it is so determined that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall make payment to Indemnitee within ten days after such determination.  Indemnitee shall cooperate with the person, persons or entity making such determination with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification, including providing to such person, 
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persons or entity upon reasonable advance request any documentation or information which is not privileged or otherwise protected from disclosure and which is reasonably available to Indemnitee and reasonably necessary or appropriate to such determination in the discretion of the Board of Directors or Independent Counsel if retained pursuant to clause (ii)(B) of this Section 10(b).  Any Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in so cooperating with the person, persons or entity making such determination shall be borne by the Company (irrespective of the determination as to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification) and the Company shall indemnify and hold Indemnitee harmless therefrom.
(c)The Company shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of Independent Counsel, if one is appointed.
Section 11.Presumptions and Effect of Certain Proceedings.
(a)In making any determination with respect to entitlement to indemnification hereunder, the person or persons (including any court having jurisdiction over the matter) making such determination shall presume that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification under this Agreement if Indemnitee has submitted a request for indemnification in accordance with Section 10(a) of this Agreement, and the Company shall have the burden of overcoming that presumption in connection with the making of any determination contrary to that presumption.  
(b)The termination of any Proceeding or of any claim, issue or matter therein, by judgment, order, settlement or conviction, upon a plea of nolo contendere or its equivalent, or entry of an order of probation prior to judgment, does not create a presumption that Indemnitee did not meet the requisite standard of conduct described herein for indemnification.
(c)The knowledge and/or actions, or failure to act, of any other director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or any other director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall not be imputed to Indemnitee for purposes of determining any other right to indemnification under this Agreement.
Section 12.Remedies of Indemnitee.
(a)If (i) a determination is made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification under this Agreement, (ii) advance of Expenses is not timely made pursuant to Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement, (iii) no determination of entitlement to indemnification shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement within 60 days after receipt by the Company of the request for indemnification, (iv) payment of indemnification is not made pursuant to Sections 7 or 9 of this Agreement within ten days after receipt by the Company of a written request therefor, or (v) payment of indemnification pursuant to any other section of this Agreement or the charter or bylaws of the Company is not made within ten days after a determination has been made that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, Indemnitee shall be entitled to an adjudication in an appropriate court located in the State of Maryland, or in any other court of competent jurisdiction, or in an arbitration conducted by a single arbitrator pursuant to the Commercial Arbitration Rules of the American Arbitration Association, of Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification or advance of Expenses.  Indemnitee shall commence a proceeding seeking an adjudication or an award in arbitration within 180 days following the date on which Indemnitee first has the right to commence such proceeding pursuant to this Section 12(a); provided, however, that the foregoing clause shall not apply to a proceeding brought by Indemnitee to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under Section 7 of this Agreement.  Except as set forth herein, the provisions of Maryland law (without regard to its 
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conflicts of laws rules) shall apply to any such arbitration.  The Company shall not oppose Indemnitee’s right to seek any such adjudication or award in arbitration.  
(b)In any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall be presumed to be entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be, under this Agreement and the Company shall have the burden of proving that Indemnitee is not entitled to indemnification or advance of Expenses, as the case may be.  If Indemnitee commences a judicial proceeding or arbitration pursuant to this Section 12, Indemnitee shall not be required to reimburse the Company for any advances pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement until a final determination is made with respect to Indemnitee’s entitlement to indemnification (as to which all rights of appeal have been exhausted or lapsed).  The Company shall, to the fullest extent not prohibited by law, be precluded from asserting in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12 that the procedures and presumptions of this Agreement are not valid, binding and enforceable and shall stipulate in any such court or before any such arbitrator that the Company is bound by all of the provisions of this Agreement.
(c)If a determination shall have been made pursuant to Section 10(b) of this Agreement that Indemnitee is entitled to indemnification, the Company shall be bound by such determination in any judicial proceeding or arbitration commenced pursuant to this Section 12, absent a misstatement by Indemnitee of a material fact, or an omission of a material fact necessary to make Indemnitee’s statement not materially misleading, in connection with the request for indemnification that was not disclosed in connection with the determination. 
(d)In the event that Indemnitee is successful in seeking, pursuant to this Section 12, a judicial adjudication of or an award in arbitration to enforce Indemnitee’s rights under, or to recover damages for breach of, this Agreement, Indemnitee shall be entitled to recover from the Company, and shall be indemnified by the Company for, any and all Expenses actually and reasonably incurred by Indemnitee in such judicial adjudication or arbitration.  If it shall be determined in such judicial adjudication or arbitration that Indemnitee is entitled to receive part but not all of the indemnification or advance of Expenses sought, the Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with such judicial adjudication or arbitration shall be appropriately prorated.  
