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EXHIBIT 1.1
Draft of March 1, 2000
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
March __, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
CIBC World Markets Corp.
SoundView Technology Group, Inc.
First Albany Corporation
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
INTRODUCTORY. Quest Software, Inc., a California corporation
(the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of its Common
Stock, no par value (the "Common Shares"); and the shareholders of the Company
named in Schedule B (the "Selling Shareholders") severally propose to sell to
the Underwriters an aggregate of 1,800,000 Common Shares. The 1,000,000 Common
Shares to be sold by the Company and the 1,800,000 shares of Common Shares to be
sold by the Selling Shareholders are collectively called the "Firm Shares". In
addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up
to an additional 420,000 Common Shares (the "Option Shares"), as provided in
Section 2. The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised,
the Option Shares are collectively called the "Shares". FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. ("FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇") and ▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Inc.,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation, CIBC World Markets Corp.,
SoundView Technology Group, Inc. and First Albany Corporation, have agreed to
act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the
"Representatives") in connection with the offering and sale of the Common
Shares. As a part of this offering contemplated by this Agreement
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-30816), which contains a form of prospectus, subject to
completion, to be used in connection with the
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public offering and sale of the Shares. Each such prospectus, subject to
completion, used in connection with such public offering is called a
"preliminary prospectus". Such registration statement, as amended, including the
financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it
was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and
the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Securities
Act"), including any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is called the
"Registration Statement". Any registration statement filed by the Company
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the "Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement", and from and after the date and time of filing of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term "Registration Statement" shall
include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form
first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Shares, is called the
"Prospectus". All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement,
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus
or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering,
Analysis and Retrieval System ("▇▇▇▇▇").
The Company and each of the Selling Shareholders hereby confirm
their respective agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared
effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied
to the Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for
additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted
or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or
threatened by the Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed
complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by
electronic transmission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇ (except as may be permitted by
Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof
delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of
the Shares. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became
effective and at all subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material
respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Each
preliminary prospectus, as of its date, and the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times through the 30th day of
the date hereof, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately
preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the
Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any
post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or
supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by
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the Representatives expressly for use therein. There are no contracts or other
documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits
to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as
required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has
delivered to the Representatives six complete conformed copies of the
Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a
part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without
exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives have
reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has
not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second
Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters'
distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification
hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by
general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Company. The Shares to
be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by
the Company pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Selling Shareholders. The
Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Selling Shareholders,
when issued, were, or, in the case of optionees, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable.
(g) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, other than the Selling Shareholders
with respect to the Shares included in the Registration Statement, except for
such rights as have been duly waived or are inapplicable.
(h) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material
adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result
in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change or effect, where the
context so requires, is called a "Material Adverse Change" or a "Material
Adverse Effect"); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct
or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any
material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and
(iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or
made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other
subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of
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capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(i) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have expressed
their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in
this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) filed with the Commission as
a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus, are
independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities
Act and the Securities and Exchange Act of ▇▇▇▇ (▇▇▇ "▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇").
(▇) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included
in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of
their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the
related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are
required to be included in the Registration Statement. The financial data set
forth in the Prospectus under the captions "Summary--Consolidated Selected
Financial Data", "Consolidated Financial Data" and "Capitalization" fairly
present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the
audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement. The
unaudited pro forma information of the Company and the related notes thereto
included in the Prospectus and in the Registration Statement present fairly the
information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the
Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements
an have been properly presented on the bases described therein, and the
assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments
used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. No other pro forma financial information is
required to be included in the Registration Statement Pursuant to Regulation
S-X.
(k) Company's Accounting System. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries maintain a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
material differences.
(l) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than
the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(m) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized with
full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its
business as described in the prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as
a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction which requires such qualification.
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(n) Capitalization of the Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth
in the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries
are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries
free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
(o) No Prohibition on Subsidiaries from Paying Dividends or Making Other
Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or
indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other
distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the Company
any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring
any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any other
subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(p) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized,
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the
Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options described in the Prospectus).
The Common Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are
fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and
state securities laws. None of the outstanding Common Shares were issued in
violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no
authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first
refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the Prospectus. The
description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or
arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in
the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be
shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.
(q) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares are registered pursuant to
Section 12(b) of this Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and
are listed on the Nasdaq National Market, and the Company has taken no action
designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of
the Common Shares under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Shares from the
Nasdaq National Market, nor has the Company received any notification that the
Commission or the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC (the "NASD")
is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.
(r) No Consents, Approvals or Authorizations Required. No consent,
approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained or made under the
Securities Act and such as may be required (i) under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters in the manner contemplated here and in the Prospectus, (ii) by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iii) by the federal and
provincial laws of Canada.
(s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments Agreements. Neither the
issue and sale of the Shares nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation or
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imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture,
contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or
other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their
property is subject or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order
or decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court,
regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other
authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
of its or their properties.
(t) No Defaults or Violations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is
in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or by-laws, (ii) the
terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note
agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or
instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject
or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or
other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any
of its properties, as applicable, except any such violation or default which
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change
except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus.
(u) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. No action, suit or proceeding by
or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is
pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of
this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(v) All Necessary Permits, Etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess
such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the
appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to
conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary
has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or
permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(w) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in
the financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above, in each case free
and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities,
claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect
the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or
proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The real
property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the
Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such
exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made
or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or
personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.
