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EXHIBIT 1.1
$250,000,000
▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL, INC.
6 3/4% SENIOR NOTES DUE 2011
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
February 13, 2001
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated
Chase Securities Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
▇▇▇▇▇ International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto (the "Underwriters") $250,000,000 principal amount of its 6 3/4% Senior
Notes due 2011 (the "Securities") to be issued pursuant to the provisions of an
Indenture dated as of September 8, 1997 (the "Indenture") between the Company
and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (the "Trustee").
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 333-40734),
including the related prospectus, for the registration of common stock, debt
securities and units consisting of any combination of such securities of the
Company (including the Securities) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "1933 Act"), and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with
Rule 415 of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the
"1933 Act Regulations"). Such registration statement, including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement (as defined below), has been declared effective by the
Commission and the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). A prospectus supplement
reflecting the terms of the Securities, the terms
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of the offering thereof and the other matters set forth therein has been
prepared and will be filed pursuant to Rule 424 of the 1933 Act Regulations.
Such prospectus supplement, in the form first filed after the date hereof
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5), is herein referred to as the "Prospectus
Supplement." Such registration statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
333-40734), as amended at the date hereof, including the exhibits thereto, is
herein called the "Registration Statement," and the base prospectus included
therein relating to all offerings of securities under the Registration
Statement, as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement, is herein called the
"Prospectus;" provided, however, that, if such base prospectus is amended or
supplemented on or after the date hereof but prior to the date on which the
Prospectus Supplement is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5), the term
"Prospectus" shall refer to the base prospectus as so amended or supplemented
and as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement; and provided, further, that
all references to the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus" shall be
deemed to include all documents incorporated therein by reference pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"); and provided,
further, that if the Company files a registration statement with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations (the "Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement"), then, after such filing, all references to the
"Registration Statement" shall also be deemed to include the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the
Registration Statement, Prospectus, Prospectus Supplement or preliminary
prospectus or to any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be
deemed to include any copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("▇▇▇▇▇").
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of
any document under the 1934 Act which is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, as the
case may be.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants
to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no
proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) Each part of the Registration Statement, when such part became
effective, did not contain and each such part, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in
all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iii) the Prospectus does not
contain and, as amended or supplemented, if
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applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the
representations and warranties set forth in this Section 1(b) do not apply (A)
to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based
upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein or (B) to that part of
the Registration Statement that constitutes the Statement of Eligibility (Form
T-1) under the Trust Indenture Act of the Trustee.
(c) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus at the time they
were, or hereafter are, filed with the Commission, complied and will comply in
all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when
read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the
Registration Statement became effective, at the time the Prospectus was issued
and at the Closing Time, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(d) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or
organized, is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company,
partnership or other similar entity in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate or other power and
authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the
failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(f) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.
(g) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and is a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its
terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights
of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by
equitable principles of general applicability.
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(h) The Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and
authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and delivered
to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and will be valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their
terms except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights
of acceleration, if any, and the availability of equitable remedies may be
limited by equitable principles of general applicability.
(i) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance
by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the Indenture and the
Securities will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material
to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or
decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the
Company or any subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of,
or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the
performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Indenture or the Securities, except such as may be required by the securities or
blue sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of the
Securities.
(j) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the
date of this Agreement).
(k) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described or any
statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as
required.
(l) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration
Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so filed in all material
respects with the 1933 Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
(m) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(n) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and
all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating
to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or
toxic substances or wastes, pollutants
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or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) have received all permits, licenses
or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to
conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms
and conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such
noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits,
licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions
of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(o) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a
periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations
and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it
identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure
of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or
approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential
liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has
reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not,
singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(p) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes relating to doing business with the Government of Cuba or with
any person or affiliate located in Cuba.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to sell
to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions
hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company the respective principal amounts of Securities set forth in Schedule I
hereto opposite its name at 98.877% of their principal amount (the "Purchase
Price") plus accrued interest, if any, from February 16, 2001 to the date of
payment and delivery.
3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by you that the
Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of
the Securities as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have
become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Company is further
advised by you that the Securities are to be offered to the public initially at
99.527% of their principal amount (the "Public Offering Price") plus accrued
interest, if any, from February 16, 2001 to the date of payment and delivery and
to certain dealers selected by you at a price that represents a concession not
in excess of .4% of their principal amount under the Public Offering Price, and
that any Underwriter may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession, not
in excess of .25% of their principal amount, to any Underwriter or to certain
other dealers.
