Exhibit 1.1
ABLE ENERGY, INC.
1,000,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
April 13, 1999
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Gentlemen:
ABLE Energy, Inc., a corporation organized under the laws of the State
of Delaware (the "Company"), hereby confirms its agreement with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Davidson
Securities Corporation, ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇") as the underwriter of its securities (the
"Underwriter"), as set forth below.
The Company proposes to issue and sell to the Underwriters 1,000,000
shares of the Company's common stock, $.001 par value per share (the "Common
Stock"). The shares of Common Stock being sold by the Company are referred to as
the "Firm Shares."
In addition, for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments from the
sale of the Firm Shares the Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters an
option to purchase an additional 150,000 shares of Common Stock, 75,000 of which
may be purchased directly from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, the Chief Executive Officer
of the Company, (the "Firm Option Shares" or the "Option Shares"), all as
provided in Section 2(c) of this agreement (the "Agreement") and to issue to you
the Underwriter's Warrant (as defined in Section 2 hereof) to purchase certain
further additional shares of Common Stock. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares
are collectively referred to herein as either the "Shares" or the
"Securities."
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter that:
(a) A registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No.
333-59109), with respect to the Securities and the Underwriter's Warrant
Securities (as hereinafter defined), including a prospectus subject to
completion, has been filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act"), and one or more amendments to that registration statement may have been
so filed. Copies of such registration statement and of each amendment heretofore
filed by the Company with the Commission
have been delivered to the Underwriters. After the execution of this Agreement,
the Company will file with the Commission either (i) if the registration
statement, as it may have been amended, has been declared by the Commission to
be effective under the Act, a prospectus in the form most recently included in
that registration statement (or, if an amendment thereto shall have been filed,
in such amendment), with such changes or insertions as are required by Rule 430A
under the Act or permitted by Rule 424(b) under the Act and as have been
provided to and approved by the Underwriters prior to the execution of this
Agreement, or (ii) if that registration statement, as it may have been amended,
has not been declared by the Commission to be effective under the Act, an
amendment to that registration statement, including a form of prospectus, a copy
of which amendment has been furnished to and approved by the Underwriters prior
to the execution of this Agreement. The Company also may file a related
registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act
for purposes of registering certain additional Securities, which registration
statement shall become effective upon filing with the Commission (the "Rule
462(b) Registration Statement"). As used in this Agreement, the term
"Registration Statement" means that registration statement, as amended at the
time it was or is declared effective, and any amendment thereto that was or is
thereafter declared effective, including all financial schedules and exhibits
thereto and any information omitted therefrom pursuant to Rule 430A under the
Act and included in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined), together with any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; the term "Preliminary Prospectus" means each
prospectus subject to completion filed with the Registration Statement
(including the prospectus subject to completion, if any, included in the
Registration Statement at the time it was or is declared effective); and the
term "Prospectus" means the prospectus first filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Act or, if no prospectus is so filed pursuant to Rule
424(b), the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. The Company has
caused to be delivered to the Underwriters copies of each Preliminary Prospectus
and has consented to the use of those copies for the purposes permitted by the
Act. If the Company has elected to rely on Rule 462(b) and the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement has not been declared effective, then (i) the Company has
filed a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement in compliance with and that is
effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) and has received confirmation of
its receipt and (ii) the Company has given irrevocable instructions for
transmission of the applicable filing fee in connection with the filing of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, in compliance with Rule 111 promulgated
under the Act or the Commission has received payment of such filing fee.
(b) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus. When each Preliminary
Prospectus and each amendment and each supplement thereto was filed with the
Commission it (i) contained all statements required to be stated therein, in
accordance with, and complied with the requirements of, the Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) did not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit 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. When the Registration Statement was or is
declared effective, it (i) contained or will contain all statements required to
be stated therein in accordance with, and complied or will comply with the
requirements of, the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and (ii) did not or will not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not
2
misleading. When the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto is
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or, if the Prospectus or such
amendment or supplement is not required so to be filed, when the Registration
Statement containing such Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto was or
is declared effective) and on the Firm Closing Date and any Option Closing Date
(as each such term is hereinafter defined), the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented at any such time, (i) contained or will contain all statements
required to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied or will comply
with the requirements of, the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and (ii) did not or will not include any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) do not
apply to statements or omissions made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by the Underwriters specifically for use therein.
(c) The Company is duly incorporated and is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdictions of
incorporation, and duly qualified or authorized to transact business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its businesses require
such qualification or authorization.
(d) The Company has full corporate power and authority, and
all necessary material authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates
and permits of and from all governmental regulatory authorities, to own or lease
its property and conduct its business as now being conducted and as proposed to
be conducted as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and,
if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(e) The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, an
interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint
venture, trust or other business entity.
(f) The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus). All of the issued shares of
capital stock of the Company, have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights. There are no
outstanding options, warrants or other rights granted by the Company to purchase
shares of its Common Stock or other securities, other than as described in the
Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus). The Firm Shares have been duly authorized, by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when the Firm Shares
are issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriter pursuant to this
Agreement, the Firm Shares will be validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and
free of preemptive rights and will conform to the description thereof in the
Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus). No holder of outstanding securities of the Company is
entitled as such to any preemptive or other right to subscribe for any of the
Securities, and no person is
3
entitled to have securities registered by the Company under the Registration
Statement or otherwise under the Act other than as described in the Prospectus
(and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus).
(g) The capital stock of the Company conforms to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not
in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(h) All issuances of securities of the Company have been
effected pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Act.
No compensation was paid to or on behalf of any member of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), or any affiliate or employee
thereof, in connection with any such issuance.
(i) The financial statements of the Company included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) fairly present the financial
position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations
of the Company for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in effect
in the United States of America, consistently applied, except to the extent that
certain footnote disclosures regarding unaudited interim periods may have been
omitted in accordance with the applicable rules of the Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). The financial data
set forth under the caption "Summary Financial Information" in the Prospectus
(and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus) fairly present, on the basis stated in the Prospectus (or such
Preliminary Prospectus), the information included therein.
(j) Simontacchi & Co., LLP has audited certain financial
statements of the Company and delivered their report with respect to the
financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus), and are independent public accountants with respect to the Company
as required by the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder.
(k) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus
is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), (i) except as
otherwise contemplated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the
business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), earnings or prospects
of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii)
except as otherwise stated therein, there have been no transactions entered into
by the Company and no commitments made by the Company that, individually or in
the aggregate, are material with respect to the Company, (iii) there has not
been any change in the capital stock or indebtedness of the Company, and (iv)
there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by
the Company in respect of any class of its capital stock.
