EXHIBIT 1.1
_________ Shares
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc.
Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
----------------------
____________, 1999
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BARNEY, INC.
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
As representatives of the
several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
c/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell ___________ shares of its common stock, $0.0001 par value per
share (the "Firm Shares"), to the several underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto (the "Underwriters"). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the
several Underwriters not more than an additional __________ shares of its common
stock, $0.0001 par value per share (the "Additional Shares"), if requested by
the Underwriters as provided in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Shares and the
Additional Shares are hereinafter referred to collectively as the "Shares".
Shares of the Company's common stock outstanding after giving effect to the
sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the "Common Stock".
SECTION 1. Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company has prepared
and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in
accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the
1
Commission thereunder (collectively, the "Act"), a registration statement on
Form S-1, including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration
statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information
(if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act, is hereinafter referred to as
the "Registration Statement"; and the prospectus in the form first used to
confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus". If the
Company has filed or is required pursuant to the terms hereof to file a
registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act registering
additional shares of Common Stock (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"),
then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein to the term "Registration
Statement" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
SECTION 2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase and Lock-Up Agreements. On the
basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and
subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to issue and sell, and
each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company
at a price per Share of $__________ (the "Purchase Price") the number of Firm
Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to issue
and sell the Additional Shares and the Underwriters shall have the right to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to __________ Additional Shares from the
Company at the Purchase Price. Additional Shares may be purchased solely for
the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of
the Firm Shares. The Underwriters may exercise their right to purchase
Additional Shares in whole or in part from time to time by giving written notice
thereof to the Company within 30 days after the date of this Agreement. You
shall give any such notice on behalf of the Underwriters and such notice shall
specify the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased pursuant to
such exercise and the date for payment and delivery thereof, which date shall be
a business day (i) no earlier than two business days after such notice has been
given (and, in any event, no earlier than the Closing Date (as hereinafter
defined)) and (ii) no later than ten business days after such notice has been
given. If any Additional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the number of
Additional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as
you may determine) which bears the same proportion to the total number of
Additional Shares to be purchased from the Company as the number of Firm Shares
set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I bears to the total
number of Firm Shares.
The Company hereby agrees not to (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell,
sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to
sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or
dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter
into any swap or other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the
economic consequences associated with the ownership of any Common Stock
(regardless of whether any of the transactions described in clause (i) or (ii)
is to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock, or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise), except to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, for a
period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus without the prior written
consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation. Notwithstanding
the foregoing,
2
during such period (i) the Company may grant stock options pursuant to the
Company's existing stock option plan and (ii) the Company may issue shares of
Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a
security outstanding on the date hereof. The Company also agrees not to file any
registration statement with respect to any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock for
a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus without the prior written
consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation. The Company
shall, prior to or concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, deliver an
agreement executed by (i) each of the directors and officers of the Company and
(ii) each stockholder listed on Annex I hereto to the effect that such person
will not, during the period commencing on the date such person signs such
agreement and ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, without the
prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Corporation, (A) engage in
any of the transactions described in the first sentence of this paragraph or (B)
make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of
any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock.
The Company hereby agrees: (i) to issue stop-transfer instructions to the
transfer agent for the Common Stock with respect to any transaction or
contemplated transaction that would constitute a breach of or default under any
applicable lock-up agreement, and (ii) upon written request of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin
& ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, to release from the lock-up agreements those
shares of Common Stock held by those holders set forth in such request. In
addition, except with the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation, the Company hereby agrees (i) not to amend or terminate,
or waive any right under, any lock-up agreement or take any other action that
would, directly or indirectly, have the same effect as an amendment or
termination, or waiver of any right under, any lock-up agreement that would
permit any holder of shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, subject to a lock-up agreement to
offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, make any short sale of, grant any
option, right or warrant to purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of,
directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or enter into any swap or
other arrangement that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences
associated with the ownership of any Common Stock (regardless of whether any of
the transactions described is to be settled by the delivery of Common Stock, or
such other securities, in cash or otherwise) prior to the expiration of 180 days
after the date of the Prospectus, (ii) not to release any such stop-transfer
instruction as described in (i) above prior to the expiration of 180 days after
the date of the Prospectus, and (iii) not to consent to any sale, short sale,
grant of any option for the purchase of, or other disposition or transfer of
shares of Common Stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock, subject to a lock-up agreement.
