[Form of Underwriting Agreement - Subject to Additional Review]
1,500,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
SNOWDANCE, INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
, 1998
JOSEPHTHAL & CO. INC.
CRUTTENDEN ▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED
As Representatives of the
Several Underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto
c/o Josephthal & Co. Inc.
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Snowdance, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
confirms its agreement with Josephthal & Co. Inc. ("Josephthal"), Cruttenden
▇▇▇▇ Incorporated ("Cruttenden") and each of the underwriters named in Schedule
A hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters," which term shall also include any
underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 11), for whom
Josephthal and Cruttenden are acting as representatives (in such capacity,
Josephthal and Cruttenden each shall hereinafter sometimes be referred to as a
Representative and collectively as "you" or the "Representatives"), with respect
to the sale by the Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of the Company's
common stock, $.001 par value per share ("Common Stock"), set forth in Schedule
A hereto. Such shares of Common Stock are hereinafter referred to as the "Firm
Shares."
Upon your request, as provided in Section 2(b) of this
Agreement, the Company shall also sell to the Underwriters, acting severally and
not jointly, up to an additional 225,000 shares of Common Stock for the purpose
of covering over-allotments, if any (the "Option Shares"). The Firm Shares and
the Option Shares are sometimes hereinafter referred to as the "Shares." The
Company also proposes to issue and sell to you warrants (the "Representatives'
Warrants") pursuant to the Representatives' Warrant Agreement (the
"Representatives' Warrant Agreement") for the purchase of an additional 150,000
shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Representatives' Warrants are hereinafter referred to as the "Representatives'
Shares." The Firm Shares, the Option Shares, the Representatives' Warrants and
the Representatives' Shares (collectively, hereinafter referred to as the
"Securities") are more fully described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus referred to below.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters as of the date
hereof, and as of the Closing Date (hereinafter defined) and the Option Closing
Date (hereinafter defined), if any, as follows:
(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement, and an amendment or
amendments thereto, on Form SB-2 (No. 333-33369), including any related
preliminary prospectus ("Preliminary Prospectus"), for the registration of the
Firm Shares and the Option Shares under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been
prepared by the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the
rules and regulations (the "Regulations") of the Commission under the Act. The
Company will promptly file a further amendment to said registration statement in
the form heretofore delivered to the Underwriters and will not file any other
amendment thereto to which the Underwriters shall have objected in writing after
having been furnished with a copy thereof. Except as the context may otherwise
require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at
the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus,
financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a
part thereof or incorporated therein (including, but not limited to those
documents or information incorporated by reference therein) and all information
deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule
430(A) of the Regulations)), is hereinafter called the "Registration Statement",
and the form of prospectus in the form first filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) of the Regulations, is hereinafter called the "Prospectus." For
purposes hereof, "Rules and Regulations" mean the rules and regulations adopted
by the Commission under either the Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as applicable.
(b) Neither the Commission nor any state regulatory authority has issued
any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any part of any thereof and no
proceedings for a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any of the Company's securities have been instituted or are pending
or to the Company's knowledge, threatened. Each of the Preliminary Prospectus,
Registration Statement and Prospectus at the time of filing thereof conformed
with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and none of the
Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement or Prospectus at the time of
filing thereof contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein and necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, except that this representation and warranty does not apply to
statements made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company
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with respect to the Underwriters by or on behalf of the Underwriters expressly
for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement or Prospectus.
(c) When the Registration Statement becomes effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any,
and during such longer period as the Prospectus may be required to be delivered
in connection with sales by the Underwriters or a dealer, the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus will contain all statements which are required to
be stated therein in accordance with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and
will conform to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations;
neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, nor any amendment or
supplement thereto, will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, provided, however, that this representation and warranty
does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf
of any Underwriter expressly for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
(d) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation.
Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company does not own an interest in
any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture or other business entity. The
Company is duly qualified and licensed and in good standing as a foreign
corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of any
properties or the character of its operations requires such qualification or
licensing. The Company has all requisite corporate power and authority, and the
Company has obtained any and all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders,
licenses, certificates, franchises and permits of and from all governmental or
regulatory officials and bodies (including, without limitation, those having
jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), to own or lease its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, except where
the failure to do so would not have a material adverse effect on the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings, position, prospectus, value, operation,
properties, business or results of operations of the Company (any such effect a
"Material Adverse Effect"); the Company is and has been doing business in
compliance with all such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses,
certificates, franchises and permits and all federal, state and local laws,
rules and regulations; and the Company has not received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
authorization, approval, order, license, certificate, franchise, or permit
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, would have a Material Adverse Effect. The disclosures in the
Registration Statement concerning the effects of federal, state and local laws,
rules and regulations on the Company's business as currently conducted and as
contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading
in light of the circumstances in which they were made.
(e) The Company has, as of the date specified therein, a duly authorized,
issued and outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, under
"Capitalization" and "Description of Capital Stock" and will have the adjusted
capitalization set forth therein on the Closing Date and the Option Closing
Date, if any, based upon the assumptions set forth therein,
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and the Company is not a party to or bound by any instrument, agreement or other
arrangement providing for it to issue any capital stock, rights, warrants,
options or other securities, except for this Agreement, the Representatives'
Warrant Agreement and as described in the Prospectus. The Securities and all
other securities issued or issuable by the Company conform or, when issued and
paid for, will conform, in all material respects to all statements with respect
thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All issued
and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and the holders thereof have no
rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal
liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were
issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of
the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The Securities
are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar rights of any
stockholder, have been duly authorized and, when issued, paid for and delivered
in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and will conform to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus; the holders thereof will not be subject to any liability solely as
such holders; all corporate action required to be taken for the authorization,
issue and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken; and the
certificates representing the Securities will be in due and proper form. Upon
the issuance and delivery pursuant to the terms hereof of the Securities to be
sold by the Company hereunder, the Underwriters or the Representatives, as the
case may be, will acquire good and marketable title to such Securities free and
clear of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest, defect
or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever.
(f) The financial statements, including the related notes and schedules
thereto, included in the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus and
the Prospectus fairly present the financial position, income, changes in cash
flows, changes in stockholders' equity, and the results of operations of the
Company at the respective dates and for the respective periods to which they
apply and the pro forma financial information included in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus presents fairly on a basis consistent with that of the
audited financial statements included therein, what the Company's pro forma
capitalization, financial position and results of operations would have been for
the respective periods and as of the respective dates to which they apply after
giving effect to the adjustments described therein. Such financial statements
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted acc`ounting principles
and the Rules and Regulations, consistently applied throughout the periods
involved. There has been no adverse change or development involving a material
prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
position, prospects, value, operation, properties, business, or results of
operations of the Company whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, since the date of the financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the outstanding debt, the
property, both tangible and intangible, and the business of the Company conform
in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Financial information set forth in
the Prospectus under the headings "Summary Financial Data," "Selected Financial
Data," "Capitalization," and "Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial
Condition and Results of Operations," fairly present, on the basis stated in the
Prospectus, the information set forth therein, have been derived from or
compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements
included in the Prospectus.
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(g) The Company (i) has paid all federal, state, local, and foreign taxes
for which it is liable and for which payment is due and payable, including, but
not limited to, withholding taxes and amounts payable under Chapters 21 through
24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (the "Code"), and has furnished all
information returns it is required to furnish pursuant to the Code, (ii) has
established adequate reserves for such taxes which are not due and payable, and
(iii) does not have any tax deficiency or claims outstanding, proposed or
assessed against it.
(h) No transfer tax, stamp duty or other similar tax is payable by or on
behalf of the Underwriters in connection with (i) the issuance by the Company of
the Securities, (ii) the purchase by the Underwriters of the Securities from the
Company and the purchase by the Representatives of the Representatives' Warrants
from the Company, (iii) the consummation by the Company of any of its
obligations under this Agreement or the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, or
(iv) resales of the Shares in connection with the distribution contemplated
hereby.
(i) The Company maintains insurance policies, including, but not limited
to, general liability and property insurance, which insures the Company and its
employees, against such losses and risks generally insured against by comparable
businesses. The Company (A) has not failed to give notice or present any
insurance claim with respect to any matter, including but not limited to the
Company's business, property or employees, under the insurance policy or surety
bond in a due and timely manner, (B) does not have any disputes or claims
against any underwriter of such insurance policies or surety bonds or has not
failed to pay any premiums due and payable thereunder, or (C) has not failed to
comply in all material respects with all conditions contained in such insurance
policies and surety bonds. There are no facts or circumstances under any such
insurance policy or surety bond which would relieve any insurer of its
obligation to satisfy in full any valid claim of the Company.
