EXHIBIT 9
9,000,000 Shares
THE ST. ▇▇▇ COMPANY
COMMON STOCK, NO PAR VALUE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
September 16, 2003
September 16, 2003
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
Banc of America Securities LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and Associates, Inc.
JMP Securities LLC
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Testamentary Trust, a trust established under The
Last Will and Testament of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "Selling Shareholder"),
proposes to sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") an aggregate of 9,000,000 shares (the "Firm Shares") of the
Common Stock, no par value, of The St. ▇▇▇ Company, a Florida corporation (the
"Company").
The Selling Shareholder also proposes to sell to the several
Underwriters not more than an additional 1,350,000 shares of the Common Stock,
no par value, of the Company (the "Additional Shares") if and to the extent that
you, as Managers of the offering, shall have determined to exercise, on behalf
of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of Common Stock granted
to the Underwriters in Section 3 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional
Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Shares." The shares of
Common Stock, no par value, of the Company (including the Shares) are
hereinafter referred to as the "Common Stock."
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement, including a prospectus, relating to the
sale of Common Stock by the Selling Shareholder from time to time, and has filed
or transmitted for filing to, or shall promptly hereafter file with or transmit
for filing to, the Commission a prospectus supplement (the "Prospectus
Supplement") specifically relating to the sale of the Shares pursuant to Rule
424 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). The
registration statement as amended at the time it becomes effective is
hereinafter
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referred to as the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus in the form included
in the Registration Statement is hereinafter referred to as the "Base
Prospectus" and the Base Prospectus together with the Prospectus Supplement used
to confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter referred to as the "Prospectus"
(including, in the case of all references to the Registration Statement, the
Base Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement and the Prospectus, documents
incorporated therein by reference). If the Company has filed an abbreviated
registration statement to register additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to
Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the "Rule 462 Registration Statement"),
then any reference herein to the term "Registration Statement" shall be deemed
to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in
effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or
threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) Each document, if any, filed or to be filed pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied or will comply when
so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) the
Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and,
as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (iii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply
and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and (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) The Company has been duly incorporated and is an existing
corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of Florida with
the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and the Company is duly
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which
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the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property
requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be
so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(d) Each significant subsidiary of the Company as defined in
Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X ( "Significant Subsidiary") has been duly
incorporated and is an existing corporation in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power
and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus; and each Significant Subsidiary of the
Company is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its
ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to
the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of capital
stock of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and
validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and are
owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, equities or claims.
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(f) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to
legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(g) The outstanding shares of Common Stock (including the
Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder) have been duly authorized
and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(h) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will
not contravene (i) any provision of applicable law or the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company, (ii) any agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is
material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole or (iii)
any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court
having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, except in the
case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above to the extent as would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a
whole, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the
performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement,
except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the
various states in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
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(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 in the earnings, business or
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from
that set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or
supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement).
(j) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or
threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or
to which any of the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is subject that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus and are not so described or any statutes,
regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or
filed as required.
(k) Each preliminary prospectus or prospectus supplement filed
as part of the registration statement as originally filed or as part of
any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the
Securities Act, complied when so filed in all material respects with the
Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
(l) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Shares will not be, required to register as an
"investment company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended.
(m) With respect to each income producing property, any
development or developable property identified in the Registration
Statement and any other property in excess of 1,000 acres owned by the
Company or one of its subsidiaries, whether such property is held for
development, sale, lease or any other purpose (the "Properties"), (i)
except as disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company or one of its
subsidiaries has good and marketable fee simple title to the land
underlying the Properties and good and marketable title to the
improvements thereon, subject to utility easements serving such
Properties, to zoning and similar governmental land use matters
affecting such Properties that are consistent with the current uses of
such Properties and to liens, encumbrances, defects and other matters of
title that would not have a material adverse effect on the value of such
Properties or materially interfere with their current or currently
anticipated future uses, (ii) all liens, charges, encumbrances, claims,
or restrictions on or affecting any of the Properties and the assets of
the Company which are required to be disclosed in the Prospectus are
disclosed therein; (iii) except as disclosed in the Prospectus, no
person has an option or right of first refusal to purchase all or part
of any Property or any interest therein; (iv) each of the Properties
complies with all applicable codes, laws and regulations
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(including, without limitation, building and zoning codes, laws and
regulations and laws relating to access to the Properties), except to
the extent disclosed in the Prospectus and except for such failures to
comply that would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and (v) the Company has no knowledge
of any pending or threatened condemnation proceedings, zoning change, or
other similar proceeding or action that would affect the size of, use
of, improvements on, construction on or access to any of the Properties,
except such proceedings, changes or actions that would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(n) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with
any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and
regulations relating to the protection of human health and safety, the
environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or
contaminants ("Environmental Laws"), (ii) have received all permits,
licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable
Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) are
in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license
or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws,
failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or
failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits,
licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(o) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no costs
or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up,
closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any
permit, license or approval and any potential liabilities to third
parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(p) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any
person granting such person the right to require the Company to file a
registration statement under the Securities Act with respect to any
securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such
securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
(q) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section
517.075, Florida Statutes relating to doing business with the Government
of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba.
