Exhibit 1.1
ESSEX INTERNATIONAL INC.
COMMON STOCK
(PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE)
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
(U.S. VERSION)
--------------
....................., 1997
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.,
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.,
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation,
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.,
As representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Xxxxx & Co.
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Essex International Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein, to issue and sell to the
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of
........ shares of Common Stock, par value $.01 per share ("Stock"), of the
Company and, at the election of the Underwriters, up to ........ additional
shares of Stock and the stockholders of the Company named in Schedule II hereto
(the "Selling Stockholders") propose, subject to the terms and conditions stated
herein, to sell to the Underwriters (a) an aggregate of ........ shares of
Stock and (b) an aggregate of ....... warrants to purchase shares of Stock and,
at the election of the Underwriters, up to (a) ........ additional shares of
Stock and (b) ....... additional warrants to purchase shares of Stock. The
aggregate of ........ shares to be sold by the Company and the Selling
Stockholders is herein called the "Firm Shares", the aggregate of .......
warrants to be sold by certain Selling Stockholders is herein called the "Firm
Warrants", the aggregate of ........ additional shares to be sold by the Company
and certain Selling Stockholders is herein called the "Optional Shares" and the
aggregate of ....... additional warrants to be sold by certain Selling
Stockholders is herein called the "Optional Warrants". The Firm Warrants and
the Optional Warrants that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to
Section 2 hereof are herein collectively called the Warrants, and the Firm
Shares, the Optional Shares that the Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to
Section 2 hereof and the shares of Stock to be issued upon the redemption of the
Warrants by the Company as hereinafter provided are herein collectively called
the "Shares".
It is understood and agreed to by all parties that the Company and the
Selling Stockholders are concurrently entering into an agreement (the
"International Underwriting Agreement") providing for (a) the sale by the
Company and certain Selling Stockholders of up to a total of ....... shares of
Stock and (b) the sale by certain Selling Stockholders of up to a total of
....... warrants (the shares of Stock referred to in (a), together with the
shares of Stock to be issued upon the redemption of the warrants by the Company,
are herein collectively referred to as the "International Shares"), including
the overallotment option thereunder, through arrangements with certain
underwriters outside the United
States (the "International Underwriters"), for whom Xxxxxxx Sachs International,
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc., Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation and
Xxxxxx Brothers International (Europe) are acting as lead managers. Anything
herein or therein to the contrary notwithstanding, the respective closings under
this Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement are hereby expressly
made conditional on one another. The Underwriters hereunder and the
International Underwriters are simultaneously entering into an Agreement between
U.S. and International Underwriting Syndicates (the "Agreement between
Syndicates") which provides, among other things, for the transfer of shares of
Stock between the two syndicates. Two forms of prospectus are to be used in
connection with the offering and sale of shares of Stock contemplated by the
foregoing, one relating to the Shares hereunder and the other relating to the
International Shares. The latter form of prospectus will be identical to the
former except for certain substitute pages. Except as used in Sections 2, 4, 5,
11 and 13 herein, and except as the context may otherwise require, references
hereinafter to the Shares shall include all the shares of Stock which may be
sold pursuant to either this Agreement or the International Underwriting
Agreement, including any shares of Stock to be issued by the Company upon the
redemption of the Warrants, references hereinafter to the Warrants shall include
all the warrants which may be sold pursuant to either this Agreement or the
International Underwriting Agreement and references herein to any prospectus,
whether in preliminary or final form, and whether as amended or supplemented,
shall include both the U.S. and the international versions thereof.
1. (a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
of the Underwriters that:
(i) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-22043) (the
"Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Shares 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 to you, and, excluding exhibits thereto,
delivered to you 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 the Initial Registration
Statement has heretofore been filed with the Commission; 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) of the rules and regulations of the Commission
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
including the information contained in the form of final prospectus filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance
with Section 6(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A under the Act to
be part of the Registration Statement, if any, at the time it became or
hereafter becomes effective, each as amended as of such effective date, are
hereinafter collectively called the "Registration Statement"; and such
final prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Act, is hereinafter called the "Prospectus");
(ii) No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary
Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary
Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof,
-2-
conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did 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,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, 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 through Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. expressly for use therein or by a
Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the preparation of the answers
therein to Items 7 and 11(l) of Form S-1;
(iii) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus 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 rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and do
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 through Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein or
by a Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the preparation of the
answers therein to Items 7 and 11(l) of Form S-1;
(iv) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained
since the date of the latest audited financial statements included 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 change in the capital
stock (other than changes resulting from the exercise of options
outstanding as of the date of this Agreement) or 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;
(v) 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 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 interfere with the use made and proposed to be
made of such property and buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries;
(vi) 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
-3-
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; each "Material Subsidiary" (as hereinafter defined") has
been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation; each Material
Subsidiary 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 "Material Subsidiary" means each entity that would
constitute a "significant subsidiary" of the Company for purposes of Rule
1-02(w) of Regulation S-X under the Act;
(vii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1996, as filed with the Commission, 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; at each Time of Delivery (as defined in
Section 5 below), the Company will have the authorized capitalization as
set forth in the Prospectus, and at each Time of Delivery all of the issued
shares of capital stock of the Company will have been duly and validly
authorized and issued and will be fully paid and non-assessable, will be
free of preemptive and other preferential rights to subscribe for or
purchase shares of Stock granted by the Company or pursuant to an agreement
to which the Company is a party and will conform to the description of
Stock contained in the Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital
stock of each Material Subsidiary of the Company 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,
except as disclosed in the Prospectus;
(viii) The unissued Shares to be issued and sold by the Company to
the Underwriters hereunder and under the International Underwriting
Agreement have been duly and validly authorized and, when issued and
delivered against payment therefor as provided herein, will be duly and
validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable, will be free of
preemptive and other preferential rights to subscribe for or purchase
shares of Stock granted by the Company or pursuant to an agreement to which
the Company is a party and will conform to the description of the Stock
contained in the Prospectus; and no holder of securities of the Company has
rights, pursuant to any agreement with the Company or otherwise, to
register such securities under any registration statement filed with the
Commission except as disclosed in the Prospectus;
(ix) The unissued shares of Stock issuable upon the redemption of
the Warrants have been duly and validly authorized and reserved for
issuance, and at the Time of Delivery with respect to such shares, such
shares will be delivered in accordance with the provisions of this
Agreement and will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and non-
assessable, will be free of preemptive and other preferential rights to
subscribe for or purchase shares of Stock granted by the Company or pursuant to
an agreement to which the Company is a party and will conform to the description
of the Stock contained in the Prospectus;
-4-
(x) The issue and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company
hereunder and under the International Underwriting Agreement and the
compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and
the International Underwriting 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, 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 or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result
in any violation of the provisions of the 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 Shares or the consummation by the Company of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the International
Underwriting Agreement, except the registration under the Act of the
Shares, registration of the Stock under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") and the listing of the Shares on the
New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange");
(xi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in
violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or (B) 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 except, in the
case of this clause (B), for such defaults that would not, individually or
in the aggregate, have, or a reasonably be expected to have in the future,
a material adverse effect on the general affairs, management, financial
position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(xii) The statements set forth in the Prospectus, under the caption
"Description of Capital Stock", insofar as they purport to constitute a
summary of the terms of the Stock and the Warrants will be at each Time of
Delivery, and under the captions "Certain United States Federal Tax
Consequences To Non-United States Holders of Common Stock", "Certain
Relationships and Related Party Transactions", "Description of Certain
Indebtedness", "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and "Underwriting",
insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and
documents referred to therein are, accurate, complete and fair;
(xiii) 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 have a reasonable possibility of
success and which, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate 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;
-5-
(xiv) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering
and sale of the Shares, 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
(xv) 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.