(j) There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration,
investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding (including, without
limitation, those having jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters),
domestic or foreign, pending or threatened against (or circumstances that may
give rise to the same), or involving the properties or business of, the Company
which (i) questions the validity of the capital stock of the Company, this
Agreement or the Representatives' Warrant Agreement or of any action taken or to
be taken by the Company pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement or the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement, (ii) is required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement which is not so disclosed (and such proceedings as are
summarized in the Registration Statement are accurately summarized in all
material respects), or (iii) might, if adversely determined, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(k) The Company has full legal right, power and authority to authorize,
issue, deliver and sell the Securities, enter into this Agreement and the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement and to consummate the transactions provided
for in such agreements; and this Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant
Agreement have each been duly and properly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company. Each of this Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement
constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms, except (i) as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification or
contribution provisions may be limited under applicable laws or the
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public policies underlying such laws and (iii) that the remedies of specific
performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to
equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any
proceedings may be brought. None of the Company's issue and sale of the
Securities, execution or delivery of this Agreement or the Representatives'
Warrant Agreement, its performance hereunder and thereunder, its consummation of
the transactions contemplated herein and therein, or the conduct of its business
as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any amendments
or supplements thereto, conflicts with or will conflict with or results or will
result in any material breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of,
or constitutes or will constitute a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest,
defect or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever upon, any property
or assets (tangible or intangible) of the Company pursuant to the terms of, (i)
the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company, (ii) any license,
contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement,
stockholders agreement, note, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or
to which any of its properties or assets (tangible or intangible) is or may be
subject, or any indebtedness, or (iii) any statute, judgment, decree, order,
rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any arbitrator, court,
regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental agency or body
(including, without limitation, those having jurisdiction over environmental or
similar matters), domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or
any of its activities or properties.
(l) Except as described in the Prospectus, no consent, approval,
authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, regulatory body,
government agency or other body, domestic or foreign, is required for the
issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Prospectus and the Registration
Statement, the issuance of the Representatives' Warrants, the performance of
this Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, including without limitation, any waiver of any
preemptive, first refusal or other rights that any entity or person may have for
the issue and/or sale of any of the Shares, the Representatives' Warrants or the
Representatives' shares, except such as have been or under the rules of the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or may be obtained
under the Act or may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in
connection with the Underwriters' purchase and distribution of the Shares, the
Representatives' Warrants and the Representaives' Shares to be sold by the
Company hereunder.
(m) All executed agreements, contracts or other documents or copies of
executed agreements, contracts or other documents filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement to which the Company is a party or by which it may be
bound or to which any of its assets, properties or business may be subject have
been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and
constitute the legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable
against the Company, in accordance with their respective terms. The descriptions
in the Registration Statement of agreements, contracts and other documents are
accurate in all material respects and fairly present the information required to
be shown with respect thereto by Form SB-2, and there are no contracts or other
documents which are required by the Act to be described in the Registration
Statement or filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not
described or filed as required, and the exhibits which have been filed are in
all material respects complete and correct copies of the documents of which they
purport to be copies.
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(n) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is set forth
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and except as may otherwise be
indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not (i) issued any
securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for
borrowed money, (ii) entered into any transaction other than in the ordinary
course of business, or (iii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other
distribution on or in respect of its capital stock of any class, and there has
not been any change in the capital stock, or any material change in the debt
(long or short term) or liabilities or material adverse change in or affecting
the general affairs, management, financial operations, stockholders' equity or
results of operations of the Company.
(o) No default exists in the due performance and observance of any term,
covenant or condition of any license, contract, indenture, mortgage, installment
sale agreement, lease, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, stockholders
agreement, partnership agreement, note, loan or credit agreement, purchase
order, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for
borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a
party or by which the Company may be bound or to which the property or assets
(tangible or intangible) of the Company is subject or affected which default
would have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) The Company has generally enjoyed a satisfactory employer-employee
relationship with its employees and is in compliance in all material respects
with all federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations respecting
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and
wages and hours. There are, to the Company's knowledge, no pending
investigations involving the Company by the U.S. Department of Labor, or any
other governmental agency responsible for the enforcement of such federal,
state, local, or foreign laws and regulations. There is, to the Company's
knowledge, no unfair labor practice charge or complaint against the Company
pending before the National Labor Relations Board or any strike, picketing,
boycott, dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or threatened against or
involving the Company or any predecessor entity, and none has ever occurred. No
representation question exists respecting the employees of the Company, and no
collective bargaining agreement or modification thereof is currently being
negotiated by the Company. No grievance or arbitration proceeding is, to the
Company's knowledge, pending under any expired or existing collective bargaining
agreements of the Company. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company
exists, or, to the Company's knowledge, is imminent.
(q) Except as described in the Prospectus, the Company does not maintain,
sponsor or contribute to any program or arrangement that is an "employee pension
benefit plan," an "employee welfare benefit plan," or a "multiemployer plan" as
such terms are defined in Sections 3(2), 3(1) and 3(37), respectively, of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") ("ERISA
Plans"). The Company does not maintain or contribute, now or at any time
previously, to a defined benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA. No
ERISA Plan (or any trust created thereunder) has engaged in a "prohibited
transaction" within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the
Code, which could subject the Company to any tax penalty on prohibited
transactions and which has not adequately been corrected. Each ERISA Plan is in
compliance with all reporting, disclosure and other requirements of the Code and
ERISA as they relate to any such ERISA Plan. Determination letters have been
received from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each ERISA Plan
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which is intended to comply with Code Section 401(a), stating that such ERISA
Plan and the attendant trust are qualified thereunder. The Company has never
completely or partially withdrawn from a "multiemployer plan."
(r) Neither the Company nor any of its employees, directors, stockholders,
partners, or affiliates (within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations) of any
of the foregoing has taken or will take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to or which has constituted or which might be expected to cause or
result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation
of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of
the Securities or otherwise.
(s) Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, none of the patents,
patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights, and
licenses and rights to the foregoing presently owned or held by the Company are
in dispute so far as known by the Company or are in any conflict with the right
of any other person or entity. The Company (i) owns or has the right to use,
free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security
interests, defects or other restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever, all
patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights, technology and
licenses and rights with respect to the foregoing, used in the conduct of its
business as now conducted or proposed to be conducted without infringing upon or
otherwise acting adversely to the right or claimed right of any person,
corporation or other entity under or with respect to any of the foregoing and
(ii) is not obligated or under any liability whatsoever to make any payment by
way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any owner or licensee of, or other
claimant to, any patent, trademark, service ▇▇▇▇, trade name, copyright,
know-how, technology or other intangible asset, with respect to the use thereof
or in connection with the conduct of its business or otherwise.
(t) The Company has good and marketable title to, or valid and enforceable
leasehold estates in, all items of real and personal property stated in the
Prospectus, to be owned or leased by it free and clear of all liens, charges,
claims, encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects, or other
restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever, other than those referred to in
the Prospectus and liens for taxes not yet due and payable.
(u) Deloitte & Touche LLP ("D&T") whose report is filed with the Commission
as a part of the Registration Statement, are independent certified public
accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(v) The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and
enforceable agreements pursuant to which all of the holders of the Common Stock
and holders of securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into
shares of Common Stock have agreed not to, directly or indirectly, offer to
sell, sell, grant any option for the sale of, assign, transfer, pledge,
hypothecate, distribute or otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of Common
Stock or securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or
evidencing any right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of Common Stock
(either pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations or otherwise) or
dispose of any beneficial interest therein for a period of not less than 13
months following the effective date of the Registration Statement without the
prior written consent of the Representatives. The Company will cause the
Transfer Agent, as defined
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below, to ▇▇▇▇ an appropriate legend on the face of stock certificates
representing all of such securities and to place "stop transfer" orders on the
Company's stock ledgers.
(w) Except as described in the Prospectus under "Underwriting," there are
no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings, whether oral or
written, for services in the nature of a finder's or origination fee with
respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or any other arrangements,
agreements, understandings, payments or issuance with respect to the Company or
any of its officers, directors, stockholders, partners, employees or affiliates
that may affect the Underwriters' compensation, as determined by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").
(x) The Common Stock has been approved for quotation on the American Stock
Exchange ("Amex").
(y) Neither the Company nor any of its officers, employees, agents, or any
other person acting on behalf of the Company, has, directly or indirectly, given
or agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price
concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer,
supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee
of any governmental agency (domestic or foreign) or instrumentality of any
government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office
(domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to
help or hinder the business of the Company (or assist the Company in connection
with any actual or proposed transaction) which (a) might subject the Company, or
any other such person to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or
governmental litigation or proceeding (domestic or foreign), (b) if not given in
the past, might have had a materially adverse effect on the assets, business or
operations of the Company, or (c) if not continued in the future, might
adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company.
