EXHIBIT 1.1
5,175,000 Shares
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ PETROLEUM CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK
(PAR VALUE $0.20 PER SHARE)
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
----------------------
____________, 2000
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Company, Inc.,
as Representative of the several Underwriters
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1. Introductory. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Petroleum Corporation, a Delaware corporation
("COMPANY"), proposes to issue and sell 4,500,000 shares ("FIRM SECURITIES") of
its common stock, par value $0.20 per share ("SECURITIES") and also proposes to
issue and sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an
aggregate of not more than 675,000 additional shares ("OPTIONAL SECURITIES") of
its Securities as set forth below. The Firm Securities and the Optional
Securities are herein collectively called the "OFFERED SECURITIES". The Company
hereby agrees with the several Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto
("UNDERWRITERS") as follows:
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement (No. 333-47078) relating to the Offered
Securities, including a form of prospectus, has been filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission ("COMMISSION") and either (i) has been
declared effective under the Securities Act of 1933 ("ACT") and is not
proposed to be amended or (ii) is proposed to be amended by amendment or
post-effective amendment. If such registration statement ("INITIAL
REGISTRATION STATEMENT") has been declared effective, either (i) an
additional registration statement ("ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT")
relating to the Offered Securities may have been filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(b) ("RULE 462(B)") under the Act and, if so filed,
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has become effective upon filing pursuant to such Rule and the Offered
Securities all have been duly registered under the Act pursuant to the
initial registration statement and, if applicable, the additional
registration statement or (ii) such an additional registration statement is
proposed to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) and will
become effective upon filing pursuant to such Rule and upon such filing the
Offered Securities will all have been duly registered under the Act
pursuant to the initial registration statement and such additional
registration statement. If the Company does not propose to amend the
initial registration statement or if an additional registration statement
has been filed and the Company does not propose to amend it, and if any
post-effective amendment to either such registration statement has been
filed with the Commission prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the most recent amendment (if any) to each such registration
statement has been declared effective by the Commission or has become
effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c) ("RULE 462(c)") under the Act
or, in the case of the additional registration statement, Rule 462(b). For
purposes of this Agreement, "EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect to the initial
registration statement or, if filed prior to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement, the additional registration statement means (i) if the
Company has advised the Representative that it does not propose to amend
such registration statement, the date and time as of which such
registration statement, or the most recent post-effective amendment thereto
(if any) filed prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, was
declared effective by the Commission or has become effective upon filing
pursuant to Rule 462(c), or (ii) if the Company has advised the
Representative that it proposes to file an amendment or post-effective
amendment to such registration statement, the date and time as of which
such registration statement, as amended by such amendment or post-effective
amendment, as the case may be, is declared effective by the Commission. If
an additional registration statement has not been filed prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement but the Company has advised the
Representative that it proposes to file one, "EFFECTIVE TIME" with respect
to such additional registration statement means the date and time as of
which such registration statement is filed and becomes effective pursuant
to Rule 462(b). "EFFECTIVE DATE" with respect to the initial registration
statement or the additional registration statement (if any) means the date
of the Effective Time thereof. The initial registration statement, as
amended at its Effective Time, including all information contained in the
additional registration statement (if any) and deemed to be a part of the
initial registration statement as of the Effective Time of the additional
registration statement pursuant to the General Instructions of the Form on
which it is filed and including all information (if any) deemed to be a
part of the initial registration statement as of its Effective Time
pursuant to Rule 430A(b) ("RULE 430A(b)") under the Act, is hereinafter
referred to as the "INITIAL REGISTRATION STATEMENT". The additional
registration statement, as amended at its Effective Time, including the
contents of the initial registration statement incorporated by reference
therein and including all information (if any) deemed to be a part of the
additional registration statement as of its Effective Time pursuant to Rule
430A(b), is hereinafter referred to as the "ADDITIONAL REGISTRATION
STATEMENT". The Initial Registration Statement and the Additional
Registration Statement are herein referred to collectively as the
"REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" and individually as a "REGISTRATION STATEMENT".
The form of prospectus relating to the Offered Securities, as first filed
with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) ("RULE
424(b)") under the Act or (if no such filing is required) as included in a
Registration Statement, is hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS". No
document has been or will be prepared or distributed in reliance on Rule
434 under the Act.
