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EXHIBIT 1.1
2,100,000 Shares
BIORELIANCE CORPORATION
COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE)
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
__________, 1997
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_____________, 1997
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
BioReliance Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"),
proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS") 2,100,000 shares of its common stock (par value
$0.01 per share) (the "FIRM SHARES"). The Company also proposes to issue and
sell to the several Underwriters not more than an additional 315,000 shares of
its common stock (par value $0.01 per share) (the "ADDITIONAL SHARES") if and
to the extent that you, as Managers of the offering, shall have determined to
exercise, on behalf of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of
common stock granted to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Shares
and the Additional Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"SHARES." The shares of common stock (par value $0.01 per share) of the Company
to be outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are
hereinafter referred to as the "COMMON STOCK." As part of the offering
contemplated by this Agreement, the Underwriters have agreed to reserve out of
the Shares, up to 105,000 shares, for sale to the Company's employees,
officers, and directors and other parties associated with the Company
(collectively, "PARTICIPANTS"), as set forth in the Prospectus under the
heading "UNDERWRITERS" (the "DIRECTED SHARE PROGRAM"). The Shares to be sold
by the Underwriters pursuant to the Directed Share Program (the "DIRECTED
SHARES") will be sold by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement at the
public offering price. Any Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase
by any Participants by the end of the first business day after the date on
which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the
Underwriters as set forth in the Prospectus.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") a registration statement, including a prospectus, relating to the
Shares. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes
effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the
registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), is hereinafter
referred to as the
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"REGISTRATION STATEMENT"; the prospectus in the form first used to confirm
sales of Shares is hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS." If the Company
has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional shares
of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the "RULE 462
REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), then any reference herein to the term "REGISTRATION
STATEMENT" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before
or threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became
effective, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or
supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with
the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and (iii) the Prospectus does not contain and,
as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that
the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph 1(b) do
not apply to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you
expressly for use therein.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of Delaware,
has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in the United States in which the conduct of its business
or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification,
except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
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(d) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly
incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the
corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and each U.S. subsidiary and,
to the extent applicable under foreign jurisdictions, each foreign
subsidiary is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or
its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification,
except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and
validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and,
except for one share of Microbiological Associates, Ltd. owned by
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, as Trustee for the Company, are owned directly or
indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims.
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(f) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms
in all material respects as to legal matters to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(g) The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the
issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and are validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(h) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued
and delivered against payment therefor in accordance with the terms of
this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable,
and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive
or similar rights.
(i) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement
will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any agreement or other
instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is
material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or any
judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court
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having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, and no
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with,
any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the
Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be
required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states, in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares and except for any
such consent, approval, authorization, order or qualification the
failure of which to obtain would not have a material adverse effect on
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that for
purposes of this representation and warranty, the Company may assume
that the Underwriters will offer the Directed Shares in the United
Kingdom only to such persons on the list provided by the Company to
the Underwriters for such purpose; provided further that no
representation or warranty is made hereby as to the Underwriters'
further licensing status as a broker or dealer, or the Underwriters'
compliance with broker-dealer regulations for selling the Shares in
the foreign jurisdictions in which the Directed Shares are offered.
(j) There has not occurred any material adverse change,
or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in
the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from
that set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or
supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement).
(k) There are no legal or governmental proceedings
pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the
properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that
are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus and are not so described or any statutes, regulations,
contracts or other documents that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement that are not described or filed as
required.
(l) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all
certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate
federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary to conduct
their respective businesses, except where the failure to obtain such
certificates, authorizations and permits would not in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has
received any notice of
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proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
certificate, authorization or permit which, singly or in the
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, would result in a material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, except as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.
(m) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the
Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act,
complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities
Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
(n) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment
company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
(o) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, to the
Comany's knowledge, the Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in
compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and
local laws and regulations relating to the protection of human health
and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or
wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), (ii) have
received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of them
under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective
businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and conditions
of any such permit, license or approval, except where such
noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required
permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the
terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not,
singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(p) Except as described in the Prospectus, to the
Company's knowledge, there are no costs or liabilities associated with
Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or
operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval,
any related constraints on operating activities and any potential
liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
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(q) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings
between the Company and any person granting such person the right to
require the Company to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to
require the Company to include such securities with the Shares
registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(r) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and
marketable title in fee simple to all real property and good and
marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is
material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, in each
case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except as
created under or provided by the (i) Third Loan Modification Agreement
between the Company and NationsBank, N.A., dated as of December 1,
1994; (ii) First Amended and Restated Loan Agreement between the
Company and NationsBank, N.A., dated as of December 1, 1994 and June
27, 1996; (iii) Security Agreement between the Company and
NationsBank, N.A., dated as of December 1, 1994; (iv) Leasehold Deed
of Trust and Security Agreement between the Company and NationsBank,
N.A., dated as of December 17, 1993, amended by Modification Agreement
- Leasehold Deed of Trust and Security Agreement, dated as of December
1, 1994 and (v) certain of the Company's equipment leases; and except
such as are described in the Prospectus or such as do not materially
affect the value of such property and do not interfere with the use
made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its
subsidiaries; and any real property and buildings held under lease by
the Company and its subsidiaries are held by them under valid,
subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not
material and do not materially interfere with the use made and
proposed to be made of such property and buildings by the Company and
its subsidiaries, in each case except as described in or contemplated
by the Prospectus.