(b) Each of the Selling Stockholders severally represents and warrants to,
and agrees with, each of the Underwriters and the Company that:
(i) All consents, approvals, authorizations and orders necessary
for the execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of this
Agreement, the International Underwriting Agreement, the Power of Attorney
and the Custody Agreement hereinafter referred to, and for the sale and
delivery of the Shares or Warrants to be sold by such Selling Stockholder
hereunder and under the International Underwriting Agreement, have been
obtained; and such Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority
to enter into this Agreement, the International Underwriting Agreement, the
Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer
and deliver the Shares or Warrants to be sold by such Selling Stockholder
hereunder and under the International Underwriting Agreement;
(ii) The sale of the Shares or Warrants to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder hereunder and under the International Underwriting Agreement
and the compliance by such Selling Stockholder with all of the provisions
of this Agreement, the International Underwriting Agreement, the Power of
Attorney and the Custody 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 statute, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
agreement or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling
Stockholder is a party or by which such Selling Stockholder is bound, or to
which any of the property or assets of such Selling Stockholder is subject,
nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of such Selling Stockholder if such
Selling Stockholder is a corporation, the Partnership Agreement of such
Selling Stockholder if such Selling Stockholder is a partnership, any other
constituent documents of such Selling Stockholder or any statute or any
order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder or the property of such
Selling Stockholder;
(iii) Such Selling Stockholder has, and immediately prior to each
Time of Delivery such Selling Stockholder will have, good and valid title
to the Shares or Warrants to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder
and under the International Underwriting Agreement, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; and, upon delivery of any such
Shares or Warrants and payment therefor pursuant hereto and to the
International Underwriting Agreement, good and valid title to such Shares
or Warrants, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims,
will pass to the several Underwriters or the International Underwriters, as
the case may be;
-6-
(iv) During the period beginning from the date hereof and
continuing to and including the date 180 days after the date of the
Prospectus, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of,
including, without limitation, through the entry into a cash-settled
derivative instrument, except as provided hereunder or under the
International Underwriting Agreement, any shares of Stock, any securities
of the Company that are substantially similar to the Shares, including but
not limited to any securities that are convertible into or exchangeable
for, or that represent the right to receive, Stock or any such
substantially similar securities (other than upon the conversion or
exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of the
date of this Agreement), without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxx & Co.;
(v) Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take,
directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which has
constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company
to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares;
(vi) To the extent that any statements or omissions made in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto are made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information relating to such Selling Stockholder furnished to
the Company by such Selling Stockholder expressly for use therein, such
Preliminary Prospectus and the Registration Statement did, and the
Prospectus and any further amendments or supplements to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, when they 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 and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading;
(vii) In order to document the Underwriters' compliance with the
reporting and withholding provisions of the Tax Equity and Fiscal
Responsibility Act of 1982 with respect to the transactions herein
contemplated, such Selling Stockholder will deliver to you prior to or at
the First Time of Delivery (as hereinafter defined) a properly completed
and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-9 (or other
applicable form or statement specified by Treasury Department regulations
in lieu thereof);
(viii) Certificates in negotiable form representing all of the Shares
and Warrants to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and under the
International Underwriting Agreement have been placed in custody under a
Custody Agreement, in the form heretofore furnished to you (the "Custody
Agreement"), duly executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder to The
Bank of New York, as custodian (the "Custodian"), and such Selling
Stockholder has duly executed and delivered a Power of Attorney, in the
form heretofore furnished to you (the "Power of Attorney"), appointing the
persons indicated in Schedule II hereto, and each of them, as such Selling
Stockholder's attorneys-in-fact (the "Attorneys-in-Fact") with authority to
execute and deliver this Agreement and the International Underwriting
Agreement on behalf of such Selling Stockholder, to determine the purchase
price to be paid by the Underwriters and the International Underwriters to
the Selling Stockholders as provided in Section 2 hereof, to authorize the
delivery of the Shares or Warrants to be sold by such Selling Stockholder
hereunder and otherwise to act on behalf of such Selling
-7-
Stockholder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the International Underwriting Agreement and the Custody
Agreement; and
(ix) The Shares or Warrants represented by the certificates held in
custody for such Selling Stockholder under the Custody Agreement are
subject to the interests of the Underwriters hereunder and the
International Underwriters under the International Underwriting Agreement;
the arrangements made by such Selling Stockholder for such custody, and the
appointment by such Selling Stockholder of the Attorneys-in-Fact by the
Power of Attorney, are to that extent irrevocable; the obligations of the
Selling Stockholders hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of law,
whether by the death or incapacity of any individual Selling Stockholder
or, in the case of an estate or trust, by the death or incapacity of any
executor or trustee or the termination of such estate or trust, or in the
case of a partnership or corporation, by the dissolution of such
partnership or corporation, or by the occurrence of any other event; if any
individual Selling Stockholder or any such executor or trustee should die
or become incapacitated, or if any such estate or trust should be
terminated, or if any such partnership or corporation should be dissolved,
or if any other such event should occur, before the delivery of the Shares
or Warrants hereunder, certificates representing the Shares or Warrants
shall be delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in
accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement, the
International Underwriting Agreement and of the Custody Agreements, and
actions taken by the Attorneys-in-Fact pursuant to the Powers of Attorney
shall be as valid as if such death, incapacity, termination, dissolution or
other event had not occurred, regardless of whether or not the Custodian,
the Attorneys-in-Fact, or any of them, shall have received notice of such
death, incapacity, termination, dissolution or other event.
2. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, (a) the Company
and each of the Selling Stockholders agree, severally and not jointly, to sell
to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase from the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders,
at a purchase price per share of $......................, the number of Firm
Shares (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined
by multiplying the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be sold by the Company and
each of the Selling Stockholders as set forth opposite their respective names in
Schedule II hereto by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number
of Firm Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter as set forth opposite the
name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is
the aggregate number of Firm Shares to be purchased by all of the Underwriters
from the Company and all of the Selling Stockholders hereunder, (b) certain
Selling Stockholders agree, severally and not jointly, to sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to
purchase from such Selling Stockholders, at a purchase price of ....... per
Warrant, the number of Firm Warrants (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate
the redemption of a Warrant for a fractional share) determined by multiplying
the aggregate number of Firm Warrants to be sold by such Selling Stockholders as
set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule II hereto by a fraction,
the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Firm Warrants to be purchased
by such Underwriter as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of all
Firm Warrants to be purchased by all the Underwriters from such Selling
Stockholders and (c) in the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall
exercise the election to purchase Optional Shares and Optional Warrants as
provided below, the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders agree,
severally and not jointly, to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company and
each of the Selling Stockholders, at the purchase price per share set forth in
clause (a) of this Section 2 or at the purchase price per
-8-
Warrant set forth in clause (b) of this Section 2, that portion of the number of
Optional Shares and Optional Warrants as to which such election shall have been
exercised (to be adjusted by you so as to eliminate fractional shares and the
redemption of a Warrant for a fractional share) determined (i) in the case of
Optional Shares, by multiplying such number of Optional Shares by a fraction the
numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional Shares which such
Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such
Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator of which is the maximum
number of Optional Shares that all of the Underwriters are entitled to purchase
hereunder and (ii) in the case of Optional Warrants, by multiplying such number
of Optional Warrants by a fraction the numerator of which is the maximum number
of Optional Warrants which such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and the denominator
of which is the maximum number of Optional Warrants that all of the Underwriters
are entitled to purchase hereunder.
The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, as and to the extent
indicated in Schedule II hereto, hereby grant, severally and not jointly, to the
Underwriters the right to purchase at their election up to ....... Optional
Shares and up to ....... Optional Warrants, at the purchase price per share or
per Warrant set forth in the paragraph above, for the sole purpose of covering
overallotments in the sale of the Firm Shares (including for this purpose all of
the shares of Stock to be received upon redemption of the Firm Warrants). Any
such election to purchase Optional Shares shall be made (i) as between the
Company and the Selling Stockholders, in the same proportion as the maximum
number of Optional Shares to be sold by the Company bears to the maximum number
of Optional Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders (including for this
purpose the shares of Stock which would be issued upon the redemption of the
maximum number of Optional Warrants) and (ii) as between the Selling
Stockholders, in proportion to the maximum number of Optional Shares to be sold
by each Selling Stockholder as set forth in Schedule II hereto, it being
understood that for the purpose of this calculation the Optional Warrants shall
be treated as if they had been redeemed for shares of Stock and that the
Optional Shares and the Optional Warrants shall be purchased in the same
proportion as the total number of Optional Shares bears to the total number of
shares of Stock to be received upon redemption of all the Optional Warrants. Any
such election to purchase Optional Shares and Optional Warrants may be exercised
only by written notice from you to the Attorneys-in-Fact, given within a period
of 30 calendar days after the date of this Agreement and setting forth the
aggregate number of Optional Shares and Optional Warrants to be purchased and
the date on which such Optional Shares and Optional Warrants are to be
delivered, as determined by you but in no event earlier than the First Time of
Delivery (as defined in Section 5 hereof) or, unless you and the
Attorneys-in-Fact otherwise agree in writing, earlier than one or later than ten
business days after the date of such notice.
3. The Company hereby confirms its engagement of Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc. as,
and Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc. hereby confirms its agreement with the Company to render
services as, a "qualified independent underwriter" within the meaning of
Paragraph (b)(15) of Conduct Rule 2720 of the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares.
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc., in its capacity as qualified independent underwriter and not
otherwise, is referred to herein as the "QIU".
4. Upon the authorization by you of the release of the Firm Shares
(including for this purpose all the shares of Stock to be received upon
redemption of the Firm Warrants), the several Underwriters propose to offer the
Firm Shares (including for this purpose all the shares of Stock to be
-9-
received upon redemption of the Firm Warrants) for sale upon the terms and
conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
5. (a)The Shares and Warrants to be purchased by each Underwriter
hereunder, in definitive form, and in such authorized denominations and
registered in such names as Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. may request upon at least
forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders
shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company and the Selling Stockholders
to Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co., for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by
or on behalf of such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by certified or
official bank check or checks or by wire transfer, payable to the order of the
Company and the Custodian in Federal Funds (same day). The delivery of the
Shares to Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. pursuant to the prior sentence may be made, at
the option of Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co., through the facilities of The Depository
Trust Company ("DTC"). The Company will cause the certificates representing the
Shares to be made available for checking and packaging at least twenty-four
hours prior to the Time of Delivery (as defined below) with respect thereto at
the office of Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co., 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000,
or at the office of DTC or its designated custodian, as the case may be (the
"Designated Office"). The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be,
with respect to the Firm Shares and the Firm Warrants, 9:30 a.m., New York City
time, on ............., 1997 or such other time and date as Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
and the Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional
Shares and the Optional Warrants, 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the date
specified by Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. in the written notice given by Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx
& Co. of the Underwriters' election to purchase such Optional Shares and the
Optional Warrants, or such other time and date as Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. and the
Attorneys-in-Fact may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of
the Firm Shares and the Firm Warrants is herein called the "First Time of
Delivery", such time and date for delivery of the Optional Shares and the
Optional Warrants, if not the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the
"Second Time of Delivery", and each such time and date for delivery is herein
called a "Time of Delivery".