The Company's internal accounting controls are sufficient to cause the Company
to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
(z) Except as set forth in the Prospectus, no officer, director or
stockholder of the Company, or any "affiliate" or "associate" (as these terms
are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Rules and Regulations) of any of
the foregoing persons or entities has or has had, either directly or indirectly,
(i) an interest in any person or entity which (A) furnishes or sells services or
products which are furnished or sold or are proposed to be furnished or sold by
the Company, or (B) purchases from or sells or furnishes to the Company any
goods or services, or (ii) a beneficial interest in any contract or agreement to
which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound or affected. Except as
set forth in the Prospectus under "Certain Transactions," there are no existing
agreements, arrangements, understandings or transactions, or proposed
agreements, arrangements, understandings or transactions, between or among the
Company and any officer, director, or Principal Stockholder (as such term is
defined in the Prospectus) of the Company or any partner, affiliate or associate
of any of the foregoing persons or entities.
(aa) Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company, and delivered to
the Underwriters or to Underwriters' Counsel (as defined herein) shall be deemed
a representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the
matters covered thereby.
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(bb) The minute books of the Company have been made available to the
Underwriters and contain a complete summary of all meetings and actions of the
directors, stockholders, audit committee, compensation committee and any other
committee of the Board of Directors of the Company, respectively, since the time
of its incorporation, and reflects all transactions referred to in such minutes
accurately in all material respects.
(cc) Except and to the extent described in the Prospectus, no holders of
any securities of the Company or of any options, warrants or other convertible
or exchangeable securities of the Company have the right to include any
securities issued by the Company in the Registration Statement or any
registration statement to be filed by the Company or to require the Company to
file a registration statement under the Act and no person or entity holds any
anti-dilution rights with respect to any securities of the Company.
(dd) The Company has as of the effective date of the Registration Statement
(i) entered into an employment agreement with each of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and
▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, in the form filed as Exhibits 10.7, and 10.8,
respectively, to the Registration Statement and (ii) purchased term key-man
insurance on the life of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ in the
amount of $1,000,000 each, which policies name the Company as the sole
beneficiary thereof.
(ee) As of the date hereof, the Company has effected: (i) the
reorganization pursuant to which all of the partnership interests in Ascutney
Mountain Resort Hotel, L.P., Ascutney Mountain Resort, L.P. and Ascutney
Mountain Resort Realty (collectively, the "Limited Partnerships") will be
exchanged for an aggregate 1,200,000 shares of Common Stock of the Company (the
"Combination Transaction"). The Combination Transaction has been duly and
validly authorized by the Company, and all certificates, agreements, contracts,
minutes or other documents necessary to effect the Combination Transaction
(collectively, the "Combination Transaction Documents") have been duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered and, if necessary, filed with the
appropriate regulatory body, government agency or other body, domestic or
foreign, by the appropriate parties, and constitute the legal, valid and binding
agreements of such parties, enforceable against each of them in accordance with
their respective terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of
general application relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights
and the application of equitable principles in any action, legal or equitable,
and except as rights to indemnity or contribution may be limited by applicable
law), and none of the execution or delivery of any of the Combination
Transaction Documents by the parties thereto, the performance by the Company
hereunder or by the Company and the Limited Partnerships thereunder, or
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or therein, conflicts with
or will conflict with or results or will result in any breach or violation of
the terms or provisions of, or constitutes or will constitute a default under,
or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance,
pledge, security interest, defect or other restriction or equity of any kind
whatsoever upon, any property or assets (tangible or intangible) of the Company
pursuant to the terms of, (A) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
Company, (B) any license, contract, collective bargaining agreement, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, lease, voting trust agreement, stockholders agreement,
note, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or to which its respective
properties or
10
assets (tangible or intangible) is or may be subject, or any indebtedness, or
(C) any statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the
Company of any arbitrator, court, regulatory body or administrative agency or
other governmental agency or body (including, without limitation, those having
jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its activities or properties. The
Combination Transaction Documents effectively convey to the Company all right,
title and interest to the business of the Company as described in the
Prospectus; and the descriptions in the Registration Statement of the
Reorganization are accurate and fairly present the information required to be
shown with respect thereto by Form SB-2.
2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities and Representatives'
Warrants.
On the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and agreements
herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter, severally and
not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company at a price of $_______ [93% of
the initial public offering price] per share of Common Stock, that number of
Firm Shares set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus
any additional number of Firm Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated
to purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 11 hereof.
(b) In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants
and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the Underwriters, severally
and not jointly, to purchase all or any part of an additional 225,000 shares of
Common Stock at a price of $____ [93% of the initial public offering price] per
share of Common Stock. The option granted hereby will expire 45 days after (i)
the date the Registration Statement becomes effective, if the Company has
elected not to rely on Rule 430A under the Rules and Regulations, or (ii) the
date of this Agreement if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 430A under
the Rules and Regulations, and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to
time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made in
connection with the offering and distribution of the Firm Shares upon notice by
the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option Shares as
to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option and the time
and date of payment and delivery for any such Option Shares. Any such time and
date of delivery (an "Option Closing Date") shall be determined by the
Representatives, but shall not be later than seven full business days after the
exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the Closing Date, as
hereinafter defined, unless otherwise agreed upon by the Representatives and the
Company. Nothing herein contained shall obligate the Underwriters to make any
over-allotments. No Option Shares shall be delivered unless the Firm Shares
shall be simultaneously delivered or shall theretofore have been delivered as
herein provided.
(c) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for,
the Firm Shares shall be made at the offices of Josephthal & Co. Inc. at ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, or at such other place as
shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company. Such delivery and
payment shall be made at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on , 1998 or at
such other time and date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the
Company, but not less than three (3) nor more than seven (7) full business days
after the effective date of the Registration Statement (such time and date of
11
payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Date"). In addition, in the
event that any or all of the Option Shares are purchased by the Underwriters,
payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, such Option
Shares shall be made at the above mentioned office of Josephthal or at such
other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company on
each Option Closing Date as specified in the notice from the Representatives to
the Company. Delivery of the certificates for the Firm Shares and the Option
Shares, if any, shall be made to the Underwriters against payment by the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, of the purchase price for the Firm
Shares and the Option Shares, if any, to the order of the Company for the Firm
Shares and the Option Shares, if any, by New York Clearing House funds. In the
event such option is exercised, each of the Underwriters, acting severally and
not jointly, shall purchase that proportion of the total number of Option Shares
then being purchased which the number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule A
hereto opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm
Shares, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Representatives in their
discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares.
Certificates for the Firm Shares and the Option Shares, if any, shall be in
definitive, fully registered form, shall bear no restrictive legends and shall
be in such denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriters may
request in writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date or
the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates for the
Firm Shares and the Option Shares, if any, shall be made available to the
Representatives at such office or such other place as the Representatives may
designate for inspection, checking and packaging no later than 9:30 a.m. on the
last business day prior to Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as
the case may be.
(d) On the Closing Date, the Company shall issue and sell to the
Representatives Representatives' Warrants at a purchase price of $.0001 per
warrant, which warrants shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase an
aggregate of 150,000 shares of Common Stock. The Representatives' Warrants shall
be exercisable for a period of four years commencing one year from the effective
date of the Registration Statement at a price equaling one hundred twenty
percent (120%) of the initial public offering price of the shares of Common
Stock. The Representatives' Warrant Agreement and form of Warrant Certificate
shall be substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration
Statement. Payment for the Representatives' Warrants shall be made on the
Closing Date.
3. Public Offering of the Shares. As soon after the Registration Statement
becomes effective as the Representatives deem advisable, the Underwriters shall
make a public offering of the Shares (other than to residents of or in any
jurisdiction in which qualification of the Shares is required and has not become
effective) at the price and upon the other terms set forth in the Prospectus.
The Representatives may from time to time increase or decrease the public
offering price after distribution of the Shares has been completed to such
extent as the Representatives, in their discretion deem advisable. The
Underwriters may enter into one of more agreements as the Underwriters, in each
of their sole discretion, deem advisable with one or more broker-dealers who
shall act as dealers in connection with such public offering.
4. Covenants and Agreements of the Company.
The Company covenants and agrees with each of the Underwriters as follows:
12
(a) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement and any amendments thereto to become effective as promptly as
practicable and will not at any time, whether before or after the effective date
of the Registration Statement, file any amendment to the Registration Statement
or supplement to the Prospectus or file any document under the Act or Exchange
Act before termination of the offering of the Shares by the Underwriters of
which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised and furnished
with a copy, or to which the Representatives shall have objected or which is not
in compliance with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations.
(b) As soon as the Company is advised or obtains knowledge thereof, the
Company will advise the Representatives and confirm the notice in writing, (i)
when the Registration Statement, as amended, becomes effective, if the
provisions of Rule 430A promulgated under the Act will be relied upon, when the
Prospectus has been filed in accordance with said Rule 430A and when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii)
of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the
threatening, of any proceeding, suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the
institution of proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission or by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the
suspension of the qualification of any of the Securities for offering or sale in
any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for
that purpose, (iv) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission; and (v)
of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement
or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information.
