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99 CENTS ONLY STORES
(a California corporation)
700,000 Shares of Common Stock
INTERNATIONAL PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated: , 1998
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99 CENTS ONLY STORES
(a California corporation)
700,000 Shares of Common Stock
(No Par Value Per Share)
INTERNATIONAL PURCHASE AGREEMENT
, 1998
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SACHS INTERNATIONAL
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
EVEREN SECURITIES, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
as Lead Managers of the several International Managers
c/o Merrill ▇▇▇▇▇ International
Ropemaker Place
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
99 Cents Only Stores, a California corporation (the "Company") and the
persons listed in Schedule B hereto (the "Selling Shareholders"), confirm
their respective agreements with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ International ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇") and each of the other international underwriters named in Schedule A
hereto (collectively, the "International Managers", which term shall also
include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10
hereof), for whom ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ International, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Inc., EVEREN Securities, Inc. and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. are acting as
representatives (in such capacity, the "Lead Managers"), with respect to the
sale by the Company and the Selling Shareholders, acting severally and not
jointly, and the purchase by the International Managers, acting severally and
not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Common Stock, no par
value per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") set forth in said Schedule
A, and with respect to the grant by the Company and the Selling Shareholders
to
the International Managers, acting severally and not jointly, of the option
described in Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any part of 105,000
additional shares of Common Stock to cover over-allotments, if any. The
aforesaid 700,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Initial International
Securities") to be purchased by the International Managers and all or any
part of the 105,000 shares of Common Stock subject to the option described in
Section 2(b) hereof (the "International Option Securities") are hereinafter
called, collectively, the "International Securities".
It is understood that the Company and the Selling Shareholders are
concurrently entering into an agreement dated the date hereof (the "U.S.
Purchase Agreement") providing for the offering by the Company and the
Selling Shareholders of an aggregate of 2,800,000 shares of Common Stock (the
"Initial U.S. Securities") through arrangements with certain underwriters in
the United States and Canada (the "U.S. Underwriters") for which ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Sachs & Co., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Inc., EVEREN Securities, Inc. and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. are acting as
representatives (the "U.S. Representatives") and the grant by the Company and
the Selling Shareholders to the U.S. Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, of an option to purchase all or any part of the U.S. Underwriters'
pro rata portion of up to 420,000 additional shares of Common Stock solely to
cover over-allotments, if any (the "U.S. Option Securities" and, together
with the International Option Securities, the "Option Securities"). The
Initial U.S. Securities and the U.S. Option Securities are hereinafter called
the "U.S. Securities". It is understood that the Company is not obligated to
sell and the International Managers are not obligated to purchase, any
Initial International Securities unless all of the Initial U.S. Securities
are contemporaneously purchased by the U.S. Underwriters.
The International Managers and the U.S. Underwriters are hereinafter
collectively called the "Underwriters", the Initial International Securities
and the Initial U.S. Securities are hereinafter collectively called the
"Initial Securities", and the International Securities and the U.S.
Securities are hereinafter collectively called the "Securities".
The Underwriters will concurrently enter into an Intersyndicate
Agreement of even date herewith (the "Intersyndicate Agreement") providing
for the coordination of certain transactions among the Underwriters under the
direction of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ International, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated (in such capacity, the "Global Coordinator").
The Company and the Selling Shareholders understand that the
International Managers propose to make a public offering of the International
Securities as soon as the Lead Managers deem advisable after this Agreement
has been executed and delivered.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333- _________ )
covering the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "1933 Act"), including the related preliminary
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prospectus or prospectuses. Promptly after execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Company will either (i) prepare and file a prospectus in
accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A ("Rule 430A") of the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations")
and paragraph (b) of Rule 424 ("Rule 424(b)") of the 1933 Act Regulations or
(ii) if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434 ("Rule 434") of the
1933 Act Regulations, prepare and file a term sheet (a "Term Sheet") in
accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 424(b). Two forms of
prospectus are to be used in connection with the offering and sale of the
Securities: one relating to the International Securities (the "Form of
International Prospectus") and one relating to the U.S. Securities (the "Form
of U.S. Prospectus"). The Form of International Prospectus is identical to
the Form of U.S. Prospectus, except for the front cover and back cover pages
and the information under the caption "Underwriting" and the inclusion in the
Form of International Prospectus of a section under the caption "Certain
United States Tax Considerations for Non-United States Holders." The
information included in any such prospectus or in any such Term Sheet, as the
case may be, that was omitted from such registration statement at the time it
became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration statement
at the time it became effective (a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is
referred to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d) of
Rule 434 is referred to as "Rule 434 Information." Each Form of
International Prospectus and Form of U.S. Prospectus used before such
registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that omitted, as
applicable, the Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information, that was
used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, is herein called a "preliminary prospectus." Such registration
statement, including the exhibits thereto, schedules thereto, if any, and the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
under the 1933 Act, at the time it became effective and including the Rule
430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as applicable, is herein
called the "Registration Statement." Any registration statement filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein referred to as
the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement," and after such filing the term
"Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. The final Form of International Prospectus and the final Form of
U.S. Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein
pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, in the forms first
furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the
Securities are herein called the "International Prospectus" and the "U.S.
Prospectus," respectively, and collectively, the "Prospectuses." If Rule 434
is relied on, the terms "International Prospectus" and "U.S. Prospectus"
shall refer to the preliminary International Prospectus dated _________, 1998
and preliminary U.S. Prospectus dated _______, 1998, respectively, each
together with the applicable Term Sheet and all references in this Agreement
to the date of such Prospectuses shall mean the date of the applicable Term
Sheet. For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the International Prospectus, the U.S.
Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to any of the
foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission
pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system
("▇▇▇▇▇").
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All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus (including the Form of
U.S. Prospectus and Form of International Prospectus) or the Prospectuses (or
other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus (including the Form of U.S. Prospectus and Form of International
Prospectus) or the Prospectuses, as the case may be; and all references in
this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectuses shall be deemed to mean and
include the filing of any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934
(the "1934 Act") which is incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectuses, as the case may
be.
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
(a) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to each International Manager as of the date hereof,
as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each
Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with
each International Manager, as follows:
(1) COMPLIANCE WITH REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS. The Company meets
the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. Each of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and
any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has
been complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became
effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any International Option
Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration
Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments and
supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material respects
with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and
did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither of the
Prospectuses nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the
Prospectuses or any amendments or supplements thereto were issued and at
the Closing Time (and, if any International Option Securities are
purchased, at the Date of Delivery), included or will include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material
fact necessary in order
4
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. If Rule 434 is used, the Company
will comply with the requirements of Rule 434. The representations and
warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Registration Statement or the International
Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company in writing by any International Manager through
the Lead Managers expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the
International Prospectus.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectuses filed as part of the
Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so
filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and each
preliminary prospectus and the Prospectuses delivered to the Underwriters
for use in connection with this offering was identical to the
electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(2) INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS. The documents incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectuses, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together
with the other information in the Prospectuses, at the time the
Registration Statement became effective, at the time the Prospectuses were
issued and at the Closing Time (and, if any International Option Securities
are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), did not and will not contain an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading.