SECTION 3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by you that
the Underwriters propose (i) to make a public offering of their respective
portions of the Shares as soon after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement as in your judgment is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the
Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.
SECTION 4. Delivery and Payment. The Shares shall be represented by
definitive certificates and shall be issued in such authorized denominations and
registered in such names as
3
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation shall request no later than
two business days prior to the applicable Closing Date (as defined below). The
Company shall deliver the Shares, with any transfer taxes thereon duly paid by
the Company, to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation through the
facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), for the respective accounts
of the several Underwriters, against payment to the Company of the Purchase
Price therefore by wire transfer of Federal or other funds immediately available
in New York City. The certificates representing the Shares shall be made
available for inspection not later than 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the
business day prior to the applicable Closing Date at the office of DTC or its
designated custodian (the "Designated Office"). The time and date of delivery
and payment for the Firm Shares shall be 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on
____________, 1999 or such other time on the same or such other date as
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation and the Company shall agree
in writing. The time and date of delivery for the Firm Shares are hereinafter
referred to as the "Initial Closing Date". The time and date of delivery and
payment for any Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be
9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the applicable exercise
notice given by you pursuant to Section 2 or such other time on the same or such
other date as ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation and the
Company shall agree in writing. The time and date of delivery for any Additional
Shares, if not the Initial Closing Date, are hereinafter referred to as an
"Option Closing Date". The Initial Closing Date and each Option Closing Date are
each hereinafter referred to as a "Closing Date".
The documents to be delivered on each Closing Date on behalf of the parties
hereto pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement shall be delivered at the offices
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Phleger & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, Two Embarcadero Place, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and the Shares shall be delivered at the Designated Office, all
on the applicable Closing Date.
SECTION 5. Agreements of the Company. The Company agrees with you:
(a) To advise you promptly and, if requested by you, to confirm such
advice in writing, (i) of any request by the Commission for amendments to the
Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus or for
additional information, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of the suspension
of qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the
initiation of any proceeding for such purposes, (iii) when any amendment to the
Registration Statement becomes effective, (iv) if the Company is required to
file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement after the effectiveness of this
Agreement, when the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has become effective and
(v) of the happening of any event during the period referred to in Section 5(d)
below which makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus untrue or which requires any additions to or changes
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company will use
its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of such order at the
earliest possible time.
(b) To furnish to you five signed copies of the Registration Statement as
first filed with the Commission and of each amendment to it, including all
exhibits, and to furnish to you and each Underwriter designated by you such
number of conformed copies of the Registration
4
Statement as so filed and of each amendment to it, without exhibits, as you may
reasonably request.
(c) To prepare the Prospectus, the form and substance of which shall be
satisfactory to you, and to file the Prospectus in such form with the Commission
within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Act; during the
period specified in Section 5(d) below, not to file any further amendment to the
Registration Statement and not to make any amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus of which you shall not previously have been advised or to which you
shall reasonably object after being so advised; and, during such period, to
prepare and file with the Commission, promptly upon your reasonable request, any
amendment to the Registration Statement or amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus which may be necessary or advisable in connection with the
distribution of the Shares by you, and to use its best efforts to cause any such
amendment to the Registration Statement to become promptly effective.
(d) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the first business day
after the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter for such
period as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or a
dealer, to furnish in New York City to each Underwriter and any dealer as many
copies of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus)
as such Underwriter or dealer may reasonably request.
(e) If during the period specified in Section 5(d), any event shall occur
or condition shall exist as a result of which, in the opinion of 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 when the
Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare and file with the
Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement to the Prospectus so that the
statements in 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 applicable law, and to furnish to each
Underwriter and to any dealer as many copies thereof as such Underwriter or
dealer may reasonably request.