If the Commission or any state securities commission authority shall enter a
stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make
every effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
(c) The Company shall file the Prospectus (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives) or transmit the Prospectus by a means
reasonably calculated to result in filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b)(1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by the Representatives,
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4)) not later than the Commission's close of business on
the earlier of (i) the second business day following the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and (ii) the fifteenth business day after the effective date
of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to
file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement (including any
post-effective amendment) or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus
(including any revised prospectus which the Company proposes for use by the
Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities which differs
from the corresponding prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the
Registration Statement becomes effective, whether or not such revised prospectus
is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations),
and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment or
supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as
the case may be, and will not file any such prospectus to which the
Representatives or ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP ("Underwriters' Counsel"),
shall object.
13
(e) The Company shall endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the
Representatives, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes
effective, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities
laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate to permit the
continuance of sales and dealings therein for as long as may be necessary to
complete the distribution, and shall make such applications, file such documents
and furnish such information as may be required for such purpose; provided,
however, the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation
or file a general or limited consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected,
the Company will, unless the Representatives agree that such action is not at
the time necessary or advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and make
such statements or reports at such times as are or may reasonably be required by
the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification.
(f) During the time when a prospectus is required to be delivered under the
Act, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the Exchange Act, as now and
hereafter amended and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in
force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in
the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus, or
any amendments or supplements thereto. If at any time when a prospectus relating
to the Securities or the Representatives' Shares is required to be delivered
under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of which, in the
opinion of counsel for the Company or Underwriters' Counsel, the Prospectus, as
then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omits to state any 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, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the
Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will notify the Representatives
promptly and prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment or
supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act, each such amendment or
supplement to be satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel, and the Company will
furnish to the Underwriters copies of such amendment or supplement as soon as
available and in such quantities as the Underwriters may request.
(g) As soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 45 days after
the end of the 12-month period beginning on the day after the end of the fiscal
quarter of the Company during which the effective date of the Registration
Statement occurs (90 days in the event that the end of such fiscal quarter is
the end of the Company's fiscal year), the Company shall make generally
available to its security holders, in the manner specified in Rule 158(b) of the
Rules and Regulations, and to the Representatives, an earnings statement which
will be in the detail required by, and will otherwise comply with, the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158(a) of the Rules and
Regulations, which statement need not be audited unless required by the Act,
covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months after the effective date of
the Registration Statement.
(h) During a period of five (5) years after the date hereof, the Company
will furnish to its stockholders, as soon as practicable, annual reports
(including financial statements audited by independent public accountants) and
unaudited quarterly reports of earnings, and will deliver to the
Representatives:
14
i) concurrently with furnishing such quarterly reports to its
stockholders, statements of income of the Company for each quarter in the
form furnished to the Company's stockholders and certified by the Company's
principal financial or accounting officer;
ii) concurrently with furnishing such annual reports to its
stockholders, a balance sheet of the Company as at the end of the preceding
fiscal year, together with statements of operations, stockholders' equity,
and cash flows of the Company for such fiscal year, accompanied by a copy
of the certificate thereon of independent certified public accountants;
iii) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports (financial
or other) mailed to stockholders;
iv) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports and financial
statements furnished to or filed with the Commission, the NASD or any
securities exchange;
v) every press release and every material news item or article of
interest to the financial community in respect of the Company, or its
affairs which was released or prepared by or on behalf of the Company; and
vi) any additional information of a public nature concerning the
Company (and any future subsidiary) or its businesses which the
Representatives may request.
During such five-year period, if the Company has an active subsidiary, the
foregoing financial statements will be on a consolidated basis to the extent
that the accounts of the Company and its subsidiary are consolidated, and will
be accompanied by similar financial statements for any significant subsidiary
which is not so consolidated.
(i) The Company will maintain a Transfer Agent and, if necessary under the
jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a Registrar (which may be the same
entity as the Transfer Agent) for its Common Stock.
(j) The Company will furnish to the Representatives or on the
Representatives' order, without charge, at such place as the Representatives may
designate, copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement and
any pre-effective or post-effective amendments thereto (two of which copies will
be signed and will include all financial statements and exhibits), the
Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, including any prospectus
prepared after the effective date of the Registration Statement, in each case as
soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives may request.
(k) On or before the effective date of the Registration Statement, the
Company shall provide the Representatives with true copies of duly executed,
legally binding and enforceable agreements pursuant to which for a period of 13
months from the effective date of the Registration Statement, the holders of all
shares of Common Stock and holders of securities exchangeable or exercisable for
or convertible into shares of Common Stock, agree that it or he
15
or she will not directly or indirectly, issue, offer to sell, sell, grant an
option for the sale of, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate, distribute or
otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or securities
convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or evidencing any right to
purchase or subscribe for any shares of Common Stock (either pursuant to Rule
144 of the Rules and Regulations or otherwise) or dispose of any beneficial
interest therein without the prior written consent of the Representatives
(collectively, the "Lock-up Agreements"). During the 13 month period commencing
with the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall not,
without the prior written consent of the Representatives, sell, contract or
offer to sell, issue, transfer, assign, pledge, hypothecate, distribute, or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any
options, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of Common Stock. On or
before the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver instructions to the Transfer
Agent authorizing it to place appropriate legends on the certificates
representing the securities subject to the Lock-up Agreements and to place
appropriate stop transfer orders on the Company's ledgers.
(l) Neither the Company, nor any of its officers, directors, stockholders,
nor any of their respective affiliates (within the meaning of the Rules and
Regulations) will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or which
might in the future reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization
or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.
(m) The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Securities in the manner, and subject to the conditions, set forth under "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus. Except as described in the Prospectus, no portion
of the net proceeds will be used, directly or indirectly, to acquire any
securities issued by the Company.
(n) The Company shall timely file all such reports, forms or other
documents as may be required (including, but not limited to, a Form SR as may be
required pursuant to Rule 463 under the Act) from time to time, under the Act,
the Exchange Act, and the Rules and Regulations, and all such reports, forms and
documents filed will comply as to form and substance with the applicable
requirements under the Act, the Exchange Act, and the Rules and Regulations.
(o) The Company shall furnish to the Representatives as early as
practicable prior to each of the date hereof, the Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, if any, but no later than two (2) full business days prior
thereto, a copy of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements
of the Company (which in no event shall be as of a date more than thirty (30)
days prior to the date of the Registration Statement) which have been read by
the Company's independent public accountants, as stated in its letter to be
furnished pursuant to Section 6(i) hereof.
(p) The Company shall cause the Common Stock to be quoted on Amex and for a
period of seven (7) years from the date hereof, use its best efforts to maintain
the Amex quotation of the Common Stock to the extent outstanding.
(q) For a period of five (5) years from the Closing Date, the Company shall
furnish to the Representatives at either Representative's request and at the
Company's sole expense, (i) daily consolidated transfer sheets relating to the
Common Stock, (ii) the list of
16
holders of all of the Company's securities and (iii) a Blue Sky "Trading Survey"
for secondary Sales of the Company's securities prepared by counsel to the
Company.
(r) As soon as practicable, (i) but in no event more than 5 business days
before the effective date of the Registration Statement, file a Form 8-A with
the Commission providing for the registration under the Exchange Act of the
Securities and (ii) but in no event more than 30 days from the effective date of
the Registration Statement, take all necessary and appropriate actions to be
included in Standard and Poor's Corporation Descriptions and ▇▇▇▇▇'▇ OTC Manual
and to continue such inclusion for a period of not less than five (5) years.
(s) The Company hereby agrees that it will not for a period of thirteen
(13) months from the effective date of the Registration Statement, adopt,
propose to adopt or otherwise permit to exist any employee, officer, director,
consultant or compensation plan or arrangement permitting the grant, issue or
sale of any shares of Common Stock or other securities of the Company (i) in an
amount greater than an aggregate of [_______] shares, (ii) at an exercise or
sale price per share less than the greater of (a) the initial public offering
price of the Shares set forth herein and (b) the fair market value of the Common
Stock on the date of grant or sale, (iii) to any direct or indirect beneficial
holder on the date hereof of more than 10% of the issued and outstanding shares
of Common Stock at an exercise price greater than 110% of the fair market value
of the Common Stock on the date of the grant, (iv) with the payment for such
securities with any form of consideration other than cash, (v) upon payment of
less than the full purchase or exercise price for such shares of Common Stock or
other securities of the Company on the date of grant or issuance, or (vi)
permitting the existence of stock appreciation rights, phantom options or
similar arrangements.