(3) INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS. The accountants who certified the
financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration
Statement are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act
and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(4) FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The consolidated financial statements of
the Company, together with related notes and schedules of the Company
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectuses, are accurate
and present fairly the financial position, results of operations and cash
flows of the Company at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods;
such financial statements have been prepared in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") consistently applied throughout the
periods involved, and all adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of
results for such periods have been made and any unaudited financial
statements have been prepared on a basis substantially consistent with that
of the audited operating financial statements included
5
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectuses; and the summary and
selected financial and operating data included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectuses presents fairly the information shown
therein and have been compiled on a basis consistent with the audited
and any unaudited financial statements, as the case may be, included
therein; and the pro forma information included in the Prospectuses
present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in
accordance with GAAP and the Commission's rules and guidelines with
respect to pro forma financial statements and other pro forma basis
described therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof
are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate under
the circumstances.
(5) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE IN BUSINESS. Since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectuses, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company, whether or
not arising in the ordinary course of business (a "Material Adverse
Effect"), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company,
other than those in the ordinary course of business, which are material
with respect to the Company and (C) except for the stock dividend on the
Common Stock paid on December 1, 1997 described in the Prospectuses, there
has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by
the Company on any class of its capital stock.
(6) GOOD STANDING OF THE COMPANY. The Company has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the State of California and has corporate power and authority
to own and lease its properties and assets and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectuses and to enter into and perform its obligations
under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of
the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except
where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result
in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no subsidiaries and has
never had a subsidiary.
(7) CAPITALIZATION. The authorized, issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectuses in the
column entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, the U.S.
Purchase Agreement or pursuant to employee benefit plans referred to in
the Prospectuses). The shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Company, including the securities to be purchased by the
International Managers from the Selling Shareholders, have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company,
including the securities to be
6
purchased by the International Managers from the Selling Shareholders,
was issued in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any
securityholder of the Company.
(8) AUTHORIZATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement and the U.S. Purchase
Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(9) AUTHORIZATION AND DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES. The Securities to
be purchased by the International Managers and the U.S. Underwriters from
the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the
International Managers pursuant to this Agreement and the U.S. Underwriters
pursuant to the U.S. Purchase Agreement, respectively, and, when issued and
delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement and the U.S. Purchase
Agreement, respectively, against payment of the consideration set forth
herein and the U.S. Purchase Agreement, respectively, will be validly
issued, fully paid and in non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms to all
statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectuses and such
description conforms to the rights set forth in the instruments defining
the same; no holder of the Securities will be subject to personal liability
by reason of being such a holder; and the issuance of the Securities is not
subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of
the Company.
(10) ABSENCE OF DEFAULTS AND CONFLICTS. The Company is not in
violation of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or
observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a
party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the property or
assets of the Company is subject (collectively, "Agreements and
Instruments") except for such defaults that would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, the U.S. Purchase Agreement
and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the
Securities and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as
described in the Prospectuses under the caption "Use of Proceeds") and
compliance by the Company with its obligations under this Agreement and the
U.S. Purchase Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and do not and will not, whether with or without the
giving of notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a
breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
upon any property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to,
the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or
defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of
the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary
or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or
decree of
7
any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or
foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary or any
of their assets, properties or operations. As used herein, a "Repayment
Event" means any event or condition which gives the holder of any note,
debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on
such holder's behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or
repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any
subsidiary.
(11) ABSENCE OF LABOR DISPUTE. No labor dispute with the employees of
the Company exists, or to the best knowledge of the Company after due
inquiry, is imminent, that could result in a Material Adverse Effect; and
the Company has not received notice of any existing or imminent labor
disturbance by the employees of any of its principle suppliers, customers,
manufacturers or contractors that could result in any Material Adverse
Effect.
(12) ABSENCE OF PROCEEDINGS. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental
agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened, against or affecting the Company or any
subsidiary, which is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement
(other than as disclosed therein), or which might reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected
to materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the
U.S. Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or
governmental proceedings to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party
or of which any of their respective property or assets is the subject which
are not described in the Registration Statement, including ordinary routine
litigation incidental to the business, could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(13) ACCURACY OF EXHIBITS. There are no contracts or documents which
are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectuses or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be
filed as exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as
required.
(14) POSSESSION OF INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY. The Company owns or
possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, the patents, patent rights,
licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and
other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential
information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade
names (collectively, "Patents and Proprietary Rights") currently employed
by it in connection with the business it now operates except where the
failure to so own, possess or acquire such Patents and Proprietary Rights
would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has not received
any notice and is not otherwise aware of any infringement of
8
or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Patent or
Proprietary Rights that, if the subject of any unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, singly or in the aggregate, could result in a
Material Adverse Effect; "99CENTS Only Stores" and its related logo is a
trademark and service ▇▇▇▇ used by the Company to identify its retail
stores; "Bargain Wholesale" is a service ▇▇▇▇ used by the Company to
identify its wholesale business; and such trademarks and service marks
are protected by registration in the name of the Company on the
principal register in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and
are registered with the State of California.
(15) ABSENCE OF FURTHER REQUIREMENTS. No filing with, or
authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency
is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of
the Securities under this Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
U.S. Purchase Agreement, except such as have been already obtained or as
may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations and foreign
or state securities or blue sky laws.
(16) POSSESSION OF LICENSES AND PERMITS. The Company possesses such
permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
(collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by the appropriate federal,
state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct
the business now operated by it; the Company is in compliance with the
terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the
failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full
force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses
or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect
would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and the Company has not received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any
such Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(17) TITLE TO PROPERTY. The Company has good and marketable title to
all real property owned by the Company and good title to all other
properties owned by it, in each case, free and clear of all mortgages,
pledges, liens, security interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of
any kind except such as (a) are described in the Prospectuses or (b) do
not,
9
singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of such property
and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such
property by the Company; and all of the leases and subleases material to
the business of the Company, and under which the Company holds
properties described in the Prospectuses, are in full force and effect,
and the Company has not received any notice of any material claim of any
sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the
Company under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or
affecting or questioning the rights of the Company to the continued
possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or
sublease.
(18) COMPLIANCE WITH CUBA ACT. The Company has complied with, and is
and will be in compliance with, the provisions of that certain Florida act
relating to disclosure of doing business with Cuba, codified as Section
517.075 of the Florida statutes, and the rules and regulations thereunder
(collectively, the "Cuba Act") or is exempt therefrom.
(19) INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT. The Company is not, and upon the
issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectuses
will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an
"investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
(20) ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. The Company has not violated any foreign,
federal, state or local law or regulation relating to the protection of
human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("Environmental Laws"),
that, in each case or in the aggregate, might result in a Material
Adverse Effect; none of the
10
property leased by the Company is contaminated with any waste or
hazardous substances (except that certain leased locations may contain
asbestos or certain cleaning materials, the presence of which will not
result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor may the Company be deemed an
"owner or operator" of a "facility" or "vessel" that owns, possesses,
transports, generates, discharges or disposes of a "hazardous substance"
as those terms are defined in Section 9601 et seq. (except that the
Company disposes in the ordinary course of its business ordinary
household products that may be classified as or contain "hazardous
substances"; the disposal of such products (A) is in material compliance
with all applicable laws as of the date hereof and (B) has not and will
not result in a Material Adverse Effect); the Company
11
has all permits, authorizations and approvals required under any
applicable Environmental Laws and is in compliance with their
requirements.