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(b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: (i) on the Effective
Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial Registration
Statement conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act
and the rules and regulations of the Commission ("RULES AND REGULATIONS")
and did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, (ii) on the Effective Date of the
Additional Registration Statement (if any), each Registration Statement
conformed, or will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
the Act and the Rules and Regulations and did not include, or will not
include, any untrue statement of a material fact and did not omit, or will
not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (iii) on the
date of this Agreement, the Initial Registration Statement and, if the
Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement is prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Additional Registration
Statement each conforms, and at the time of filing of the Prospectus
pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is required) at the Effective
Date of the Additional Registration Statement in which the Prospectus is
included, each Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform, in
all respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations,
and neither of such documents includes, or will include, any untrue
statement of a material fact or omits, or will omit, to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading. If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement: on
the Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement, the Initial
Registration Statement and the Prospectus will conform in all respects to
the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, neither of such
documents will include any untrue statement of a material fact or will omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, and no Additional Registration
Statement has been or will be filed. The two preceding sentences do not
apply to statements in or omissions from a Registration Statement or the
Prospectus based upon written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it
being understood and agreed that the only such information is that
described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with
power and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus; the Company is duly qualified
to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in the States of
Louisiana and Texas; and the Company is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which
its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires
such qualification except where the failure to be so qualified would not
individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the
condition (financial or other), business, properties or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole ("MATERIAL
ADVERSE EFFECT").
(d) Each subsidiary of the Company (A) that is a corporation has been
duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, and has corporate power and
authority to own its property
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and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus or (B) that is a
limited partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, has
been duly formed and is validly existing as a limited partnership or
limited liability company, as the case may be, in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its formation, and has full power and authority
to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; and, in either case, is duly qualified to transact business and
is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
business or its ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its
business requires such qualification except where the failure to be so
qualified would not have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests of each subsidiary
of the Company is owned by the Company and has been duly authorized and
validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; the capital stock or
other ownership interests of each subsidiary owned by the Company, directly
or through subsidiaries, is owned free from liens, encumbrances and
defects; all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other ownership
interests of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable; and neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries are general partners in any partnership.
(e) The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company have been duly authorized; all outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company are, and, when the Offered Securities have
been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on each
Closing Date (as defined below), such Offered Securities will have been,
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and will conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus; and the stockholders of
the Company have no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities.
(f) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no contracts,
agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that would
give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a
brokerage commission, finder's fee or other like payment in connection with
the offering of Offered Securities.
(g) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the
Company and any person granting such person the right to require the
Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any
securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require
the Company to include such securities in the securities registered
pursuant to a Registration Statement (except as to which valid notice has
been given and valid waivers of such rights have been made, copies of which
have been furnished to the Representative) or, except as disclosed in the
Prospectus and set forth on Schedule B hereto, in any securities being
registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the
Company under the Act.
(h) The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on The New
York Stock Exchange subject to notice of issuance.
(i) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing with,
any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in
connection with the issuance and sale of the
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Offered Securities by the Company, except such as have been obtained and
made under the Act and such as may be required under state securities laws.
(j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the
issuance and sale of the Offered Securities will not result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental
agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or any of their properties, or
any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or
instrument that is material to the Company to which the Company or any such
subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any such subsidiary is
bound or to which any of the properties of the Company or any such
subsidiary is subject, or the charter or by-laws of the Company or any such
subsidiary, and the Company has full power and authority to authorize,
issue and sell the Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement.
(k) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.
(l) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its
subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all
other properties and assets owned by them (excluding all oil and gas
properties that are dealt with in clause (m) below), in each case free from
liens, encumbrances and defects that would materially affect the value
thereof or materially interfere with the use made or to be made thereof by
them; and except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company and its
subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under valid and
enforceable leases with no exceptions that would materially interfere with
the use made or to be made thereof by them.