(x) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all
necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and have
paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any
related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them, other
than those being contested in good faith. The
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Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable
financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above in respect of all
federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to
which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been
finally determined. The Company is not aware of any tax deficiency that has been
or might be asserted or threatened against the Company that could result in a
Material Adverse Change.
(y) Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its
subsidiaries owns or possesses adequate rights to use all patents, patent rights
or licenses, inventions, collaborative research agreements, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which are
reasonably necessary to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; the expiration of any patents, patent rights, trade
secrets, trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights would not result
in a Material Adverse Change that is not otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus;
the Company has not received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of the Company by others with
respect to any patent, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights; and the Company has not
received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or conflict
with asserted rights of others with respect to any patent, patent rights,
inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or
copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, might have a Material Adverse Change. The Company
has not received any written notice of any claim being made against the Company
regarding patents, patent rights or licenses, inventions, collaborative
research, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or
copyrights. The Company and its subsidiaries do not in the conduct of their
business as now or proposed to be conducted as described in the Prospectus
infringe or conflict with any right or patent of any third party, or any
discovery, invention, product or process which is the subject of a patent
application filed by any third party, known to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, which such infringement or conflict is reasonably likely to result
in a Material Adverse Change.
(z) Y2K. There are no Y2K issues related to the Company, or any of its
subsidiaries, that (i) are of a character required to be described or referred
to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus by the Securities Act or by the
Exchange Act or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder which
have not been accurately described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
or (ii) might reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change or
that might materially affect their properties, assets or rights.
(aa) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or
other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company
of the Shares.
(bb) Company Not an "Investment Company". The Company has been advised
of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after receipt of
payment for the Shares will not be, an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become
subject to the Investment Company Act.
(cc) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by
recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such
amounts and with such
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deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and
customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering
real and personal property owned or leased by the Company and its subsidiaries
against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes, general
liability and Directors and Officers liability. The Company has no reason to
believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing
insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable
coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct
its business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material
Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any
insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
(dd) Labor Matters. To the best of the 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 result in a Material Adverse Change.
(ee) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken
and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might
be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of
the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(ff) Lock-Up Agreements. Each officer and director of the company, each
Selling Shareholder and each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the
outstanding issued share capital of the Company has agreed to sign an agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Lock-up
Agreements"). The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters a
complete and accurate list of all securityholders of the Company and the number
and type of securities held by each securityholder. The Company has provided to
counsel for the Underwriters true, accurate and complete copies of all of the
Lock-up Agreements presently in effect or effected hereby. The Company hereby
represents and warrants that it will not release any of its officers, directors
or other shareholders from any Lock-up Agreements currently existing or
hereafter effected without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
(gg) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or
related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other
person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described
as required.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the
Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters
set forth therein.
B. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Shareholders. Each
Selling Shareholder represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as
follows:
(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder and is a
valid and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be
limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles.
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(b) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney. Each of the (i) Custody
Agreement and Power of Attorney signed by such Selling Shareholder and U.S.
Stock Transfer Corporation, as custodian (the "Custodian"), relating to the
deposit of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder and appointing
certain individuals named therein as such Selling Shareholder's
attorneys-in-fact (each an "Attorney-in Fact"), (the "Custody Agreement") has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and is
a valid and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be
limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles. Each Selling Shareholder agrees that the Shares to be sold
by such Selling Shareholder on deposit with the Custodian is subject to the
interests of the Underwriters, that the arrangements made for such custody are
to that extent irrevocable, and that the obligations of such Selling Shareholder
hereunder shall not be terminated, except as provided in this Agreement or in
the Custody Agreement, by any act of the Selling Shareholder, by operation of
law, by death or incapacity of such Selling Shareholder or by the occurrence of
any other event. If such Selling Shareholder should die or become incapacitated,
or in any other event should occur, before the delivery of the Shares to be sold
by such Selling Shareholder hereunder, the documents evidencing the Shares to be
sold by such Selling Shareholder then on deposit with the Custodian shall be
delivered by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of this
Agreement as if such death, incapacity or other event had not occurred,
regardless of whether or not the Custodian shall have received notice thereof.
(c) Title to Shares to be Sold. Such Selling Shareholder is the lawful
owner of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder and upon
sale and delivery of, and payment for, such Shares, as provided herein, such
Selling Shareholder will convey good and marketable title to such Shares, free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims whatsoever.
(d) All Authorizations Obtained. Such Selling Shareholder has, and on
the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date will have, good and valid
title to all of the Company Shares which may be sold by such Selling Shareholder
pursuant to this Agreement on such date and the legal right and power, and all
authorizations and approvals required by law and under its charter or
by-laws,partnership agreement, trust agreement or other organizational
documents, as appropriate, to enter into this Agreement and its Custody
Agreement and Power of Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all of the Shares
which may be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement and to
comply with its other obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(e) No Further Consents, Authorization or Approvals. No consent,
approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body is
required for the consummation by such Selling Shareholder of the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as may have been obtained under the Securities
Act and such as may be required under the federal and provincial securities laws
of Canada or the blue sky laws or any jurisdiction in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters and such other
approvals as have been obtained.
(f) Non-Contravention. Neither the sale of the Securities being sold by
such Selling Shareholder nor the consummation of any other of the transactions
herein contemplated by such Selling Shareholder or the fulfillment of the terms
hereof by such Selling Shareholder will conflict with, result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under any law or the terms
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of any indenture or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling
Shareholder is party or bound, any judgment, order or decree applicable to such
Selling Shareholder or any court or regulatory body, administrative agency,
governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling
Shareholder.
