▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
$140,000,000
6% CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2005
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
DATED MARCH 12, 1998
NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
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SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(a) NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(b) NO INTEGRATION OF OFFERINGS OR GENERAL SOLICITATION.. . . . . . . . . 3
(c) ELIGIBILITY FOR RESALE UNDER RULE 144A. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(d) THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
(e) INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
(f) THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
(g) THE SHELF REGISTRATION AGREEMENT AND DTC AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . 4
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF THE SECURITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF THE INDENTURE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(j) DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES AND THE INDENTURE . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(k) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
(l) INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
(m) PREPARATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
(n) INCORPORATION AND GOOD STANDING OF THE COMPANY AND ITS SUBSIDIARIES . 6
(o) CAPITALIZATION AND OTHER CAPITAL STOCK MATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . 7
(p) STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
(q) NON-CONTRAVENTION OF EXISTING INSTRUMENTS; NO FURTHER
AUTHORIZATIONS OR APPROVALS REQUIRED . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
(r) NO MATERIAL ACTIONS OR PROCEEDINGS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
(s) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(t) ALL NECESSARY PERMITS, ETC. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(u) TITLE TO PROPERTIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(v) TAX LAW COMPLIANCE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
(w) COMPANY NOT AN "INVESTMENT COMPANY" . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(x) INSURANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(y) NO PRICE STABILIZATION OR MANIPULATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(z) NO UNLAWFUL CONTRIBUTIONS OR OTHER PAYMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(aa) COMPANY'S ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
(bb) COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
(cc) PERIODIC REVIEW OF COSTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . 12
(dd) ERISA COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
(ee) SOLVENCY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
(ff) NO DEFAULT IN SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
(gg) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
(hh) AUTHORIZATION OF COMMON STOCK. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
(ii) COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S REQUIREMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
(jj) REPORTING ISSUER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
i
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES . . . . . . . . . . 14
(a) THE FIRM SECURITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
(b) THE FIRST CLOSING DATE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
(c) THE OPTIONAL SECURITIES; THE SECOND CLOSING DATE. . . . . . . . . . . 14
(d) DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
(e) DELIVERY OF OFFERING MEMORANDUM TO THE INITIAL PURCHASERS . . . . . . 15
(f) INITIAL PURCHASERS AS QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS. . . . . . . . . 15
SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
(a) INITIAL PURCHASERS' REVIEW OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS . . 16
(b) AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM AND OTHER
SecuRITIES ACT MATTERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
(c) COPIES OF THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
(d) BLUE SKY COMPLIANCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
(e) USE OF PROCEEDS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
(f) THE DEPOSITARY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
(g) ADDITIONAL ISSUER INFORMATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
(h) AGREEMENT NOT TO OFFER OR SELL ADDITIONAL SECURITIES. . . . . . . . . 18
(i) FUTURE REPORTS TO THE INITIAL PURCHASERS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(j) SHELF REGISTRATION AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(k) NO INTEGRATION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
(l) RESTRICTION ON REPURCHASES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(m) LEGENDED SECURITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(n) PORTAL. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(o) FORM D. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(p) DUE DILIGENCE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
(q) LOCK-UP AGREEMENT FROM CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY. . . . . . 19
SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS . . . . . 20
(a) ACCOUNTANTS' COMFORT LETTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
(b) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
(c) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
(d) OPINION OF SPECIAL NEW YORK COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . 21
(e) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE INITIAL PURCHASERS . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
(f) OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
(g) BRING-DOWN COMFORT LETTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
(h) PORTAL LISTING. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
(i) SHELF REGISTRATION AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
(j) AMENDMENT OF OLD CREDIT FACILITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
(k) ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF INITIAL PURCHASERS' EXPENSES . . . . . . . . . . 22
ii
SECTION 7. OFFER, SALE AND RESALE PROCEDURES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
(a) INDEMNIFICATION OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
(b) INDEMNIFICATION OF THE COMPANY, ITS DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. . . . . . 26
(c) NOTIFICATIONS AND OTHER INDEMNIFICATION PROCEDURES. . . . . . . . . . 27
(d) SETTLEMENTS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 9. CONTRIBUTION. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 10. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 11. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. . . . . . . 30
SECTION 12. NOTICES. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 13. SUCCESSORS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
SECTION 14. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SECTION 15. (a) GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
(b) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
(c) WAIVER OF IMMUNITY. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SECTION 16. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL INITIAL PURCHASERS . . . . 33
SECTION 17. GENERAL PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
iii
PURCHASE AGREEMENT
March 12, 1998
NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
As Initial Purchasers
c/o NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
INTRODUCTORY. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technology Incorporated, a Minnesota
corporation (the "Company), proposes to issue and sell to the several Initial
Purchasers named in SCHEDULE A (the "Initial Purchasers"), acting severally and
not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such SCHEDULE A of an
$140,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company's 6% Convertible
Subordinated Notes due 2005 (the "Firm Securities"). In addition, the Company
has granted to the Initial Purchasers an option to purchase up to an additional
$21,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Notes (the "Optional Securities"), as
provided in Section 2. The Firm Securities and, if and to the extent such
option is exercised, the Optional Securities are collectively called the
"Securities." NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC and First Chicago Capital
Markets, Inc. have agreed to act as the Initial Purchasers in connection with
the offering and sale of the Securities.
The Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture dated as of
March 18, 1998 (the "Indenture") between the Company and U.S. Bank National
Association, as trustee (the "Trustee"). Securities issued in book-entry form
will be issued in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust
Company (the "Depositary") pursuant to a DTC Agreement, to be dated as of the
Closing Date (as defined in Section 2) (the "DTC Agreement"), among the Company,
the Trustee and the Depositary.
The holders of the Securities will be entitled to the benefits of a
shelf registration agreement dated as of March 18, 1998 (the "Shelf Registration
Agreement"), among the Company and the Initial Purchasers, pursuant to which the
Company will agree to file, within 30 days of the Closing Date, a registration
statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission")
registering the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities
Act", which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder).
The Securities are convertible into shares of common stock, par value
$.01 per share, of the Company (the "Common Stock") in accordance with the terms
of the Securities and
the Indenture, at an initial conversion price of $28.35 per share (equivalent to
a conversion rate of 35.273 shares per $1,000 principal amount of Securities).
The Company understands that the Initial Purchasers propose to make an
offering of the Securities on the terms and in the manner set forth herein and
in the Offering Memorandum (as defined below) and agrees that the Initial
Purchasers may resell, subject to the conditions set forth herein, all or a
portion of the Securities to purchasers (the "Subsequent Purchasers") at any
time after the date of this Agreement. The Securities are to be offered and
sold to or through the Initial Purchasers without being registered with the
Commission under the Securities Act, in reliance upon exemptions therefrom. The
terms of the Securities and the Indenture will require that investors that
acquire Securities expressly agree that Securities may only be resold or
otherwise transferred, after the date hereof, if such Securities are registered
for sale under the Securities Act or if an exemption from the registration
requirements of the Securities Act is available (including the exemptions
afforded by Rule 144A ("Rule 144A") or Regulation S ("Regulation S")
thereunder).
The Company has prepared and delivered to each Initial Purchaser
copies of an Offering Memorandum "subject to completion" dated March 6, 1998
(the "Preliminary Offering Memorandum") and has prepared and will deliver to
each Initial Purchaser, on the date hereof or the next succeeding day, copies of
the Offering Memorandum dated March 12, 1998 describing the terms of the
Securities, each for use by such Initial Purchaser in connection with its
solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities. As used herein, the
"Offering Memorandum" shall mean, with respect to any date or time referred to
herein this Agreement, the Company's Offering Memorandum dated March 12, 1998,
including amendments or supplements thereto, any exhibits thereto and the
Incorporated Documents (as defined by Section 1(e) below), in the most recent
form that has been prepared and delivered by the Company to the Initial
Purchasers in connection with their solicitation of offers to purchase
Securities. Further, any reference to the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or
the Offering Memorandum shall be deemed to refer to and include any Additional
Issuer Information (as defined in Section 3(g)) furnished by the Company prior
to the completion of the distribution of the Securities.
