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EXHIBIT 1.1
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
September [___], ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
INTRODUCTORY. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technologies, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several
underwriters named in Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 4,100,000
shares (the "Firm Shares") of its Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the
"Common Shares"). In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an
option to purchase up to an additional 465,000 Common Shares and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
(the "Selling Shareholder") has granted to the Underwriters an option to
purchase up to an additional 150,000 Common Shares, all as provided in Section
2. The additional 465,000 Common Shares to be sold by the Company and the
additional 150,000 Common Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder pursuant
to such option are collectively called the "Option Shares". The Firm Shares
and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Option Shares are
collectively called the "Shares". BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
& ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC, and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation have
agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity,
the "Representatives") in connection with the offering and sale of the Common
Shares.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-82487), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in
connection with the public offering and sale of the Shares. Such registration
statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and
schedules thereto, in the form in which it was declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any
information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant
to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the Securities Act, is called the "Registration
Statement". Any registration statement filed by the Company
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pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the "Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement", and from and after the date and time of filing of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term "Registration Statement" shall
include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form
first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Shares, is called the
"Prospectus"; provided, however, if the Company has, with the consent of
BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., elected to rely upon Rule 434 under the
Securities Act, the term "Prospectus" shall mean the Company's prospectus
subject to completion (each, a "preliminary prospectus") dated September __,
1999 (such preliminary prospectus is called the "Rule 434 preliminary
prospectus"), together with the applicable term sheet (the "Term Sheet")
prepared and filed by the Company with the Commission under Rules 434 and
424(b) under the Securities Act and all references in this Agreement to the
date of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet. All references in
this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the Term Sheet, or any
amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering,
Analysis and Retrieval System ("▇▇▇▇▇").
The Company and the Selling Shareholder hereby confirm their
respective agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
A. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Selling
Shareholder. The Company and the Selling Shareholder hereby represent, warrant
and covenant to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared
effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied
to the Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for
additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted
or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or
threatened by the Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed
complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by
electronic transmission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇ (except as may be permitted by
Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof
delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of
the Shares. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became
effective and at all subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material
respects with the Securities Act and 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. The
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent
times, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact
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necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The representations
and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not
apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the
Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and
in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the
Company in writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein. There are
no contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or
to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been
described or filed as required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has
delivered to the Representatives four complete conformed copies of the
Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as
a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without
exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives have
reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has
not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second
Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters'
distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of,
the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to
indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the
enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Company. The Shares
to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized
for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered
by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid
and nonassessable.
(f) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Selling Shareholder.
The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Selling
Shareholder, when issued, were validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(g) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have
been duly waived.
(h) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material
adverse change, or any
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development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse
change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business,
operations or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the
ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as
one entity (any such change or effect, where the context so requires, is called
a "Material Adverse Change" or a "Material Adverse Effect"); (ii) the Company
and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material
liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary
course of business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not
in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for
dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on
any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(i) Independent Accountants. KPMG LLP, who have expressed their
opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this
Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed
with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the
Prospectus, are independent public or certified public accountants as required
by the Securities Act.
(j) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included
in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results
of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting
schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information
required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting
schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved,
except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other
financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the
Registration Statement. The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under
the captions "Prospectus Summary--Summary Consolidated Financial Data",
"Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and "Capitalization" fairly present the
information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited
financial statements contained in the Registration Statement.
(k) Company's Accounting System. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries maintain a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for
assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable
intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
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(l) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than
the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(m) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized
and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the
case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
organized with full corporate power and authority to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the prospectus, and is duly qualified to
do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of
each jurisdiction which requires such qualification.
(n) Capitalization of the Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth
in the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries
are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries
free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
(o) No Prohibition on Subsidiaries from Paying Dividends or Making
Other Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited,
directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making
any other distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the
Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from
transferring any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any
other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(p) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized,
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the
Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the
Prospectus). The Common Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material
respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the
issued and outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance
with federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding Common Shares
were issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or
other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company.
There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights,
rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital
stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately
described in the Prospectus. The description of the Company's stock option,
stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other
rights granted thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly
presents the information required to be shown with respect to such plans,
arrangements, options and rights.
(q) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares have been approved for
inclusion on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of
issuance.
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(r) No Consents, Approvals or Authorizations Required. No consent,
approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained or made under the
Securities Act and such as may be required (i) under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters in the manner contemplated here and in the Prospectus, (ii) by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (iii) by the federal
and provincial laws of Canada.
(s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments Agreements. Neither the
issue and sale of the Shares nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage,
deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation,
condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject
or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree
applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory
body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its
or their properties.
(t) No Defaults or Violations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary
is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or by-laws, (ii)
the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note
agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant
or instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is
subject or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree
of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body,
arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such
subsidiary or any of its properties, as applicable, except any such violation
or default which would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus.
(u) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. No action, suit or proceeding by
or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is
pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of
this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(v) All Necessary Permits, Etc. The Company and each subsidiary
possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued
by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor
any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate,
authorization or
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permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(w) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned
in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above (or elsewhere
in the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests,
mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such
as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not
materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property
by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment
and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are
held under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not
material and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be
made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the
Company or such subsidiary.
(x) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed
all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and
have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable,
any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them.
The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable
financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above in respect of all
federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to
which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been
finally determined. The Company is not aware of any tax deficiency that has
been or might be asserted or threatened against the Company that could result
in a Material Adverse Change.