(f) Prior to any public offering of the Shares, to cooperate with you and
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration or
qualification of the Shares for offer and sale by the several Underwriters and
by dealers under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as
you may request, to continue such registration or qualification in effect so
long as required for distribution of the Shares and to file such consents to
service of process or other documents as may be necessary in order to effect
such registration or qualification; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required in connection therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation in
any jurisdiction in which it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to general consent to service of process or taxation other than
as to matters and transactions relating to the Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the offering or sale of the Shares, in
any jurisdiction in which it is not now so subject.
(g) To mail and make generally available to its stockholders as soon as
practicable an earnings statement covering the twelve-month period ending
December 31, 2000 that shall
5
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act, and to advise you in writing
when such statement has been so made available.
(h) During the period of three years after the date of this Agreement, to
furnish to you as soon as available copies of all reports or other
communications furnished to the record holders of Common Stock or furnished to
or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which any
class of securities of the Company is listed and such other information
concerning the business and financial condition of the Company and its
subsidiaries as you may from time to time reasonably request.
(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all
expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement,
including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and
the Company's accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of
the Shares under the Act and all other fees and expenses in connection with the
preparation, printing, filing and distribution of the Registration Statement
(including financial statements and exhibits), any preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including
the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers in
the quantities specified herein, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the
transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer
or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) all costs of printing or producing this
Agreement and any other agreements or documents in connection with the offering,
purchase, sale or delivery of the Shares, (iv) all expenses in connection with
the registration or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the several states and all costs of printing or
producing any Preliminary and Supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda in connection
therewith (including the filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with such registration or qualification and
memoranda relating thereto), (v) the filing fees and reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the review and
clearance of the offering of the Shares by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., (vi) all fees and expenses in connection with the
preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the
Common Stock and all costs and expenses incident to the listing of the Shares on
the Nasdaq National Market, (vii) the cost of printing certificates representing
the Shares, (viii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar and/or
depositary, and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of
the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise
made in this Section.
(j) To use its best efforts to list for quotation the Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market and to maintain the listing of the Shares on the Nasdaq National
Market for a period of three years after the date of this Agreement.
(k) To use its best efforts to do and perform all things required or
necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by the Company prior to
the applicable Closing Date and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the
delivery of the Shares.
(l) If the Registration Statement at the time of the effectiveness of this
Registration Statement with the Commission registering the Shares not so covered
in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., New York
6
City time, on the date of this Agreement and to pay to the Commission the filing
fee for such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement at the time of the filing
thereof or to give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant
to Rule 111(b) under the Act.
(m) To comply with all registration, filing and reporting requirements of
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), which may
from time to time be applicable to the Company; and, at a minimum, during the
period of three years after the date of this Agreement, to mail and make
generally available as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year to
the record holders of its Common Stock a financial report of the Company and its
subsidiaries on a consolidated basis (and a similar financial report of all
unconsolidated subsidiaries, if any), all such financial reports to include a
consolidated balance sheet, a consolidated statement of operations, a
consolidated statement of cash flows and a consolidated statement of
shareholders' equity as of the end of and for such fiscal year, together with
comparable information as of the end of and for the preceding year, certified by
independent public accountants, and to mail and make generally available as soon
as practicable after the end of each quarterly period (except for the last
quarterly period of each fiscal year) to such holders, a consolidated balance
sheet, a consolidated statement of operations and a consolidated statement of
cash flows (and similar financial reports of all unconsolidated subsidiaries, if
any) as of the end of and for such period, and for the period from the beginning
of such year to the close of such quarterly period, together with comparable
information for the corresponding periods of the preceding year.
(n) To comply with all provisions of all undertakings contained in the
Registration Statement, including, without limitation, to use the net proceeds
received by it from the sale of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement in the
manner specified in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds".
(o) Prior to any Closing Date, that it will not, directly or indirectly,
issue any press release or other communication and will not hold any press
conference or event with respect to the Company, or its financial condition,
results of operations, business, properties, assets or prospects, or this
offering, without your prior written consent; provided, however, that such prior
written consent will not be necessary if (i) such press release would be issued
in the ordinary course of the Company's business and does not relate to the
market for the Company's Common Stock or (ii) (A) ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ informs the Company that such press release or
press conference or event is legally advisable and (B) the Company uses
reasonable efforts to consult with you in advance in regard to the proposed
press release or press conference or event.
