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STAPLES, INC.
DEBT SECURITIES
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UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
August 7, 1997
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.,
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
From time to time, Staples, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a
"Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and
deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in
Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the
"Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities
specified therein) certain of its debt securities (the "Securities") specified
in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing
Agreement, the "Designated Securities").
The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated
Securities shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and
in or pursuant to the indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing
Agreement.
1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to
time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term
"Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of
the Underwriters and to an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm
being designated as its or their representatives. This Underwriting Agreement
shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the
Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the
Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the
Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the
Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities,
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the initial public offering price of such Designated Securities, the purchase
price to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the
Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of
such Underwriters and the principal amount of such Designated Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter and shall set forth the date, time and manner of
delivery of such Designated Securities and payment therefor. The Pricing
Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Indenture and
the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of
such Designated Securities. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an
executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an
exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device
designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The
obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement
shall be several and not joint.
2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-31249) (the
"Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission");
the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to
the Representatives and, excluding exhibits to such registration
statement, but including all documents incorporated by reference in the
prospectus contained therein, to the Representatives for each of the
other Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in
such form; other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the
size of the offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), filed
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), which became effective upon filing, no other document with
respect to such registration statement or document incorporated by
reference therein (other than certain ancillary documents copies of
which have been provided to you) has heretofore been filed or
transmitted for filing with the Commission (other than prospectuses
filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations of the
Commission under the Act, each in the form heretofore delivered to the
Representatives); and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment thereto or
the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or threatened by the
Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the Initial
Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(a) under the Act, is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus";
the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement and the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto
and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained
in the Initial Registration Statement at the time such part of the
Initial Registration Statement became effective or such part of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes
effective, but excluding any Form T-1, each as amended at the time such
part of the registration statement became effective, are hereinafter
collectively called the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus
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relating to the Securities, in the form in which it has most recently
been filed, or transmitted for filing, with the Commission on or prior
to the date of this Agreement, being hereinafter called the
"Prospectus"; any reference herein to any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the applicable form under
the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus,
as the case may be; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to
and include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary
Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated
by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case
may be; any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement
shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the
Company filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act
after the effective date of the Registration Statement that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any
reference to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed
to refer to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to
the applicable Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance
with Section 5(a) hereof, including any documents incorporated by
reference therein as of the date of such filing);
(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
when they were filed with the Commission conformed in all material
respects to the requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), as
applicable (such documents filed pursuant to the Exchange Act are
referred to herein as the "Exchange Act Reports"), and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, and none of such documents
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; and any further documents so filed
and incorporated by reference in the Prospectus or any further
amendment or supplement thereto, when such documents become effective
or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in
all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the Exchange
Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided,
however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any
statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of
Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities;
(c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements
of the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and do
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not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the
applicable filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; provided,
however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any
statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of
Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities
or to any statement in or omission from a Form T-1;
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained
since the date of the latest audited financial statements of the
Company included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any
material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion,
flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from
any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree,
otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus; and,
since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any
material change in the capital stock of the Company (other than
pursuant to the Company's stock award, option or purchase plans or
other employee benefit plans) or a material increase in long-term
debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material
adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs, management,
financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of
the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or
contemplated in the Prospectus;
(e) 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, in each case free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the
Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such
properties in the aggregate and do not interfere with the use made and
proposed to be made of such properties in the aggregate 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;
(f) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Delaware, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and
has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction of
business and is in good standing under the laws of each other
jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any
business so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no
material liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so
qualified in any such jurisdiction; and each subsidiary of the Company
has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;
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(g) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in
the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the
Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully
paid and non-assessable; and 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
directors' qualifying shares and except as otherwise set forth in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus) are owned directly or
indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims;
(h) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when Designated
Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, the
Pricing Agreement and the Indenture with respect to such Designated
Securities, such Designated Securities will have been duly executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by
the Indenture, which will be substantially in the form filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement; the Indenture has been duly
authorized and duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, at the
Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities (as defined in Section
4 hereof), the Indenture will constitute a valid and binding
instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent
transfer, moratorium and similar laws of general applicability relating
to or affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and
the Indenture conforms, and the Designated Securities will conform, in
all material respects, to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented with respect to such Designated
