_______________ Shares
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc.
Common Stock
Underwriting Agreement
dated ____________, 1999
Table Of Contents
Page
Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company....................................................... 2
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements...................................................... 2
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters................................................... 2
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company............................................... 2
(d) The Underwriting Agreement..................................................................... 3
(e) Authorization of the Common Shares............................................................. 3
(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights............................................. 3
(g) No Material Adverse Change..................................................................... 3
(h) Independent Accountants........................................................................ 3
(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements........................................................ 3
(j) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company................................................. 3
(k) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters................................................. 4
(l) Stock Exchange Listing......................................................................... 4
(m) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required..... 4
(n) No Conflict with Reincorporation............................................................... 5
(o) No Material Actions or Proceedings............................................................. 5
(p) Intellectual Property Rights................................................................... 5
(q) All Necessary Permits, etc..................................................................... 5
(r) Title to Properties............................................................................ 5
(s) Tax Law Compliance............................................................................. 6
(t) Company Not an "Investment Company"............................................................ 6
(u) Insurance...................................................................................... 6
(v) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation......................................................... 6
(w) Related Party Transactions..................................................................... 6
(x) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments.................................................... 6
(y) Company's Accounting System.................................................................... 6
(z) ERISA Compliance............................................................................... 7
(aa) Year 2000..................................................................................... 7
Section 2. Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Common Shares........................................ 7
i.
Table Of Contents
(CONTINUED)
Page
(a) The Firm Common Shares......................................................................... 7
(b) The First Closing Date......................................................................... 7
(c) The Optional Common Shares; the Second Closing Date............................................ 8
(d) Public Offering of the Common Shares........................................................... 8
(e) Payment for the Common Shares.................................................................. 8
(f) Delivery of the Common Shares.................................................................. 9
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters..................................................... 9
Section 3. Additional Covenants of the Company................................................................. 9
(a) Representatives' Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements................................. 9
(b) Securities Act Compliance...................................................................... 9
(c) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters.................. 10
(d) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus..................................... 10
(e) Blue Sky Compliance............................................................................ 10
(f) Use of Proceeds................................................................................ 10
(g) Transfer Agent................................................................................. 11
(h) Earnings Statement............................................................................. 11
(i) Periodic Reporting Obligations................................................................. 11
(j) Agreement Not To Offer or Sell Additional Securities........................................... 11
(k) Future Reports to the Representatives.......................................................... 11
Section 4. Payment of Expenses................................................................................. 11
Section 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters................................................... 12
(a) Accountants' Comfort Letter.................................................................... 12
(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No Objection from NASD............... 12
(c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change............................................ 13
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company............................................................. 13
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters........................................................ 13
(f) Officers' Certificate.......................................................................... 13
ii.
Table Of Contents
(CONTINUED)
Page
(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter...................................................................... 13
(h) Lock-Up Agreement.............................................................................. 14
(i) Additional Documents........................................................................... 14
Section 6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses............................................................. 14
Section 7. Effectiveness of this Agreement..................................................................... 14
Section 8. Indemnification..................................................................................... 15
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters............................................................ 15
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers..................................... 16
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures............................................. 16
(d) Settlements.................................................................................... 17
Section 9. Contribution........................................................................................ 17
Section 10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters.................................................. 18
Section 11. Termination of this Agreement....................................................................... 19
Section 12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery................................................. 19
Section 13. Notices............................................................................................. 20
Section 14. Successors.......................................................................................... 20
Section 15. Partial Unenforceability............................................................................ 20
Section 16. (a) Governing Law Provisions........................................................................ 20
Section 17. General Provisions.................................................................................. 21
iii.
