ROLLING PIN KITCHEN EMPORIUM, INC.
1,500,000 Shares of Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
________________, 1998
Nutmeg Securities, Ltd.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Gentlemen:
Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, Inc., a corporation organized under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company") hereby confirms its agreement with
Nutmeg Securities, Ltd. ("Nutmeg"), as representative (the "Representative") of
the several underwriters listed on Schedule 1 annexed hereto (the
"Underwriters"), as set forth below.
The Company proposes to issue and sell to the Underwriters 1,500,000
shares of the Company's common stock, $.01 par value (the "Common Stock"). The
shares of Common Stock being sold by the Company are referred to as the "Firm
Shares." In addition, for the sole purpose of covering over-allotments from the
sale of the Firm Shares the Company proposes to grant to the Underwriters an
option to purchase an additional 225,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Firm
Option Shares" or the "Option Shares"), all as provided in section 2(c) of this
agreement (the "Agreement") and to issue to you the Representative's Warrant (as
defined in Section 2 hereof) to purchase certain further additional shares of
Common Stock. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are collectively referred to
herein as either the "Shares" or the "Securities."
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter that:
(a) A registration statement on Form SB-2 (File No.
333-63527), with respect to the Securities and the Representative's Warrant
Securities (as hereinafter defined), including a prospectus subject to
completion, has been filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"Act "), and one or more amendments to that registration statement may have been
so filed. Copies of such
registration statement and of each amendment heretofore filed by the Company
with the Commission have been delivered to the Underwriters. After the execution
of this Agreement, the Company will file with the Commission either (i) if the
registration statement, as it may have been amended, has been declared by the
Commission to be effective under the Act, a prospectus in the form most recently
included in that registration statement (or, if an amendment thereto shall have
been filed, in such amendment), with such changes or insertions as are required
by Rule 430A under the Act or permitted by Rule 424(b) under the Act and as have
been provided to and approved by the Underwriters prior to the execution of this
Agreement, or (ii) if that registration statement, as it may have been amended,
has not been declared by the Commission to be effective under the Act, an
amendment to that registration statement, including a form of prospectus, a copy
of which amendment has been furnished to and approved by the Underwriters prior
to the execution of this Agreement. The Company also may file a related
registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Act
for purposes of registering certain additional Securities, which registration
statement shall become effective upon filing with the Commission (the "Rule
462(b) Registration Statement"). As used in this Agreement, the term
"Registration Statement" means that registration statement, as amended at the
time it was or is declared effective, and any amendment thereto that was or is
thereafter declared effective, including all financial schedules and exhibits
thereto and any information omitted therefrom pursuant to Rule 430A under the
Act and included in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined), together with any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; the term "Preliminary Prospectus" means each
prospectus subject to completion filed with the Registration Statement
(including the prospectus subject to completion, if any, included in the
Registration Statement at the time it was or is declared effective); and the
term "Prospectus" means the prospectus first filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the Act or, if no prospectus is so filed pursuant to Rule
424(b), the prospectus included in the Registration Statement. The Company has
caused to be delivered to the Underwriters copies of each Preliminary Prospectus
and has consented to the use of those copies for the purposes permitted by the
Act. If the Company has elected to rely on Rule 462(b) and the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement has not been declared effective, then (i) the Company has
filed a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement in compliance with and that is
effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) and has received confirmation of
its receipt and (ii) the Company has given irrevocable instructions for
transmission of the applicable filing fee in connection with the filing of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, in compliance with Rule 111 promulgated
under the Act or the Commission has received payment of such filing fee.
(b) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus. When each Preliminary
Prospectus and each amendment and each supplement thereto was filed with the
Commission it (i) contained all statements required to be stated therein, in
accordance with, and complied with the requirements of, the Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (ii) did not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. When the Registration Statement was or is
declared effective, it (i) contained or will contain all statements required to
be stated therein in accordance with, and complied or will comply with the
requirements of, the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and (ii) did not or will not include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein not
2
misleading. When the Prospectus and each amendment or supplement thereto is
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or, if the Prospectus or such
amendment or supplement is not required so to be filed, when the Registration
Statement containing such Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto was or
is declared effective) and on the Firm Closing Date and any Option Closing Date
(as each such term is hereinafter defined), the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented at any such time, (i) contained or will contain all statements
required to be stated therein in accordance with, and complied or will comply
with the requirements of, the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and (ii) did not or will not include any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading. The foregoing provisions of this paragraph (b) do not
apply to statements or omissions made in any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by the Underwriters specifically for use therein.
(c) The Company and Aropi, Incorporated, the Company's
wholly-owned subsidiary, are each duly organized and are validly existing as
corporations in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions
of incorporation, and are duly qualified or authorized to transact business as
foreign corporations and are in good standing in each jurisdiction where the
ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its businesses require
such qualification or authorization.
(d) The Company and its Subsidiary have full corporate power
and authority, and all necessary material authorizations, approvals, orders,
licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental regulatory
authorities, to own or lease its property and conduct its business as now being
conducted and as proposed to be conducted as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the
most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(e) The Company does not own, directly or indirectly, an
interest in any corporation, partnership, limited liability company, joint
venture, trust or other business entity.
(f) The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus). All of the issued shares of
capital stock of the Company, including the Selling Shareholders Shares, have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, nonassessable and
free of preemptive rights. There are no outstanding options, warrants or other
rights granted by the Company to purchase shares of its Common Stock or other
securities, other than as described in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus). The Company Shares
have been duly authorized, by all necessary corporate action on the part of the
Company and, when the Company Firm Shares are issued and delivered to and paid
for by the Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement, the Firm Shares will be
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights and will
conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus). No holder of
outstanding securities of the Company is entitled as such to any preemptive or
other right
3
to subscribe for any of the Securities, and no person is entitled to have
securities registered by the Company under the Registration Statement or
otherwise under the Act other than as described in the Prospectus (and, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(g) The capital stock of the Company conforms to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not
in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(h) All issuances of securities of the Company have been
effected pursuant to an exemption from the registration requirements of the Act.
Except as previously disclosed in writing to the Representative, no compensation
was paid to or on behalf of any member of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), or any affiliate or employee thereof, in connection with
any such issuance.
(i) The financial statements of the Company included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) fairly present the financial
position of the Company as of the dates indicated and the results of operations
of the Company for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been
prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in effect
in the United States of America, consistently applied, except to the extent that
certain footnote disclosures regarding unaudited interim periods may have been
omitted in accordance with the applicable rules of the Commission under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"). The financial data
set forth under the caption "Summary Financial Information" in the Prospectus
(and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus) fairly present, on the basis stated in the Prospectus (or such
Preliminary Prospectus), the information included therein.
(j) Feldman, Sherb, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., P.C., and ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
each of which have audited certain financial statements of the Company and
delivered their report with respect to the financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), are each independent public
accountants with respect to the Company as required by the Act and the
applicable rules and regulations thereunder.
(k) Since the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus
is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), (i) except as
otherwise contemplated therein, there has been no material adverse change in the
business, operations, condition (financial or otherwise), earnings or prospects
of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii)
except as otherwise stated therein, there have been no transactions entered into
by the Company and no commitments made by the Company that, individually or in
the aggregate, are material with respect to the Company, (iii) there has not
been any change in the capital stock or indebtedness of the Company, and (iv)
there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by
the Company in respect of any class of its capital stock.