(g) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling Shareholder
does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration
Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for
such rights as are described in the Prospectus under "Description of Capital
Stock".
(h) No Preemptive, Co-sale or other Rights. Such Selling Shareholder
does not have, or has waived prior to the date hereof, any preemptive right,
co-sale right or right of first refusal or other similar right to purchase any
of the Shares that are to be sold by the Company or any of the other Selling
Shareholders to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement; and such Selling
Shareholder does not own any warrants, options or similar rights to acquire, and
does not have any right or arrangement to acquire, any capital stock, right,
warrants, options or other securities from the Company, other than those
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(i) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Shareholder in the Prospectus. All
information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder in writing
expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is, and on the
First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date will be, true, correct, and
complete in all material respects, and does not, and on the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make such information not
misleading. Such Selling Shareholder confirms as accurate the number of shares
of Company Shares set forth opposite such Selling Shareholder's name in the
Prospectus under the caption "Principal and Selling Shareholders" (both prior to
and after giving effect to the sale of the Shares).
(j) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Such Selling Shareholder has
not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or
that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale
of the Shares.
(k) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. To such Selling Stockholder's
knowledge, here are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or charges under
Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof,
required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the sale by the Selling Shareholders of the Shares.
(l) Distribution of Offering Materials by the Selling Shareholders. The
Selling Shareholders have not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the
later of the Second Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the
Underwriters' distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection
with the offering and sale of the Shares by such Selling Shareholder other than
a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(m) Confirmation of Company Representations and Warranties. Such Selling
Shareholder has no reason to believe that the representations and warranties of
the Company contained in Section 1(A) hereof are not true and correct, is
familiar with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and has no knowledge
of any material fact, condition or
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information not disclosed in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which
has had or may result in a Material Adverse Change on the condition, financial
or otherwise, or on the earnings, business, operation or prospects, whether or
not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business of the Company
and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, and is not prompted to sell the
Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder by any information concerning the
Company which is not set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of any Selling
Shareholder and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Selling
Shareholder to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SHARES.
(a) The Firm Shares. Upon the terms herein set forth, (i) the Company
agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of 1,000,000
Firm Shares and (ii) the Selling Shareholders agree to sell to the several
Underwriters an aggregate of 1,800,000 Firm Shares, each Selling Shareholder
selling the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite such Selling Shareholder's
name on Schedule B1 and Schedule B2. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to
the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Company and the Selling Shareholders the
respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A.
The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the
Company and the Selling Shareholders shall be $[___] per share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be purchased
by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made by the Company and the
Representatives at the time and place required by Section 2(f) below, such time
and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing Date;"
provided, however, that if the Company has not made available to the
Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time provided in Section
2(g) and 3(e) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole discretion,
postpone the Closing Date until no later than two (2) full business days
following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives.
(c) The Option Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition, on the
basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and
upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company
hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and
not jointly, up to an aggregate of 420,000 Option Shares from the Company and/or
the Selling Shareholders at the purchase price per share to be paid by the
Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder is for use by the
Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments in connection with the sale
and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder may be
exercised at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company, which
notice may be given at any time within 30 days from the date of this Agreement.
The time and date of delivery of the Option Shares, if subsequent to the First
Closing Date, is called the "Second Closing Date" and shall be determined by the
Representatives and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five full
business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Option Shares
are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase the number of Option Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate
fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same
proportion to the total number of Option Shares to be purchased as the number of
Firm Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite the
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name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares. The
Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by
giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.
(d) Public Offering of the Shares. The Representatives hereby advise the
Company and the Selling Shareholders that the Underwriters intend to offer for
sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of
the Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed and the Registration
Statement has been declared effective as the Representatives, in their sole
judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.
(e) Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the
Company shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the
Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
order of the Company. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Shareholders shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the
Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
order of the Custodian.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized,
for their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept
delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the
Firm Shares and any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase.
BancBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., individually and not as the Representative
of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any
Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been
received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such
payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under
this Agreement.
Each Selling Shareholder hereby agrees that (i) it will pay all
stock transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable upon
the sale or delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder to the
several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the performance of such
Selling Shareholder's obligations hereunder and (ii) the Custodian is authorized
to deduct for such payment any such amounts from the proceeds to such Selling
Shareholder hereunder and to hold such amounts for the account of such Selling
Shareholder with the Custodian under the Custody Agreement.
(f) Delivery of the Shares. The Company and the Selling Shareholders
shall deliver, or cause to be delivered a credit representing the Firm Shares to
an account or accounts at The Depository Trust Company as designated by the
Representatives for the accounts of the Representatives and the several
Underwriters at the First Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a
wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase
price therefor. The Company and the Selling Shareholders shall also deliver, or
cause to be delivered a credit representing the Option Shares to an account or
accounts at The Depository Trust Company as designated by the Representatives
for the accounts of the Representatives and the several Underwriters, at the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, against the
irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the
amount of the purchase price therefor. Time shall be of the essence, and
delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further
condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00
noon on the second business day following the date the Shares are released by
the Underwriters for sale to
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the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered copies of the
Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives shall
request.
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS.
A. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company further covenants and agrees
with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Matters. The Company will (i) use its best
efforts to cause the Registration Statement to become effective or, if the
procedure in Rule 430A of the Securities Act is followed, to prepare and timely
file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act a Prospectus
in a form approved by the Representatives containing information previously
omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance
on Rule 430A of the Securities Act and (ii) not file any amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus of which the
Representatives shall not previously have been advised and furnished with a copy
or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably objected in writing or
which is not in compliance with the Securities Act. If the Company elects to
rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company shall file a Rule
462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with Rule 462(b)
under the Securities Act prior to the time confirmations are sent or given, as
specified by Rule 462(b)(2) under the Securities Act, and shall pay the
applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111 under the Securities Act.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. The Company will advise the
Representatives promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (ii) of receipt of
any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request of the Commission for
amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or
for any additional information and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use
of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The
Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as
possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters in endeavoring to qualify the
Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions (both national
and foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to
time, prepare and file such statements, reports and other documents, as are or
may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period
as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities
Act Matters. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit
the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable
opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes
necessary to amend or
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supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered to a
purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or
supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly will
prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at its own expense to the
Underwriters and to dealers, an appropriate amendment to the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended
or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it is so
delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the law.
(e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the First Closing Date
or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus
is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery Period"), as many copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may
reasonably request.
(f) Insurance. The Company shall maintain its Directors and Officers
liability insurance in the minimum amount of $10 million which shall apply to
the offering contemplated hereby.
(g) Notice of Subsequent Events. If at any time during the ninety (90)
day period after the Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor,
publication or event relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as a
result of which, in your opinion, the market price of the Company Shares has
been or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor,
publication or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the
Prospectus), the Company will, after written notice from you advising the
Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you
concerning the substance of and disseminate a press release or other public
statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such
rumor, publication or event.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(i) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its
expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Company Shares.
(j) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period
ending March 31, 20001 that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act.
(k) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery
Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the
Nasdaq National Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the
Exchange Act.
(l) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. The Company
will not offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or enter into
any transaction which is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the
disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due
to cash settlement or otherwise by the Company or any affiliate of the
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Company or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the
Company) directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any other Common
Shares or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, Common Shares;
provided, however, that the Company may (i) issue and sell Common Shares
pursuant to any director or employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or
dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the date of the
Prospectus and described in the Prospectus so long as none of those shares may
be transferred and the Company shall enter stop transfer instructions with its
transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of any such Common Shares and
(ii) the Company may issue Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of
securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the date of the Prospectus
and described in the Prospectus. These restrictions terminate after the close of
trading of the Shares on the 90th day of (and including) the day the Shares
commenced trading on the Nasdaq National Market (the "Lock-Up Period").
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five
years hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of
the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of income, shareholders' equity and cash flows for
the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the
Company with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC
or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report
or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital
stock.
(n) Exchange Act Compliance. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the
Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act in the manner and within
the time periods required by the Exchange Act.
B. COVENANTS OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. Each Selling Shareholder
further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:
(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such Selling
Shareholder will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make a disposition of
Securities (as defined in Exhibit A hereto) now owned or hereafter acquired
directly by such person or with respect to which such person has or hereafter
acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide gift or
gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound by this
restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or shareholders of such person,
provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by the terms
of this restriction, (iii) with respect to dispositions of Common Shares
acquired on the open market or (iv) with the prior written consent of BancBoston
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. The foregoing restriction has been expressly agreed to
preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or other
transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in
a disposition of Securities during the Lock-Up Period, even if such Securities
would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging
or other transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether
or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including,
without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any Securities or
with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index)
that includes, relates to or derives any significant part of its value from
Securities. Furthermore, such person has also agreed and consented to the entry
of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer
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agent against the transfer of the Securities held by such person except in
compliance with this restriction.
(b) Delivery of Forms W-8 and W-9. To deliver to the Representatives
prior to the First Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States
Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Shareholder is a non-United States
person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling Shareholder is a United States Person).
(c) Notification of Untrue Statements, etc. If, at any time prior to the
date on which the distribution of the Common Shares as contemplated herein and
in the Prospectus has been completed, as determined by the Representatives, such
Selling Shareholder has knowledge of the occurrence of any event as a result of
which the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, in each case as then amended
or supplemented, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, such Selling
Shareholder will promptly notify the Company and the Representatives.
Section 4. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as
provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling
Shareholders set forth in Sections 1(A) and 1(B) hereof as of the date hereof
and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the
Option Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely
performance by the Company and the Selling Shareholders of their respective
covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No
Objection from the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC. The
Registration Statement shall have become effective prior to the execution of
this Agreement, or at such later date as shall be consented to in writing by
you; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any Selling Shareholder or any Underwriter, threatened
by the Commission, and any request of the Commission for additional information
(to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise)
shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of counsel for the
Underwriters; and the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC shall have
raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms
and arrangements.
(b) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal
matters in connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and
delivery of the Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters'
Counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and
information as they may reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon
the matters referred to in this Section.
(c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. Subsequent to
the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing
Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be,
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(i) there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change in the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and
that makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to
proceed with the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the
Prospectus; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice
have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any
review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of the
possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's securities
by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as such
term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion
of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company substantially in the
form of Exhibit B attached hereto, dated the First Closing Date, or the Second
Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and with reproduced copies or signed
counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
Counsel rendering the opinion contained in Exhibit B may rely as
to questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the State of
California upon opinions of local counsel, and as to questions of fact upon
representations or certificates of officers of the Company, the Selling
Shareholders or officers of the Selling Shareholders (when the Selling
Shareholder is not a natural person), and of government officials, in which case
their opinion is to state that they are so relying and that they have no
knowledge of any material misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion,
representation or certificate. Copies of any opinion, representation or
certificate so relied upon shall be delivered to you, as Representatives of the
Underwriters, and to Underwriters' Counsel.