(21) INSURANCE. The Company maintains reasonably adequate insurance
for the conduct of its business in accordance with prudent business
practices (and the insurances maintained by retailers generally) with
reputable third-party insurers; PROVIDED, that the Company does not
maintain coverage for losses associated with earthquakes.
(22) NO REGISTRATION RIGHTS. No holder of any security of the Company
has any right to require inclusion of any such security in the Registration
Statement.
(23) TAXES. The Company has filed or caused to be filed, or has
properly filed extensions for, all foreign, federal, state and local
income, value added and franchise tax returns and has paid all taxes and
assessments shown thereon as due, except for such taxes and assessments as
are disclosed or adequately reserved against and that are being contested
in good faith by appropriate proceedings, promptly instituted and
diligently conducted; all material tax liabilities are adequately provided
for on the books of the Company, and there is no material tax deficiency
that has been or might be asserted against the Company that is not so
provided for; during the time the Company has elected to be treated as an
"S" Corporation under the Internal Revenue Code, as amended from time to
time (the "Code"), and any applicable state law, the Company's election of
such status was validly made, and at all times from August 31, 1965 through
April 30, 1996 the Company qualified continuously for treatment as an S
Corporation under the Code; from August 31, 1995 through April 30, 1996,
the Company never (A) was an ineligible corporation as defined in Section
1361(b)(2) of the Code (I.E., the Company never was (1) a member of an
affiliated group (determined under Code Section 1504 without regard to the
exceptions contained in subsection (b) thereof; (2) a financial institution
to which Code Section 585 applies (or would apply but for subsection (c)
thereof) or to which Code Section 593 applies; (3) an insurance company
subject to tax under subchapter L of the Code; (4) a corporation to which
an election under Code Section 936 applies; or (5) a DISC or former DISC);
(B) had more than 35 shareholders; (C) had as a shareholder (other than an
estate and other than domestic trusts described in Code Section 1361(c)(2),
including a domestic qualified Subchapter 5 trust) a person who is not an
individual; (D) had a nonresident alien as a shareholder; or (E) had more
than one class of stock outstanding or authorized or issued debt
12
convertible into capital stock or debt on which the payment of interest is
contingent on profits of the Company or on the Company's discretion; from
August 31, 1965 through April 30, 1996, there was no agreement to redeem or
purchase stock of the Company at the time of shareholder's death, divorce,
disability or termination of employment (such as buy-sell agreements among
the shareholders or similar option arrangements) that establishes a
purchase price that, at the time the agreement was entered into, was
significantly in excess of or below the fair market value of the stock of
the Company; Form 2553 was properly completed and filed with the Internal
Revenue Service within the 15th day of the 3rd month of the Company's first
taxable year; and such Form 2553 was signed by a duly-authorized signatory
of the Company's Form 11205 and all shareholders of the Company (including
all spouses of the shareholders) consented to the Company's S corporation
election by duly executing the Form 2553 filed with the Internal Revenue
Service.
(24) NO UNLAWFUL PAYMENTS. Neither the Company nor, to the best
knowledge of the Company, any employee or agent of the Company has made any
payment of funds of the Company or received or retained any funds in
violation of any law, Rule or regulation (including, without limitation,
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act) or of a character required to be
disclosed in the Prospectuses; the Company has not, at any time during the
past five years, (1) made any unlawful contributions to any candidate for
any political office, or failed fully to disclose any contribution in
violation of law, or (2) made any unlawful payment to state, federal or
foreign government officer or officers, or other person charged with
similar public or quasi-public duty.
(25) INTERNAL CONTROLS. The Company maintains a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorizations, (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP and to
maintain asset accountability, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization, and (iv)
the recorded accountability for inventory is compared with the existing
inventory at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.
(b) REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES BY THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. Each
Selling Shareholder severally represents and warrants to each International
Manager as of the date hereof, as of the Closing Time referred to in Section
2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in Section
2(b) hereof, and agrees with each International Manager, as follows:
(i) ACCURATE DISCLOSURE. To the best knowledge of such Selling
Shareholder, the representations and warranties of the Company
contained in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct; such Selling
Shareholder has reviewed and is familiar with the
13
Registration Statement and the Prospectuses and neither the
Prospectuses nor any amendments or supplements thereto includes any
untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; such Selling Shareholder is not prompted to sell the
Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder by any
information concerning the Company which is not set forth in the
Prospectuses.
(ii) AUTHORIZATION OF AGREEMENTS. Each Selling Shareholder has
the full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the
U.S. Purchase Agreement and a Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement
(the "Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement") and to sell, transfer
and deliver the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
hereunder. The execution and delivery of this Agreement, the U.S.
Purchase Agreement and the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement and
the sale and delivery of the Securities to be sold by such Selling
Shareholder and the consummation of the transactions contemplated in
this Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement and compliance by such
Selling Shareholder with its obligations hereunder have been duly
authorized by such Selling Shareholder and do not and will not, whether
with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both,
conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in
the creation or imposition of any tax, lien, charge or encumbrance upon
the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder or any property or
assets of such Selling Shareholder pursuant to any contract, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, license, lease
or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Shareholder is a
party or by which such Selling Shareholder may be bound, or to which any
of the property or assets of such Selling Shareholder is subject, nor
will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
charter or by-laws or other organizational instrument of such Selling
Shareholder, if applicable, or any applicable treaty, law, statute,
rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder or any of its properties.
(iii) GOOD AND MARKETABLE TITLE. Such Selling Shareholder has and
will at the Closing Time have good and marketable title to the Securities
to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder, free and clear of any
security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, claim, equity or
encumbrance of any kind, other than pursuant to this Agreement and the U.S.
Purchase Agreement; and upon delivery of such Securities and payment of the
purchase price therefor as herein contemplated, assuming each such
International Manager has no notice of any adverse claim, each of the
International Managers will receive good and marketable title to the
Securities purchased by it from such Selling Shareholder, free and clear of
any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, charge, claim, equity or
encumbrance of any kind.
14
(iv) DUE EXECUTION OF POWER OF ATTORNEY AND CUSTODY AGREEMENT. Such
Selling Shareholder has duly executed and delivered, in the form heretofore
furnished to the Lead Managers, the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement
with ________________, as attorney-in-fact (the "Attorney-in-Fact") and
__________________, as custodian (the "Custodian"); the Custodian is
authorized to deliver the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
hereunder and to accept payment therefor; and the Attorney-in-Fact is
authorized to execute and deliver this Agreement, the U.S. Purchase
Agreement and the certificate referred to in Section 5(f) or that may be
required pursuant to Section 5(m) on behalf of such Selling Shareholder, to
sell, assign and transfer to the International Managers the Securities to
be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder, to determine the purchase
price to be paid by the International Managers to such Selling Shareholder,
as provided in Section 2(a) hereof, to authorize the delivery of the
Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder hereunder, to accept
payment therefor, and otherwise to act on behalf of such Selling
Shareholder in connection with this Agreement and the U.S. Purchase
Agreement.
