EXHIBIT 1.1
_______________ SHARES
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK, $0.01 PAR VALUE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
__________, 1999
_____________, 1999
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, a division of
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
Vignette Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes to
issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the
"UNDERWRITERS"), and certain shareholders of the Company (the "SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS") named in Schedule I hereto severally propose to sell to the
several Underwriters, an aggregate of _______________ shares of the Common
Stock, $0.01 par value of the Company (the "FIRM SHARES"), of which
_____________ shares are to be issued and sold by the Company and _____________
shares are to be sold by the Selling Shareholders, each Selling Shareholder
selling the number of shares set forth opposite such Selling Shareholder's name
in Schedule I hereto.
The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters not
more than an additional ______________ shares of its Common Stock, $0.01 par
value (the "ADDITIONAL SHARES") if and to the extent that you, as managers of
the offering, shall have determined to exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters,
the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted to the Underwriters in
Section 3 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are hereinafter
collectively referred to as the "SHARES." The shares of Common Stock, $0.01 par
value of the Company to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales
contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the "COMMON STOCK." The
Company and the Selling Shareholders are hereinafter sometimes collectively
referred to as the "SELLERS."
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") a registration statement, including a prospectus, relating to the
Shares. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes
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effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the
registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), is hereinafter
referred to as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT"; the prospectus in the form first
used to confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS."
If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register
additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities
Act (the "RULE 462 REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), then any reference herein to the
term "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462
Registration Statement.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated ("▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇") has agreed to reserve
a portion of the Shares to be purchased by it under this Agreement for sale to
the Company's directors, officers, employees and business associates and other
parties related to the Company (collectively, "PARTICIPANTS"), as set forth in
the Prospectus under the heading "Underwriters" (the "DIRECTED SHARE PROGRAM").
The Shares to be sold by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ pursuant to the Directed Share Program
are hereinafter referred to as the "DIRECTED SHARES". Any Directed Shares not
orally confirmed for purchase by any Participants by the end of the business day
on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the
Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect,
and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by
the Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did
not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iii)
the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in
this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus
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based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the
Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use
therein.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and 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
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent
that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
(d) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated, is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority
to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and 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 leasing of property requires such qualification, except
to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of capital
stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned
directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims.
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(f) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to
legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(g) The shares of Common Stock (including the Shares to be sold by
the Selling Shareholders) outstanding prior to the issuance of the
Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly authorized and are
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(h) The Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly authorized
and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and
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the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or
similar rights.
(i) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will
not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is
material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any
judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court
having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent,
approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the
Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be
required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
(j) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from
that set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or
supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this
Agreement).
(k) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or
threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is subject that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described or any statutes,
regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or
filed as required.
(l) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or
filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so
filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(m) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such
term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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(n) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with
any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and
regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the
environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or
contaminants ("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), (ii have received all permits,
licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable
Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (ii are in
compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws,
failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or
failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits,
licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(o) There are no costs or liabilities associated with
Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or
operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval,
any related constraints on operating activities and any potential
liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
(p) Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no contracts,
agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting
such person the right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the
Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the
Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(q) Except as described in the Registration Statement (exclusive
of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this
Agreement), the Company has not sold, issued or distributed any shares
of Common Stock during the six-month period preceding the date hereof,
including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or S
of, the Securities Act, other than shares issued pursuant to employee
benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other employee
compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or
warrants.
(r) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) the Company
and its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or
obligation, direct or contingent, nor entered into any material
transaction not in the
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ordinary course of business; (ii the Company has not purchased any of
its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any
dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than
ordinary and customary dividends; and (ii there has not been any
material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt
of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, except in each case as
described in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements
thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement).
(s) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable
title in fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title
to all personal property owned by them which is material to the business
of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the
Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such
property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made
of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries; and any real
property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its
subsidiaries are held by them under valid, subsisting and enforceable
leases with such exceptions as are not material and do not interfere
with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and buildings
by the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case except as described in
the Prospectus.