(y) Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its
subsidiaries owns or possesses adequate rights to use all patents, patent
rights or licenses, inventions, collaborative research agreements, trade
secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which
are necessary to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; the expiration of any patents, patent rights, trade
secrets, trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights would not result
in a Material Adverse Change that is not otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus;
the Company has not received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of the Company by others with
respect to any patent, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights; and the Company has not
received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or
conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any patent, patent
rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade
names or copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, might have a Material Adverse Change.
There is no claim being made against the Company regarding patents, patent
rights or licenses, inventions, collaborative research, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights. The Company and
its subsidiaries do not in the conduct of their business as now or proposed to
be conducted as described in the Prospectus infringe or conflict with any right
or patent of any third party, or any discovery, invention, product or process
which is the subject of a patent application filed by any third
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party, known to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which such infringement
or conflict is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(z) Year 2000 Preparedness. There are no issues related to the
Company's, or any of its subsidiaries', preparedness for the Year 2000 that (i)
are of a character required to be described or referred to in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus by the Securities Act which have not been accurately
described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or (ii) might reasonably
be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change or that might materially
affect their properties, assets or rights. All internal computer systems and
each Constituent Component (as defined below) of those systems which are
material to the business of the Company or its subsidiaries and, to the best
knowledge of the Company, all computer-related products and to the best
knowledge of the Company, each Constituent Component (as defined below) of
those products of the Company and each of its subsidiaries fully comply with
Year 2000 Qualification Requirements. "Year 2000 Qualifications Requirements"
means that the internal computer systems and each Constituent Component (as
defined below) of those systems and all computer-related products and each
Constituent Component (as defined below) of those products of the Company and
each of its subsidiaries (i) have been reviewed to confirm that they store,
process (including sorting and performing mathematical operations, calculations
and computations), input and output data containing date and information
correctly regardless of whether the data contains dates and times before, on or
after January 1, 2000, (ii) have been designated to ensure date and time entry
recognition and calculations, and date data interface values that reflect the
century, (iii) accurately manage and manipulate data involving dates and times,
including single century formulas and multi-century formulas, and will not
cause an abnormal ending scenario within the application or generate incorrect
values or invalid results involving such dates, (iv) accurately process any
date rollover, and (v) accept and respond to two-digit year date input in a
manner that resolves any ambiguities as to the century. "Constituent Component"
means all software (including operating systems, programs, packages and
utilities), firmware, hardware, networking components, and peripherals provided
as part of the configuration. The Company has inquired of material vendors as
to their preparedness for the Year 2000 and has disclosed in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus any issues that might reasonably be expected to result
in any Material Adverse Change.
(aa) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. Assuming the closing takes place
outside of Florida, there are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or
charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political
subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and
delivery of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company of the
Shares,
(bb) Company Not an "Investment Company". The Company has been
advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after
receipt of payment for the Shares will not be, an "investment company" or an
entity "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it
will not become subject to the Investment Company Act.
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(cc) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured
by recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in
such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally
deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited
to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company
and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and
earthquakes, general liability and Directors and Officers liability. The
Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i)
to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or
(ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be
necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost
that would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor
any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage, which it has sought or
for which it has applied.
(dd) Labor Matters. To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor
disturbance by the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists
or is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor
disturbance by the employees of any of its suppliers, that might be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change.
(ee) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken
and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might
be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of
the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(ff) Lock-Up Agreements. Each officer and director of the Company, and
each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the outstanding issued share
capital of the Company signed an agreement substantially in the form attached
hereto as Exhibit A (the "Lock-up Agreements"). The Company has provided to
counsel for the Underwriters a complete and accurate list of all
securityholders of the Company and the number and type of securities held by
each securityholder. The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters
the executed copies of all of the Lock-up Agreements presently in effect or
effected hereby.
(gg) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships
or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any
other person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been
described as required.
(hh) ERISA Compliance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, the Company and its subsidiaries and any "employee benefit plan"
(as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
(collectively, "ERISA")) established or maintained by the Company, its
subsidiaries or their "ERISA Affiliates" (as defined below) are in compliance
in all material respects with ERISA. "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to
the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described
in Sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the
"Code") of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member.
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No "reportable event" (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur with respect to any "employee benefit plan" established or
maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates.
No "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its
subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such "employee benefit plan"
were terminated, would have any "amount of unfounded benefit liabilities" (as
defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their
ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability
under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from,
any "employee benefit plan" or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the
Code. Each "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company,
its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be
qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has
occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of
such qualification.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and
delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter
as to the matters set forth therein.
B. ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING
SHAREHOLDER. The Selling Shareholder represents, warrants and covenants to each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder
and is a valid and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable
in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may
be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by
general equitable principles.
(b) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney. Each of the (i)
Custody Agreement signed by the Selling Shareholder and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, as
custodian (the "Custodian"), relating to the deposit of the Shares to be sold
by such Selling Shareholder (the "Custody Agreement") and (ii) Power of
Attorney appointing certain individuals named therein as such Selling
Shareholder's attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorney-in-Fact") to the extent set
forth therein relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
Prospectus (the "Power of Attorney"), of such Selling Shareholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and is a valid
and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited
by applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles. Such Selling Shareholder agrees that the Shares to be
sold by such Selling Shareholder on deposit with the Custodian are subject to
the interests of the Underwriters, that the arrangements made for such custody
are to that extent irrevocable, and that the obligations of such Selling
Shareholder hereunder shall not be terminated, except as provided in this
Agreement or in the Custody Agreement, by any act of such Selling Shareholder,
by operation of law, by death or incapacity of such Selling Shareholder or by
the occurrence of any other event. If such Selling
11
Shareholder should die or become incapacitated, or in any other event should
occur, before the delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
hereunder, the documents evidencing the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Shareholder then on deposit with the Custodian shall be delivered by the
Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if
such death, incapacity or other event had not occurred, regardless of whether
or not the Custodian shall have received notice thereof.