(t) Until the completion of the distribution of the Shares, the Company
shall not without the prior written consent of the Representatives and
Underwriters' Counsel, issue, directly or indirectly, any press release or other
communication or hold any press conference with respect to the Company or its
activities or the offering contemplated hereby, other than trade releases issued
in the ordinary course of the Company's business consistent with past practices
with respect to the Company's operations.
(u) For a period equal to the lesser of (i) seven (7) years from the date
hereof, and (ii) the sale to the public of the Representatives' Shares, the
Company will not take any action or actions which may prevent or disqualify the
Company's use of Form SB-2 or Form S-1 (or other appropriate form) for the
registration under the Act of the Representatives' Shares.
5. Payment of Expenses.
(a) The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the
Option Closing Date (to the extent not paid at the Closing Date) all expenses
and fees (other than fees of Underwriters' Counsel, except as provided in (iv)
below) incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this
Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, including, without
limitation, (i) the fees and expenses of accountants and counsel for the
Company, (ii) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation, duplication, printing, (including mailing and handling charges)
filing, delivery and mailing (including the payment of postage with respect
thereto) of the Registration Statement and the
17
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto and the printing, mailing
(including the payment of postage with respect thereto) and delivery of this
Agreement, the Agreement Among Underwriters, the Selected Dealer Agreements, and
related documents, including the cost of all copies thereof and of the
Preliminary Prospectuses and of the Prospectus and any amendments thereof or
supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters and such dealers as the
Underwriters may request, in quantities as hereinabove stated, (iii) the
printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Securities including, but not
limited to, (x) the purchase by the Underwriters of the Shares and the purchase
by the Representatives of the Representatives' Warrants from the Company, (y)
the consummation by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement
and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, and (z) resale of the Shares by the
Underwriters in connection with the distribution contemplated hereby, (iv) the
qualification of the Securities under state or foreign securities or "Blue Sky"
laws and determination of the status of such securities under legal investment
laws, including the costs of printing and mailing the "Preliminary Blue Sky
Memorandum," the "Supplemental Blue Sky Memorandum" and "Legal Investments
Survey," if any, and disbursements and fees of counsel in connection therewith
(such fees not to exceed $50,000), (v) costs and expenses in connection with due
diligence investigations, including but not limited to the fees of any
independent counsel or consultant retained, (vi) fees and expenses of the
transfer agent and registrar, (vii) applications for assignments of a rating of
the Securities by qualified rating agencies, (viii) the fees payable to the
Commission and the NASD, and (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection
with the quotation of the Securities on Amex and any other exchange.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in accordance with
the provisions of Section 6 or Section 12, the Company shall reimburse and
indemnify the Representatives for all of their actual out-of-pocket expenses,
including the fees and disbursements of Underwriters' Counsel, less any amounts
already paid pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof.
(c) The Company further agrees that, in addition to the expenses payable
pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 5, it will pay to the Representatives
on the Closing Date by certified or bank cashier's check or, at the election of
the Representatives, by deduction from the proceeds of the offering contemplated
herein a non-accountable expense allowance equal to two and one-half percent
(2.5%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Firm
Shares, all of which shall be paid upon the Closing Date. In the event the
Representatives elect to exercise the over-allotment option described in Section
2(b) hereof, the Company agrees to pay to the Representatives on the Option
Closing Date (by certified or bank cashier's check or, at the Representatives'
election, by deduction from the proceeds of the Option Shares) a non-accountable
expense allowance equal to two and one-half percent (2.5%) of the gross proceeds
received by the Company from the sale of the Option Shares.
6. Conditions of the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company herein as of the date hereof and
as of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, with respect to the
Company as if it had been made on and as of the Closing Date or each Option
Closing Date, as the case may be; the accuracy on and as of the Closing Date or
Option Closing Date, if any, of the statements of the officers of the Company
made pursuant to the provisions hereof; and the performance by the Company on
and as of the Closing Date and each
18
Option Closing Date, if any, of its covenants and obligations hereunder and to
the following further conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later than
12:00 Noon, New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date and
time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representatives, and, at Closing
Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or
contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for
additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel. If the Company has elected to rely upon
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, the price of the Shares and any
price-related information previously omitted from the effective Registration
Statement pursuant to such Rule 430A shall have been transmitted to the
Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations
within the prescribed time period, and prior to Closing Date the Company shall
have provided evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely
filing, or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been
promptly filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations.
(b) The Representatives shall not have advised the Company that the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, contains an untrue statement
of fact which, in the Representatives' opinion, is material, or omits to state a
fact which, in the Representatives' opinion, is material and is required to be
stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
that the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of
fact which, in the Representatives' opinion, is material, or omits to state a
fact which, in the Representatives' opinion, is material and is required to be
stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) On or prior to the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have
received from Underwriters' Counsel, such opinion or opinions with respect to
the organization of the Company, the validity of the Securities, the
Representatives' Warrants, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other
related matters as the Representatives may request and Underwriters' Counsel
shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them
to pass upon such matters.
(d) At Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the favorable
opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, special counsel to the Company, dated
the Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance
satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel, to the effect that:
i) Company (A) has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction, (B) is
duly qualified and licensed and in good standing as a foreign corporation
in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of any properties or
the character of its operations requires such qualification or licensing,
and (C) has all requisite corporate power and authority; and the Company
has obtained any and all
19
necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates,
franchises and permits of and from all governmental or regulatory officials
and bodies (including, without limitation, those having jurisdiction over
environmental or similar matters), to own or lease its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; the Company is and has
been doing business in material compliance with all such authorizations,
approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises and permits and all
federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations; the Company has not
received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of any such authorization, approval, order, license,
certificate, franchise, or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially
adversely affect the business, operations, condition, financial or
otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs, position, prospects, value,
operation, properties, business or results of operations of the Company.
The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of
federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations on the Company's
business as currently conducted and as contemplated are correct in all
material respects and do not omit to state a fact necessary to make the
statements contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances
in which they were made;
ii) except as set forth in the Prospectus, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, the Company does not own an interest in any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other business entity;
iii) the Company has a duly authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto, under "Capitalization" and "Description of Capital
Stock," and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Company is not a
party to or bound by any instrument, agreement or other arrangement
providing for it to issue any capital stock, rights, warrants, options or
other securities, except for this Agreement, the Representatives' Warrant
Agreement and as described in the Prospectus. The Securities, and all other
securities issued or issuable by the Company conform in all material
respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All issued and outstanding
securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of
rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability
by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued in
violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of the
Company. The Shares, the Representatives'
20
Warrants and the Representatives' Shares to be sold by the Company
hereunder and under the Representatives' Warrant Agreement are not and will
not be subject to any preemptive or other similar rights of any
stockholder, have been duly authorized and, when issued, paid for and
delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus; the holders thereof will not be subject to any
liability solely as such holders; all corporate action required to be taken
for the authorization, issue and sale of the Shares, the Representatives'
Warrants and the Representatives' Shares has been duly and validly taken;
and the certificates representing the Shares and the Representatives'
Warrants are in due and proper form. The Representatives' Warrants
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell,
upon exercise thereof and payment therefor, the number and type of
securities of the Company called for thereby. Upon the issuance and
delivery pursuant to this Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant
Agreement of the Shares and the Representatives' Warrants, respectively, to
be sold by the Company, the Underwriters and the Representatives,
respectively, will acquire good and marketable title to the Shares and
Representatives' Warrants free and clear of any pledge, lien, charge,
claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest, or other restriction or
equity of any kind whatsoever. No transfer tax is payable by or on behalf
of the Underwriters in connection with (A) the issuance by the Company of
the Shares, (B) the purchase by the Underwriters and the Representatives of
the Shares and the Representatives' Warrants, respectively, from the
Company, (C) the consummation by the Company of any of its obligations
under this Agreement or the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, or (D)
resales of the Shares in connection with the distribution contemplated
hereby;
iv) the Registration Statement is effective under the Act, and, if
applicable, filing of all pricing information has been timely made in the
appropriate form under Rule 430A, and no stop order suspending the use of
the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
part of any thereof or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or, to the best of such counsel's knowledge,
threatened or contemplated under the Act;
v) each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, and
the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (other than the
financial statements and other financial and statistical data included
therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations;
vi) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, (A) there are no
agreements, contracts or other documents required by the Act to be
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement other than those described in the
Registration Statement (or required to be filed under the Exchange Act if
upon such filing they would be incorporated, in whole or in part, by
reference therein) and the Prospectus and filed as exhibits thereto, and
the exhibits which have been filed are correct copies of the documents of
which they purport to be copies; (B) the descriptions in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and any supplement or amendment thereto of
contracts and other documents to which the Company is a party or by which
it is bound, including any document to which the Company is a party or by
which it is bound, incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and any
supplement or amendment thereto, are accurate in all material respects and
fairly
21
represent the information required to be shown by Form SB-2; (C) there is
not pending or threatened against the Company any action, arbitration,
suit, proceeding, inquiry, investigation, litigation, governmental or other
proceeding (including, without limitation, those having jurisdiction over
environmental or similar matters), domestic or foreign, pending or
threatened against, or involving the properties or business of the Company
which (x) is required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which