(b) The documents to be delivered at each Time of Delivery by or on behalf
of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 hereof, including the cross-receipt
for the Shares and the Warrants and any additional documents requested by the
Underwriters pursuant to Section 8(l) hereof will be delivered at the offices of
Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (the "Closing
Location"), and the Shares will be delivered at the Designated Office, all at
each Time of Delivery. A meeting will be held at the Closing Location at
2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day next preceding each
Time of Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be
delivered pursuant to the preceding sentence will be available for review by the
parties hereto. For the purposes of this Section 5, "New York Business Day"
shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a
day on which banking institutions in New York are generally authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
6. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you 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 this Agreement, or, if applicable, such earlier
time as may be required by Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Act and, if the
Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, to file a
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with
Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington,
-10-
D.C. time on the date of this Agreement and to pay to the Commission at
such time of filing 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; to make no further amendment or any
supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus which shall be
disapproved by you promptly after reasonable notice thereof; to advise you,
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 and
to furnish you copies thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives
notice thereof, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of
any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or
prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares 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 stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any
Preliminary Prospectus or prospectus or suspending any such qualification,
promptly to use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;
(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may
reasonably request to qualify the Shares for offering and sale under the
securities laws of such jurisdictions as you 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 the Shares, 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 in
such quantities as you may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a
prospectus is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months
after the time of issue of the Prospectus in connection with the offering
or sale of the Shares and if at such time any events 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 period to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order
to comply with the Act, to notify you and upon your request to prepare and
furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in securities
as many copies as you 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, and in case any
Underwriter is required to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of
any of the Shares at any time nine months or more after the time of issue
of the Prospectus, upon your request but at the expense of such
Underwriter, to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as
you may request of an amended or supplemented Prospectus complying with
Section 10(a)(3) of the Act;
(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
-11-
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 hereof and continuing to
and including the date 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, not to
offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of, including, without
limitation, through the entry into a cash-settled derivative instrument,
except as provided hereunder and under the International Underwriting
Agreement, any shares of Stock, any securities of the Company that are
substantially similar to the Shares, including but not limited to any
securities that are convertible into or exchangeable for, or that represent
the right to receive, Stock or any such substantially similar securities
(other than (i) pursuant to an acquisition or other business transaction
where the Company uses shares of Stock as all or a portion of the
consideration for the transaction provided that if the aggregate number of
shares of Stock issued in any such acquisition or transaction exceeds 1.3
million, or if the number of shares of Stock issued in any such acquisition
or transaction, together with the number of shares of Stock issued in any
other acquisition or transaction after the date of this Agreement exceeds
1.3 million, the Company shall cause the person or persons acquiring such
shares of Stock to comply with this Section 6(e), or (ii) pursuant to
employee stock option plans existing on, or upon the conversion or exchange
of convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding as of, the date of
this Agreement), without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.;
and to enforce its rights under Section 6.04 of the Management Stockholders
Agreement and Section 3(a) of the Registration Rights Agreement (each as
defined in the Prospectus), to use its reasonable best efforts to cause
each other party to such agreements to comply therewith and not to grant
any waivers or consents to non-compliance with such agreements insofar as
such agreements relate to registration under the Act, in each case unless
and to the extent that it shall have obtained the prior written consent of
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.;
(f) To furnish to its stockholders as soon as practicable after the
end of each fiscal year an annual report (including a balance sheet and
statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries certified by independent public
accountants) and, as soon as practicable after the end of each of the first
three quarters of each fiscal year (beginning with the fiscal quarter
ending after the effective date of the Registration Statement),
consolidated summary financial information of the Company and its
subsidiaries for such quarter in reasonable detail;
(g) During a period of three years from the effective date of the
Registration Statement, to furnish to you copies of all reports or other
communications (financial or other) furnished to stockholders, and to
deliver to you (i) 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 any class of securities of the
Company is listed; and (ii) such additional information concerning the
business and financial condition of the Company as you may from time to
time reasonably request (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);
-12-
(h) To use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares
pursuant to this Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement in
the manner specified in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds";
(i) To use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance,
the Shares on the Exchange;
(j) To file with the Commission such reports on Form SR as may be
required by Rule 463 under the Act;
(k) 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) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this
Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of 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; and
(l) On or prior to any Time of Delivery, to redeem each Warrant to be
sold to the Underwriters at such Time of Delivery for ....... shares of
Stock; each share of Stock to be duly authorized, validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable and free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims; and to deliver such shares of Stock to the Underwriters
as provided in Section 5 hereof.
7. The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, jointly and
severally, covenant and agree with one another and 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 Shares 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) all expenses in connection with
the qualification of the Shares for offering and sale under state securities
laws as provided in Section 6(b) hereof, including the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification; (iii) all
fees and expenses in connection with listing the Shares on the Exchange;
(iv) the filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with, securing any required review by the NASD of
the terms of the sale of the Shares, including the fees and expenses of a
"qualified independent underwriter", as defined in Conduct Rule 2720 of the
NASD; (v) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vi) the cost and charges of
any transfer agent or registrar; (vii) all other costs and expenses incident to
the performance of its obligations hereunder (not including the fees and
expenses of counsel to the Selling Stockholders) which are not otherwise
specifically provided for in this Section; (viii) fees and expenses of the
Attorneys-in-Fact and the Custodian; (ix) all expenses and taxes incident to the
sale and delivery of the Shares and Warrants to be sold to the Underwriters; and
(x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the Selling
Stockholders of their obligations hereunder (other than underwriting commissions
and discounts). In connection with Clause (x) of the preceding sentence,
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. agrees to pay New York State stock transfer tax, and the
Company agrees to reimburse Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. for associated carrying costs
if such tax payment is not rebated on the day of payment and for any portion of
such tax payment not rebated. It is understood, however, that the Company shall
bear, and the Selling Stockholders shall not be required to pay or to reimburse
the Company for, the cost of any
-13-
other matters not directly relating to the sale and purchase of the Shares
pursuant to this Agreement, and that, except as provided in this Section, and
Sections 9 and 13 hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and
expenses, including the fees of their counsel, stock transfer taxes on resale of
any of the Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any
offers they may make.
8. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Shares and
the Warrants to be delivered at each Time of Delivery, shall be subject, in
their discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and
other statements of the Company and of the Selling Stockholders herein are, at
and as of such Time of Delivery, true and correct, the condition that the
Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have performed all of its and their
obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the following additional
conditions:
(a) The Prospectus 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
6(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 your reasonable satisfaction;
(b) Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel for the Underwriters, shall have
furnished to you such opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery,
with respect to the matters covered in paragraphs (i), (ii) and (vii) of
subsection (c) below and the final paragraph of subsection (d) below as
well as such other related matters as you 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) Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, General Counsel for the Company, shall have
furnished to you her written opinion (a draft of such opinion is attached
as Annex II(a) hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance
satisfactory to you, 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 power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
(ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth
in the Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of
the Company (including the Shares being delivered at such Time of
Delivery) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are
fully paid and non-assessable; the Shares are free of preemptive and
other similar rights and the Shares conform to the description of the
Stock contained in the Prospectus;
(iii) 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 other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases
properties or conducts any business so as to require such
-14-
qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by
reason of failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction (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, provided that such
counsel shall state that she believes that both you and she are
justified in relying upon such opinions and certificates);
(iv) Each Material Subsidiary 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 Material Subsidiary have been duly and validly
authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, and (except
for directors' qualifying shares) are owned directly by the Company,
free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, other
than as described in the Prospectus, including the liens resulting
from the Restated Credit Agreement (as defined in the Prospectus);
(v) Essex has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for
the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws of
each 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 failure to be so
qualified in any such jurisdiction (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 Essex, provided that such counsel shall
state that they believe that both you and they are justified in
relying upon such opinions and certificates);
(vi) To 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 have a reasonable possibility of success and which, if
determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on the
current or future consolidated financial position, stockholders'
equity, cash flows or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries; and, to such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings
are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or
threatened by others;
(vii) This Agreement and the International Underwriting
Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company;
(viii) The issue and sale of the Shares being delivered at
such Time of Delivery to be sold by the Company and the compliance by
the Company with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the
International Underwriting 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,
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
-15-
subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the
Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation known to such
counsel of any court or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of
their properties; and
(ix) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in
violation of its Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws or (B) 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 except, in the case of this clause (B), for such defaults that
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect.
Such counsel shall also state that the Registration Statement and any
amendment made thereto prior to such Time of Delivery, at the time it became
effective, and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement made thereto prior
to such Time of Delivery, as of its date, the date of such amendment or
supplement and the date the statement is made by such counsel (except the
financial statements and other information of an accounting or financial nature
included therein, as to which such counsel will express no view), appeared on
their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the
requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder;
although such counsel will not assume responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of the statements made in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, except and provided in subsection (ii) of this Section 8(c) and
except insofar as such statements relate to such counsel; and that the work of
such counsel in connection with such matters and as General Counsel of the
Company did not disclose any information that gave such counsel reason to
believe that the Registration Statement or any amendment made thereto prior to
such Time of Delivery, at the time the Registration Statement or such amendment
became effective, 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 the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement made thereto prior to such Time of Delivery, at its date, the date of
such amendment or supplement and the date of such counsel's statement, included
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading (in each case except
for the financial statements and other information of an accounting or financial
nature included therein, as to which such counsel will express no view). Such
counsel shall further state that such counsel does not know of any contracts or
other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement or required to be described in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus which are not filed or described as required.
(d) Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished
to you their written opinion (a draft of such opinion is attached as Annex II(b)
hereto), dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you,
to the effect of paragraphs (i), (ii) (excluding the validity of any Shares not
being delivered at such Time of Delivery) and (viii) of subsection (c) of this
Section 8, and to the effect that;
(i) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration
or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or
body referred to in clause (ix) of Section 8(c) is required for the
issue and sale of the Shares or the Warrants or the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement
-16-
and the International Underwriting Agreement, except the registration
under the Act of the Shares, the registration of the Stock under the
Exchange Act and the listing of the Shares on the Exchange, each of
which has been made or obtained; and the issue and sale of the Shares
being delivered at such Time of Delivery to be sold by the Company and
the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of this
Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement and the
consummation of the transaction herein and therein contemplated will
not conflict with or result in breach or violation of any of the terms
or provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Restated Credit
Agreement;
(ii) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the
caption "Description of Capital Stock", insofar as they purport to
constitute a summary of the terms of the Stock and the Warrants, and
under the captions "Certain United States Federal Tax Consequences To
Non-United States Holders of Common Stock", "Certain Relationships and
Related Party Transactions", "Description of Certain Indebtedness",
and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale", insofar as they purport to
describe the provisions of the laws and documents referred to therein,
are accurate, complete and fair; and
(iii) 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.
Such counsel shall also state that the Registration Statement and any
amendment made thereto prior to such Time of Delivery, at the time it became
effective, and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement made thereto prior
to such Time of Delivery, as of its date, the date of such amendment or
supplement and the date the statement is made by such counsel (except the
financial statements and other information of an accounting or financial nature
included therein, as to which such counsel will express no view), appeared on
their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the
requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder;
although such counsel will not assume responsibility for the accuracy or
completeness of the statements made in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, except insofar as such statements relate to such counsel and except
as provided in subsection (ii) of this Section 8(d); and that the work of such
counsel in connection with such matters did not disclose any information that
gave such counsel reason to believe that the Registration Statement or any
amendment made thereto prior to such Time of Delivery, at the time the
Registration Statement or such amendment became effective, 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 the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement made thereto prior to such
Time of Delivery, at its date, the date of any amendment or supplement or at the
date of such counsel's statement, included an untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading (in each case except for the financial statements and
information of an accounting or financial nature included therein, as to which
such counsel will express no view). Such counsel shall further state that such
counsel does not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to
be filed which are not filed as required.