Securities;
(i) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the
Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture,
this Agreement and any Pricing Agreement, and the consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or
result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of,
or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
sale/leaseback agreement, loan agreement or other agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party
or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which
any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any statute
or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization,
order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or
governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the
Securities by the Company or the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or
the Indenture, except such as have been, or will have been prior to the
Time of Delivery, obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act
and such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or
qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky
laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities
by the Underwriters;
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(j) The statements set forth in the Prospectus, as amended and
supplemented, under the captions "Description of Debt Securities" and
"Description of Notes", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary
of the terms of the Securities, and under the captions "Plan of
Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as they purport to describe
the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein, fairly
summarize such matters in all material respects;
(k) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (a) is in
violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws, or (b) other
than any defaults that singly or in the aggregate will not have a
material adverse effect on the financial position, stockholders' equity
or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, is in
default in the performance or observance of any material obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument
to which it is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be
bound;
(l) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal
or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is the subject which is reasonably likely,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on
the current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders'
equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries;
and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are
threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
others;
(m) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Securities, will not be an "investment company" or an
entity "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Investment Company Act"); and
(n) Ernst & Young, LLP, who have certified certain financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public
accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of
such Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such
Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented.
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4. Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant
to the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form specified in such Pricing
Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as
the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to
the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the
Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by certified or
official bank check or checks, payable to the order of the Company or wire
transfer to the Company in the funds specified in such Pricing Agreement, all in
the manner and at the place and time and date specified in such Pricing
Agreement or at such other place and time and date as the Representatives and
the Company may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called
the "Time of Delivery" for such Securities.
5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Securities:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in
relation to the applicable Designated Securities in a form approved by
the Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the
second business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing
Agreement relating to the applicable Designated Securities or, if
applicable, such earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to
make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Securities and prior to the Time
of Delivery for such Securities which shall be reasonably disapproved
by the Representatives for such Securities promptly after reasonable
notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such
amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the
Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and
any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by
the Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus
is required in connection with the offering or sale of such Securities,
and during such same period to advise the Representatives, promptly
after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the
Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any
supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed
with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any
prospectus relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the
qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in any
jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission for the amending
or supplementing of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for
additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such
stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of any
prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such
qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal of such order;
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(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities for
offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as
the Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to
permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such
jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to complete the
distribution of such Securities, provided that in connection therewith
the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation
or to file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;
(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York
Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time
to time, to furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in
New York City as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the
Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a
prospectus is required at any time in connection with the offering or
sale of the Securities and if at such time any event shall have
occurred as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or
supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for
any other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend
or supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any
document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply
with the Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify
the Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to
prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any
dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from
time to time reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a
supplement to the Prospectus which will correct such statement or
omission or effect such compliance;
(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its
subsidiaries (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a)
of the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
(including, at the option of the Company, Rule 158);
(e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing
Agreement for such Designated Securities and continuing to and
including the later of (i) the termination of trading restrictions
under applicable law for such Designated Securities, as notified to the
Company by the Representatives and (ii) the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company which mature
more than one year after such Time of Delivery and which are
substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior
written consent of the Representatives;
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(f) During a period of five years from the effective date of the
Registration Statement, (i) to furnish to the Representatives copies of
all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished to
stockholders, and (ii) to deliver to the Representatives as soon as
they are available, copies of any reports and financial statements
furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities
exchange on which the Securities or any class of securities of the
Company is listed (such financial statements to be on a consolidated
basis to the extent the accounts of the Company and its subsidiaries
are consolidated in reports furnished to its stockholders generally or
to the Commission), provided, however, that clause (ii) shall not
obligate the Company to disclose information that in its sole judgment
it considers confidential;
(g) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the
Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds"; and
(h) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Act by 10:00 p.m., Washington
D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the
time of the filing either pay to the Commission the filing fee for the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or give irrevocable instructions for
the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.
6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that
the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing
any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any
Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents
(including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with
the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses
in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment Surveys;
(iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities;
(v) any filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the
Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and
expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and the fees and
disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection with any Indenture and
the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as
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provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will
pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel,
transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising
expenses connected with any offers they may make.
