EXHIBIT 1.1
Draft of January 26, 2000
Underwriting Agreement
__________, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
CIBC World Markets Corp.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of [___] shares (the "Firm Shares")
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of its Common Stock, par value $.001 per share (the "Common Shares"). In
addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up
to an additional [___] Common Shares (the "Option Shares") as provided in
Section 2. The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised,
the Option Shares are collectively called the "Shares". FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC and CIBC World Markets Corp. have each
agreed to act as Representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity,
the "Representatives") in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
The Shares to be sold by FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. pursuant to the
Directed Share Program as described in the Registration Statement are referred
to hereinafter as the "Directed Shares." Any Directed Shares not orally
confirmed for purchase by any participants by the end of the business day on
which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the
Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-____), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with the
public offering and sale of the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended,
including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form
in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of
1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the
"Securities Act"), including any information deemed to be a part thereof at the
time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the Securities
Act, is called the "Registration Statement". Any registration statement filed by
the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the "Rule
462(b) Registration Statement", and from and after the date and time of filing
of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term "Registration Statement"
shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the
form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Shares, is called
the "Prospectus"; provided, however, if the Company has, with the consent of
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., elected to rely upon Rule 434 under the
Securities Act, the term "Prospectus" shall mean the Company's prospectus
subject to completion (each, a "preliminary prospectus") dated ________, 2000
(such preliminary prospectus is called the "Rule 434 preliminary prospectus"),
together with the applicable term sheet (the "Term Sheet") prepared and filed by
the Company with the Commission under Rules 434 and 424(b) under the Securities
Act and all references in this Agreement to the date of the Prospectus shall
mean the date of the Term Sheet. All references in this Agreement to the
Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or the Term Sheet, or any amendments or supplements
to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the
Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
System ("▇▇▇▇▇").
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as
follows:
Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement
and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied to the
Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or
supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect
and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the
Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in
all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic
transmission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇ (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T
under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares. Each
of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at all
subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times, did not and
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding
sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective
amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto,
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly
for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to be
described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has
delivered to the Representatives three complete conformed copies of the
Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a
part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without
exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus, as
2.
amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the
Representatives have reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not
distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second Closing
Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters' distribution of
the Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of
the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the
Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification
hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by
general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Shares. The Shares to be purchased by the
Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale
pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company
pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been
duly waived.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of
which information given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material
adverse change, or any development known to the Company that could reasonably be
expected to result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not
arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company
(any such change or effect, where the context so requires, is called a "Material
Adverse Change" or a "Material Adverse Effect"); (ii) the Company has not
incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent,
not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material transaction
or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no
dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company,
except for dividends paid to the Company, on any class of capital stock or
repurchase or redemption by the Company of any class of capital stock.
(h) Independent Accountants. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, who have expressed their
opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in this
Agreement includes the related notes thereto) filed with the Commission as a
part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus, are
independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities
Act.
(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included
in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and
cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied
in the United States, applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved, except as may
3.
be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial statements
or supporting schedules are required to be included in the Registration
Statement. The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
"Summary--Summary Selected Financial Data", "Selected Financial Data" and
"Capitalization" fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the
Registration Statement.
(j) Company's Accounting System. The Company maintains a system of
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences. The pro forma consolidated financial statements of
the Company and the related notes thereto included under the caption "Prospectus
Summary -- Pro Forma Consolidated Selected Financial Data," "Pro Forma
Consolidated Selected Financial Data" and elsewhere in the Prospectus and in the
Registration Statement present fairly the information contained therein, have
been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules and guidelines with
respect to pro forma financial statements and have been properly presented on
the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof
are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect
to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein. No other pro forma
financial information is required to be included in the Registration Statement
pursuant to Regulation S-X.
(k) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity.
(l) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been
duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability
company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction
in which it is organized with full corporate power and authority to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the prospectus, and is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under
the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such qualification.
(m) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued
and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus
under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent issuances, if any,
pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Prospectus or upon exercise
of outstanding options or warrants described in the Prospectus). The Common
Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are
fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and
state securities laws. None of the outstanding Common Shares were issued in
violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no
authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first
refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company other
than those accurately described in the Prospectus. The description of the
Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and
the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth
4.
in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be
shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.
(n) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares have been approved for listing on
the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(o) No Consents, Approvals or Authorizations Required. No consent,
approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained or made under the
Securities Act and such as may be required (i) under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters in the manner contemplated here and in the Prospectus, (ii) by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iii) by the federal and
provincial laws of Canada.
(p) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments Agreements. Neither the
issue and sale of the Shares nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, (i) the
charter or by-laws of the Company, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract,
lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other
agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company is
a party or bound or to which its property is subject or (iii) any statute, law,
rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company of any
court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or
other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties.
(q) No Defaults or Violations. The Company is not in violation or default
of (i) any provision of its charter or by-laws, (ii) the terms of any indenture,
contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or
other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which it is a
party or bound or to which its property is subject or (iii) any statute, law,
rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties, as applicable, except
any such violation or default which would not, singly or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Change except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus.