(s) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured
by insurers of recognized financial responsibility against such losses
and risks and in such amounts as are prudent and customary in the
businesses in which they are engaged, except to the extent that
failure to carry or maintain any such insurance would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company or its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary during the last
three years has been refused any insurance coverage sought or applied
for; and neither the company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to
believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance
coverage as and when such coverage expires or to
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obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to
continue its business at a cost that would not materially and
adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(t) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a
system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (1) transactions are executed in accordance
with management's general or specific authorizations; (2) transactions
are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
and to maintain asset accountability; (3) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; and (4) the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(u) Certain of the directors and officers and
shareholders of the Company have each entered into a written agreement
with the Company in the form of Exhibit A hereto (each such agreement,
a "Lock-up Agreement"), and executed originals of each Lock-up
Agreement have been delivered to you.
Furthermore, the Company represents and warrants to the
Underwriters that (i) the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any
preliminary prospectus comply, and any further amendments or supplements
thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of Germany and the
United Kingdom, and that (ii) no authorization, approval, consent, license,
order, registration or qualification of or with any government, governmental
instrumentality or court, other than such as have been obtained, is necessary
under the securities laws and regulations of Germany and the United Kingdom,
except for any authorization, approval, consent, order, registration or
qualification the failure of which to obtain would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; provided that no
representation or warranty is made hereby as to the Underwriters' licensing
status as a broker or dealer, or the Underwriters' compliance with
broker-dealer regulations for selling the Shares in the foreign jurisdictions
in which the Directed Shares are offered.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to
sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions
hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company
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the respective numbers of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite
its name at $______ a share (the "PURCHASE PRICE").
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell
to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have a
one-time right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 315,000 Additional
Shares at the Purchase Price. If you, on behalf of the Underwriters, elect to
exercise such option, you shall so notify the Company in writing not later than
30 days after the date of this Agreement, which notice shall specify the number
of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date on which
such shares are to be purchased. Such date may be the same as the Closing Date
(as defined below) but not earlier than the Closing Date nor later than ten
business days after the date of such notice. Additional Shares may be purchased
as provided in Section 4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering
over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares. If
any Additional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally
and not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the
same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased as the
number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such
Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not,
during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, (i) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement
that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction
described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common
Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence
shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) the issuance by the
Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or warrant or
the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of which the
Underwriters have been advised in writing, or (C) grants of employee stock
options pursuant to the terms of a plan disclosed in the Registration Statement
or in writing to the Underwriters prior to the date hereof and the issuance of
shares of Common Stock thereunder or (D) the
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issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock pursuant to any 401(K) plan.
3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by you that
the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions
of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have
become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Company is further
advised by you that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at
$_____________ a share (the "PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE") and to certain dealers
selected by you at a price that represents a concession not in excess of
$______ a share under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may
allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of $_____ a
share, to any Underwriter or to certain other dealers.
4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares shall be
made to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York
City against delivery of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the
several Underwriters at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on ____________, 1997,
or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later than _________,
1997, as shall be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such
payment are hereinafter referred to as the "CLOSING DATE."
Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery
of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in the
notice described in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such
other date, in any event not later than _______, 1997, as shall be designated
in writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred
to as the "OPTION CLOSING DATE."
Certificates for the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be in
definitive form and registered in such names and in such denominations as you
shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates
evidencing the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you on
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes
payable in connection with the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly
paid, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor.