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(r) The financial statements (including the related notes and
supporting schedules) filed as part of the Registration Statement or
included in the Prospectus present fairly in all material respects the
consolidated financial position and results of operations of the
Company, at the dates and for the periods indicated, and have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as
otherwise stated therein.
(s) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can
acquire on reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights,
licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and
other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential
information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade
names currently employed by them in connection with the business now
operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted
rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or
in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, would have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(t) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries exists, except as described in or
contemplated by the Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is
imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing, threatened or
imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal
suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that would have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(u) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by
insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and
risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses
in which they are engaged; in the past five years, neither the Company
nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage sought
or applied for; and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any
reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing
insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain
similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue
its business at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as described
in or contemplated by the Prospectus.
(v) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all certificates,
authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or
foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective
businesses, except for such certificates, authorizations and permits the
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non-possession of which would not have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and neither the Company
nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating
to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization
or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.
(w) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or
among the Company on the one hand, and the directors, officers,
stockholders, customers, suppliers or contractors of the Company, on the
other hand, which is required to be described in the Prospectus which is
not so described.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Shareholder. The
Selling Shareholder represents and warrants to and agrees with each of the
Underwriters that:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder.
(b) The execution and delivery by the Selling Shareholder of,
and the performance by the Selling Shareholder of its obligations under,
this Agreement and the Letter of Transmittal and Custody Agreement
signed by the Selling Shareholder and Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Custodian,
relating to the deposit of the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Shareholder (the "Custody Agreement") and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby will not contravene any provision of
applicable law, or the Last Will and Testament of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, by
which the Selling Shareholder was established, or any agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Selling Shareholder or any judgment, order
or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction
over the Selling Shareholder, and no consent, approval, authorization or
order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is
required for the performance by the Selling Shareholder of its
obligations under this Agreement or the Custody Agreement, except such
as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
states in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
(c) The Selling Shareholder has, and on the Closing Date will
have, valid title to, or a valid "security entitlement" within the
meaning of Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code in
respect of, the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder free and
clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other
encumbrances and the legal right and power, and all authorization and
approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement and the Custody
Agreement and to sell,
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transfer and deliver the Shares or a security entitlement in respect of
such Shares.
(d) The Custody Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Selling Shareholder and is a valid and binding
agreement of the Selling Shareholder.
(e) Delivery of the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Shareholder and payment therefor pursuant to this Agreement will pass
valid title to such Shares, free and clear of any adverse claim within
the meaning of Section 8-102 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, to
each Underwriter who has purchased such Shares without notice of an
adverse claim.
(f) The Selling Shareholder has not taken and will not take,
directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has
constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in
the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(g) (i)To the best of the knowledge of the Selling Shareholder,
after due inquiry, the Registration Statement, when it became effective,
did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iii)
the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in
this paragraph 2(g) 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.
(h) the statements in the Base Prospectus under the caption
"▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Testamentary Trust," and in the Prospectus Supplement
under the captions "Summary--▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Testamentary Trust" and
"Selling Shareholder" insofar as such statements constitute summaries of
the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly
present the information called for with respect to such legal matters,
documents and proceedings and fairly summarize the matters referred to
therein.
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3. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Selling Shareholder hereby
agrees to sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis
of the representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the
conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Selling Shareholder at $30.0825 a share (the "Purchase Price") the
number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such
Underwriter.