(r) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental
agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or its
property is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that
(i) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the
performance of this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions
contemplated hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(s) All Necessary Permits, Etc. The Company possesses such valid and
current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state,
federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their
respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-
compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or
in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding,
could result in a Material Adverse Change.
5.
(t) Title to Properties. The Company has good and marketable title to all
the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements
referred to in Section 1(i) above (or elsewhere in the Prospectus), in each case
free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances,
equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and
adversely affect the value of such property and do not materially interfere with
the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such
subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property
held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and
enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not
materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real
property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such
subsidiary.
(u) Tax Law Compliance. The Company has filed all necessary federal, state
and foreign income and franchise tax returns and have paid all taxes required to
be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar
assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them. The Company has made
adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements
referred to in Section 1(i) above in respect of all federal, state and foreign
income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the
Company has not been finally determined. The Company is not aware of any tax
deficiency that has been or might be asserted or threatened against the Company
that could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(v) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company owns or possesses adequate
rights to use all patents, patent rights or licenses, inventions, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which are
necessary to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus; the expiration of any patents, patent rights, trade secrets,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights would not result in a
Material Adverse Change that is not otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus; the
Company has not received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of the Company by others with
respect to any patent, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights; and the Company has not
received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or conflict
with asserted rights of others with respect to any patent, patent rights,
inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or
copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, might have a Material Adverse Change. There is no
claim being made against the Company regarding patents, patent rights or
licenses, inventions, collaborative research, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights. The Company does not in
the conduct of their business as now or proposed to be conducted as described in
the Prospectus infringe or conflict with any right or patent of any third party,
or any discovery, invention, product or process which is the subject of a patent
application filed by any third party, known to the Company, which such
infringement or conflict is reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse
Change.
(w) Year 2000 Preparedness. There are no issues related to the Company's
being Year 2000 compliant that (i) are of a character required to be described
or referred to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus by the Securities Act
which have not been accurately described in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or (ii) might reasonably be expected to result in any Material
Adverse Change or that might materially affect their properties, assets or
rights. All internal computer systems and each Constituent Component (as defined
below) of those systems and all computer-related products and each Constituent
Component (as defined below) of those products of the Company fully comply with
Year 2000 Qualification
6.
Requirements except for such failures to comply which would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect. "Year 2000 Qualifications Requirements" means that the
internal computer systems and each Constituent Component (as defined below) of
those systems and all computer-related products and each Constituent Component
(as defined below) of those products of the Company (i) have been reviewed to
confirm that they store, process (including sorting and performing mathematical
operations, calculations and computations), input and output data containing
date and information correctly regardless of whether the date contains dates and
times after January 1, 2000, (ii) have been designated to ensure date and time
entry recognition and calculations, and date data interface values that reflect
the century, (iii) accurately manage and manipulate data involving dates and
times, including single century formulas and multi-century formulas, and will
not cause an abnormal ending scenario within the application or generate
incorrect values or invalid results involving such dates, (iv) accurately
process any date rollover, and (v) accept and respond to two-digit year date
input in a manner that resolves any ambiguities as to the century. "Constituent
Component" means all software (including operating systems, programs, packages
and utilities), firmware, hardware, networking components, and peripherals
provided as part of the configuration. The Company has inquired of material
vendors as to their Year 2000 compliance and has disclosed in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus any issues that might reasonably be expected to result
in any Material Adverse Change.
(x) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or other
similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company
of the shares.
(y) Company Not an "Investment Company". The Company has been advised of
the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after receipt of
payment for the Shares will not be, an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become
subject to the Investment Company Act.
(z) Insurance. The Company is insured by recognized, financially sound and
reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles
and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate and customary for their
businesses including, but not limited to, policies covering real and personal
property owned or leased by the Company against theft, damage, destruction, acts
of vandalism and earthquakes, general liability and Directors and Officers
liability. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will
not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such
policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions
as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and
at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the
Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has
sought or for which it has applied.
(aa) Labor Matters. To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor
disturbance by the employees of the Company exists or is imminent; and the
Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by the
employees of any of its principal suppliers, value added resellers,
subcontractors, original equipment manufacturers, authorized dealers or
international distributors that might be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change.
7.
(bb) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and
will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be
reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the
price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(cc) Lock-Up Agreements. Each officer and director of the Company, and
each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the outstanding issued share
capital of the Company has agreed to sign an agreement substantially in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A or as otherwise approved by the Representatives or
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counsel to the Representatives (the "Lock-up Agreements"). The Company has
provided to counsel for the Underwriters a complete and accurate list of all
securityholders of the Company and the number and type of securities held by
each securityholder. The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters
true, accurate and complete copies of all of the Lock-up Agreements presently in
effect or effected hereby. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it
will not release any of its officers, directors or other stockholders from any
Lock-up Agreements currently existing or hereafter effected without the prior
written consent of FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
(dd) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or
related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other
person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described
as required.
(ee) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor,
to the best of the Company's knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company,
has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for,
any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character
required to be disclosed in the Prospectus.