(e)Interest shall be paid by the Company to Indemnitee at the maximum rate allowed to be charged for judgments under the Courts and Judicial Proceedings Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland for amounts which the Company pays or is obligated to pay for the period (i) commencing with either the tenth day after the date on which the Company was requested to advance Expenses in accordance with Sections 8 or 9 of this Agreement or the 60th day after the date on which the Company was requested to make the determination of entitlement to indemnification under Section 10(b) of this Agreement, as applicable, and (ii) ending on the date such payment is made to Indemnitee by the Company.
Section 13.Defense of the Underlying Proceeding.
(a)Indemnitee shall notify the Company promptly in writing upon being served with any summons, citation, subpoena, complaint, indictment, request or other document relating to any Proceeding which may result in the right to indemnification or the advance of Expenses hereunder and shall include with such notice, to the extent available to Indemnitee, a description of the nature of the Proceeding and a summary of the facts underlying the Proceeding.  The failure to give any such notice shall not disqualify Indemnitee from the right, or otherwise affect in any manner any right of Indemnitee, to indemnification or the advance of Expenses under this Agreement unless the Company’s ability to defend in such Proceeding or to obtain proceeds 
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under any insurance policy is materially and adversely prejudiced thereby, and then only to the extent the Company is thereby actually so prejudiced.
(b)Subject to the provisions of the last sentence of this Section 13(b) and of Section 13(c) below, the Company shall have the right to defend Indemnitee in any Proceeding which may give rise to indemnification hereunder; provided, however, that the Company shall notify Indemnitee of any such decision to defend within 15 calendar days following receipt of notice of any such Proceeding under Section 13(a) above.  The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of Indemnitee, which shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, consent to the entry of any judgment against Indemnitee or enter into any settlement or compromise with respect to Indemnitee which (i) includes an admission of fault of Indemnitee, (ii) does not include, as an unconditional term thereof, the full release of Indemnitee from all liability in respect of such Proceeding, which release shall be in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Indemnitee, or (iii) would impose any Expense, judgment, fine, penalty or limitation on Indemnitee.  This Section 13(b) shall not apply to a Proceeding brought by Indemnitee under Section 12 of this Agreement.
(c)Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 13(b) above, if in a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party by reason of Indemnitee’s Corporate Status, (i) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, that Indemnitee may have separate defenses or counterclaims to assert with respect to any issue which may not be consistent with other defendants in such Proceeding, (ii) Indemnitee reasonably concludes, based upon an opinion of counsel approved by the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, that an actual or apparent conflict of interest or potential conflict of interest exists between Indemnitee and the Company, or (iii) if the Company fails to assume the defense of such Proceeding in a timely manner, Indemnitee shall be entitled to be represented by separate legal counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, at the expense of the Company.  In addition, if the Company fails to comply with any of its obligations under this Agreement or in the event that the Company or any other person takes any action to declare this Agreement void or unenforceable, or institutes any Proceeding to deny or to recover from Indemnitee the benefits intended to be provided to Indemnitee hereunder, Indemnitee shall have the right to retain counsel of Indemnitee’s choice, subject to the prior approval of the Company, which approval shall not be unreasonably withheld or delayed, at the expense of the Company (subject to Section 12(d) of this Agreement), to represent Indemnitee in connection with any such matter.
Section 14.Non-Exclusivity; Survival of Rights; Subrogation.
(a)The rights of indemnification and advance of Expenses as provided by this Agreement shall not be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which Indemnitee may at any time be entitled under applicable law, the charter or bylaws of the Company, any agreement or a resolution of the stockholders entitled to vote generally in the election of directors or of the Board of Directors, or otherwise.  Unless consented to in writing by Indemnitee, no amendment, alteration or repeal of the charter or bylaws of the Company, this Agreement or of any provision hereof shall limit or restrict any right of Indemnitee under this Agreement in respect of any action taken or omitted by such Indemnitee in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status prior to such amendment, alteration or repeal, regardless of whether a claim with respect to such action or inaction is raised prior or subsequent to such amendment, alteration or repeal.  No right or remedy herein conferred is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every other right or remedy shall be cumulative and in addition to every other right or remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prohibit the concurrent assertion or employment of any other right or remedy.