is not so disclosed (and such proceedings as are summarized in the
Registration Statement are accurately summarized in all material respects),
(y) questions the validity of the capital stock of the Company or this
Agreement or the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, or of any action taken
or to be taken by the Company pursuant to or in connection with any of the
foregoing; (D) no statute or regulation or legal or governmental proceeding
required to be described in the Prospectus is not described as required;
and (E) there is no action, suit or proceeding pending, or threatened,
against or affecting the Company before any court or arbitrator or
governmental body, agency or official (or any basis thereof known to such
counsel), which, if adversely determined would have a Material Adverse
Effect or which could adversely affect the present or prospective ability
of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement or which in any manner draws into
question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement or the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement;
vii) the Company has full legal right, power and authority to enter
into each of this Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, and
to consummate the transactions provided for herein and therein; and each of
this Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. Each of this Agreement
and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by each other party thereto constitutes a legal,
valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company
in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited
by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
laws of general application relating to or affecting enforcement of
creditors' rights and the application of equitable principles in any
action, legal or equitable, and except as rights to indemnity or
contribution may be limited by applicable law), and none of the Company's
execution or delivery of this Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant
Agreement, its performance hereunder or thereunder, its consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein or therein, or the conduct of its business
as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, conflicts with or will conflict with or
results or will result in any material breach or violation of any of the
terms or provisions of, or constitutes or will constitute a default under,
or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, claim,
encumbrance, pledge, security interest, defect or other restriction or
equity of any kind whatsoever upon, any property or assets (tangible or
intangible) of the Company pursuant to the terms of, (A) the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company, (B) any license, contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, voting trust agreement, stockholders
agreement, note,
22
loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which it is or may be bound or to which any of its
respective properties or assets (tangible or intangible) is or may be
subject, or any indebtedness, or (C) any statute, judgment, decree, order,
rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any arbitrator, court,
regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental agency or
body (including, without limitation, those having jurisdiction over
environmental or similar matters), domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Company or any of its activities or properties;
viii) except as described in the Prospectus, no consent, approval,
authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court, regulatory body,
government agency or other body (other than such as may be required under
Blue Sky laws, as to which no opinion need be rendered) is required in
connection with the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Prospectus, the
issuance of the Representatives' Warrants, and the Registration Statement,
the performance of this Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant
Agreement, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;
ix) to the best of such counsel's knowledge the properties and
business of the Company conform in all material respects to the description
thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and the
Company has good and marketable title to, or valid and enforceable
leasehold estates in, all items of real and personal property stated in the
Prospectus to be owned or leased by it, in each case free and clear of all
liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects
or other restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever, other than those
referred to in the Prospectus and liens for taxes not yet due and payable;
x) to the best knowledge of such counsel, the Company is not in breach
of, or in default under, any term or provision of any license, contract,
indenture, mortgage, installment sale agreement, deed of trust, lease,
voting trust agreement, stockholders' agreement, partnership agreement,
note, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument
evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be
bound or to which the property or assets (tangible or intangible) of the
Company is subject or affected; and the Company is not in violation of any
term or provision of its certificate of incorporation by-laws, or in
violation of any franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree, order,
statute, rule or regulation;
xi) the statements in the Prospectus under "BUSINESS," "MANAGEMENT,"
"PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS," "CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS," "DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL
STOCK," and "SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE" have been reviewed by such
counsel, and insofar as they refer to statements of law, descriptions of
statutes, licenses, rules or regulations or legal conclusions, are correct
in all material respects;
23
xii) the Shares have been accepted for quotation on the Amex;
xiii) the persons listed under the caption "PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS" in
the Prospectus are the respective "beneficial owners" (as such phrase is
defined in regulation 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the securities set
forth opposite their respective names thereunder as and to the extent set
forth therein;
xiv) except as described in the Prospectus, no person, corporation,
trust, partnership, association or other entity has the right to include
and/or register any securities of the Company in the Registration
Statement, require the Company to file any registration statement or, if
filed, to include any security in such registration statement;
xv) to the best of such counsel's knowledge, except as described in
the Prospectus, there are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or
understandings for services in the nature of a finder's or origination fee
with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or financial
consulting arrangement or any other arrangements, agreements,
understandings, payments or issuances that may affect the Underwriters'
compensation, as determined by the NASD;
xvi) assuming due execution by the parties thereto other than the
Company, the Lock-up Agreements are legal, valid and binding obligations of
parties thereto, enforceable against the party and any subsequent holder of
the securities subject thereto in accordance with its terms (except as such
enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application relating to
or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights and the application of
equitable principles in any action, legal or equitable, and except as
rights to indemnity or contribution may be limited by applicable law); and
xvii) except as described in the Prospectus, the Company does not (A)
maintain, sponsor or contribute to any ERISA Plans, (B) maintain or
contribute, now or at any time previously, to a defined benefit plan, as
defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA, and (C) has never completely or
partially withdrawn from a "multiemployer plan".
xviii) neither the execution of the Combination Transaction Documents
nor the consummation of the transactions contemplated thereby, nor the
consummation of any other of the transactions contemplated herein or
therein by the Limited Partnerships, nor the fulfillment of the terms
hereof or thereof by the Limited Partnerships, will conflict with, result
in a breach of, or constitute a default under the respective articles of
incorporation or by-laws of any of the Limited Partnerships or the terms of
any other agreement or instrument to which any of the Limited Partnerships
or any of their respective subsidiaries is a party or by which any of their
prospective properties are bound or affected, or any order, regulation or
judgement applicable to any of the Limited Partnerships or any of
24
their respective subsidiaries of any court regulatory body, administrative
agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over any of the
Limited Partnerships or any of their prospective subsidiaries; and
xix) the Combination Transaction Documents (I) have been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Limited partnerships and
constitute valid and binding obligations of the Limited Partnerships
enforceable in accordance with their respective terms and (ii) effectively
convey from the Limited Partnerships to the Company all right, title and
interest to the business of the Limited Partnerships as described in the
Prospectus.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has participated in conferences
with officers and other representatives of the Company and representatives of
the independent public accountants for the Company at which conferences such
counsel made inquiries of such officers, representatives and accountants and
discussed the contents of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, 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
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement and Prospectus, on the basis
of the foregoing, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel which lead
them to believe that either the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto,
at the time such Registration Statement or amendment became effective or the
Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto as of
the date of such opinion contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no
opinion with respect to the financial statements and schedules and other
financial and statistical data included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the
Registration Statement or Prospectus).
Such opinion shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or
that it is otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document
relating to legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion
Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991), or any comparable State bar
accord.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and
jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems
proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion
or opinions (in form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel) of
other counsel acceptable to Underwriters' Counsel, familiar with the applicable
laws; (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates
and written statements of responsible officers of the Company, and certificates
or other written statements of officers of departments of various jurisdictions
having custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing
of the Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates
shall be delivered to Underwriters' Counsel if requested. The opinion of such
counsel for the Company shall state that the opinion of any such other counsel
is in form satisfactory to such counsel and that the Representatives and they
are justified in relying thereon.
25
At each Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriters shall have received
the favorable opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, special counsel to the
Company, dated the Option Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and in
form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel confirming as of Option
Closing Date the statements made by ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, in its
opinion delivered on the Closing Date.
(e) On or prior to each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, if
any, Underwriters' Counsel shall have been furnished such documents,
certificates and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of
enabling them to review or pass upon the matters referred to in subsection (c)
of this Section 6, or in order to evidence the accuracy, completeness or
satisfaction of any of the representations, warranties or conditions of the
Company, or herein contained.
(f) Prior to each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any,
(i) there shall have been no material adverse change nor development involving a
prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise, prospects,
stockholders' equity or the business activities of the Company, whether or not
in the ordinary course of business, from the latest dates as of which such
condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) there
shall have been no transaction, not in the ordinary course of business, entered
into by the Company, from the latest date as of which the financial condition of
the Company is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus which is
materially adverse to the Company; (iii) the Company shall not be in default
under any provision of any instrument relating to any outstanding indebtedness;
(iv) the Company shall not have issued any securities (other than the
Securities); the Company shall not have declared or paid any dividend or made
any distribution in respect of its capital stock of any class; and there has not
been any change in the capital stock of the Company, or any material change in
the debt (long or short term) or liabilities or obligations of the Company
(contingent or otherwise); (v) no material amount of the assets of the Company
shall have been pledged or mortgaged, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; (vi) no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in
equity, shall have been pending or threatened (or circumstances giving rise to
same) against the Company, or affecting any of its properties or business before
or by any court or federal, state or foreign commission, board or other
administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may
materially adversely affect the business, operations, prospects or financial
condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; and (vii) no stop order shall have been issued under
the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated, threatened or
contemplated by the Commission.