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Offering Memorandum (or other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean
and include all such financial statements and schedules and other information
which are incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum; and all
references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Offering
Memorandum shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act", which term, as used
herein, includes the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder) which is incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in
the Offering Memorandum.
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Initial Purchasers
as follows:
2
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Initial
Purchaser as follows:
(a) NO REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
Subject to compliance by the Initial Purchasers with the
representations and warranties set forth in Section 2(e) hereof and with
the procedures set forth in Section 7 hereof, it is not necessary in
connection with the offer, sale and delivery of the Securities to the
Initial Purchasers and to each Subsequent Purchaser in the manner
contemplated by this Agreement and the Offering Memorandum to register the
Securities under the Securities Act or, until such time as the Securities
are issued, pursuant to an effective registration statement, to qualify the
Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "Trust Indenture Act",
which term, as used herein, includes the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder).
(b) NO INTEGRATION OF OFFERINGS OR GENERAL SOLICITATION. The Company
has not, directly or indirectly, solicited any offer to buy or offered to
sell, and will not, directly or indirectly, solicit any offer to buy or
offer to sell, in the United States or to any United States citizen or
resident, any security which is or would be integrated with the sale of the
Securities in a manner that would require the Securities to be registered
under the Securities Act. None of the Company, its affiliates (as such
term is defined in Rule 501(b) under the Securities Act (each, an
"Affiliate")), or any person acting on its or any of their behalf (other
than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation
or warranty) has engaged or will engage, in connection with the offering of
the Securities, in any form of general solicitation or general advertising
within the meaning of Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act. With respect
to those Securities sold in reliance upon Regulation S, (i) none of the
Company, its Affiliates or any person acting on its or their behalf (other
than the Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation
or warranty) has engaged or will engage in any directed selling efforts
within the meaning of Regulation S and (ii) each of the Company and its
Affiliates and any person acting on its or their behalf (other than the
Initial Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation or
warranty) has complied and will comply with the offering restrictions set
forth in Regulation S.
(c) ELIGIBILITY FOR RESALE UNDER RULE 144A. The Securities are
eligible for resale pursuant to Rule 144A and will not be, at the Closing
Date, of the same class as securities listed on a national securities
exchange registered under Section 6 of the Exchange Act or quoted in a U.S.
automated interdealer quotation system.
(d) THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM. The Offering Memorandum does not,
3
and at the Closing Date will not, include an 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; provided that this representation, warranty and
agreement shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Offering
Memorandum made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished to the Company in writing by any Initial Purchaser through
NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC expressly for use in the Offering
Memorandum. Each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
Memorandum, as of its date, contains all the information specified in, and
meeting the requirements of, Rule 144A(d)(4). The Company has not
distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date
and the completion of the Initial Purchasers' distribution of the
Securities, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale
of the Securities other than the Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the
Offering Memorandum.
(e) INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS The Offering Memorandum as delivered from
time to time shall incorporate by reference the most recent Annual Report
of the Company on Form 10-K filed with the Commission and each Quarterly
Report of the Company on Form 10-Q and each Current Report of the Company
on Form 8-K filed with the Commission since the filing of the end of the
fiscal year to which such Annual Report relates. The documents
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Offering
Memorandum at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission
collectively, the "Incorporated Documents" complied and will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and, when read
together with the other information in the Offering Memorandum, at the date
of the Offering Memorandum and at the Closing Date, do not and will not
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
(f) THE PURCHASE 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.
(g) THE SHELF REGISTRATION AGREEMENT AND DTC AGREEMENT. At the
Closing Date, each of the Shelf Registration Agreement and the DTC
Agreement will be duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and will be a
valid and binding agreement of, the Company, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by
applicable law
4
and except as the enforcement thereof 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.
(h) AUTHORIZATION OF THE SECURITIES. The Securities to be purchased
by the Initial Purchasers from the Company are in the form contemplated by
the Indenture, have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to
this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the Closing Date, will have been
duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided
for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price
therefor, will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement
thereof 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 and will be
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(i) AUTHORIZATION OF THE INDENTURE. The Indenture has been duly
authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly
executed and delivered by the Company and will constitute a valid and
binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles.
(j) DESCRIPTION OF THE SECURITIES AND THE INDENTURE. The Securities
and the Indenture will conform in all material respects to the respective
statements relating thereto contained in the Offering Memorandum and will
be in substantially the respective forms previously delivered to the
Initial Purchasers.
(k) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Offering Memorandum, subsequent to the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Offering Memorandum: (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 and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity
(any such change is called a "Material Adverse Change"); (ii) the Company
and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have 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 or other subsidiaries,
any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or
redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of
capital stock.
5
(l) 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) and supporting
schedules filed with the Commission included in the Offering Memorandum,
are independent public accountants within the meaning of Regulation S-X
under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(m) PREPARATION OF THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. The financial
statements, together with the related schedules and notes, included or
incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum present fairly the
consolidated financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries as of
and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations and cash
flows for the periods specified. Such financial statements have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as
applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes
thereto. The financial data set forth in the Offering Memorandum under the
captions "Offering Memorandum Summary--Summary Consolidated Financial
Data", "Selected Consolidated 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 Offering Memorandum.
The Company's ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in the Offering
Memorandum under the captions "Offering Memorandum Summary--Summary
Consolidated Financial Data" and "Selected Consolidated Financial Data"
have been calculated in compliance with Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under
the Securities Act.
(n) INCORPORATION AND GOOD STANDING OF THE COMPANY AND ITS
SUBSIDIARIES. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries 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 Offering Memorandum and, in the case of
the Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under each of this
Agreement, the Shelf Registration Agreement, the DTC Agreement, the
Securities, and the Indenture. Each of the Company and each subsidiary is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
business, except for such jurisdictions 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. All of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of each subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is
fully paid and nonassessable and is owned by the Company, directly or
through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other
than the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended September 28,
6
1997.
(o) CAPITALIZATION AND OTHER CAPITAL STOCK MATTERS. At December 28,
1997, on a consolidated basis, after giving pro forma effect to the
issuance and sale of the Securities pursuant hereto, the Company would have
an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Offering
Memorandum under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent
issuances of capital stock, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans
described in the Offering Memorandum or upon exercise of outstanding
options or warrants described in the Offering Memorandum). The Common
Stock conforms in all material respects to the description thereof set
forth or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum. All of the
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 or any of its
subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the Offering
Memorandum. 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 or incorporated by reference in the Offering
Memorandum accurately and fairly describes such plans, arrangements,
options and rights.
(p) STOCK EXCHANGE LISTING. The Common Stock is registered pursuant
to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is listed on the Nasdaq National
Market, and the Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have
the effect of, terminating the registration of the Common Stock under the
Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the Nasdaq National Market,
nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") is
contemplating terminating such registration or listing.
(q) NON-CONTRAVENTION OF EXISTING INSTRUMENTS; NO FURTHER
AUTHORIZATIONS OR APPROVALS REQUIRED. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is 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 or any
of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound
(including, without limitation, (A) the Company's 7.46% Senior Notes due
2004 in the original aggregate principal amount of $30,000,000, (B) the
Company's 7.85% Senior Notes due 2003 in the original aggregate principal
amount of $25,000,000, (C) the Company's 8.07%
7
Senior Note due 2006 in the original aggregate principal amount of
$25,000,000, (D) the Company's 10.31% Senior Notes due 1998 in the original
aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000, (E) the Company's Promissory
Notes due 2006 in the original aggregate principal amount of $1,000,000,
(F) the Company's Master Lease Agreement with General Electric Capital
Corporation, dated December 19, 1996, as amended, (G) the Company's
$2,000,000 variable rate demand note with the City of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the
related letter of credit, dated March 1, 1993, as amended) or to which any
of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries 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, the
Shelf Registration Agreement, the DTC Agreement and the Indenture, and the
issuance and delivery of the Securities and the issuance of the shares of
Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities, and consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Offering
Memorandum (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 or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as
defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries 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 or any subsidiary. No consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with,
any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is
required for the Company's execution, delivery and performance of this
Agreement, the Shelf Registration Agreement, the DTC Agreement or the
Indenture, or the issuance and delivery of the Securities, or consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the Offering
Memorandum, 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. As used herein, a "Debt Repayment Triggering
Event" means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of
notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or
other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's
behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all
or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.