(ff) Environmental Laws. (i) The Company is in compliance with all rules,
laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of
toxic substances and protection of health or the environment ("Environmental
Laws") which are applicable to its business, except where the failure to comply
would not result in a Material Adverse Change, (ii) the Company has received no
notice from any governmental authority or third party of an asserted claim under
Environmental Laws, which claim is required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) the Company will not be required to make
future material capital expenditures to comply with Environmental Laws and (iv)
no property which is owned, leased or occupied by the Company has been
designated as a Superfund site pursuant to the Comprehensive Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. (S) 9601, et
--
seq.), or otherwise designated as a contaminated site under applicable state or
---
local law.
(gg) ERISA Compliance. The Company and any "employee benefit plan" (as
defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended,
and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively,
"ERISA")) established or maintained by the Company or their "ERISA Affiliates"
(as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA.
"ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to the Company any member of any group of
organizations described in Sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (the "Code") of which the Company is a member. No
"reportable event" (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably
expected to occur with respect to any "employee benefit plan" established or
maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates. No "employee benefit
plan" established or maintained by the Company or any of its ERISA Affiliates,
if such "employee benefit plan" were terminated, would have any "amount of
unfounded benefit
8.
liabilities" (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company nor any of its ERISA
Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i)
Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any
"employee benefit plan" or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code.
Each "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company or any of
its ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of
the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure
to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(hh) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification
with, any governmental body or agency, other than those obtained, is required in
connection with the offering of the Directed Shares in any jurisdiction where
the Directed Shares are being offered.
(ii) The Company has not offered, or caused FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Inc. to offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with
the specific intent to unlawfully influence a customer or supplier of the
Company.
Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Shares.
(a) The Firm Shares. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several
Underwriters the Firm Shares upon the terms herein set forth. On the basis of
the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the
terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A. The purchase price
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per Firm Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall be
$[___] per share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be purchased by
the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made by the Company and the
Representatives at 6:00 a.m. Seattle time, at the offices of Venture Law Group,
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ (or at such other place as may be agreed
upon among the Representatives and the Company), (i) on the third (3/rd/) full
business day following the first day that Shares are traded, (ii) if this
Agreement is executed and delivered after 1:30 P.M., Seattle time, the fourth
(4/th/) full business day following the day that this Agreement is executed and
delivered or (iii) at such other time and date not later that seven (7) full
business days following the first day that Shares are traded as the
Representatives and the Company may determine (or at such time and date to which
payment and delivery shall have been postponed pursuant to Section 8 hereof),
such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing
Date;" provided, however, that if the Company has not made available to the
Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time provided in Section
2(g) and 3(e) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole discretion,
postpone the Closing Date until no later that two (2) full business days
following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives.
(c) The Option Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition, on the basis
of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the
terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants
an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up
to an aggregate of [___] Option Shares from the Company at the purchase price
per share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option
granted hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-
allotments in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The
option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time upon written notice by the
Representatives to the Company (with a copy to the Company), which notice may be
given at any time within
9.
30 days from the date of this Agreement. The time and date of delivery of the
Option Shares, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is called the "Second
Closing Date" and shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be
earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such
notice of exercise. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter
agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Option Shares
(subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the
Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total
number of Option Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth
on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of
----------
Firm Shares. The Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to its
expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.
(d) Public Offering of the Shares. The Representatives hereby advise the
Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as
described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Shares as soon
after this Agreement has been executed and the Registration Statement has been
declared effective as the Representatives, in their sole judgment, have
determined is advisable and practicable.
(e) Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares shall be made at the
First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the Second Closing Date) by wire
transfer in immediately available-funds to the order of the Company.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for
their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept
delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the
Firm Shares and any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase.
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., individually and not as the Representatives
of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any
Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been
received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such
payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under
this Agreement.
(f) Delivery of the Shares. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered, a credit representing the Firm Shares to an account or accounts at
The Depository Trust Company, as designated by the Representatives for the
accounts of the Representatives and the several Underwriters at the First
Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately
available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company
shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, a credit representing the Option
Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase at the First Closing Date (or
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be), to an account or accounts at The
Depository Trust Company as designated by the Representatives for the accounts
of the Representatives and the several Underwriters, against the irrevocable
release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the
purchase price therefor. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time
and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations
of the Underwriters.
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00 noon
Seattle time on the second business day following the date the Shares are
released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver
or cause to be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such
places as the Representatives shall request.
10.
Section 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company further covenants and
agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Matters. The Company will (i) use its best
efforts to cause a registration statement on Form 8-A (the "Form 8-A
Registration Statement") as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") to become effective simultaneously with the Registration
Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Securities Act is
followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives
containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Securities Act and (iii)
not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act. If
the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act prior to the time
confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2) under the
Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111
under the Securities Act.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. The Company will advise the Representatives
promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment
thereto shall have become effective, (ii) of receipt of any comments from the
Commission, (iii) of any request of the Commission for amendment of the
Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional
information and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of the
Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The
Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as
possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters in endeavoring to qualify the
Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions (both national
and foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to
time, prepare and file such statements, reports and other documents, as are or
may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period
as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act
Matters. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit the
completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement
and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is required by
law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a
result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable opinion of
the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to
amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered
to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend or
supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law,
11.
the Company promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at
its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, an appropriate amendment to
the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus
will comply with the law.
(e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the First Closing Date
or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus
is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery Period"), as many copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may
request.