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5. Conditions to the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations
of the Company to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the
Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall
have become effective not later than 4 p.m. (New York City time) on the date
hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the
following further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any
downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of any
intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a
possible change that does not indicate the direction of the
possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's
securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule
436(g)(2) under the Securities Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or
any development involving a prospective change, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Prospectus
(exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto subsequent
to the date of this Agreement) that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment,
impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing
Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive
officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in clause 5(a)(i)
above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement are true and correct as of the
Closing Date and that the Company has complied with all of the
agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely
upon the best of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
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(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing
Date an opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (a
partnership including professional corporations), outside counsel for
the Company, dated the Closing Date in the form attached as Exhibit B
hereto.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing
Date an opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Ingersoll, special counsel
to the Company, dated the Closing date, in the form attached as
Exhibit C hereto.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing
Date an opinion of each of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and Bruckhaus ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ Redtsanwaite, each local counsel for one of the Company's
subsidiaries, in the form of Exhibits D and E, respectively.
(f) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing
Date an opinion of ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, counsel for the
Underwriters, dated the Closing Date, covering the matters referred to
in subparagraphs (vi), (vii), (ix) (but only as to the statements in
the Prospectus under "Description of Capital Stock" and
"Underwriters") of Exhibit B hereto.
With respect to subparagraph (xii) of Exhibit B, Fried, Frank,
Harris, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ may state that
their opinion and belief are based upon their participation in the
preparation of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto and review and discussion of the
contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification,
except as specified.
The opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
described in paragraph 5(c) above shall be rendered to the
Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.
(g) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the
date hereof and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or
the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Price Waterhouse LLP,
independent public accountants, containing statements and information
of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain
financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date
shall use a "cut-off date" not earlier than the date hereof.
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(h) The Lock-up Agreements, each substantially in the
form of Exhibit A hereto, between you and certain shareholders,
officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain
other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other
securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof, shall be in
full force and effect on the Closing Date.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional
Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the Option Closing Date
of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good
standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional
Shares and other matters related to the issuance of the Additional Shares.
6. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the
agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with
each Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, two signed copies
of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for
delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the
Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to
you in New York City, without charge, prior to 5:00 P.M. New York City
time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement
and during the period mentioned in paragraph 6(c) below, as many
copies of the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or
to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such
proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed
amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file
with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule
424(b) under the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed
pursuant to such Rule.
(c) If, during such period after the first date of the
public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters the Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in
connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend
or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to
a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in
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the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend
or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith
to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense,
to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you
will furnish to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by you
on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request,
either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the
statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not,
in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to
a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, will comply with law.
(d) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you
shall reasonably request; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required to register or qualify as a foreign corporation or to
take any action which would subject it to general service of process
or taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such
jurisdictions.
(e) To make generally available to the Company's security
holders and to you as soon as practicable an earning statement
covering the twelve-month period ending ________, 1998 that satisfies
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(f) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this
Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or
cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and the Company's
accountants in connection with the registration and delivery of the
Shares under the Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in
connection with the preparation and filing of the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and amendments
and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs
associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof
to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove
specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and
delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or
other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing
any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the
offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and all
expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offer
and sale under state securities laws
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as provided in Section 6(d) hereof, including filing fees and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky
or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters incurred in
connection with the review and qualification of the offering of the
Shares by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD"), not to exceed $7,000, (v) all fees and expenses in connection
with the preparation and filing of the registration statement on Form
8-A relating to the Common Stock and all costs and expenses incident
to listing the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market, (vi) the cost of
printing certificates representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and
charges of any transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (viii) the
costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations
on any "road show" undertaken in connection with the marketing of the
offering of the Shares, including, without limitation, expenses
associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees
and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road
show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and
lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company
and any such consultants, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in
connection with the road show, (ix) all reasonable fees and
disbursements of foreign counsel incurred by the Underwriters in
connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar
taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the Underwriters
in connection with the Directed Share Program, and (x) all other costs
and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this
Section. It is understood, however, that except as provided in this
Section, Section 7, and the last paragraph of Section 9 below, the
Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees
and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on
resale of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses
connected with any offers they may make.
(g) In connection with the Directed Share Program, the
Company will ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the
extent required by the NASD or the NASD rules from sale, transfer,
assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months
following the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
and ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ will notify the Company as to which Participants
will need to be so restricted. At the request of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, the
Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer
restrictions upon such securities for such period of time.
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(h) The Company will comply with all applicable
securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations in each
foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in
connection with the Directed Share Program; with the exception of
laws, rules and regulations relating to the Underwriters' licensing
status as a broker or dealer, or the Underwriters' compliance with
broker-dealer regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the
Directed Shares are offered.
7. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "EXCHANGE ACT"), from and against (i) any and all losses, claims, damages
and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or controlling person in connection
with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus or
the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished
any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement
or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information
relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such
Underwriter through you expressly for use therein, provided that the foregoing
indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure
to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Shares, or any person
controlling any Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished amendments or supplements
thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such
person, if required by law so to have been delivered at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so
amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities), and (ii) any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) (A) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the material prepared by or with the
consent of the Company for distribution in the United Kingdom or Germany in
connection with the Directed Share Program attached to the
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17
Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statement therein, when considered in conjunction with
the Prospectus or any applicable preliminary prospectus, not misleading; (B)
caused by the failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of the
Shares which, immediately following the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, were subject to a properly confirmed agreement to purchase; or (C)
related to, arising out of, or in connection with the Directed Share Program;
provided that, the Company shall not be responsible under this subparagraph
(ii) for any losses, claim, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating
thereto) that result from the bad faith or negligence of the Underwriters, or
from the failure of the Underwriters to comply with the broker-dealer
regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are
offered.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign
the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company
to such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus,
the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to paragraph 7(a) or 7(b) above, such person
(the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY") shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding
and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to
such proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the
right to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of
such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them. It
is understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in respect of the legal
expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any
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18
proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the
reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any
local counsel) for all such indemnified parties and that all such fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Notwithstanding anything
contained herein to the contrary, if indemnity may be sought pursuant to
Section 7(a)(ii) hereof in respect of such action or proceeding, then in
addition to such separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying
party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one
separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all such indemnified
parties for the defense of any losses, claims, damages and liabilities arising
out of the Directed Share Program. Such firm shall be designated in writing by
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated, in the case of parties indemnified pursuant
to paragraph 7(a) above, and by the Company, in the case of parties indemnified
pursuant to paragraph 7(b) above. The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but
if settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff,
the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and
against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party
shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt
by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying
party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement, other than such fees and expenses
of counsel which are being contested in good faith by such indemnifying party.
No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such
proceeding.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in paragraph
7(a) or 7(c) above is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand from the
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offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 7(d)(i)
above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause 7(d)(i) above
but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions
that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in connection
with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before
deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set
forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public
Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference
to, among other things, whether 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 statement or omission. The Underwriters' respective
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion
to the respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not
joint.
(e) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be
just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to in paragraph 7(d) above. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter
has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are
not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
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20
(f) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 7 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force
and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or
any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any
of the Shares.
8. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination
by notice given by you to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) 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 Chicago Board of Options Exchange,
the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of
any securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in
any over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York
State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis
that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of
the events specified in clauses 8(a)(i) through 8(a)(iv), such event, singly or
together with any other such event, makes it, in your judgment, impracticable
to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus.
9. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall
become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares
that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the
aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the
aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to
the aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such
non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify,
to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
but failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall
the number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to
this Agreement be increased
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pursuant to this Section 9 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number
of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter. If, on the Closing
Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm
Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to which such
default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm Shares to
be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company
for the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such
default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either you or the
Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for
longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the
Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected. If, on the Option Closing Date, any Underwriter
or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the
aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs
is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be
purchased, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i)
terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase Additional Shares or (ii)
purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting
Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such
default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of
them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply
with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for
any reason the Company shall be unable to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as
have so terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for
all out-of-pocket expenses (including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
their counsel) reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with this
Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if
the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
11. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
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12. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have
been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part
of this Agreement.
Very truly yours,
BIORELIANCE CORPORATION
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
Acting severally on behalf of themselves
and the several Underwriters named
in Schedule I hereto.
By: ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
By:
-------------------------
Name:
Title:
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SCHEDULE I
NUMBER OF FIRM SHARES
UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED
------------------------------------------------------------ ---------------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
[NAMES OF OTHER UNDERWRITERS]
---------------------
Total 2,100,000
=====================
24
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER]
_____________, 1997
▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & ▇▇▇▇▇ LLC
c/o Morgan ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The undersigned understands that ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. Incorporated
("▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇") proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the
"UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT") with BioReliance Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(the "COMPANY"), providing for the public offering (the "PUBLIC OFFERING") by
the several Underwriters, including ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ (the "UNDERWRITERS"), of ___
shares (the "SHARES") of the common stock (par value $0.01 per share) of the
Company (the "COMMON STOCK").
To induce the Underwriters to participate in the Public Offering, the
undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the final
prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the "PROSPECTUS"), (1) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement
that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction
described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common
Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence
shall not apply to the sale of any Shares to the Underwriters pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the
prior written consent of ▇▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇ on behalf of the Underwriters, it will
not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and
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ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand for or
exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common
Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number
of factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to
negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
-------------------------------------
(Name)
-------------------------------------
(Address)
3