(v) ABSENCE OF MANIPULATION. Such Selling Shareholder has not
taken, and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action which is
designed to or which has constituted or which might reasonably be
expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of
the Securities.
(vi) ABSENCE OF FURTHER REQUIREMENTS. No filing with, or consent,
approval, authorization, order, registration, qualification or decree
of, any court or governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign,
is necessary or required for the performance by each Selling Shareholder
of its obligations under this Agreement, the U.S. Purchase Agreement or
the Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement, or in connection with the
sale and delivery of the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the U.S. Purchase
Agreement, except such as may have previously been made or obtained or
as may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or
state securities laws.
(vii) RESTRICTION ON SALE OF SECURITIES. During a period of 90 days
from the date of the Prospectuses, such Selling Shareholder will not,
without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, (i) offer, pledge,
sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase
any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
share of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock or file any registration statement under the
1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap
or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in whole or in
part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the
Common Stock,
15
whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii)
above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not
apply to the Securities to be sold hereunder or under the U.S. Purchase
Agreement.
(viii) CERTIFICATES SUITABLE FOR TRANSFER. Certificates for all
of the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to
this Agreement, in suitable form for transfer by delivery or accompanied
by duly executed instruments of transfer or assignment in blank with
signatures guaranteed, have been placed in custody with the Custodian
with irrevocable conditional instructions to deliver such Securities to
the International Managers pursuant to this Agreement.
(ix) NO ASSOCIATION WITH NASD. Neither such Selling Stockholder
nor any of its affiliates directly, or indirectly through one or more
intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common
control with, or has any other association with (within the meaning of
Article I, Section 1(m) of the By-laws of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc.), any member firm of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(c) OFFICER'S CERTIFICATES. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Global Coordinator, the Lead
Managers or to counsel for the International Managers shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to each International Manager as to
the matters covered thereby; and any certificate signed by or on behalf of the
Selling Shareholders as such and delivered to the Global Coordinator, the Lead
Managers or to counsel for the International Managers pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement shall be deemed a representation and warranty by such Selling
Shareholder to each International Manager as to the matters covered hereby.
16
SECTION 2. SALE AND DELIVERY TO INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS; CLOSING.
(a) INITIAL SECURITIES. On the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Company and each Selling Shareholder, severally and not
jointly, agrees to sell to each International Manager, severally and not
jointly, and each International Manager, severally and not jointly, agrees to
purchase from the Company and each Selling Shareholder, at the price per
share set forth in Schedule C, that portion of the number of Initial
International Securities set forth in Schedule B opposite the name of the
Company or such Selling Shareholder, as the case may be, which the number of
Initial International Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of
such International Manager, plus any additional number of Initial
International Securities which such International Manager may become
obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof bears
to the total number of Initial International Securities, subject, in each
case, to such adjustments among the International Managers as the Global
Coordinator in its discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases
of fractional securities.
(b) OPTION SECURITIES. In addition, on the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Company and the Selling Shareholders, acting
severally and not jointly, hereby grant an option to the International
Managers, severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 105,000
shares of Common Stock at the price per share set forth in Schedule C, less
an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the
Company and payable on the Initial International Securities but not payable
on the International Option Securities. The option hereby granted will expire
30 days after the date hereof and may be exercised in whole or in part from
time to time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be
made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Initial
International Securities upon notice by the Global Coordinator to the Company
and the Selling Shareholders setting forth the number of International Option
Securities as to which the several International Managers are then exercising
the option and the time and date of payment and delivery for such
International Option Securities. Any such time and date of delivery for the
International Option Securities (a "Date of Delivery") shall be determined by
the Global Coordinator, but shall not be later than seven full business days
after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing
Time, as hereinafter defined. If the option is exercised as to all or any
portion of the International Option Securities, each of the International
Managers, acting severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of
the total number of International Option Securities then being purchased
which the number of Initial International Securities set forth in Schedule A
opposite the name of such International Manager bears to the total number of
Initial International Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as
the Global Coordinator in its discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or
purchases of fractional shares.
(c) PAYMENT. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, or at such other place as
shall be agreed upon by the Global Coordinator and the Company and the
Selling Shareholders, at 7:00 A.M. (California time) on the third (fourth, if
the pricing occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business
day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions
of Section 10), or such other time not later than ten business days after
such date as shall be agreed upon by the Global Coordinator and the Company
and the Selling Shareholders (such time and date of payment and delivery
being herein called "Closing Time").
In addition, in the event that any or all of the International Option
Securities are purchased by the International Managers, payment of the
purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, such International
Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such
other place as shall be agreed upon by the Global Coordinator and the Company
and the Selling Shareholders, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the
notice from the Global Coordinator to the Company and the Selling
Shareholders.
Payment shall be made to the Company and the Selling Shareholders by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by
the Company and the Custodian pursuant to each Selling Shareholder's Power of
Attorney and Custody Agreement, as the case may be, against delivery to the
Lead Managers for the respective accounts of the International Managers of
certificates for the International Securities to be purchased by them. It is
understood that each International Manager has authorized the Lead Managers,
for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the
purchase price for, the Initial International Securities and the
International Option Securities, if any, which it has agreed to purchase.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, individually and not as representative of the International
Managers, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase
price for the Initial International Securities or the International Option
Securities, if any, to be purchased by any International Manager whose funds
have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery,
as the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such International
Manager from its obligations hereunder.
(d) DENOMINATIONS; REGISTRATION. Certificates for the Initial
International Securities and the International Option Securities, if any,
shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Lead
Managers may request in writing at least one full business day before the
Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The
certificates for the Initial International Securities and the International
Option Securities, if any, will be made available for examination and
packaging by the Lead Managers in The City of New York not later than 10:00
A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior to the Closing Time or the
relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.
18
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants with each
International Manager as follows:
(a) COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES REGULATIONS AND COMMISSION REQUESTS. The
Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430A
or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Global Coordinator immediately,
and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement shall become effective, or any supplement to the
Prospectuses or any amended Prospectuses shall have been filed, (ii) of the
receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the
Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectuses or for additional information, and (iv) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any
preliminary prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or
threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company will
promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424(b) and will take such
steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus
transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the
Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such
prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the
lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(b) FILING OF AMENDMENTS. The Company will give the Global Coordinator
notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration
Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term Sheet or any
amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus included in the
Registration Statement at the time it became effective or to the Prospectuses,
whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise, will furnish the
Global Coordinator with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time
prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or
use any such document to which the Global Coordinator or counsel for the
International Managers shall object.
(c) DELIVERY OF REGISTRATION STATEMENTS. The Company has furnished or
will deliver to the Lead Managers and counsel for the International Managers,
without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and
certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Lead Managers, without
charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed
and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the
International Managers. The copies of the Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto furnished to the International Managers will be identical
to the electronically transmitted copies
19
thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) DELIVERY OF PROSPECTUSES. The Company has delivered to each
International Manager, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary
prospectus as such International Manager reasonably requested, and the
Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by
the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each International Manager,
without charge, during the period when the International Prospectus is
required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act, such number of
copies of the International Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such
International Manager may reasonably request. The International Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the International
Managers will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof
filed with the Commission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇, except to the extent permitted
by Regulation S-T.