(f) Insurance. The Company shall (i) obtain Directors and Officers
liability insurance in the minimum amount of $10 million which shall apply to
the offering contemplated hereby and (ii) shall cause FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. to be added as an additional insured to such policy in respect of
the offering contemplated hereby.
(g) Notice of Subsequent Events. If at any time during the ninety (90) day
period after the Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor,
publication or event relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as a
result of which in your opinion the market price of the Company Shares has been
or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor,
publication or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the
Prospectus), the Company will, after written notice from you advising the
Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you
concerning the substance of and disseminate a press release or other public
statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such
rumor, publication or event.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(i) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense,
a registrar and transfer agent for the Company Shares.
(j) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period
ending March 31, 2001 that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act.
(k) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period
the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the Nasdaq
National Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the
Exchange Act.
(l) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. The Company will
not, without the prior written consent of FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.,
for a period of 180 days following the date of the Prospectus, offer, sell or
contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or enter into any transaction which is
designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by
actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or
otherwise by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in
privity
12.
with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or indirectly, or
announce the offering of, any other Common Shares or any securities convertible
into, or exchangeable for, Common Shares; provided, however, that the Company
may (i) issue and sell Common Shares pursuant to any director or employee stock
option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company
in effect at the date of the Prospectus and described in the Prospectus so long
as none of those shares may be transferred on during the period of 180 days from
the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective (the "Lock-Up
Period") and the Company shall enter stop transfer instructions with its
transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of any such Common Shares and
(ii) the Company may issue Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of
securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the date of the Prospectus
and described in the Prospectus.
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five years
hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of
the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for
the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the
Company with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC
or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report
or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital
stock.
(n) The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer
orders on any Directed Shares that have been sold to participants subject to the
three month restriction on sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation
imposed by NASD Regulation, Inc. under its Interpretative Material 2110-1 on
free-riding and withholding to the extent necessary to ensure compliance with
the three month restrictions.
(o) The Company will comply with all applicable securities and other
applicable laws, rules and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the
Directed Shares are offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.
(p) The Company will pay all reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
incurred by the Underwriters in connection with the directed Shares Program and
stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.
Section 4. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as
provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company set forth in Section 1
hereof as of the date hereof and as of the First Closing Date as though then
made and, with respect to the Option Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as
though then made, to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and
other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection
from the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC. The Registration
Statement shall have become effective prior to the execution of this Agreement,
or at such later date as shall be
13.
consented to in writing by you; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness
thereof shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have
been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company or any Underwriter,
threatened by the Commission, and any request of the Commission for additional
information (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
otherwise) shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of Underwriters'
Counsel; and the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC shall have
raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms
and arrangements.
(b) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal
matters in connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and
delivery of the Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters'
Counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and
information as they may reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon
the matters referred to in this Section.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change
in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company from that set forth in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse
and that makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to
proceed with the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion
of Venture Law Group, A Professional Corporation, counsel for the Company,
substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, dated the First Closing
---------
Date, or the Second Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and with
reproduced copies or signed counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
Counsel rendering the opinion contained in Exhibit B may rely as to
---------
questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the State of
Washington and general corporate law of the State of Delaware upon opinions of
local counsel, and as to questions of fact upon representations or certificates
of officers of the Company, and of government officials, in which case their
opinion is to state that they are so relying and that they have no knowledge of
any material misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or
certificate. Copies of any opinion, representation or certificate so relied
upon shall be delivered to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, and to
Underwriters' Counsel.
(e) Opinion of Patent Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Will & ▇▇▇▇▇, patent counsel for the Company substantially
in the form of Exhibit C attached hereto.
---------
(f) Opinion of Trademark Counsel for the Company. You shall have received
on the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of Visomark Law Group, PLLC for the Company substantially in the form of
Exhibit D attached hereto.
---------
(g) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Phleger & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, substantially in the form of Exhibit
-------
E hereto. The Company shall have
-
14.
furnished to such counsel such documents as they may have requested for the
purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(h) Accountants' Comfort Letter. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First Closing Date
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, confirming that they are
independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company and
▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and
Regulations and based upon the procedures described in such letter delivered to
you concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (herein called the
"Original Letter"), but carried out to a date not more than four (4) business
days prior to the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, (i) confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set
forth in the Original Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions
and additions to the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter
which are necessary to reflect any changes in the facts described in the
Original Letter since the date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of
more recent financial statements, data or information. The letter shall not
disclose any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and ▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇
considered as one enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that
makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus. The
Original Letter from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP shall be addressed to or for the use of
the Underwriters in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters and
shall (i) represent, to the extent true, that they are independent certified
public accountants with respect to the Company and ▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ within the meaning
of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations, (ii) set forth
their opinion with respect to their examination of the consolidated balance
sheet of the Company and ▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ as of December 31, 1999 and related
consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and cash flows for
the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 1999, (iii) state that in the course
of such review, nothing came to their attention that leads them to believe that
any material modifications need to be made to any of the Quarterly Financial
Statements in order for them to be in compliance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied across the periods presented, and
address other matters agreed upon by ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP and you. In addition,
you shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP a letter addressed to the
Company and ▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇ and made available to you for the use of the Underwriters
stating that their review of the Company's and ▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇'s systems of internal
accounting controls, to the extent they deemed necessary in establishing the
scope of their examination of the Company's and ▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇'s consolidated
financial statements as of December 31, 1999, did not disclose any weaknesses in
internal controls that they considered to be material weaknesses.