Underwriting Agreement
[Date]
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of [___] shares (the "Firm Common
----------
Shares") of its Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"). In
addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up
to an additional [___] shares (the "Optional Common Shares") of Common Stock, as
provided in Section 2. The Firm Common Shares and, if and to the extent such
option is exercised, the Optional Common Shares are collectively called the
"Common Shares." Banc of America Securities LLC ("BAS"), and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ &
Company have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in
such capacity, the "Representatives") in connection with the offering and sale
of the Common Shares.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-78365), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with
the public offering and sale of the Common Shares. Such registration statement,
as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto,
in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any information deemed to be a
part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434
under the Securities Act, is called the "Registration Statement". Any
registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act is called the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement", and from and
after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the
term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to
confirm sales of the Common Shares, is called the "Prospectus"; provided,
however, if the Company has, with the consent of BAS, elected to rely upon Rule
434 under the Securities Act, the term "Prospectus" shall mean the Company's
prospectus subject to completion (each, a "preliminary prospectus") dated [___]
(such preliminary prospectus is called the "Rule 434 preliminary prospectus"),
together with the applicable term sheet (the "Term Sheet") prepared and filed by
the Company with the Commission under Rules 434 and 424(b) under the Securities
Act and all references in this Agreement to the date of the Prospectus shall
mean the date of the Term Sheet. All references in this Agreement to the
Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or the Term Sheet, or any amendments or supplements
to any of
1.
the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant
to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System ("▇▇▇▇▇").
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as
follows:
Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared
effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has
complied to the Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the
Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such
purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of
the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in
all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic
transmission pursuant to ▇▇▇▇▇ (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-
T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to
the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the
Common Shares. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the
time it became effective and at all subsequent times, complied and will
comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times, did not and will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding
sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective
amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements
thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating
to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the
Representatives expressly for use therein. There are no contracts or other
documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or
filed as required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has
delivered to the Representatives three complete manually signed copies of
the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts
filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement
(without exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the
Representatives have reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has
not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second
Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters'
distribution of the Common Shares, any offering material in connection with
the offering and sale of the Common Shares other than a preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
2.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement
of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights
to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as
the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting
the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Common Shares. The Common Shares to be
purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized
for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and
delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or
included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such
rights as have been duly waived.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change, or
any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material
adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company (any such
change is called a "Material Adverse Change"); (ii) the Company has not
incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or
contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any
material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business;
and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared,
paid or made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company on
any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company.
(h) Independent Accountants. ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, who have expressed
their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used
in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) filed with the
Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in the
Prospectus, are independent public or certified public accountants as
required by the Securities Act.
(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and
included in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial
position of the Company as of and at the dates indicated and the results of
its operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto.
No other financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be
included in the Registration Statement. The financial data set forth in the
Prospectus under the captions "Prospectus Summary--Summary Selected
Financial Data", "Selected Financial Data" and "Capitalization" fairly
present the information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that
of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration
Statement.
(j) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company. The Company has
been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation 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
3.
perform its obligations under this Agreement. The Company is duly qualified
as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
the State of Colorado and 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 for such jurisdictions (other
than the state of Colorado) where the failure to so qualify or to be in
good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Change. The Company has no subsidiaries. The
reincorporation of the Company from a Colorado corporation into a Delaware
corporation (the "Merger") was duly and properly effectuated as a merger in
accordance with the Delaware and Colorado corporation laws, the successor
Company succeeded to all rights, privileges and obligations of the
predecessor Company and the offer and sale of the securities issued in
connection with the Merger were in compliance with the applicable federal
and state securities laws.
(k) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized,
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the
Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in
the Prospectus). The Common Stock (including the Common Shares) conforms in
all material respects to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus. All of the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock have
been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable
and have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws.
None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation of
any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to
subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no
authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of
first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of
the Company other than those accurately described in the Prospectus. The
description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock
plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder,
set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information
required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and
rights.
(l) Stock Exchange Listing. The Common Shares have been approved for
listing on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of
issuance.
(m) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further
Authorizations or Approvals Required. The Company is not in violation of
its charter or by-laws or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or
lapse of time, would be in default) ("Default") under any indenture,
mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or
other instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it may be
bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject
(each, an "Existing Instrument"), except for such Defaults as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The
Company's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus
(i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will
not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of
the Company, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or
Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to, or
require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument, except
for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Change and (iii) will not result in any violation of any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to
the Company. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration or filing with, any court or other
4.
governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the
Company's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus,
except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full
force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or
blue sky laws and from the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(the "NASD").