(m) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and defensible title to
its oil and gas properties, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and
defects except (i) as disclosed in the Prospectus, (ii) liens and
encumbrances under gas sales contracts, operating agreements, unitization
and pooling agreements and such other agreements as are customarily found
in connection with comparable drilling and producing operations; and (iii)
liens, encumbrances and defects that do not, individually and in the
aggregate, materially affect the value of such properties or materially
interfere with the ability of the Company to conduct its business as
currently conducted or to utilize such properties for their intended
purposes.
(n) Except as described in the Prospectus, all royalties, rentals,
deposits and other amounts due on the oil and gas properties of the Company
and its subsidiaries have properly and timely paid, and no material amounts
of proceeds from the sale or production attributable to the oil and gas
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries are currently being held, or
are being threatened to be held, in suspense by any purchaser or purchasers
thereof.
(o) The Company and its subsidiaries possess adequate certificates,
authorities or permits issued by appropriate governmental agencies or
bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them and have not
received any notice of proceedings relating to
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the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or permit
that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any
subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that
might have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess or can acquire on
reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, trade names and other rights to
inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and
other intellectual property (collectively, "INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS")
necessary to conduct the business now operated by them, or presently
employed by them, and have not received any notice of infringement of or
conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any intellectual
property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(r) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries is in violation of any statute, any rule, regulation,
decision or order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic
or foreign, relating to the use, disposal or release of hazardous or toxic
substances or relating to the protection or restoration of the environment
or human exposure to hazardous or toxic substances (collectively,
"ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), owns or operates any real property contaminated with
any substance that is subject to any environmental laws, is liable for any
off-site disposal or contamination pursuant to any environmental laws, or
is subject to any claim relating to any environmental laws, which
violation, contamination, liability or claim would individually or in the
aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company is not aware of
any pending investigation which might lead to such a claim.
(s) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no pending
actions, suits or proceedings against or affecting the Company, any of its
subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined
adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or
in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and
adversely affect the ability of the Company to perform its obligations
under this Agreement, and no such actions, suits or proceedings are
threatened or, to the Company's knowledge, contemplated.
(t) The financial statements included in each Registration Statement
and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and
its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates shown and their results of
operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis;
and the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma financial statements
included in each Registration Statement and the Prospectus provide a
reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly
attributable to the transactions or events described therein, the related
pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the
pro forma columns therein reflect the proper application of those
adjustments to the corresponding historical financial statement amounts.
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(u) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, since the date of the
latest audited financial statements included in the Prospectus there has
been no material adverse change, nor any development or event involving a
prospective material adverse change, in the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, and, except as disclosed in or contemplated
by the Prospectus, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(v) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof
as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940.
(w) Coutret & Associates, Inc. ("Coutret"), petroleum engineers from
whose reserve report information is set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, were, as of the date of such respective report, and
are, as of the date hereof, independent petroleum engineers with respect to
the Company and its subsidiaries. The information underlying the estimates
of the reserves of the Company and the subsidiaries, supplied by the
Company to Coutret for purposes of preparing such reserve reports
(including, without limitation, production, costs of operation and
development, current prices for production, agreements relating to current
and future operations and sales of production, working interest and net
revenue information relating to the Company's ownership in such properties)
was true and correct in all material respects on the dates such information
was supplied and such reserve reports were prepared; the estimates of
future capital expenditures and other future exploration and development
costs supplied to Coutret by the Company were prepared in good faith and
with a reasonable basis; the information provided by Coutret for purposes
of preparing the reserve report was prepared in accordance with customary
industry practices and conforms in all material respects to all guidelines
promulgated by the Commission; and except as described in the Prospectus,
other than normal production of the reserves and intervening spot market
product price fluctuations described in the Prospectus, there are no facts
or circumstances that would, individually or in the aggregate have a
material adverse effect on the Company's reserves or present value of
future net cash flows therefrom, as described in the Prospectus and
described in the reserve report; and estimates of such reserves and the
present value of future net cash flows therefrom as described in the
Prospectus and reflected in the reserve report comply in all material
respects to the applicable requirements of the Commission and the Act,
including Regulation S-X and Industry Guide 2 under the Act.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities. On the basis
of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject
to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to the
Underwriters, and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company, at a purchase price of $ per share, the respective
numbers of shares of Firm Securities set forth opposite the names of the
Underwriters in Schedule A hereto.