(t) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can
acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights,
licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and
other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential
information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade
names currently employed by them in connection with the business now
operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted
rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or
in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(u) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries exists, except as described in the Prospectus,
or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent; and the Company is not
aware of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the
employees of any of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or
contractors that would have a material adverse effect on the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
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(v) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by
insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and
risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses
in which they are engaged; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary
has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and
neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to believe
that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and
when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar
insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a cost that
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described in the Prospectus.
(w) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all certificates,
authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or
foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective
businesses, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of
any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding,
would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described in the Prospectus.
(x) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance
that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's
general or specific authorizations; (ii transactions are recorded as
necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset
accountability; (ii access to assets is permitted only in accordance
with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets
at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to
any differences.
(y) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any preliminary
prospectus comply, and any amendments or supplements thereto will
comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of any jurisdiction in
which the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, if applicable, is distributed in connection with the
Directed Share Program.
(z) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
qualification with any governmental body or agency; other than those
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obtained, is required in connection with the offering of the Directed
Shares in any jurisdiction where the Directed Shares are being offered.
(aa) The Company has not offered, or caused ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ to
offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with
the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier
of the Company to alter the customer's or supplier's level or type of
business with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to
write or publish favorable information about the Company or its
products.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Shareholders. Each of
the Selling Shareholders represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the
Underwriters that:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder.
(b) The execution and delivery by such Selling Shareholder of, and
the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under,
this Agreement, the Irrevocable Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement
signed by such Selling Shareholder, ____________, as Custodian and
____________ and ____________, as Attorneys-in-Fact, relating to the
deposit of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder and
appointing certain individuals as such Selling Shareholder's attorneys-
in-fact to the extent set forth therein, relating to the transactions
contemplated hereby and by the Registration Statement (the "CUSTODY
AGREEMENT") will not contravene any provision of applicable law, or any
agreement or other instrument binding upon such Selling Shareholder or
any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court
having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder, and no consent,
approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by such
Selling Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement or the
Custody Agreement of such Selling Shareholder, except such as may be
required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
(c) Such Selling Shareholder has, and on the Closing Date will have,
valid title to the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder and the
legal right and power, and all authorization and approval required by
law, to enter into this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and to sell,
transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder.
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(d) The Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to
this Agreement have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
(e) The Custody Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by such Selling Shareholder and are valid and binding
agreements of such Selling Shareholder.
(f) Delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
pursuant to this Agreement will pass title to such Shares free and clear
of any security interests, claims, liens, equities and other
encumbrances.
(g) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did
not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, and (ii the Prospectus does not
contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that
the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph 2 do not
apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished
to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for
use therein.
3. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. Each Seller, severally and not
jointly, hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each
Underwriter, upon the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally
and not jointly, to purchase from such Seller at $______ a share (the "PURCHASE
PRICE") the number of Firm Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate
fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the same proportion to the
number of Firm Shares to be sold by such Seller as the number of Firm Shares set
forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the
total number of Firm Shares.
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell
to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have a
one-time right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to _______________
Additional Shares at the Purchase Price. If you, on behalf of the Underwriters,
elect to exercise such option, you shall so notify the Company in writing not
later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement, which notice shall specify
the
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number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date
on which such shares are to be purchased. Such date may be the same as the
Closing Date (as defined below) but not earlier than the Closing Date nor later
than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional Shares may be
purchased as provided in Section 5 hereof solely for the purpose of covering
over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares. If any
Additional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the
same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased as the
number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule II hereto opposite the name of such
Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
Each Seller hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period ending 180
days after the date of the Prospectus, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock
or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common
Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to
be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold
hereunder, (B) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on
the date hereof of which the Underwriters have been advised in writing, (C)
transactions by any person other than the Company relating to shares of Common
Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the
completion of the offering of the Shares or (D) issuances of shares of Common
Stock or options to purchase shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Company's
employee benefit plans as in existence on the date hereof and consistent with
past practices. In addition, each Selling Shareholder, agrees that, without the
prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on behalf of the Underwriters, it will
not, during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, make
any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any
shares of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock.
