EXHIBIT 1.1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ FINANCIAL, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
$200,000,000
7.50% Notes due January 18, 2006
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated: January 12, 2001
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
TABLE OF CONTENTS
PAGE
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties..................................................................3
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company...................................................3
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements.....................................3
(ii) Incorporated Documents........................................................4
(iii) Independent Accountants.......................................................4
(iv) Financial Statements..........................................................4
(v) No Material Adverse Change in Business........................................4
(vi) Good Standing of the Company..................................................4
(vii) Good Standing of Subsidiaries.................................................5
(viii) Capitalization................................................................5
(ix) Authorization of Agreement....................................................5
(x) Authorization of the Indenture................................................5
(xi) Authorization of the Securities...............................................6
(xii) Description of the Securities and the Indenture...............................6
(xiii) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts.............................................6
(xiv) Absence of Proceedings........................................................7
(xv) Possession of Intellectual Property...........................................7
(xvi) Absence of Further Requirements...............................................7
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits............................................7
(xviii) Investment Company Act........................................................8
(xix) Adviser Activities............................................................8
(xx) Broker-Dealer Business........................................................8
(xxi) Compliance with Applicable Laws...............................................8
(xxii) Registration of Funds.........................................................8
(xxiii) Agreements with Funds.........................................................9
(xxiv) Transfer Agent................................................................9
(b) Officer's Certificates..........................................................................9
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing......................................................9
(a) Securities......................................................................................9
(b) Payment.........................................................................................9
(c) Denominations; Registration....................................................................10
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company.......................................................................11
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests.................................10
(b) Filing of Amendments...........................................................................10
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements............................................................11
(d) Delivery of Prospectuses.......................................................................11
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws......................................................11
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications........................................................................12
(g) Rule 158.......................................................................................12
(h) Use of Proceeds................................................................................12
(i) Restriction on Sale of Securities..............................................................12
(j) Reporting Requirements.........................................................................12
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses............................................................................13
(a) Expenses.......................................................................................13
(b) Termination of Agreement.......................................................................13
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations........................................................13
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement........................................................13
(b) Opinions of Counsel for Company................................................................14
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters............................................................14
(d) Officers' Certificate..........................................................................14
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter....................................................................14
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter......................................................................14
(g) Maintenance of Rating..........................................................................14
(h) No Objection...................................................................................15
(i) Additional Documents...........................................................................15
(j) Termination of Agreement.......................................................................15
SECTION 6. Indemnification................................................................................15
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters................................................................15
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers.............................................16
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification..........................................................17
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.............................................17
SECTION 7. Contribution...................................................................................17
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.................................19
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.......................................................................19
(a) Termination; General...........................................................................19
(b) Liabilities....................................................................................19
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the Underwriters.....................................................19
SECTION 11. Notices........................................................................................20
SECTION 12. Parties........................................................................................20
SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.........................................................................20
SECTION 14. Effect of Headings.............................................................................21
SECTION 15 Counterparts...................................................................................21
SCHEDULES
Schedule A - List of Underwriters.............................................................Sch A-1
Schedule B - Pricing Information..............................................................Sch B-1
Schedule C - List of Subsidiaries.............................................................Sch C-1
EXHIBITS
Exhibit A - Form of Opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the
Company...........................................................................................A-1
Exhibit B - Form of Opinion of ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President and General Counsel for the
Company...........................................................................................B-1
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ FINANCIAL, INC.
(a Delaware corporation)
$200,000,000
7.50% Notes due January 18, 2006
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
January 12, 2001
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated
Chase Securities Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc.