7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities
under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be
subject, in the sole discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that
all representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or
incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated
Securities are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have
performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the
following additional conditions:
(a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the
applicable Designated Securities shall have been filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period
prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act
and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected
to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall
have become effective by 10:00 p.m., Washington D.C. time, on the date
of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and
no proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened
by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the
part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the
Representatives' reasonable satisfaction;
(b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
Representatives such opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery
for such Designated Securities, with respect to the incorporation of
the Company, the validity of the Indenture, the Securities and the
Registration Statement as well as such other related matters as the
Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have
received such papers and information as they may reasonably request to
enable them to pass upon such matters;
(c) ▇▇▇▇ and ▇▇▇▇ LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have
furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Time
of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
State of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented;
(ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all of the issued
shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
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(iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than
as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is the subject which is reasonably likely,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse
effect on the current or future consolidated financial position,
stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no
such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental
authorities or threatened by others;
(iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to
the Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(v) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized,
executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by the Company and,
when paid for in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and
the Pricing Agreement, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by
the Indenture; and the Designated Securities and the Indenture
conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(vi) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and, assuming the due authorization,
execution and delivery thereof by the Trustee, constitutes a valid
and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent transfer, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting
creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the
Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;
(vii) The issue and sale by the Company of the Designated
Securities and the compliance by the Company with all of the
provisions of the Designated Securities, the Indenture, this
Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the Designated
Securities and the consummation of the transactions herein and
therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach
or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
sale/leaseback agreement, loan agreement or other agreement or
instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such
actions result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated
Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any
order specifically naming the Company known to us or any statute,
rule or regulation known to us of any court or governmental agency
or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
significant domestic subsidiaries (except that such opinions
shall not extend to compliance with the anti-fraud provisions of
federal or state securities laws);
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(viii) No consent, approval, authorization, order,
registration or qualification of or with any such court or
governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale by
the Company of the Designated Securities or the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
such Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have been
obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such
consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or
qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue
Sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
Designated Securities by the Underwriters;
(ix) The statements set forth in the Prospectus, as amended
and supplemented, under the captions "Description of Securities",
and "Description of Notes" insofar as they purport to constitute a
summary of the terms of the Securities, and under the captions
"Plan of Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as they purport
to describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to
therein, fairly summarize such matters in all material respects;
(x) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined
in the Investment Company Act;
(xi) The name "Staples" is a trademark of Staples Properties,
Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company, which has been
duly registered with the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; and
(xii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended
or supplemented and any further amendments and supplements thereto
made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery for the
Designated Securities (other than the financial statements,
financial data and related schedules therein or information
relating to the Underwriters or the method of distribution of the
Securities by the Underwriters included therein, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; although they do not
assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus, no facts have come to their attention that have
caused them to believe that, as of its effective date, the
Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by
the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the
financial statements, financial data and related schedules therein
or information relating to the Underwriters or the method of
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters included
therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion)
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its
date, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further
amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the
Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements, financial
data and related schedules therein or information relating to the
Underwriters or the
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method of distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters
included therein, as to which such counsel need express no
opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading or that, as of the Time of Delivery, either
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made
by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the
financial statements, financial data and related schedules therein
or information relating to the Underwriters or the method of
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters included
therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion)
contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; and they do not know of any amendment to the
Registration Statement required to be filed or of any contracts or
other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit
to the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented which are not filed or
incorporated by reference or described as required.
(d) ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Esq., Vice President, General Counsel
and Secretary of the Company, shall have furnished to the
Representatives his written opinion, dated the Time of Delivery for
such Designated Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign
corporation for the transaction of business and is in good
standing under the laws of each jurisdiction, other than Delaware,
in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business,
so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no material
liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so
qualified in any such jurisdiction;
(ii) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; and all of the
issued shares of capital stock of each such subsidiary have been
duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable, and (except for directors' qualifying shares) are
owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, equities or claims (such counsel being
entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this clause upon
opinions of local counsel and in respect of matters of fact upon
certificates of officers of the Company or its subsidiaries,
provided that such counsel shall state that they believe that both
the Representatives and they are justified in relying upon such
opinions and certificates);
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(iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than
as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is the subject which is reasonably likely,
individually or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse
effect on the current or future consolidated financial position,
stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no
such proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental
authorities or threatened by others; and
(iv) The Exchange Act Reports incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented (other than the financial
statements, financial data and related schedules therein, as to
which such counsel need express no opinion), when they were filed
with the Commission, complied as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Exchange Act, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder; and such counsel has no
reason to believe that any of such documents, when they were so
filed, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading.