4
(l) The Company has full corporate power and authority to
enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement and the
Representative's Warrant Agreement (as hereinafter defined). The execution and
delivery of this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and
this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement have each been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and each is a valid and binding agreement
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
except as the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium and other similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally and by general principles of equity
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at
law), and except as rights to indemnity and contribution under this Agreement
may be limited by applicable law. The issuance, offering and sale by the Company
to the Underwriters of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or the
Representative's Securities pursuant to the Representative's Warrant Agreement,
the compliance by the Company with the provisions of this Agreement and the
Representative's Warrant Agreement, and the consummation of the other
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant
Agreement do not (i) require the consent, approval, authorization, registration
or qualification of or with any court or governmental or regulatory authority,
except such as have been obtained or may be required under state securities or
blue sky laws and, if the registration statement filed with respect to the
Securities (as amended) is not effective under the Act as of the time of
execution hereof, such as may be required (and shall be obtained as provided in
this Agreement) under the Act, or (ii) conflict with or result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under, any material contract, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other material agreement
or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or any of
its property is bound or subject, or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws
of the Company, or any statute or any rule, regulation, judgment, decree or
order of any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or any
arbitrator applicable to the Company.
(m) No legal or governmental proceedings are pending to which
the Company is a party or to which the property of the Company is subject, and
no such proceedings have been threatened against the Company or with respect to
any of its property, except such as are described in the Prospectus (and, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus). No
contract or other document is required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement that is not described therein (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, in the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) or filed as required.
(n) The Company is not in (i) violation of its certificate of
incorporation, by-laws or other governing documents, (ii) violation in any
material respect of any law, statute, regulation, ordinance, rule, order,
judgment or decree of any court or any governmental or regulatory authority
applicable to it, or (iii) default in any material respect in the performance or
observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note,
lease or other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by
which it or any of its property may be bound or subject, and no event has
occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a
default.
5
(o) The Company currently owns or possesses adequate rights to
use all intellectual property, including all trademarks, service marks, trade
names, copyrights, inventions, know-how, trade secrets, proprietary
technologies, processes and substances, or applications or licenses therefor,
that are described in the Prospectus (and if the Prospectus is not in existence,
the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), and any other rights or interests in
items of intellectual property as are necessary for the conduct of the business
now conducted or proposed to be conducted by them as described in the Prospectus
(or, such Preliminary Prospectus), and, except as disclosed in the Prospectus
(and such Preliminary Prospectus), the Company is not aware of the granting of
any patent rights to, or the filing of applications therefor by, others, nor is
the Company aware of, nor has the Company received notice of, infringement of or
conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any of the foregoing.
All such intellectual property rights and interests are (i) valid and
enforceable and (ii) to the best knowledge of the Company, not being infringed
by any third parties.
(p) The Company possesses adequate licenses, orders,
authorizations, approvals, certificates or permits issued by the appropriate
federal, state or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if
the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus),
and, except as disclosed in the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), there are no pending or, to
the best knowledge of the Company, threatened, proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such license, order, authorization, approval,
certificate or permit.
(q) The Company has good and marketable title to all of the
properties and assets reflected in the Company's financial statements or as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), subject
to no lien, mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind, except those
reflected in such financial statements or as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus (and such Preliminary Prospectus). Except as
disclosed in the Prospectus, the Company occupies its leased properties under
valid and enforceable leases conforming to the description thereof set forth in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and such Preliminary Prospectus).
(r) The Company is not and does not intend to conduct its
business in a manner in which it would be an "investment company" as defined in
Section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the "Investment Company
Act").
(s) The Company has obtained and delivered to the
Representative the agreements (the "Lock-up Agreements") with the officers,
directors and certain other security holders owning shares of Common Stock to
the effect that, among other things, each such person (i) will not, commencing
on the Effective Date and continuing for a period of thirteen (13) months
thereafter, without the prior written consent of the Representative, directly or
indirectly, publicly sell, offer or contract to sell or grant any option to
purchase, transfer, assign or pledge, or otherwise encumber, or dispose of any
shares of Common Stock now or hereafter owned by such person and that the
purchaser or transferee in any private sale agrees to be bound by the Lock Up
Agreement, and (ii) will comply with any additional restriction or condition on
the disposition of such Common Stock
6
which may be required to qualify the offering of the Securities in any state in
accordance with the blue sky or securities laws of such state.
(t) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company exists,
is threatened or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, is imminent that could
result in a material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
business, prospects, net worth or results of operations of the Company, except
as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not
in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(u) The Company is insured by insurers of recognized
financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as
are prudent and customary in the businesses in which it is engaged; the Company
has not been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied for; and the
Company has no reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing
insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar
coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a
cost that would not materially and adversely affect the condition (financial or
otherwise), business, prospects, net worth or results of operations of the
Company, except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (and, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(v) The Representative's Warrant (as hereinafter defined) will
conform to the description thereof in the Registration Statement and in the
Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus) and, when sold to and paid for by the Representative in
accordance with the Representative's Warrant Agreement, will have been duly
authorized and validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Representative's Warrant
Agreement. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Representative's Warrant (the "Representative's Warrant Shares") have been duly
authorized and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Representative's
Warrant by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and, when
issued and delivered and paid for upon such exercise in accordance with the
terms of the Representative's Warrant Agreement and the Representative's
Warrant, respectively, will be validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and
free of preemptive rights and will conform to the description thereof in the
Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus).
(w) Other than ▇▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ who will be compensated
directly by the Representative a finders fee not to exceed 1% of the aggregate
public offering price out of the Representative's compensation, no person has
acted as a finder in connection with, or is entitled to any commission, fee or
other compensation or payment for services as a finder for or for originating,
or introducing the parties to, the transactions contemplated herein and the
Company will indemnify the Underwriter with respect to any claim for finder's
fees in connection herewith. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus (and, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus), the Company has no management or financial consulting
agreement with anyone. No promoter, officer, director or stockholder of the
Company is, directly or indirectly, affiliated or associated with an NASD member
and no securities of the Company have been acquired by an NASD member, except as
previously disclosed in writing to the Representative.
7
(x) The Company has filed all federal, state, local and
foreign tax returns which are required to be filed through the date hereof, or
has received extensions thereof, and has paid all taxes shown on such returns
and all assessments received by it to the extent that the same are material and
have become due.
(y) Neither the Company nor any director, officer, agent,
employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company has,
directly or indirectly: used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions,
gifts, entertainment, or other unlawful expenses relating to political activity;
made any unlawful payment to foreign or domestic government officials or
employees or to foreign or domestic political parties or campaigns from
corporate funds; violated any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of
1977, as amended; or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment,
kickback, or other unlawful payment. No transaction has occurred between or
among the Company and any of its officers or directors or any affiliates of any
such officer or director, that is required to be described in and is not
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(z) Neither the Company nor any of its officers, directors or
affiliates (as defined in the Regulations), has taken or will take, directly or
indirectly, prior to the completion of the Offering, any action designed to
stabilize or manipulate the price of any security of the Company, or which has
caused or resulted in, or which might in the future reasonably be expected to
cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security
of the Company, to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities or the
Option Securities.