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
▇/▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ Financial, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), confirms its agreement with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co., ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch,
Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ Incorporated ("▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇"), ▇▇▇▇▇ Securities
Inc. ("Chase") and each of the other underwriters named in Schedule A
hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters", which term shall also include any
underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for
whom ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ and Chase are acting as Representatives (in such
capacity, the "Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by the
Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, of the respective principal amounts set forth in said Schedule A
of $200,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 7.50% Notes due
January 18, 2006 (the "Securities"). The Securities are to be issued
pursuant to an indenture dated as of January 18, 2001 (the "Senior
Indenture") between the Company and Chase Manhattan Trust Company, National
Association, as trustee (the "Trustee"), to be supplemented by a
supplemental indenture to be executed at the Closing Time (as defined
below) between the Company and the Trustee (the "Supplemental Indenture,"
and the Senior Indenture, as supplemented by the Supplemental Indenture,
the "Indenture"). The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to
make a public offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives
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. 333-43862),
pre-effective amendment No. 1 thereto and post-effective amendment No. 1,
covering the registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), including the related preliminary
prospectus or prospectuses. Such registration statement has been declared
effective by the Commission and the Indenture is duly qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). 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/or 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). The information included in such
prospectus or in 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 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 prospectus, including the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the
1933 Act, in the form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in
connection with the offering of the Securities is herein called the
"Prospectus." If Rule 434 is relied on, the term "Prospectus" shall refer
to the preliminary prospectus dated January 8, 2001 together with the Term
Sheet and all references in this Agreement to the date of the Prospectus
shall mean the date of the Term Sheet. For purposes of this Agreement, all
references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the
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
("▇▇▇▇▇").
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 or the
Prospectus (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 or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and all
references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus 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
Prospectus, as the case may be.
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter as of the date hereof and as of
the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(b) hereof, and agrees with each
Underwriter, as follows:
(i) 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, 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 the 1939 Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 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 the Prospectus nor any amendments
or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such
amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time,
included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or will 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. If Rule 434 is used,
the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 434 and the
Prospectus shall not be "materially different", as such term is
used in Rule 434, from the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement at the time it became effective. The representations and
warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company in writing by any Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus 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
Prospectus 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.
(ii) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, 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 Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement became
effective, at the time the Prospectus was issued and at the
Closing Time, 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.
(iii) 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.
(iv) Financial Statements. The financial statements
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
together with the related schedules (if any) and notes, present
fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries and the Legend Group of Companies at the dates
indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders' equity
and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
and the Legend Group of Companies for the periods specified; said
financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting
schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement present
fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be
stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary
financial information included in the Prospectus present fairly
the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements included
in the Registration Statement.
(v) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise
described 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 and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, 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 or
any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course
of business, which are material with respect to the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) except for
regular quarterly dividends on the Class A Common Stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Company (the "Class A Common Stock") and
the Company's Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the
"Class B Common Stock and with the Class A Common Stock, the
"Common Stock") in amounts per share that are consistent with past
practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital
stock.
(vi) 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 Delaware and has corporate
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus 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.
(vii) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. The Company has no
material subsidiaries other than those listed on Schedule C
hereto. Each such subsidiary (a "Material Subsidiary") of the
Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and 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; except as
otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, all of the
issued and outstanding capital stock of each Material Subsidiary
has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and
non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of any Material Subsidiary was
issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any
securityholder of such Material Subsidiary.
(viii) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus in the column entitled "Actual" under the caption
"Capitalization" (except for subsequent issuances, if any,
pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations, agreements
or employee benefit plans referred to in the Prospectus or
pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options
referred to in the Prospectus). The shares of issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company 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 was issued
in violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any
securityholder of the Company.
(ix) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(x) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has
been duly authorized by the Company and duly qualified under the
1939 Act and, when duly executed and delivered by the Company and
the Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws
relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or
similar laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally
and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general principles
of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law).
(xi) Authorization of the Securities. The Securities have
been duly authorized and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly
executed by the Company and, when authenticated, issued and
delivered in the manner provided for in the Indenture and
delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor as
provided in this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without
limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent transfers),
reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement
of creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement thereof
is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law),
and will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the
benefits of, the Indenture.
(xii) Description of the Securities and the Indenture.
The Securities and the Indenture will conform in all material
respects to the respective statements relating thereto contained
in the Prospectus and will be in substantially the respective
forms filed or incorporated by reference, as the case may be, as
exhibits to the Registration Statement.
(xiii) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is 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 or any of its subsidiaries 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 (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, the Indenture and the
Securities and the consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein 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 Prospectus under the
caption "Use of Proceeds"); and compliance by the Company with its
obligations hereunder and under the Indenture and the Securities
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 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.
(xiv) Absence of Proceedings. There are no actions,
suits, proceedings, inquiries or investigations 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 singly
or in the aggregate are required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which
would reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect, or which would reasonably be expected to materially and
adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the
consummation of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or
the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder;
(xv) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and
its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on commercially
reasonable terms, all material patents, patent rights, licenses,
inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and
other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential
information, systems or procedures), trademarks, service marks,
trade names or other intellectual property (collectively,
"Intellectual Property") necessary to carry on the business now
operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with
respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or
circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid
or inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the
subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or
invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvi) 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 hereunder or the consummation
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or for the due
execution, delivery or performance of the Indenture by the
Company, except such as have been already obtained or as may be
required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or state
securities laws and except for the qualification of the Indenture
under the 1939 Act.