4. Terms of Public Offering. The Sellers are advised by you that the
Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of
the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have
become
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effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Sellers are further advised by
you that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at $___ a share
(the "PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE") and to certain dealers selected by you at a price
that represents a concession not in excess of $____ a share under the Public
Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may
reallow, a concession, not in excess of $___ a share, to any Underwriter or to
certain other dealers.
5. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold by each
Seller shall be made to such Seller in Federal or other funds immediately
available in New York City against delivery of such Firm Shares for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City
time, on ____________, 1999, or at98, as shall be designated in writing by you.
The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the "CLOSING
DATE."
Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in Federal
or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such
Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at
10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the notice described in
Section 3 or at such other time on the same or on such other date, in any event
not later than _______, 1999, as shall be designated in writing by you. The
time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as the "OPTION CLOSING
DATE."
Certificates for the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be in
definitive form and registered in such names and in such denominations as you
shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates
evidencing the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you on
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable
in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid,
against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
6. Conditions to the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
Sellers to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several obligations of
the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the Closing Date are
subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become
effective not later than 3:00 pm (New York City time) on the date hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following
further conditions:
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(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any
notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of
any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of
the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's
securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
under the Securities Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto
subsequent to the date of this Agreement) that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable
to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the
Company, to the effect set forth in Section 6 above and to the effect that the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement are
true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied with
all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the
best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Hachigan, LLP, outside counsel
for the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
qualified to transact
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business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires
such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated,
is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and
authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described
in the Prospectus and 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 leasing of property requires such qualification,
except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iii) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to
legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
(iv) the shares of Common Stock (including the Shares to be
sold by the Selling Shareholders) outstanding prior to the issuance of
the Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly authorized and are
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(v) all of the issued shares of capital stock of each
subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and
issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly by the
Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;
(vi) the Shares to be sold by the Company have been duly
authorized and, when issued and delivered in accordance with the terms
of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-
assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any
preemptive or similar rights;
(vii) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
13
(viii) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will
not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the
Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, to the best of such counsel's
knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body,
agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary,
and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification
with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by
the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may
be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares;
(ix) the statements (A) in the Prospectus under the captions
"Risk Factors", "Certain Transactions", "Description of Capital Stock"
and "Underwriters" and (B) in the Registration Statement in Items 14 and
15, in each case insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the
legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly
present the information called for with respect to such legal matters,
documents and proceedings and fairly summarize the matters referred to
therein;
(x) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal
or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required
to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are
not so described or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other
documents that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required;
(xi) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such
term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
14
(xii) all after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any
notices received by either the Company or any of its subsidiaries of
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect
to any material patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions,
copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented
and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or
procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently
employed by the Company and its subsidiaries in connection with the
business now operated by them, which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in
any material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or
in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and
(xiii) such counsel (A) is of the opinion that the Registration
Statement and Prospectus (except for financial statements and schedules
and other financial and statistical data included therein as to which
such counsel need not express any opinion) comply as to form in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, (B) has no reason to believe
that (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial
and statistical data as to which such counsel need not express any
belief) the Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein
at the time the Registration Statement became effective contained any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading and (C) has no reason to believe that (except for
financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical
data as to which such counsel need not express any belief) the
Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Hachigan, LLP, counsel for the
Selling Shareholders, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by or on behalf of each of the Selling Shareholders;
15
(ii) the execution and delivery by each Selling Shareholder of,
and the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations
under, this Agreement and the Custody Agreement of such Selling
Shareholder will not contravene any provision of applicable law, or, to
the best of such counsel's knowledge, any agreement or other instrument
binding upon such Selling Shareholder or, to the best of such counsel's
knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body,
agency or court having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder, and
no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with,
any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by such
Selling Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement or the
Custody Agreement of such Selling Shareholder, except such as may be
required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in
connection with offer and sale of the Shares;
(iii) each of the Selling Shareholders has valid title to the
Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder and the legal right and
power, and all authorization and approval required by law, to enter into
this Agreement and the Custody Agreement of such Selling Shareholder and
to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Shareholder;
(iv) the Custody Agreement of each Selling Shareholder has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and
is a valid and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholder; and
(v) delivery of the Shares to be sold by each Selling
Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement will pass title to such Shares
free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens, equities and
other encumbrances.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date,
covering the matters referred to in Sections 6, 6, 6 (but only as to the
statements in the Prospectus under "Underwriters") and 6 above.