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Selling Shareholder
agrees to sell to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters
shall have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 1,350,000
Additional Shares at the Purchase Price. You may exercise this right on behalf
of the Underwriters in whole or from time to time in part by giving written
notice of each election to exercise the option not later than 30 days after the
date of this Agreement. Any exercise notice shall specify the number of
Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which such
shares are to be purchased. Each purchase date must be at least one business day
after the written notice is given and may not be earlier than the closing date
for the Firm Shares nor later than ten business days after the date of such
notice. Additional Shares may be purchased as provided in Section 5 hereof
solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the
offering of the Firm Shares. On each day, if any, that Additional Shares are to
be purchased (an "Option Closing Date"), each Underwriter agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the
same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such
Option Closing Date as the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto
opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
The Selling Shareholder hereby agrees that it will not, during the
period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus and the Company agrees
that it will not during the period ending 90 days after the date of the
Prospectus, in each case, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, (i) offer, pledge, sell,
contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option
or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or
otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to
another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of
the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii)
above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise.
The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to
(A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) the issuance by the Company of shares
of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or a warrant or the conversion of
a security outstanding on the date of the Prospectus or the grant or exercise of
an
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option under any benefit plan of the Company described in the Prospectus; (C)
the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock (and the filing of a
registration statement with respect to such an issuance) in connection with the
acquisition of interests in other companies; provided that the recipients of the
shares agree in writing to be bound by the 90-day lock-up described above, (D)
the sale or transfer by the Selling Shareholder to one or more third parties,
provided that the recipients of the shares agree in writing to be bound by the
180-day lock-up described above or (E) the sale by the Selling Shareholder of
shares of Common Stock to the Company. In addition, the Selling Shareholder,
agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period
ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for, or
exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common
Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common
Stock.
4. Terms of Public Offering. The Selling Shareholder is advised by you
that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective
portions of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this
Agreement have become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Selling
Shareholder is further advised by you that the Shares are to be offered to the
public initially at $31.50 a share (the "Public Offering Price").
5. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold by the
Selling Shareholder shall be made to the Selling Shareholder in Federal or other
funds immediately available in New York City against delivery of such Firm
Shares for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m.,
New York City time, on September 19, 2003, or at such other time on the same or
such other date, not later than September 26, 2003, as shall be designated in
writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to as
the "Closing Date."
Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Selling
Shareholder in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City
against delivery of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the
several Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in
the corresponding notice described in Section 3 or at such other time on the
same or on such other date, in any event not later than October 27, 2003, as
shall be designated in writing by you.
The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be registered in such names
and in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than one
full business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing
Date, as the case may be. The Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be
delivered to you on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer
taxes payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters
duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
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6. Conditions to the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
Selling Shareholder to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the
Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall
have become effective not later than 4:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date
hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the following
further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement
and prior to the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any change,
or any development involving a prospective change, in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth
in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto
subsequent to the date of this Agreement) that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable
to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by each of the chief
executive officer and the chief financial officer of the Company, to the
effect set forth in Section 6(a) above and to the effect that the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the
Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or
before the Closing Date.
Each of the officers signing and delivering such certificate may rely
upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇, Secretary and General Counsel for the
Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is an
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the
state of Florida with the corporate power and authority to own
its property and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and the Company is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of
property requires such qualification, except to the extent that
the failure to be so qualified
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or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect
on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) each Significant Subsidiary of the Company has
been duly incorporated, and is an existing corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, with the corporate power and authority to own its
property and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and each Significant Subsidiary of the Company is
duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its
ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification,
except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be
in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iii) the authorized capital stock of the Company
conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus;
(iv) the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholder)
have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable;
(v) all of the issued shares of capital stock of
each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and
validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable
and are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;
(vi) this Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company;
(vii) the execution and delivery by the Company of,
and the performance by the Company of its obligations under,
this Agreement will not result in a breach or violation of the
laws of the United States, the State of Florida, the State of
New York or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
Company or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, any
agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or any of
its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any
governmental body, agency or court of the United States, the
State of Florida or the State of New York having jurisdiction
over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent, approval,