(i) Officers' Certificate. You shall have received on the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the
Company, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct, as if made on and as of the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has complied with
all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be;
15.
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto
contained all material information required to be included therein by the
Securities Act and in all material respects conformed to the requirements
of the Securities Act, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and
any amendments or supplements thereto, did not and does not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading; and, since the effective date of the Registration
Statement, there has occurred no event required to be set forth in an
amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been so set forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been (a) any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company, (b)
any transaction that is material to the Company, except transactions
entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c) any obligation, direct
or contingent, that is material to the Company, incurred by the Company,
except obligations incurred in the ordinary course of business, (d) any
change in the capital stock or outstanding indebtedness of the Company that
is material to the Company, (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made on the capital stock of the Company, or (f) any loss
or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company which has
been sustained or will have been sustained which has a material adverse
effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company.
(j) Lock-up Agreement from Certain Stockholders of the Company. The
Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto or as otherwise approved by the
---------
Representatives or counsel to the Representatives from each officer and director
of the Company, and each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the
outstanding issued share capital of the Company.
(k) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares shall have been approved for
listing on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of
issuance.
(l) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Company shall
have complied with the provisions of Sections 2(g) and 3(e) hereof with respect
to the furnishing of Prospectuses.
(m) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date and
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives and counsel for
the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions as
they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence
the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the satisfaction
of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
16.
If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied when and
as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the First
Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, at any time prior to the
Second Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of
any party to any other party, except that Section 5 (Payment of Expenses),
Section 6 (Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses), Section 7 (Indemnification
and Contribution) and Section 10 (Representations and Indemnities to Survive
Delivery) shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 5. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations
hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including
without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the
Common Shares (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and
expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common Stock, (iii) all
necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the
Company's counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other
advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration
Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and
certificates of experts), each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and
all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing
fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters
in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the
qualification or registration of) all or any part of the Shares for offer and
sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities
laws of Canada or any other country, and, if requested by the Representatives,
preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey", an "International Blue Sky Survey"
or other memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of
such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees
incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
LLC review and approval of the Underwriters' participation in the offering and
distribution of the Common Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses associated with
listing the Common Shares on the Nasdaq National Market, (ix) all costs and
expenses incident to the preparation and undertaking of "road show" preparations
to be made to prospective investors, and (x) all other fees, costs and expenses
referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except as
provided in this Section 5, Section 6, and Section 7 hereof, the Underwriters
shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their
counsel.
Section 6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If this Agreement is
terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4, Section 7, Section 8,
Section 9, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares on the First Closing
Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part
of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision
hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other
Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with
respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses
that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the
Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale
of the Shares, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel,
printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
17.
Section 7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, and each person,
if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as
incurred, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may become
subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state
statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written
consent of the Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld),
insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information
deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the
Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
of a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii)
in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of
the Company contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of
the Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any act or
failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in
connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the offering
contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any
loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any matter
covered by clause (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above, provided that the Company
shall not be liable under this clause (v) to the extent that a court of
competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or
failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through
its bad faith or willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each
such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person
in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however,
that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out
of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use in
the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto); and provided, further, that with respect to
any preliminary prospectus, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to
the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense purchased Shares, or any person controlling such
Underwriter, if copies of the Prospectus were timely delivered to the
Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended
or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter
to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the
written confirmation of the sale of the Shares to such person, and if the
Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving
rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense. The indemnity agreement
set forth in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the
Company may otherwise have.
18.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such
director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or
at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such
settlement is effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any
such director, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense
reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling
person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or
paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The indemnity
agreement set forth in this Section 7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities
that each Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Information Provided by the Underwriters. The Company hereby
acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to
the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the
statements set forth in the table in the first paragraph, the second paragraph,
the third paragraph and the forth paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" in
the Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such statements are correct.
(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 or to the extent it is not
prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or
intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect,
jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written
notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid
notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to
assume such legal
19.
defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of
such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying party's election so to
assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of
counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party
under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the
indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the
proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying
party (FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. in the case of Section 7(b) and
Section 8), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such
action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within
a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) the
indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified
party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees
and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with
such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by Section 7(d) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days
after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or
threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable
law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable
by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as
20.
the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company bears to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received
by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of
the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the
other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(f) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7(f). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in
this Section 7(f) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating
or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
subsection (f), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares
purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person with respect to such
fraudulent misrepresentation who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this Section 7(f) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(g) Timing of Any Payments of Indemnification. Any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are incurred, but in all cases, no later than thirty
(30) days of invoice to the indemnifying party.
(h) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 and the representation and warranties of the Company set forth in this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i)
any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person
controlling any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any
persons controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment
therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to
any Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, or any person
controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity,
contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 7.
(i) Acknowledgements of Parties. The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by
counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to
investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure is made in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
21.