4
(l) The Company has full corporate power and authority to
enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the
Underwriter's Warrant Agreement (as hereinafter defined). The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and
this Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement have each been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and each is a valid and binding agreement
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law), and except as rights to indemnity and contribution under this Agreement
may be limited by applicable law. The issuance, offering and sale by the Company
to the Underwriters of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or the
Underwriter's Securities pursuant to the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement, the
compliance by the Company with the provisions of this Agreement and the
Underwriter's Warrant Agreement, and the consummation of the other transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement do not
(i) require the consent, approval, authorization, registration or qualification
of or with any court or governmental or regulatory authority, except such as
have been obtained or may be required under state securities or blue sky laws
and, if the registration statement filed with respect to the Securities (as
amended) is not effective under the Act as of the time of execution hereof, such
as may be required (and shall be obtained as provided in this Agreement) under
the Act, or (ii) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of, or
constitute a default under, any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other material agreement or instrument to
which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its property is
bound or subject, or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company,
or any statute or any rule, regulation, judgment, decree or order of any court
or other governmental or regulatory authority or any arbitrator applicable to
the Company.
(m) No legal or governmental proceedings are pending to which
the Company is a party or to which the property of the Company is subject, and
no such proceedings have been threatened against the Company or with respect to
any of its property, except such as are described in the Prospectus (and, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus). No
contract or other document is required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement that is not described therein (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) or filed as required.
(n) The Company is not in (i) violation of its certificate of
incorporation, by-laws or other governing documents, (ii) violation in any
material respect of any law, statute, regulation, ordinance, rule, order,
judgment or decree of any court or any governmental or regulatory authority
applicable to it, or (iii) other than as described in the Prospectus, default in
any material respect in the performance or observance of any obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material contract, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other material agreement
or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its property may
be bound or subject, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of
time or both would constitute such
5
a default.
(o) The Company currently owns or possesses adequate rights to
use all intellectual property, including all trademarks, service marks, trade
names, copyrights, inventions, know-how, trade secrets, proprietary
technologies, processes and substances, or applications or licenses therefor,
that are described in the Prospectus (and if the Prospectus is not in existence,
the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), and any other rights or interests in
items of intellectual property as are necessary for the conduct of the business
now conducted or proposed to be conducted by them as described in the Prospectus
(or, such Preliminary Prospectus), and, except as disclosed in the Prospectus
(and such Preliminary Prospectus), the Company is not aware of the granting of
any patent rights to, or the filing of applications therefor by, others, nor is
the Company aware of, nor has the Company received notice of, infringement of or
conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing.
All such intellectual property rights and interests are (i) valid and
enforceable and (ii) to the best knowledge of the Company, not being infringed
by any third parties.
(p) The Company possesses adequate licenses, orders,
authorizations, approvals, certificates or permits issued by the appropriate
federal, state or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if
the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus),
and, except as disclosed in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), there are no pending or, to
the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such license, order, authorization, approval,
certificate or permit.
(q) The Company has good and marketable title to all of the
properties and assets reflected in the Company's financial statements or as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), subject
to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind, except those
reflected in such financial statements or as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and such Preliminary Prospectus). Except as
disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company occupies its leased properties under
valid and enforceable leases conforming to the description thereof set forth in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and such Preliminary Prospectus).
(r) The Company is not and does not intend to conduct its
business in a manner in which it would be an "investment company" as defined in
Section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company
Act").
(s) The Company has obtained and delivered to the Underwriter
the agreements (the "Lock-up Agreements") with the officers, directors and
principal shareholders of the Company substantially to the effect that, among
other things, each such person will not, commencing on the date that the
Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC (the "Effective Date")
and continuing for a period of twenty-four (24) months thereafter, without the
prior written consent of the Underwriter, directly or indirectly, publicly sell,
offer or contract to sell or grant any option to
6
purchase, transfer, assign or pledge, or otherwise encumber, or dispose of any
shares of Common Stock now or hereafter owned by such person and that the
purchaser or transferee in any private sale agrees to be bound by the Lock-Up
Agreement.
(t) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists,
is threatened or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, is imminent that could
result in a material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
business, prospects, net worth or results of operations of the Company, except
as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not
in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(u) The Company is 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 it is engaged; the Company
has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the
Company has no 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 materially and adversely affect the condition (financial or
otherwise), business, prospects, net worth or results of operations of the
Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (and, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(v) The Underwriter's Warrant (as hereinafter defined) will
conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement and in the
Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus) and, when sold to and paid for by the Underwriter in
accordance with the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement, will have been duly
authorized and validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement.
The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the Underwriter's Warrant
(the "Underwriter's Warrant Shares") have been duly authorized and reserved for
issuance upon exercise of the Underwriter's Warrant by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company and, when issued and delivered and paid for
upon such exercise in accordance with the terms of the Underwriter's Warrant
Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant, respectively, will be validly issued,
fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights and will conform to the
description thereof in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(w) No person has acted as a finder in connection with, or is
entitled to any commission, fee or other compensation or payment for services as
a finder for or for originating, or introducing the parties to, the transactions
contemplated herein and the Company will indemnify the Underwriter with respect
to any claim for finder's fees in connection herewith. Except as set forth in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), the Company has no
management or financial consulting agreement with anyone. No promoter, officer,
director or stockholder of the Company is, directly or indirectly, affiliated or
associated with an NASD member and no securities of the Company have been
acquired by an NASD member, except as previously disclosed in writing to the
Underwriter.
7
(x) The Company has filed all federal, state, local and
foreign tax returns which are required to be filed through the date hereof, or
has received extensions thereof, and has paid all taxes shown on such returns
and all assessments received by it to the extent that the same are material and
have become due.
(y) Neither the Company nor any director, officer, agent,
employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company has,
directly or indirectly: used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions,
gifts, entertainment, or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity;
made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or
employees or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from
corporate funds; violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977, as amended; or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment,
kickback, or other unlawful payment. No transaction has occurred between or
among the Company and any of its officers or directors or any affiliates of any
such officer or director, that is required to be described in and is not
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(z) Neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or
affiliates (as defined in the Regulations), has taken or will take, directly or
indirectly, prior to the completion of the Offering, any action designed to
stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which has
caused or resulted in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to
cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security
of the Company, to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities or the
Option Securities.
2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES AND THE UNDERWRITER'S
WARRANTS.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties,
agreements and covenants herein contained and subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the
Underwriter, and the Underwriter agrees, to purchase from the Company, the
number of Firm Shares as set forth opposite its name on Schedule 1 annexed
hereto, at a purchase price of $___ per share.