(e) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated
Securities at a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement
with respect to such Designated Securities and at the Time of Delivery
for such Designated Securities, the independent accountants of the
Company who have certified the financial statements of the Company and
its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall have furnished to the Representatives a
letter, dated the effective date of the Registration Statement or the
date of the most recent report filed with the Commission containing
financial statements and incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, if the date of such report is later than such effective
date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the
effect set forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect to such letter
dated such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as the
Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives (the executed copy of the letter
delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex
II(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the
effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement and as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex II(b)
hereto);
(f) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements of
the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as
amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities any material loss or interference with its
business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or
governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or
contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the
Pricing Agreement
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relating to the Designated Securities, and (ii) since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as amended
prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated
Securities there shall not have been any material change in the capital
stock of the Company (other than pursuant to the Company's stock award,
option or purchase plans or other employee benefit plans) or a material
increase in long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change, in or affecting the general affairs,
management, financial position, stockholders' equity or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set
forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of
the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, the effect
of which, in any such case described in Clause (i) or (ii), is in the
judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to make it
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented
relating to the Designated Securities;
(g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the
rating accorded the Company's debt securities by any "nationally
recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is defined by
the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii)
no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under
surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating
of any of the Company's debt securities;
(h) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the
following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or on the Nasdaq
National Market; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading in
the Company's securities on the Nasdaq National Market or the principal
exchange on which the Company's Common Stock trades; (iii) a general
moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York declared by
either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or
escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the
declaration by the United States, on or after the date hereof, of a
national emergency or war, if the effect of any such event specified in
this Clause (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented
relating to the Designated Securities or (v) the occurrence of any
material adverse change in the existing financial, political or
economic conditions in the United States or elsewhere which, in the
judgment of the Representatives, would materially and adversely affect
the financial markets or the market for the Securities and other debt
securities;
(i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to
the Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated
Securities a certificate or certificates of officers
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of the Company satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy
of the representations and warranties of the Company herein at and as
of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Company of all
of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time
of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (f) of
this Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may
reasonably request; and
(j) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section
5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New
York Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement.
8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several,
to which such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and
any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
will reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses
are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or
liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and
any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment
or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter of Designated
Securities through the Representatives expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company
may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus,
any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating
to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only
to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus,
any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus as amended or
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supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or
any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter
through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will
reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by the Company in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim as such expenses are incurred.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any
action, such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is
to be made against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from
any liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than
under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought against
any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof (it being understood that if any Underwriter
elects to assume the exclusive defense of any such action and does not
so notify the Company, it shall not be entitled to indemnification or
contribution from the Company), the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish,
jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after
notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its
election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall
not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any
legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the
defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No
indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the
indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent
to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened
action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution may
be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual
or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement,
compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such action or
claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of
fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party
under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated
Securities on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities
to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action
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in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by
the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law
or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under
subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits
but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters of the Designated Securities on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from
such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear
to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such
Underwriters. The 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 on the one hand or
such Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the
Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred
to above in this subsection (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 or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the applicable Designated Securities
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has
otherwise been required to pay by reason of 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 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the
Underwriters of Designated Securities in this subsection (d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations with respect to such Securities and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be
in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and
shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if
any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and
the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may
otherwise have and shall extend, upon the
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same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company
and to each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of the Act.
9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the
Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the
Representatives may in their discretion arrange for themselves or
another party or other parties to purchase such Designated Securities
on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such
default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the
purchase of such Designated Securities, then the Company shall be
entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to
procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the
Representatives to purchase such Designated Securities on such terms.