(c) Title to Shares to be Sold. Such Selling Shareholder is the lawful
owner of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder and upon
sale and delivery of, and payment for, such Shares, as provided herein, such
Selling Shareholder will convey good and marketable title to such Shares, free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims whatsoever.
(d) All Authorizations Obtained. Such Selling Shareholder has, and on
the Second Closing Date (as defined below) will have, good and valid title to
all of the Company Shares which may be sold by such Selling Shareholder
pursuant to this Agreement on such date and the legal right and power, and all
authorizations and approvals required by law to enter into this Agreement and
the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all
of the Shares which may be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this
Agreement and to comply with its other obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(e) No Further Consents, Authorization or Approvals. No consent,
approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body is
required for the consummation by such Selling Shareholder of the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as may have been obtained under the Securities
Act and such as may be required under the federal and provincial securities
laws of Canada or the blue sky laws or any jurisdiction in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters and such other
approvals as have been obtained.
(f) Non-Contravention. Neither the sale of the Securities being sold
by such Selling Shareholder nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated by such Selling Shareholder or the fulfillment
of the terms hereof by such Selling Shareholder will conflict with, result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any law or the terms of
any indenture or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling
Shareholder is party or bound, any judgment, order or decree applicable to such
Selling Shareholder or any court or regulatory body, administrative agency,
governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling
Shareholder.
(g) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling Shareholder
does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration
Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except
for such rights as are described in the Prospectus under "Shares Eligible for
Future Sale".
(h) No Preemptive, Co-sale or other Rights. Such Selling Shareholder
does not have, or has waived prior to the date hereof, any preemptive right,
co-sale right or right of first
12
refusal or other similar right to purchase any of the Shares that are to be
sold by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement; and such
Selling Shareholder does not own any warrants, options or similar rights to
acquire, and does not have any right or arrangement to acquire, any capital
stock, right, warrants, options or other securities from the Company, other
than those described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(i) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Shareholder in the Prospectus. All
information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder in writing
expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is, and on the
First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date (as defined below) will be,
true, correct, and complete in all material respects, and does not, and on the
First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date will not, contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
make such information not misleading. Such Selling Shareholder confirms as
accurate the number of shares of Common Shares set forth opposite such Selling
Shareholder's name in the Prospectus under the caption " Shareholders" (prior
to giving effect to the sale of the Shares).
(j) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Such Selling Shareholder
has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to
or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale
of the Shares.
(k) No transfer Taxes or Other Fees. Assuming the closing takes place
outside of Florida there are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges
under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision
thereof, required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of
this Agreement or the sale by the Selling Shareholder of the Shares.
(l) Distribution of Offering Materials by the Selling Shareholder.
The Selling Shareholder has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to
the later of the Second Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of
the Underwriters' distribution of the Shares, any offering material in
connection with the offering and sale of the Shares by such Selling Shareholder
other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration
Statement.
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder and
delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Selling Shareholder to each
Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SHARES.
(a) The Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations, warranties
and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the
conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to the
several Underwriters the Firm Shares. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to
the conditions herein set forth, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of Firm Shares set
forth opposite
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their names on Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the
several Underwriters to the Company shall be $[___] per share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be
purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made by the Company
and the Representatives at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, at the offices of
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P., 1600 Atlanta Financial Center, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (or at such other place as may be agreed upon among
the Representatives and the Company), (i) on the third (3rd) full business day
following the first day that Shares are traded, (ii) if this Agreement is
executed and delivered after 1:30 P.M., San Francisco time, the fourth (4th)
full business day following the day that this Agreement is executed and
delivered or (iii) at such other time and date not later that seven (7) full
business days following the first day that Shares are traded as the
Representatives and the Company may determine (or at such time and date to
which payment and delivery shall have been postponed pursuant to Section 8
hereof), such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the
"Closing Date;" provided, however, that if the Company has not made available
to the Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time provided in
Section 2(g) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole discretion,
postpone the Closing Date until no later that two (2) full business days
following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives.
(c) The Option Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition, on the
basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and
upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company and
the Selling Shareholder hereby grant an option to the several Underwriters to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of [15,000] Option
Shares from the Company and the Selling Shareholder at the purchase price per
share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. Of the [ ] Option
Shares the first [ ] Option Shares shall be sold by the Selling Shareholder.
The remaining Option Shares will be sold by the Company. The option granted
hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments
in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option
granted hereunder may be exercised at any time upon notice by the
Representatives to the Company and the Selling Shareholder, which notice may be
given at any time within 30 days from the date of this Agreement. The time and
date of delivery of the Option Shares, if subsequent to the First Closing Date,
is called the "Second Closing Date" and shall be determined by the
Representatives and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five full
business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Option Shares
are to be purchased, (i) each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase the number of Option Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate
fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same
proportion to the total number of Option Shares to be purchased as the number
of Firm Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter
bears to the total number of Firm Shares and (ii) the Company and the Selling
Shareholder agree, severally and not jointly, to sell the number of Option
Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the
Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total
number of Option Shares to be sold as the number of Option Shares to be sold by
the Company and the Selling Shareholder, respectively, as set forth in the
paragraph "Introductory" of this Agreement bears to the total number of Option
Shares. The Representatives may cancel the option at any time
14
prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the
Company and the Selling Shareholder.
(d) Public Offering of the Shares. The Representatives hereby advise
the Company and the Selling Shareholder that the Underwriters intend to offer
for sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective
portions of the Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed and the
Registration Statement has been declared effective as the Representatives, in
their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.
(e) Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the
Company shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the
Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
order of the Company. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Shareholder shall be made at the Second Closing Date by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the order of the Custodian.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for
their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept
delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the
Firm Shares and any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase.
BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., individually and not as a Representative of
the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any
Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been
received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such
payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under
this Agreement.
The Selling Shareholder hereby agrees that (i) it will pay all
stock transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable
upon the sale or delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
to the several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the performance of
such Selling Shareholder's obligations hereunder and (ii) the Custodian is
authorized to deduct for such payment any such amounts from the proceeds to
such Selling Shareholder hereunder and to hold such amounts for the account of
such Selling Shareholder with the Custodian under the Custody Agreement.
(f) Delivery of the Shares. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, a credit representing the Firm Shares to an account or accounts at
The Depository Trust Company as designated by the Representatives for the
accounts of the Representatives and the several Underwriters at the First
Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately
available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company and
the Selling Shareholder shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered a credit
representing the Option Shares to an account or accounts at The Depository
Trust Company as designated by the Representatives for the accounts of the
Representatives and the several Underwriters, at the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a
wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase
price therefor. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and
place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of
the Underwriters.
15
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00
noon on the second business day following the date the Shares are released by
the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to
be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as
the Representatives shall request.
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER.
A. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company further covenants and
agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Matters. The Company will (i) use its best
efforts to cause a registration statement on Form 8-A (the "Form 8-A
Registration Statement") as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "Exchange Act") to become effective simultaneously with the Registration
Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Securities Act is
followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b)
under the Securities Act a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives
containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Securities Act and (iii)
not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act. If
the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act prior to the time
confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2) under the
Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111
under the Securities Act.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. The Company will advise the
Representatives promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (ii) of receipt
of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request of the Commission for
amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or
for any additional information and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
the use of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that
purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any
such stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to
obtain as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters in endeavoring to qualify the
Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions (both national
and foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the
Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a
general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now
so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to
time, prepare and file such statements, reports and
16
other documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications in
effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably request for
distribution of the Shares.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities
Act Matters. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to
permit the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable
opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus
is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time
to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company
promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at its own
expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, an appropriate amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus
as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when
it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with
the law.
(e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the
period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the First
Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters,
the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with
sales by an Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery Period"), as many
copies of the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto as the
Representatives may reasonably request.
(f) Insurance. The Company shall obtain Directors and Officers
liability insurance in the minimum amount of $10 million which shall apply to
the offering contemplated hereby.
(g) Notice of Subsequent Events. If at any time during the ninety (90)
day period after the Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor,
publication or event relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as a
result of which in your opinion the market price of the Company Shares has been
or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor,
publication or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the
Prospectus), the Company will, after written notice from you advising the
Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you
concerning the substance of and disseminate a press release or other public
statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such
rumor, publication or event.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
17
(i) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its
expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Company Shares.
(j) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period
ending [SEPTEMBER 30, 2000] that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of
the Securities Act.
(k) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery
Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the
Nasdaq National Market all reports and documents required to be filed under
the Exchange Act.
(l) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. The Company
will not, without the prior written consent of BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Inc., for a period of 180 days following the date of the Prospectus, offer,
sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or enter into any transaction
which is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition
(whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash
settlement or otherwise by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any
person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or
indirectly, or announce the offering of, any other Common Shares or any
securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, Common Shares; provided,
however, that the Company may (i) issue and sell Common Shares pursuant to any
director or employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend
reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the date of the Prospectus and
described in the Prospectus so long as none of those shares may be transferred
during the period of 180 days from the date that the Registration Statement is
declared effective (the "Lock-Up Period") and the Company shall enter stop
transfer instructions with its transfer agent and registrar against the
transfer of any such Common Shares and (ii) the Company may issue Common Shares
issuable upon the conversion of securities or the exercise of options or
warrants outstanding at the date of the Prospectus and described in the
Prospectus.
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five
years hereafter, the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of
the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for
the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the
Company with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any
report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its
capital stock.
B. COVENANTS OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDER. The Selling Shareholder
further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:
18
(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such Selling
Shareholder will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make a disposition of
Securities (as defined in Exhibit A hereto) now owned or hereafter acquired
directly by such person or with respect to which such person has or hereafter
acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide gift or
gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound by
this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or shareholders of such
person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by
the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to dispositions of Common
Shares acquired on the open market or (iv) with the prior written consent of
BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. The foregoing restriction has been expressly
agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or
other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or
result in a disposition of Securities during the Lock-Up Period, even if such
Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such
prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any
short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of
any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect
to any Securities or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based
market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant
part of its value from Securities. Furthermore, such person has also agreed and
consented to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's
transfer agent against the transfer of the Securities held by such person
except in compliance with this restriction.
(b) Delivery of Form W-9. To deliver to the Representatives prior to
the Second Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States
Treasury Department Form W-9.
(c) Notification of Untrue Statements, etc. If, at any time prior to
the date on which the distribution of the Common Shares as contemplated herein
and in the Prospectus has been completed, as determined by the Representatives,
such Selling Shareholder has knowledge of the occurrence of any event as a
result of which the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, in each case as
then amended or supplemented, would include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, such Selling Shareholder will promptly notify the Company and the
Representatives.
SECTION 4. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as
provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling
Shareholder set forth in Sections 1(A) and 1(B) hereof as of the date hereof
and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the
Option Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely
performance by the Company and the Selling Shareholder of their respective
covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following
additional conditions:
19
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No
Objection from the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The
Registration Statement shall have become effective prior to the execution of
this Agreement, or at such later date as shall be consented to in writing by
you; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the
knowledge of the Company, the Selling Shareholder or any Underwriter,
threatened by the Commission, and any request of the Commission for additional
information (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
otherwise) shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of Underwriters'
Counsel; and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. shall have
raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting
terms and arrangements.