(e) Opinion of U.K. Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ International, special U.K. counsel for the
Company, substantially in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto, dated the First
Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and with
reproduced copies or signed counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
(f) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, substantially in the form of
Exhibit D hereto. The Company shall have furnished to such counsel such
documents as they may have requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass
upon such matters.
(g) Accountants' Comfort Letter. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from
Deloitte & Touche LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, confirming that they are
independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations and based
upon the procedures described in such letter delivered to you concurrently with
the execution of this Agreement (herein called the "Original Letter"), but
carried out to a date not more than four (4) business days prior to the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, (i) confirming, to
the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth
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in the Original Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and
additions to the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter
which are necessary to reflect any changes in the facts described in the
Original Letter since the date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of
more recent financial statements, data or information. The letter shall not
disclose any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that
makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus. The
Original Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP shall be addressed to or for the use
of the Underwriters in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to the extent true, that they are
independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations, (ii) set
forth their opinion with respect to their examination of the consolidated
balance sheet of the Company as of December 31, 1999 and related consolidated
statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for the twelve
(12) months ended December 31,1999, and address other matters agreed upon by
Deloitte & Touche LLP and you. In addition, you shall have received from
Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter addressed to the Company and made available to
you for the use of the Underwriters stating that their review of the Company's
system of internal accounting controls, to the extent they deemed necessary in
establishing the scope of their examination of the Company's consolidated
financial statements as of December 31, 1999, did not disclose any weaknesses in
internal controls that they considered to be material weaknesses.
(h) Officers' Certificate. You shall have received on the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the
Company, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct, as if made on and as of the First Closing Date or
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has
complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the First Closing Date
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or
supplements thereto contained all material information required to be
included therein by the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the
case may be, and in all material respects conformed to the requirements
of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, as the case may be, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or
supplements thereto, did not and does not include any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; and, since the effective
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date of the Registration Statement, there has occurred no event required
to be set forth in an amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not
been so set forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been (a) any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (b) any transaction that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of
business, (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to
the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, incurred
by the Company or its subsidiaries, except obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business, (d) any change in the capital stock or
outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid
or made on the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries which has been sustained or will
have been sustained which has a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise.
(i) Lock-up Agreement from Certain Shareholders of the Company. The
Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto from each officer and director of the
Company, each Selling Shareholder and each beneficial owner of one or more
percent of the outstanding issued share capital of the Company.
(j) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Shareholders]. You shall have
received on the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, an opinion of [NAME OF SELLING SHAREHOLDERS' COUNSEL], counsel for the
Selling Shareholders substantially in the form of Exhibit E hereto.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to questions
of law not involving the laws of the United States or State of [SELLING
SHAREHOLDER'S STATE] and [STATE OF COMPANY'S INCORPORATION] upon opinions of
local counsel and as to questions of fact upon representations or certificates
of the Selling Shareholders or officers of the Selling Shareholders (when the
Selling Shareholder is not a natural person), and of governmental officials, in
which case their opinion is to state that they are so relying and that they have
no knowledge of any material misstatement or inaccuracy of any material
misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or certificate so
relied upon shall be delivered to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters,
and to Underwriters' Counsel.
(k) Selling Shareholders' Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives shall
received a written certificate executed by the Attorney-in-Fact of each Selling
Shareholder, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of such Selling
Shareholder set forth in Section 1(B) of this Agreement are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made by such
Selling Shareholder on and as of such Closing Date; and
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(ii) such Selling Shareholder has complied with all the agreements and
satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at
or prior to such Closing Date.
(l) Selling Shareholders' Documents. At least three business days prior
to the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall have
furnished for review by the Representatives copies of the Powers of Attorney and
Custody Agreements executed by each of the Selling Shareholders and such further
information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably
request.
(m) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Company shall
have complied with the provisions of Sections 2(g) and 3(e) hereof with respect
to the furnishing of Prospectuses.
(n) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives and counsel
for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and
opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to
pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein, or in
order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or
the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied
when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholders at any
time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall be
without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that
Section 5 (Payment of Expenses), Section 6 (Reimbursement of Underwriters'
Expenses), Section 7 (Indemnification and Contribution) and Section 10
(Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery) shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company agrees to pay all costs,
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations
hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including
without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the
Common Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and
expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock, (iii) all
necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the
Company's counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other
advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration
Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and
certificates of experts), each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and
all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing
fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters
in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the
qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Shares for offer and
sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities
laws of Canada or any other country, and, if requested by the Representatives,
preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey", an "International Blue Sky Survey"
or other memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of
such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (viii) the filing fees
incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
LLC review and approval of the Underwriters' participation in the offering
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and distribution of the Common Shares, (ix) the fees and expenses associated
with including the Common Shares on the Nasdaq National Market, (x) all costs
and expenses incident to the travel and accommodation of the Company's employees
on the "roadshow", and (xi) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in
Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except as provided in this
Section 5, Section 6, and Section 7 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own
expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.
The Selling Shareholders further agree with each Underwriter to
pay (directly or by reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the
performance of their obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise
specifically provided for herein, including but not limited to (i) fees and
expenses of counsel and other advisors for such Selling Shareholders unless the
Company is otherwise obligated to pay such fees, (ii) fees and expenses of the
Custodian and (iii) expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery of the
Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholders to the Underwriters
hereunder (which taxes, if any, may be deducted by the Custodian under the
provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement).
This Section 5 shall not affect or modify any separate, valid
agreement relating to the allocation of payment of expenses between the Company,
on the one hand, and the Selling Shareholders, on the other hand.