(b) Certificates in definitive form for the Firm Securities
that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, and in such
denomination or denominations and registered in such name or names as the
Underwriters request upon notice to the Company at least 48 hours prior to the
Firm Closing Date, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the
Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of the Underwriters of the purchase
prices therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank
account specified by the Company. Such delivery of the Firm Securities shall be
made at the offices of Counsel for the Underwriter, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ at 9:30 A.M., New York City time on ______, 1999, within ten (10)
business days from the Effective Date, or at such other place, time or date as
the Underwriter and the Company may agree upon, such time and date of delivery
against payment being herein referred to as the "Firm Closing Date." The Company
will make such certificates for the Firm Securities available for checking and
packaging by the Underwriter, at such offices as may be designated by
8
the Underwriter, at least 24 hours prior to the Firm Closing Date. In lieu of
physical delivery, the closing may occur by "DTC" delivery.
(c) For the purpose of covering any over-allotments in
connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Securities as contemplated
by the Prospectus, the Company hereby grants to the Underwriter an option to
purchase any or all of the Option Shares, which options are exercisable by the
Underwriter on behalf of and for the account of the Underwriter, 75,000 of which
may be purchased directly from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Executive Officer of
the Company. The purchase price to be paid for any of the Option Shares shall be
the same price per share for the Firm Securities set forth above in paragraph
(a) of this Section 2. The option granted hereby may be exercised as to all or
any part of the Option Shares from time to time within 45 calendar days after
the Firm Closing Date. The Underwriter shall not be under any obligation to
purchase any of the Option Shares prior to the exercise of such option. The
Underwriter may from time to time exercise the option granted hereby by giving
notice in writing or by telephone (confirmed in writing) to the Company setting
forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the Underwriter is then
exercising the option and the date and time for delivery of and payment for such
Option Shares. Any such date of delivery shall be determined by the Underwriter
but shall not be earlier than two business days or later than three business
days after such exercise of the option and, in any event, shall not be earlier
than the Firm Closing Date. The time and date set forth in such notice, or such
other time on such other date as the Underwriter and the Company may agree upon,
is herein called the "Option Closing Date" with respect to such Option Shares.
Upon exercise of the option as provided herein, the Company shall become
obligated to sell to the Underwriter, and, subject to the terms and conditions
herein set forth, the Underwriter shall become obligated to purchase from the
Company, the Option Shares as to which the Underwriter is then exercising its
option. If the option is exercised as to all or any portion of the Option
Shares, certificates in definitive form for such Option Shares, and payment
therefor, shall be delivered on the related Option Closing Date in the manner,
and upon the terms and conditions, set forth in paragraph (b) of this Section 2,
except that reference therein to the Firm Securities and the Firm Closing Date
shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph (c), to refer to such Option
Shares and Option Closing Date, respectively.
(d) On the Firm Closing Date, the Company will further issue
and sell to the Underwriter or, at the direction of the Underwriter, to bona
fide officers of the Underwriter, for an aggregate purchase price of $10,
warrants to purchase Common Stock (the "Underwriter's Warrant") entitling the
holders thereof to purchase an aggregate of 100,000 shares of Common Stock for a
period of four years, such period to commence on the first anniversary of the
Effective Date. The Underwriter's Warrant shall be exercisable at a price equal
to 165% of the public offering price of the Common Stock, and shall contain
terms and provisions more fully described herein below and as set forth more
particularly in the warrant agreement relating to the Underwriter's Warrant to
be executed by the Company on the Effective Date (the "Underwriter's Warrant
Agreement"), including, but not limited to, (i) customary anti-dilution
provisions in the event of stock dividends, split mergers, sales of all or
substantially all of the Company's assets, sales of stock below then prevailing
market or exercise prices and other events, and (ii) prohibitions of mergers,
consolidations or other reorganizations of or by the Company or the taking by
the Company of other action during the
9
five-year period following the Effective Date unless adequate provision is made
to preserve, in substance, the rights and powers incidental to the Underwriter's
Warrant. As provided in the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement, the Underwriter may
designate that the Underwriter's Warrant be issued in varying amounts directly
to bona fide officers of the Underwriter. As further provided, no sale,
transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the Underwriter's Warrant shall
be made for a period of 12 months from the Effective Date, except (i) by
operation of law or reorganization of the Company, or (ii) to the Underwriter
and bona fide partners, officers of the Underwriter and selling group members.
3. OFFERING BY THE UNDERWRITER. The Underwriter propose to offer the
Firm Securities for sale to the public upon the terms set forth in the
Prospectus (the "Offering").
4. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants and agrees with the
Underwriter that:
(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement, if not effective at the time of execution of this
Agreement, to become effective as promptly as possible. If required, the Company
will file the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto with the
Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b)
under the Act. During any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is
required to be delivered under the Act, the Company (i) will comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder to the extent necessary to permit the continuance of sales
of or dealings in the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and of
the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and (ii) will not file with the
Commission any prospectus or amendment referred to in the first sentence of
section (a) (i) hereof, any amendment or supplement to such prospectus or any
amendment to the Registration Statement as to which the Underwriter shall not
previously have been advised and furnished with a copy for a reasonable period
of time prior to the proposed filing and as to which filing the Underwriter
shall not have given its consent. The Company will prepare and file with the
Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission,
promptly upon request by the Underwriter or counsel to the Underwriter, any
amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the
Prospectus that may be necessary or advisable in connection with the
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriter, and will use its best efforts
to cause any such amendment to the Registration Statement to be declared
effective by the Commission as promptly as possible. The Company will advise the
Underwriter, promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the time when the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or declared
effective or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been
filed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Underwriter of each such
filing or effectiveness.
(b) The Company will advise the Underwriter, promptly after
receiving notice or obtaining knowledge thereof, of (i) the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the
10
suspension of the qualification of any Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, (iii) the institution, threat or contemplation of any proceeding
for any such purpose, or (iv) any request made by the Commission for amending
the Registration Statement, for amending or supplementing the Prospectus or for
additional information. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order and, if any such stop order is issued, to obtain
the withdrawal thereof as promptly as possible.
(c) The Company will, in cooperation with counsel to the
Underwriter, arrange for the qualification of the Securities for offering and
sale under the blue sky or securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
Underwriter may designate and will continue such qualifications in effect for as
long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities.
(d) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the
Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a
result of which the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if for any other
reason it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to
comply with the Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder,
the Company will promptly notify the Underwriter thereof and, subject to Section
4(a) hereof, will prepare and file with the Commission, at the Company's
expense, an amendment to the Registration Statement or an amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus that corrects such statement or omission or effects
such compliance.
(e) Intentionally left blank.