(g) At each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the
Underwriters shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the
principal executive officer and by the chief financial or chief accounting
officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, to the effect that each of such persons has carefully examined the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement, and that:
i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct, as if made on and as of the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has complied in
all material respects with all agreements and covenants and satisfied all
conditions
26
contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be;
ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof has been issued, and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best of each of such
person's knowledge, after due inquiry are contemplated or threatened under
the Act;
iii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, if any, each
amendment and each supplement thereto, contain all statements and
information required to be included therein, and none of the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement thereto includes
any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
and neither the Preliminary Prospectus or any supplement thereto included
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and
iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a) the Company has
not incurred up to and including the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, other than in the ordinary course of its
business, any material liabilities or obligations, direct or contingent;
(b) the Company has not paid or declared any dividends or other
distributions on its capital stock; (c) the Company has not entered into
any transactions not in the ordinary course of business; (d) there has not
been any change in the capital stock of the Company or any material change
in the debt (long or short-term) of the Company; (e) the Company has not
sustained any material loss or damage to its property or assets, whether or
not insured; (g) there is no litigation which is pending or threatened (or
circumstances giving rise to same) against the Company, or any affiliated
party of any of the foregoing which is required to be set forth in an
amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been set forth; and (h)
there has occurred no event required to be set forth in an amended or
supplemented Prospectus which has not been set forth.
References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this subsection
(g) are to such documents as amended and supplemented at the date of such
certificate.
(h) By the Closing Date, the Underwriters will have received clearance from
the NASD as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to the
Underwriters, as described in the Registration Statement.
(i) At the time this Agreement is executed, the Underwriters shall have received
a letter, dated such date, addressed to the Underwriters in form and substance
satisfactory (including the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if
any, referred to in
27
clause (iii) below) in all respects to the Underwriters and Underwriters'
Counsel, from Deloitte & Touche LLP;
i) confirming that they are independent certified public accountants
with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the
applicable Rules and Regulations;
ii) stating that it is their opinion that the financial statements and
supporting schedules of the Company included in the Registration Statement
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and that
the Representatives may rely upon the opinion of Deloitte & Touche LLP with
respect to such financial statements and supporting schedules included in
the Registration Statement;
iii) stating that, on the basis of a limited review which included a
reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements of
the Company, a reading of the latest available minutes of the stockholders
and board of directors and the various committees of the boards of
directors of the Company, consultations with officers and other employees
of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters and other
specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention
which would lead them to believe that (A) the pro forma financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus does not
comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations or is not fairly
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements
of the Company or the unaudited pro forma financial information included in
the Registration Statement, (B) the unaudited financial statements and
supporting schedules of the Company included in the Registration Statement
do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations or are not
fairly presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the
audited financial statements of the Company included in the Registration
Statement, or (C) at a specified date not more than five (5) days prior to
the effective date of the Registration Statement, there has been any change
in the capital stock of the Company, any change in the long-term debt of
the Company, or any decrease in the stockholders' equity of the Company or
any decrease in the net current assets or net assets of the Company as
compared with amounts shown in the June 30, 1997 balance sheets included in
the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or contemplated by
the Registration Statement, or, if there was any change or decrease,
setting forth the amount of such change or decrease, and (D) during the
period from June 30, 1997 to a specified date not more than five (5) days
prior to the effective date of the Registration Statement, there was any
decrease in net revenues or net earnings of the Company or increase in net
earnings per common share of the Company, in each case as compared with the
corresponding period beginning June 30, 1996
28
other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement,
or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of such
decrease;
iv) setting forth, at a date not later than five (5) days prior to the
date of the Registration Statement, the amount of liabilities of the
Company (including a break-down of commercial paper and notes payable to
banks);
v) stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts, numbers of
shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and other
financial information pertaining to the Company set forth in the Prospectus
in each case to the extent that such amounts, numbers, percentages,
statements and information may be derived from the general accounting
records, including work sheets, of the Company and excluding any questions
requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained
from the application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate
procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in accordance
with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the letter and
found them to be in agreement; and
vi) statements as to such other matters incident to the transaction
contemplated hereby as the Representatives may request.
(j) At the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the
Underwriters shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter, dated as
of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, to the
effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished pursuant
to subsection (i) of this Section hereof except that the specified date referred
to shall be a date not more than five days prior to the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and, if the Company has elected to rely
on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, to the further effect that they have
carried out procedures as specified in clause (v) of subsection (i) of this
Section with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information
as specified by the Representatives and deemed to be a part of the Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b) and have found such amounts, percentages and
financial information to be in agreement with the records specified in such
clause (v).
(k) The Company shall have delivered to the Representatives a letter from
Deloitte & Touche LLP addressed to the Company stating that they have not during
the immediately preceding two year period brought to the attention of the
Company's management any "material weakness" as defined in Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 60 "Communication of Internal Control Structure Related Matters
Noted in an Audit," in any of the Company's internal controls.
(l) On each of the Closing Date and Option Closing Date, if any, there
shall have been duly tendered to the Representatives for the several
Underwriters' accounts the appropriate number of Shares.
(m) No order suspending the sale of the Securities in any jurisdiction
designated by the Representatives pursuant to subsection (A)(v) of Section 5
hereof shall have
29
been issued on either the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, and
no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall be
contemplated.
(n) On or before the Closing Date, the Company shall have executed and
delivered to the Representatives, (i) the Representatives' Warrant Agreement
substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.3 to the Registration Statement in
final form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and (ii) the
Representatives' Warrants in such denominations and to such designees as shall
have been provided to the Company.
(o) On or before the Closing Date, the Shares shall have been duly approved
for quotation on Amex subject to official notice of issuance.
(p) On or before the Closing Date, there shall have been delivered to the
Representatives all of the Lock-Up Agreements, in form and substance
satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel.
(q) On or before the Closing Date, the Company shall have effected the
Combination Transaction as described in the Prospectus.
If any condition to the Underwriters' obligations hereunder to be fulfilled
prior to or at the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, is not so fulfilled, the Representatives may terminate this Agreement
or, if the Representatives so elect, it may waive any such conditions which have
not been fulfilled or extend the time for their fulfillment.
7. Indemnification.
(a) The Company, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the
Underwriters (for purposes of this Section 7 "Underwriter" shall include the
officers, directors, partners, employees, agents and counsel of the Underwriter,
including specifically each person who may be substituted for an Underwriter as
provided in Section 11 hereof), and each person, if any, who controls the
Underwriter ("controlling person") within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities, joint or several (and actions,
proceedings, investigations, inquiries, and suits in respect thereof),
whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all costs and expenses
whatsoever reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
such action, proceeding, investigation, inquiry or suit, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever), as such are incurred, to which the
Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject under the Act, the
Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or under the
laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon (A) any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as from time to time
amended and supplemented); (ii) in any post-effective amendment or amendments or
any new registration statement and prospectus in which is included securities of
the Company issued or issuable upon exercise of the Securities; or (iii) in any
application or other document or written communication (in this Section 8
collectively called "application") executed by the Company or based upon written
information furnished by the Company filed, delivered or used in any
jurisdiction in order to qualify the Securities under the securities laws
thereof or filed with the Commission, any state securities
30
commission or agency, Amex or any other securities exchange, (B) the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in the case of the
Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made), or
(C) any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the
Company contained herein or in any certificate by or on behalf of the Company or
any of its officers delivered pursuant hereto unless, in the case of clause (A)
or (B) above, such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to any
Underwriter by or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or any Prospectus, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or in any application, as the case may
be.
The indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) shall be in addition to any
liability which the Company may have at common law or otherwise.
(b) Each of the Underwriters agrees severally, but not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who has signed the Registration Statement, and each other person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, to the same extent
as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriters but only with
respect to statements or omissions, if any, made in any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto or in any application made in reliance upon, and in strict conformity
with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to any
Underwriter by such Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or in any such application, provided that such written
information or omissions only pertain to disclosures in the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus directly relating to the
transactions effected by the Underwriters in connection with this Offering. The
Company acknowledges that the statements with respect to the public offering of
the Securities set forth under the heading "Underwriting" and the stabilization
legend in the Prospectus have been furnished by the Underwriters expressly for
use therein and constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on
behalf of the Underwriters for inclusion in the Prospectus.