SECTION 6. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective (other than any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness
of this Agreement); any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement filed after the
effectiveness of this Agreement will become effective no later than 10:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the date of this Agreement; and no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings
for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission.
7
(b) (i) The Registration Statement (other than any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness of
this Agreement), when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended, if
applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement (other than
any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the
effectiveness of this Agreement) and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or
supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Act
(including, without limitation, that all matters required to be set forth or
disclosed under "Certain Transactions" are set forth or disclosed in the
Prospectus), (iii) if the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto, when they become effective
(A) will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading and (B) will comply in all material respects with the Act
and (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the
representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to
statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based
upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.
(c) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, complied when so filed in all material
respects with the Act, and did not contain an 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, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties
set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in any
preliminary prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly
for use therein.
(d) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated,
is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power and authority to carry
on its business as described in the Prospectus and to own, lease and operate its
properties, and each is duly qualified and is in good standing as a foreign
corporation authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified would not have a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) There are no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants, options,
calls, convertible securities, commitments of sale or liens granted or issued by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to or entitling any person to
purchase or otherwise to acquire any shares of the capital stock of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration
Statement.
8
(f) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable and not
subject to any preemptive or similar rights; and the Shares have been duly
authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment
therefor as provided by this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any
preemptive or similar rights. All outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company were issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state
securities laws.
(g) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
Company's subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly or
indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, free and clear of any security
interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature.
(h) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its
respective charter or by-laws or in default in the performance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan
agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument that is material to
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or their respective property is bound.
(j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company, the compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i) require any
consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any
court or governmental body or agency (except such as may be required under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states), (ii) conflict with or
constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or a default under,
the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or instrument that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, (iii) violate or
conflict with any applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment, order or
decree of any court or any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over
the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective property, (iv) result
in the suspension, termination or revocation of any Authorization (as defined
below) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such Authorization or (v) result in integration of
the offering or sale of the Shares with any other offering of the Company's
securities.
(k) The Company owns or possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all
patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including
trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or
confidential information, system or procedures), trademarks, service marks and
trade names ("Intellectual Property") currently employed by it in connection
with the business now operated by it except where the failure to own or possess
or otherwise be able to acquire such intellectual property would not, singly or
in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects,
financial condition or results of operation of
9
the Company; and except as disclosed in the Registration Statement (specifically
including, but not limited to, the disclosure under the caption "Risk Factors"),
the Company has not received any notice of infringement of or conflict with
asserted rights of others with respect to any of such intellectual property
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, would have a material adverse effect on the business,
prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company.
(l) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the
Company, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers
or suppliers of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Act to
be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which is not so
described.
(m) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in
accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain asset accountability; (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 the existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(n) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened
to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could be a party or to
which any of their respective property is or could be subject that are required
to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
described; nor are there any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents
that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not
so described or filed as required.
(o) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has violated any
foreign, federal, state or local law or regulation relating to the protection of
human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or
wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), any provisions of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any provisions
of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder, except for such violations which, singly or in the aggregate, would
not have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial
condition or results of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole.
(p) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such permits, licenses,
consents, exemptions, franchises, authorizations and other approvals (each, an
"Authorization") of, and has made all filings with and notices to, all
governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory organizations and all
courts and other tribunals, including, without limitation, under any applicable
Environmental Laws, as are necessary to own, lease, license and operate its
respective properties and to conduct its business, except where the failure to
have any such Authorization or to make any such filing or notice would not,
singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business,
prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole. Each such Authorization is valid and in full
force and effect and each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance
with all the terms
10
and conditions thereof and with the rules and regulations of the authorities and
governing bodies having jurisdiction with respect thereto; and no event has
occurred (including, without limitation, the receipt of any notice from any
authority or governing body) which allows or, after notice or lapse of time or
both, would allow, revocation, suspension or termination of any such
Authorization or results or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would result
in any other impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Authorization;
and such Authorizations contain no restrictions that are burdensome to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries; except where such failure to be valid and in
full force and effect or to be in compliance, the occurrence of any such event
or the presence of any such restriction would not, singly or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition
or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(q) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws
(including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required
for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any
Authorization, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential
liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(r) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company.