(f) The Company will, without charge, provide to the
Underwriter and to counsel for the Underwriter (i) as many signed copies of the
registration statement originally filed with respect to the Securities and each
amendment thereto (in each case including exhibits thereto) as the Underwriter
may reasonably request, (ii) as many conformed copies of such registration
statement and each amendment thereto (in each case without exhibits thereto) as
the Underwriter may reasonably request, and (iii) so long as a prospectus
relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, as many
copies of each Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto as the Underwriter may reasonably request.
(g) The Company, as soon as practicable, will make generally
available to its security holders and to the Underwriter an earnings statement
of the Company that satisfies the provisions of Section 11 (a) of the Act and
Rule 158 thereunder.
(h) The Company will reserve and keep available for issuance
that maximum number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock which are
issuable upon exercise of any outstanding warrants and the Underwriter's Warrant
(including the underlying securities) outstanding from time to time.
11
(i) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of
the Securities being sold by it as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the
Prospectus.
(j) Intentionally left blank.
(k) Prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date (if
any), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, without prior written
consent of the Underwriter, issue any press release or other public announcement
or hold any press conference with respect to the Company or its activities with
respect to the Offering (other than trade releases issued in the ordinary course
of the Company's business consistent with past practices with respect to the
Company's operations).
(l) If, at the time that the Registration Statement becomes
effective, any information shall have been omitted therefrom in reliance upon
Rule 430A under the Act, then immediately following the execution of this
Agreement, the Company will prepare, and file or transmit for filing with the
Commission in accordance with Rule 430A and Rule 424(b) under the Act, copies of
the Prospectus including the information omitted in reliance on Rule 430A, or,
if required by such Rule 430A, a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement (including an amended Prospectus), containing all information so
omitted.
(m) The Company will assist the Underwriter in causing the
Securities to be listed on the Nasdaq SmallCap Market on the Effective Date and
to maintain such listing thereafter.
(n) During the period of five years from the Firm Closing
Date, the Company will, as promptly as possible, not to exceed 135 days, after
each annual fiscal period render and distribute reports to its stockholders
which will include audited statements of its operations and changes of financial
position during such period and its audited balance sheet as of the end of such
period, as to which statements the Company's independent certified public
accountants shall have rendered an opinion and shall timely file all reports
required to be filed under the securities laws.
(o) During a period of three years commencing with the Firm
Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the Underwriter, at the Company's
expense, copies of all periodic and special reports furnished to stockholders of
the Company and of all information, documents and reports filed with the
Commission.
(p) The Company has appointed Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company as transfer agent for the Common Stock, subject to the Closing.
The Company will not change or terminate such appointment for a period of three
years from the Firm Closing Date without first obtaining the written consent of
the Underwriter. For a period of three years after the Effective Date, the
Company shall cause the transfer agent to deliver promptly to the Underwriter a
duplicate copy of the daily transfer sheets relating to trading of the
Securities. The Company shall also provide to the Underwriter, on a weekly
basis, copies of the DTC special securities positions listing report.
(q) During the period of 180 days after the date of this
Agreement, the Company
12
will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any action designed to or
that will constitute, or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result
in, the stabilization of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or
resale of any of the Securities.
(r) The Company will not take any action to facilitate the
sale of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act if any
such sale would violate any of the terms of the Lock-up Agreements.
(s) Prior to the 120th day after the Firm Closing Date, the
Company will provide the Underwriter and their designees with four bound volumes
of the transaction documents relating to the Registration Statement and the
closing(s) hereunder, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Underwriter.
(t) The Company shall consult with the Underwriter prior to
the distribution to third parties of any financial information news releases or
other publicity regarding the Company, its business, or any terms of this
offering and the Underwriter will consult with the Company prior to the issuance
of any research report or recommendation concerning the Company's securities.
Copies of all documents that the Company or its public relations firm intend to
distribute will be provided to the Underwriter for review prior to such
distribution.
(u) The Company and the Underwriter will advise each other
immediately in writing as to any investigation, proceeding, order, event or
other circumstance, or any threat thereof, by or relating to the Commission or
any other governmental authority, that could impair or prevent the Offering.
Except as required by law or as otherwise mutually agreed in writing, neither
the Company nor the Underwriter will acquiesce in such circumstances and each
will actively defend any proceedings or orders in that connection.
(v) The Company shall first submit to the Underwriter
certificates representing the Securities for approval prior to printing, and
shall, as promptly as possible, after filing the Registration Statement with the
Commission, obtain CUSIP numbers for the Securities.
(w) The Company will prepare and file a registration statement
with the Commission pursuant to section 12 of the 1934 Act, and will use its
best efforts to have such registration statement declared effective by the
Commission on an accelerated basis on the day after the Effective Date. For this
purpose the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a General Form of
Registration of Securities (Form 8-A or Form 10).
(x) For so long as the Securities are registered under the
1934 Act, the Company will hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the
election of directors within 180 days after the end of each of the Company's
fiscal years and within 135 days after the end of each of the Company's fiscal
years will provide the Company's stockholders with the audited financial
statements of the Company as of the end of the fiscal year just completed prior
thereto. Such financial statements shall be those required by Rule 14a-3 under
the 1934 Act and shall be included
13
in an annual report pursuant to the requirements of such Rule.
(y) The Company will take all necessary and appropriate
actions to be included in Standard and Poor's Corporation Descriptions or other
equivalent manual and to maintain its listing therein for a period of five (5)
years from the Effective Date. Such application shall be made on an accelerated
basis no more than two days following the Effective Date.
(z) On or prior to the Effective Date, the Company will give
written instructions to the transfer agent for the Common Stock directing said
transfer agent to place stop-order restrictions against, and appropriate legends
advising of the Lock-Up Agreements on, the certificates representing the
securities of the Company owned by the persons who have entered into the Lock-up
Agreements.