(n) No Conflict with Reincorporation. Neither the Agreement and Plan
of Merger dated as of May 24, 1999 between the Company and Real Education,
Inc. a Colorado corporation, nor the exchange of shares consummated in
connection therewith contravened, conflicted with or results in a material
violation or breach of, or resulted in a default under, any provisions of
any agreement or contract of the Company or its predecessor Colorado
corporation, except for (i) any contravention, conflict, violation, breach
or default which could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change, (ii) gave any person the right to (a) declare a default or
exercise any remedy under any such agreement or contract, except where any
such default or exercise of a remedy could not reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change, (b) accelerate the maturity or
performance of any such agreement or contract, except where such
acceleration could not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change, or (c) cancel, terminate or modify any such contract,
except where any such cancellation, termination or modification could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; or (iii)
result in the imposition or creation of any encumbrance upon or with
respect to any of the shares of capital stock or the assets of the Company,
except where such encumbrance would not result in a Material Adverse Change
on the Company.
(o) No Material Actions or Proceedings. There are no legal or
governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of the
Company's knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company, (ii)
which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property
owned or leased by, the Company or (iii) relating to environmental or
discrimination matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable
possibility that such action, suit or proceeding might be determined
adversely to the Company and (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so
determined adversely, would reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change or adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement. No material labor dispute with the
employees of the Company exists or, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
is threatened or imminent.
(p) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company owns or possesses
sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses,
approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively,
"Intellectual Property Rights") reasonably necessary to conduct their
businesses as now conducted; and the expected expiration of any of such
Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
The Company has not received any notice of infringement or conflict with
asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which infringement or
conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would result in a
Material Adverse Change.
(q) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company possesses such valid and
current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate
state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to
conduct its business, and the Company has not received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-
compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit which,
singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(r) Title to Properties. The Company has good and marketable title to
all the properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial
statements referred to in Section 1(i) above, in each
5.
case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens,
encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as do not
materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not
materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such
property by the Company. The real property, improvements, equipment and
personal property held under lease by the Company are held under valid and
enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not
materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real
property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company.
(s) Tax Law Compliance. The Company has filed all necessary federal,
state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and have paid all taxes
required to be paid by it and, if due and payable, any related or similar
assessment, fine or penalty levied against it. The Company has made
adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial
statements referred to in Section 1(i) above in respect of all federal,
state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which
the tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.
(t) Company Not an "Investment Company". The Company has been advised
of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after
receipt of payment for the Common Shares will not be, an "investment
company" within the meaning of Investment Company Act and will conduct its
business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the Investment
Company Act.
(u) Insurance. The Company is insured by recognized, financially
sound and reputable institutions with policies in such amounts and with
such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally deemed adequate
and customary for their businesses including, but not limited to, policies
covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company against
theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. The Company
has no reason to believe that it will not be able (i) to renew its existing
insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain
comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or
appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that
would not result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company has not been
denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has
applied.
(v) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation . The Company has not
taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or
that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or
resale of the Common Shares.
(w) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships
or related-party transactions involving the Company or any other person
required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described as
required.
(x) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. The Company nor, to
the best of the Company's knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company,
has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate
for, any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the
character required to be disclosed in the Prospectus.
(y) Company's Accounting System. The Company maintains a system of
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted
6.
accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii)
access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general
or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets
is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate
action is taken with respect to any differences.
(z) ERISA Compliance. The Company and any "employee benefit plan" (as
defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
(collectively, "ERISA")) established or maintained by the Company, or its
"ERISA Affiliates" (as defined below) are in compliance in all material
respects with ERISA. "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to the Company,
any member of any group of organizations described in Sections
414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and
the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the "Code") of
which the Company is a member. No "reportable event" (as defined under
ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any
"employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, or any of
its ERISA Affiliates. No "employee benefit plan" established or maintained
by the Company, or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such "employee benefit
plan" were terminated, would have any "amount of unfunded benefit
liabilities" (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, nor any of its
ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur any liability
under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal
from, any "employee benefit plan" or (ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B
of the Code. Each "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the
Company, or any of its ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred,
whether by action or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such
qualification.