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company
and its subsidiaries possess all material 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 them; the Company and its
subsidiaries are 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 neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
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.
(xviii) 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 Prospectus 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").
(xix) Adviser Activities. The Company is not required to
register as an investment adviser with the Commission under the
Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the "Advisers Act").
Each subsidiary of the Company which is engaged in investment
advisory or investment management activities (the "Adviser
Activities") is duly registered as an investment adviser under the
Advisers Act and none of such subsidiaries is prohibited by any
provision of the Advisers Act or the 1940 Act, or the respective
rules and regulations thereunder, from acting as an investment
adviser. None of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
required to be registered, licensed or qualified as an investment
adviser under the laws requiring any such registration, licensing
or qualification in any state in which it or its subsidiaries
conduct business or is not subject to material liability or
disability by reason of the failure to be so registered, licensed
or qualified.
(xx) Broker-Dealer Business. The Company is not required
to register as a broker-dealer under the 1934 Act or under the
securities laws of any state where it conducts business. Each
subsidiary of the Company which is engaged in the broker-dealer
business ("Broker-Dealer Business") is duly registered as a
broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and under the securities laws of
each state where the conduct of its business requires such
registration and is in compliance with all United States federal
and state laws requiring such registration, except where
non-compliance, individually, or in the aggregate, would not have
a Material Adverse Effect. Each subsidiary of the Company which is
engaged in the Broker-Dealer Business is a member in good standing
of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD"). The Company is not required to be a member of the NASD.
(xxi) Compliance with Applicable Laws. Each of the
subsidiaries of the Company which are engaged in the Adviser
Activities or the Broker-Dealer Business, as the case may be, is
and has been in compliance with, and each such entity has, as the
case may be, received no notice of any violation of all laws,
regulations, ordinances and rules (including those of any
non-governmental self-regulatory agencies) applicable to it or its
operations relating to the Adviser Activities or the Broker-Dealer
Business, except where non-compliance would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xxii) Registration of Funds. Each entity for which any
of the Company's subsidiaries acts as an investment adviser and
which is required to be registered with the Commission as an
investment company under the 1940 Act and which is listed in the
Prospectus under "Business - - Funds Summary" (each such entity a
"Fund") is, and upon consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein will be, duly registered with the Commission as an
investment company under the 1940 Act and each Fund has been
operated in compliance with the 1940 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder, except where non-compliance would not have
a Material Adverse Effect. Each Fund's registration statement
complies in all material respects with the provisions of the 1933
Act, the 1940 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, except
where non-compliance would not have a Material Adverse Effect and
does not contain any untrue statement of material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading.
(xxiii) Agreements with Funds. Each agreement between the
Company or any subsidiary of the Company engaged in the Adviser
Activities, on the one hand, and any Fund or private client, on
the other hand (each an "Investment Advisery Agreement"), is a
legal and valid obligation of the Company or such subsidiary, and
none of the Company or any such subsidiary is in breach or
violation of or in default under any such Investment Advisery
Agreement, except where such breach or violation would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. The consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein will not constitute an "assignment," as such
term is defined in the Advisers Act and the 1940 Act, of any of
the Investment Advisery Agreements.
(xxiv) Transfer Agent. The Company is not required to be
registered as a transfer agent under the 1934 Act or under the
laws of any state where it conducts business. Each subsidiary of
the Company which is a transfer agent is duly registered as a
transfer agent under the 1934 Act and under the securities laws of
each state where the conduct of its business requires such
registration and is in compliance with all such federal and state
laws, except where non-compliance would not have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(b) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Representatives
or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and
warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered
thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Securities. On the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth,
the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly,
and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from
the Company, at the price set forth in Schedule B, the aggregate principal
amount of Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such
Underwriter, plus any additional principal amount of Securities which such
Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of
Section 10 hereof.