With respect to Section 6 above, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Hachigan, LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ &
16
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may state that their opinion and belief are based upon their
participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the
contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification, except as
specified. With respect to Section 6 above, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Hachigan, LLP may rely upon an opinion or opinions of counsel for any
Selling Shareholders and, with respect to factual matters and to the extent such
counsel deems appropriate, upon the representations of each Selling Shareholder
contained herein and in the Custody Agreement of such Selling Shareholder and in
other documents and instruments; provided that (A) each such counsel for the
Selling Shareholders is satisfactory to your counsel, (B) a copy of each opinion
so relied upon is delivered to you and is in form and substance satisfactory to
your counsel, (C) copies of such Custody Agreements and of any such other
documents and instruments shall be delivered to you and shall be in form and
substance satisfactory to your counsel and (D) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Hachigan, LLP shall state in their opinion that they are
justified in relying on each such other opinion.
The opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Hachigan,
LLP described in Sections 6 and 6 above (and any opinions of counsel for any
Selling Shareholder referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph) shall be
rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company or one or more of the
Selling Shareholders, as the case may be, and shall so state therein.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof and
the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the
case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Ernst
& Young LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; provided
that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a "cut-off date" not
earlier than the date hereof.
(g) The "lock-up" agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto, between you and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the
Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common
Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date
hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
17
(h) The Nasdaq National Market shall have approved the Common Stock for
listing, subject only to official notice of issuance.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional Shares
hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the Option Closing Date of such
documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good standing of the
Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional Shares and other
matters related to the issuance of the Additional Shares.
7. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements
of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, four signed copies of the
Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to
each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement
(without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to you in New York City, without
charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next
succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in
Section 7 below, as many copies of the Prospectus and any supplements and
amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably
request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or
supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the
applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(c) If, during such period after the first date of the public
offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters
the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a
result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in
the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to
prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the
Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish
to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by you on
18
behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either
amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be
misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will
comply with law.
(d) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably
request.
(e) To make generally available to the Company's security holders and
to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering the twelve-
month period ending December 31, 1999 that satisfies the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
(f) To place stop transfer orders on any Directed Shares that have
been sold to Participants subject to the three month restriction on sale,
transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation imposed by NASD Regulation,
Inc. under its Interpretative Material 2110-1 on free-riding and
withholding to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with the three
month restrictions.
(g) To comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules
and regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares
are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.
8. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Sellers agree to
pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of their
obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and
expenses of the Company's counsel, the Company's accountants and counsel for the
Selling Shareholders in connection with the registration and delivery of the
Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection
with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus and amendments and supplements to any of the
foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing
and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the
quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the
transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer
or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue
Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the
Shares
19
under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the
qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as
provided in Section 7 hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment
memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and
qualification of the offering of the Shares by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the
preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the
Common Stock and all costs and expenses incident to listing the Shares on the
Nasdaq National Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing the
Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or
depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor
presentations on any "road show" undertaken in connection with the marketing of
the offering of the Shares, including, without limitation, expenses associated
with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any
consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the
prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the
representatives and officers of the Company and any such consultants, and the
cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, (ix) all fees
and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the
Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes,
if any, incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share
Program, and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the
obligations of the Sellers hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made
in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this
Section, Section 9 entitled "Indemnity and Contribution," and the last paragraph
of Section 12 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses,
including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable
on resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses connected
with any offers they may make.
The provisions of this Section shall not supersede or otherwise affect any
agreement that the Sellers may otherwise have for the allocation of such
expenses among themselves.
9. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Sellers, jointly and severally,
agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any,
who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "EXCHANGE ACT"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim)
20
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any
such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based
upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein; provided that with
respect to any amount due an indemnified person under this paragraph (a), each
Selling Shareholder shall be liable only to the extent of the net proceeds
received by such Selling Shareholder from the sale of such Selling Shareholder's
Shares.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, the Selling Shareholders, the directors of the
Company, the officers of the Company who sign the Registration Statement and
each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling Shareholder within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof,
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished to
the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendments or supplements thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to Section 9 or 9(b), such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY")
shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the
indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified
21
party shall have the right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses
of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the
retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal
expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all
Underwriters and all persons, if any, who control any Underwriter within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act, (ii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to
any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of either such Section and (iii) the fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Selling
Shareholders and all persons, if any, who control any Selling Shareholder within
the meaning of either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall be
reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the
Underwriters and such control persons of any Underwriters, such firm shall be
designated in writing by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. In the case of any such separate firm
for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the
Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. In the case of
any such separate firm for the Selling Shareholders and such control persons of
any Selling Shareholders, such firm shall be designated in writing by the
persons named as attorneys-in-fact for the Selling Shareholders under the
Custody Agreement. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement
of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
counsel as contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the
indemnifying party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is
entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
party and
22
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 9 or 9(b) is
unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party
under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder,
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying
party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the
other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause 99 above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 99
above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the
one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative benefits received by the Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed
to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering
of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by each Seller and the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the
aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the
Sellers on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand 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 Sellers or by the
Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The
Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9
are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares they have purchased
hereunder, and not joint.
(e) The Sellers and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in Section 9. The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by
23
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount
by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed
to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that
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
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this
Section 9 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may
otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 9
and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the
Selling Shareholders contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in
full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii
any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person
controlling any Underwriter, any Selling Shareholder or any person controlling
any Selling Shareholder, or the Company, its officers or directors or any person
controlling the Company and (ii acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.
10. Directed Share Program Indemnification. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and each person, if any, who controls
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act ("▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities"), from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation,
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or
investigating any such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared
by or with the consent of the Company for distribution to Participants in
connection with the Directed Share Program or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) caused by the
failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares
that the Participant agreed to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or
in connection with the Directed Share Program, other than losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally
judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities.
(b) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 10(a), the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity
24
seeing indemnity, shall promptly notify the Company in writing and the Company,
upon request of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably
satisfactory to the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity to represent the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity
and any others the Company may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the
fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity unless (i) the Company shall have agreed to the
retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding
(including any impleaded parties) include both the Company and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. The
Company shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Entities in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same
jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for all ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities. Any such
separate firm for the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities shall be designated in writing by
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company agrees to
indemnify the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities from and against any loss or liability by
reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence,
if at any time a ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity shall have requested the Company to
reimburse it for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and
third sentences of this paragraph, the Company agrees that it shall be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Company
of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Company shall not have reimbursed the
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. The Company shall not, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in
respect of which any ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity is or could have been a party and
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities
from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(c) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 10 is
unavailable to a ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity or insufficient in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then the Company in lieu of
indemnifying the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity thereunder, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed
Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 10 above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause 10 above but also the relative fault of
the Company on the one hand and of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇
25
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand in connection with any statements or
omissions that 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 ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand
in connection with the offering of the Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in
the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the
Directed Shares (before deducting expenses) and the total underwriting discounts
and commissions received by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities for the Directed Shares,
bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Directed Shares. If the loss,
claim, damage or liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of
a material factor the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or alleged omission
relates to information supplied by the Company or by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(d) The Company and the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities agree that it would not be
just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities were treated as one
entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 10. The amount
paid or payable by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Entities in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Directed Shares distributed to the public were offered
to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity
has otherwise been required to pay. The remedies provided for in this Section 10
are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise
be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(e) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 10
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any
26
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity or the Company, its officers or directors or any person
controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the
Directed Shares.
11. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by notice
given by you to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been
suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the New
York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii trading of any securities
of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-
counter market, (ii a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New
York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or
(iv there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any
change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events specified in
clauses 11 through 11, such event, singly or together with any other such event,
makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and
in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
12. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become
effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any
one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it
has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate
number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number
of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth
opposite their respective names in Schedule II bears to the aggregate number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the
Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or
refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of
Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be
increased pursuant to this Section 12 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of
such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on
the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm
Shares to be purchased, and arrangements satisfactory to you, the Company and
the Selling Shareholders for
27
the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such
default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the Selling Shareholders. In any such
case either you or the relevant Sellers shall have the right to postpone the
Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the
required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or
in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on the Option
Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of
Additional Shares to be purchased, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have
the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase Additional
Shares or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such
non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence
of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of them,
because of any failure or refusal on the part of any Seller to comply with the
terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any
reason any Seller shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Sellers will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as
have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel)
reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or
the offering contemplated hereunder.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
15. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.
28
Very truly yours,
VIGNETTE CORPORATION
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
The Selling Shareholders named in
Schedule I hereto, acting severally
By:
---------------------------------
Attorney-in-Fact
Accepted as of the date hereof
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, a division of
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated
Acting severally on behalf of themselves
and the several Underwriters named in
Schedule II hereto.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
By:
-------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
29
SCHEDULE I
NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES
SELLING SHAREHOLDER TO BE SOLD
--------------------------------------- ----------------------------
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇............................
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇............................
----------------------------
Total:............................ ============================
I-1
SCHEDULE II
NUMBER OF FIRM
SHARES
UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED
------------------------------------ --------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated.....
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC.................
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, a division of
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated...........
----------------------------
Total:............................ ============================
II-1
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER]
, 1998
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, a division of
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The undersigned understands that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated ("▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇") proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the "UNDERWRITING
AGREEMENT") with Vignette Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"),
providing for the public offering (the "PUBLIC OFFERING") by the several
Underwriters, including ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "UNDERWRITERS"), of shares (the
"SHARES") of the Common Stock (par value $0.01 per share) of the Company (the
"COMMON STOCK").
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to
continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned
hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on
behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating
to the Public Offering (the "PROSPECTUS"), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock
or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common
Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to
be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise. The foregoing
A-1
sentence shall not apply to transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or
other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of
the Public Offering. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior
written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on behalf of the Underwriters, the undersigned
will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days
after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for or exercise any right with
respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any security
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.
The undersigned understands that each Institutional Investor (as defined on
Exhibit A hereto) will sign a letter in substantially the same form as this
letter. The undersigned also understands that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will not consent to
releasing any such Institutional Investor from the restrictions of such letter,
except for transfers to affiliates of such person as defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act of 1933 or distributions by such person to its shareholders,
partners or limited partners where each transferee and each person receiving the
distribution has agreed to substantially identical restrictions on transfer.
The undersigned understands that the consents to transfers and distributions
permitted by this paragraph may be granted in ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇'▇ sole discretion.
The undersigned understands that whether or not the Public Offering
actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including market conditions, and
that any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting
Agreement, the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company,
the Underwriters and any selling stockholders.
The agreements in this letter shall terminate on April 1, 1999 if the
Public Offering has not been priced prior to April 1, 1999.
Very truly yours,
--------------------------------------
(Name)
--------------------------------------
(Address)
A-2
EXHIBIT A
For purposes of the foregoing Lock-Up Letter, the following entities shall
constitute "Institutional Investors":
45th Parallel LLC
Adobe Ventures II, LP
Almanori Limited
ATGF II
Attractor Dearborn Partners LP
Attractor Institution LP
Attractor ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ventures IV-A, ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ventures IV-B, ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ventures V Affiliates Fund, ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Ventures V, LP
Axa U.S. Growth Fund, LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ River Partnership VIII
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ River VIII-A LLC
CNET, Inc.
Double Black Diamond II LLC
East Peak Partners
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Verwaltungs GmbH
GS Capital Partners II Offshore, LP
GS Capital Partners II, LP
H&Q Vignette Investors, ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ California
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Master Trust
Multinvest LLC
Olympus Executive Fund, L.P.
Olympus Growth Fund II, L.P.
Parallel Capital I LLC
Phoenix Leasing Incorporated
Pivotal Partners, L.P.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ 1995 Trust
RandomNoise, Inc.
Sigma Associates III, LP
Sigma Investors III, LP
Sigma Partners III, LP
The ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Sachs Group, LP
U.S. Growth Fund Partners CV
Vendome Capital LLC
A-3