(e) The respective counsel for GS Capital Partners, L.P., Stone Street Fund
1992, L.P., Broad Street Fund 1992, L.P., DLJ International Partners, C.V., DLJ
Merchant Banking Partners, L.P., DLJ Merchant Banking Funding, Inc., DLJ First
ESC LCC and Chase Equity Associates each shall have furnished to you their
written opinion (drafts of such opinions are attached as Annex II(c) hereto)
with
-17-
respect to each of the Selling Stockholders for whom they are acting as counsel,
dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the
effect that:
(i) A Power of Attorney and a Custody Agreement have been duly
executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and constitute valid and
binding agreements of such Selling Stockholder in accordance with their
terms;
(ii) This Agreement and the International Underwriting Agreement have
been duly executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling
Stockholder; and the sale of the Shares or Warrants to be sold by such
Selling Stockholder hereunder and thereunder and the compliance by such
Selling Stockholder with all of the provisions of this Agreement and the
International Underwriting Agreement, the Power of Attorney and the Custody
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein and therein
contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of
any terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any statute,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or
instrument known to such counsel to which such Selling Stockholder is a
party or by which such Selling Stockholder is bound, or to which any of the
property or assets of such Selling Stockholder is subject, nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws of such Selling Stockholder if such Selling
Stockholder is a corporation, the Partnership Agreement of such Selling
Stockholder if such Selling Stockholder is a partnership, any other
constituent documents of such Selling Stockholder or any order, rule or
regulation known to such counsel of any court or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder or the property of
such Selling Stockholder;
(iii) No consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or
governmental agency or body is required for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the International
Underwriting Agreement in connection with the Shares or Warrants to be sold
by such Selling Stockholder hereunder or thereunder, except such as have
been obtained under the Act, registration of the Stock under the Exchange
Act and listing of the Shares on the Exchange;
(iv) Immediately prior to such Time of Delivery such Selling
Stockholder had good and valid title to the Shares to be sold at such Time
of Delivery by such Selling Stockholder under this Agreement and the
International Underwriting Agreement, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, equities or claims, and full right, power and authority to
sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder hereunder and thereunder;
(v) Immediately prior to such Time of Delivery such Selling
Stockholder had good and valid title to the Warrants to be sold at such
Time of Delivery by such Selling Stockholder under this Agreement and the
International Underwriting Agreement, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, equities and claims, and full right, power and authority to
sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Warrants to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder hereunder and thereunder; and
(vi) Good and valid title to the Shares referred to in (iv) above and
the Warrants referred to in (v) above, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, equities or claims, has been transferred to each of the
several Underwriters or International Underwriters, as the case may be.
-18-
In rendering the opinion in subparagraphs (iv), (v) and (vi) such counsel
may rely upon a certificate of such Selling Stockholder in respect of matters of
fact as to ownership of, and liens, encumbrances, equities or claims on the
Shares or Warrants sold by such Selling Stockholder, provided that such counsel
shall state that they believe that both you and they are justified in relying
upon such certificate;
(f) On the date of the Prospectus at a time prior to the execution of this
Agreement, at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent to the
date of this Agreement and prior to the last Time of Delivery, and also at each
Time of Delivery, Ernst & Young LLP shall have furnished to you a letter or
letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof, in form and substance
satisfactory to you, to the effect set forth in Annex I hereto (the executed
copy of the letter delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is
attached as Annex I(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 I(b) hereto);
(g)(i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements included in
the Prospectus any 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 (ii) since the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Prospectus there shall not have been any
change in the capital stock (other than changes resulting from the exercise of
options outstanding as of the date of this Agreement) or long-term debt of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving a
prospective 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, 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 Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Prospectus;
(h) On or after the date hereof (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in
the rating accorded the Company's or Essex's debt securities or Essex's bank
debt 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 or Essex's debt securities or Essex's bank debt;
(i) On or after the date hereof there shall not have occurred any of the
following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities
generally on the Exchange; (ii) a suspension or material limitation in trading
in the Company's securities on the Exchange or in trading in Essex's securities
on the Pacific Stock Exchange; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities 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 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 Shares being delivered at such Time of Delivery
on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;
-19-
(j) The Shares to be sold by the Company and the Selling Stockholders at
such Time of Delivery shall have been duly listed, subject to notice of
issuance, on the Exchange;
(k) The Company has obtained and delivered to the Underwriters executed
copies of an agreement from Bessemer Holdings, L.P., Bessemer Holdings Special
Situations, L.P., BGE Partners, L.P., BNE Partners, L.P., BTE Partners, L.P.,
BCE Partners, L.P., Bessec Holdings, L.P., Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxxx, Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx,
Xxxxx X. Xxxx and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx to the effect set forth in Subsection
1(b)(iv) hereof in form and substance satisfactory to you;
(l) The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished or
caused to be furnished to you at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers
of the Company and of the Selling Stockholders, respectively, satisfactory to
you as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Company and
the Selling Stockholders, respectively, herein at and as of such Time of
Delivery, as to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholders of
all of their respective obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to
such Time of Delivery, and as to such other matters as you may reasonably
request, and the Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished
certificates as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (g) of this
Section, and as to such other matters as you may reasonably request;
(m) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 6(c)
hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York Business
Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement;
(n) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 6(l)
with respect to the redemption of the Warrants to be sold at such Time of
Delivery for shares of Stock; and
(o) The Stock Split, the Reclassification and the amendment and
restatement of the Essex Revolving Credit Agreement as the Restated Credit
Agreement, each as described in the Prospectus, shall have been consummated as
described in the Prospectus; and the Termination, Amendment and Approval
Agreement, dated as of April 1, 1997, shall have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the parties thereto and shall have become effective.
9. (a) The Company and Essex, jointly and severally, 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, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, 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 and Essex 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, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any
such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through Xxxxxxx, Sachs &
Co. expressly for use therein.
-20-
(b) Each of the Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, 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, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, 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, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment
or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder expressly for use therein;
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 such
Selling Stockholder 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, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any
such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx &
Co. expressly for use therein.
(c) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each
Selling Stockholder against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
the Company or such Selling Stockholder 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, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, 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, the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Underwriter through Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein; and will
reimburse the Company and each Selling Stockholder for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or such Selling Stockholder in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such
expenses are incurred.
(d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a),
(b), or (c) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an 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, 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 satisfactory to such indemnified party (which shall not, except with the
consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party and, if
the Company or Essex is an indemnifying party, counsel to the Company or Essex),
and,
-21-
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.