(e) CONTINUED COMPLIANCE WITH SECURITIES LAWS. The Company will comply
with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act and the 1934
Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the
Securities as contemplated in this Agreement, the U.S. Purchase Agreement and
in the Prospectuses. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the
1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any
event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which it is
necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the International Managers or for
the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement any
Prospectus in order that the Prospectuses will not include any untrue
statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it
shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend
the Registration Statement or amend or supplement any Prospectus in order to
comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the
Company will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to
Section 3(b), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct
such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the
Prospectuses comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to
the International Managers such number of copies of such amendment or
supplement as the International Managers may reasonably request.
(f) BLUE SKY QUALIFICATIONS. The Company will use its best efforts, in
cooperation with the International Managers, to qualify the Securities for
offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states and
other jurisdictions (domestic or foreign) as the Global Coordinator may
designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not
less than one year from the later of the effective date of the Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of
process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities
in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to subject itself to
taxation in respect of doing business in any
20
jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction
in which the Securities have been so qualified, the Company will file such
statements and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to
continue such qualification in effect for a period of not less than one year
from the effective date of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement.
(g) RULE 158. The Company will timely file such reports pursuant to
the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally available to its
securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for the purposes
of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of
Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company will use the net proceeds received by
it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified in the
Prospectuses under "Use of Proceeds."
(i) LISTING. The Company will use its best efforts to effect the
listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange.
(j) RESTRICTION ON SALE OF SECURITIES. During a period of 90 days from
the date of the Prospectuses, the Company will not, without the prior written
consent of the Global Coordinator, (i) directly or indirectly, offer, pledge,
sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any
option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase or
otherwise transfer or dispose of any share of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or file any
registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the
foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any
transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the
economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap
or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by
delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The
foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Securities to be sold hereunder
or under the U.S. Purchase Agreement, or (B) any shares of Common Stock
issued or options to purchase Common Stock granted pursuant to existing
employee benefit plans of the Company referred to in the Prospectuses.
(k) REPORTING REQUIREMENTS. The Company, during the period when the
Prospectuses are required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to
the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the 1934
Act Regulations.
21
SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.
(a) EXPENSES. The Company and the Selling Shareholders will pay or
cause of be paid all expenses incident to the performance of their
obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and
filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and
exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any
Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be required in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the
Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates
for the Securities to the Underwriters, including any stock or other transfer
taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or
delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters and the transfer of the
Securities between the International Managers and the U.S. Underwriters, (iv)
the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel, accountants and other
advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in
accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees
and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky
Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of
the Prospectuses and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue
Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any
transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, (ix) the filing fees incident
to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters
in connection with, the review by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of the terms of the sale of the Securities and (x)
the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the
Securities on the New York Stock Exchange.
(b) EXPENSES OF SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. The Selling Shareholders,
jointly and severally, will pay all expenses incident to the performance of
their respective obligations under, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement, including (i) any stamp duties, capital
duties and stock transfer taxes, if any, payable upon the sale of the
Securities to the Underwriters, and the transfer of the Securities between
the International Managers and the U.S. Underwriters pursuant to an agreement
between such Underwriters, and (ii) the fees and disbursements of their
respective counsel and accountants.
(c) TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Lead Managers in accordance with the provisions of Section 5, Section 9(a)(i)
or Section 11 hereof, the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall
reimburse the International Managers for all of their out-of-pocket expenses,
including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
International Managers.
(d) ALLOCATION OF EXPENSES. The provisions of this Section shall not
affect any agreement that the Company and the Selling Shareholders may make
for the sharing of such costs and expenses.
22
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS' OBLIGATIONS. The
obligations of the several International Managers hereunder are subject to
the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Selling Shareholders contained in Section 1 hereof or in certificates of any
officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the Company or on behalf of any
Selling Shareholder delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the
performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder,
and to the following further conditions:
(a) EFFECTIVENESS OF REGISTRATION STATEMENT. The Registration
Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any
request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the
International Managers. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information
shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or
a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed
and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A) or,
if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have
been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).
(b) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR COMPANY. At Closing Time, the Lead Managers
shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Troop
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP, counsel for the Company, in form and
substance satisfactory to counsel for the International Managers, together
with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
International Managers to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto and to
such further effect as counsel to the International Managers may reasonably
request.
(c) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. At Closing Time,
the Lead Managers shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
Closing Time, of ________________, counsel for the Selling Shareholders, in
form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the International Managers,
together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the
other International Managers to the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto and
to such further effect as counsel to the International Managers may
reasonable request.
(d) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS. At Closing Time,
the Lead Managers shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
Closing Time, of ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the International
Managers, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each
of the other International Managers with respect to the matters set forth in
clauses (i), (ii), (v), (vi) (solely as to preemptive or other similar rights
arising by operation of law or under the charter or by-laws of the Company),
(viii) through (x), inclusive, (xiii), and the penultimate paragraph of
Exhibit A hereto. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as to all
matters
23
governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New
York and the federal law of the United States, upon the opinions of counsel
satisfactory to the Lead Managers. Such counsel may also state that, insofar
as such opinion involves factual matters, they have relied, to the extent
they deem proper, upon certificates of officers of the Company and its
subsidiaries and certificates of public officials.
(e) OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE. At Closing Time, there shall not have been,
since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Prospectuses, any material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and the Lead
Managers shall have received a certificate of the President or a Vice
President of the Company and of the chief financial or chief accounting
officer of the Company, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i)
there has been no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and
warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force
and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the
Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) 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 are contemplated by the Commission.
(f) CERTIFICATE OF SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. At Closing Time, the Lead
Managers shall have received a certificate of an Attorney-in-Fact on behalf
of each Selling Shareholder, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i)
the representations and warranties of each Selling Shareholder contained in
Section 1(b) hereof are true and correct in all respects with the same force
and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time and (ii) each
Selling Shareholder has complied in all material respects with all agreements
and all conditions on its part to be performed under this Agreement at or
prior to Closing Time.
(g) ACCOUNTANT'S COMFORT LETTER. At the time of the execution of this
Agreement, the Lead Managers shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP a
letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Lead
Managers, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each
of the other International Managers containing statements and information of
the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectuses.
(h) BRING-DOWN COMFORT LETTER. At Closing Time, the Representatives
shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP a letter, dated as of Closing
Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter
furnished pursuant to subsection (g) of this Section, except that the
specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days
prior to Closing Time.
24
(i) APPROVAL OF LISTING. At Closing Time, the Securities shall have
been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange, subject only to
official notice of issuance.
(j) NO OBJECTION. The NASD has confirmed that it has not raised any
objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting
terms and arrangements.
(k) LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS. At the date of this Agreement, the Lead
Managers shall have received an agreement substantially in the form of
Exhibit C hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule D hereto.