(r) 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 or any
of its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or
director of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or
8
(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 or such subsidiary
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 or
any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
is threatened or imminent.
(s) INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS. The Company and its subsidiaries
own or possess 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. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
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.
(t) ALL NECESSARY PERMITS, ETC. The Company and each subsidiary
possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits
issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or
bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the
Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating
to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such
certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could result in
a Material Adverse Change.
(u) TITLE TO PROPERTIES. The Company and each of its subsidiaries
has good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as
owned in the financial statements referred to in Section 1(m) above (or
elsewhere in the Offering Memorandum), in each case free and clear of any
security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and
other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the
value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or
proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary.
The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under
lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable
leases, with such exceptions as are not material and do not materially
interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property,
improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or such
subsidiary.
(v) TAX LAW COMPLIANCE. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed
all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns
(or
9
have properly requested extensions thereof) and have paid all taxes
required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or
similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as
may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. The
Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable
financial statements referred to in Section 1(m) 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 or any of its subsidiaries has not
been finally determined.
(w) 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 Securities 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.
(x) INSURANCE. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured
by recognized, financially sound 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
and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, and acts of
vandalism. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary
will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when
such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar
institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as
now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse
Change. Neither of the Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any
insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
(y) 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 any security of the Company to facilitate the
sale or resale of the Securities or the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Securities.
(z) NO UNLAWFUL CONTRIBUTIONS OR OTHER PAYMENTS. Neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
any employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, 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 necessary to be disclosed in the Offering Memorandum in order to
make the statements therein not misleading.
(aa) COMPANY'S ACCOUNTING SYSTEM. The Company maintains a system of
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that
10
(i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States 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.
(bb) COMPLIANCE WITH ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS. Except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change (i)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any
federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation relating to pollution or
protection of human health or the environment (including, without
limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or
subsurface strata) or wildlife, including without limitation, laws and
regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances,
hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum products (collectively,
"Materials of Environmental Concern"), or otherwise relating to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Materials of Environment Concern (collectively,
"Environmental Laws"), which violation includes, but is not limited to,
noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations
required for the operation of the business of the Company or its
subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the
terms and conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its
subsidiaries received any written communication, whether from a
governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges
that the Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any
Environmental Law; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of action filed
with a court or governmental authority, no investigation with respect to
which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any
person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs,
cleanup costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages,
property damages, personal injuries, attorneys' fees or penalties arising
out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the
environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location
owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or
in the past (collectively, "Environmental Claims"), pending or, to the best
of the Company's knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental
Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either
contractually or by operation of law; and (iii) to the best of the
Company's knowledge, there are no past or present actions, activities,
circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without
limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any
Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in a
violation of any Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential
11
Environmental Claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim
the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either
contractually or by operation of law.
(cc) PERIODIC REVIEW OF COSTS OF ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE. In the
ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of
the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties
of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies
and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up,
closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit,
license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities and
any potential liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review
and the amount of its established reserves, the Company has reasonably
concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(dd) ERISA COMPLIANCE. The Company and its subsidiaries 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, its subsidiaries or their "ERISA Affiliates" (as
defined below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA.
"ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, 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 or such subsidiary 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, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No "employee
benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries 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, its subsidiaries nor any of
their 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, its subsidiaries or any of their 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.
(ee) SOLVENCY. The Company is, and immediately after the Closing Date
will be, Solvent. As used herein, the term "Solvent" means, with respect
to the Company on a particular date, that on such date (i) the fair market
value of the
12
assets of the Company is greater than the total amount of liabilities
(including contingent liabilities) of the Company, (ii) the present fair
salable value of the assets of the Company is greater than the amount that
will be required to pay the probable liabilities of the Company on its
debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) the Company is able to
realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, including
contingent obligations, as they mature and (iv) the Company does not have
unreasonably small capital.
(ff) NO DEFAULT IN SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. No event of default exists
under any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
other agreement or instrument constituting Senior Indebtedness (as defined
in the Indenture).
(gg) RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS. There are no business relationships
or related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or
any other person that would be required to be described in the Offering
Memorandum were it to be filed as a part of a Registration Statement on
Form S-1 under the Securities Act, which have not been described as would
have been so required.
(hh) AUTHORIZATION OF COMMON STOCK. Upon issuance and delivery of the
Securities in accordance with this Agreement and the Indenture, the
Securities will be convertible at the option of the holders thereof for
shares of Common Stock in accordance with the terms of the Securities and
the Indenture. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Securities have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and
such shares, when issued upon such conversion, (i) will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable, (ii) will have been issued in compliance with
federal and state securities laws and (iii) will not have been issued in
violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other
similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company.
(ii) COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S REQUIREMENTS. The Company and its
affiliates and all persons acting on their behalf (other than the Initial
Purchasers, as to whom the Company makes no representation) have complied
with and will comply with the offering restrictions requirements of
Regulation S in connection with the offering of the Securities outside the
United States and, in connection therewith, the Offering Memorandum will
contain the disclosure required by Rule 902(h).
(jj) REPORTING ISSUER. The Company is a "reporting issuer", as
defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to
the Initial Purchasers or to counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Initial
Purchaser as to the matters set forth therein.
13
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES
(a) THE FIRM SECURITIES. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the
several Initial Purchasers, severally and not jointly, all of the Firm
Securities 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 Initial
Purchasers agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company
the aggregate principal amount of Firm Securities set forth opposite their
names on SCHEDULE A, at a discounted purchase price of 97% (which amount
equals a Price to Investors of 100% less the Initial Purchasers' Discount
of 3%) of the principal amount thereof payable on the Closing Date.
(b) THE FIRST CLOSING DATE. Delivery of certificates for the Firm
Securities in definitive form to be purchased by the Initial Purchasers and
payment therefor shall be made at the offices of NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities LLC, ▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ (or such other
place as may be agreed to by the Company and the Initial Purchasers) at
9:00 a.m. New York time, on March 18, 1998, or such other time and date not
later than 1:30 p.m., New York time, on March 28, 1998 as the Initial
Purchasers shall designate by notice to the Company (the time and date of
such closing are called the "First Closing Date"). Delivery of other
closing documents shall be made at the offices of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on the Closing
Date. The Company hereby acknowledges that circumstances under which the
Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers to recirculate to
investors copies of an amended or supplemented Offering Memorandum or a
delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section 16.
(c) THE OPTIONAL SECURITIES; 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 Initial Purchasers to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an additional $21,000,000
aggregate principal amount of Optional Securities from the Company at the
purchase price to be paid by the Initial Purchasers for the Firm
Securities. The option granted hereunder is for use by the Initial
Purchasers solely to cover any over-allotments in connection with the sale
and distribution of the Firm Securities. The option granted hereunder may
be exercised at any time (but not more than once) upon notice by the
Initial Purchasers to the Company, which notice may be given at any time
within 30 days of the date of this Agreement. Such notice shall set forth
(i) the aggregate principal amount of Optional Securities as to which the
Initial Purchasers are exercising the option, and (ii) 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
14
refer to the time and date of delivery of certificates for the Firm
Securities and the Optional Securities). 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 Initial Purchasers and shall not be
earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of
such notice of exercise. If any Optional Securities are to be purchased,
each Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the
number of Optional Securities that bears the same proportion to the total
number of Optional Securities to be purchased as the number of Firm
Securities set forth on SCHEDULE A opposite the name of such Initial
Purchaser bears to the total number of Firm Securities. The Initial
Purchasers may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by
giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.