2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities and the
Representative's Warrants.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties,
agreements and covenants herein contained and subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell to each
Underwriter and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company the number of Firm Shares as set forth opposite its name on
Schedule 1 annexed hereto, at a purchase price of $_____ per share.
(b) Certificates in definitive form for the Firm Securities
that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase hereunder, and in such
denomination or denominations and registered in such name or names as the
Underwriters request upon notice to the Company at least 48 hours prior to the
Firm Closing Date, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the
Underwriters, against payment by or on behalf of the Underwriters of the
purchase prices therefor by certified or official bank check or checks drawn
upon or by a New York Clearing House bank and payable in next-day funds to the
order of the Company. Such delivery of and payment for the Firm Securities shall
be made at the offices of Counsel for the Underwriters, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ at 9:30 A.M., New York City time on _________, 1998, or at
such other place, time or date as the Underwriters and the Company may agree
upon, such time and date of delivery against payment being herein referred to as
the "Firm Closing Date." The Company will make such certificates for the Firm
Securities available for checking and packaging by the Underwriters, at such
8
offices as may be designated by the Representative, at least 24 hours prior to
the Firm Closing Date. In lieu of physical delivery, the closing may occur by
"DTC" delivery.
(c) For the purpose of covering any over-allotments in
connection with the distribution and sale of the Firm Securities as contemplated
by the Prospectus, the Company hereby grants to the Underwriter an option to
purchase any or all of the Company Option Shares, which options are exercisable
by the Representative on behalf of and for the account of the Underwriters. The
purchase price to be paid for any of the Option Shares shall be the same price
per share for the Firm Securities set forth above in paragraph (a) of this
section 2. The option granted hereby may be exercised as to all or any part of
the Option Shares from time to time within 45 calendar days after the Firm
Closing Date. The Underwriters shall not be under any obligation to purchase any
of the Option Shares prior to the exercise of such option. The Representative
may from time to time exercise the option granted hereby on behalf of the
Underwriters by giving notice in writing or by telephone (confirmed in writing)
to the Company setting forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which
the Underwriters are then exercising the option and the date and time for
delivery of and payment for such Option Shares. Any such date of delivery shall
be determined by the Underwriters but shall not be earlier than two business
days or later than three business days after such exercise of the option and, in
any event, shall not be earlier than the Firm Closing Date. The time and date
set forth in such notice, or such other time on such other date as the
Representative and the Company may agree upon, is herein called the "Option
Closing Date" with respect to such Option Shares. Upon exercise of the option as
provided herein, the Company shall become obligated to sell to the Underwriters,
and, subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each Underwriter
shall become obligated to purchase from the Company, the Option Shares as to
which the Underwriter is then exercising its option. If the option is exercised
as to all or any portion of the Option Shares, certificates in definitive form
for such Option Shares, and payment therefor, shall be delivered on the related
Option Closing Date in the manner, and upon the terms and conditions, set forth
in paragraph (b) of this section 2, except that reference therein to the Firm
Securities and the Firm Closing Date shall be deemed, for purposes of this
paragraph (c), to refer to such Option Shares and Option Closing Date,
respectively.
(d) On the Firm Closing Date, the Company will further issue
and sell to the Representative or, at the direction of the Representative, to
bona fide officers of the Underwriters, for an aggregate purchase price of $10,
warrants to purchase Common Stock (the "Representative's Warrant") entitling the
holders thereof to purchase an aggregate of 150,000 shares of Common Stock for a
period of four years, such period to commence on the first anniversary of the
Effective Date. The Representative's Warrant shall be exercisable at a price
equal to 165% of the public offering price of the Common Stock, and shall
contain terms and provisions more fully described herein below and as set forth
more particularly in the warrant agreement relating to the Representative's
Warrant to be executed by the Company on the Effective Date (the
"Representative's Warrant Agreement"), including, but not limited to, (i)
customary anti-dilution provisions in the event of stock dividends, split
mergers, sales of all or substantially all of the Company's assets, sales of
stock below then prevailing market or exercise prices and other events, and (ii)
prohibitions of mergers, consolidations or other reorganizations of or by the
Company or the taking by the Company of other action during the five-year period
following the Effective Date unless adequate provision is made
9
to preserve, in substance, the rights and powers incidental to the
Representative's Warrant. As provided in the Representative's Warrant Agreement,
the Representative may designate that the Representative's Warrant be issued in
varying amounts directly to bona fide officers of the Underwriters. As further
provided, no sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of the
Representative's Warrant shall be made for a period of 12 months from the
Effective Date, except (i) by operation of law or reorganization of the Company,
or (ii) to the Underwriters and bona fide partners, officers of the Underwriters
and selling group members. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of
the Representative's Warrant are referred to herein as the "Representative's
Warrant Shares."
3. Offering by the Underwriters. The Underwriters propose to offer the
Firm Securities for sale to the public upon the terms set forth in the
Prospectus (the "Offering").
4. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with the
Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement, if not effective at the time of execution of this
Agreement, to become effective as promptly as possible. If required, the Company
will file the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto with the
Commission in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b)
under the Act. During any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is
required to be delivered under the Act, the Company (i) will comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder to the extent necessary to permit the continuance of sales
of or dealings in the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and of
the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and (ii) will not file with the
Commission any prospectus or amendment referred to in the first sentence of
section (a) (i) hereof, any amendment or supplement to such prospectus or any
amendment to the Registration Statement as to which the Underwriters shall not
previously have been advised and furnished with a copy for a reasonable period
of time prior to the proposed filing and as to which filing the Underwriters
shall not have given their consent. The Company will prepare and file with the
Commission, in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission,
promptly upon request by the Underwriters or counsel to the Underwriters, any
amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the
Prospectus that may be necessary or advisable in connection with the
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, and will use its best
efforts to cause any such amendment to the Registration Statement to be declared
effective by the Commission as promptly as possible. The Company will advise the
Underwriters, promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the time when the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or declared
effective or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been
filed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Underwriters of each such
filing or effectiveness.
(b) The Company will advise the Underwriters, promptly after
receiving notice or obtaining knowledge thereof, of (i) the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (ii) the
10
suspension of the qualification of any Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, (iii) the institution, threat or contemplation of any proceeding
for any such purpose or (iv) any request made by the Commission for amending the
Registration Statement, for amending or supplementing the Prospectus or for
additional information. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order and, if any such stop order is issued, to obtain
the withdrawal thereof as promptly as possible.
(c) The Company will, in cooperation with counsel to the
Underwriters, arrange for the qualification of the Securities for offering and
sale under the blue sky or securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
Underwriters may designate and will continue such qualifications in effect for
as long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Securities.
(d) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the
Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a
result of which the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would include
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, or if for any other
reason it is necessary at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to
comply with the Act or the rules or regulations of the Commission thereunder,
the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and, subject to
section 4(a) hereof, will prepare and file with the Commission, at the Company's
expense, an amendment to the Registration Statement or an amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus that corrects such statement or omission or effects
such compliance.
(e) Intentionally left blank.