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(b)The Company hereby acknowledges that Indemnitee may have certain rights to indemnification, advancement of expenses and/or insurance provided by Angel Oak Companies, LP, a Delaware limited partnership, and certain of its affiliates (collectively, the “Sponsor Indemnitors”).  The Company hereby agrees (i) that, as between the Company and the Sponsor Indemnitors, the Company is the indemnitor of first resort (i.e., its obligations to Indemnitee are primary and any obligation of the Sponsor Indemnitors to advance Expenses or to provide indemnification for the same Expenses or liabilities incurred by Indemnitee are secondary), (ii) that the Company shall be required to advance the full amount of expenses incurred by Indemnitee and shall be liable for the full amount of all Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and amounts paid in settlement to the extent legally permitted and as required by the terms of this Agreement and the charter or bylaws of the Company (or any other agreement between the Company and Indemnitee), without regard to any rights Indemnitee may have against the Sponsor Indemnitors, and (iii) that the Company irrevocably waives, relinquishes and releases the Sponsor Indemnitors from any and all claims against the Sponsor Indemnitors for contribution, subrogation or any other recovery of any kind in respect thereof.  The Company further agrees that no advancement or payment by the Sponsor Indemnitors on behalf of Indemnitee with respect to any claim for which Indemnitee has sought indemnification from the Company shall affect the foregoing and the Sponsor Indemnitors shall have a right of contribution and/or be subrogated to the extent of such advancement or payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee against the Company.  The Company and Indemnitee agree that the Sponsor Indemnitors are express third party beneficiaries of the terms of this Section 14.
(c)In the event of any payment under this Agreement, the Company shall be subrogated to the extent of such payment to all of the rights of recovery of Indemnitee, who shall execute all papers required and take all action necessary to secure such rights, including execution of such documents as are necessary to enable the Company to bring suit to enforce such rights.
Section 15.Insurance.  
(a)The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to acquire and maintain directors and officers liability insurance, on terms and conditions deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors, with the advice of counsel, covering Indemnitee or any claim made against Indemnitee by reason of service in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status and covering the Company for any indemnification or advance of Expenses made by the Company to Indemnitee for any claims made against Indemnitee by reason of service in Indemnitee’s Corporate Status.  In the event of a Change in Control, the Company shall maintain in force any and all directors and officers liability insurance policies that were maintained by the Company immediately prior to the Change in Control for a period of six years with the insurance carrier or carriers and through the insurance broker in place at the time of the Change in Control; provided, however, (i) if the carriers will not offer the same policy and an expiring policy needs to be replaced, a policy substantially comparable in scope and amount shall be obtained and (ii) if any replacement insurance carrier is necessary to obtain a policy substantially comparable in scope and amount, such insurance carrier shall have an AM Best rating that is the same or better than the AM Best rating of the existing insurance carrier; provided, further, however, in no event shall the Company be required to expend in the aggregate in excess of 250% of the annual premium or premiums paid by the Company for directors and officers liability insurance in effect on the date of the Change in Control.  In the event that 250% of the annual premium paid by the Company for such existing directors and officers liability insurance is insufficient for such coverage, the Company shall spend up to that amount to purchase such lesser coverage as may be obtained with such amount.
(b)Without in any way limiting any other obligation under this Agreement, the Company shall indemnify Indemnitee for any payment by Indemnitee which would otherwise be 
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indemnifiable hereunder arising out of the amount of any deductible or retention and the amount of any excess of the aggregate of all judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and Expenses incurred by Indemnitee in connection with a Proceeding over the coverage of any insurance referred to in Section 15(a).  The purchase, establishment and maintenance of any such insurance shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company or Indemnitee under this Agreement except as expressly provided herein, and the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the Company and Indemnitee shall not in any way limit or affect the rights or obligations of the Company under any such insurance policies.  If, at the time the Company receives notice from any source of a Proceeding to which Indemnitee is a party or a participant (as a witness or otherwise) and the Company has director and officer liability insurance in effect, the Company shall give prompt notice of such Proceeding to the insurers in accordance with the procedures set forth in the respective policies.
(c)The Indemnitee shall reasonably cooperate with the Company or any insurance carrier of the Company with respect to any Proceeding. 
Section 16.Coordination of Payments.  The Company shall not be liable under this Agreement to make any payment of amounts otherwise indemnifiable or payable or reimbursable as Expenses hereunder if and to the extent that Indemnitee has otherwise actually received such payment under any insurance policy, contract, agreement or otherwise.
Section 17.Contribution.  If the indemnification provided in this Agreement is unavailable in whole or in part and may not be paid to Indemnitee for any reason, other than for failure to satisfy the standard of conduct set forth in Section 4 or due to the provisions of Section 5, then, with respect to any Proceeding in which the Company is jointly liable with Indemnitee (or would be if joined in such Proceeding), to the fullest extent permissible under applicable law, the Company, in lieu of indemnifying and holding harmless Indemnitee, shall pay, in the first instance, the entire amount incurred by Indemnitee, whether for Expenses, judgments, penalties, fines and/or amounts paid or to be paid in settlement, in connection with any Proceeding without requiring Indemnitee to contribute to such payment, and the Company hereby waives and relinquishes any right of contribution it may have at any time against Indemnitee.