(s) Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP are independent public accountants with
respect to the Company and its subsidiaries as required by the Act.
(t) The consolidated financial statements included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto), together
with related schedules and notes, present fairly the consolidated financial
position, results of operations and changes in financial position of the Company
and its subsidiaries on the basis stated therein at the respective dates or for
the respective periods to which they apply; such statements and related
schedules and notes have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied throughout the periods involved,
except as disclosed therein; the supporting schedules, if any, included in the
Registration Statement present fairly in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles the information required to be stated therein; and the
other financial and statistical information and data set forth in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
thereto) are, in all material respects, accurately presented and prepared.
(u) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale
of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(v) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person
granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to
require the Company to include such securities with the Shares registered
pursuant to the Registration Statement.
11
(w) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (i)
there has not occurred any material adverse change or any development involving
a prospective material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise,
or the earnings, business, management or operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there has not been any material adverse
change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change in the
capital stock or in the long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any
material liability or obligation, direct or contingent.
(x) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes (Chapter 92-198, Laws of Florida).
(y) Each certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to
the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters
covered thereby.
(z) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized financial
responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are prudent
and customary in the business in which it is engaged; and the Company (i) has
not received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that substantial
capital improvements or other material expenditures will have to be made in
order to continue such insurance or (ii) has no reason to believe that it will
not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage
expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers at a cost that would
not have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial
conditions or results of operations of the Company.
(aa) The pro forma financial statement of the Company and the related notes
thereto set forth in the Registration Statement of the Prospectus (and any
supplement or amendment thereto) have been prepared on a basis consistent with
the historical financial statements of the Company, give effect to the
assumptions used in the preparation thereof on a reasonable basis and in good
faith and present fairly the historical and proposed transactions contemplated
by the Registration and the Prospectus. Such pro forma financial statements have
been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of Rule 11-02 of
Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission. The other pro forma financial and
statistical information and data set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus ( and any supplement or amendment thereto) are, in all material
respects, accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent with the pro
forma financial statements.
(bb) All material tax returns required to be filed by the Company in any
jurisdiction have been filed, other than those filings being contested in good
faith, and all material taxes, including withholding taxes, penalties and
interest, assessments, fees and other charges due pursuant to such returns or
pursuant to any assessment received by the Company have been paid, other than
those being contested in good faith and for which adequate reserves have been
provided.
(cc) 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 Act which have not
12
been accurately described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or (ii)
might reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on their
properties, assets or rights. All 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 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
date 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.
(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 principal suppliers that might be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial
condition or results of operations of the Company.
(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) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any
employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or
other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or
foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be
disclosed in the Prospectus.