(b) Payment. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Securities shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇ &
▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or at such
other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company,
at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern 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 Representatives and the Company (such time and
date of payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to a bank account designated by the Company,
against delivery to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the
Underwriters of certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them. It
is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for
its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the
purchase price for, the Securities which it has agreed to purchase. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but
shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the
Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been
received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such
Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(c) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Securities
shall be in such denominations ($1,000 or integral multiples thereof) and
registered in such names as the Representatives may request in writing at
least one full business day before the Closing Time. The certificates
representing the Securities, which may be in temporary form, will be made
available for examination and packaging by the Representatives in The City
of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day
prior to the Closing Time.
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with
each Underwriter 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
Representatives 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 Prospectus or any amended Prospectus
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 Prospectus 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
Representatives 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 Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934
Act or otherwise, will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such
documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use,
as the case may be, and, except for required filings under the 1934 Act,
will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or
counsel for the Underwriters shall object.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished
or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters,
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 Representatives,
without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each
of the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical in all
material respects to the electronically transmitted copies 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
Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus
as such Underwriter 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 Underwriter, without charge, during the period
when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the
1934 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters
will be identical in all material respects 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, the 1934 Act and the
1934 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act Regulations so as to
permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as contemplated
in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time, not later than 270
days after the date hereof, 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 Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the
Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that
the Prospectus 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 the 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 Prospectus comply
with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters
such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters
may reasonably request.
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best
efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities
for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of such states
and other jurisdictions as the Representatives 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 or the Closing Time; 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
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. The Company will also supply the
Underwriters with such information as is necessary for the determination of
the legality of the Securities for investment under the laws of such
jurisdictions as the Underwriters may request.
(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 Prospectus under "Use of Proceeds".
(i) Restriction on Sale of Securities. Between the date hereof and
the later of termination of any trading restrictions or the Closing Time
with respect to the Underwritten Securities, the Company will not, without
the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, directly or indirectly, issue,
sell, offer or contract to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or
otherwise transfer or dispose of, in any public offering or 144A offering
any debt securities of the Company.
(j) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period when
the Prospectus is 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.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Expenses. The Company will pay all expenses incident to the
performance of its 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, the
Indenture 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, (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
Prospectus 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
the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities, (ix) any fees
payable in connection with the rating of the Securities and (x) the filing
fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to
the Underwriters in connection with, the review by the NASD of the terms of
the sale of the Securities.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by
the Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or
Section 9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for
all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The
obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1
hereof or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary
of the Company 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
Underwriters. 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) Opinions of Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinions, dated as of
Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps, Slate, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the
Company, and ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Vice President and General Counsel for the
Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
Underwriters, to the effect set forth in Exhibits A and B, respectively,
hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may
reasonably request.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
Closing Time, of ▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with
respect to the matters set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (iv) through (ix),
inclusive, and the penultimate paragraph of Exhibit A hereto and clause
(iv) of Exhibit B hereto.. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as
to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of
the State of New York and the federal law of the United States and the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, upon the opinions of
counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. 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.
(d) 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 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, and
the Representatives shall have received a certificate of an executive
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.
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution of
this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP a
letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, containing statements and information of the type
ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with
respect to the financial statements and certain financial information
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received from KPMG LLP a letter, dated as of
Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the
letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that
the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business
days prior to Closing Time.
(g) Maintenance of Rating. At Closing Time, the Securities shall
be rated at least "Baa2" by Moody's Investor's Service Inc. and "BBB" by
Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of ▇▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, Inc., and the
Company shall have delivered to the Representatives a letter dated the
Closing Time, from each such rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory
to the Representatives, confirming that the Securities have such ratings;
and since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have occurred a
downgrading in the rating assigned to the Securities or any of the
Company's other debt by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
agency", as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule
436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, and no such organization shall have publicly
announced that it has under surveillance or review its rating of the
Securities or any of the Company's other debt.
(h) 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.
(i) Additional Documents. At Closing Time, counsel for the
Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as
they may reasonably 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 in connection with the issuance and sale
of the Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and
substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.
(j) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in this
Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled,
this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the
Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time 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.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of Underwriters. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any Underwriter 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 contained
in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading except in so far as such losses,
liabilities, claims, or damages are caused by any such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission
based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to
the Company in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use
therein, provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable
to any Underwriter under the indemnity agreement in this
subsection (a) with respect to any preliminary prospectus to the
extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such
Underwriter results from the fact that such Underwriter sold
Securities to a person as to whom it is established that there was
not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such
sale, a copy of the Prospectus or of the Prospectus as then
amended or supplemented in any case where such delivery is
required by the Securities Act if the Company has previously
furnished copies thereof sufficient in quantity to such
Underwriter and the loss, liability, claim, or damage of such
Underwriter results from any untrue statement or omission of a
material fact contained in the preliminary prospectus which was
identified in writing at such time to such Underwriter and
corrected in the Prospectus or in the Prospectus as then amended
or supplemented and such correction would have cured the defect
giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability;
(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
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
(including the reasonable 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 Underwriter through ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ 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 Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto).