authorization or order of, or qualification with,
13
any governmental body or agency of the United States, the State
of Florida or the State of New York is required for the
performance by the Company of its obligations under this
Agreement, except such as may be required by the securities or
Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer
and sale of the Shares; provided, however, for the purposes of
this Section 6(c)(vii), such counsel need not express any
opinion with respect to Federal or states securities laws, other
antifraud laws, fraudulent transfer laws and bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
rights;
(viii) the statements (A) in the Base Prospectus under
the caption "Description of Capital Stock" and (B) in the
Registration Statement in Item 15, in each case insofar as such
statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents
or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present such legal
matters, documents and proceedings and fairly summarize the
matters referred to therein;
(ix) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of
any legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to
which any of the properties of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
described or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other
documents that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement that are not described or filed as
required;
(x) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, the
Company and its subsidiaries (A) are in material compliance with
any and all applicable Environmental Laws, (B) have received all
material permits, licenses or other approvals required of them
under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective
businesses and (C) are in material compliance with all terms and
conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where
such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive
required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to
comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses
or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole;
14
(xi) the Company is not an "investment company" as
such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended; and
(xii) nothing has come to the attention of such
counsel that causes such counsel to believe that (A) each
document filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(except for the financial statements and financial schedules and
other financial and statistical data included therein, as to
which such counsel need not express any belief) did not comply
as to form when filed in all material respects with the
requirements of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, (B) the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus (except for the financial statements
and financial schedules and other financial and statistical data
included therein, as to which such counsel need not express any
belief) do not comply as to form in all material respects with
the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (C) the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein
(except for the financial statements and financial schedules and
other financial and statistical data included therein, as to
which such counsel need not express any belief) at the time the
Registration Statement became effective contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading or (D) the Prospectus (except
for the financial statements and financial schedules and other
financial and statistical data included therein, as to which
such counsel need not express any belief) as of its date or as
of the Closing Date contained or contains an untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date
opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, special counsel for the Company, dated
the Closing Date, to the effect that the Registration Statement as of
its effective date and the Base Prospectus, as supplemented by the
Prospectus Supplement, as of the date of such Prospectus Supplement,
appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material
respects relevant to the offering of the Securities to the requirements
of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder; and nothing that came to such counsel's attention in the
course of their review of the Registration Statement and the Base
Prospectus as supplemented by the Prospectus Supplement has caused such
counsel to believe that, insofar as relevant to the offering of the
Securities, the Registration Statement as
15
of such effective date, or the Prospectus as supplemented by the
Prospectus Supplement as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement,
respectively, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and nothing
that has come to such counsel's attention in the course of the limited
procedures described in such letter has caused them to believe that the
Prospectus, as of the date and time of delivery of such letter,
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Such counsel may state that they do not assume any
responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
except for those made under the captions "Description of Capital Stock"
(excluding the description of Florida law under this caption) and
"Certain United States Tax Consequences to Non-U.S. Holders of Common
Stock" in the Prospectus insofar as they relate to provisions of
documents and of United States Federal tax law therein described and
that they do not express any opinion or belief as to the financial
statements or other financial data contained in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date
opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Selling Shareholder,
dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) this Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder;
(ii) the execution and delivery by the Selling
Shareholder of, and the performance by the Selling Shareholder
of its obligations under this Agreement and the Custody
Agreement will not contravene (A) any provision of applicable
law, or The Last Will and Testament of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, by
which the Selling Shareholder was established, (B) to the
knowledge of such counsel, any agreement or other instrument
binding upon the Selling Shareholder or any judgment, order or
decree of any governmental body, agency or court having
jurisdiction over the Selling Shareholder, and (C) no consent,
approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by
the Selling Shareholder of its obligations under this Agreement
or the Custody Agreement except such as may be required by the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection
with offer and sale of the Shares;
(iii) the Selling Shareholder has valid title to, or a
valid security entitlement in respect of, the Shares, and the
Selling
16
Shareholder has the legal right and power, and all authorization
and approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement and
the Custody Agreement and to sell, transfer and deliver the
Shares or a security entitlement in respect of such Shares;
(iv) the Custody Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Selling Shareholder and is a valid
and binding agreement of the Selling Shareholder;
(v) upon payment for the Shares to be sold by the
Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such
Shares, as directed by the Underwriters, to Cede or such other
nominee as may be designated by DTC, registration of such Shares
in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of
such Shares on the books of DTC to securities accounts of the
Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor any such Underwriter
has notice of any adverse claim within the meaning of Section
8-105 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date of
such opinion in the State of New York (the "UCC") to such
Shares), (A) DTC shall be a "protected purchaser" of such Shares
within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under
Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid
security entitlement in respect of such Shares and (C) no action
based on any "adverse claim" (within the meaning of Section
8-102 of the UCC) to such Shares may be asserted against the
Underwriters with respect to such security entitlement; in
giving this opinion, counsel for the Selling Shareholder may
assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (w)
such Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or
another nominee designated by DTC, in each case on the Company's
share registry in accordance with its certificate of
incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (x) DTC will be
registered as a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of
Section 8-102 of the UCC and (y) appropriate entries to the
accounts of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will
have been made pursuant to the UCC, and (z) DTC's jurisdiction
for purposes of Section 8-110(c) of the UCC is the State of New
York.