4. EXPENSES
(a) The Company shall pay all costs and expenses incident to
the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 10 hereof, including all costs and expenses incident to (i)
the preparation, printing and filing or other production of documents with
respect to the transactions, including any costs of printing the Registration
Statement originally filed with respect to the Securities and any amendment
thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, this Agreement, the selected dealer agreement and the other
agreements and documents governing the underwriting arrangements and any blue
sky memoranda, (ii) all reasonable and necessary arrangements relating to the
delivery to the Underwriter of copies of the foregoing documents, and the costs
and expenses of the Underwriter in mailing or otherwise distributing the same
including telephone charges, duplications and other accountable expenses, (iii)
the fees and disbursements of the counsel, the accountants and any other experts
or advisors retained by the Company, (iv) the preparation, issuance and delivery
to the Underwriter of any certificates evidencing the Securities, including
transfer agent's, warrant agent's and registrar's fees or any transfer or other
taxes payable thereon, (v) the qualification of the Securities under state blue
sky or securities laws, including filing fees and fees and disbursements of
counsel relating thereto and any fees and disbursements of local counsel, if
any, retained for such purpose, (vi) the filing fees of the Commission and the
NASD relating to the Securities, (vii) the inclusion of the Securities on The
Nasdaq SmallCap Market and in the Standard and Poor's Corporation Descriptions
Manual, (viii) any "road shows" or other meetings with prospective investors in
the Securities, including transportation, accommodation, meal, conference room,
audio-visual presentation and similar expenses, but not including such expenses
for the Underwriter or their Underwriter or designees in excess of $15,000 and
(ix) the publication of "tombstone advertisements" in newspapers or other
publications selected by the Underwriter, and the manufacture of prospectus
memorabilia. In addition to the foregoing, the Company, shall reimburse the
Underwriter for its expenses on the basis of a non-accountable expense allowance
in the amount of 3.00% of the gross offering proceeds to be received by the
Company. The non-accountable expense allowance, based on the gross proceeds from
the sale of the Firm Securities, shall be
14
deducted from the funds to be paid by the Underwriter in payment for the Firm
Securities, pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, on the Firm Closing Date.
To the extent any Option Shares are sold, any remaining non-accountable expense
allowance based on the gross proceeds from the sale of the Option Shares shall
be deducted from the funds to be paid by the Underwriter in payment for the
Option Shares, pursuant to Section 2 of this Agreement, on the Option Closing
Date. The Company warrants, represents and agrees that all such payments and
reimbursements will be promptly and fully made.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if
the Offering is terminated in accordance with the provisions of Section 6 or
Section 10(a)(i), the Company agrees that, in addition to the Company paying its
own expenses as described in subparagraph (a) above, the Company shall reimburse
the Underwriter for its actual accountable out-of-pocket expenses (in addition
to blue sky legal fees and expenses referred to in subparagraph (a) above) net
of the $17,500 which has previously been advanced to the Underwriter, up to a
maximum of $75,000. Such expenses shall include, but are not to be limited to,
fees for the services and time of counsel for the Underwriter to the extent not
covered by clause (a) above, plus any additional expenses and fees, including,
but not limited to, travel expenses, postage expenses, duplication expenses,
long-distance telephone expenses, and other expenses incurred by the Underwriter
in connection with the proposed offering.
5. Intentionally left blank.
6. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITER'S OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares shall be subject, in the
Underwriter's sole discretion, to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Company contained herein as of the date hereof and as of the
Firm Closing Date as if made on and as of the Firm Closing Date, to the accuracy
of the statements of the Company's officers made pursuant to the provisions
hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and agreements
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) If the Registration Statement, as heretofore amended, has
not been declared effective as of the time of execution hereof, the Registration
Statement, as heretofore amended or as amended by an amendment thereto to be
filed prior to the Firm Closing Date, shall have been declared effective not
later than 5:30 P.M., New York City time, on the date on which the amendment to
such Registration Statement containing information regarding the initial public
offering price of the Securities has been filed with the Commission, or such
later time and date as shall have been consented to by the Underwriter; if
required, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto shall have been
filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time period required by
Rule 424(b) under the Act, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued, and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been instituted or threatened or, to the knowledge of the
Company or the Underwriter, shall be contemplated by the Commission; and the
Company shall have complied with any request of the Commission for additional
information (to be included in the Registration Statement or the
15
Prospectus or otherwise).
(b) The Underwriter shall have received an opinion, dated the
Firm Closing Date, of Sichenzia, Ross & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP, counsel to the Company,
substantially to the effect that:
(1) the Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization and is duly qualified to transact business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each other
jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of any properties or the conduct
of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to be in
good standing or so qualify would not have a materially adverse effect upon the
Company;
(2) the Company has full corporate power and
authority to own or lease its property and conduct its business as it is now
being conducted and as it is proposed to be conducted, as described in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and the Company has full corporate
power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant
Agreement and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof and thereof to be
carried out by it;
(3) to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no
outstanding options, warrants or other rights granted by the Company to purchase
shares of its Common Stock, preferred stock or other securities other than as
described in the Prospectus; the Shares have been duly authorized and the
Underwriter's Warrant Shares have been duly reserved for issuance by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and the Shares when issued
and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriter, pursuant to this Agreement,
the Underwriter's Warrant when issued and delivered and paid for in accordance
with this Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement by the Underwriter,
and the Underwriter's Warrant Shares when issued upon payment of the exercise
price specified in the Underwriter's Warrant, will be validly issued, fully
paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights and will conform to the
description thereof in the Prospectus; to the knowledge of such counsel, no
holder of outstanding securities of the Company is entitled as such to any
preemptive or other right to subscribe for any of the Shares or the
Underwriter's Warrant Shares; and to the knowledge of such counsel, no person is
entitled to have securities registered by the Company under the Registration
Statement or otherwise under the Act other than as described in the Prospectus;
(4) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company and this Agreement and the
Underwriter's Warrant Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the
Company, and each is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and by
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and except as rights to indemnity and
contribution under this Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement may
16
be limited by applicable securities laws and the public policy underlying such
laws;
(5) the Underwriter's Warrant is duly authorized and
upon payment of the purchase price therefore specified in Section 2(d) of this
Agreement will be validly issued and constitute valid and binding obligations of
the Company; and the certificates representing the Securities are in due and
proper form under law;
(6) the statements set forth in the Prospectus under
the caption "Description of Securities" insofar as those statements purport to
summarize the terms of the capital stock and warrants of the Company, provide a
fair summary of such terms; to the knowledge of such counsel, the statements set
forth in the Prospectus describing statutes and regulations and the descriptions
of the consequences to the Company under such statutes and regulations are fair
summaries of the information set forth therein and are accurate in all material
respects; to the knowledge of such counsel, the statements in the Prospectus,
insofar as those statements constitute summaries of the contracts, instruments,
leases or licenses referred to therein, constitute a fair summary in all
material respects of those contracts, instruments, leases or licenses and
include all material terms thereof, as applicable;
(7) none of (A) the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement, (B) the issuance, offering
and sale by the Company to the Underwriter of the Securities pursuant to this
Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant Shares pursuant to the Underwriter's
Warrant Agreement, or (C) the compliance by the Company with the other
provisions of this Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, to the
knowledge of such counsel (1) requires the consent, approval, authorization,
registration or qualification of or with any court or governmental authority
known to us, except such as have been obtained and such as may be required under
state blue sky or securities laws as to which we express no opinion or (2)
conflicts with or results in a breach or violation of, or constitutes a default
under, any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement, note, lease or other material agreement or instrument known to such
counsel to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of its
property is bound or subject, or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of
the Company, or any material statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or
regulation of any court or other governmental or regulatory authority known to
us applicable to the Company;
(8) to the knowledge of such counsel, (A) no legal or
governmental proceedings are pending to which the Company is a party or to which
the property of the Company is subject except those arising in the ordinary
course of business and fully covered by insurance and (B) no contract or other
document is required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is
not described therein or filed as required;
(9) to the knowledge of such counsel, the Company
possesses adequate licenses, orders, authorizations, approvals, certificates or
permits issued by the appropriate federal,
17
state or local regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its business
as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and, there are no
pending or threatened proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of
any such license, order, authorization, approval, certificate or permit, except
as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, which would have
a material adverse effect on the Company;
(10) The Company is not in violation or breach of, or
in default with respect to, any term of its certificate of incorporation or
by-laws, and to the knowledge of such counsel, the Company is not in (i)
violation in any material respect of any law, statute, regulation, ordinance,
rule, order, judgment or decree of any court or any governmental or regulatory
authority applicable to it, or (ii) default in any material respect in the
performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement, note, lease or other material agreement or instrument to which it is
a party or by which it or any of its property may be bound or subject, and no
event has occurred which with notice, lapse of time or both would constitute
such a default;
(11) the Shares have been approved for inclusion on
the Nasdaq SmallCap Market;
(12) the Registration Statement is effective under
the Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been
made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and to
our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto has been issued, and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or threatened or, to the best knowledge of such
counsel, are contemplated by the Commission;
(13) the Registration Statement originally filed with
respect to the Securities and each amendment thereto and the Prospectus (in each
case, other than the financial statements, the notes, schedules and other
financial and statistical information contained therein, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects with
the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; and
(14) the Company is not an "investment company" as
defined in Section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 and, if the
Company conducts its business as set forth in the Prospectus, it will not become
an "investment company" and will not be required to register under the
Investment Company.