(e) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 9 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a),
(b) or (c) 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, Essex and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and
the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Shares. 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 (d) 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, Essex and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the
Underwriters 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, Essex and the Selling Stockholders on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares purchased
under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company, Essex
and the Selling Stockholders bear to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions received by the Underwriters with respect to the Shares purchased
under this Agreement, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page
of the Prospectus. 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, Essex or the Selling Stockholders on the
one hand or the 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, Essex, each of the Selling Stockholders and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this subsection (e) 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 (e). 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 (e) 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 (e), 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 which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
-22-
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 Underwriters'
obligations in this subsection (e) to contribute are several in proportion to
their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(f) The obligations of the Company, Essex and the Selling Stockholders
under this Section 9 shall be in addition to any liability which the Company,
Essex and the respective Selling Stockholders may otherwise have, including,
without limitation, under the Registration Rights Agreement and the Management
Stockholders Agreement, 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 9 shall be in
addition to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have
and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and
director of the Company (including any person who, with his or her consent, is
named in the Registration Statement as about to become a director of the
Company) and to each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling
Stockholder within the meaning of the Act.
(g) Notwithstanding the other provisions of this Section 9, the liability
or required contribution of any Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Section 9
shall not exceed the sum of (i) the product of the number of Shares (excluding
any Shares of Stock underlying the Warrants) sold by such Selling Stockholder,
including any Optional Shares, and the initial public offering price of the
Shares as set forth in the Prospectus and (ii) the product of the number of
Warrants sold by such Selling Stockholder, including any Optional Warrants, to
the Underwriters and the purchase price per Warrant set forth in Section 2(b).
10. (a) The Company and Essex, jointly and severally, will indemnify and
hold harmless Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc., in its capacity as QIU, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which the QIU may become
subject, under the Act of 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, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, 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 the QIU for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the QIU
in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such
expenses are incurred.
(b) Promptly after receipt by the QIU under subsection (a) above of notice
of the commencement of any action, the QIU shall, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against the Company and Essex under such subsection, notify the
Company and Essex in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to
notify the Company and Essex shall not relieve them from any liability which
they may have to the QIU otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such
action shall be brought against the QIU and it shall notify the Company and
Essex of the commencement thereof, the Company and Essex shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that they shall wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with
counsel satisfactory to the QIU (who shall not, except with the consent of the
QIU, be counsel to the Company or Essex), and, after notice from the
indemnifying party to the QIU of its election so to assume the defense thereof,
the indemnifying party shall not be liable to the QIU under such subsection for
any legal expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case
subsequently incurred by the QIU, in connection with the defense thereof other
than reasonable costs
-23-
of investigation. Neither of the Company or Essex 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 QIU is an actual or potential party to such
action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the QIU 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 the QIU.
(c) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 10 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc., in its capacity as QIU,
under subsection (a) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, then the
Company and Essex shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the QIU 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 and Essex on the one hand and the QIU on the other from
the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the QIU
failed to give the notice required under subsection (b) above, then the Company
and Essex shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by the QIU in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of the Company and Essex on the one hand and the QIU 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 and Essex on the one hand and the QIU on the other shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company, as set forth in the table
on the cover page of the Prospectus, bear to the fee payable to the QIU pursuant
to Section 3 hereof. 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 and Essex on the one hand or the QIU on the
other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company,
Essex and the QIU agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this subsection (c) were determined by PRO RATA allocation or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above in this subsection (c). The amount paid or
payable by the QIU as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (c) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigation or defending any such action
or claim. 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.
(d) The obligations of the Company and Essex under this Section 10 shall
be in addition to any liability which the Company or Essex may otherwise have
and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any,
who controls the QIU within the meaning of the Act.
11. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Shares which it has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery, you
may in your discretion arrange for you or another party or other parties to
purchase such Shares on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours
after such default by any Underwriter you do not arrange for the purchase of
such Shares, then the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be entitled to
a further period of thirty-six
-24-
hours within which to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to you
to purchase such Shares on such terms. In the event that, within the respective
prescribed periods, you notify the Company and the Selling Stockholders that you
have so arranged for the purchase of such Shares, or the Company and the Selling
Stockholders notify you that they have so arranged for the purchase of such
Shares, you or the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have the right to
postpone such Time of Delivery 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, or in any other documents or
arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments to the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in your opinion 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 this Agreement with respect to such Shares.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company and
the Selling Stockholders as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate
number of such Shares which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of
the aggregate number of all of the Shares to be purchased at such Time of
Delivery, then the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have the right to
require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares which
such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such Time of Delivery and, in
addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata
share (based on the number of Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase
hereunder) of the Shares 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
Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by you and the Company and
the Selling Stockholders as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate
number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the
aggregate number of all of the Shares to be purchased at such Time of Delivery,
or if the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall not exercise the right
described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to
purchase Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement
(or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase and of the Company and the Selling Stockholders to sell
the Optional Shares) shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of
any non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company or the Selling Stockholders,
except for the expenses to be borne by the Company and the Selling Stockholders
and the Underwriters as provided in Section 7 hereof and the indemnity and
contribution agreements in Section 9 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
(d) For the purposes of clarity, all references in this Section 11 to the
Shares shall be deemed to refer to and include the shares of Stock underlying
any Warrants to be purchased.
12. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company, the Selling Stockholders 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 of the Selling Stockholders, or any officer
or director or controlling person of the Company, or any controlling person of
any Selling Stockholder, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the
Shares.
-25-
13. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof,
neither the Company nor the Selling Stockholders shall then be under any
liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 7 and 9 hereof; but,
if for any other reason any Shares or Warrants are not delivered by or on behalf
of the Company and the Selling Stockholders as provided herein, the Company will
reimburse the Underwriters through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved
in writing by you, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and
delivery of the Shares and Warrants not so delivered, but the Company and the
Selling Stockholders shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter
in respect of the Shares and Warrants not so delivered except as provided in
Sections 7 and 9 hereof.
14. In all dealings hereunder, you shall act on behalf of each of the
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 you jointly or by Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. on behalf of you as the
representatives; and in all dealings with any Selling Stockholder hereunder, you
and the Company shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of such Selling Stockholder made or given by any
or all of the Attorneys-in-Fact for such Selling Stockholder.