(d) DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES. The Company shall deliver, or cause
to be delivered, to NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC for the accounts
of the several Initial Purchasers certificates for the Firm Securities 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
NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC for the accounts of the several
Initial Purchasers certificates for the Optional Securities the Initial
Purchasers 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 Securities shall be in
denominations of $1,000 or integral multiples thereof and registered in the
name of Cede & Co., as nominee of the Depository, pursuant to the DTC
Agreement 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 Initial Purchasers may
designate; provided that certificated Securities originally purchased by or
transferred to institutional "accredited investors" (as defined in Rule
501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act) who are not also
"qualified institutional buyers" (as defined in Rule 144A under the
Securities Act) will be issued in minimum denominations of $250,000. 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 Initial
Purchasers.
(e) DELIVERY OF OFFERING MEMORANDUM TO THE INITIAL PURCHASERS. Not
later than 12:00 p.m. on the second business day following the date of this
Agreement, the Company shall delivery or cause to be delivered copies of
the Offering Memorandum in such quantities and at such places as the
Initial Purchasers shall reasonably request.
(f) INITIAL PURCHASERS AS QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS. Each
Initial Purchaser severally and not jointly represents and warrants to, and
agrees with, the Company that it is a "qualified institutional buyer"
within the meaning of
15
Rule 144A (a "Qualified Institutional Buyer") and an "accredited investor"
within the meaning of Rule 501(a) under the Securities Act (an "Accredited
Investor").
SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS. The Company further covenants and
agrees with each Initial Purchaser as follows:
(a) INITIAL PURCHASERS' REVIEW OF PROPOSED AMENDMENTS AND
SUPPLEMENTS. Prior to amending or supplementing the Offering Memorandum
(including any amendment or supplement through incorporation by reference
of any report filed under the Exchange Act), the Company shall furnish to
the Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers reasonably object.
(b) AMENDMENTS AND SUPPLEMENTS TO THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM AND OTHER
SECURITIES ACT MATTERS. If, prior to the completion of the placement of
the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent Purchasers (as
evidenced by a notice in writing from the Initial Purchasers to the
Company), any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it
is necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the
Offering Memorandum is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in
the opinion of the Initial Purchasers or counsel for the Initial Purchasers
it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Offering Memorandum to
comply with law, the Company agrees to promptly prepare (subject to
Section 3(a) hereof), file with the Commission (if the amendment or
supplement relates to documents incorporated by reference) and furnish at
its own expense to the Initial Purchasers, amendments or supplements to the
Offering Memorandum so that the statements in the Offering Memorandum as so
amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when
the Offering Memorandum is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so
that the Offering Memorandum, as amended or supplemented, will comply with
law.
Following the effectiveness of an applicable shelf registration
statement and for so long as the Securities are outstanding if, in the
reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers, the Initial Purchasers or
any of their affiliates (as such term is defined in the rules and
regulations under the Securities Act) are required to deliver a prospectus
in connection with sales of, or market-making activities with respect to,
such securities, (A) to periodically amend the applicable registration
statement so that the information contained therein complies with the
requirements of Section 10(a) of the Securities Act, (B) to amend the
applicable registration statement or supplement the related prospectus or
the documents incorporated therein when necessary to reflect any material
changes in the information provided therein so that the registration
statement and the prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the
16
circumstances existing as of the date the prospectus is so delivered, not
misleading and (C) to provide the Initial Purchasers with copies of each
amendment or supplement filed and such other documents as the Initial Purchasers
may reasonably request.
The Company hereby expressly acknowledges that the indemnification and
contribution provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof are specifically
applicable and relate to each offering memorandum, registration statement,
prospectus, amendment or supplement referred to in this Section 3(b).
(c) COPIES OF THE OFFERING MEMORANDUM. The Company agrees to furnish
the Initial Purchasers, without charge, as many copies of the Offering
Memorandum and any amendments and supplements thereto as they shall have
reasonably requested.
(d) BLUE SKY COMPLIANCE. The Company shall cooperate with the
Initial Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers to qualify or
register the Securities for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the
application of) the Blue Sky or state securities laws of those
jurisdictions designated by the Initial Purchasers, shall comply with such
laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions
in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. 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
Initial Purchasers promptly of the suspension of the qualification or
registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities 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.
(e) USE OF PROCEEDS. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from
the sale of the Securities sold by it in the manner described under the
caption "Use of Proceeds" in the Offering Memorandum.
(f) THE DEPOSITARY. The Company will cooperate with the Initial
Purchasers and use its best efforts to permit the Securities to be eligible
for clearance and settlement through the facilities of the Depositary.
(g) ADDITIONAL ISSUER INFORMATION. Prior to the completion of the
placement of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers with the Subsequent
Purchasers (as evidenced by a notice in writing from the Initial Purchasers
to the Company), 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 Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.
Additionally, at any time when the
17
Company is not subject to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, for the
benefit of holders and beneficial owners from time to time of Securities,
the Company shall furnish, at its expense, upon request, to holders and
beneficial owners of Securities and prospective purchasers of Securities
information ("Additional Issuer Information") satisfying the requirements
of subsection (d)(4) of Rule 144A.
(h) AGREEMENT NOT TO OFFER OR SELL ADDITIONAL SECURITIES. During the
period of 90 days following the date of the Offering Memorandum, the
Company will not, without the prior consent of NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities LLC, other than pursuant to outstanding stock options or stock
option plans, issue, offer, sell, grant options to purchase or otherwise
dispose of any of the Company's equity securities or any other securities
convertible into or exchangeable with its Common Stock or other equity
security.
(i) FUTURE REPORTS TO THE INITIAL PURCHASERS. During the period of
five years hereafter the Company will furnish to NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities LLC at ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, and to First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc., ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, 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 or debt securities (including the
holders of the Securities).
(j) SHELF REGISTRATION AGREEMENT. The Company shall comply with all
provisions and obligations of the Shelf Registration Agreement.
(k) NO INTEGRATION. The Company agrees that it will not and will
cause its Affiliates not to make any offer or sale of securities of the
Company of any class if, as a result of the doctrine of "integration"
referred to in Rule 502 under the Securities Act, such offer or sale would
render invalid (for the purpose of (i) the sale of the Securities by the
Company to the Initial Purchasers, (ii) the resale of the Securities by the
Initial Purchasers to Subsequent Purchasers or (iii) the resale of the
Securities by such Subsequent Purchasers to others) the exemption from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act provided by Section 4(2)
thereof or by Rule 144A or by Regulation S thereunder or otherwise.
18
(l) RESTRICTION ON REPURCHASES. Until the expiration of two years
after the original issuance of the Securities, the Company will not, and
will cause its Affiliates not to, purchase or agree to purchase or
otherwise acquire any Securities which are "restricted securities" (as such
term is defined under Rule 144(a)(3) under the Securities Act), whether as
beneficial owner or otherwise (except as agent acting as a securities
broker on behalf of and for the account of customers in the ordinary course
of business in unsolicited broker's transactions) unless, immediately upon
any such purchase, the Company or any Affiliate shall submit such
Securities to the Trustee for cancellation.
(m) LEGENDED SECURITIES. Each certificate for a Note will bear the
legend contained in "Transfer Restrictions" in the Offering Memorandum for
the time period and upon the other terms stated in the Offering Memorandum.
(n) PORTAL. The Company will use its best efforts to cause such
Notes to be eligible for the NASD PORTAL market (the "PORTAL market").
(o) FORM D. The Company will file with the Commission, not later
than 15 days after the Closing Date, five copies of a notice on Form D
under the Securities Act (one of which will be manually signed by a person
duly authorized by the Company); will otherwise comply with the
requirements of Rule 503 under the Securities Act; and will furnish
promptly to the Initial Purchasers evidence of each such required timely
filing (including a copy thereof).
(p) DUE DILIGENCE. In connection with the original distribution of
the Securities, the Company agrees that, prior to any offer or resale of
the Securities by the Initial Purchasers, the Initial Purchasers and
counsel for the Initial Purchasers shall have the right to make reasonable
inquiries into the business of the Company and its subsidiaries. The
Company also agrees to provide answers to each prospective Subsequent
Purchaser of Securities who so requests concerning the Company and its
subsidiaries (to the extent that such information is available or can be
acquired and made available to prospective Subsequent Purchasers without
unreasonable effort or expense and to the extent the provision thereof is
not prohibited by applicable law) and the terms and conditions of the
offering of the Securities, as provided in the Offering Memorandum.