The Company will deliver the Firm Securities to the Representative for the
accounts of the Underwriters, at the office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meager &
▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇,
▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, against payment of the purchase price in Federal (same
day) funds by official bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a
bank acceptable to Jefferies & Company, Inc. ("JEFFERIES") drawn to the order of
the Company at the office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, at
A.M., New York time, on , 2000, or at such other time not later than
seven full business days thereafter as Jefferies and the Company determine, such
time being herein referred to as the "FIRST CLOSING DATE". For purposes of Rule
15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the First Closing Date (if
later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the settlement
date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered
Securities sold pursuant to the offering. The certificates for the Firm
Securities so to be delivered will be in definitive form, in such denominations
and registered in such names as Jefferies requests and will be made available
for checking and packaging at the above office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
& ▇▇▇▇ LLP at least 24 hours prior to the First Closing Date.
In addition, upon written notice from Jefferies given to the Company from
time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of the Prospectus, the
Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Securities at the
purchase price per Security to be paid for the Firm Securities. The Company
agrees to sell to the Underwriters the number of shares of Optional Securities
specified in such notice and the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly,
to purchase such Optional Securities. Such Optional Securities shall be
purchased for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the
number of shares of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name
bears to the total number of shares of Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by
Jefferies to eliminate fractions) and may be purchased by the Underwriters only
for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the sale of
the Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless
the Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and
delivered. The right to purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof
may be exercised from time to time and to the extent not previously exercised
may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by Jefferies to the
Company.
Each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities,
being herein referred to as an "OPTIONAL CLOSING DATE", which may be the First
Closing Date (the First Closing Date and each Optional Closing Date, if any,
being sometimes referred to as a "CLOSING DATE"), shall be determined by
Jefferies but shall be not later than five full business days after written
notice of election to purchase Optional Securities is given. The Company will
deliver the Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing Date to
the Representative for the accounts of the several Underwriters against payment
of the purchase price therefor in Federal (same day) funds by official bank
check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to Jefferies
drawn to the order of the Company, at the above office of Skadden, Arps, Slate,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP. The certificates for the Optional Securities being
purchased on each Optional Closing Date will be in definitive form, in such
denominations and registered in such names as Jefferies requests upon reasonable
notice prior to such Optional Closing Date and will be made available for
checking and packaging at the above office of Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇ LLP at a reasonable time in advance of such Optional Closing Date.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters
propose to offer the Offered Securities for sale to the public as set forth in
the Prospectus.
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5. Certain Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with the several
Underwriters that:
(a) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will
file the Prospectus with the Commission pursuant to and in accordance with
subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by Jefferies,
subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier of (A) the
second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement
or (B) the fifteenth business day after the Effective Date of the Initial
Registration Statement.
The Company will advise Jefferies promptly of any such filing
pursuant to Rule 424(b). If the Effective Time of the Initial
Registration Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and an additional registration statement is necessary to
register a portion of the Offered Securities under the Act but the
Effective Time thereof has not occurred as of such execution and
delivery, the Company will file the additional registration statement
or, if filed, will file a post-effective amendment thereto with the
Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 462(b) on or prior
to 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or, if
earlier, on or prior to the time the Prospectus is printed and
distributed to any Underwriter, or will make such filing at such later
date as shall have been consented to by Jefferies.
(b) The Company will advise Jefferies promptly of any proposal to
amend or supplement the initial or any additional registration statement as
filed or the related prospectus or the Initial Registration Statement, the
Additional Registration Statement (if any) or the Prospectus and will not
effect such amendment or supplementation without Jefferies' consent; and
the Company will also advise Jefferies promptly of the effectiveness of
each Registration Statement (if its Effective Time is subsequent to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement) and of any amendment or
supplementation of a Registration Statement or the Prospectus and of the
institution by the Commission of any stop order proceedings in respect of a
Registration Statement and will use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order and to obtain as soon as possible its
lifting, if issued.
(c) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Offered
Securities is required to be delivered under the Act in connection with
sales by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a result of which
the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to
amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly
notify Jefferies of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission, at its own expense, an amendment or supplement which will
correct such statement or omission or an amendment which will effect such
compliance. Neither Jefferies' consent to, nor the Underwriters' delivery
of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any of
the conditions set forth in Section 6.