(j) Indemnification for Directed Share Program. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. and its
affiliates and each person, if any, who controls FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Inc. or its affiliates within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act ("FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Entities"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) (i)
caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for
distribution to participants in connection with the Directed Share Program, or
caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any participant to pay for and accept
delivery of Directed Shares that the participant has agreed to purchase; or
(iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share
Program other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating
thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have resulted form the bad
faith or gross negligence of FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities.
In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(k), the
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity seeking indemnity shall promptly notify
the Company in writing and the Company, upon request of the ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Entity, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the FleetBoston
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity to represent the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity
and any other the Company may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the
fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity shall have the right to
retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at
the expense of such FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity unless (i) the Company
shall have agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to
any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Company
and the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity and representation of both parties
by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing
interests between them. The Company shall not, in respect of the legal expenses
of the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities in connection with any proceeding
or related proceedings the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for
all FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities. Any such firm for the FleetBoston
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities shall be designated in writing by FleetBoston
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇. The Company shall not be liable for any settlement of any
proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the Company agrees to
indemnify the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities from and against any loss
or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the
foregoing sentence, if at any time a FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity shall
have requested the Company to reimburse it for fees and expenses of counsel as
contemplated by the second and third sentences of this paragraph, the Company
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30
days after receipt by the Company of the aforesaid request and (ii) the Company
shall not have reimbursed the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity in
accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. The Company
shall not, without the prior written consent of FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of
which any FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity is or could have been a party
and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity, unless such
22.
settlement includes an unconditional release of the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of
such proceeding.
To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 7(k) is
unavailable to a FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then
the Company, in lieu of indemnifying the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity
thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the FleetBoston
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand from the offering of the Directed Shares or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) of this paragraph above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) of this paragraph above but
also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the FleetBoston
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand in connection with the statements
or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and of the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
Directed Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the
net proceeds from the offering of the Directed Shares (before deducting
expenses) and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities for the Directed Shares, bear to the
aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. If the loss, claim, damage or
liability is caused by an untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact,
the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement or the omission or
alleged omission relates to information supplied by the Company or by the
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.
The Company and the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities agree that
it would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(k)
were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in paragraph three of this Section 7(k). The amount paid or payable
by the FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the BanclBoston
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entities in connection with investigating or defending any
such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7(k), no
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity shall be required to contribute any amount
in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Directed Shares
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages that such FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission. The remedies provided for in this Section 7(k) are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity at law or in equity.
The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section
7(k) shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any
termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Entity or the
23.
Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and
(iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Directed Shares.
Section 8. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or
more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it
or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number
of Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the
Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated,
severally, in the proportions that the number of Firm Common Shares set forth
opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of
----------
Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the
Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase
the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed
or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail
or refuse to purchase Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to
which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Shares to be
purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and
the Company for the purchase of such Shares are not made within 48 hours after
such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to
any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, and Section 7 shall at
all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case
either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no
event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be deemed to
include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section
8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
Section 9. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the First Closing Date,
this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the
Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company's
securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the
Nasdaq Stock Market or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq
Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on
any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the National Association of
Securities Dealers, LLC; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been
declared by any of federal, New York, Delaware or California authorities; (iii)
there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or
international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United
States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or
development involving a prospective change in United States' or international
political, financial or economic conditions, as in the reasonable judgment of
the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on the terms described
in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in
the reasonable judgment of the Representatives there shall have occurred any
Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a loss by
strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as
in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially with
the conduct of the business and operations of the
24.
Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any
termination pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of
(a) the Company to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated
to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant
to Sections 5 and 6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company, or (c) of any
party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7 shall at
all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set
forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter
or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any
controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
Section 11. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Company:
Loudeye Technologies, Inc.
Times Square
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, President & COO
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
Section 12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant
to Section 9 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and directors
and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and to their respective
successors, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The
term "successors" shall not include any purchaser of the Shares as such from any
of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
Section 13. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability
of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.
If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such
minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid
and enforceable.
25.
Section 14. Governing Law Provisions.
(a) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in such state.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the United
States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the courts
of the State of California in each case located in the City and County of San
Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in
regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related
Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts
and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in the
United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System, which currently
maintains a San Francisco office at ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of America, as its agent to receive service of
process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or
proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City and
County of San Francisco.
(c) Waiver of Immunity. With respect to any Related Proceeding, each party
irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all
immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction,
service of process, attachment (both before and after judgment) and execution to
which it might otherwise be entitled in the Specified Courts, and with respect
to any Related Judgment, each party waives any such immunity in the Specified
Courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction, and will not raise or claim
or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such Related
Proceeding or Related Judgment, including, without limitation, any immunity
pursuant to the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as
amended.
Section 15. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the
parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived
unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.
The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the convenience of
the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.
26.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof,
whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a
binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
Loudeye Technologies, Inc.
By:_______________________________
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted
by the Representatives as of the date first above written.
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP.
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the several underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
----------
By FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
By: _____________________________________________
Authorized Signatory
27.