(q) LOCK-UP AGREEMENT FROM CERTAIN STOCKHOLDERS OF THE COMPANY. On
the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to the Initial Purchasers
an agreement in the form of EXHIBIT C hereto from each of the Company's
officers and directors who beneficially own an aggregate of approximately
1,210,826 shares of Common Stock or options to purchase 1,476,915 shares of
Common Stock of the Company's Common Stock, and each such agreement shall
be in full force and effect on each of the Closing Dates.
NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC, on behalf of the several
Initial Purchasers, may, in its sole discretion, waive in writing the
performance by the
19
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 transactions contemplated
hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the
issuance and delivery of the Securities and the Common Stock issuable upon
conversion of the Securities (including all printing and engraving costs),
(ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with
the issuance and sale of the Securities to the Initial Purchasers,
(iii) all fees and expenses of the Company's counsel, independent public
accountants and other advisors, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and
distribution of each preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
Memorandum (including financial statements and exhibits), and all
amendments and supplements thereto, this Agreement, the Shelf Registration
Agreement, the Indenture, the DTC Agreement, the Securities and the Common
Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities, (v) all filing fees,
attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Initial
Purchasers in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining
exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of
the Securities and the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the
Securities for offer and sale under the Blue Sky laws and, if requested by
the Initial Purchasers, preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey" or
memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Initial Purchasers of
such qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vi) the fees and
expenses of the Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities,
(vii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities with
the ratings agencies and the listing of the Securities with the PORTAL
market, (viii) any filing fees incident to, and any reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel to the Initial Purchasers in connection with the
review by the NASD, if any, of the terms of the sale of the Securities or
the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of the Securities, (ix) all fees
and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the
Company in connection with approval of the Securities by DTC for
"book-entry" transfer, (x) the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or
registrar for the Common Stock, (xi) the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Common Stock issuable upon conversion of
the Securities on the Nasdaq National Market, and (xii) the performance by
the Company of its other obligations under this Agreement. Except as
provided in this Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 hereof, the
Initial Purchasers shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of their counsel.
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE INITIAL
PURCHASERS. The obligations of the several Initial Purchasers to purchase
and pay for the Securities as provided herein on the 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 Closing Date as though then made and to the timely performance by
the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to
20
each of the following additional conditions:
(a) ACCOUNTANTS' COMFORT LETTER. On the date hereof, the Initial
Purchasers shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, independent public
accountants for the Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to
the Initial Purchasers, in form and substance satisfactory to the Initial
Purchasers, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily
included in accountant's "comfort letters" to Initial Purchasers, delivered
according to Statement of Auditing Standards Nos. 72 and 76 (or any
successor bulletins), with respect to the audited and unaudited financial
statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration
Statement and the Offering Memorandum.
(b) NO MATERIAL ADVERSE CHANGE. For the period from and after the
date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date, in the judgment of
the Initial Purchasers there shall not have occurred any Material Adverse
Change.
(c) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY. On the Closing Date the
Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of Faegre &
▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the
form of which is attached as EXHIBIT A.
(d) OPINION OF SPECIAL NEW YORK COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY. On the
Closing Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable
opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, special New York
counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which
is attached as EXHIBIT B.
(e) OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE INITIAL PURCHASERS. On the Closing
Date the Initial Purchasers shall have received the favorable opinion of
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, dated as of such
Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably requested
by the Initial Purchasers.
(f) OFFICERS' CERTIFICATE. On the Closing Date the Initial
Purchasers shall have received a written certificate executed by the Chief
Executive Officer of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, dated as of the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and
prior to the 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 the Closing Date;
and
(iii) the Company has complied with all the agreements and
21
satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to the Closing Date.
(g) BRING-DOWN COMFORT LETTER. On the Closing Date the Initial
Purchasers shall have received from ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, independent public
accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers, 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 specified date referred
to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three
business days prior to the Closing Date.
(h) PORTAL LISTING. At the Closing Date the Notes shall have been
designated for trading on the PORTAL market.
(i) SHELF REGISTRATION AGREEMENT. The Company shall have entered
into the Shelf Registration Agreement and the Initial Purchasers shall have
received executed counterparts thereof.
(j) AMENDMENT OF OLD CREDIT FACILITY. The Company shall have
furnished to the Initial Purchasers a copy of a signed amendment providing
that the Company's Old Credit Facility (as defined in the Offering
Memorandum) has been amended such that as of the Closing Date, and after
giving effect to the issuance of $161,000,000 of Notes contemplated by this
Agreement, and the existence of the indebtedness of the Company outstanding
as of the Closing Date and as of the end of the Company's 1998 second
fiscal quarter, the Company is not and will not be at such date, in default
thereunder.
(k) ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS. On or before the Closing Date, the Initial
Purchasers and counsel for the Initial Purchasers 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
Securities 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 Initial
Purchasers by notice to the Company at any time on or prior to the 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 INITIAL PURCHASERS' EXPENSES. If this
Agreement is terminated by the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Section 5 or
Section 10, or if the sale to the Initial Purchasers of the Securities on the
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
22
agrees to reimburse the Initial Purchasers (or such Initial Purchasers 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
Initial Purchasers in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and
sale of the Securities, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of
counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone
charges.
SECTION 7. OFFER, SALE AND RESALE PROCEDURES. Each of the Initial
Purchasers and the Company hereby establish and agree to observe the following
procedures in connection with the offer and sale of the Securities:
(i) OFFERS AND SALES ONLY TO INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTORS OR
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS. Offers and sales of the Securities will be
made only by the Initial Purchasers or Affiliates thereof qualified to do
so in the jurisdictions in which such offers or sales are made. Each such
offer or sale shall only be made (A) to persons whom the offeror or seller
reasonably believes to be qualified institutional buyers (as defined in
Rule 144A under the Securities Act), (B) to a limited number of other
institutional accredited investors (as such term is defined in
Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of Regulation D) that the offeror or seller
reasonably believes to be and, with respect to sales and deliveries, that
are Accredited Investors ("Institutional Accredited Investors"), or (C)
non-U.S. persons outside the United States to whom the offeror or seller
reasonably believes offers and sales of the Securities may be made in
reliance upon Regulation S under the Securities Act, upon the terms and
conditions set forth in ANNEX I hereto, which ANNEX I is hereby expressly
made a part hereof.
(ii) NO GENERAL SOLICITATION. The Securities will be offered by
approaching prospective Subsequent Purchasers on an individual basis. No
general solicitation or general advertising (within the meaning of
Rule 502(c) under the Securities Act) will be used in the United States in
connection with the offering of the Securities.
(iii) PURCHASES BY NON-BANK FIDUCIARIES. In the case of a non-bank
Subsequent Purchaser of a Note acting as a fiduciary for one or more third
parties, in connection with an offer and sale to such purchaser pursuant to
clause (i) above, each third party shall, in the judgment of the applicable
Initial Purchaser, be an Institutional Accredited Investor or a Qualified
Institutional Buyer or a non-U.S. person outside the United States.
(iv) RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER. Upon original issuance by the Company,
and until such time as the same is no longer required under the applicable
requirements of the Securities Act, the Securities (and all securities
issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear the
following legend:
"THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE U.S.
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE
23
"SECURITIES ACT"), OR ANY OTHER STATE SECURITIES LAWS, AND, ACCORDINGLY,
NEITHER THIS SECURITY, THE SHARES OF COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION
OF THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN OR THEREIN MAY BE
REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED, OR OTHERWISE
DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION
IS EXEMPT FROM OR NOT SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION.
THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY, BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, AGREES THAT IT
WILL NOT, PRIOR TO THE DATE WHICH IS TWO YEARS AFTER THE ORIGINAL ISSUE
DATE HEREOF, RESELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY OR THE
COMMON STOCK ISSUABLE UPON CONVERSION OF SUCH NOTE EXCEPT (A) TO ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED OR A SUBSIDIARY THEREOF, (B) TO A QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER IN COMPLIANCE WITH RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
(C) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR THAT, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER,
FURNISHES TO THE TRUSTEE A SIGNED LETTER CONTAINING CERTAIN REPRESENTATIONS
AND AGREEMENTS RELATING TO THE RESTRICTIONS ON TRANSFER OF THE NOTE
EVIDENCED HEREBY (THE FORM OF WHICH LETTER CAN BE OBTAINED FROM THE
TRUSTEE, (D) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES IN COMPLIANCE WITH REGULATION S
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) PURSUANT TO THE EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION
PROVIDED BY RULE 144 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (IF AVAILABLE) OR (F)
PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT (AND WHICH CONTINUES TO BE EFFECTIVE AT THE TIME
OF SUCH TRANSFER); AND AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM
THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE
EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND. IF THE PROPOSED TRANSFER IS PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (C),
(D) OR (E) ABOVE, THE HOLDER MUST, PRIOR TO SUCH TRANSFER, FURNISH TO THE
TRUSTEE, SUCH CERTIFICATIONS, LEGAL OPINIONS OR OTHER INFORMATION AS THE
COMPANY MAY REASONABLY REQUIRE TO CONFIRM THAT SUCH TRANSFER IS BEING MADE
PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM, OR IN A TRANSACTION NOT SUBJECT TO, THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT. THIS LEGEND WILL BE
REMOVED UPON ANY TRANSFER OF THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY AFTER THE EXPIRATION
OF TWO YEARS FROM THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE OF THE NOTE EVIDENCED HEREBY. AS
USED HEREIN, THE TERMS "OFFSHORE TRANSACTION," "UNITED STATES" AND "U.S.
PERSON" HAVE THE MEANINGS GIVEN TO THEM BY REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT."
24
Following the sale of the Securities by the Initial Purchasers to
Subsequent Purchasers pursuant to the terms hereof, the Initial Purchasers
shall not be liable or responsible to the Company for any losses, damages
or liabilities suffered or incurred by the Company, including any losses,
damages or liabilities under the Securities Act, arising from or relating
to any resale or transfer of any Security.
(v) DELIVERY OF OFFERING MEMORANDUM. Each Initial Purchaser
will deliver to each purchaser of the Securities from such Initial
Purchaser, in connection with its original distribution of the Securities,
a copy of the Offering Memorandum, as amended and supplemented at the date
of such delivery.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) INDEMNIFICATION OF THE INITIAL PURCHASERS. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, its officers and
employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Initial Purchaser
within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such
Initial Purchaser 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 Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering
Memorandum (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 (ii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy
in the representations and warranties of the Company contained herein; or
(iii) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to perform its
obligations hereunder or under law; or (iv) any act or failure to act or
any alleged act or failure to act by any Initial Purchaser in connection
with, or relating in any manner to, 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) above, provided that the Company shall not be liable under this
clause (iv) 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 Initial Purchaser through its gross
negligence or willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Initial Purchaser
and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including the
fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Securities LLC) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Initial
Purchaser or such controlling person in connection with investigating,
defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or
25
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 Initial Purchasers expressly for use in any Preliminary Offering
Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement
thereto); and PROVIDED, FURTHER, that with respect to any Preliminary
Offering Memorandum, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to
the benefit of any Initial Purchaser from whom the person asserting any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense purchased Securities, or any
person controlling such Initial Purchaser, if copies of the Offering
Memorandum were timely delivered to the Initial Purchaser pursuant to
Section 2 and a copy of the Offering Memorandum (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 Initial
Purchaser to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered, at
or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the Securities to such
person, and if the Offering Memorandum (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.
(b) INDEMNIFICATION OF THE COMPANY, ITS DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS. Each
Initial Purchaser agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company and each of its directors 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, 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 Initial Purchaser), 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 any Preliminary Offering
Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (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 any
Preliminary Offering Memorandum or the Offering Memorandum (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Initial Purchasers
expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such
director or controlling person for any legal and other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Company, or any such director or controlling person in
connection
26
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 Initial Purchasers have
furnished to the Company expressly for use in any Preliminary Offering
Memoranum or the Offering Memorandum (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) are the statements set forth (A) as the last paragraph on the
outside front cover of the Offering Memorandum concerning delivery of the
Notes, (B) as the last paragraph on the inside front cover page of the
Offering Memorandum concerning stabilization by the Initial Purchasers and
(C) in the fifth and eighth paragraphs under the caption "Plan of
Distribution" in the Offering Memorandum; and the Initial Purchasers
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 Initial Purchaser 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 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
27
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 (NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC 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 Initial
Purchasers, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities 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 Initial Purchasers, 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
28
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the
one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, on the other hand, in connection with the
offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in
the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of
the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received
by the Company, and the total discount received by the Initial Purchasers bear
to the aggregate initial offering price of the Securities. The relative fault
of the Company, on the one hand, and the Initial Purchasers, 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 Initial Purchasers, 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchaser
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the discount received by
such Initial Purchaser in connection with the Securities distributed by it. 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 Initial
Purchasers' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several,
and not joint, in proportion to their respective commitments as set forth
opposite their names in SCHEDULE A. For purposes of this Section 9, each
officer and employee of an Initial Purchaser and each person, if any, who
controls an Initial Purchaser within the meaning of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Initial
Purchaser, 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. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. Prior to the Closing Date,
this
29
Agreement maybe terminated by the Initial Purchasers by notice given to the
Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company's
securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the
Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading in securities generally on either the Nasdaq
Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on
any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general
banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York 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 Initial Purchasers is material and adverse and makes it
impracticable to market the Securities in the manner and on the terms described
in the Offering Memorandum or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities;
(iv) in the judgment of the Initial Purchasers 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 Initial Purchasers 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 10 shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company to any
Initial Purchaser, except that the Company shall be obligated to reimburse the
expenses of the Initial Purchasers pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) any
Initial Purchaser 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 11. 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 Initial Purchasers
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 Initial
Purchaser 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 Securities sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 12. 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 Initial Purchasers:
NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
30
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq.
and a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
If to the Company:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technology Incorporated
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
with a copy (which shall not constitute notice) to:
Faegre & ▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Facsimile: (▇▇▇) ▇▇▇-▇▇▇▇
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
SECTION 13. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Initial Purchasers
pursuant to Section 16 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 Securities as such from any of the Initial Purchasers merely by reason of
such purchase.
31
SECTION 14. 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 15. (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.
(b) CONSENT TO JURISDICTION. Any legal suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions
contemplated hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the
federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and
County of San Francisco or the courts of the State of California in each
case located in the City and County of San Francisco (collectively, the
"Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the
enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related Judgment"), as to
which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit,
action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document
by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective service
of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to
the laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the
Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to
plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other
proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum. Each party not located in the United States irrevocably appoints CT
Corporation System, which currently maintains a San Francisco office at ▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ of
America, as its agent to receive service of process or other legal summons
for purposes of any such suit, action or proceeding that may be instituted
in any state or federal court in the City and County of San Francisco.
(c) WAIVER OF IMMUNITY. With respect to any Related Proceeding, each
party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable
law, all immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from
jurisdiction, service of process, attachment (both before and after
judgment) and execution to which it might otherwise be entitled in the
Specified Courts, and with respect to any Related Judgment, each party
waives any such immunity in the Specified Courts or any other court of
competent jurisdiction, and will not raise or claim or cause to be pleaded
any such immunity at or in respect of any such Related Proceeding or
Related Judgment, including, without limitation, any immunity pursuant to
the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended.
SECTION 16. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL INITIAL
PURCHASERS. If
32
any one or more of the several Initial Purchasers shall fail or refuse to
purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on
the Closing Date, and the aggregate number of Securities which such
defaulting Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or
refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the
Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Initial Purchasers shall
be obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Securities
set forth opposite their respective names on SCHEDULE A bears to the
aggregate number of Securities set forth opposite the names of all such
non-defaulting Initial Purchasers, or in such other proportions as may be
specified by the Initial Purchasers with the consent of the non-defaulting
Initial Purchasers, to purchase the Securities which such defaulting
Initial Purchaser or Initial Purchasers agreed but failed or refused to
purchase on such date. If any one or more of the Initial Purchasers shall
fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the aggregate number of
Securities with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the
aggregate number of Securities to be purchased on the Closing Date, and
arrangements satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers and the Company for the
purchase of such Securities 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 Initial Purchasers or the
Company shall have the right to postpone the 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 Offering Memorandum or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Initial Purchaser" shall be
deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Initial Purchaser
under this Section 16. Any action taken under this Section 16 shall not
relieve any defaulting Initial Purchaser from liability in respect of any
default of such Initial Purchaser under this Agreement.