Section 18.Reports to Stockholders.  To the extent required by the MGCL, the Company shall report in writing to its stockholders the payment of any amounts for indemnification of, or advance of Expenses to, Indemnitee under this Agreement arising out of a Proceeding by or in the right of the Company with the notice of the meeting of stockholders of the Company next following the date of the payment of any such indemnification or advance of Expenses or prior to such meeting.
Section 19.Duration of Agreement; Binding Effect.
(a)This Agreement shall continue until and terminate on the later of (i) the date that Indemnitee shall have ceased to serve as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or as a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company and (ii) the date that Indemnitee is no longer subject to any actual or possible Proceeding (including any rights of appeal thereto and any Proceeding commenced by Indemnitee pursuant to Section 12 of this Agreement).  
(b)The indemnification and advance of Expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Agreement shall be binding upon and be enforceable by the parties hereto and their respective successors and assigns (including any direct or indirect successor by purchase, 
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merger, consolidation or otherwise to all or substantially all of the business or assets of the Company), shall continue as to an Indemnitee who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or a director, trustee, officer, partner, manager, managing member, fiduciary, employee or agent of any other foreign or domestic corporation, real estate investment trust, partnership, limited liability company, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise that such person is or was serving in such capacity at the request of the Company, and shall inure to the benefit of Indemnitee and Indemnitee’s spouse, assigns, heirs, devisees, executors and administrators and other legal representatives.
(c)The Company shall require and cause any successor (whether direct or indirect by purchase, merger, consolidation or otherwise) to all, substantially all or a substantial part, of the business and/or assets of the Company, by written agreement in form and substance satisfactory to Indemnitee, expressly to assume and agree to perform this Agreement in the same manner and to the same extent that the Company would be required to perform if no such succession had taken place.
(d)The Company and Indemnitee agree that a monetary remedy for breach of this Agreement, at some later date, may be inadequate, impracticable and difficult of proof, and further agree that such breach may cause Indemnitee irreparable harm.  Accordingly, the parties hereto agree that Indemnitee may enforce this Agreement by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance hereof, without any necessity of showing actual damage or irreparable harm and that by seeking injunctive relief and/or specific performance, Indemnitee shall not be precluded from seeking or obtaining any other relief to which Indemnitee may be entitled.  Indemnitee shall further be entitled to such specific performance and injunctive relief, including temporary restraining orders, preliminary injunctions and permanent injunctions, without the necessity of posting bonds or other undertakings in connection therewith.  The Company acknowledges that, in the absence of a waiver, a bond or undertaking may be required of Indemnitee by a court, and the Company hereby waives any such requirement of such a bond or undertaking.
Section 20.Severability.  If any provision or provisions of this Agreement shall be held to be invalid, void, illegal or otherwise unenforceable for any reason whatsoever: (a) the validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, void, illegal or otherwise unenforceable that is not itself invalid, void, illegal or otherwise unenforceable) shall not in any way be affected or impaired thereby and shall remain enforceable to the fullest extent permitted by law; (b) such provision or provisions shall be deemed reformed to the extent necessary to conform to applicable law and to give the maximum effect to the intent of the parties hereto; and (c) to the fullest extent possible, the provisions of this Agreement (including, without limitation, each portion of any Section, paragraph or sentence of this Agreement containing any such provision held to be invalid, void, illegal or otherwise unenforceable, that is not itself invalid, void, illegal or otherwise unenforceable) shall be construed so as to give effect to the intent manifested thereby.
Section 21.Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, (delivery of which may be by facsimile, or via e-mail as a portable document format (.pdf) or other electronic format), each of which will be deemed to be an original, and it will not be necessary in making proof of this Agreement or the terms of this Agreement to produce or account for more than one such counterpart.  One such counterpart signed by the party against whom enforceability is sought shall be sufficient to evidence the existence of this Agreement.
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Section 22.Headings.  The headings of the paragraphs of this Agreement are inserted for convenience only and shall not be deemed to constitute part of this Agreement or to affect the construction thereof.
Section 23.Modification and Waiver.  No supplement, modification or amendment of this Agreement shall be binding unless executed in writing by both of the parties hereto.  No waiver of any of the provisions of this Agreement shall be deemed or shall constitute a waiver of any other provisions hereof (whether or not similar) nor, unless otherwise expressly stated, shall such waiver constitute a continuing waiver.
Section 24.Notices.  All notices, requests, demands and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if (i) delivered by hand and receipted for by the party to whom said notice or other communication shall have been directed, on the day of such delivery, or (ii) mailed by certified or registered mail with postage prepaid, on the third business day after the date on which it is so mailed:
(a)If to Indemnitee, to the address set forth on the signature page hereto.
(b)If to the Company, to:
Angel Oak Mortgage, Inc.
3344 Peachtree Road NE, Suite 1725
Atlanta, Georgia 30326