Such counsel also shall state in its opinion that it has
participated in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
and that nothing has come to its attention that has caused it to believe that
the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective (including the
information deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement at the time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A(b), if applicable), contained an 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
18
misleading or that the Prospectus, as of its date or as of the Firm Closing
Date, contained an untrue statement of material fact or omitted 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.
In rendering any such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters of
fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials, copies of which certificates will
be provided to the Underwriter, and, as to matters of the laws of certain
jurisdictions, on the opinions of other counsel to the Company, which opinions
shall also be delivered to the Underwriter, in form and substance acceptable to
the Underwriter, if such other counsel expressly authorize such reliance and
counsel to the Company expressly states in their opinion that such counsel's and
the Underwriter's reliance upon such opinion is justified.
(c). A. At the time this Agreement is executed, the
Underwriter shall have received a letter, dated such date, addressed to the
Underwriter in form and substance satisfactory (including the non-material
nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below)
in all respects to the Underwriter and Underwriter's counsel, from Simontacchi &
Co. LLP:
i. confirming that it is a independent certified
public accountant with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and
the applicable Rules and Regulations;
ii. stating that it is their opinion that the
financial statements of the Company and Aropi included in the Registration
Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and
that the Underwriter may rely upon the opinion of Simontacchi & Co. LLP with
respect to the financial statements included in the Registration Statement;
iii. stating that, on the basis of a limited review
which included a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial
statements of the Company, a reading of the latest available minutes of the
stockholders and board of directors and the various committees of the boards of
directors of the Company, consultations with officers and other employees of the
Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified
procedures and inquiries (which, as to the interim financial statements included
in the Registration Statement, shall constitute a review as described in SAS No.
71, Interim Financial Statements), nothing has come to Simontacchi & Co. LLP's
attention which would lead them to believe that (A) the unaudited financial
statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement do not comply
as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
of the Act and the Rules and Regulations or are not fairly presented in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the
Company included in the Registration Statement, or (B) at a specified date not
more than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, there has been any change
in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in the
stockholders' equity or net current assets or net assets of the Company as
compared with amounts shown in the December 31, 1998 consolidated balance sheet
included in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or
contemplated by the Registration Statement, or,
19
if there was any change or decrease, setting forth the amount of such change or
decrease, and (C) during the period from December 31, 1998 to a specified date
not more than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, there was any decrease
(increase) in net revenues, net income (loss) or in net earnings (loss) per
common share of the Company, in each case as compared with the corresponding
period December 31, 1998 beginning, other than as set forth in or contemplated
by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth
the amount of such decrease (increase);
iv. setting forth, at a date not later than five (5)
days prior to the Effective Date, the amount of liabilities of the Company;
v. stating that they have compared specific dollar
amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and
other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the
Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages,
statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records,
including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an
interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application
of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which
procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in
agreement; and
vi. statements as to such other matters incident to
the transaction contemplated hereby as the Underwriter may request.
B. At the Firm Closing Date and the Option Closing
Date, if any, the Underwriter shall have received from Simontacchi & Co. LLP, a
letter, dated as of the Firm Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, to the effect that it reaffirms that statements made in the letter
furnished pursuant to subsection A of this Section 6(c), except that the
specified date referred to shall be a date not more than five (5) days prior to
the Firm Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and, if
the Company has elected to rely on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, to
the further effect that they have carried out procedures as specified in clause
(v) of subsection A of this Section 6(c) with respect to certain amounts,
percentages and financial information as specified by the Underwriter and deemed
to be a part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b) and have
found such amounts, percentages and financial information to be in agreement
with the records specified in such clause (v).
(d) The representations and warranties of the Company
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as if made on and as of
the Firm Closing Date; the Registration Statement shall not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein in order to make the statements therein not misleading, and the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the Firm Closing Date, shall not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit 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; and the Company shall
have performed all covenants and agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Firm Closing Date.
20
(e) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto shall have been issued, and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened or
contemplated by the Commission.
(f) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have
been any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change, in the business, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings or prospects of the Company, except in each case as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(g) The Underwriter shall have received a certificate, dated
the Firm Closing Date, of the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary of the
Company to the effect set forth in subparagraphs (d) through (f) above.
(h) The Common Stock shall be qualified in such jurisdictions
as the Underwriter may reasonably request pursuant to Section 4(c), and each
such qualification shall be in effect and not subject to any stop order or other
proceeding on the Firm Closing Date.
(i) The Company shall have executed and delivered to the
Underwriter the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement and a certificate or
certificates evidencing the Underwriter's Warrant, in each case in a form
acceptable to the Underwriter.
(i) The Underwriter shall have received Lock-up Agreements
executed by the persons listed on Schedule 2 annexed hereto.
(j) On or before the Firm Closing Date, the Underwriter and
counsel for the Underwriter shall have received such further certificates,
documents, letters or other information as they may have reasonably requested
from the Company and other security holders of the Company.