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
33
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 Offering Memorandum and the Offering Memorandum (and any
amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act and
the Exchange Act.
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.
34
Very truly yours,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
-----------------------------------------
Title: CEO
The foregoing Purchase Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by
the Initial Purchasers in San Francisco, California as of the date first above
written.
NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
As the several Initial Purchasers
By NATIONSBANC ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ SECURITIES LLC
By: /s/ ▇.▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Senior Managing Director
35
SCHEDULE A
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF SECURITIES TO
INITIAL PURCHASERS BE PURCHASED
NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC $ 126,000,000
First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc. 14,000,000
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . $140,000,000
EXHIBIT A
OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT
TO SECTION 5(C) OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
References to the Offering Memorandum in this EXHIBIT A include any
supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Minnesota.
(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering
Memorandum and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase
Agreement, the Shelf Registration Agreement, the Indenture, the Securities and
the DTC Agreement.
(iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions 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.
(iv) Each significant subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Offering Memorandum
and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in
which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or
leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions
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.
(v) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each such
significant subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully
paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
encumbrance or, to the best knowledge of such counsel, any pending or threatened
claim.
(vi) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof set forth
or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum. All of the outstanding
shares of Common Stock have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully
paid and nonassessable. The description of the Company's stock option, stock
bonus and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights
granted and exercised thereunder, set forth in the Offering Memorandum
accurately and fairly describes such plans, arrangements, options and rights.
(vii) No shareholder of the Company or any other person has any
preemptive right, right of first refusal or other similar right to subscribe for
or purchase securities of the Company arising (i) by operation of the charter or
by-laws of the Company or the Minnesota Business Corporation Act or (ii) to the
best knowledge of such counsel, otherwise.
(viii) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(ix) Each of the Shelf Registration Agreement and the DTC Agreement
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding
agreement of, the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with
its terms, except (with respect to the Shelf Registration Agreement) as rights
to indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable laws and except as
the enforcement thereof 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.
(x) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery thereof
by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors or by general principles of equity.
(xi) The Securities are in the form contemplated by the Indenture,
have been duly authorized by the Company for issuance and sale pursuant to this
Agreement and the Indenture and, when executed by the Company and authenticated
by the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture (assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee) and
delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting enforcement of the rights and remedies of creditors or
by general principles of equity and will be entitled to the benefits of the
Indenture.
(xii) The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects
to the descriptions thereof contained in the Offering Memorandum.
(xiii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Offering
Memorandum (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules
therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered), when they were filed with the
Commission, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements
of the Exchange Act and such counsel has no reason to believe that any such
documents, when they were so filed, contained an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made
when such documents were so filed, not misleading.
(xiv) The statements in the Offering Memorandum under the captions
"Risk Factors--Increased Leverage; Financial Covenants", "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Results of Operations and Financial
Condition--Liquidity and Capital Resources", "Business--Intellectual Properties"
and "--Legal Proceedings", "Description of Certain Indebtedness and Other
Financing Agreements", "Description of Notes", "Description of Common Stock" and
"Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences", insofar as such
statements constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company's
charter or by-law provisions, documents or legal proceedings, or legal
conclusions, have been reviewed by such counsel and fairly present and
summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.
(xv) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration or filing with, any court or other governmental authority or
agency, is required for the Company's execution, delivery and performance of the
Purchase Agreement, the Shelf Registration Agreement, the DTC Agreement, the
Securities or the Indenture, or consummation of the transactions contemplated
thereby and by the Offering Memorandum, except as required under applicable
state securities or blue sky laws.
(xvi) The execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the
Shelf Registration Agreement, the DTC Agreement, the Securities and the
Indenture by the Company and the performance by the Company of its obligations
thereunder (other than performance by the Company of its obligations under the
indemnification sections of the Purchase Agreement and the Shelf Registration
Agreement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) (i) have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action on the part of the Company;
(ii) will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or
by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary; (iii) will not constitute a breach of,
or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event under, or result in the creation
or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (A) the Company's 7.46%
Senior Notes due 2004 in the original principal amount of $30,000,000, (B) the
Company's 7.85% Senior Notes due 2003 in the original aggregate principal amount
of $25,000,000, (C) the Company's 8.07% Senior Note due 2006 in the original
aggregate principal amount of $25,000,000, (D) the Company's 10.31% Senior Notes
due 1998 in the original aggregate principal amount of $10,000,000, (E) the
Company's Promissory Notes due 2006 in the original aggregate principal amount
of $1,000,000, (F) the Company's Master Lease Agreement with General Electric
Capital Corporation, as amended, (G) the Company's variable rate demand note
with the City of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and the related letter of credit, dated March 1,
1993, as amended, or (H) to the best knowledge of such counsel, any other
material agreement, instrument, contract or obligation; or (iv) to the best
knowledge of such counsel, will not result in any violation of any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the
Company or any subsidiary.
(xvii) The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the
Securities will not be, an "investment company" within the meaning of Investment
Company Act.
(xviii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, neither the Company nor
any subsidiary is in violation of its charter or by-laws or any law,
administrative regulation or
administrative or court decree applicable to the Company or any subsidiary or is
in Default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement,
covenant or condition contained in any material agreement, instrument, contract
or obligation, except in each such case for such violations or Defaults as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(xix) No registration of the Securities under the Securities Act, and
no qualification of an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act with respect
thereto, is required for in connection with the purchase of the Initial
Securities by the Initial Purchasers or the initial resale of the Initial
Securities by the Initial Purchasers to Qualified Institutional Buyers or
Institutional Accredited Investors in the manner contemplated by this Agreement
and the Offering Memorandum other than any registration or qualification that
may be required in connection with the Shelf Registration Agreement. Such
counsel need express no opinion, however, as to when or under what circumstances
any Initial Securities initially sold by the Initial Purchasers may be reoffered
or resold.
(xx) Each of the Preliminary Offering Memorandum and the Offering
Memorandum, as of its date, and each amendment or supplement thereto, as of its
date (except for the financial statements included or incorporated by reference
therein, as to which no opinion need be expressed), contained all of the
information required under Rule 144A(d)(4) of the Securities Act.
(xxi) Upon issuance and delivery of the Securities in accordance with
the Purchase Agreement and the Indenture, the Securities will be convertible at
the option of the holders thereof for shares of Common Stock in accordance with
the terms of the Securities and the Indenture; the shares of Common Stock
issuable upon conversion of the Securities have been duly authorized and
reserved for issuance upon such conversion by all necessary corporate action;
such shares, when issued upon such conversion, will be validly issued and will
be fully paid and nonassessable and no holder of such Common Stock is or will be
subject to personal liability by reason of being such a holder.
(xxii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, the Company owns 38 issued
U.S. Patents (the "U.S. Patents") and 76 pending U.S. Applications (the "U.S.
Applications"). Such counsel knows of no claims of third parties or lien with
respect to the Company's ownership interest in any of the U.S. Patents or U.S.
Applications.
(xxiii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, the Company owns 8 issued
foreign patents (the "Non-U.S. Patents") and 32 pending foreign patent
applications (the "Non-U.S. Applications"). Such counsel knows of no claims of
third parties or lien with respect to the Company's ownership interest in any of
the Non-U.S. Patents or Non-U.S. Applications.
(xxiv) To such counsel's knowledge, the statements under the Offering
Memorandum captions "Risk Factors--Intellectual Properties," "Business--Research
and Development" and "Business--Intellectual Properties" (collectively, the
"Intellectual Property Portion") in the Offering Memorandum and any amendment or
supplement thereto, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the
Company's U.S. Patents, Non-U.S. Patents, U.S.