(aa) Year 2000. All disclosure regarding year 2000 compliance that is
required to be described under the 1933 Act and 1933 Regulations (including
disclosures required by Staff Legal Bulletin No. 5) has been included in
the Prospectus. The Company will not incur significant operating expenses
or costs to ensure that its information systems will be year 2000
complaint, other than as disclosed in the Prospectus.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to
the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters
set forth therein.
Section 2. Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Common Shares.
(a) The Firm Common Shares. The Company agrees to issue and sell to
the several Underwriters the Firm Common Shares upon the terms herein set
forth. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements
herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein
set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company the respective number of Firm Common Shares set forth
opposite their names on Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Common
----------
Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall be $[___]
per share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Firm
Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor
shall be made at the offices of BAS, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the
Representatives) at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, on the fourth full day
after
7.
the date of this Agreement, or such other time and date not later than
10:30 a.m. San Francisco time, on the tenth day following the original
contemplated First Closing Date as the Representatives shall designate by
notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the
"First Closing Date"). The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances
under which the Representatives may provide notice to postpone the First
Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to,
any determination by the Company or the Representatives to recirculate to
the public copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as
contemplated by the provisions of Section 10.
(c) The Optional Common Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition,
on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein
contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set
forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of [___] Optional
Common Shares from the Company at the purchase price per share to be paid
by the Underwriters for the Firm Common Shares. The option granted
hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-
allotments in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Common
Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time (but not
more than once) upon notice by the Representatives to the Company, which
notice may be given at any time within 30 days from the date of this
Agreement. Such notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of Optional
Common Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option, (ii)
the names and denominations in which the certificates for the Optional
Common Shares are to be registered and (iii) the time, date and place at
which such certificates will be delivered (which time and date may be
simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the First Closing Date; and in
such case the term "First Closing Date" shall refer to the time and date of
delivery of certificates for the Firm Common Shares and the Optional Common
Shares). Such time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the First Closing
Date, is called the "Second Closing Date" and shall be determined by the
Representatives and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five
full business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any
Optional Common Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Optional Common Shares
(subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the
Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total
number of Optional Common Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm
Common Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter
----------
bears to the total number of Firm Common Shares. The Representatives may
cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written
notice of such cancellation to the Company.
(d) Public Offering of the Common Shares. The Representatives hereby
advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the
public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of the
Common Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed and the
Registration Statement has been declared effective as the Representatives,
in their sole judgments, have determined is advisable and practicable.
(e) Payment for the Common Shares. Payment for the Common Shares
shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the Second
Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order
of the Company.
8.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for
their own accounts and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept
delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for,
the Firm Common Shares and any Optional Common Shares the Underwriters have
agreed to purchase. The Representatives, individually and not as the
Representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to)
make payment for any Common Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose
funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, for the
account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such
Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
(f) Delivery of the Common Shares. The Company shall deliver, or
cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the
several Underwriters certificates for the Firm Common Shares at the First
Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of
immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor.
The Company shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the
Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, certificates
for the Optional Common Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase at
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be,
against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available
funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for
the Common Shares shall be in definitive form and registered in such names
and denominations as the Representatives shall have requested at least two
full business days prior to the First Closing Date (or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be) and shall be made available for inspection on the
business day preceding the First Closing Date (or the Second Closing Date,
as the case may be) at a location in New York City as the Representatives
may designate. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and
place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations
of the Underwriters.
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00
p.m. on the second business day following the date the Common Shares are
first released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company
shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies of the Prospectus in such
quantities and at such places as the Representatives shall request.
Section 3. Additional Covenants of the Company.
The Company further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as
follows:
(a) Representatives' Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements.
During such period beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of
the First Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered
in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus
Delivery Period"), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration
Statement (including any registration statement filed under Rule 462(b)
under the Securities Act) or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to
the Representatives for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or
supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment or
supplement to which the Representatives reasonably objects.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, the
Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing (i) of the
receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental
information from, the Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing
of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any
amendment or
9.
supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the
time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of
any proceedings to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation
the Common Stock from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for
trading or included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or
initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the Commission
shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use its best
efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the earliest possible
moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with the
provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 434, as applicable, under the
Securities Act and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any
filings made by the Company under such Rule 424(b) were received in a
timely manner by the Commission.