(l) PURCHASE OF INITIAL U.S. SECURITIES. Contemporaneously with the
purchase by the International Managers of the Initial International
Securities under this Agreement, the U.S. Underwriters shall have purchased
the Initial U.S. Securities under the U.S. Purchase Agreement.
(m) CONDITIONS TO PURCHASE OF INTERNATIONAL OPTION SECURITIES. In the
event that the International Managers exercise their option provided in
Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the International
Option Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Selling Shareholders contained herein and the statements in any certificates
furnished by the Company, any subsidiary of the Company and the Selling
Shareholders hereunder shall be true and correct as of each Date of Delivery
and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the Lead Managers shall have received:
(i) OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE. A certificate, dated such Date of
Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of the Company and of the
chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company confirming that
the certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to Section 5(e)
hereof remains true and correct as of such Date of Delivery.
(ii) CERTIFICATE OF SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. A certificate, dated
such Date of Delivery, of the Attorney-in-Fact on behalf of each Selling
Shareholder confirming that the certificate delivered at Closing Time
pursuant to Section 5(f) remains true and correct as of such Date of
Delivery.
(iii) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR COMPANY. The favorable opinion of
Troop ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, LLP, counsel for the Company, in form
and substance satisfactory to counsel for the International Managers,
dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the International Option
Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the
same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(b) hereof.
(iv) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. The
favorable opinion of
25
____________, counsel for the Selling Shareholders, in form and substance
satisfactory to counsel for the International Managers, dated such Date of
Delivery, relating to the International Option Securities to be purchased
on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion
required by Section 5(c) hereof.
(iv) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS. The favorable
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the International
Managers, dated such Date of Delivery, relating to the International Option
Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to the
same effect as the opinion required by Section 5(d) hereof.
(v) BRING-DOWN COMFORT LETTER. A letter from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP,
in form and substance satisfactory to the Lead Managers and dated such
Date of Delivery, substantially in the same form and substance as the
letter furnished to the Lead Managers pursuant to Section 5(g) hereof,
except that the "specified date" in the letter furnished pursuant to
this paragraph shall be a date not more than five days prior to such
Date of Delivery.
(n) ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. At Closing Time and at each Date of Delivery,
counsel for the International Managers shall have been furnished with such
documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to
pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in
order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or
the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings
taken by the Company and the Selling Shareholders in connection with the
issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory
in form and substance to the Lead Managers and counsel for the International
Managers.
(o) TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. If any condition specified in this Section
shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this
Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the purchase of International
Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after the Closing Time, the
obligations of the several International Managers to purchase the relevant
Option Securities, may be terminated by the Lead Managers by notice to the
Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or such Date of Delivery, as the
case may be, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to
any other party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7
and 8 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
26
SECTION 6. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION OF INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS. The Company and the
Selling Shareholders, jointly and severally, agree to indemnify and hold
harmless each International Manager and each person, if any, who controls any
International Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the
Rule 434 Information, if applicable, 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 arising out of any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectuses (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;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that (subject to Section
6(d) below) any such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Company and the Selling Shareholders; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such
expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any International Manager through the Lead Managers expressly for
use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the
Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any
preliminary prospectus or the International Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto).
27
(b) INDEMNIFICATION OF COMPANY, DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS AND SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS. Each International Manager severally agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act and
each Selling Shareholder and each person, if any, who controls any Selling
Shareholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as
incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged
untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, if applicable, or any preliminary international prospectus or
the International Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by such International Manager through the Lead Managers expressly for
use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such
preliminary prospectus or the International Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(c) ACTIONS AGAINST PARTIES; NOTIFICATION. Each indemnified party
shall give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying
party of any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be
sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not
relieve such indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it
is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of
this indemnity agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to
Section 6(a) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, and, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section
6(b) above, counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by the
Company. An indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the
defense of any such action; provided, however, that counsel to the
indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the indemnified
party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall the
indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one counsel
(in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for all
indemnified parties in connection with any one action or separate but similar
or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent
to the entry of any judgment with respect to any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or
contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section 7 hereof
(whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties
thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising
out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim 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.
28
(d) SETTLEMENT WITHOUT CONSENT IF FAILURE TO REIMBURSE. If at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying
party agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature
contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party
shall have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days
prior to such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party
shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement.
(e) OTHER AGREEMENTS WITH RESPECT TO INDEMNIFICATION. The provisions
of this Section shall not affect any agreement among the Company and the
Selling Shareholders with respect to indemnification.
SECTION 7. CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for in
Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims,
damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the
International Managers on the other hand from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but
also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the
one hand and of the International Managers on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities,
claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling
Shareholders on the one hand and the International Managers on the other hand
in connection with the offering of the International Securities pursuant to
this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as
the total net proceeds from the offering of the International Securities
pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company and the Selling Shareholders and the total underwriting discount
received by the International Managers, in each case as set forth on the
cover of the International Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is used, the
corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the aggregate initial
public offering price of the International Securities as set forth on such
cover.
The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Shareholders on the
one hand and the International Managers on the other hand shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged
29
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or the Selling Shareholders or by the International Managers and the
parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the International Managers
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to
this Section 7 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
International Managers 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. The aggregate amount of
losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified
party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in
investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no International
Manager shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the International Securities underwritten by
it and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the
amount of any damages which such International Manager has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
International Manager within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
International Manager, and each director of the Company, each officer of the
Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company or any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of Section
15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights
to contribution as the Company or such Selling Shareholder. The
International Managers' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this
Section 7 are several in proportion to the number of Initial International
Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and
not joint.
The provisions of this Section shall not affect any agreement among the
Company and the Selling Shareholders with respect to contribution.
SECTION 8. REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE
DELIVERY. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement or in certificates of officers
30
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or the Selling Shareholders
submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
International Manager or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the
Company or the Selling Shareholders, and shall survive delivery of the
Securities to the International Managers.
SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.
(a) TERMINATION; GENERAL. The Lead Managers may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholders, at any time
at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the time of
execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the International Prospectus, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered
as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business,
or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial
markets in the United States or the international financial markets, any
outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or
any change or development involving a prospective change in national or
international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the
effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Lead Managers,
impracticable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale
of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has
been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock
Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or the New
York Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended or
materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed,
or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or
by such system or by order of the Commission, the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. or any other governmental authority, or (iv) if a
banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal or New York
authorities.
(b) LIABILITIES. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this
Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any
other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that
Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full
force and effect.
SECTION 10. DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE INTERNATIONAL MANAGERS. If
one or more of the International Managers shall fail at Closing Time or a
Date of Delivery to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to
purchase under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Lead Managers
shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for
one or more of the non-defaulting International Managers, or any other
underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted
Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein
set forth; if, however, the Lead Managers shall not have completed such
arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
31
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
number of International Securities to be purchased on such date, each of the
non-defaulting International Managers shall be obligated, severally and not
jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their
respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting
obligations of all non-defaulting International Managers, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of
International Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement or,
with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing Time, the
obligation of the International Managers to purchase and of the Company and
the Selling Shareholders to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and
sold on such Date of Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part
of any non-defaulting International Manager.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
International Manager from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the
Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the
International Managers to purchase and the Company and the Selling
Shareholders to sell the relevant International Option Securities, as the
case may be, either (i) the Lead Managers or (ii) the Company and any Selling
Shareholder shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or the relevant
Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding seven days
in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectuses or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the
term "International Manager" includes any person substituted for an
International Manager under this Section 10.