Applications, Non-U.S. Applications and other intellectual property, fairly and
accurately summarize in all material respects the legal matters, documents and
proceedings relating to such U.S. Patents, Non-U.S. Patents, U.S. Applications,
Non-U.S. Applications and other intellectual property described therein.
(xxv) To such counsel's knowledge, the Company or the Company's
customers own or possess sufficient rights to patents, patent applications,
copyrights, trade secrets and other intellectual property rights necessary to
the conduct of its disk drive suspension business as now or proposed to be
conducted by the Company as described in the Offering Memorandum.
(xxvi) Such counsel knows of no pending or threatened action, suit,
proceeding or claim by governmental authorities or others that the Company is
infringing or otherwise violating any patents or trade secrets.
(xxvii) Such counsel is not aware of any material defects of form in the
preparation or filing of the U.S. Applications and Non-U.S. Applications on
behalf of the Company. The U.S. Applications and Non-U.S. Applications are
being diligently pursued by the Company. Such counsel is not aware of any
pending or threatened actions, suits, proceedings or claims by governmental
authorities or others challenging the validity of the U.S. Patents or Non-U.S.
Patents.
(xxviii) Such counsel is not aware of any infringement on the part of any
third party of the U.S. Patents or Non-U.S. Patents, trade secrets, know-how or
other proprietary rights of the Company.
(xxix) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no contracts or other
documents relating to the Company's intellectual property of a character
required to be filed as an exhibit to the Company's filings with the SEC or
required to be described in the Company's filings with the SEC that are not
filed or described as required.
(xxx) To such counsel's knowledge, the Patent License Agreement and the
Technology Transfer and Development Agreement have been executed and delivered
by the Company and, assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery
thereof by the other party or parties thereto, are valid and binding agreements
of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as such
enforcement 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.
In addition, such counsel shall state that they have participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company,
representatives of the independent public or certified public accountants for
the Company and with representatives of the Initial Purchasers at which the
contents of the Offering Memorandum, and any supplements or amendments thereto,
and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing
upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Offering Memorandum (other than as
specified above), and any supplements or amendments thereto, on the basis of the
foregoing, nothing has come to their attention which
would lead them to believe that either the Offering Memorandum, as of its date
or at the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no
belief as to the financial statements or other financial data derived therefrom,
included or incorporated by reference in the Offering Memorandum or any
amendments or supplements thereto).
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the laws of the
State of Minnesota or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they
deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be
dated the Closing Date shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Initial Purchasers, shall expressly state that the Initial Purchasers may rely
on such opinion as if it were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the
Initial Purchasers) of other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be
reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the Initial Purchasers;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such counsel shall further state that they believe that
they and the Initial Purchasers are justified in relying upon such opinion of
other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on
certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.
EXHIBIT B
OPINION OF SPECIAL NEW YORK COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY TO BE
DELIVERED PURSUANT TO SECTION 5(D) OF THE PURCHASE AGREEMENT
References to the Offering Memorandum in this EXHIBIT B include any
supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
(i) Each of the Shelf Registration Agreement and the DTC Agreement is
a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except (with respect to the Shelf Registration
Agreement) as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable
law.
(ii) The Indenture constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
(iii) The Securities, when executed by the Company and authenticated by
the Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture (assuming the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee) and
delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms.
Our opinions are subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
moratorium, fraudulent conveyance and other similar laws affecting creditors'
rights and remedies generally, and (ii) general principles of equity including,
without limitation, standards of materiality, good faith, fair dealing and
reasonableness, equitable defenses and limits as to the availability of
equitable remedies, whether such principles are considered in a proceeding at
law or in equity.
EXHIBIT C
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
March 12, 1998
NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
First Chicago Capital Market, Inc.
c/o NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
RE: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED
CONVERTIBLE SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2005
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you, as Initial Purchasers (the "Initial
Purchasers") propose to enter into a Purchase Agreement dated the date hereof
(the "Purchase Agreement") with ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Technology Incorporated (the
"Company") providing for issuance of up to $161,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of the Company's Convertible Subordinated Notes due 2005 (the "Notes")
and the offering and sale of the Notes, severally, to the Initial Purchasers.
The Notes are convertible into Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock").
In consideration of the Initial Purchasers' agreement to purchase the
Notes, and for other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of which is
hereby acknowledged, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written
consent of NationsBanc ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Securities LLC, it will not, for a period of
90 days subsequent to the date of the Purchase Agreement (the "Lock-Up Period"),
(1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell (including, without limitation, any
short sale), sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or
contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, establish an
open "put equivalent position" within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or otherwise transfer or dispose
of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock owned directly
by the undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or acquires
beneficial ownership within the meaning of the rules and regulations of the
Commission (collectively, the "Undersigned's Shares") or (2) enter into any swap
or similar agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic risk of
ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause
(1) above or this clause (2) is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or
such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (3) publicly announce the
undersigned's intention to do any of the foregoing.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the undersigned is an individual, he or
she may transfer any securities of the Company either during his or her lifetime
or on death by gift, will or intestacy to his or her immediate family or to a
trust, the beneficiaries of which are exclusively the undersigned and/or a
member or members of his or her immediate family; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in
each such case described in this paragraph the transferee agrees in writing to
be bound by the provisions of this agreement. For purposes of this agreement,
"immediate family" shall mean spouse, lineal descendant, father, mother, brother
or sister of the transferor.
The undersigned now has and except as contemplated by the preceding
paragraph, for the duration of the Lock-Up Period will have, good and marketable
title to the Undersigned's Shares.
The undersigned hereby acknowledges that this agreement is valid and
binding notwithstanding any prior agreements relating to this matter and further
agrees and consents to the entry of stop-transfer instructions with the
Company's transfer agent against the transfer of shares of Common Stock held by
the undersigned except in compliance with this agreement. The undersigned also
understands that the Company and the Underwriters will proceed with the Public
Offering in reliance on this agreement.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and
the successors, heirs, person representatives, and assigns of the undersigned.
Very truly yours,
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SIGNATURE
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PLEASE PRINT NAME
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PLEASE PRINT TITLE, IF APPLICABLE
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ADDITIONAL SIGNATURE(S), IF STOCK JOINTLY HELD
ANNEX I
RESALE PURSUANT TO REGULATION S OR RULE 144A. Each Initial Purchaser
understands that:
(a) Such Initial Purchaser agrees that it has not offered or sold and
will not offer or sell the Securities in the United States or to, or for the
benefit or account of, a U.S. Person (other than a distributor), in each case,
as defined in Rule 902 under the Securities Act (i) as part of its distribution
at any time and (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the commencement
of the offering of the Securities pursuant hereto and the Closing Date, other
than in accordance with Regulation S of the Securities Act or another exemption
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act. Such Initial
Purchaser agrees that, during such 40-day restricted period, it will not cause
any advertisement with respect to the Securities (including any "tombstone"
advertisement) to be published in any newspaper or periodical or posted in any
public place and will not issue any circular relating to the Securities, except
such advertisements as are permitted by and include the statements required by
Regulation S.
(b) Such Initial Purchaser agrees that, at or prior to confirmation
of a sale of Securities by it to any distributor, dealer or person receiving a
selling concession, fee or other remuneration during the 40-day restricted
period referred to in Rule 903(c)(2) under the Securities Act, it will send to
such distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or other
remuneration a confirmation or notice to substantially the following effect:
"The Securities covered hereby have not been registered under the U.S.
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), and may not
be offered and sold within the United States or to, or for the account
or benefit of, U.S. persons (i) as part of your distribution at any
time or (ii) otherwise until 40 days after the later of the
commencement of the Offering and the Closing Date, except in either
case in accordance with Regulation S under the Securities Act (or Rule
144A or to Accredited Institutions in transactions that are exempt
from the registration requirements of the Securities Act), and in
connection with any subsequent sale by you of the Notes covered hereby
in reliance on Regulation S during the period referred to above to any
distributor, dealer or person receiving a selling concession, fee or
other remuneration, you must deliver a notice to substantially the
foregoing effect. Terms used above have the meanings assigned to them
in Regulation S."