(b) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal
matters in connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and
delivery of the Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to
Underwriters' Counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such
papers and information as they may reasonably have requested to enable them to
pass upon the matters referred to in this Section.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date, or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, there shall not have been any Material
Adverse Change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered
as one enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that
makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus; and
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P., counsel for the Company substantially in
the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, dated the First Closing Date, or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the Underwriters and with
reproduced copies or signed counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
Counsel rendering the opinion contained in Exhibit B may rely as to
questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the State of
Florida upon opinions of local counsel, and as to questions of fact upon
representations or certificates of officers of the Company, the Selling
Shareholder, and of government officials, in which case their opinion is to
state that they are so relying and that they have no knowledge of any material
misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or certificate.
Copies of any opinion, representation or certificate so relied upon shall be
delivered to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, and to Underwriters'
Counsel.
20
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇ LLP, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto.
The Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they may
have requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(f) Accountants' Comfort Letter. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from
KPMG LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, confirming that they are independent
certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of
the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations and based upon the
procedures described in such letter delivered to you concurrently with the
execution of this Agreement (herein called the "Original Letter"), but carried
out to a date not more than four (4) business days prior to the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) confirming, to the
extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original
Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as
the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and additions to the
statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter which are necessary
to reflect any changes in the facts described in the Original Letter since the
date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of more recent financial
statements, data or information. The letter shall not disclose any change in
the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus,
which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in
your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus. The Original Letter
from KPMG LLP shall be addressed to or for the use of the Underwriters in form
and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to the
extent true, that they are independent certified public accountants with
respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable
published Rules and Regulations, (ii) set forth their opinion with respect to
their examination of the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of
December 31, 1998 and related consolidated statements of operations,
shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the twelve (12) months ended December
31, 1998, and address other matters agreed upon by KPMG LLP and you. In
addition, you shall have received from KPMG LLP a letter addressed to the
Company and made available to you for the use of the Underwriters stating that
their review of the Company's system of internal accounting controls, to the
extent they deemed necessary in establishing the scope of their examination of
the Company's consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1998, did
not disclose any weaknesses in internal controls that they considered to be
material weaknesses.
(g) Officers' Certificate. You shall have received on the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the
Company, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of
the Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
21
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and the
Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or
supplements thereto, contained all material information required to be
included therein by the Securities Act and in all material respects
conformed to the requirements of the Securities, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements
thereto, did not and does not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
and, since the effective date of the Registration Statement, there has
occurred no event required to be set forth in an amended or
supplemented Prospectus which has not been so set forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been
(a) any material adverse change in the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (b) any
transaction that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise, except transactions entered into in the
ordinary course of business, (c) any obligation, direct or contingent,
that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, incurred by the Company or its subsidiaries, except
obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (d) any change
in the capital stock or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (e) any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital stock of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (f) any loss or damage
(whether or not insured) to the property of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries which has been sustained or will have been sustained which
has a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.
(h) Lock-up Agreement from Certain Shareholders of the Company. The
Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto from each officer and director of the
Company, and each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the outstanding
issued share capital of the Company.
22
(i) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Shareholder. You shall have
received on the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P., counsel for the Selling
Shareholder, substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto, dated as
of such Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and with reproduced copies
or signed counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to questions of
law not involving the laws of the United States or the State of Florida upon
opinions of local counsel and as to questions of fact upon representations or
certificates of the Selling Shareholder, and of governmental officials, in
which case their opinion is to state that they are so relying and that they
have no knowledge of any material misstatement or inaccuracy of any material
misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or certificate
so relied upon shall be delivered to you, as Representatives of the
Underwriters, and to Underwriters' Counsel.
(j) Selling Shareholder's Certificate. On each of the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives shall
receive a written certificate executed by the Selling Shareholder, dated as of
such Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of such Selling
Shareholder set forth in Section 1(B) of this Agreement are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made by
such Selling Shareholder on and as of such Closing Date; and
(ii) such Selling Shareholder has complied with all the agreements and
satisfied all the conditions on his part to be performed or satisfied
at or prior to such Closing Date.
(k) Selling Shareholder's Documents. At least three business days
prior to the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Shareholder shall have
furnished for review by the Representatives copies of the Power of Attorney and
Custody Agreement executed by the Selling Shareholder and such further
information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably
request.
(l) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares shall have been approved for
inclusion on the Nasdaq National Market subject only to official notice of
issuance.
(m) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Company
shall have complied with the provisions of Sections 2(g) and 3.A(e) hereof with
respect to the furnishing of Prospectuses.
(n) Additional Documents. On or before the Second Closing Date, the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such
information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the
purposes of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as
contemplated herein, or in order to
23
evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the
satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied when and
as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholder at any
time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall
be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that
Section 5 (Payment of Expenses), Section 6 (Reimbursement of Underwriters'
Expenses), Section 7 (Indemnification and Contribution) and Section 10
(Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery) shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company and the Selling
Shareholder, jointly and severally, agree to pay in such proportions as they
may agree upon among themselves all costs, fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the performance of their obligations hereunder and in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without
limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Common
Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses
of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock, (iii) all necessary
issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale
of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company's
counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors,
(v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation,
printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement
(including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates
of experts), each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments
and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, attorneys'
fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection
with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification
or registration of) all or any part of the Shares for offer and sale under the
state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada
or any other country, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing and
printing a "Blue Sky Survey", an "International Blue Sky Survey" or other
memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such
qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident
to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. review
and approval of the Underwriters' participation in the offering and
distribution of the Common Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses associated with
including the Common Shares on the Nasdaq National Market, (ix) all costs and
expenses incident to the preparation and undertaking of "road show"
preparations to be made to prospective investors, and (x) all other fees, costs
and expenses referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement.