(d) As soon as practicable, but not later than the Availability Date
(as defined below), the Company will make generally available to its
securityholders an earnings
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statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the
Effective Date of the Initial Registration Statement (or, if later, the
Effective Date of the Additional Registration Statement) which will satisfy
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act. For the purpose of the
preceding sentence, "AVAILABILITY DATE" means the 45th day after the end of
the fourth fiscal quarter following the fiscal quarter that includes such
Effective Date, except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the last
quarter of the Company's fiscal year, "AVAILABILITY DATE" means the 90th
day after the end of such fourth fiscal quarter.
(e) The Company will furnish to the Representative copies of each
Registration Statement (two of which will be signed and will include all
exhibits), each related preliminary prospectus, and, so long as a
prospectus relating to the Offered Securities is required to be delivered
under the Act in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, the
Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such documents, in each
case in such quantities as Jefferies requests. The Prospectus shall be so
furnished on or prior to 3:00 P.M., New York time, on the business day
following the later of the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the
Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement. All other documents
shall be so furnished as soon as available. The Company will pay the
expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriters all such
documents.
(f) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Offered
Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as Jefferies
designates and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as
required for the distribution.
(g) During the period of five years hereafter, the Company will
furnish to the Representative and, upon request, to each of the other
Underwriters, as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a
copy of its annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company
will furnish to the Representative (i) as soon as available, a copy of each
report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the
Commission under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or mailed to
stockholders, and (ii) from time to time, such other information concerning
the Company as Jefferies may reasonably request.
(h) The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of
its obligations under this Agreement, for any filing fees and other
expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) incurred in
connection with qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the
laws of such jurisdictions as Jefferies designates and the printing of
memoranda relating thereto, for the filing fee incident to, and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in
connection with, the review by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. of the Offered Securities, for any travel expenses of the
Company's officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company in
connection with attending or hosting meetings with prospective purchasers
of the Offered Securities and for expenses incurred in distributing
preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus (including any amendments and
supplements thereto) to the Underwriters.
(i) For a period of 180 days after the date of the initial public
offering of the Offered Securities, the Company will not offer, sell,
contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly,
or file with the Commission any registration statement under the Act
relating to, any additional shares of its Securities or securities
convertible into
10
or exchangeable or exercisable for any shares of its Securities, or
publicly disclose the intention to make any such offer, sale, pledge,
disposition or filing, whether for the benefit of the Company, its
securityholders or any other person, without the prior written consent of
Jefferies, except issuances of Securities pursuant to the conversion or
exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities or the exercise of
warrants or options, in each case outstanding on, and in accordance with
the terms of such securities as of, the date hereof, grants of employee
stock options pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date hereof,
issuances of Securities pursuant to the exercise of such options.
6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of
the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the
First Closing Date and the Optional Securities to be purchased on each Optional
Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company herein, to the accuracy of the statements
of Company officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance
by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions precedent:
(a) The Representative shall have received a letter, dated the date of
delivery thereof (which, if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration
Statement is prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, shall
be on or prior to the date of this Agreement or, if the Effective Time of
the Initial Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, shall be prior to the filing of the amendment
or post-effective amendment to the registration statement to be filed
shortly prior to such Effective Time), of KPMG LLP confirming that they are
independent public accountants for the Company within the meaning of the
Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations thereunder and
stating to the effect that:
(i) in their opinion the financial statements and schedules)
examined by them and included in the Registration Statements comply as
to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and the related published Rules and
Regulations;
(ii) they have performed the procedures specified by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim
financial information as described in Statement of Auditing Standards
No. 71, Interim Financial Information, on the unaudited financial
statements included in the Registration Statements;]
(iii) on the basis of the review referred to in clause (ii)
above, a reading of the latest available interim financial statements
of the Company, inquiries of officials of the Company who have
responsibility for financial and accounting matters and other
specified procedures, nothing came to their attention that caused them
to believe that:
(A) the unaudited financial statements included in the
Registration Statements do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