All opinions, certificates, letters and documents delivered pursuant to
this Agreement will comply with the provisions hereof only if they are
reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Underwriter and counsel
for the Underwriter. The Company shall furnish to the Underwriter such conformed
copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents in such quantities
as the Underwriter and counsel for the Underwriter shall reasonably request.
The obligation of the Underwriter to purchase and pay for any Option
Shares shall be subject, in its discretion, to each of the foregoing conditions,
except that all references to the Firm Securities and the Firm Closing Date
shall be deemed to refer to such Option Shares and the related Option Closing
Date, respectively.
7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Underwriter and
21
each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any losses, claims, damages,
or liabilities, joint or several, to which the Underwriter, or such controlling
person 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:
(1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in (A) the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto, or (B) any application or other document, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, executed by the Company or based upon written
information furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction
in order to qualify the Securities under the Blue Sky or securities laws thereof
or filed with the Commission or any securities association or securities
exchange (each an "Application"), or
(2) the omission or alleged omission to state in such
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and will reimburse, as incurred, the Underwriter and
such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending against any loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation,
litigation or proceeding; 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 any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in such Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto, or any Application in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter,
specifically for use therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to
any liability which the Company may otherwise have. The Company will not,
without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, or controlling person,
settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending or
threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification
may be sought hereunder (whether or not the Underwriter or any person who
controls the Underwriter or within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act is a party to such claim, action, suit or
proceeding), unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an
unconditional release of the Underwriter and each such controlling person from
all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(b) The Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration
Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against, any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such director,
officer, or controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise,
but only insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
22
Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application, or (ii) the omission
or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any
Application, 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 the
Underwriter specifically for use therein; and, subject to the limitation set
forth immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director,
officer, or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending
against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action investigation,
litigation or proceedings, in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability which the Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7 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 this Section 7, 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
this Section 7. 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; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if the defendants in any such action include both
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more legal defenses available
to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to
those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have
the right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified
party or parties and such indemnified party or parties shall have the right to
select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified
party or parties. After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified
party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such
indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such action, the indemnifying
party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any
legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation,
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel
in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence or (ii) the
indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified
party at the expense of the indemnifying party. After such notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party, the indemnifying party will not be
liable for the costs and expenses of any settlement of such action effected by
such indemnified party without the consent of the indemnifying party.
(d) In circumstances in which the indemnity obligation
provided for in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 7 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
23
party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof), each indemnifying party, in order to provide for just and
equitable contribution, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i)
the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one
hand and the indemnified party on the other from the offering of the Securities,
or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted
by applicable law, not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault
of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party
on the other in connection with the statements or omissions or alleged
statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof). The relative benefits received by
the Company on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other shall be deemed to
be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the Offering (net of
underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting expenses) received
by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received
by the Underwriter. The relative fault of the parties 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 Underwriter, the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission, and the other equitable considerations
appropriate in the circumstances. The Company and the Underwriter agree that it
would not be equitable if the amount of such contribution were determined by pro
rata or per capita allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not
take into account the equitable considerations referred to in the first sentence
of this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph
(d), the Underwriter shall not be obligated to make contributions hereunder that
in the aggregate exceed the total public offering price of the Securities
purchased by the Underwriter under this Agreement, less the aggregate amount of
any damages that the Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay in respect
of the same or any substantially similar claim, and 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 is not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person,
if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who
signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the 1934
Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
8. SUBSTITUTION OF UNDERWRITER.
If any Underwriter shall for any reason not permitted hereunder cancel
its obligations to purchase the Firm Securities hereunder, or shall fail to take
up and pay for the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite names in
Schedule 1 hereto upon tender of such Firm Securities in accordance with the
terms hereof, then:
(a) If the aggregate number of Firm Securities which such
Underwriter or
24
Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of the total
number of Firm Securities, the other Underwriter shall be obligated to purchase
the Firm Securities which such defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to
purchase.
(b) If any Underwriter so defaults and the agreed number of
Firm Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occurs is more
than 10% of the total number of Firm Securities, the remaining Underwriter shall
have the right to take up and pay for the Firm Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase. If such remaining Underwriter do not,
at the Firm Closing Date, take up and pay for the Firm Securities which the
defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase, the time for delivery of
the Firm Securities shall be extended to the next business day to allow the
remaining Underwriter the privilege of substituting within twenty-four hours
(including nonbusiness hours) another underwriter or Underwriter satisfactory to
the Company. If no such underwriter or Underwriter shall have been substituted
as aforesaid, within such twenty-four hour period, the time of delivery of the
Firm Securities may, at the option of the Company, be again extended to the next
following business day, if necessary, to allow the Company the privilege of
finding within twenty-four hours (including nonbusiness hours) another
underwriter or Underwriter to purchase the Firm Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase. If it shall be
arranged for the remaining Underwriter or substituted Underwriter to take up the
Firm Securities of the defaulting Underwriter as provided in this section, (i)
the Company or the Underwriter shall have the right to postpone the time of
delivery for a period of not more than seven business days, in order to effect
whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, or in any other document or arrangements, and the Company agrees
promptly to file any amendments to the Registration Statement or supplements to
the Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the respective
numbers of Firm Securities to be purchased by the remaining Underwriter or
substituted Underwriter shall be taken as the basis of the underwriting
obligation for all purposes of this agreement.
If in the event of a default by any Underwriter and the remaining
Underwriter shall not take up and pay for all the Firm Securities agreed to be
purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or substitute another underwriter or
Underwriter as aforesaid, the Company shall not find or shall not elect to seek
another underwriter or Underwriter for such Firm Securities as aforesaid, then
this Agreement shall terminate.
If, following exercise of the option provided in Section 2(c) hereof,
any Underwriter or Underwriter shall for any reason not permitted hereunder
cancel their obligations to purchase Option Shares at the Option Closing Date,
or shall fail to take up and pay for the number of Option Shares, which it
became obligated to purchase at the Option Closing Date upon tender of such
Option Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, then the remaining
Underwriter or substituted Underwriter may take up and pay for the Option Shares
of the defaulting Underwriter in the manner provided in Section 8(b) hereof. If
the remaining Underwriter or substituted Underwriter shall not take up and pay
for all such Option Shares, the Underwriter shall be entitled to purchase the
number of Option Shares for which there is no default or, at their election, the
option shall terminate, the exercise
25
thereof shall be of no effect.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. In the event of termination,
there shall be no liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter to the
Company, provided that the provisions of this Section 8 shall not in any event
affect the liability of any defaulting Underwriter to the Company arising out of
such default.