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company,
its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement,
and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
Section 15 of the 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 prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus or the 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.
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.
Notwithstanding the immediately preceding sentence, if at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse
the indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, an indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by
Section 6(a)(ii) effected without its consent if such indemnifying party
(i) within 45 days of receipt of such indemnifying party of the aforesaid
request, reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with such request
to the extent it considers such request to be reasonable and (ii) provides
written notice to the indemnified party, within 30 days of such settlement
being entered into, substantiating the unpaid balance as unreasonable.
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 on the one hand and the Underwriters 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 on the one hand and of the Underwriters 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 on the one hand and
the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the
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
Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received
by the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the
Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, or,
if Rule 434 is used, the corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to
the aggregate initial public offering price of the Securities as set forth
on such cover.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters 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 omission to state a material fact
relates to information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and the Underwriters 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 Underwriters were treated as one entity
for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section
7. 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 Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed
to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages
which such Underwriter 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 in connection
with this offering (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 Underwriter 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
Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company
who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
the Company. The Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the principal
amount of Securities set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule
A hereto and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full
force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company,
and shall survive delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination; General. The Representatives may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Company, 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
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, 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
Representatives, 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 NYSE, 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 Underwriters. If one or
more of the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the
Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement
(the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representatives shall have the right,
within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, 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
Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such
24-hour period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of
the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased hereunder,
each of the non-defaulting Underwriters 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 Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the
aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased hereunder,
this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a
termination of this Agreement, either the Representatives or the Company
shall have the right to postpone the Closing Time for a period not
exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements. As used herein, the term "Underwriter" includes any person
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.
SECTION 11. 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 Underwriters shall be directed to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. at ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇, attention of
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇; and notices to the Company shall be directed to it at
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, attention of ▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇. with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.
SECTION 12. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Company 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 Underwriters and the Company 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 Underwriters and the Company 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 Underwriter shall be
deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 13. 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.
SECTION 14. 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.
SECTION 15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in
counterparts with the same effect as if the signatures were upon the same
instrument.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof,
whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a
binding agreement between the Underwriters and the Company in accordance
with its terms.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ FINANCIAL, INC.
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Vice President,
Chief Financial Officer
and Treasurer
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above
written:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & CO.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
CHASE SECURITIES INC.
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & CO. INCORPORATED
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ INC.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LYNCH, PIERCE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
INCORPORATED
By /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
---------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
SCHEDULE A
Principal
Amount of
Name of Underwriter Securities
------------------- ----------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Lynch, Pierce, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇
Incorporated......................... $140,000,000
Chase Securities Inc................................. 25,000,000
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated.................... 25,000,000
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Inc......................................... 10,000,000
-------------
Total................................................ $200,000,000
=============
SCHEDULE B
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ FINANCIAL, INC.
$200,000,000
7.50% Notes due January 18, 2006
(a) The aggregate principal amount of Securities to be offered and
sold shall be $200,000,000.
(b) The initial public offering price of the Securities shall be
99.607% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any,
from the date of issuance.
(c) The purchase price to be paid by the Underwriters for the
Securities shall be 99.007% of the principal amount thereof.
(d) The interest rate on the Securities shall be 7.50% per annum.
SCHEDULE C
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ FINANCIAL, INC.
DIRECT AND INDIRECT SUBSIDIARIES
Name Jurisdiction % of Capital Stock
---- ------------ Owned
------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇, Inc. Delaware 100%
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ Investment Management Company Kansas 100%
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ Services Company Missouri 100%
Austin, Calvert & ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Inc. Texas 100%
Legend Advisory Corporation New York 100%
Legend Equities Corporation Delaware 100%
Advisory Services Corporation Nevada 100%
Exhibit A
FORM OF OPINION OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇ LLP,
COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY,
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 Delaware.
(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease
and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase
Agreement.
(iii) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company.