(f) The Company will, without charge, provide to the
Underwriters and to counsel for the Underwriters (i) as many signed copies of
the registration statement originally filed with respect to the Securities and
each amendment thereto (in each case including exhibits thereto) as the
Underwriters may reasonably request, (ii) as many conformed copies of such
registration statement and each amendment thereto (in each case without exhibits
thereto) as the Underwriters may reasonably request and (iii) so long as a
prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act,
as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(g) The Company, as soon as practicable, will make generally
available to its security holders and to the Underwriters an earnings statement
of the Company that satisfies the provisions of section 11 (a) of the Act and
Rule 158 thereunder.
(h) The Company will reserve and keep available for issuance
that maximum number of authorized but unissued shares of Common Stock which are
issuable upon exercise of any outstanding warrants and the Representative's
Warrant (including the underlying securities) outstanding from time to time.
(i) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of
the Securities being
11
sold by it as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(j) Intentionally left blank.
(k) Prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date (if
any), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, without prior written
consent of the Representative, issue any press release or other public
announcement or hold any press conference with respect to the Company or its
activities with respect to the Offering (other than trade releases issued in the
ordinary course of the Company's business consistent with past practices with
respect to the Company's operations).
(l) If, at the time that the Registration Statement becomes
effective, any information shall have been omitted therefrom in reliance upon
Rule 430A under the Act, then immediately following the execution of this
Agreement, the Company will prepare, and file or transmit for filing with the
Commission in accordance with Rule 430A and Rule 424(b) under the Act, copies of
the Prospectus including the information omitted in reliance on Rule 430A, or,
if required by such Rule 430A, a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement (including an amended Prospectus), containing all information so
omitted.
(m) The Company will cause the Securities to be included in
The Nasdaq Small Cap Market on the Effective Date and to maintain such listing
thereafter. The Company will file with The Nasdaq Small Cap Market all documents
and notices that are required by companies with securities that are traded on
The Nasdaq Small Cap Market.
(n) During the period of five years from the Firm Closing
Date, the Company will, as promptly as possible, not to exceed 135 days, after
each annual fiscal period render and distribute reports to its stockholders
which will include audited statements of its operations and changes of financial
position during such period and its audited balance sheet as of the end of such
period, as to which statements the Company's independent certified public
accountants shall have rendered an opinion and shall timely file all reports
required to be filed under the securities laws, including Form SR.
(o) During a period of three years commencing with the Firm
Closing Date, the Company will furnish to the Representative, at the Company's
expense, copies of all periodic and special reports furnished to stockholders of
the Company and of all information, documents and reports filed with the
Commission.
(p) The Company has appointed Continental Stock Transfer &
Trust Company as transfer agent for the Common Stock, subject to the Closing.
The Company will not change or terminate such appointment for a period of three
years from the Firm Closing Date without first obtaining the written consent of
the Representative. For a period of three years after the Effective Date, the
Company shall cause the transfer agent to deliver promptly to the Underwriters a
duplicate copy of the daily transfer sheets relating to trading of the
Securities. The Company shall also provide to the Representative, on a weekly
basis, copies of the DTC special securities positions listing report.
12
(q) During the period of 180 days after the date of this
Agreement, the Company will not at any time, directly or indirectly, take any
action designed to or that will constitute, or that might reasonably be expected
to cause or result in, the stabilization of the price of the Common Stock to
facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Securities.
(r) The Company will not take any action to facilitate the
sale of any shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act if any
such sale would violate any of the terms of the Lock-up Agreements.
(s) Prior to the 120th day after the Firm Closing Date, the
Company will provide the Underwriters and their designees with six bound volumes
of the transaction documents relating to the Registration Statement and the
closing(s) hereunder, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the
Representative.
(t) The Company shall consult with the Representative prior to
the distribution to third parties of any financial information news releases or
other publicity regarding the Company, its business, or any terms of this
offering and the Underwriters will consult with the Company prior to the
issuance of any research report or recommendation concerning the Company's
securities. Copies of all documents that the Company or its public relations
firm intend to distribute will be provided to the Representative for review
prior to such distribution.
(u) The Company and the Underwriters will advise each other
immediately in writing as to any investigation, proceeding, order, event or
other circumstance, or any threat thereof, by or relating to the Commission or
any other governmental authority, that could impair or prevent the Offering.
Except as required by law or as otherwise mutually agreed in writing, neither
the Company nor the Underwriters will acquiesce in such circumstances and each
will actively defend any proceedings or orders in that connection.
(v) The Company shall first submit to the Representative
certificates representing the Securities for approval prior to printing, and
shall, as promptly as possible, after filing the Registration Statement with the
Commission, obtain CUSIP numbers for the Securities.
(w) The Company shall engage the Underwriters' counsel to
provide the Underwriters, at the closing of any sale of Securities hereunder and
thereafter on request, with an opinion, setting forth those states in which the
Common Stock may be traded in non-issuer transactions under the blue sky or
securities laws of the 50 states. The Company shall pay such counsel a one-time
fee of $10,000 for such opinions at the closing of the sale of the Firm
Securities.
(x) The Company will prepare and file a registration statement
with the Commission pursuant to section 12 of the 1934 Act, and will use its
best efforts to have such registration statement declared effective by the
Commission on an accelerated basis on the day after the Effective Date. For this
purpose the Company shall prepare and file with the Commission a General Form of
Registration of Securities (Form 8-A or Form 10).
13
(y) For so long as the Securities are registered under the
1934 Act, the Company will hold an annual meeting of stockholders for the
election of directors within 180 days after the end of each of the Company's
fiscal years and within 135 days after the end of each of the Company's fiscal
years will provide the Company's stockholders with the audited financial
statements of the Company as of the end of the fiscal year just completed prior
thereto. Such financial statements shall be those required by Rule 14a-3 under
the 1934 Act and shall be included in an annual report pursuant to the
requirements of such Rule.
(z) The Company will engage a financial public relations firm
reasonably satisfactory to the Representative on or before the Firm Closing
Date, and continuously engage such firm, or a substitute firm reasonably
acceptable to the Representative, for a period of twelve (12) months following
the Firm Closing Date.
(aa) The Company will take all necessary and appropriate
actions to be included in Standard and Poor's Corporation Descriptions or other
equivalent manual and to maintain its listing therein for a period of five (5)
years from the Effective Date. Such application shall be made on an accelerated
basis no more than two days following the Effective Date.
(bb) On or prior to the Effective Date, the Company will give
written instructions to the transfer agent for the Common Stock directing said
transfer agent to place stop-order restrictions against, and appropriate legends
advising of the Lock-up Agreements on, the certificates representing the
securities of the Company owned by the persons who have entered into the Lock-up
Agreements.