SECTION 7. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter,
its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and judgments (including, without limitation, any legal or other
13
expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any matter,
including any action, that could give rise to any such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or
any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by any such untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating
to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by such Underwriter
through you expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the foregoing
indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure
to the benefit of any Underwriter who failed to deliver a Prospectus, as then
amended or supplemented, (so long as the Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto was provided by the Company to the several Underwriters in
the requisite quantity and on a timely basis to permit proper delivery on or
prior to the Closing Date) to the person asserting any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in such preliminary prospectus, or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, if
such material misstatement or omission or alleged material misstatement or
omission was cured in the Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented, and such
Prospectus was required by law to be delivered at or prior to the written
confirmation of sale to such person.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent
as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter but only with
reference to information relating to such Underwriter furnished in writing to
the Company by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or any preliminary prospectus.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in respect
of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b) (the
"indemnified party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing
and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of such action, including
the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party and
the payment of all fees and expenses of such counsel, as incurred (except that
in the case of any action in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant
to both Sections 7(a) and 7(b), the Underwriter shall not be required to assume
the defense of such action pursuant to this Section 7(c), but may employ
separate counsel and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and
expenses of such counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of
such Underwriter). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate
counsel in any such action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees
and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnified party
unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall have been specifically
authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party
shall have failed to assume the defense of such action or employ counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the
14
indemnified party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel that
there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from
or additional to those available to the indemnifying party (in which case the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume the defense of such action
on behalf of the indemnified party). In any such case, the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one action or separate but substantially
similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for
all indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇
& ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant
to Section 7(a), and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant
to Section 7(b). The indemnifying party shall indemnify and hold harmless the
indemnified party from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments by reason of any settlement of any action (i) effected
with its written consent or (ii) effected without its written consent if the
settlement is entered into more than twenty business days after the indemnifying
party shall have received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement
for the fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses
are at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such
settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or compromise of, or
consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action in respect of which the indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity or contribution may be or could have been sought hereunder by the
indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes
an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are or could have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to
act, by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering
of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 7(d)(i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause 7(d)(i) above but also the
relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be deemed to be in the
same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (after deducting
underwriting discounts and commissions, but before deducting expenses) received
by the Company, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by
the Underwriters, bear to the total price to the public of the Shares, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other
15
hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company
or the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) 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 in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any matter, including any action,
that could have given rise to such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
judgments. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 7(d) are several in proportion to the respective number
of Shares purchased by each of the Underwriters hereunder and not joint.
(e) The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive and
shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any
indemnified party at law or in equity.
SECTION 8. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares under this Agreement
are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
(a) All the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
this Agreement shall be true and correct on the Closing Date with the same force
and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.
(b) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the
rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(c) above;
if the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement after
the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
shall have become effective by 10:00 p.m., New York City time, on the date of
this Agreement; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been commenced or shall be pending before or contemplated by
the Commission.
(c) You shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate dated the
Closing Date, signed by ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, in their respective
capacities as the President
16
and Chief Executive Officer and Chief Operating Officer and Chief Financial
Officer of the Company, satisfactory to you, confirming the matters set forth in
Sections 6(v), 8(a), 8(b) and 8(d) (other than with respect to your judgment and
the practicability of marketing the Shares), that the Company has complied with
all of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions herein contained and
required to be complied with or satisfied by the Company on or prior to the
Closing Date and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request.
(d) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement), (i)
there shall not have occurred any change or any development involving a
prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings,
business, management or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, (ii) there shall not have been any change or any development involving
a prospective change in the capital stock or in the long-term debt of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries shall have incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
contingent, the effect of which, in any such case described in clause 8(d)(i),
8(d)(ii) or 8(d)(iii), in your judgment, is material and adverse and, in your
judgment, makes it impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(e) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion (satisfactory
to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for the Company, to the
effect that:
(i) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as described in the Prospectus and
to own, lease and operate its properties;
(ii) each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly qualified and
is in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in
each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure
to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable
and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights;
(iv) the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor as provided by this
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the
issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive or similar
rights;
17
(v) all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
Company's subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly or
indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, free and clear of any security
interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature;