(c) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities
Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event shall
occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser,
not misleading, or if in the opinion of the Representatives or counsel for
the Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with law, the Company agrees to promptly prepare
(subject to Section 3(a) hereof), file with the Commission and furnish at
its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as
so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when
the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
(d) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the
Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Prospectus and any
amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may request.
(e) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register the
Common Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the application of)
the state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian provincial Securities
laws of those jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, shall comply
with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and
exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Common
Shares. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign
corporation or to take any action that would subject it to general service
of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or
where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company
will advise the Representatives promptly of the suspension of the
qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the
Common Shares for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any
initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the
event of the issuance of any order suspending such qualification,
registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain
the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(f) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from
the sale of the Common Shares sold by it in the manner described under the
caption "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
10.
(g) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its
expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.
(h) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not be audited), no later than 15 months
after the effective date of the Registration Statement, covering a period
of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date of the
Registration Statement that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of
the Securities Act.
(i) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery
Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and
the Nasdaq National Market all reports and documents required to be filed
under the Exchange Act. Additionally, the Company shall report the use of
proceeds from the issuance of the Common Shares as may be required under
Rule 463 under the Securities Act.
(j) Agreement Not To Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the
period of 180 days following the date of the Prospectus, the Company will
not, without the prior written consent of BAS (which consent may be
withheld at the sole discretion of BAS), directly or indirectly, sell,
offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish
an open "put equivalent position" within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under
the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the
offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities Act in
respect of, any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire
shares of the Common Stock or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or
convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than as contemplated by this
Agreement with respect to the Common Shares); provided, however, that the
Company may issue shares of its Common Stock or options to purchase its
Common Stock, or Common Stock upon exercise of options, pursuant to any
stock option, stock bonus or other stock plan or arrangement described in
the Prospectus, but only if the holders of such shares, options, or shares
issued upon exercise of such options, agree in writing not to sell, offer,
dispose of or otherwise transfer any such shares or options during such 180
day period without the prior written consent of BAS (which consent may be
withheld at the sole discretion of the BAS).
(k) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five
years hereafter the Company will furnish to BAS at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇: (i) as soon as practicable
after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the
Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows
for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's
independent public or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as
practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each proxy statement,
Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report
on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company with the Commission, the
NASD or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of
any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of
its capital stock.
BAS, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in its sole discretion,
waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more of the
foregoing covenants or extend the time for their performance.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations
hereunder and in connection with the
11.
transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses
incident to the issuance and delivery of the Common Shares (including all
printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and
transfer agent of the Common Stock, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and
other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Common Shares
to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company's counsel,
independent public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all
costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing,
filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of
experts), each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, attorneys' fees
and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with
qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or
registration of) all or any part of the Common Shares for offer and sale under
the state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of
Canada, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing and printing a "Blue
Sky Survey" or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the
Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vii) the
filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with, the NASD's review and approval of the
Underwriters' participation in the offering and distribution of the Common
Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Common Stock on
the Nasdaq National Market, and (ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred
to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except as provided in
this Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters
shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their
counsel.
Section 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Common
Shares as provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the
Optional Common Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company set
forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof and as of the First Closing Date
as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, as of the
Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely performance by the
Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the
following additional conditions:
(a) Accountants' Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the
Representatives shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP,
independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a
letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form
and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, containing
statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
accountant's "comfort letters" to underwriters, delivered according to
Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin),
with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and
certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus.
(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No
Objection from NASD. For the period from and after effectiveness of
this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect
to the Optional Common Shares, the Second Closing Date:
(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the
Commission (including the information required by Rule 430A under
the Securities Act) in the manner and within the time period
required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company
shall have filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement containing the information required by such Rule 430A,
and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective;
or, if the Company elected to rely upon Rule 434 under the
Securities Act and obtained the Representatives' consent thereto,
the
12.
Company shall have filed a Term Sheet with the Commission in the
manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b);
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in
effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been instituted
or threatened by the Commission; and
(iii) the NASD shall have raised no objection to the
fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and
arrangements.
(c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the
period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the First
Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, the Second
Closing Date in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have
occurred any Material Adverse Change.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have received
the favorable opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Phleger & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the
Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is agreed to by
the Representatives (and the Representatives shall have received an
additional two conformed copies of such counsel's legal opinion for each of
the several Underwriters).