4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Securities shall be made by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the
Company, against delivery to the Underwriters for the respective accounts of the
Underwriters of certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them at 10:00
A.M., local time, on February 16, 2001, or at such other time on the same or
such other date, not later than February 28, 2001, as shall be designated in
writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as
the "Closing Date."
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Payment for the Securities shall be made against delivery to you
through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company for the respective
accounts of the several Underwriters of the one or more global certificates
representing the Securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. with any
transfer taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Securities to the
Underwriters duly paid.
5. Conditions to the Underwriters' Obligations. The several obligations
of the Underwriters are subject to the following conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall
any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any
review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the
possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's securities by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such term is defined
for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any
development involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive
of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this
Agreement) that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in
your judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of the
Company, to the effect set forth in clause (a)(i) above and to the effect that
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement
are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the Company has complied
with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the
best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Senior Vice President and General Counsel of the Company,
dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property and
to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in
good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
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(ii) each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated
or organized, is validly existing as a corporation, limited liability company,
partnership or other similar entity in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate or other power and
authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that the
failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iii) each of this Agreement and the Indenture has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;
(iv) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms except as (a) the enforceability thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (b) rights
of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited by
equitable principles of general applicability;
(v) the Securities have been duly authorized for issuance by
the Company and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the
provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of
the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with their terms except as (a) the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally, (b) rights of acceleration, if any, and the availability of equitable
remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability; and
(c) the enforceability of provisions providing for the indemnification of, or
contribution to, a party with respect to a liability may be limited by public
policy;
(vi) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement, the
Securities and the Indenture will not contravene any provision of applicable law
or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of
such counsel's knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the
Company or any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, any
judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having
jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent, approval,
authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or
agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under
this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture, except such as may be required
by the securities or blue sky laws of the various states in connection with the
offer and sale of the Securities;
(vii) the statements (A) in the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of the Notes," "Description of Debt Securities," and "Underwriting"
and "Plan of Distribution," (B) in the Prospectus (as incorporated by reference
from the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1999 and from the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
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for the quarterly period ended September 30, 2000) under the caption "Legal
Proceedings" and (C) in the Registration Statement in Item 15, in each case
insofar as such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents
or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the information called for
with respect to such legal matters, documents and proceedings and fairly
summarize the matters referred to therein;
(viii) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any
legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described or of
any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as
required;
(ix) the Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(x) the Company (A) is in compliance with any and all
applicable Environmental Laws, (B) has received all permits, licenses or other
approvals required of it under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct its
business and (C) is in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such
permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental
Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or
failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or
approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect
on the Company; and
(xi) such counsel (A) is of the opinion that the Registration
Statement and Prospectus (except for financial statements and schedules included
therein as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) comply as to form
in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, (B) has no reason to believe that
(except for financial statements and schedules as to which such counsel need not
express any belief and except for that part of the Registration Statement that
constitutes the Form T-1 heretofore referred to) the Registration Statement and
the prospectus included therein at the time the Registration Statement became
effective contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (C) has no reason to believe that (except
for financial statements and schedules as to which such counsel need not express
any belief) the Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of Gardere ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, outside counsel to the Company, dated the Closing
Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms except as (a) the
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enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
conveyance, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally and (b) rights of acceleration and the availability of
equitable remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general
applicability;
(ii) the Securities have been duly authorized for issuance by
the Company and, when executed and authenticated in accordance with the
provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be entitled to the benefits of
the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with their terms except as (a) the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally, (b) rights of acceleration, if any, and the availability of equitable
remedies may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability and (c)
the enforceability of provisions providing for the indemnification of, or
contribution to, a party with respect to a liability may be limited by public
policy; and
(iii) such counsel (A) is of the opinion that the Registration
Statement and Prospectus (except for financial statements and schedules included
therein as to which such counsel need not express any opinion) comply as to form
in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, (B) has no reason to believe that
(except for financial statements and schedules as to which such counsel need not
express any belief and except for that part of the Registration Statement that
constitutes the Form T-1 heretofore referred to) the Registration Statement and
the prospectus included therein at the time the Registration Statement became
effective contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (C) has no reason to believe that (except
for financial statements and schedules as to which such counsel need not express
any belief) the Prospectus contains any untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, dated the Closing Date,
covering the matters referred to in subparagraphs (iii), (iv), (v), (vii) (but
only as to the statements in the Prospectus under "Description of the Notes" and
"Underwriting") and (xi) (but only as to clauses (B) and (C)) of paragraph (c)
above.