Section 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If this Agreement is
terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4, Section 8, Section 9 or
Section 15, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares on the First
Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on
the part of the Company or the Selling Shareholders to perform any agreement
herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse
the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have
terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand
for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the
Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase
and the offering and sale of the Shares, including but not limited to fees and
disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel and accommodation expenses,
postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
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SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters.
(1) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter,
its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which
such Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), insofar as such
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a
part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) in whole or
in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the
Company; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company or the
Principal Selling Shareholders to perform its obligations hereunder or under
law; or (v) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material
fact contained in any audio or visual materials provided by the Company or based
upon written information furnished by or on behalf of the Company including,
without limitation, slides, videos, films or tape recordings, used in connection
with the marketing of the Shares, including without limitation, statements
communicated to securities analysts employed by the Underwriters; or (vi) any
act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in
connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the offering
contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any
loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any matter
covered by clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above, provided that the Company
shall not be liable under this clause (vi) to the extent that a court of
competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or
failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through
its bad faith or willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each
such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by Fleet Boston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person
in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however,
that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out
of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto); and provided, further, that with respect to
any preliminary prospectus, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to
the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense
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purchased Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if copies of the
Prospectus were timely delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a
copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by
or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have
been delivered, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have
cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense.
The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to
any liabilities that the Company and the Selling Shareholders may otherwise
have.
(2) Each of the Selling Shareholders, jointly and severally, agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability
or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person
may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal
or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including
in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information
deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or
the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or
(ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in the case of
subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section 7(a)(2) to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company or such Underwriter by such Selling
Shareholder directly or through such Selling Shareholder's representatives,
specifically for use in the preparation thereof; or (iii) in whole or in part
upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Selling
Shareholders contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of
the Selling Shareholders to perform their respective obligations hereunder or
under law; or (v) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act
by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares
or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or
referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or
based upon any matter covered by clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, provided
that the Selling Shareholders shall not be liable under this clause (v) to the
extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final
judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly
from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such
Underwriter through its bad faith or willful misconduct; and to reimburse each
Underwriter and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including
the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person
in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however,
that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out
of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Selling Shareholders by the Representatives
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus
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or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and provided,
further, that with respect to any preliminary prospectus, the foregoing
indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom
the person asserting any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense purchased
Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if copies of the Prospectus
were timely delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished
any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of
such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered
and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the
defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense. The
indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to any
liabilities that the Selling Shareholders may otherwise have; and provided,
further, that the liability of each Selling Shareholder under the foregoing
indemnity agreement shall be limited to an amount equal to the initial public
offering price of the Shares sold by such Selling Shareholder, less the
underwriting discount, as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors, Officers and Selling
Shareholders. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
signed the Registration Statement, the Selling Shareholders and each person, if
any, who controls the Company or any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director,
officer, Selling Shareholder or controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such
Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or
actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon
any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case
to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company and the Selling Shareholders by the Representatives
expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director,
officer, Selling Shareholder or controlling person for any legal and other
expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer,
Selling Shareholder or controlling person in connection with investigating,
defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section
7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise
have.
(c) Information Provided by the Underwriters. The Company and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities
Act or the Exchange Act, hereby acknowledges that the only information that the
Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the table in the first
paragraph and the second paragraph third and ninth paragraphs under the caption
"Underwriting" in the Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such
statements are correct.
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(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 or to the extent it is not
prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or
intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect,
jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written
notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid
notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to
assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying
party's election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the
indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in
accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood,
however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of
more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the
indemnifying party (▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in the case of Section 7(b) and Section
8), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), (ii)
the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time
after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) the indemnifying party has
authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of
the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel
shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with
such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by Section 7(d) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days
after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or
threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been
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sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise
or consent includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by such party on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided
by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then
each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the such party on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the one hand
or the Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
The Company each Selling Shareholder and Underwriters agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section
7(f) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in
this Section 7(f). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings
in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7(f) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (f), (i) no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and
commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters'
obligations in this Section 7(f) to contribute are several in proportion to
their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(g) Timing of Any Payments of Indemnification. Any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are incurred, but in all cases, no later than forty-five
(45) days of invoice to the indemnifying party.
(h) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in
this Section 7 and the representation and warranties set forth in this Agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and
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(iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any Underwriter, or to
the Company, its directors or officers, any Selling Shareholder or any person
controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity,
contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 7.
(i) Acknowledgements of Parties. The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by
counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to
investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure is made in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
Section 8. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS. If, on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one
or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that
it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate
number of Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of
the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Firm Common Shares
set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the
Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase
the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed
or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail
or refuse to purchase Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to
which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Shares to be
purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and
the Company for the purchase of such Shares are not made within 48 hours after
such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to
any other party except that the provisions of Section 5, and Section 7 shall at
all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case
either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no
event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be
deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this
Section 8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
Section 9. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be
terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company and the Selling
Shareholders if (a) at any time after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date (i) trading or quotation in any of
the Company's securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission
or by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading in securities generally on either the
Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on
any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the National Association of
Securities Dealers, LLC;
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(ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal,
New York, Delaware or California authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred
any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or any
crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international
financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a
prospective change in United States' or international political, financial or
economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and
adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Common Shares in
the manner and on the terms contemplated in the Prospectus or to enforce
contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the
Representatives there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v)
the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake,
accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the
Representatives may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and
operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been
insured or (b) in the case of any of the events specified 9(a)(i)-(v), such
event singly or together with any other event, makes it, in your judgement,
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on
the terms contemplated in the Prospectus. Any termination pursuant to this
Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of (x) the Company or the
Selling Shareholders to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling
Shareholders shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives
and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 5 and 6 hereof, (y) any Underwriter to
the Company or any person controlling the Company or the Selling Shareholders,
or (z) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of
Section 7 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 10. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company or any person controlling the company, of its
officers, of the Selling Shareholders and of the several Underwriters set forth
in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the
Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any
controlling person, or the Selling Shareholders, as the case may be, and will
survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold hereunder and any
termination of this Agreement.