(vi) the statements in the Base Prospectus under the
caption "▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Testamentary Trust" (other than the
first sentence under the caption, "Stock Repurchase Agreement")
and in the Prospectus Supplement under the caption
"Summary--▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Testamentary Trust" insofar as such
statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents
or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the
information
17
called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and
proceedings and fairly summarize the matters referred to
therein.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for the Underwriters, dated
the Closing Date, 6(c)(viii) (but only as to the statements in the
Prospectus under "Underwriters") and 6(c)(xii) (B) and (C) above.
With respect to clauses (B), (C) and (D) of Section 6(c)(xii) and
Section 6 (d) above, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as applicable,
may state that their beliefs are based upon their participation in the
preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto and documents incorporated therein by reference and review
and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or
verification, except as specified. With respect to Section 6(f), ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may state that their beliefs are based upon their participation in the
preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto (other than the documents incorporated by reference) and
upon review and discussion of the contents thereof (including documents
incorporated by reference), but are without independent check or verification,
except as specified. With respect to Section 6(d) above, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may
rely upon an opinion or opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Selling
Shareholder, and, with respect to factual matters and to the extent such counsel
deems appropriate, upon the representations of the Selling Shareholder contained
herein and in the Custody Agreement and in other documents and instruments;
provided that (A) a copy of each opinion so relied upon is delivered to you and
is in form and substance satisfactory to your counsel, (B) copies of the Custody
Agreement and of any such other documents and instruments shall be delivered to
you and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to your counsel and (C)
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ shall state in their opinion that they are justified in
relying on each such other opinion.
The opinions of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP described in
Sections 6(c) and 6(e) above shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the
request of the Company or the Selling Shareholder, as the case may be, and shall
so state therein.
(g) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date
hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the
Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Underwriters, from KPMG LLP, independent public accountants,
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the
financial statements and certain financial information contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus; provided that the letter
delivered on the Closing Date shall use a "cut-off date" not earlier
than the date hereof.
18
(h) The "lock-up" agreements, each substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto, between you and certain officers and directors of the
Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of
Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before
the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional
Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the applicable Option
Closing Date of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the
good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the
Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date and other matters
related to the issuance of such Additional Shares.
7. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the
agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, five signed copies of
the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents
incorporated by reference) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a
conformed copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto
but including documents incorporated by reference) and, to furnish to
you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City
time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and
during the period mentioned in paragraph (c) below, as many copies of
the Prospectus, any documents incorporated therein by reference and any
supplements and amendments thereto as you may reasonably request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed
amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or
supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with the
Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such
Rule. The terms "supplement" and "amendment" or "amend" as used in this
Agreement shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company
with the Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act that are deemed to be
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.
(c) If, during such period after the first date of the public
offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters
the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with
sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition
exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not
misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is
necessary to amend or
19
supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to
prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to
the Underwriters, the Selling Shareholder and to the dealers (whose
names and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to which Shares may
have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other
dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented
will not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is
delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
(d) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under
the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall
reasonably request, provided, however, that nothing herein shall require
the Company to qualify as a foreign corporation in any state, to execute
a general consent to service of process in any state or to subject
itself to taxation in any jurisdiction in which it is otherwise not so
subject.
(e) To make generally available to the Company's security
holders and to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering
the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2004 that satisfies the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
8. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to
pay or cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of the
obligations, the Company and the Selling Shareholder 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 Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection
with the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus and amendments and supplements to any of the
foregoing, including all printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing
and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the
quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the
transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters (except any transfer or
other taxes payable thereon, which shall be paid by the Selling Shareholder),
(iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment
memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state
securities laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the
Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section
7(d) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in
connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing
fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters
incurred in connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the
Shares by the National Association
20
of Securities Dealers, Inc., (v) the cost of printing certificates representing
the Shares, (vi) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or
depositary, (vii) the document production charges and expenses associated with
printing this Agreement and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company and the Selling Shareholder
hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section, except that
the Selling Shareholder shall pay (x) all fees, disbursements and expenses of
its counsel and its financial advisors and any transfer or other similar taxes
payable on transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters and (y) the first $200,000
of all out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Company, the Underwriters and the
Selling Shareholder relating to investor presentations on any "road show"
undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares,
including, without limitation, expenses associated with the production of road
show slides and graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in
connection with the road show presentations with the prior approval of the
Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the
Company and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in
connection with the road show. It is understood, however, that except as
provided in this Section, Section 9 entitled "Indemnity and Contribution", and
the last paragraph of Section 11 below, the Underwriters will pay all of their
costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock
transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any
advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make and all
out-of-pocket costs and expenses of the Company, the Underwriters and the
Selling Shareholder relating to investor presentations on any "road show" in
excess of $200,000 undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering
of the Shares.