(vi) the Company has the corporate power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver the Shares to the
Underwriters; and this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(vii) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to
legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
(viii) the Registration Statement has become effective under the
Act, no stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose are, to the best of such counsel's knowledge
after due inquiry, pending before or contemplated by the Commission;
(ix) the statements under the captions "Recent Developments",
"Risk Factors -Future sale of shares could affect our stock price",
"Capitalization", "Business - Relationship with American Express", "Certain
Transactions", "Description of Capital Stock", "Shares Eligible for Future
Sale" and "Underwriting" in the Prospectus and Items 14 and 15 of Part II
of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute a
summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein,
fairly present the information called for with respect to such legal
matters, documents and proceedings;
(x) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of its respective charter or by-laws and, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge after due inquiry, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in default in the performance of any obligation, agreement,
covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
lease or other agreement or instrument that is material to the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or their respective property is bound;
(xi) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by
the Company, the compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof
and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (A)
require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
qualification with, any court or governmental body or agency (except such
as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
states), (B) conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease
or other agreement or instrument that is material to the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
18
subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, (C) violate or conflict
with any applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree
of any court or any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over
the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective property or (D)
result in the suspension, termination or revocation of any Authorization of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other impairment of the
rights of the holder of any such Authorization;
(xii) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any legal or
governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is or could be a party or to which any of their
respective property is or could be subject that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
described, or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents
that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that
are not so described or filed as required;
(xiii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has violated
any Environmental Law, any provisions of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any provisions of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act, or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except
for such violations which, singly or in the aggregate, would not have a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(xiv) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such
Authorizations of, and has made all filings with and notices to, all
governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory organizations
and all courts and other tribunals, including, without limitation, under
any applicable Environmental Laws, as are necessary to own, lease, license
and operate its respective properties and to conduct its business, except
where the failure to have any such Authorization or to make any such filing
or notice would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; each such
Authorization is valid and in full force and effect and each of the Company
and its subsidiaries is in compliance with all the terms and conditions
thereof and with the rules and regulations of the authorities and governing
bodies having jurisdiction with respect thereto; and no event has occurred
(including, without limitation, the receipt of any notice from any
authority or governing body) which allows or, after notice or lapse of time
or both, would allow, revocation, suspension or termination of any such
Authorization or results or, after notice or lapse of time or both, would
result in any other impairment of the rights of the holder of any such
Authorization; and such Authorizations contain no restrictions that are
burdensome to the Company or any of its subsidiaries; except where such
failure to be valid and in full force and effect or to be in compliance,
the occurrence of any such event or the presence of any such restriction
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on
the business,
19
prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(xv) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such
term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
(xvi) to the best of such counsel's knowledge after due inquiry,
there are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company
and any person granting such person the right to require the Company to
file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any securities
of the Company or to require the Company to include such securities with
the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement;
(xvii) (A) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
supplement or amendment thereto (except for the financial statements and
other financial data included therein as to which no opinion need be
expressed) comply as to form with the Act, (B) such counsel has no reason
to believe that at the time the Registration Statement became effective or
on the date of this Agreement, the Registration Statement and the
prospectus included therein (except for the financial statements and other
financial data as to which such counsel need not express any belief)
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (C) such counsel has no reason to
believe that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable
(except for the financial statements and other financial data, as
aforesaid) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
(xviii) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can
acquire on reasonable terms, all Intellectual Property currently employed
by them in connection with the business now operated by them except where
the failure to own or possess or otherwise be able to acquire such
Intellectual Property would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or
results of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge after due inquiry, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement
of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of such
Intellectual Property which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of
an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse
effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and
(xix) the Shares to be sold under this Agreement to the Underwriters
are duly authorized for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market.
20
The opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
described in Section 8(e) above shall be rendered to you at the request of the
Company and shall so state therein.
(f) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion, dated the
Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Phleger & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP, counsel for the Underwriters,
as to the matters referred to in Sections 8(e)(iv), 8(e)(vi), 8(e)(ix) (but only
with respect to the statements under the caption "Description of Capital Stock"
and "Underwriting") and 8(e)(xvii).
In giving such opinions with respect to the matters covered by Section
8(e)(xvii) [counsel for the Company] and [counsel for the Underwriters] may
state that their opinion and belief are based upon their participation in the
preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are
without independent check or verification except as specified.
(g) You shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing
Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in
form and substance satisfactory to you, from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP,
independent public accountants, containing the information and statements of the
type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to Underwriters with
respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(h) The Company shall have delivered to you the agreements specified in
Section 2 hereof which agreements shall be in full force and effect on the
Closing Date.
(i) The Shares shall have been duly listed for quotation on the Nasdaq
National Market.
(j) The Company shall not have failed on or prior to the Closing Date to
perform or comply with any of the agreements herein contained and required to be
performed or complied with by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date.
(k) [Patent Opinion?]
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase any Shares
hereunder are further subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Closing
Date of such other documents, satisfactory to you, as you may reasonably request
with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and
issuance of such Additional Shares and other matters related to the issuance of
such Additional Shares.