In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the
Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the
purchase of such Designated Securities, or the Company notifies the
Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such
Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have
the right to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect
whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any other
documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be
made necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall
include any person substituted under this Section with like effect as
if such person had originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement
with respect to such Designated Securities.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase
of the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in
subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of such Designated
Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of
the aggregate principal amount of the Designated Securities, then the
Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter
to purchase the principal amount of Designated Securities which such
Underwriter agreed to purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to
such Designated Securities and, in addition, to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the
principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed
to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Designated Securities
of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such
arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase
of the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided in
subsection (a) above, the aggregate principal amount of Designated
Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the
aggregate principal
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amount of the Designated Securities, as referred to in subsection (b)
above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described in
subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall
thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to
be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6
hereof and the indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8
hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from
liability for its default.
10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth
in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to
this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.
11. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9
hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter
with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason
Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as
provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the
Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the
Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and
delivery of such Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.
12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters
of Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and
the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement,
request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.
All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the
Registration Statement: Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice
to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set
forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such
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Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the
Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon,
and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the
extent provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the
Company and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no
other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities
from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of
such purchase.
14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used
herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office
in Washington, D.C. is open for business.
15. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any
one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective
counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us eight (8) counterparts hereof.
Very truly yours,
STAPLES, INC.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
--------------------------------
Name: ▇▇▇▇ ▇. ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇
Title: Executive Vice President
and Chief Financial
Officer
Accepted as of the date hereof:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
By: /s/ ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Sachs & Co.
---------------------------------
(▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.)
23
ANNEX I
PRICING AGREEMENT
-----------------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Sachs & Co.,
[Names of Co-Representative(s),]
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
[c/o Goldman, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.,]
▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇▇,
▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇ ▇▇▇▇▇.
, 19..
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Staples, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting
Agreement, dated August 7, 1997 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), between the
Company on the one hand and ▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. on the other hand, to issue and
sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the
Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities"). Each
of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to
the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and
each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to
have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each
representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the
Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of
the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein
defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to
the Designated Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each
reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to
you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting
Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to
act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters
of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting
Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12
are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.
An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the
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time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in
Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us - counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf
of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to
the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
STAPLES, INC.
By:_________________________________
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co.
[Name(s) of Co-Representative(s)]]
By: _______________________________________
(▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, Sachs & Co.)
[Name(s) of Co-Representative Corporation(s)]
By:________________________________________
Name:
Title:
On behalf of each of the Underwriters
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SCHEDULE I
PRINCIPAL
AMOUNT OF
DESIGNATED
SECURITIES
TO BE
UNDERWRITER PURCHASED
----------- ---------
▇▇▇▇▇▇▇, ▇▇▇▇▇ & Co. $
[NAME(S) OF CO-REPRESENTATIVE(S)]
Total $
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SCHEDULE II
TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
[ %] [Floating Rate] [Zero Coupon] [Notes]
[Debentures] due ,
AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
[$]
PRICE TO PUBLIC: % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities,
plus accrued interest[, if any,] from to [and accrued
amortization[, if any,] from to ]
PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
Interest from to [and accrued amortization[, if any,]
from to ]
FORM OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
Book-entry only form represented by one or more global securities
deposited with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated
custodian, to be made available for checking by the Representatives at
least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of
DTC.
SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:
[[New York] Clearing House (next day) funds] [same day federal funds]
TIME OF DELIVERY:
a.m. (New York City time), , 19
INDENTURE:
Indenture dated August -, 1997, between the Company and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, as Trustee
MATURITY:
INTEREST RATE:
[ %] [Zero Coupon] [See Floating Rate Provisions]
INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
[months and dates, commencing ....................., 19..]
REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:
[No provisions for redemption]
[The Designated Securities may be redeemed, otherwise than through the
sinking fund, in whole or in part at the option of the Company, in the
amount of [$ ] or an integral multiple thereof,
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[on or after , at the following redemption prices (expressed in
percentages of principal amount). If [redeemed on or before , %,
and if] redeemed during the 12-month period beginning ,
REDEMPTION
YEAR PRICE
---- -----
and thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together in each case
with accrued interest to the redemption date.]