With respect to the matters referenced to in subparagraph (xi) of
paragraph (c) above, ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Gardere ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇ L.L.P. may state that their respective opinions and beliefs are based
upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion
of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification,
except as specified.
The opinions of Gardere ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP described in paragraph (d)
above shall be limited to the Delaware General Corporation Law, the contract
laws of the State of New York,
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the laws of the State of Texas and the federal laws of the United States and
shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so
state therein.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof
and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the
case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, from ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
6. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements
of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, a copy of the Registration
Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, during the period mentioned in
paragraph (c) below, as many copies of the Prospectus and any supplements and
amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably
request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or
supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which
you reasonably object.
(c) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering
of the Securities as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the
Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of
which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is
delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for
the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to
comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and
furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names
and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which Securities may have been
sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request,
either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or
so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
(d) To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and sale under the
securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably
request.
(e) To make generally available to the Company's security holders and
to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering the twelve-month
period ending December 31, 2001 that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a)
of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
(f) During the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to
and including the Closing Date, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company or warrants to purchase
debt securities of the Company substantially similar to the
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Securities (other than (i) the Securities and (ii) commercial paper issued in
the ordinary course of business), without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated.
(g) To pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement, including: (i) the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements
thereto; (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the Securities; (iii)
the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel and accountants and of the
Trustee and its counsel; (iv) the qualification of the Securities under state
securities or Blue Sky laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 6(d),
including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of
any Blue Sky or Legal Investment Memoranda; (v) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters in quantities as hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration
Statement and all amendments thereto and of each preliminary prospectus and the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto; (vi) the printing and
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of any Blue Sky or Legal Investment
Memoranda; (vii) any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the
Securities; (viii) the filing fees and expenses, if any, incurred with respect
to any filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. made in
connection with the offering of the Securities; and (ix) any expenses incurred
by the Company in connection with a "road show" presentation to potential
investors.
7. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section
20 of the 1934 Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by any Underwriter or any such controlling person in
connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus
or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have
furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by
such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such
Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly
for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to either
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paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7, such person (the "indemnified party")
shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"indemnifying party") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the
indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to any local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees
and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be
designated in writing by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to paragraph (a) above and by the
Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to paragraph (b) above. The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at
any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated
by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30
days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii)
such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No
indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified
party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect
of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could
have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability
on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) or
(b) of this Section 7 is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred
to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements
or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
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liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be
deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the
offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company
and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the
Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Securities. The
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section
7 are several in proportion to the respective principal amounts of Securities
they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just or
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in paragraph (d) of this Section 7. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of
such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 7
are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise
be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section
7 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company
contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made
by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or
by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person
controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the
Securities.
8. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by
notice given by you to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have
been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the
New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any
securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market, (iii) a
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general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been
declared by either Federal or New York State authorities or (iv) there shall
have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in
financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is material
and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events specified in clauses (a)(i)
through (iv), such event, singly or together with any other such event, makes
it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in
the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
9. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become
effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail
or refuse to purchase Securities that it has or they have agreed to purchase
hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities which
such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to
purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated severally in the proportions that the principal amount of Securities
set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the principal
amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the
Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed
or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the
principal amount of Securities that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase
pursuant to this Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 9 by an amount
in excess of one-ninth of such principal amount of Securities without the
written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or
Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the aggregate
principal amount of Securities with respect to which such default occurs is more
than one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of Securities to be purchased
on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for the
purchase of such Securities are not made within 36 hours after such default,
this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either you or the
Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for
longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the
Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not
relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of
such Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of
them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply
with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for
any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as
have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel)
reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or
the offering contemplated hereunder.
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10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
11. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
12. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.
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Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-------------------------------
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED, as of the date hereof
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------
Authorized Signatory
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SCHEDULE I
PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE
UNDERWRITER PURCHASED
----------- --------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated........................................................... $125,000,000
Chase Securities Inc............................................................... 62,500,000
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated.................................................. 62,500,000
Total $250,000,000
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