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On each of the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have
received the favorable opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ Godward LLP, counsel for the
Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date (and the Representatives shall
have received an additional two conformed copies of such counsel's legal
opinion for each of the several Underwriters).
(f) Officers' Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and the
Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have received a written
certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer
or President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief
Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the
effect set forth in subsections (b)(ii) of this Section 5, and further to
the effect that:
(i) for the period from and after the date of this
Agreement and prior to such Closing Date, there has not occurred any
Material Adverse Change;
(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the
Company set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct
with the same force and effect as though expressly made on and as of
such Closing Date; and
(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements
hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed
or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date.
(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On each of the First Closing Date and
the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the
Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representatives, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made
in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section
5, except that the
13.
specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall
be no more than three business days prior to the First Closing Date or
Second Closing Date, as the case may be.
(h) Lock-Up Agreement. On the date hereof, the Company shall have
furnished to the Representatives an agreement in the form of Exhibit A
---------
hereto from each director, officer and each beneficial owner of Common
Stock (as defined and determined according to Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
Act), and such agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the
First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date.
(i) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the
Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions
as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass
upon the issuance and sale of the Common Shares as contemplated herein, or
in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and
warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements,
herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied when and
as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the First
Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, at any time prior
to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the
part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 6, Section
8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such
termination.
Section 6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If this Agreement is
terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5, Section 7, Section 10
or Section 11, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Common Shares on the
First Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or
failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or to comply
with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives
and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this
Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-
pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives
and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering
and sale of the Common Shares, including but not limited to fees and
disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile
and telephone charges.
Section 7. Effectiveness of this Agreement.
This Agreement shall not become effective until the later of (i) the
execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii) notification by the
Commission to the Company and the Representatives of the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement under the Securities Act.
Prior to such effectiveness, this Agreement may be terminated by any
party by notice to each of the other parties hereto, and any such termination
shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any Underwriter,
except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the
Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) of
any Underwriter to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party
except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
14.
Section 8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees,
and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such
controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at
common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained
in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any
information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434
under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or
the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) in whole or in part
upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of the
Company to perform its obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any act
or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter
in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Common Stock or the
offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred
to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based
upon any matter covered by clause (i) or (ii) above, provided that the
Company shall not be liable under this clause (v) to the extent that a
court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment
that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted directly from
any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such
Underwriter through its bad faith or willful misconduct; and to reimburse
each Underwriter and each such controlling person for any and all expenses
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by BAS) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling
person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising
or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action;
provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply
to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to
the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto); and provided, further, that with respect to any preliminary
prospectus, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the
benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense purchased Common Shares, or any person
controlling such Underwriter, if copies of the Prospectus were timely
delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the
Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall have
furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by
or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to
have been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of
the Common Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or
supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense. The indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company may
otherwise have.
15.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers . Each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to
which the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person may
become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other
federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise
(including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected
with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated
below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to
the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives
expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such
director, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense
reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling,
compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or
action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information that the
Underwriters have furnished to the Company expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in the
table in the first paragraph, as the second paragraph, and as the ninth and
tenth paragraphs concerning stabilization by the Underwriters, and twelfth
and fourteenth paragraphs under the caption "Underwriting" in the
Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such statements are correct.
The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition
to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in
respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this
Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained
in this Section 8 or to the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate
result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek
indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly
with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice
delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid
notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided,
however, if the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have
reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions of the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of
any such action or that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or
other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall
have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and
to otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such
indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of such
16.
indemnifying party's election so to assume the defense of such action and
approval by the indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will
not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal
or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall
have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next
preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying
party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate
counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party
(BAS in the case of Section 8(b) and Section 9), representing the
indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or (ii) the
indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable
time after notice of commencement of the action, in each of which cases the
fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying
party.
(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall
not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by
reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing
sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by Section 8(c) hereof, the indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into
more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid
request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent
of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent to
the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been
a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes
an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on
claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.
Section 9. Contribution.