Except as provided in this Section 5, Section 6, and Section 7 hereof, the
Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements
of their counsel.
The Selling Shareholder further agrees with each Underwriter
to pay (directly or by reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the
performance of his obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise
specifically provided for herein, including but not limited to (i) fees and
expenses of counsel and other advisors for such Selling Shareholder,
24
(ii) fees and expenses of the Custodian and (iii) expenses and taxes incident
to the sale and delivery of the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling
Shareholder to the Underwriters hereunder (which taxes, if any, may be deducted
by the Custodian under the provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement).
This Section 5 shall not affect or modify any separate, valid
agreement relating to the allocation of payment of expenses between the
Company, on the one hand, and the Selling Shareholder, on the other hand.
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If this Agreement
is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4, Section 7, Section
8, Section 9, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares on the First
Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on
the part of the Company or the Selling Shareholder to perform any agreement
herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse
the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have
terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand
for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the
Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase
and the offering and sale of the Shares, including but not limited to fees and
disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage,
facsimile and telephone charges.
SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters.
Each of the Company and the Selling Shareholder, jointly and severally, agree
to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees,
and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability
or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person
may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal
or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including
in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the
written consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or
actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i)
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including
any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434
under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of 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 (iii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the
representations and warranties of the Company or the Selling
25
Shareholder contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of
the Company or the Selling Shareholder to perform their respective obligations
hereunder or under law; or (v) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or
failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner
to, the Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as
part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising
out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv)
above provided that the Company and the Selling Shareholder shall not be liable
under this clause (v) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction
shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act
undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its bad faith or
willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling
person for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of
counsel chosen by BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.) as such expenses are
reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person in
connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any
such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however, that
the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company and the Selling Shareholder by the
Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto); and provided, further, that with respect to any preliminary
prospectus, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of
any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense purchased Shares, or any person controlling such
Underwriter, if copies of the Prospectus were timely delivered to the
Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended
or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter
to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to
the written confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person, and if the
Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving
rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense; and provided, further,
that the liability of the Selling Shareholder under the foregoing indemnity
agreement shall be limited to an amount equal to the initial public offering
price of the Shares sold by such Selling Shareholder, less the underwriting
discount, as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus. The indemnity
agreement set forth in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to any
liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement, the Selling Shareholder and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to
which the Company, or any such director, officer, Selling Shareholder or
controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, or other federal or state statutory
26
law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such
Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or
actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based
upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the
omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, 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 the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company and the Selling Shareholder by the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any
such director, officer, Selling Shareholder or controlling person for any legal
and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director,
officer, Selling Shareholder or controlling person in connection with
investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The indemnity agreement set forth
in this Section 7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each
Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Information Provided by the Underwriters. The Company and the
Selling Shareholder hereby acknowledges that the only information that the
Underwriters have furnished to the Company and the Selling Shareholder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or
the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set
forth in the first, second, sixth, eighth and ninth paragraphs under the
caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that
such statements are correct.
(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. 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 an indemnifying party under this Section 7,
notify the indemnifying party in writing 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 for contribution or
otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 or to
the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case
any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified
party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the
indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that
it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified,
by written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving
the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof
with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided,
however, 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 a conflict may arise between the positions of the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any
such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other
indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available
to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the
right to select separate
27
counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the
defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon
receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such
indemnifying party's election so to assume the defense of such action and
approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not
be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other
expenses 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 (it being
understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the
expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel),
approved by the indemnifying party (BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. in the
case of Section 7(b) and Section 8), representing the indemnified parties who
are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the
action, or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of
counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in
each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of
the indemnifying party.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, 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 against any loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense 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 Section 7(d) hereof, 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, compromise or consent to the
entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in
respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes (i) an unconditional
release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the
subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or
on behalf of any indemnified party.
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section
7 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling Shareholder on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. If,
however, the allocation provided by the
28
immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling
Shareholder on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company and the Selling Shareholder on the one hand and the Underwriter on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the
Selling Shareholder bears to the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the
cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Selling
Shareholder on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the Selling Shareholder may
agree, as among themselves, and without limiting the rights of the Underwriters
under this Agreement, as to the respective amounts of such liability for which
they each shall be responsible.
The Company and Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(f) 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 which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7(f). The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred
to above in this Section 7(f) shall be deemed to include 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 subsection (f), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions
applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was
not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations
in this Section 7(f) to contribute are several in proportion to their
respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(g) Timing of Any Payments of Indemnification. Any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are incurred, but in all cases, no later than thirty
(30) days of invoice to the indemnifying party.
(g) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in
this Section 7 and the representation and warranties of the Company and the
Selling Shareholder set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in
full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any person controlling any
29
Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons controlling
the Company or the Selling Shareholder, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and
payment therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A
successor to any Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or
any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the
indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section
7.
(h) Acknowledgements of Parties. The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented
by counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to
investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure is made in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
SECTION 8. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS. If, on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one
or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares
that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the
aggregate number of Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of
the aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number
of Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to
the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such
non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified
by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to
purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the
Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares and the aggregate number
of Shares with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the
aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements
satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such
Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall
terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the
provisions of Section 4, and Section 7 shall at all times be effective and
shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representatives or
the Company shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven
days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be
deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under
this Section 8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
30
SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. Prior to the First Closing
Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given
to the Company and the Selling Shareholder if at any time (i) trading or
quotation in any of the Company's securities shall have been suspended or
limited by the Commission or by the Nasdaq Stock, or trading in securities
generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange
shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have
been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; (ii) a general banking
moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York, Florida or
California authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or
escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity,
or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or any
substantial change or development involving a prospective change in United
States' or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the
judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on
the terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of
securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a
loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such
character as in the judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially
with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of
whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to
this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the
Selling Shareholder to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling
Shareholder shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives
and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 5 and 6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter
to the Company or the Selling Shareholder, or (c) of any party hereto to any
other party except that the provisions of Section 7 shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination. If the Representatives elect to
prevent this Agreement from becoming effective or to terminate this Agreement
as provided in this Section 9, the Representatives shall promptly notify the
Company by telephone, telecopy or telegram, in each case confirmed by letter.