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 you as the representatives in care of Xxxxxxx, Sachs &
Co., 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Registration
Department; if to any Selling Stockholder shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to counsel for such Selling Stockholder at its
address set forth in Schedule II hereto; 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 9(d) 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 Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company
or the Selling Stockholders by you upon request. Any such statements, requests,
notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
15. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit
of, the Underwriters, the Company, Essex and the Selling Stockholders and, to
the extent provided in Sections 9 and 12 hereof, the officers and directors of
the Company and each person who controls the Company, any Selling Stockholder 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. No purchaser of any of the Shares from
any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such
purchase.
16. Time shall be of the essence of this 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.
17. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.
18. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties
hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same
instrument.
-26-
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us 7 counterparts hereof, and upon the acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof shall
constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters, the Company and
each of the Selling Stockholders. It is understood that your acceptance of this
letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is pursuant to the authority set
forth in a form of Agreement among Underwriters (U.S. Version), the form of
which shall be submitted to the Company and the Selling Stockholders for
examination upon request, but without warranty on your part as to the authority
of the signers thereof.
-27-
Any person executing and delivering this Agreement as Attorney-in-Fact for
a Selling Stockholder represents by so doing that he has been duly appointed as
Attorney-in-Fact by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to a validly existing and
binding Power of Attorney which authorizes such Attorney-in-Fact to take such
action.
Very truly yours,
Essex International Inc.
By:.................................
Name:
Title:
Essex Group, Inc.
By:.................................
Name:
Title:
[NAMES OF SELLING STOCKHOLDERS]
By:.................................
Name:
Title:
As Attorney-in-Fact acting on behalf of each of the
Selling Stockholders named in Schedule II to this
Agreement.
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation
Xxxxxx Brothers Inc.
By:..................................
(Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.)
On behalf of each of the Underwriters
-28-
SCHEDULE I
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF
OPTIONAL OPTIONAL
SHARES TO BE WARRANTS TO
TOTAL NUMBER TOTAL NUMBER PURCHASED IF BE PURCHASED
OF FIRM OF FIRM MAXIMUM IF MAXIMUM
SHARES TO BE WARRANTS TO OPTION OPTION
UNDERWRITER PURCHASED BE PURCHASED EXERCISED EXERCISED
Xxxxxxx, Sachs . . . . . . .
Xxxxx Xxxxxx . . . . . . . .
Xxxxxxxxx Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corpora. . . . .
Xxxxxx Brothers. . . . . . .
[Names of other Underwriters]
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
Total. . . . . . . . . .
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
------------ ------------ ------------ ------------
-29-
SCHEDULE II
NUMBER OF NUMBER OF
OPTIONAL OPTIONAL
SHARES TO BE WARRANTS TO
TOTAL NUMBER SOLD IF BE SOLD IF
TOTAL NUMBER OF FIRM MAXIMUM MAXIMUM
OF FIRM SHARES WARRANTS OPTION OPTION
TO BE SOLD TO BE SOLD EXERCISED EXERCISED
The Company. . . . . . . . . . .
The Selling Stockholder. . . . .
[Name of Selling Stockholder .
[Name of Selling Stockholder .
[Name of Selling Stockholder](c)
[Name of Selling Stockholder](d)
[Name of Selling Stockholder](e)
-------------- ------------ ------------ -----------
Total. . . . . . . . . . . .
-------------- ------------ ------------ -----------
-------------- ------------ ------------ -----------
(a) This Selling Stockholder is represented by [NAME AND ADDRESS OF
COUNSEL] and has appointed [NAMES OF ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT (NOT LESS THAN TWO)], and
each of them, as the Attorneys-in-Fact for such Selling Stockholder.
(b) This Selling Stockholder is represented by [NAME AND ADDRESS OF
COUNSEL] and has appointed [NAMES OF ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT (NOT LESS THAN TWO)], and
each of them, as the Attorneys-in-Fact for such Selling Stockholder.
(c) This Selling Stockholder is represented by [NAME AND ADDRESS OF
COUNSEL] and has appointed [NAMES OF ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT (NOT LESS THAN TWO)], and
each of them, as the Attorneys-in-Fact for such Selling Stockholder.
(d) This Selling Stockholder is represented by [NAME AND ADDRESS OF
COUNSEL] and has appointed [NAMES OF ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT (NOT LESS THAN TWO)], and
each of them, as the Attorneys-in-Fact for such Selling Stockholder.
(e) This Selling Stockholder is represented by [NAME AND ADDRESS OF
COUNSEL] and has appointed [NAMES OF ATTORNEYS-IN-FACT (NOT LESS THAN TWO)], and
each of them, as the Attorneys-in-Fact for such Selling Stockholder.
-30-
ANNEX I
Pursuant to Section 8(f) 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) audited by them and
included in the Prospectus or the Registration Statement comply as to form
in all material respect with the applicable accounting requirements of the
Act and the related published rules and regulation thereunder; and, if
applicable, they have made a review in accordance with standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of
the unaudited consolidated interim financial statements, selected financial
data, pro forma financial information, financial forecasts and/or condensed
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 furnished to the representatives
of the Underwriters (the "Representatives");
[(iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards
established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of
the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated
balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows, if any, included
in the Prospectus, as indicated in their reports thereon; 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 condensed consolidated financial statements referred to in
paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below, if any, comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 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, if any, do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
related published rules and regulations;]
(iv) The selected financial information 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 agrees
with the corresponding amounts (after restatements where applicable) in the
audited consolidated financial statements for such five fiscal years which
were included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Reports
on Form 10-K for such fiscal years;
(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 audit 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 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 consolidated statements of income, consolidated
balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows, if any, included
in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all material respects with
the applicable accounting requirements of the Act 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, if any, included
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 in the
Prospectus;
(C) the unaudited financial statements, if any, which were not
included in the Prospectus but from which were derived any 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 consolidated financial statements
included in the Prospectus;]
[(D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
statements included 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;]
(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 warrants,
options and stock appreciation rights which were outstanding on the date of
the latest financial statements included 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 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
-2-
(F) for the period from the date of the latest financial statements
included in the Prospectus to the specified date referred to in Clause (B)
there were any decreases in consolidated net revenues or income before
income taxes and extraordinary charges 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 decreases or increases which the Prospectus
discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such letter;
and
(vi) In addition to the examination referred to in their report(s)
included 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, or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules
to, the Registration Statement 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.
-3-