14
5. Expenses
(a) The Company shall pay all costs and expenses incident to
the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to section 10 hereof, including all costs and expenses incident to (i)
the preparation, printing and filing or other production of documents with
respect to the transactions, including any costs of printing the registration
statement originally filed with respect to the Securities and any amendment
thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, this Agreement, the selected dealer agreement and the other
agreements and documents governing the underwriting arrangements and any blue
sky memoranda, (ii) all reasonable and necessary arrangements relating to the
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the foregoing documents, and the costs
and expenses of the Underwriters in mailing or otherwise distributing the same
including telephone charges, duplications and other accountable expenses (iii)
the fees and disbursements of the counsel, the accountants and any other experts
or advisors retained by the Company, (iv) the preparation, issuance and delivery
to the Underwriters of any certificates evidencing the Securities, including
transfer agent's, warrant agent's and registrar's fees or any transfer or other
taxes payable thereon, (v) the qualification of the Securities under state blue
sky or securities laws, including filing fees and fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters relating thereto (such counsel fees shall be
$30,000, of which $7,500 was paid upon the commencement of blue sky filing,
together with the related filing fees) and any fees and disbursements of local
counsel, if any, retained for such purpose, (vi) the filing fees of the
Commission and the NASD relating to the Securities, (vii) the inclusion of the
Securities on The Nasdaq SmallCap Market and in the Standard and Poor's
Corporation Descriptions Manual, (viii) any "road shows" or other meetings with
prospective investors in the Securities, including transportation,
accommodation, meal, conference room, audio-visual presentation and similar
expenses, but not including such expenses for the Underwriters or their
representatives or designees
15
in excess of $15,000 and (ix) the publication of "tombstone advertisements" in
newspapers or other publications selected by the Representative, and the
manufacture of prospectus memorabilia. In addition to the foregoing, the Company
shall reimburse the Representative for its expenses on the basis of a
non-accountable expense allowance in the amount of 3.00% of the gross offering
proceeds to be received by the Company. The expense allowance, based on the
gross proceeds from the sale of the Firm Securities, shall be deducted from the
funds to be paid by the Representative in payment for the Firm Securities,
pursuant to section 2 of this Agreement, on the Firm Closing Date. To the extent
any Option Shares are sold, any remaining non-accountable expense allowance
based on the gross proceeds from the sale of the Option Shares shall be deducted
from the funds to be paid by the Representative in payment for the Option
Shares, pursuant to section 2 of this Agreement, on the Option Closing Date. The
Company warrants, represents and agrees that all such payments and
reimbursements will be promptly and fully made.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, if
the offering of the Securities contemplated hereby is terminated for any reason,
the Company agrees that, in addition to the Company paying its own expenses as
described in subparagraph (a) above, the Company shall reimburse the
Representative for its actual accountable out-of-pocket expenses (in addition to
blue sky legal fees and expenses referred to in subparagraph (a) above) net of
the $50,000 which has previously been advanced to the Representative, up to a
maximum of $75,000. Such expenses shall include, but are not to be limited to,
fees for the services and time of counsel for the Underwriters to the extent not
covered by clause (i) above, plus any additional expenses and fees, including,
but not limited to, travel expenses, postage expenses, duplication expenses,
long-distance telephone expenses, and other expenses incurred by the
Representative in connection with the proposed offering.
6. Intentionally left blank.
7. Conditions of the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares shall be subject, in the
Underwriters' sole discretion, to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Company contained herein as of the date hereof and as of the
Firm Closing Date as if made on and as of the Firm Closing Date, to the accuracy
of the statements of the Company's officers made pursuant to the provisions
hereof, to the performance by the Company of its covenants and agreements
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) If the registration statement, as heretofore amended, has
not been declared effective as of the time of execution hereof, the registration
statement, as heretofore amended or as amended by an amendment thereto to be
filed prior to the Firm Closing Date, shall have been declared effective not
later than 5:30 P.M., New York City time, on the date on which the amendment to
such registration statement containing information regarding the initial public
offering price of the Securities has been filed with the Commission, or such
later time and date as shall have been consented to by the Underwriters; if
required, the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto shall have been
filed with the Commission in the manner and within the time
16
period required by Rule 424(b) under the Act, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued, and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened or, to the
knowledge of the Company or the Underwriters, shall be contemplated by the
Commission; and the Company shall have complied with any request of the
Commission for additional information (to be included in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise).
(b) The Underwriters shall have received an opinion, dated the
Firm Closing Date, of ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel to the Company, to the effect
that:
(1) the Company has been duly organized and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization and is duly qualified to transact business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each other
jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of any properties or the conduct
of its business requires such qualification, except where the failure to so
qualify would not have a materially adverse effect upon the Company;
(2) the Company has full corporate power and
authority to own or lease its property and conduct its business as now being
conducted and as proposed to be conducted, as described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, and the Company has full corporate power and
authority to enter into this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant
Agreement and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof and thereof to be
carried out by it;
(3) to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no
outstanding options, warrants or other rights granted by the Company to purchase
shares of its Common Stock, preferred stock or other securities other than as
described in the Prospectus; the Company Shares have been duly authorized and
the Representative's Warrant Shares have been duly reserved for issuance by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and the Company Shares
when issued and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters, pursuant to this
Agreement, the Representative's Warrant when issued and delivered and paid for
in accordance with this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement by
the Underwriters, and the Representative's Warrant Shares when issued upon
payment of the exercise price specified in the Representative's Warrant, will be
validly issued, fully paid, nonassessable and free of preemptive rights and will
conform to the description thereof in the Prospectus; to the knowledge of such
counsel, no holder of outstanding securities of the Company is entitled as such
to any preemptive or other right to subscribe for any of the Company Shares or
the Representative's Warrant Shares; and to the knowledge of such counsel, no
person is entitled to have securities registered by the Company under the
Registration Statement or otherwise under the Act other than as described in the
Prospectus;
(4) the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
the Representative's Warrant Agreement have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action on the part of the Company and this Agreement and the
Representative's Warrant Agreement have been duly executed and delivered by the
Company, and each is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may
be
17
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance,
moratorium and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in
a proceeding in equity or at law) and except as rights to indemnity and
contribution under this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement may
be limited by applicable securities laws and the public policy underlying such
laws;
(5) the Representative's Warrant conform to the
description thereof in the Registration Statement and in the Prospectus and are
duly authorized and upon payment of the purchase price therefore specified in
Section 2(d) of this Agreement are validly issued and constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the
Representative's Warrant Agreement; and the certificates representing the
Securities are in due and proper form under law;
(6) the statements set forth in the Prospectus under
the caption "Description of Securities" insofar as those statements purport to
summarize the terms of the capital stock and warrants of the Company, provide a
fair summary of such terms; the statements set forth in the Prospectus
describing statutes and regulations and the descriptions of the consequences to
the Company under such statutes and regulations are fair summaries of the
information set forth therein and are accurate in all material respects; the
statements in the Prospectus, insofar as those statements constitute summaries
of the contracts, instruments, leases or licenses referred to therein,
constitute a fair summary of those contracts, instruments, leases or licenses
and include all material terms thereof, as applicable;
(7) none of (A) the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement, (B) the issuance, offering
and sale by the Company to the Underwriters of the Securities pursuant to this
Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Securities pursuant to the
Representative's Warrant Agreement, nor (C) the compliance by the Company with
the other provisions of this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and
thereby, (1) requires the consent, approval, authorization, registration or
qualification of or with any court or governmental authority known to us, except
such as have been obtained and such as may be required under state blue sky or
securities laws or (2) conflicts with or results in a breach or violation of, or
constitutes a default under, any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, note, lease or other material agreement or instrument
known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or
any of its property is bound or subject, or the certificate of incorporation or
by-laws of the Company, or any material statute or any judgment, decree, order,
rule or regulation of any court or other governmental or regulatory authority
known to us applicable to the Company.