[on any interest payment date falling on or after , , at the
election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the principal
amount thereof, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.]]
[Other possible redemption provisions, such as mandatory redemption upon
occurrence of certain events or redemption for changes in tax law]
[Restriction on refunding]
SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:
[No sinking fund provisions]
[The Designated Securities are entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund
to retire [$ ] principal amount of Designated Securities on in
each of the years through at 100% of their principal amount
plus accrued interest[, together with [cumulative] [noncumulative]
redemptions at the option of the Company to retire an additional [$ ]
principal amount of Designated Securities in the years through
at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest.]
DEFEASANCE PROVISIONS:
CLOSING LOCATION FOR DELIVERY OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
ADDITIONAL CLOSING CONDITIONS:
NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:
Designated Representatives:
Address for Notices, etc.:
OTHER TERMS:
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ANNEX II
Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect
to the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and
the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;
(ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any
supplementary financial information and schedules (and, if applicable,
financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by
them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act or the Exchange
Act, as applicable, and the related published rules and regulations
thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in accordance
with standards established by the American Institute of Certified
Public Accountants of the consolidated interim financial statements,
selected financial data and financial statements derived from audited
financial statements of the Company for the periods specified in such
letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have
been [separately] furnished to the representative or representatives of
the Underwriters (the "Representatives") such term to include an
Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm being designated
as its or their representatives [and are attached hereto];
(iii)They have made a review in accordance with standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants
of the unaudited consolidated statements of income, consolidated
balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in
the Prospectus and/or included in the Company's quarterly report on
Form 10-Q incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as indicated in
their reports thereon copies of which [have been separately furnished
to the Representatives][are attached hereto]; and on the basis of
specified procedures including inquiries of officials of the Company
who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters regarding
whether the unaudited consolidated financial statements referred to in
paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements of the [Act and the
Exchange] Act and the related published rules and regulations, nothing
came to their attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited
condensed consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in
all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of
the Act and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and
regulations;
(iv) The unaudited financial highlights with respect to the
consolidated results of operations and financial position of the
Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the
Prospectus and included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the
Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year
agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatement where
applicable) in the audited consolidated financial statements for five
such fiscal years which were included or incorporated by reference in
the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;
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(v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K
and on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing
came to their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that
caused them to believe that this information does not conform in all
material respects with the disclosure requirements of Items 301, 302
and 402, respectively, of Regulation S-K;
(vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
information referred to below, a reading of the latest available
interim financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries,
inspection of the minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries
since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of
the Company and its subsidiaries responsible for financial and
accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused
them to believe that:
(A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
included in the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated by reference
in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange
Act as it applies to Form 10-Q and the related published rules and
regulations, or (ii) any material modifications should be made to the
unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated
balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in
the Prospectus or included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form
10-Q incorporated by reference in the Prospectus for them to be in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;
(B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet
items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding
items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which
such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and items
were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the basis
for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;
(C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in
the Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed
financial statements referred to in Clause (A) and any unaudited income
statement data and balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and
referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially
consistent with the basis for the audited financial statements included
or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the most recent fiscal year;
(D) if applicable, any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published rules
and regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been
properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
statements;
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(E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the
date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated
capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of
options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance
shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case
which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet included
or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or any increase in the
consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, or any
decreases in consolidated net current assets or stockholders' equity or
other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with
amounts shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus, except in each case for changes, increases
or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur
or which are described in such letter; and
(F) for the period from the date of the latest financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to
the specified date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases
in sales or operating income or the total or per share amounts of
consolidated net income or other items specified by the
Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period of
the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding length
specified by the Representatives, except in each case for increases or
decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or
which are described in such letter; and
(vii)In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s)
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited
procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures
referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out
certain specified procedures, not constituting an examination in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to
certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the
Representatives which are derived from the general accounting records
of the Company and its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus
(excluding documents incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or
in exhibits and schedules to, the Registration Statement specified by
the Representatives or in documents incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus specified by the Representatives, and have compared certain
of such amounts, percentages and financial information with the
accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and have found
them to be in agreement.
All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) as defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter
delivered on the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents
incorporated by reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated
Securities for purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities.
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