SECTION 11. DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS OR THE
COMPANY. (a) If a Selling Shareholder shall fail at Closing Time or at a
Date of Delivery to sell and deliver the number of Securities which such
Selling Shareholder or Selling Shareholders are obligated to sell hereunder,
and the remaining Selling Shareholders do not exercise the right hereby
granted to increase, pro rata or otherwise, the number of Securities to be
sold by them hereunder to the total number to be sold by all Selling
Shareholders as set forth in Schedule B hereto, then the International
Managers may, at option of the Lead Managers, by notice from the Lead
Managers to the Company and the non-defaulting Selling Shareholders, either
(a) terminate this Agreement without any liability on the fault of any
non-defaulting party except that the provisions of Sections 1, 4, 6, 7 and 8
shall remain in full force and effect or (b) elect to purchase the Securities
which the non-defaulting Selling Shareholders and the Company have agreed to
sell hereunder. No action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall relieve
any Selling Shareholder so defaulting from liability, if any, in respect of
such default.
32
In the event of a default by any Selling Shareholder as referred to in
this Section 11, each of the Lead Managers, the Company and the
non-defaulting Selling Shareholders shall have the right to postpone Closing
Time or Date of Delivery for a period not exceeding seven days in order to
effect any required change in the Registration Statement or Prospectuses or
in any other documents or arrangements.
(b) If the Company shall fail at Closing Time or at the Date of Delivery
to sell the number of Securities that it is obligated to sell hereunder, then
this Agreement shall terminate without any liability on the part of any
nondefaulting party; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 1, 4,
6, 7 and 8 shall remain in full force and effect. No action taken pursuant
to this Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect
of such default.
SECTION 12. NOTICES. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the
International Managers shall be directed to the Lead Managers at North Tower,
World Financial Center, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at ,
attention of ; and notices to the Selling Shareholders shall be
directed to , attention of .
SECTION 13. PARTIES. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the International Managers, the Company and the
Selling Shareholders and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or
mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any
person, firm or corporation, other than the International Managers, the
Company and the Selling Shareholders and their respective successors and the
controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and
7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right,
remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein
contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are
intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the International
Managers, the Company and the Selling Shareholders and their respective
successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors and their
heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm
or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any International Manager
shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
EXCEPT AS OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW
YORK CITY TIME.
33
SECTION 15. EFFECT OF HEADINGS. The Article and Section headings herein
and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
34
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company and the Attorney-in-Fact for
the Selling Shareholders a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument,
along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the
International Managers, the Company and the Selling Shareholders in
accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
99 CENTS ONLY STORES
By:
------------------------------------------
Title:
By:
------------------------------------------
As Attorney-in-Fact acting on behalf
of the Selling Shareholders named in
Schedule B hereto
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SACHS INTERNATIONAL
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
EVEREN SECURITIES, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL
By
------------------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
For themselves and as Lead Managers of the
other International Managers named in Schedule A hereto.
35
SCHEDULE A
Number of
Initial International
Name of International Manager Securities
----------------------------- -----------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ International..............
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Sachs International..............
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. .......................
EVEREN Securities, Inc...................
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc........................
-----------
Total..................................... 700,000
-----------
-----------
Sch A-1
SCHEDULE B
Number of Initial Maximum Number of Option
Securities to be Sold Securities to Be Sold
--------------------- ------------------------
Total....................
Sch B-1
SCHEDULE C
99 CENTS ONLY STORES
700,000 Shares of Common Stock
(No Par Value Per Share)
1. The initial public offering price per share for the Securities,
determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $ .
2. The purchase price per share for the International Securities to be
paid by the several International Managers shall be $ , being
an amount equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $
per share; provided that the purchase price per share for any International
Option Securities purchased upon the exercise of the over-allotment option
described in Section 2(b) shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to
any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the
Initial International Securities but not payable on the International Option
Securities.
Sch C-1
SCHEDULE D
List of persons and entities
subject to lock-up
Sch D-1
Exhibit A
FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S COUNSEL
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(b)
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of California.
(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectuses and to enter into and perform its obligations under the
International Purchase Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement.
(iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify
or to be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company is as set forth in the Prospectuses in the column entitled "Actual"
under the caption "Capitalization" (except for subsequent issuances, if any,
pursuant to the International Purchase Agreement and the U.S. Purchase
Agreement or pursuant to employee benefit plans referred to in the
Prospectuses; the shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company, including the Securities to be purchased by the International
Managers and the U.S. Underwriters from the Selling Shareholders, have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
and none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued
in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder
of the Company.
(v) The Securities to be purchased by the International Managers and
the U.S. Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for issuance
and sale to the Underwriters pursuant to the International Purchase Agreement
and the U.S. Purchase Agreement, respectively, and, when issued and delivered
by the Company pursuant to the International Purchase Agreement and the U.S.
Purchase Agreement, respectively, against payment of the consideration set
forth in the International Purchase Agreement and the U.S. Purchase
Agreement, will be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and no
holder of the Securities is or will be subject to personal liability by
reason of being such a holder.
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(vi) The issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company and the
sale of the Securities by the Selling Shareholders is not subject to the
preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the Company.
(vii) To the best of our knowledge, the Company does not have any
subsidiaries.
(viii) The International Purchase Agreement and the U.S. .Purchase
Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(ix) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, has been declared effective under the 1933 Act; any required
filing of the Prospectuses pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the
manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and, to the best
of our knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been
issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or threatened by the Commission.
(x) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as
applicable, the Prospectuses, excluding the documents incorporated by
reference therein, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectuses, excluding the documents incorporated by
reference therein, as of their respective effective or issue dates (other
than the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein or
omitted therefrom, as to which we need express no opinion) complied as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the
1933 Act Regulations.
(xi) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectuses (other
than the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein or
omitted therefrom, as to which we need express no opinion), when they were
filed with the Commission complied as to form in all material respects with
the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(xiii) The form of certificate used to evidence the Common Stock
complies in all material respects with all applicable statutory requirements,
with any applicable requirements of the charter and by-laws of the Company
and the requirements of the New York Stock Exchange.
(xiv) To the best of our knowledge, there is not pending or threatened
any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the Company
or any subsidiary is a party, or to which the property of the Company or any
subsidiary is subject, before or brought by any court or governmental agency
or body, domestic or foreign, which might reasonably be expected to result in
a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to
materially and adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in the
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International Purchase Agreement and U.S. Purchase Agreement or the
performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder.
(xv) The information in the Prospectuses under "Description of Capital
Stock," "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Certain Federal Income Tax
Considerations" and in the Registration Statement under Item 15, to the
extent that it constitutes matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the
Company's charter and bylaws or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, has
been reviewed by us and is correct in all material respects.