SECTION 9. Effectiveness of Agreement and Termination. This Agreement
shall become effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
parties hereto.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the Closing
Date by you by written notice to the Company if any of the following has
occurred: (i) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or other national or
international calamity or crisis or change in economic conditions or in the
financial markets of the United States or elsewhere that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and, in your judgment, makes it impracticable to market the
Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus, (ii) the
suspension or material limitation
21
of trading in securities or other instruments on the New York Stock Exchange,
the American Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade or the Nasdaq National Market or
limitation on prices for securities or other instruments on any such exchange or
the Nasdaq National Market, (iii) the suspension of trading of any securities of
the Company on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, (iv) the
enactment, publication, decree or other promulgation of any federal or state
statute, regulation, rule or order of any court or other governmental authority
which in your opinion materially and adversely affects, or will materially and
adversely affect, the business, prospects, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (v) the
declaration of a banking moratorium by either federal or New York State
authorities or (vi) the taking of any action by any federal, state or local
government or agency in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your
opinion has a material adverse effect on the financial markets in the United
States.
If, on the applicable Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail or refuse to purchase the Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the
case may be, which it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date
and the aggregate number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may
be, which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or
refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the total number of Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, to be purchased on such date by
all Underwriters, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall be obligated severally,
in the proportion which the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite its name in
Schedule I bears to the total number of Firm Shares which all the non-defaulting
Underwriters have agreed to purchase, or in such other proportion as you may
specify, to purchase the Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be,
which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused
to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which any Underwriter has
agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof be increased pursuant to this
Section 9 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares or
Additional Shares, as the case may be, without the written consent of such
Underwriter. If, on the Initial Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters
shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm
Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the
aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased by all Underwriters and
arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for purchase of such Firm
Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will
terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter and
the Company. In any such case which does not result in termination of this
Agreement, either you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the
Initial Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that
the required changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
or any other documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on an Option
Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase
Additional Shares and the aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of
Additional Shares to be purchased on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase
such Additional Shares or (ii) purchase not less than the number of Additional
Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters would have been obligated to
purchase on such date in the absence of such default. Any action taken under
this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting
22
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of any such Underwriter
under this Agreement.
SECTION 10. Miscellaneous. Notices given pursuant to any provision of
this Agreement shall be addressed as follows: (i) if to the Company, to
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and (ii) if
to any Underwriter or to you, to you c/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities
Corporation, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: Syndicate
Department, or in any case to such other address as the person to be notified
may have requested in writing.
The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations,
warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters set
forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full
force and effect, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares,
regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof,
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or directors of any
Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter, the Company, the officers
or directors of the Company or any person controlling the Company, (ii)
acceptance of the Shares and payment for them hereunder and (iii) termination of
this Agreement.
If for any reason the Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the
Company as provided herein (other than as a result of any termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 9), the Company agrees to reimburse the several
Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by them. Notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, the Company shall be liable for all expenses which it has agreed
to pay pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof. The Company also agrees to reimburse
the several Underwriters, their directors and officers and any persons
controlling any of the Underwriters for any and all fees and expenses
(including, without limitation, the fees disbursements of counsel) incurred by
them in connection with enforcing their rights hereunder (including, without
limitation, pursuant to Section 7 hereof).
Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made solely
for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the Underwriters, the
Underwriters' directors and officers, any controlling persons referred to
herein, the Company's directors and the Company's officers who sign the
Registration Statement and their respective successors and assigns, all as and
to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term "successors and
assigns" shall not include a purchaser of any of the Shares from any of the
several Underwriters merely because of such purchase.
This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.
This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
23
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Company and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
By:
-------------------------------------
Title:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ BARNEY, INC.
BEAR, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INC.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
Acting severally on behalf of themselves
and the several Underwriters named in
Schedule I hereto
By ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By
-----------------------------------
24
SCHEDULE I
----------
Underwriters Number of Firm Shares
to be Purchased
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities Corporation
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Barney, Inc.
Bear, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Inc.
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
Total
Annex I
[Insert names of stockholders of the Company who will be required to sign lock
ups]