SCHEDULE A
Number of Firm Common
Underwriters Shares To be Purchased
------------------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC. AND
FLEETBOSTON ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL
INC....................................................... [___]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC........................................... [___]
CIBC WORLD MARKETS CORP......................................... [___]
[___]........................................................... [___]
[___]........................................................... [___]
Total.................................................. [___]
S-A
Exhibit A
Lock-Up Agreement
FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
CIBC World Markets Corp.
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
RE: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc. (the "Company")
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain
shares of Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to
carry out a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") pursuant to a
registration statement to be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Registration Statement") for which you will act as the Representatives
(the "Representatives") of the underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that
the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company
by, among other things, raising additional capital for its operations. The
undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are relying on the
representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in
carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with
the Company with respect to the Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that
the undersigned will not offer to sell, contract to sell, or otherwise sell,
dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to (collectively, a
"Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or warrants to purchase
any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now owned or hereafter
acquired directly by such person or with respect to which such person has or
hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide
gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound
by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or shareholders of such
person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by
the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to dispositions of Common
Shares acquired on the open market, (iv) with respect to sales or purchases of
Common Stock acquired on the open market or (v) with the prior written consent
of FleetBoston ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., for a period commencing on the date
hereof and continuing to a date 180 days after the Registration Statement is
declared effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Lock-up
Period"). The foregoing restriction has been expressly agreed to preclude the
holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which
is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of
Securities during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities would be disposed
of by someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other
transactions would include, without limitation, any short sale (whether or not
against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right (including, without
limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any Securities or with
respect to any security (other than a broad-based market basket or index) that
included, relates to or derives any
A-1
significant part of its value from Securities. The undersigned also agrees and
consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer
agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or Securities
held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned
and the respective successors, heirs, personal Representatives, and assigns of
the undersigned. If the Registration Statement shall not have been declared
effective on or before June 30, 2000, this Lock-Up Agreement shall be of no
further force or effect.
Dated _____________________________________________
___________________________________________________
Printed Name of Holder
By:________________________________________________
Signature
___________________________________________________
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing if signing
as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)
A-2
Exhibit B
Matters to be Covered in the Opinion of Company Counsel
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation;
(ii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus;
(iii) The Company is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing in each jurisdiction, if any, in which
the ownership or leasing of its properties or the conduct of its business
requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or
be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect. To such
counsel's knowledge, the Company does not own or control, directly or
indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity;
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" as of
the dates stated therein, the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid
and nonassessable, and, to such counsel's knowledge, will not have been
issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right,
registration right, right of first refusal or other similar right;
(v) The Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be, to be
issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement have been
duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor in
accordance with the terms hereof, will be duly and validly issued and fully
paid and nonassessable, and will not have been issued in violation of or
subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right, right
of first refusal or other similar right.
(vi) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into this
Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to
be issued and sold by it hereunder;
(vii) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company and has been duly executed and delivered
by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by
you, is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder
may be limited by applicable law and except as enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar
laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles;
(viii) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and,
to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the
Securities Act;
(ix) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A Registration
Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and the Firm Shares
or the Option Shares have been
B-1
validly registered under the Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations
of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder;
(x) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment or
supplement thereto (other than the financial statements (including
supporting schedules) and financial data derived therefrom as to which such
counsel need express no opinion), as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement, complied as to form in all material respects with
the requirements of the Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations;
(xi) The information in the Prospectus under the caption "Description of
Capital Stock," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law or legal
conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is a fair summary of
such matters and conclusions; and the forms of certificates evidencing the
Common Stock and filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement comply
with Delaware law;
(xii) The description in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus of
the charter and bylaws of the Company and of statutes are accurate and
fairly present the information required to be presented by the Securities
Act;
(xiii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no agreements, contracts,
leases or documents to which the Company is a party of a character required
to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which are not
described or referred to therein or filed as required;
(xiv) The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated (other than performance of the Company's
indemnification obligations hereunder, concerning which no opinion need be
expressed) will not (a) result in any violation of the Company's charter or
bylaws or (b) to such counsel's knowledge, result in a material breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any bond, debenture, note or other evidence of indebtedness, or any
lease, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, joint
venture or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the
Company is a party or by which its properties are bound, or any applicable
statute, rule or regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's
knowledge, any order, writ or decree of any court, government or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company, or over
any of its properties or operations;
(xv) No consent, approval, authorization or order of or qualification