and the related published Rules and Regulations or any material
modifications should be
11
made to such unaudited financial statements for them to be in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;]
(B) at the date of the latest available balance sheet read
by such accountants, or at a subsequent specified date not more
than three business days prior to the date of this Agreement,
there was any change in the capital stock or any increase in
short-term indebtedness or long-term debt of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries or, at the date of the latest available
balance sheet read by such accountants, there was any decrease in
consolidated net current assets or net assets, as compared with
amounts shown on the latest balance sheet included in the
Prospectus; or
(C) for the period from the closing date of the latest
income statement included in the Prospectus to the closing date
of the latest available income statement read by such accountants
there were any decreases, as compared with the corresponding
period of the previous year and with the period of corresponding
length ended the date of the latest income statement included in
the Prospectus, in consolidated net sales, or in the total or per
share amounts of consolidated income before extraordinary items
or net income, except in all cases set forth in clause (B) above
for changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus
discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in
such letter; and
(iv) on the basis of their review of the unaudited pro forma as
adjusted financial statements and selected consolidated financial data
included in the Registration Statement and inquiries of officials of the
Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters and
other specified procedures, nothing came to their attention that caused
them to believe that the unaudited pro forma as adjusted financial
statements and selected consolidated financial data included in the
Registration Statement do not comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements under the Act;
(v) they have compared specified dollar amounts (or percentages
derived from such dollar amounts) and other financial information contained
in the Registration Statements (in each case to the extent that such dollar
amounts, percentages and other financial information are derived from the
general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries subject to
the internal controls of the Company's accounting system or are derived
directly from such records by analysis or computation) with the results
obtained from inquiries, a reading of such general accounting records and
other procedures specified in such letter and have found such dollar
amounts, percentages and other financial information to be in agreement
with such results, except as otherwise specified in such letter.
For purposes of this subsection, (i) if the Effective Time of the Initial
Registration Statement is subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, "REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" shall mean the initial registration
statement as proposed to be amended by the amendment or
12
post-effective amendment to be filed shortly prior to its Effective Time, (ii)
if the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement but the Effective Time of the
Additional Registration is subsequent to such execution and delivery,
"REGISTRATION STATEMENTS" shall mean the Initial Registration Statement and the
additional registration statement as proposed to be filed or as proposed to be
amended by the post-effective amendment to be filed shortly prior to its
Effective Time, and (iii) "PROSPECTUS" shall mean the prospectus included in the
Registration Statements.
(b) If the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is not
prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such Effective Time
shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York time, on the date
of this Agreement or such later date as shall have been consented to by
Jefferies. If the Effective Time of the Additional Registration Statement
(if any) is not prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, such
Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York
time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Prospectus
is printed and distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have occurred at
such later date as shall have been consented to by Jefferies. If the
Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement is prior to the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Prospectus shall have been
filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and
Section 5(a) of this Agreement. Prior to such Closing Date, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or,
to the knowledge of the Company or the Representative, shall be
contemplated by the Commission.
(c) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, there
shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event
involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or other),
business, properties or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as one enterprise which, in the judgment of a majority
in interest of the Underwriters including the Representative, is material
and adverse and makes it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with
completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the
Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading in the rating of any debt
securities or preferred stock of the Company by any "nationally recognized
statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)
under the Act), or any public announcement that any such organization has
under surveillance or review its rating of any debt securities or preferred
stock of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications
of a possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of
such rating); (iii) any material suspension or material limitation of
trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, or any
setting of minimum prices for trading on such exchange, or any suspension
of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or in the over-
the-counter market; (iv) any banking moratorium declared by U.S. Federal or
New York authorities; or (v) any outbreak or escalation of major
hostilities in which the United States is involved, any declaration of war
by Congress or any other substantial national or international calamity or
emergency if, in the judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters
including the Representative, the effect of any such outbreak, escalation,
declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to
proceed with completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment
for the Offered Securities.