(8) to the knowledge of such counsel, (A) no legal or
governmental proceedings are pending to which the Company is a party or to which
the property of the Company is subject except those arising in the ordinary
course of business and fully covered by insurance and (B) no contract or other
document is required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is
not described therein or filed as required;
18
(9) the Company possesses adequate licenses, orders,
authorizations, approvals, certificates or permits issued by the appropriate
federal, state or local regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct its
business as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and, to
the knowledge of such counsel, there are no pending or threatened proceedings
relating to the revocation or modification of any such license, order,
authorization, approval, certificate or permit, except as disclosed in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(10) The Company is not in violation or breach of, or
in default with respect to, any term of its certificate of incorporation or
by-laws, and to the knowledge of such counsel, the Company is not in (i)
violation in any material respect of any law, statute, regulation, ordinance,
rule, order, judgment or decree of any court or any governmental or regulatory
authority applicable to it, or (ii) default in any material respect in the
performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement, note, lease or other material agreement or instrument to which it is
a party or by which it or any of its property may be bound or subject, and no
event has occurred which with notice, lapse of time or both would constitute
such a default;
(11) the Shares have been approved for inclusion on
The Nasdaq SmallCap Market;
(12) to the knowledge of such counsel, neither the
Company is not in default in any material respect in the performance or
observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
material contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, note,
lease or other material agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by
which it or any of its property may be bound or subject, and no event has
occurred which with notice, lapse of time or both would constitute such a
default;
(13) the statements in the Prospectus under the
caption "Description of Securities" in the Prospectus, insofar as such
statements purport to summarize the terms of the capital stock and warrants of
the Company, provide a fair summary of such terms; and the statements in the
Prospectus, insofar as those statements constitute matters of law or legal
conclusions, or summaries of the contracts, agreement instruments, leases or
licenses referred to therein, constitute a fair summary of those matters, legal
conclusions, contracts, agreement instruments, leases or licenses and include
all material terms thereof as applicable;
(14) the Registration Statement is effective under
the Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been
made in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or threatened or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, are
contemplated by the Commission;
(15) the registration statement originally filed with
respect to the Securities and each amendment thereto and the Prospectus (in each
case, other than the financial statements
19
and schedules and other financial and statistical information contained therein,
as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder; and
(16) the Company is not an "investment company" as
defined in Section 3(a) of the Investment Company Act and, if the Company
conducts its business as set forth in the Prospectus, it will not become an
"investment company" and will not be required to register under the Investment
Company Act; and
(d) Intentionally left blank.
20
(e). A. At the time this Agreement is executed, the
Representative shall have received a letter, dated such date, addressed to the
Underwriters in form and substance satisfactory (including the non-material
nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below)
in all respects to the Representative and Representative's counsel, from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., P.C. and ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇:
i. confirming that they are independent certified
public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and
the applicable Rules and Regulations;
ii. stating that it is their opinion that the
financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and that the
Representative may rely upon the opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., P.C.
and ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ with respect to the financial statements included in the
Registration Statement;
21
iii. stating that, on the basis of a limited review
which included a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial
statements of the Company, a reading of the latest available minutes of the
stockholders and board of directors and the various committees of the boards of
directors of the Company, consultations with officers and other employees of the
Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified
procedures and inquiries (which, as to the interim financial statements included
in the Registration Statement, shall constitute a review as described in SAS No.
71, Interim Financial Statements), nothing has come to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
Co., P.C.'s attention which would lead them to believe that (A) the unaudited
financial statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement do
not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations or are not fairly
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on
a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial statements
of the Company included in the Registration Statement, or (B) at a specified
date not more than five (5) days prior to the Effective Date, there has been any
change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company, or any decrease in
the stockholders' equity or net current assets or net assets of the Company as
compared with amounts shown in the June 30, 1998 consolidated balance sheet
included in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or
contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any change or
decrease, setting forth the amount of such change or decrease, and (C) during
the period from June 30, 1998 to a specified date not more than five (5) days
prior to the Effective Date, there was any decrease (increase) in net revenues,
net income (loss) or in net earnings (loss) per common share of the Company, in
each case as compared with the corresponding period ending June 30, 1997, other
than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there
was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease (increase);
iv. setting forth, at a date not later than five (5)
days prior to the Effective Date, the amount of liabilities of the Company;
v. stating that they have compared specific dollar
amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and
other financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the
Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages,
statements and information may be derived from the general accounting records,
including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions requiring an
interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the application
of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate procedures (which
procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and found them to be in
agreement;
vi. statements as to such other matters incident to
the transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative may request.
B. At the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date,
if any, the Representative shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.,
P.C., and ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ a letter, dated as of the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, to the effect that they reaffirm that
statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection A. of this
22
Section 7(e), except that the specified date referred to shall be a date not
more than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, and, if the Company has elected to rely on Rule 430A of the
Rules and Regulations, to the further effect that they have carried out
procedures as specified in clause (v) of subsection A of this Section 7(e) with
respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information as specified
by the Representative and deemed to be a part of the Registration Statement
pursuant to Rule 430A(b) and have found such amounts, percentages and financial
information to be in agreement with the records specified in such clause (v).
(f) The representations and warranties of the Company
contained in this Agreement shall be true and correct as if made on and as of
the Firm Closing Date; the Registration Statement shall not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the Firm Closing Date, shall not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and the Company shall
have performed all covenants and agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Firm Closing Date.
(g) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto shall have been issued, and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or threatened or
contemplated by the Commission.
(h) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have
been any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change, in the business, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings or prospects of the Company, except in each case as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(i) The Underwriters shall have received a certificate, dated
the Firm Closing Date, of the Chief Executive Officer and the Secretary of the
Company to the effect set forth in subparagraphs (f) through (h) above.
(j) The Common Stock shall be qualified in such jurisdictions
as the Underwriters may reasonably request pursuant to section 4(c), and each
such qualification shall be in effect and not subject to any stop order or other
proceeding on the Firm Closing Date.
(k) The Company shall have executed and delivered to the
Underwriters the Representative's Warrant Agreement and a certificate or
certificates evidencing the Representative's Warrant, in each case in a form
acceptable to the Underwriters.
(l) The Underwriters shall have received Lock-up Agreements
executed by the persons listed on Schedule 2 annexed hereto.
23
(m) The Underwriters shall have received on each Closing Date
a certificate from Selling Shareholders on such Closing Date to the affect that,
and the Underwriters shall be satisfied that, the representations and warranties
of Selling Shareholders contained in this Agreement are true and correct as if
made on and as of such Closing Date, and that Selling Shareholders have complied
with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on their part to be complied
with or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date.
(n) The Selling Shareholders shall have delivered to the
Underwriters on or prior to the date hereof fully executed Custody Agreements.
Selling Shareholders shall also agree and consent to the entry of stop transfer
instructions with the Company's transfer agent against the transfer of shares
held by Selling Shareholders, except in compliance with the Custody Agreement
and this Agreement.
(o) On or before the Firm Closing Date, the Underwriters and
counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such further certificates,
documents, letters or other information as they may have reasonably requested
from the Company, the Selling Shareholders, and other security holders of the
Company.
All opinions, certificates, letters and documents delivered pursuant to
this Agreement will comply with the provisions hereof only if they are
reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Underwriters and counsel
for the Underwriters. The Company shall furnish to the Underwriters such
conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents in such
quantities as the Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably
request.
The obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for any Option
Shares shall be subject, in its discretion, to each of the foregoing conditions
to purchase the Firm Securities, except that all references to the Firm
Securities and the Firm Closing Date shall be deemed to refer to such Option
Shares and the related Option Closing Date, respectively.
8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Underwriters, Selling Shareholders and each person, if any, who controls the
Underwriters or Selling Shareholders within the meaning of section 15 of the Act
or section 20 of the 1934 Act against any losses, claims, damages, or
liabilities, joint or several, to which the Underwriters, Selling Shareholders
or such controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon:
(1) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of any material fact contained in (A) the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other document, or any amendment
or supplement thereto, executed by the Company or based upon written information
furnished by or on behalf of the Company filed in any jurisdiction in order to
qualify the Securities under the Blue Sky or securities laws thereof or filed
with the Commission or any
24
securities association or securities exchange (each an "Application"), or
(2) the omission or alleged omission to state in such
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and will reimburse, as incurred, the Underwriters and
such controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
the Underwriters or such controlling person in connection with investigating,
defending against or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any
loss, claim, damage, liability, action, investigation, litigation or proceeding;
provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made in such registration statement or any amendment thereto, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
or any Application in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by the Underwriters specifically for use therein. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have. The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the
Underwriters, or controlling person, settle or compromise or consent to the
entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether
or not the Underwriters or any person who controls the Underwriters within
the meaning of section 15 of the Act or section 20 of the 1934 Act is a party to
such claim, action, suit or proceeding), unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes an unconditional release of the Underwriters and each such
controlling person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
proceeding.
25
(b) The Underwriters will indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration
Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of section 15 of the Act or section 20 of the Exchange Act against, any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such director,
officer, or controlling person may become subject under the Act or otherwise,
but only insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application, or (ii) the omission
or the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
in the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any
Application, 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 reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Underwriters specifically for use therein; and, subject to the limitation set
forth immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as incurred, any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director,
officer or controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or any action in respect thereof. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Underwriters
may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
section 8 of notice
26
of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this section
8, notify the indemnifying party 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 otherwise than under this section 8. In
case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies
the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will
be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however,
that 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 there may be one or more legal defenses available to it and/or other
indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to
the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party shall not have the right to
direct the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties
and such indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate
counsel to defend such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties.
After notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof and approval by such indemnified party
of counsel appointed to defend such action, the indemnifying party will not be
liable to such indemnified party under this section 8 for any legal or other
expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, 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 or (ii) the indemnifying party has
authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of
the indemnifying party. After such notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party, the indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and
expenses of any settlement of such action effected by such indemnified party
without the consent of the indemnifying party.
(d) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided
for in the preceding paragraphs of this section 8 is unavailable or insufficient
to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), each indemnifying party, in
order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on
the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided
by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof). The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total proceeds from the offering (net of underwriting discounts and commissions
but before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The
relative fault of the parties 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
27
Company or the Underwriters, the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission,
and the other equitable considerations appropriate in the circumstances. The
Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be equitable if the amount
of such contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation or by
any other method of allocation that does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (d).
Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph (d), the Underwriters
shall not be obligated to make contributions hereunder that in the aggregate
exceeding the total public offering price of the Securities purchased by the
Underwriters under this Agreement, less the aggregate amount of any damages that
the Underwriters have otherwise been required to pay in respect of the same or
any substantially similar claim, and no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of section 11 (f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who is not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who
controls an Underwriter within the meaning of section 15 of the Act or section
20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Underwriters, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who
signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of section 15 of the Act or section 20 of the 1934
Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
9. Substitution of Underwriters.
If any Underwriter shall for any reason not permitted hereunder cancel
its obligations to purchase the Firm Securities hereunder, or shall fail to take
up and pay for the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite names in
Schedule 1 hereto upon tender of such Firm Securities in accordance with the
terms hereof, then:
(a) If the aggregate number of Firm Securities which such
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase does not exceed 10% of
the total number of Firm Securities, the other Underwriter shall be obligated to
purchase the Firm Securities which such defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed
to purchase.
(b) If any Underwriter so defaults and the agreed number of
Firm Securities with respect to which such default or defaults occurs is more
than 10% of the total number of Firm Securities, the remaining Underwriter shall
have the right to take up and pay for the Firm Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase. If such remaining Underwriter does
not, at the Firm Closing Date, take up and pay for the Firm Securities which the
defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase, the time for delivery of
the Firm Securities shall be extended to the next business day to allow the
remaining Underwriter the privilege of substituting within twenty-four hours
(including nonbusiness hours) another underwriter or underwriters satisfactory
to the Company. If no such underwriter or underwriters shall have been
substituted as aforesaid, within such twenty-four hour period, the time of
delivery of the Firm Securities may, at the option of the Company, be again
extended to the next following business day, if necessary, to allow the Company
the privilege of finding within twenty-four hours (including nonbusiness hours)
another underwriter or underwriters to purchase the Firm Securities which the
defaulting Underwriter
28
or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase. If it shall be arranged for the
remaining Underwriter or substituted Underwriters to take up the Firm Securities
of the defaulting Underwriter as provided in this section, (i) the Company or
the underwriter shall have the right to postpone the time of delivery for a
period of not more than seven business days, in order to effect whatever changes
may thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
or in any other document or arrangements, and the Company agrees promptly to
file any amendments to the Registration Statement or supplements to the
Prospectus which may thereby be made necessary, and (ii) the respective numbers
of Firm Securities to be purchased by the remaining Underwriters or substituted
Underwriters shall be taken as the basis of the underwriting obligation for all
purposes of this agreement.
If in the event of a default by any Underwriter and the remaining
Underwriter shall not take up and pay for all the Firm Securities agreed to be
purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or substitute another underwriter or
underwriters as aforesaid, the Company shall not find or shall not elect to seek
another underwriter or underwriters for such Firm Securities as aforesaid, then
this Agreement shall terminate.
If, following exercise of the option provided in Section 3(c) hereof,
any Underwriter or Underwriters shall for any reason not permitted hereunder
cancel their obligations to purchase Option Shares at the Option Closing Date,
or shall fail to take up and pay for the number of Option Shares, which it
became obligated to purchase at the Option Closing Date upon tender of such
Option Shares in accordance with the terms hereof, then the remaining
Underwriters or substituted Underwriters may take up and pay for the Option
Shares of the defaulting Underwriters in the manner provided in Section 9(b)
hereof. If the remaining Underwriters or substituted Underwriters shall not take
up and pay for all such Option Shares, the Underwriters shall be entitled to
purchase the number of Option Shares for which there is no default or, at their
election, the option shall terminate, the exercise thereof shall be of no
effect.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section. In the event of termination,
there shall be no liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter to the
Company, provided that the provisions of this Section 9 shall not in any event
affect the liability of any defaulting Underwriter to the Company arising out of
such default.
10. Survival. The respective representations, warranties, agreements,
covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company, any of its officers
or directors and the Underwriter set forth in this Agreement or made by or on
behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of
the Company, any of its officers or directors, the Underwriter or any
controlling person referred to in section 8 hereof and (ii) delivery of and
payment for the Securities. The respective agreements, covenants, indemnities
and other statements set forth in sections 5 and 8 hereof shall remain in full
force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this
Agreement.