9. SURVIVAL. The respective representations, warranties, agreements,
covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company, any of its officers
or directors and the Underwriter set forth in this Agreement or made by or on
behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Company, any of its officers or directors, the Underwriter or any
controlling person referred to in Section 7 hereof, and (ii) delivery of and
payment for the Securities. The respective agreements, covenants, indemnities
and other statements set forth in Sections 4 and 7 hereof shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement.
10. TERMINATION.
(a) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Firm
Securities or any Option Shares in the sole discretion of the Underwriter by
notice to the Company given prior to the Firm Closing Date or the related Option
Closing Date, respectively, in the event that the Company shall have failed,
refused or been unable to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on
its part to be performed or satisfied under Section 6 hereunder at or prior
thereto or if at or prior to the Firm Closing Date or such Option Closing Date,
respectively:
(1) the Company sustains a loss by reason of
explosion, fire, flood, accident or other calamity, which, in the opinion of the
Underwriter, substantially affects the value of the properties of the Company or
which materially interferes with the operation of the business of the Company
regardless of whether such loss shall have been insured; there shall have been
any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change (including, without limitation, a change in management or control
of the Company), in the business, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings or prospects of the Company, except in each case as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement thereto);
(2) any action, suit or proceeding shall be
threatened, instituted or pending, at law or in equity, against the Company, by
any person or by any federal, state, foreign or other governmental or regulatory
commission, board or agency wherein any unfavorable result or decision could
materially adversely affect the business, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings or prospects of the Company;
(3) trading in the Common Stock shall have been
suspended by the
26
Commission, the NASD or on Nasdaq, or trading in securities generally on the New
York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or minimum or maximum prices shall
have been established on either such exchange or quotation system;
(4) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by
New York or United States authorities;
(5) there shall have been (A) an outbreak of
hostilities between the United States and any foreign power (or, in the case of
any ongoing hostilities, a material escalation thereof), (B) an outbreak of any
other insurrection or armed conflict involving the United States or (C) any
other calamity or crisis or material change in financial, political or economic
conditions, having an effect on the financial markets that, in any case referred
to in this clause (5), in the sole judgment of the Underwriter makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery
of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement; and
(6) termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
Section 10 shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except as
provided in Section 5(b) and Section 7 hereof.
11. INFORMATION SUPPLIED BY THE UNDERWRITER. The statements set forth
in the first paragraph on page 41, (as to the underwriting commitment of the
Underwriter) and the fourth paragraph under the heading "Underwriting" in any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (to the extent such statements relate
to the Underwriter) constitute the only information furnished by the Underwriter
to the Company for the purposes of Section 7(b) hereof. The Underwriter confirms
that such statements (to such extent) are correct.
12. NOTICES. All notice hereunder to or upon either party hereto shall
be deemed to have been duly given for all purposes if in writing and (i)
delivered in person or by messenger or an overnight courier service against
receipt, or (ii) sent by certified or registered mail, postage paid, return
receipt requested, or (iii) sent by telegram, facsimile, telex or similar means,
provided that a written copy thereof is sent on the same day by postage paid
first-class mail, to such party at the following address:
To the Company: ABLE Energy, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
27
and a copy to:
Sichenzia, Ross & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
To the Underwriter: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
or such other address as either party hereto may at any time, or from time to
time, direct by notice given to the other party in accordance with this section.
The date of giving of any such notice shall be, in the case of clause (i), the
date of the receipt; in the case of clause (ii), five business days after such
notice or demand is sent; and, in the case of clause (iii), the business day
next following the date such notice is sent.
13. AMENDMENT. Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment of
this Agreement shall be valid or effective, unless in writing and signed by or
on behalf of the parties hereto.
14. WAIVER. No course of dealing or omission or delay on the part of
either party hereto in asserting or exercising any right hereunder shall
constitute or operate as a waiver of any such right. No waiver of any provision
hereof shall be effective, unless in writing and signed by or on behalf of the
party to be charged therewith. No waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver or
waiver in respect of any other or subsequent breach or default, unless expressly
so stated in writing.
15. APPLICABLE LAW. This agreement shall be governed by, and
interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York
without regard to principles of choice of law or conflict of laws.
16. JURISDICTION. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the
State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District
of New York in connection with any suit, action or other proceeding arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, waives
any objection to venue in the County of New York, State of New York, or such
District and agrees that service of any summons, complaint, notice or other
process relating to such suit, action or other proceeding may be effected in the
manner provided by clause (ii) of Section 12.
17. REMEDIES. In the event of any actual or prospective breach or
default by either party hereto, the other party shall be entitled to equitable
relief, including remedies in the nature of rescission, injunction and specific
performance. All remedies hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive, and
nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit or limit either party from pursuing
any
28
other remedy or relief available at law or in equity for such actual or
prospective breach or default, including the recovery of damages.
18. ATTORNEYS' FEES. The prevailing party in any suit, action or other
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby, shall be entitled to recover its costs and reasonable
attorneys' fees.
19. SEVERABILITY. The provisions hereof are severable and in the event
that any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or
unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining
provisions hereof shall not be affected, but shall, subject to the discretion of
such court, remain in full force and effect, and any invalid or unenforceable
provision shall be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties
hereto, amended and limited to the extent necessary to render the same valid and
enforceable.
20. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and which together shall constitute one and
the same agreement.
21. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Underwriter, the Company and their respective successors and
assigns. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall
be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained,
this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and
being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of
no other person except that (i) the indemnities of the Company contained in
Section 7 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of any person or
persons who control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, and (ii) the indemnities of the Underwriter
contained in Section 7 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the
directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the
Registration Statement and any person or persons who control the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act. No purchaser
of Securities from the Underwriter shall be deemed a successor because of such
purchase.
22. TITLES AND CAPTIONS. The titles and captions of the articles and
sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and do not in
any way define or interpret the intent of the parties or modify or otherwise
affect any of the provisions hereof.
23. GRAMMATICAL CONVENTIONS. Whenever the context so requires, each
pronoun or verb used herein shall be construed in the singular or the plural
sense and each capitalized term defined herein and each pronoun used herein
shall be construed in the masculine, feminine or neuter sense.
24. REFERENCES. The terms "herein," "hereto," "hereof," "hereby," and
"hereafter," and other terms of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a
whole, and not to any Article, Section or other part hereof.
29
25. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any
prior agreement, commitment or arrangement relating thereto.
[SIGNATURES ON FOLLOWING PAGE]
30
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please
indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this letter shall constitute an agreement binding the Company, and the
Underwriter.
Very truly yours,
ABLE ENERGY, INC.
BY:
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: CEO
The foregoing agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ DAVIDSON SECURITIES CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: CEO
31