13
(d) The Representative shall have received an opinion, dated such
Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP, counsel for the Company, to the
effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware,
with corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus; and the Company is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation in good standing in
all other jurisdictions in which its ownership or lease of property or
the conduct of its business requires such qualification;
(ii) Each subsidiary of the Company (A) that is a corporation has
been duly incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation, and has corporate
power and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus or (B) that is a limited partnership or
limited liability company, as the case may be, has been duly formed
and is validly existing as a limited partnership or limited liability
company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its formation, and has full power and authority to own
its property and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; and, in either case, is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or lease of property or the
conduct of its business requires such qualification; all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock or other ownership interests of each
subsidiary of the Company is owned by the Company and has been duly
authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; the
capital stock or other ownership interests of each subsidiary owned by
the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free from
liens, encumbrances and defects; all the outstanding shares of capital
stock or other ownership interests of each subsidiary of the Company
have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and
nonassessable; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries are
general partners in any partnership;
(iii) The Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date and
all other outstanding shares of the Common Stock of the Company have
been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and conform to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus; and the stockholders of the Company have no preemptive
rights with respect to the Securities;
(iv) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings known
to such counsel between the Company and any person granting such
person the right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company
owned or to be owned by such person or to require the Company to
include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to the
Registration Statement or, except as disclosed in the Prospectus and
in an exhibit to the opinion, in any securities being registered
pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the Company
under the Act;
14
(v) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment
company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940;
(vi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing
with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in
connection with the issuance or sale of the Offered Securities by the
Company, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and
such as may be required under state securities laws;
(vii) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the issuance and sale of the Offered Securities will not result in
a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any statute, any rule, or regulation or,
to our knowledge, any order of any governmental agency or body or any
court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company or any of their properties, or any agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any such subsidiary is a party or by which the
Company or any such subsidiary is bound or to which any of the
properties of the Company or any such subsidiary is subject, or the
charter or by-laws of the Company or any such subsidiary, and the
Company has full power and authority to authorize, issue and sell the
Offered Securities as contemplated by this Agreement;
(viii) The Initial Registration Statement was declared effective
under the Act as of the date and time specified in such opinion, the
Additional Registration Statement (if any) was filed and became
effective under the Act as of the date and time (if determinable)
specified in such opinion, the Prospectus either was filed with the
Commission pursuant to the subparagraph of Rule 424(b) specified in
such opinion on the date specified therein or was included in the
Initial Registration Statement or the Additional Registration
Statement (as the case may be), and, to the best of the knowledge of
such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or
contemplated under the Act, and each Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of their
respective effective or issue dates, complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations; such counsel have no reason to believe that any part of a
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, as of its effective
date or as of such Closing Date, contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto, as of its issue date or as of such Closing Date, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; the descriptions in the Registration Statements and
Prospectus of statutes, legal and governmental proceedings and
contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly present the
information required to be shown; and
15
such counsel do not know of any legal or governmental proceedings
required to be described in a Registration Statement or the Prospectus
which are not described as required or of any contracts or documents
of a character required to be described in a Registration Statement or
the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to a Registration Statement
which are not described and filed as required; it being understood
that such counsel need express no opinion as to the financial
statements or other financial data contained in the Registration
Statements or the Prospectus; and
(ix) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(e) The Representative shall have received from Skadden, Arps, Slate,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions,
dated such Closing Date, with respect to the incorporation of the Company,
the validity of the Offered Securities delivered on such Closing Date, the
Registration Statements, the Prospectus and other related matters as the
Representative may require, and the Company shall have furnished to such
counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to
pass upon such matters.
(f) The Representative shall have received a certificate, dated such
Closing Date, of the President or any Vice President and a principal
financial or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers, to
the best of their knowledge after reasonable investigation, shall state
that: the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct; the Company has complied with all agreements and
satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder
at or prior to such Closing Date; no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of any Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are contemplated by
the Commission; the Additional Registration Statement (if any) satisfying
the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (3) of Rule 462(b) was filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b), including payment of the applicable filing fee in
accordance with Rule 111(a) or (b) under the Act, prior to the time the
Prospectus was printed and distributed to any Underwriter; and, subsequent
to the respective dates of the most recent financial statements in the
Prospectus, there has been no material adverse change, nor any development
or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition
(financial or other), business, properties or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in or
contemplated by the Prospectus or as described in such certificate.