(xvi) To the best of our knowledge, there are no statutes or
regulations that are required to be described in the Prospectuses that are
not described as required.
(xvii) All descriptions in the Prospectuses of contracts and other
documents to which the Company or its subsidiaries are a party are accurate
in all material respects; to the best of our knowledge, there are no
franchises, contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes, leases
or other instruments required to be described or referred to in the
Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those
described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as
exhibits thereto, and the descriptions thereof or references thereto are
correct in all material respects.
(xviii) To the best of our knowledge, the Company is not in violation
of its charter or by-laws and no default by the Company exists in the due
performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement,
note, lease or other agreement or instrument that is described or referred to
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectuses or filed or incorporated by
reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
(xix) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license,
order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental
authority or agency, domestic or foreign (other than under the 1933 Act and
the 1933 Act Regulations, which have been obtained, or as may be required
under the securities or blue sky laws of the various states, as to which we
need express no opinion) is necessary or required in connection with the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the International Purchase Agreement
and the U.S. Purchase Agreement or for the offering, issuance, sale or
delivery of the Securities.
(xx) The execution, delivery and performance of the International Purchase
Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in the International Purchase Agreement, the U.S.
Purchase Agreement and in the Registration Statement (including the issuance and
sale of the Securities, and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the
Securities as described in the Prospectuses under the caption "Use Of Proceeds")
and compliance
A-3
by the Company with its obligations under the International Purchase
Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement do not and will not, whether with
or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined in Section
1(a)(xi) of the Purchase Agreements) under or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement
or instrument, known to us, to which the Company or any subsidiary is a party
or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of the property
or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject (except for such
conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would
not have a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any
violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any
subsidiary, or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment,
order, writ or decree, known to us, of any government, government
instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Company or any subsidiary or any of their respective properties, assets or
operations.
(xxi) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in the
1940 Act.
Nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, including the Rule 430A
Information and Rule 434 Information (if applicable), (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by
reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no
statement), at the time such Registration Statement or any such amendment
became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectuses or any
amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements and
schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by reference
therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no statement), at the
time the Prospectuses were issued, at the time any such amended or
supplemented prospectus was issued or at the Closing Time, included or
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact
(but not as to legal conclusions), to the extent they deem proper, on
certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.
Such opinion shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or
that it is otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other
document relating to legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal
Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991).
A-4
Exhibit B
FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(c)
(i) No filing with, or consent, approval, authorization, license,
order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental
authority or agency, domestic or foreign, (other than the issuance of the
order of the Commission declaring the Registration Statement effective and
such authorizations, approvals or consents as may be necessary under state
securities laws, as to which we need express no opinion) is necessary or
required to be obtained by the Selling Shareholders for the performance by
each Selling Shareholder of its obligations under the International Purchase
Agreement, the U.S. Purchase Agreement or in the Power of Attorney and
Custody Agreement, or in connection with the offer, sale or delivery of the
Securities.
(ii) Each Power of Attorney and Custody Agreement has been duly
executed and delivered by the respective Selling Shareholders named therein
and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of such Selling
Shareholder.
(iii) The International Purchase Agreement and the U.S. Purchase
Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf
of each Selling Shareholder.
(iv) Each Attorney-in-Fact has been duly authorized by the Selling
Shareholders to deliver the Securities on behalf of the Selling Shareholders
in accordance with the terms of the International Purchase Agreement and the
U.S. Purchase Agreement.
(v) The execution, delivery and performance of the International
Purchase Agreement, the U.S. Purchase Agreement and the Power of Attorney and
Custody Agreement and the sale and delivery of the Securities and the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in the International Purchase
Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement and in the Registration Statement
and compliance by the Selling Shareholders with their obligations under the
International Purchase Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement have been
duly authorized by all necessary action on the part of the Selling
Shareholders and do not and will not,
B-1
whether with or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both,
conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under or result in the
creation or imposition of any tax, lien, charge or encumbrance upon the
Securities or any property or assets of the Selling Shareholders pursuant to,
any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement,
note, license, lease or other instrument or agreement to which any Selling
Shareholder is a party or by which they may be bound, or to which any of the
property or assets of the Selling Shareholders may be subject nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of
the Selling Shareholders, if applicable, or any law, administrative
regulation, judgment or order of any governmental agency or body or any
administrative or court decree having jurisdiction over such Selling
Shareholder or any of its properties.
(vi) To the best of our knowledge, each Selling Shareholder has valid
and marketable title to the Securities to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
pursuant to the International Purchase Agreement and the U.S. Purchase
Agreement, free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, charge,
claim, equity or encumbrance of any kind, and has full right, power and
authority to sell, transfer and deliver such Securities pursuant to the
International Purchase Agreement and the U.S, Purchase Agreement. By
delivery of a certificate or certificates therefor such Selling Shareholder
will transfer to the International Managers and the U.S. Underwriters who
have purchased such Securities pursuant to the International Purchase
Agreement and the U.S. Purchase Agreement, respectively, (without notice of
any defect in the title of such Selling Shareholder and who are otherwise
bona fide purchasers for purposes of the Uniform Commercial Code) valid and
marketable title to such Securities, free and clear of any pledge, lien,
security interest, charge, claim, equity or encumbrance of any kind.
Nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, including the Rule 430A
Information and Rule 434 Information (if applicable), (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included or incorporated
by reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no
statement), at the time such Registration Statement or any such amendment
became effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectuses or any
amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial statements and
schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by reference
therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need
B-2
make no statement), at the time the Prospectuses were issued, at the time any
such amended or supplemented prospectuses were issued or at the Closing Time,
included or include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters of fact
(but not as to legal conclusions), to the extent they deem proper, on
certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.
Such opinion shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or
that it is otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other
document relating to legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal
Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991).
B-3
[FORM OF LOCK-UP FROM DIRECTORS, OFFICERS OR OTHER STOCKHOLDERS PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(k)]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇
, ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ INTERNATIONAL
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SACHS INTERNATIONAL
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
EVEREN SECURITIES, INC.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
as Lead Managers of the several International Managers
Ropemaker Place
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Re: Proposed Public Offering By 99 Cents Only Stores
-----------------------------------------------
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned, a stockholder [and an officer and/or director] of 99
Cents Only Stores, a California corporation (the "Company"), understands that
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ International ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇"), ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ International,
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc., EVEREN Securities, Inc. and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc. propose to
enter into a International Purchase Agreement (the "International Purchase
Agreement") with the Company and the Selling Shareholders providing for the
public offering of shares (the "Securities") of the Company's common stock,
no par value per share (the "Common Stock"). In recognition of the benefit
that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a stockholder
[and an officer and/or director] of the Company, and for other good and
valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the
International Purchase Agreement that, during a period of 90 days from the
date of the International Purchase Agreement, the undersigned will not,
without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, directly or indirectly,
(i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to
purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or
warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares of
the Company's Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by
the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter
acquires the power of disposition, or file any registration statement under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to any of the foregoing
or (ii)
C-1
enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers,
in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of
ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction is to be
settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Very truly yours,
Signature:
--------------------------
Print Name:
--------------------------
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