The indemnity agreement in this subsection (b) shall be in addition to any
liability which the Underwriters may have at common law or otherwise.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of
notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against one or more
indemnifying parties under this Section 7, notify each party against whom
indemnification is to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but the
failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have under this Section 7 except to the extent that it
has been prejudiced in any material respect by such failure or from any
liability which it may have otherwise). In case any such action, investigation,
inquiry, suit or proceeding is brought against any indemnified party, and it
notifies an indemnifying party or parties of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party or parties will be entitled to participate therein, and to
the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party
promptly after receiving the
31
aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to employ its
or their own counsel in any such case but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i) the
employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the
indemnifying parties in connection with the defense of such action at the
expense of the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have
employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party to have
charge of the defense of such action within a reasonable time after notice of
commencement of the action, or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall
have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to it or them
which are different from or additional to those available to one or all of the
indemnifying parties (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the
right to direct the defense of such action, investigation, inquiry, suit or
proceeding on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which
events such fees and expenses of one additional counsel shall be borne by the
indemnifying parties. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for
fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with
any one action, investigation, inquiry, suit or proceeding or separate but
similar or related actions, investigations, inquiries, suits or proceedings in
the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances. Anything in this Section 7 to the contrary notwithstanding, an
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim or action
effected without its written consent; provided, however, that such consent was
not unreasonably withheld. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified parties, settle compromise or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action,
investigation, inquiry, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification
or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties
are actual or potential parties to such claim or action), unless such
settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or
proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in any case in
which (i) an indemnified party makes claim for indemnification pursuant to this
Section 7, but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or
decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal
or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that the express provisions of
this Section 7 provide for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution
under the Act may be required on the part of any indemnified party, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid as a result of such
losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions, investigations,
inquiries, suits or proceedings in respect thereof) (A) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by each of the
contributing parties, on the one hand, and the party to be indemnified on the
other hand, from the offering of the Securities or (B) if the allocation
provided by clause (A) 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 each of the contributing
parties, on the one hand, and the party to be indemnified on the other hand in
connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities, as well as any other relevant
32
equitable considerations. In any case where the Company is the contributing
party and the Underwriters are the indemnified party, the relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other,
shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering of the Securities (before deducting expenses) bear to the total
underwriting discounts received by the Underwriters hereunder, in each case as
set forth in the table on the Cover Page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, or by the
Underwriters, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions, investigations, inquiries,
suits or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in this subdivision
(d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action, claim, investigation, inquiry, suit or proceeding. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subdivision (d) the Underwriters shall not be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the
Securities purchased by the Underwriters hereunder. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, each officer of the
Company who has signed the Registration Statement, and each director of the
Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject in
each case to this subparagraph (d). Any party entitled to contribution will,
promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit, inquiry,
investigation or proceeding against such party in respect to which a claim for
contribution may be made against another party or parties under this
subparagraph (d), notify such party or parties from whom contribution may be
sought, but the omission so to notify such party or parties shall not relieve
the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it
or they may have hereunder or otherwise than under this subparagraph (d), or to
the extent that such party or parties were not adversely affected by such
omission. The contribution agreement set forth above shall be in addition to any
liabilities which any indemnifying party may have at common law or otherwise.
8. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All representations,
warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or contained in
certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall be
deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements at the Closing Date and
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and such representations,
warranties and agreements of the Company and the indemnity agreements contained
in Section 7 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the
Company, any controlling person of any Underwriter or the Company, and shall
survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the
Securities to the Underwriters and the Representatives, as the case may be.
33
9. Effective Date.
(a) This Agreement shall become effective at 10:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the next full business day following the date hereof, or at such
earlier time after the Registration Statement becomes effective as the
Representatives, in their discretion, shall release the Shares for sale to the
public; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 5, 7 and 10 of this
Agreement shall at all times be effective. For purposes of this Section 9, the
Shares to be purchased hereunder shall be deemed to have been so released upon
the earlier of dispatch by the Representatives of telegrams to securities
dealers releasing such shares for offering or the release by the Representatives
for publication of the first newspaper advertisement which is subsequently
published relating to the Shares.
10. Termination.
(a) Subject to subsection (b) of this Section 10, the Representatives shall
have the right to terminate this Agreement, after the date hereof, (i) if any
domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially disrupted,
or in the Representatives' opinion will in the immediate future materially
adversely disrupt the financial markets; or (ii) any material adverse change in
the financial markets shall have occurred; or (iii) if trading generally shall
have been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of
the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Boston Stock Exchange, the Chicago
Board of Trade, the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile
Exchange, the Commission or any other government authority having jurisdiction;
or (iv) if trading of any of the securities of the Company shall have been
suspended, or any of the securities of the Company shall have been delisted, on
any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; or (v) if the United States
shall have become involved in a war or major hostilities, or if there shall have
been an escalation in an existing war or major hostilities or a national
emergency shall have been declared in the United States; or (vi) if a banking
moratorium has been declared by a state or federal authority; or (vii) if a
moratorium in foreign exchange trading has been declared; or (viii) if the
Company shall have sustained a loss material or substantial to the Company by
fire, flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity
or malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will,
in the Representatives' opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the
delivery of the Securities; or (viii) if there shall have occurred any outbreak
or escalation of hostilities or any calamity or crisis or there shall have been
such a material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or
such material adverse change in the general market, political or economic
conditions, in the United States or elsewhere as in the Representatives'
judgment would make it inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or
delivery of the Securities or (ix) if [▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇.
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇] shall no longer serve the Company in their present capacity.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance
with the provisions of Section 10(a) the Company shall promptly reimburse and
indemnify the Representatives for all of their actual out-of-pocket expenses,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters (less
amounts previously paid pursuant to Section 5(c) above). Notwithstanding any
contrary provision contained in this Agreement, if this Agreement shall not be
carried out within the time specified herein, or any extension thereof
34
granted to the Representatives, by reason of any failure on the part of the
Company to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement by
it to be performed or satisfied (including, without limitation, pursuant to
Section 6 or Section 12) then, the Company shall promptly reimburse and
indemnify the Representatives for all of their actual out-of-pocket expenses,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters. In
addition, the Company shall remain liable for all Blue Sky counsel fees (such
fees not to exceed $50,000) and expenses and filing fees. Notwithstanding any
contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any
termination of this Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to
Sections 6, 10, 11 and 12 hereof), and whether or not this Agreement is
otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 5 and Section 7 shall not be in
any way affected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the
terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
11. Substitution of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail (otherwise than for a reason sufficient to justify the termination of
this Agreement under the provisions of Section 6, Section 10 or Section 12
hereof) to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase on
such date under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representatives
shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangement for one or
more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase
all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may
be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the
Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:
i) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
total number of Firm Shares to be purchased on such date, the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase the full amount
thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations
hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting
Underwriters, or
ii) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the total
number of Firm Shares, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on
the part of any non-defaulting Underwriters.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default by such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement, the Representatives shall have the right to postpone the Closing
Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required
changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements.
12. Default by the Company. If the Company shall fail at the Closing Date
or at any Option Closing Date, as applicable, to sell and deliver the number of
Shares which it is obligated to sell hereunder on such date, then this Agreement
shall terminate (or, if such default shall occur with respect to any Option
Shares to be purchased on an Option Closing Date, the Underwriters may at the
Representatives' option, by notice from the Representatives to the Company,
terminate the Underwriters' obligation to purchase Option Shares from the
Company on such date) without any liability on the part of any non-defaulting
party other than pursuant to
35
Section 5, Section 7 and Section 10 hereof. No action taken pursuant to this
Section shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such
default.
13. Notices. All notices and communications hereunder, except as herein
otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of
telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the
Representatives c/o Josephthal & Co. Inc., ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ LLP, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇,
Attention: ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. Notices to the Company shall be directed to
the Company at Snowdance, Inc., ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇
& ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇ ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇, Attention:
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq. .
14. Parties. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and shall
be binding upon, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons,
directors and officers referred to in Section 7 hereof, and their respective
successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or
be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. No
purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor
by reason merely of such purchase.
15. Construction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to the choice of law or conflict of laws principles.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which
taken together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
17. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement and the Representatives'
Warrant Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the parties hereto and
supersede all prior written or oral agreements, understandings and negotiations
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may not be amended
except in a writing, signed by the Representatives and the Company.
36
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the
Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for
that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among
us.
Very truly yours,
SNOWDANCE, INC.
By:
---------------------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Chief Executive Officer
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written.
JOSEPHTHAL & CO. INC.
For itself and as Representative
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule A hereto.
By:
---------------------------------
CRUTTENDEN ▇▇▇▇ INCORPORATED
For itself and as Representative
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule A hereto.
By:
---------------------------------
SCHEDULE A
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Number of Firm Shares
Name of Underwriters to be Purchased
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Josephthal & Co. Inc.............................
Cruttenden ▇▇▇▇ Incorporated.....................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total............................................ 1,500,000
=========
================================================================================