(g) The Representative shall have received a letter, dated such
Closing Date, of KPMG LLP which meets the requirements of subsection (a) of
this Section, except that the specified date referred to in such subsection
will be a date not more than three days prior to such Closing Date for the
purposes of this subsection.
(h) The Representative shall have received a letter, dated such
Closing Date, of Coutret with respect to their status as independent
reserve engineers and with respect to reserve information of the Company
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative.
16
(i) On or prior to the date of this Agreement, the Representative
shall have received lockup letters from each of the executive officers and
directors of the Company.
The Company will furnish the Representative with such conformed copies of such
opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representative reasonably
request. Jefferies may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the
Underwriters compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of an Optional Closing Date or
otherwise.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its
partners, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act, against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such
Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of any material fact contained in any Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any related
preliminary prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such expenses are
incurred; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use
therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information
furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such
in subsection (b) below.
(b) Each Underwriter will severally and not jointly indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, its directors and officers and each person, if any
who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act,
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may
become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in any Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary prospectus, or
arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but
only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter
through the Representative specifically for use therein, and will reimburse
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and
agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists
of the following information in the Prospectus
17
furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the concession and reallowance
figures appearing in the fourth paragraph under the caption "Underwriting".
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section
of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party
under subsection (a) or (b) above, notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party
will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified
party otherwise than under subsection (a) or (b) above. In case any such
action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will
be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish,
jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the
defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who
shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to
the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to
such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof,
the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under
this Section, for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than
reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of
any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any
claims that are the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include
a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to
act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a)
or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above
(i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from
the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates
to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be
18
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action
or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty
of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this
subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations
of the Underwriters under this Section shall be in addition to any
liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each director of the
Company, to each officer of the Company who has signed a Registration
Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Act.
8. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in
their obligations to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the First
or any Optional Closing Date and the aggregate number of shares of Offered
Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities
that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, Jefferies
may make arrangements satisfactory to the Company for the purchase of such
Offered Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if
no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting
Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in proportion to their respective
commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such defaulting
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any
Underwriter or Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of
Offered Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occur exceeds
10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the Underwriters
are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements satisfactory to
Jefferies and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Securities by other
persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement will
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter or the
Company, except as provided in Section 9 (provided that if such default occurs
with respect to Optional Securities after the First Closing Date, this Agreement
will not terminate as to the Firm Securities or any Optional Securities
purchased prior to such termination). As used in this Agreement, the term
"Underwriter" includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this
Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for
its default.
9. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter, the Company or any of their respective representatives,
officers or directors or any
19
controlling person, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered
Securities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 8 or if for any
reason the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not
consummated, the Company shall remain responsible for the expenses to be paid or
reimbursed by it pursuant to Section 5 and the respective obligations of the
Company and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 7 shall remain in effect, and
if any Offered Securities have been purchased hereunder the representations and
warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5 shall also remain in
effect. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by the Underwriters is not
consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 8, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for
all out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel)
reasonably incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered
Securities.
10. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent
to the Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to
the Representative at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
Attention: Investment Banking DepartmentCTransactions Advisory Group], or, if
sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to
it at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: President;
provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 7 will
be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such Underwriter.
11. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person
will have any right or obligation hereunder.
12. Representation of Underwriters. The Representative will act for the
several Underwriters in connection with this financing, and any action under
this Agreement taken by the Representative will be binding upon all the
Underwriters.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same Agreement.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in
accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without regard to principles
of conflicts of laws.
The Company hereby submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal
and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The City of New York in any suit
or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby.
If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representative's understanding
of our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts
hereof, whereupon it will become a binding agreement between the Company and the
several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ PETROLEUM CORPORATION
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By..........................................
[Insert title]
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.
Jefferies & Company, Inc.
By......................................................
[Insert title]
Acting on behalf of itself and as the Representative of the several
Underwriters.
Jefferies & Company, Inc.
...........................................................
...........................................................
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SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITER FIRM SECURITIES
----------- ---------------------
Jefferies & Company, Inc....................................................
---------------------
Total........................................................
=====================
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SCHEDULE B
1. February 2000 Registration Rights Agreement
2. September 2000 Registration Rights Agreement
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