with any court, government or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company, or over any of its properties or operations
is necessary in connection with the consummation by the Company of the
transactions herein contemplated, except (i) such as have been obtained or
are required under the Securities Act or Exchange Act, (ii) such as may be
required under state or other securities or Blue Sky laws in connection
with the purchase and the distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters
(as to which we express no opinion), (iii) such as may be required by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iv) such as may be
required under the federal or provincial laws of Canada or other applicable
foreign securities laws;
(xvi) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company of a character
required to be disclosed in
B-2
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus by the Securities Act, other
than those described therein;
(xvii) To such counsel's knowledge, the Company is not presently (a) in
material violation of its respective charter or bylaws, or (b) in material
breach of any applicable statute, rule or regulation known to such counsel
or, to such counsel's knowledge, any order, writ or decree of any court or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or over
any of their properties or operations;
(xviii) To such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, no holders of Company Shares or
other securities of the Company have registration rights with respect to
securities of the Company and, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, all holders of securities of the Company having
rights known to such counsel to registration of such shares of Company
Shares or other securities, because of the filing of the Registration
Statement by the Company have, with respect to the offering contemplated
thereby, waived such rights or such rights have expired by reason of lapse
of time following notification of the Company's intent to file the
Registration Statement or have included securities in the Registration
Statement pursuant to the exercise of and in full satisfaction of such
rights; and
(xix) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and the
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described
in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such term is
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other Representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto (other than the financial statements including supporting schedules and
other financial and statistical information derived therefrom, as to which such
counsel need express no comment) contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or at the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid)
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
B-3
Exhibit C
Matters to be Covered in the Opinion of
Patent Counsel for the Company
Such counsel are familiar with the technology used by the Company in
its business and the manner of its use thereof and have read the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, including particularly the portions of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus referring to patents, trade secrets,
service marks or other proprietary information or materials and:
(i) The Company is listed in the records of the United States Patent and
Trademark Office as the holder of record of the patents listed on a
schedule to such opinion (the "Patents") and each of the applications
listed on a schedule to such opinion (the "Applications"). To the knowledge
of such counsel, there are no claims of third parties to any ownership
interest or lien with respect to any of the Patents or Applications. Such
counsel is not aware of any material defect in form in the preparation or
filing of the Applications on behalf of the Company. To the knowledge of
such counsel, the Applications are being pursued by the Company. To the
knowledge of such counsel, the Company owns as its sole property the
Patents and pending Applications;
(ii) The Company is listed in the records of the appropriate foreign
offices as the sole holder of record of the foreign patents listed on a
schedule to such opinion (the "Foreign Patents") and each of the
applications listed on a schedule to such opinion (the "Foreign
Applications"). Such counsel knows of no claims of third parties to any
ownership interest or lien with respect to the Foreign Patents or Foreign
Applications. Such counsel is not aware of any material defect of form in
the preparation or filing of the Foreign Applications on behalf of the
Company. To the knowledge of such counsel, the Foreign Applications are
being pursued by the Company. To the knowledge of such counsel, the Company
owns as its sole property the Foreign Patents and pending Foreign
Applications;
(iii) Such counsel knows of no reason why the Patents or Foreign Patents
are not valid as issued. Such counsel has no knowledge of any reason why
any patent to be issued as a result of any Application or Foreign
Application would not be valid or would not afford the Company useful
patent protection with respect thereto;
(iv) As to the statements under the captions "Risk Factors -- Dependence
on Patents and Proprietary Rights" and "Business -- Patents and Proprietary
Rights," nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which caused
them to believe that the above-mentioned sections of the Registration
Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto made available and
reviewed by such counsel, at the time the Registration Statement became
effective and at all times subsequent thereto up to and on the Closing Date
and on any later date on which Option Stock are to be purchased, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
and
(v) Such counsel knows of no material action, suit, claim or proceeding
relating to patents, patent rights or licenses, copyrights, collaborative
research, licenses or royalty arrangements or agreements or trade secrets,
know-how or proprietary techniques,
C-1
including processes and substances, owned by or affecting the business or
operations of the Company which are pending or threatened against the
Company or any of its officers or directors.
C-2
Exhibit D
Trademark Counsel for the Company
Such counsel are familiar with the technology used by the Company in
its business and the manner of its use thereof and have read the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, including particularly the portions of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus referring to trademarks, and:
(i) As to the statements under the captions which relate to the trademarks
of the Company "Risk Factors -- Dependence on Patents and Proprietary
Rights" and "Business -- Patents and Proprietary Rights," nothing has come
to the attention of such counsel which caused them to believe that the
above-mentioned sections of the Registration Statement and any amendment or
supplement thereto made available and reviewed by such counsel, at the time
the Registration Statement became effective and at all times subsequent
thereto up to and on the Closing Date and on any later date on which Option
Stock are to be purchased, contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; and
(ii) Such counsel knows of no material action, suit, claim or proceeding
relating to trademarks or trademark rights, owned by or affecting the
business or operations of the Company which are pending or threatened
against the Company or any of its officers or directors.
D-1
Exhibit E
Matters to be Covered in the Opinion of Underwriters' Counsel
(i) The Firm Shares have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and
delivery and payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the
Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-
assessable.
(ii) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to
our knowledge, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto have been
instituted or threatened or are pending under the Act.
(iii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has reviewed the opinions
addressed to the Representatives from Venture Law Group and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Will &
▇▇▇▇▇, each dated the date hereof, and furnished to you in accordance with the
provisions of the Underwriting Agreement. Such opinions appear on their face to
be appropriately responsive to the requirements of the Underwriting Agreement.
We may state, however, that based upon our participation as described
in the preceding paragraph, (i) we confirm that we have no reason to believe
that the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements, including
the notes and schedules thereto, and the other financial and statistical data
included in the Registration Statement, as to which we express no belief), at
the time the Registration Statement became effective, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; and
(ii) we confirm that we have no reason to believe that the Prospectus (other
than the financial statements, including the notes and schedules thereto, and
the other financial and statistical data included in the Prospectus, as to which
we express no belief), on the date hereof, contains any untrue statement of a
material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading.
E-1