Section 11. NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Company:
Quest Software, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
If to the Selling Shareholders:
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U.S. Stock Transfer Corporation
[address]
Facsimile: [___]
Attention: [___]
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
Section 12. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters
pursuant to Section 8 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and to their
respective successors, and personal representatives, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include
any purchaser of the Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by
reason of such purchase.
Section 13. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability
of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.
If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such
minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid
and enforceable.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS.
(a) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in such state.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the
United States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the
courts of the State of California in each case located in the City and County of
San Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in
regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related
Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts
and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in the
United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System, which currently
maintains a San Francisco office at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of America, as its agent to receive service of
process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or
proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City and
County of San Francisco.
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30
Section 15. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS TO SELL
AND DELIVER COMMON SHARES. If one or more of the Selling Shareholders shall fail
to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to be sold and delivered by
such Selling Shareholders at the First Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement,
then the Underwriters may at their option, by written notice from the
Representatives to the Company and the Selling Shareholders, either (i)
terminate this Agreement without any liability on the part of any Underwriter
or, except as provided in Sections 5, 6, and 7 hereof, the Company or the
Selling Shareholders, or (ii) purchase the shares which the Company and other
Selling Shareholders have agreed to sell and deliver in accordance with the
terms hereof. If one or more of the Selling Shareholders shall fail to sell and
deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling
Shareholders pursuant to this Agreement at the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, then the Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice from
the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Shareholders, to postpone the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no
event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
Section 16. GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the
parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived
unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.
Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall
not affect the construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company and the Custodian the enclosed
copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof,
shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
QUEST SOFTWARE, INC.
By:
--------------------------------------
[Title]
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
By:
--------------------------------------
Attorney-in-fact for the Selling
Shareholders named in Schedule
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted by the Representatives as of the date first above written.
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, LUFKIN & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES CORPORATION
SOUNDVIEW TECHNOLOGY GROUP, INC.
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
FAC/EQUITIES, A DIVISION OF FIRST ALBANY CORPORATION
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the several underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
BY FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
By:
----------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
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SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF FIRM COMMON SHARES TO
UNDERWRITERS BE PURCHASED
------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.......................... [___]
Chase Securities Inc. ...................................... [___]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation......... [___]
SoundView Technology Group, Inc. ........................... [___]
CIBC World Markets Corp..................................... [___]
First Albany Corporation.................................... [___]
Total............................................... [___]
▇-▇
▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
NUMBER OF FIRM OPTION SHARES
SELLING SHAREHOLDER SHARES TO BE SOLD TO BE SOLD
------------------- ----------------- -----------------
================= =================
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EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
Fleet Boston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Lufkin & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities Corporation
SoundView Technology Group, Inc.
CIBC World Markets Corp.
First Albany Corporation
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
RE: ____________________ (the "Company")
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain
shares of Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to
carry out a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for which you will
act as the Representatives (the "Representatives") of the underwriters. The
undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned
and will benefit the Company by, among other things, raising additional capital
for its operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other
underwriters are relying on the representations and agreements of the
undersigned contained in this letter in carrying out the Offering and in
entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company with respect to the
Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees
that the undersigned will not offer to sell, contract to sell, or otherwise
sell, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to
(collectively, a "Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or
warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now
owned or hereafter acquired directly by such person or with respect to which
such person has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than
(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or
shareholders of such person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to
sales or purchases of Common Stock acquired on the open market or (iv) with the
prior written consent of FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. The foregoing
restrictions will commence on the date hereof and terminate after the close of
trading of the Common Stock on the 90th day of (and including) the day the
Common Stock commenced trading on the Nasdaq National Market (the "Lock-Up"
Period). The foregoing restriction has been expressly agreed to preclude the
holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which
is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of
Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities would be disposed
of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other
transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not
against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without
limitation, any put or call option) with
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35
respect to any Securities or with respect to any security (other than a
broad-based market basket or index) that included, relates to or derives any
significant part of its value from Securities. The undersigned also agrees and
consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer
agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or Securities
held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the
undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and
assigns of the undersigned. In the event the Offering has not occurred on or
before ____________, this Lock-Up Agreement shall be of no further force or
effect.