The provisions of this Section shall not supersede or otherwise affect
any agreement that the Company and the Selling Shareholder may otherwise have
for the allocation of such expenses among themselves.
9. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly
for use therein; provided,
21
however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary
prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the
person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased
Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if 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 losses, claims, damages or liabilities, unless such failure
is the result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 7(a) hereof.
(b) The Selling Shareholder agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all
losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation,
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if
the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto),
or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, but only with reference to
information relating to the Selling Shareholder furnished in writing by
or on behalf of the Selling Shareholder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or
any amendments or supplements thereto, provided, however, that the
foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus
shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person
asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased
Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if 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
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, unless such failure is the
result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 7(a) hereof.
(c) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Selling Shareholder, the
directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company
or the Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of
the
22
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any
and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereof,
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented
if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, but only with reference to
information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company in
writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or
any amendments or supplements thereto.
(d) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 9(a), 9(b) or 9(c),
such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person
against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in
writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified
party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying
party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the
expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of
such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including
any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party and representation of both parties by the same counsel
would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests
between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in
respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection
with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be
liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for all Underwriters and all persons, if
any, who control any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15
of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, (ii) the fees
and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of either such Section and (iii) the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for the Selling Shareholder and all persons, if any, who
control the Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either such
Section,
23
and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Underwriters and
such control persons of any Underwriters, such firm shall be designated
in writing by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated. In the case of any such
separate firm for the Company, and such directors, officers and control
persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the
Company. In the case of any such separate firm for the Selling
Shareholder and such control persons of the Selling Shareholder, such
firm shall be designated in writing by the Selling Shareholder. The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with
such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified
party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by
the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered
into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have
reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior
to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of
any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified
party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on
claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(e) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section
9(a), 9(b) or 9(c) is unavailable to an indemnified party or
insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph,
in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified
party or parties on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause 9(e)(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 9(e)(i) above but also
the relative fault of the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand
and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
24
or the Selling Shareholder on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand in connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed
to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds from the
offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the
Selling Shareholder and the total underwriting discounts and commissions
received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on
the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price
of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company or the Selling
Shareholder on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or the Selling Shareholder or by the Underwriters and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The
Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 9 are several in proportion to the respective number of Shares
they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
(f) The Company, the Selling Shareholder and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to
this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to in Section 9(e). The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed
to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 9 are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise
be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 9 and the representations, warranties and other statements of
the Company and the Selling Shareholder contained in this Agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i)
any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on
behalf
25
of any Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter, the Selling
Shareholder or any person controlling the Selling Shareholder, or the
Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company
and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.
10. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement by
notice given by you to the Company, if after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been
suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be, any of the New
York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market,
the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the
Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have
been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a
material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance services in
the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking
activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York State authorities or
(v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, or any
change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event
specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the
terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
11. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall become
effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that
it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate
number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the aggregate number
of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated severally in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth
opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the aggregate number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to purchase the
Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or
refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of
Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this Agreement be
increased pursuant to this Section 11 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of
such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on
the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm
Shares to be purchased, and arrangements satisfactory to you, the Company and
the Selling Shareholder for the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within
36 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on
the part of any non-defaulting
26
Underwriter, the Company or the Selling Shareholder. In any such case either you
or the Selling Shareholder shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date,
but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required changes,
if any, in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements may be effected. If, on 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 Option Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall
have the option to (i) terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase the
Additional Shares to be sold on such Option Closing Date or (ii) purchase not
less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting Underwriters
would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such default. Any action
taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from
liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of
them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company or the
Selling Shareholder to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions
of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company or the Selling Shareholder
shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company or
Selling Shareholder as the case may be will reimburse the Underwriters or such
Underwriters as have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves,
severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements
of their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with
this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
12. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
13. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
14. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.
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Very truly yours,
THE ST. ▇▇▇ COMPANY
By: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
The ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Testamentary Trust
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Trustee
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title:Representative for Corporate
Trustee
28
Accepted as of the date hereof
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ASSOCIATES, INC.
JMP SECURITIES LLC
Acting severally on behalf of themselves and
the several Underwriters named in
Schedule I hereto.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
----------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Managing Director
29
SCHEDULE I
NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES
UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated 4,500,000
Banc of America Securities LLC 2,250,000
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and Associates, Inc. 1,350,000
JMP Securities LLC 900,000
30