SECTION 10. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company, of its officers, of the Selling Shareholder and of
the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners,
officers or directors or any controlling person, or the Selling Shareholder, as
the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold
hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 11. NOTICES. All communications hereunder, except as otherwise
specifically provided herein, shall be in writing and shall be mailed, hand
delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
31
If to the Representatives:
BANCBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇., ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
If to the Company or the Selling Shareholder:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technologies, Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
With a copy to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P.
1600 Atlanta Financial Center
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇.▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
SECTION 12. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters
pursuant to Section 9 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and to their
respective successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation
hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include any purchaser of the Shares
as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
32
SECTION 13. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or
provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is
for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed
to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to
make it valid and enforceable.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS.
(a) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in such state.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the
United States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the
courts of the State of California in each case located in the City and County
of San Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings
instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a
"Related Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such
courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons,
notice or document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be
effective service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought
in any such court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any
objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the
Specific Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to
plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding
brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party
not located in the United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System,
which currently maintains a San Francisco office at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of America, as its agent to receive
service of process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action
or proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City
and County of San Francisco.
SECTION 15. GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in
two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the
parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived
unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.
The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the convenience
of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of
this Agreement.
33
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34
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company and the Custodian the enclosed
copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof,
shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇▇ TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
By:
------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
---------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted
by the Representatives as of the date first above written.
BANCBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the several underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
BY BANCBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
35
SCHEDULE A
Number of Firm
Common Shares
Underwriters To be Purchased
BANCBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC. ...................... [___]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION.......
[___]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC .................................... [___]
[___] .................................................... [___]
Total............................................ [___]
36
EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
June __, 1999
BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you, as Representatives of the
several underwriters (the "Underwriters"), propose to enter into an
Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting Agreement") with ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technologies,
Inc. (the "Company") providing for the initial public offering (the "Public
Offering") by the Underwriters, including yourselves, of Common Stock of the
Company (the "Common Stock") pursuant to the Company's Registration Statement
on Form S-1 to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about
June 21, 1999 (the "Registration Statement").
In consideration of the Underwriters' agreement to purchase and make
the Public Offering of the Common Stock, and for other good and valuable
consideration, receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby
agrees, for a period of 180 days after the effective date of the Registration
Statement (the "Lock-Up Period"), not to offer to sell, contract to sell or
otherwise sell, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to
(collectively, a "Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or
warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities"),
now owned or hereafter acquired directly by the undersigned or with respect to
which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition,
otherwise than (i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees
thereof agree to be bound by this Lock-Up Agreement, (ii) as a distribution to
limited partners or shareholders of the undersigned, provided that the
distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by the terms of this Lock-Up
Agreement or (iii) with the prior written consent of BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. The foregoing restriction is expressly agreed to preclude the
holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction
which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a
Disposition of Securities during the Lock-Up Period even if such Securities
would be disposed of by someone other than the undersigned. Such prohibited
hedging or other transactions would include without limitation any short sale
(whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right
(including without limitation any put or call option) with respect to any
Securities or with respect to any security
37
(other than a broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or
derives any significant part of its value from Securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Lock-Up Agreement does not prohibit the sale of shares of the
Common Stock by the undersigned to the Underwriters in the Public Offering.
38
Furthermore, the undersigned hereby agrees and consents to the entry
of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent against the
transfer of the Securities held by the undersigned except in compliance with
this Lock-Up Agreement. In the event that the Registration Statement shall not
have been declared effective on or before December 31, 1999 this Lock-Up
Agreement shall be of no further force or effect.
Very truly yours,
---------------------------
(signature)
Name:
Address:
----------------------------
----------------------------
----------------------------
Accepted as of the date
first set forth above:
BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
By: BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
By:
-----------------------------------
(authorized signatory)
A-1
39
EXHIBIT B
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL
(i) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary (as that term is
defined in Regulation S-X of the Act) has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation;
(ii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary has the corporate
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
(iii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to
do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction, if any, in which the ownership or leasing of its
properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
would not have a Material Adverse Effect. To such counsel's knowledge,
the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any
corporation, association or other entity other than [list
subsidiaries];
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"Capitalization" as of the dates stated therein, the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the
shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder) have been duly and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such
counsel's knowledge, will not have been issued in violation of or
subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right,
right of first refusal or other similar right;
(v) All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such
counsel's knowledge, have not been issued in violation of or subject to
any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right, right of first
refusal or other similar right and are owned by the Company free and
clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or
equitable interest;
(vi) The Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be, to be
issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement have been
duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment
therefor in accordance with the terms hereof, will be duly and validly
issued and fully paid and nonassessable, and will not have been issued
in violation of or subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right,
registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right.