29
11. Termination.
(a) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Firm
Securities or any Option Shares in the sole discretion of the Underwriter by
notice to the Company given prior to the Firm Closing Date or the related Option
Closing Date, respectively, in the event that the Company shall have failed,
refused or been unable to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on
its part to be performed or satisfied under Section 7 hereunder at or prior
thereto or if at or prior to the Firm Closing Date or such Option Closing Date,
respectively:
(1) the Company sustains a loss by reason of
explosion, fire, flood, accident or other calamity, which, in the opinion of the
Underwriter, substantially affects the value of the properties of the Company or
which materially interferes with the operation of the business of the Company
regardless of whether such loss shall have been insured; there shall have been
any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change (including, without limitation, a change in management or control
of the Company), in the business, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings or prospects of the Company, except in each case as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement thereto);
(2) any action, suit or proceeding shall be
threatened, instituted or pending, at law or in equity, against the Company, by
any person or by any federal, state, foreign or other governmental or regulatory
commission, board or agency wherein any unfavorable result or decision could
materially adversely affect the business, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings or prospects of the Company;
(3) trading in the Common Stock shall have been
suspended by the Commission, the NASD or on Nasdaq, or trading in securities
generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or minimum or
maximum prices shall have been established on either such exchange or quotation
system;
(4) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by
New York or United States authorities;
(5) there shall have been (A) an outbreak of
hostilities between the United States and any foreign power (or, in the case of
any ongoing hostilities, a material escalation thereof), (B) an outbreak of any
other insurrection or armed conflict involving the United States or (C) any
other calamity or crisis or material change in financial, political or economic
conditions, having an effect on the financial markets that, in any case referred
to in this clause (5), in the sole judgment of the Underwriter makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery
of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement;
(6) termination of this Agreement pursuant to this
section 10 shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except as
provided in section 5(b) and section 8 hereof.
30
12. Information Supplied by the Underwriter. The statements set forth
in the first paragraph on page ___ , (as to the underwriting commitment of each
Underwriter) and the _____ and _______ paragraphs under the heading
"Underwriting" in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (to the extent
such statements relate to the Underwriter) constitute the only information
furnished by the Underwriter to the Company for the purposes of section 8(a)
hereof. The Underwriter confirms that such statements (to such extent) are
correct.
13. Notices. All notice hereunder to or upon either party hereto shall
be deemed to have been duly given for all purposes if in writing and (i)
delivered in person or by messenger or an overnight courier service against
receipt, or (ii) send by certified or registered mail, postage paid, return
receipt requested, or (iii) sent by telegram, facsimile, telex or similar means,
provided that a written copy thereof is sent on the same day by postage paid
first-class mail, to such party at the following address:
To the Company: Rolling Pin Kitchen Emporium, Inc.
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
To the Representative: Nutmeg Company, Ltd.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Attn: Managing Director -
Corporate Finance Department
Fax: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
or such other address as either party hereto may at any time, or from time to
time, direct by notice given to the other party in accordance with this section.
The date of giving of any such notice shall be, in the case of clause (i), the
date of the receipt; in the case of clause (ii), five business days after such
notice or demand is sent; and, in the case of clause (iii), the business day
next following the date such notice is sent.
14. Amendment. Except as otherwise provided herein, no amendment of
this Agreement shall be valid or effective, unless in writing and signed by or
on behalf of the parties hereto.
15. Waiver. No course of dealing or omission or delay on the part of
either party hereto in asserting or exercising any right hereunder shall
constitute or operate as a waiver of any such right. No waiver of any provision
hereof shall be effective, unless in writing and signed by or on behalf of the
party to be charged therewith. No waiver shall be deemed a continuing waiver or
31
waiver in respect of any other or subsequent breach or default, unless expressly
so stated in writing.
16. Applicable Law. This agreement shall be governed by, and
interpreted and enforced in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York
without regard to principles of choice of law or conflict of laws.
17. Jurisdiction. Each of the parties hereto hereby irrevocably
consents and submits to the exclusive jurisdiction of the Supreme Court of the
State of New York and the United States District Court for the Southern District
of New York in connection with any suit, action or other proceeding arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby, waives
any objection to venue in the County of New York, State of New York, or such
District and agrees that service of any summons, complaint, notice or other
process relating to such suit, action or other proceeding may be effected in the
manner provided by clause (ii) of Section 13.
18. Remedies. In the event of any actual or prospective breach or
default by either party hereto, the other party shall be entitled to equitable
relief, including remedies in the nature of rescission, injunction and specific
performance. All remedies hereunder are cumulative and not exclusive, and
nothing herein shall be deemed to prohibit or limit either party from pursuing
any other remedy or relief available at law or in equity for such actual or
prospective breach or default, including the recovery of damages.
19. Attorneys' Fees. The prevailing party in any suit, action or other
proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby, shall be entitled to recover its costs and reasonable
attorneys' fees.
20. Severability. The provisions hereof are severable and in the event
that any provision of this Agreement shall be determined to be invalid or
unenforceable in any respect by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining
provisions hereof shall not be affected, but shall, subject to the discretion of
such court, remain in full force and effect, and any invalid or unenforceable
provision shall be deemed, without further action on the part of the parties
hereto, amended and limited to the extent necessary to render the same valid and
enforceable.
21. Counterparts. This agreement may be executed in counterparts, each
of which shall be deemed an original and which together shall constitute one and
the same agreement.
22. Successors. This agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the Underwriter, the Company and their respective successors and
assigns. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall
be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or
claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained,
this Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof being intended to be and
being for the sole and exclusive benefit of such persons and for the benefit of
no other person except that (i) the indemnities of the Company contained in
section 8 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of any person or
persons who control any Underwriter within the meaning of section 15 of the Act
or section 20 of the Exchange Act and (ii) the indemnities of the Underwriter
contained in
32
section 8 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of
the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Registration
Statement and any person or persons who control the Company within the meaning
of section 15 of the Act or section 20 of the Exchange Act. No purchaser of
Securities from the Underwriter shall be deemed a successor because of such
purchase.
23. Titles and Captions. The titles and captions of the articles and
sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and do not in
any way define or interpret the intent of the parties or modify or otherwise
affect any of the provisions hereof.
24. Grammatical Conventions. Whenever the context so requires, each
pronoun or verb used herein shall be construed in the singular or the plural
sense and each capitalized term defined herein and each pronoun used herein
shall be construed in the masculine, feminine or neuter sense.
25. References. The terms "herein," "hereto," "hereof," "hereby," and
"hereafter," and other terms of similar import, refer to this Agreement as a
whole, and not to any Article, Section or other part hereof.
26. Entire Agreement. This Agreement embodies the entire agreement of
the parties hereto with respect to the subject matter hereof and supersedes any
prior agreement, commitment or arrangement relating thereto.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please
indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this letter shall constitute an agreement binding the Company and the
Underwriter.
Very truly yours,
ROLLING PIN KITCHEN EMPORIUM, INC.
By:
----------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: President
The foregoing agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.
NUTMEG SECURITIES, LTD.
as representative of the several underwriters listed
on Schedule l annexed hereto
By:
--------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
33
Title: Director Investment Banking
34
Schedule 1
Underwriter Number of Shares
35
SCHEDULE 2
SHAREHOLDER LOCK UP PERIOD
36