Dated
----------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Printed Name of Holder
By:
-------------------------------------
Signature
----------------------------------------
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing if
signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of
an entity)
A-2
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EXHIBIT B
FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL
1. The Company is duly incorporated and is validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of California; the Company has the
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto); the Company has the status
set forth opposite the jurisdictions listed on Schedule A hereto;
2. The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
as of December 31, 1999 is as set forth under the heading "Actual" under the
caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; to our knowledge, except as
described in the Prospectus, there are no outstanding securities of the Company
convertible or exchangeable into, or evidencing the right to purchase or
subscribe for, any shares of capital stock of the Company and there are no
outstanding or authorized options, warrants or rights of a similar character
obligating the Company to issue any shares of its capital stock or any
securities convertible or exchangeable into, or evidencing the right to purchase
or subscribe for, any shares of such stock;
3. All the shares of capital stock of the Company outstanding prior to
the issuance of the Shares (A) have been duly authorized and validly issued; (B)
are fully paid and nonassessable; and (C) will not have been issued in violation
of or subject to any preemptive right, or, to our knowledge, any co-sale right,
registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right of which we
are aware;
4. The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered
to the Underwriters against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the
Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable and
free of (A) any preemptive rights arising under the Restated Articles or the
California General Corporation Law, (B) similar rights that entitle or will
entitle any person to acquire any shares of capital stock of the Company upon
the issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company, or (C) will not have been
issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive right, or, to our knowledge,
any co-sale right, registration right, right of first refusal or other similar
right of which we are aware;
5. The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments, if
any, have become effective under the Securities Act and, to our knowledge, no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose are pending before or contemplated by
the Commission; and any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule
424(b) has been made in accordance with Rule 424(b);
6. The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into the
Underwriting Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver the Shares to the
Underwriters as
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provided in the Underwriting Agreement; the Underwriting Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and (assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery thereof by you) is a valid and binding
agreement of the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with its terms,
subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights and remedies
generally, and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles (whether
relief is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity) and except as rights to
indemnification and contribution thereunder may be limited by applicable law or
public policy relating thereto;
7. Neither the offer, sale or delivery of the Shares, the execution,
delivery or performance by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement, compliance
by the Company with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement nor
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Underwriting
Agreement (A) violates the Restated Articles or the Bylaws of the Company, or
(B) constitutes a breach of, or a default under, any material provision of any
agreement, indenture, lease or other instrument to which the Company is a party
or by which the Company or any of its properties is bound that is an exhibit to
the Registration Statement, or (C) will result in any violation of any existing
law or regulation (other than applicable state securities and Blue Sky laws, as
to which we express no opinion), or any ruling, judgment, injunction, order or
decree known to us and applicable to the Company or any of its properties;
8. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration or filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency
or other governmental body, agency, or official is required on the part of the
Company (except (A) as have been obtained under the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act, (B) such as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky
laws governing the purchase and distribution of the Shares, or (C) such as may
be required by the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC, as to which
we express no opinion) for the valid issuance and sale of the Shares to the
Underwriters as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement;
9. To our knowledge, (A) there are no legal or governmental proceedings
pending or threatened against the Company, or to which the Company or any of its
properties is subject, which are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) that are not so
described and (B) there are no agreements, contracts, indentures, leases or
other instruments that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that are not so described or
filed, as the case may be;
10. The statements set forth under the caption "Description of Capital
Stock" in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to summarize
certain provisions of the capital stock of the Company provides a fair summary
of such provisions in all material respects, and any description in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus of the Restated Articles and Bylaws and
any statute fairly present, in all material respects, the information required
to be presented by the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations
thereunder.
11. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and the
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in
the Prospectus, would not be, an "investment company" as such term is defined in
the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
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EXHIBIT C
FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S U.K COUNSEL
1. The Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of England and Wales.
2. The Subsidiary has the corporate power and authority to owe, lease
and operate its property as described in the Prospectus.
3. The Subsidiary has the corporate power and authority to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus.
4. The Subsidiary is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction, if any, in which, to
our knowledge, it owns or leases properties or otherwise conducts its business,
except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
have a Material Adverse Effect.
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EXHIBIT D
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF UNDERWRITERS' COUNSEL
(i) The Shares to be issued by the Company have been duly authorized
and, upon issuance and delivery and payment therefor in accordance with
the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
(ii) The Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Act; the Registration Statement
has become effective under the Act and, to such counsel's knowledge, no
stop order proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or
threatened or are pending under the Securities Act.
(iii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(iv) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Selling Shareholders.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has reviewed the
opinions addressed to the Representatives from [list each set of counsel that
has provided an opinion], each dated the date hereof, and furnished to you in
accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement. Such opinions
appear on their face to be appropriately responsive to the requirements of the
Underwriting Agreement.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto (other than the financial statements including supporting schedules and
other financial and statistical information derived therefrom, as to which such
counsel need express no comment) contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or at the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid)
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
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EXHIBIT E
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF SELLING SHAREHOLDER COUNSEL
(i) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by or on behalf of, and is a valid and binding agreement of,
such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles.
(ii) The execution and delivery by such Selling Shareholder of, and the
performance by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under, the
Underwriting Agreement and its Custody Agreement will not contravene or,
to the best of such counsel's knowledge, contravene any other agreement
or instrument to which such Selling Shareholder is a party or by which
it is bound, or any judgement, order or decree applicable to such
Selling Shareholder of any court, administrative agency governmental
body having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder.
(iii) Such Selling Shareholder is the sole registered owner of the
Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Shareholder under the
Underwriting Agreement and has the legal right and power, and authorizes
to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and its Custody Agreement and
to sell, transfer and deliver all of the Common Shares which may be sold
by such Selling Shareholder under the Underwriting Agreement.
(iv) The Custody Agreement of such Selling Shareholder has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and is a
valid and binding agreement of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification
thereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable
principles.
(v) Upon delivery of and payment for the Shares as contemplated in the
Underwriting Agreement, each of the Underwriters will receive valid
marketable title to the Shares purchased from such the ________ Selling
Shareholder free of any adverse claim, assuming __________ purchase such
shares for value, in good faith ___________ any adverse claims as
defined in the Uniform Commercial Code of the State of California.
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