(vii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver to the Underwriters the
Shares to be issued and sold by it hereunder;
(viii) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company and has been duly executed
and delivered by the
B-1
40
Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the
Representatives, is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to
indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except
as enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles;
(ix) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act
and, to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or
threatened under the Securities Act;
(x) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A
Registration Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act;
and the Firm Shares or the Option Shares have been validly registered
under the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Exchange
Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder;
(xi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each
amendment or supplement thereto (other than the financial statements
(including supporting schedules) and financial data derived therefrom
as to which such counsel need express no opinion), as of the effective
date of the Registration Statement, complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act and the applicable
Rules and Regulations;
(xii) The information in the Prospectus under the caption "Description
of Capital Stock," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law or
legal conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is a fair
summary of such matters and conclusions; and the forms of certificates
evidencing the Common Stock and filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement comply with Florida law;
(xiii) The description in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
of the charter and bylaws of the Company and of statutes are accurate
and fairly present the information required to be presented by the
Securities Act;
(xiv) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no agreements,
contracts, leases or documents to which the Company is a party of a
character required to be described or referred to in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement which are not described or referred to therein
or filed as required;
(xv) The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated (other than performance of the
Company's indemnification obligations hereunder, concerning which no
opinion need be expressed) will not (a) result in any violation of the
Company's charter or bylaws or (b) to such counsel's knowledge, result
in a material breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions
of, or constitute a default under, any bond, debenture, note or other
evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other
B-2
41
agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a
party or by which its properties are bound, or any applicable statute,
rule or regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's
knowledge, any order, writ or decree of any court, government or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, or over any of their properties or operations;
(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of or qualification
with any court, government or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or over any
of their properties or operations is necessary in connection with the
consummation by the Company of the transactions herein contemplated,
except (i) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act, (ii)
such as may be required under state or other securities or blue sky
laws in connection with the purchase and the distribution of the Shares
by the Underwriters, (iii) such as may be required by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iv) such as may be required
under the federal or provincial laws of Canada;
(xvii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of a character required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus by the Securities Act, other
than those described therein;
(xviii) To such counsel's knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is presently (a) in material violation of its respective
charter or bylaws, or (b) in material breach of any applicable statute,
rule or regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's
knowledge, any order, writ or decree of any court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, or over any of their properties or operations; and
(xix) To such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, no holders of Common or other
securities of the Company have registration rights with respect to
securities of the Company and, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, all holders of securities of the Company
having rights known to such counsel to registration of such shares of
Common Shares or other securities, because of the filing of the
Registration Statement by the Company have, with respect to the
offering contemplated thereby, waived such rights or such rights have
expired by reason of lapse of time following notification of the
Company's intent to file the Registration Statement or have included
securities in the Registration Statement pursuant to the exercise of
and in full satisfaction of such rights.
(xx) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and the sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment
company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
(xxi) To such counsel's knowledge, the Company owns or possesses
sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses,
approvals, trade
B-3
42
secrets and other similar rights (collectively, "Intellectual Property
Rights") reasonably necessary to conduct their business as now
conducted; and the expected expiration of any such Intellectual
Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The
Company has not received any notice of infringement or conflict with
asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement or
conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a
Material Adverse Effect. To such counsel's knowledge, the Company's
discoveries, inventions, products, or processes referred to in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus do not infringe or conflict with
any right or patent which is the subject of a patent application known
to the Company.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto (other than the financial statements including supporting schedules and
other financial and statistical information derived therefrom, as to which such
counsel need express no comment) 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, or at the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (except as
aforesaid) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
B-4
43
EXHIBIT C
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF UNDERWRITERS' COUNSEL
(i) The Shares to be issued by the Company have been duly authorized
and, upon issuance and delivery and payment therefor in accordance with
the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
(ii) The Registration Statement (other than the financial statements
(including supporting schedules) and financial data derived therefrom
as to which such counsel need express no opinion) complied as to form
in all material respects with the requirements of the Act; the
Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to such
counsel's knowledge, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto
have been instituted or threatened or are pending under the Act.
(iii) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A
Registration Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and
the Firm Shares or the Option Shares have been validly registered under
the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act
and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
(iv) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(v) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Selling Shareholder.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has reviewed the opinions
addressed to the Representatives from ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, L.L.P. and list
each set of counsel that has provided an opinion, each dated the date hereof,
and furnished to you in accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting
Agreement. Such opinions appear on their face to be appropriately responsive to
the requirements of the Underwriting Agreement.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto (other than the financial statements
C-1
44
including supporting schedules and other financial and statistical
information derived therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no
comment) 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, or at the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto
(except as aforesaid) contained any untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
C-2
45
EXHIBIT D
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF SELLING SHAREHOLDER COUNSEL
(i) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by or on behalf of, and is a valid and binding agreement of,
such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable principles.
(ii) The execution and delivery by such Selling Shareholder of, and
the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under,
the Underwriting Agreement and its Custody Agreement and its Power of
Attorney will not to the best of such counsel's knowledge, violate,
result in a breach of or constitute a default under the terms of any
agreement or instrument to which such Selling Shareholder is a party
or by which it is bound, or any judgement, order or decree applicable
to such Selling Shareholder of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder.
(iii) To such counsel's knowledge such Selling Shareholder has good
and valid title to all of the Common Shares which may be sold by such
Selling Shareholder under the Underwriting Agreement and has the legal
right and power, and all authorization and approvals required to enter
into the Underwriting Agreement and its Custody Agreement and its
Power of Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all of the Common
Shares which may be sold by such Selling Shareholder under the
Underwriting Agreement and to comply with its other obligations under
the Underwriting Agreement, its Custody Agreement and its Power of
Attorney.
(iv) Each of the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of such
Selling Shareholder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by such Selling Shareholder and is a valid and binding agreement of
such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable principles.
(v) Assuming that the Underwriters purchase the Shares which are sold
by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement for
value, in good faith and without notice of any adverse claims, the
delivery of such Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement will
pass good and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of any
security interest, mortgage, pledge, lieu encumbrance or other claim.
D-1
46
(vi) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any
court or governmental authority or agency, is required for the
consummation by such Selling Shareholder of the transactions
contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement, except as required under
the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and
from the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
D-2