or to such other address as may have been furnished in writing to Indemnitee by the Company or to the Company by Indemnitee, as the case may be.

Section 25.Governing Law.  This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to its conflicts of laws rules.
[SIGNATURE PAGE FOLLOWS]
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    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as of the day and year first above written.
                        COMPANY:

                        ANGEL OAK MORTGAGE, INC.

By: /s/ Dory Black
Name: Dory Black
Title: General Counsel

[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

INDEMNITEE:

/s/ Jonathan S. Morgan
Name: Jonathan S. Morgan
Address: 

                        
[Signature Page to Indemnification Agreement]

EXHIBIT A
AFFIRMATION AND UNDERTAKING TO REPAY EXPENSES ADVANCED
To:  The Board of Directors of Angel Oak Mortgage, Inc.

Re:  Affirmation and Undertaking 

Ladies and Gentlemen:

This Affirmation and Undertaking is being provided pursuant to that certain Indemnification Agreement dated the _____day of ______________, 20____, by and between Angel Oak Mortgage, Inc., a Maryland corporation (the “Company”), and the undersigned Indemnitee (the “Indemnification Agreement”), pursuant to which I am entitled to advance of Expenses in connection with [Description of Proceeding] (the “Proceeding”).
Terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings specified in the Indemnification Agreement.
I am subject to the Proceeding by reason of my Corporate Status or by reason of alleged actions or omissions by me in such capacity.  I hereby affirm my good faith belief that at all times, insofar as I was involved as [a director] [and] [an executive officer] of the Company, in any of the facts or events giving rise to the Proceeding, I (1) did not act with bad faith or active or deliberate dishonesty, (2) did not receive any improper personal benefit in money, property or services and (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe that any act or omission by me was unlawful.
In consideration of the advance by the Company for Expenses incurred by me in connection with the Proceeding (the “Advanced Expenses”), I hereby agree that if, in connection with the Proceeding, it is established that (1) an act or omission by me was material to the matter giving rise to the Proceeding and (a) was committed in bad faith or (b) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty or (2) I actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services or (3) in the case of any criminal proceeding, I had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful, then I shall promptly reimburse the portion of the Advanced Expenses relating to the claims, issues or matters in the Proceeding as to which the foregoing findings have been established.  
    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have executed this Affirmation and Undertaking on this ___day of ______________, 20____.

                        Name: _____________________________

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