(iv) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and binding agreement
of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating to fraudulent
transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as enforcement
thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether
enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(v) The Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture,
have been duly authorized by the Company and, assuming that the Securities
have been duly authenticated by the Trustee in the manner described in its
certificate delivered to you today (which fact such counsel need not
determine by an inspection of the Securities), the Securities have been
duly executed, issued and delivered by the Company and constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws
relating to fraudulent transfers), reorganization, moratorium or similar
laws affecting enforcement of creditors' rights generally and except as
enforcement thereof is subject to general principles of equity (regardless
of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law),
and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(vi) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇.
(vii) The Securities and the Indenture conform as to legal matters
in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Prospectus.
(viii) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, has been declared effective under the 1933 Act; any
required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in
the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and, 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, to my knowledge, threatened by the
Commission.
(ix) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, as applicable, the Prospectus, excluding the documents
incorporated by reference therein, and each amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, 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, and the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility on
Form T-1 (the "Form T-1"), 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.
(x) The information in the Prospectus under "Description of the
Notes" and "Indemnification of Officers and Directors" 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.
(xi) 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 and except for
the qualification of the Indenture under the 1939 Act, as to which we need
express no opinion) is necessary or required in connection with the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement or the due
execution, delivery or performance of the Indenture by the Company or for
the offering, issuance, sale or delivery of the Securities.
(xii) 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 and the Form T-1, 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 Prospectus 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 and the
Form T-1, as to which we need make no statement), at the time the
Prospectus was 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 (A) 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
(ss.1991).
Exhibit B
FORM OF OPINION OF ▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, VICE PRESIDENT AND
GENERAL COUNSEL OF THE COMPANY
TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
SECTION 5(b)
(i) 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.
(ii) Each Material Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and authority to
own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and 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; except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, all of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Material Subsidiary has
been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable
and, to the best of my knowledge, is owned by the Company, directly or
through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares
of capital stock of any subsidiary was issued in violation of the
preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Material
Subsidiary.
(iii) I have reviewed the information in "Indemnification of
Officers and Directors" in the Registration Statement under Item 15, and 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, it is correct in all material respects.
(iv) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
(other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included
therein or omitted therefrom, as to which I need express no opinion), when
they were filed with the Commission complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(v) To the best of my 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
Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations
thereunder.
(vi) To the best of my knowledge, neither the Company nor any
subsidiary is in violation of its charter or by-laws and no default by the
Company or any subsidiary 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 Prospectus or filed or incorporated by
reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
(vii) The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase
Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in the 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 Prospectus
under the caption "Use Of Proceeds") and compliance by the Company with its
obligations under the Purchase Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities
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)(xiii) of the Purchase
Agreement) 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.
(viii) The Company is not required to register as an investment
adviser with the Commission under the Advisers Act. Each subsidiary of the
Company which is engaged in the Adviser Activities is duly registered as an
investment adviser under the Advisers Act and none of such subsidiaries is
prohibited from acting as an investment adviser. None of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is required to be registered, licensed or qualified as
an investment adviser under the laws of any state.
(ix) The Company is not required to register as a broker-dealer
under the 1934 Act or under the securities laws of any state where it
conducts business. Each subsidiary of the Company which is engaged in the
Broker-Dealer Business is duly registered, licensed or qualified as a
broker-dealer under the 1934 Act and under the securities laws of each
state where the conduct of its business requires such registration,
licensing or qualification. No subsidiary of the Company which is engaged
in the Broker-Dealer Business is prohibited from acting as a broker-dealer.
(x) Each agreement between the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company engaged in the Adviser Activities, on the one hand, and any Fund or
private client, on the other hand (each an "Investment Advisery
Agreement"), is a legal and valid obligation of the Company or such
subsidiary, and none of the Company or any such subsidiary, to the best of
my knowledge, is in breach or violation of or in default under any such
Investment Advisery Agreement, except where such breach or violation would
not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xi) To the best of my knowledge, each subsidiary of the Company
engaged in the Adviser Activities or the Broker-Dealer Business, as the
case may be, is in compliance with all laws, regulations, ordinances and
rules (including those of any non-governmental self-regulatory agencies)
applicable to it or its operations relating to the Adviser Activities or
the Broker-Dealer Business, as the case may be, except where any failure by
any such subsidiary to comply with any such law, regulation, ordinance or
rule would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
Nothing has come to my attention that would lead me 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 and the Form T-1, as
to which I 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 Prospectus 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 and the Form T-1, as to which I
need make no statement), at the time the Prospectus was 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 (A) 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
(ss.1991).