If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason
held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as
a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to
therein (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 Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of
the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in
connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities 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
Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Common
Shares 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 front cover page of the Prospectus (or, if Rule
434 under the
Securities Act is used, the corresponding location on the Term Sheet) bear to
the aggregate initial public offering price of the Common Shares 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 or any such
inaccurate or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to
information supplied by the Company, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on
the other hand, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to
include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any legal or
other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with
investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in
Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if
a claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however,
that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which
notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 9 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 in this Section 9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions
received by such Underwriter in connection with the Common Shares underwritten
by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their
respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their names in
Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each officer and employee of an
----------
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange 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 with the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
SECTION 10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or
more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Common Shares
that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the
aggregate number of Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the
aggregate number of the Common Shares to be purchased on such date, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number
of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A
----------
bears to the aggregate number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite the names
of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be
specified by the Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, to purchase the Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or
more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Common Shares and the
aggregate number of Common Shares with respect to which such default occurs
exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Common Shares to be purchased on such
date,
18.
and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the
purchase of such Common Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default,
this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party
except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9
shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such
case either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no
event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be deemed to
include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section
10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
Section 11. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the First Closing Date
this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the
Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company's
securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the
Nasdaq National Market, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq
Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on
any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general
banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York,
Delaware or California authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak
or escalation of national or international hostilities or any crisis or
calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets,
or any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial
change in United States' or international political, financial or economic
conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and adverse
and makes it impracticable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on the
terms described in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of
securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a
loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such
character as in the judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially
with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of
whether or not such loss shall have been insured. Any termination pursuant to
this Section 11 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any
Underwriter, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the
expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and
6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company, or (c) of any party hereto to any
other party except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all
times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 12. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company, of its officers and of the several Underwriters set
forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter
or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any
controlling person, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment
for the Common Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
19.
Section 13. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
Banc of America Securities LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: ▇▇▇-▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
with a copy to:
Banc of America Securities LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
If to the Company:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc.
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
Section 14. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant
to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 and Section 9, and in
each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any right
or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include any purchaser
of the Common Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of
such purchase.
Section 15. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of
any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.
If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such
minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid
and enforceable.
Section 16. (A) Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK
APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.
20.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the
United States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the
courts of the State of California in each case located in the City and County of
San Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in
regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related
Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts
and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section 17. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the
parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived
unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.
The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the convenience of
the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated
business person who was adequately represented by counsel during negotiations
regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the
indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of
Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties
hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto
fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate
the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as
required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
.21
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
kindly sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement
in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, INC.
By:_________________________________________
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, President and
Chief Executive Officer
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted
by the Representatives in San Francisco, California as of the date first above
written.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & COMPANY
Acting as Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
By BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
By:_______________________________
Name:_____________________________
Title:____________________________
Underwriting Agreement
Signature Page
SCHEDULE A
Number of Firm
Common Shares
UNDERWRITERS to be Purchased
Banc of America Securities LLC.................. [___]
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Company......................... [___]
Total........................................ [___]
EXHIBIT A
[Date]
Banc of America Securities LLC
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ & Company
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o Banc of America Securities LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
RE: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇.▇▇▇, Inc. (the "Company")
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares of
Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry out
a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for which you will act as the
representatives of the underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that the
Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company by,
among other things, raising additional capital for its operations. The
undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are relying on the
representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in
carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with
the Company with respect to the Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the
undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of BAS (which consent
may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer,
contract or grant any option to sell (including without limitation any short
sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open "put equivalent position" within the
meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or otherwise
dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of
Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into
shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned either of record or
beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended) by the undersigned, or publicly announce the undersigned's
intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof
and continuing through the close of trading on the date 180 days after the date
of the Prospectus. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop
transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent and registrar against
the transfer of shares of Common Stock or securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock held by the undersigned except in
compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
With respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any registration
rights relating to registration under the Securities Act of any Common Stock
owned either of record or beneficially by the undersigned, including any rights
to receive notice of the Offering.
1
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and the
respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the
undersigned.
_________________________________________________
Printed Name of Holder
By:______________________________________________
Signature
_________________________________________________
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing if
signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf
of an entity)
2