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EXHIBIT 1.1
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
A Delaware corporation
5,000,000 Shares of Class A Common Stock
U.S. PURCHASE AGREEMENT
Dated: November [ ], 1997
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Table of Contents
Page
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties....................................................................4
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company........................................................4
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements.....................................................4
(ii) Independent Accountants......................................................................5
(iii) Financial Statements........................................................................5
(iv) No Material Adverse Change in Business.......................................................5
(v) Good Standing of the Company..................................................................6
(vi) Good Standing of Subsidiaries................................................................6
(vii) Capitalization..............................................................................6
(viii) Authorization of Agreement.................................................................7
(ix) Authorization and Description of Securities..................................................7
(x) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts.............................................................7
(xi) Absence of Labor Dispute.....................................................................8
(xii) Absence of Proceedings......................................................................8
(xiii) Accuracy of Exhibits.......................................................................8
(xiv) Possession of Intellectual Property.........................................................8
(xv) Absence of Further Requirements..............................................................8
(xvi) Possession of Licenses and Permits..........................................................9
(xvii) Title to Property..........................................................................9
(xviii) Investment Company Act....................................................................9
(xix) Environmental Laws.........................................................................10
(xx) Registration Rights.........................................................................10
(xxi) Income Taxes...............................................................................10
(xxii) Internal Controls.........................................................................11
(xxiii) Insurance................................................................................11
(xxiv) Offering Material.........................................................................11
(xxv) Suppliers..................................................................................11
(xxvi) Related Party Transactions................................................................11
(xxvii) Reorganization...........................................................................12
(xxviii) Pending Acquisitions....................................................................12
(xxix) Franchise Agreements......................................................................12
(xxx) Credit Agreement...........................................................................12
(b) Officer's Certificates..............................................................................12
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing......................................................13
(a) Initial Securities..................................................................................13
(b) Option Securities...................................................................................13
(c) Payment.............................................................................................13
(d) Denominations; Registration.........................................................................14
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(e) Appointment of Qualified Independent Underwriter....................................................14
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company.........................................................................14
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests......................................14
(b) Filing of Amendments................................................................................15
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements.................................................................15
(d) Delivery of Prospectus..............................................................................15
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws...........................................................16
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications.............................................................................16
(g) Rule 158............................................................................................16
(h) Use of Proceeds.....................................................................................17
(i) Listing.............................................................................................17
(j) Restriction on Sale of Securities...................................................................17
(k) Reporting Requirements..............................................................................17
(l) Compliance with NASD Rules..........................................................................17
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses..............................................................................18
(a) Expenses............................................................................................18
(b) Termination of Agreement............................................................................18
SECTION 5. Conditions of U.S. Underwriters' Obligations.....................................................19
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement.............................................................19
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company......................................................................19
(c) Opinion of Counsel for U.S. Underwriters............................................................19
(d) Officers' Certificate...............................................................................20
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter.........................................................................20
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter...........................................................................20
(g) Approval of Listing.................................................................................20
(h) No Objection........................................................................................20
(i) Lock-up Agreement...................................................................................21
(j) Acquisition Agreements..............................................................................21
(k) Reorganization......................................................................................21
(l) Manufacturers' Consents.............................................................................21
(m) Credit Agreement...................................................................................21
(n) Subscription Agreements............................................................................21
(o) Purchase of Initial International Securities........................................................21
(p) Additional Documents...............................................................................22
(q) Conditions to Purchase of U.S. Option Securities....................................................22
(r) Termination of Agreement............................................................................23
SECTION 6. Indemnification..................................................................................23
(a) Indemnification of U.S. Underwriters................................................................23
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers..................................................24
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification...............................................................24
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse..................................................25
(e) Indemnification for Reserved Securities.............................................................25
SECTION 7. Contribution.....................................................................................25
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SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery...................................27
SECTION 9. Termination Agreement............................................................................27
(a) Termination; General................................................................................27
(b) Liabilities.........................................................................................27
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the U.S. Underwriters.................................................27
SECTION 11. Notices.........................................................................................28
SECTION 12. Parties.........................................................................................28
SECTION 13 Governing Law and Time...........................................................................29
SECTION 14 Effect of Headings...............................................................................29
SCHEDULES
SCHEDULE A - LIST OF UNDERWRITERS.........................................................SCH A-1
SCHEDULE B - PRICING INFORMATION..........................................................SCH B-1
SCHEDULE C - LIST OF PERSONS SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP...........................................SCH C-1
EXHIBITS...............................................................................................A-1
EXHIBIT A - FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S COUNSEL.............................................A-1
EXHIBIT B - FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER............................................................B-1
EXHIBIT C - REORGANIZATION DOCUMENTS..........................................................C-1
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SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
A Delaware corporation
Shares of Class A Common Stock
Par Value $0.01 Per Share
U.S. PURCHASE AGREEMENT
November [ ], 1997
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, Inc.
Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
as U.S. Representatives of the several U.S. Underwriters
x/x Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xx.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
confirms its agreement with Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx &
Xxxxx Incorporated ("Xxxxxxx Xxxxx") and each of the other U.S. Underwriters
named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "U.S. Underwriters", which term
shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in
Section 10 hereof), for whom Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities,
Inc. and Wheat, First Securities, Inc. are acting as representatives (in such
capacity, the "U.S. Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by the
Company and the purchase by the U.S Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, of the respective numbers of shares of Class A Common Stock, par value
$0.01 per share, of the Company ("Common Stock") set forth in said Schedule A,
and with respect to the grant by the Company to the U.S. Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, of the option described in Section 2(b) hereof to
purchase all or any part of 600,000 additional shares of Common Stock to cover
over-allotments, if any. The aforesaid
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4,000,000 shares of Common Stock (the "Initial U.S. Securities") to be purchased
by the U.S. Underwriters and all or any part of the 600,000 shares of Common
Stock subject to the option described in Section 2(b) hereof (the "U.S. Option
Securities") are hereinafter called, collectively, the "U.S. Securities".
It is understood that the Company is concurrently entering into an
agreement dated the date hereof (the "International Purchase Agreement")
providing for the offering by the Company of an aggregate of 1,000,000 shares of
Common Stock (the "Initial International Securities") through arrangements with
certain underwriters outside the United States and Canada (the "International
Managers") for which Xxxxxxx Xxxxx International, NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx
Securities, Inc. and Wheat, First Securities, Inc. are acting as lead managers
(the "Lead Managers") and the grant by the Company to the International
Managers, acting severally and not jointly, of an option to purchase all or any
part of the International Managers' pro rata portion of up to 150,000 additional
shares of Common Stock solely to cover overallotments, if any (the
"International Option Securities" and, together with the U.S. Option Securities,
the "Option Securities"). The Initial International Securities and the
International Option Securities are hereinafter called the "International
Securities". It is understood that the Company is not obligated to sell and the
U.S. Underwriters are not obligated to purchase, any Initial U.S. Securities
unless all of the Initial International Securities are contemporaneously
purchased by the International Managers.
The U.S. Underwriters and the International Managers are hereinafter
collectively called the "Underwriters", the Initial U.S. Securities and the
Initial International Securities are hereinafter collectively called the
"Initial Securities", and the U.S. Securities, and the International Securities
are hereinafter collectively called the "Securities".
The Underwriters will concurrently enter into an Intersyndicate
Agreement of even date herewith (the "Intersyndicate Agreement") providing for
the coordination of certain transactions among the Underwriters under the
direction of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated (in such capacity, the "Global Coordinator").
The Company understands that the U.S. Underwriters propose to make a
public offering of the U.S. Securities as soon as the U.S. Representatives deem
advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered.
The Company and the U.S. Underwriters agree that up to [ ] shares of
the Initial U.S. Securities to be purchased by the U.S. Underwriters (the
"Reserved Securities") shall be reserved for sale by the Underwriters to certain
eligible employees and persons having business relationships with the Company,
as part of the distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters, subject to
the terms of this Agreement, the applicable rules, regulations and
interpretations of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and all
other applicable laws, rules and regulations. To the extent that such Reserved
Securities are not orally confirmed for purchase by such eligible employees and
persons having business relationships with the Company by the end of the first
business day after the date of this Agreement, such Reserved Securities may be
offered to the public as part of the public offering contemplated hereby.
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The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-33295) covering the
registration of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the
"1933 Act"), including the related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses.
Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will either
(i) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A
("Rule 430A") of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act
(the "1933 Act Regulations") and paragraph (b) of Rule 424 ("Rule 424(b)") of
the 1933 Act Regulations or (ii) if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule
434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933 Act Regulations, prepare and file a term sheet (a
"Term Sheet") in accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 424(b). Two
forms of prospectus are to be used in connection with the offering and sale of
the Securities: one relating to the U.S. Securities (the "Form of U.S.
Prospectus") and one relating to the International Securities (the "Form of
International Prospectus"). The Form of U.S. Prospectus is identical to the Form
of International Prospectus, except for their respective front cover pages,
first page of "Prospectus Summary," "Underwriting" sections and back cover
pages. The information included in any such prospectus or in any such Term
Sheet, as the case may be, that was omitted from such registration statement at
the time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration
statement at the time it became effective (a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule
430A is referred to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d)
of Rule 434 is referred to as "Rule 434 Information." Each Prospectus used
before such registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that
omitted, as applicable, the Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information,
that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, is herein called a "preliminary prospectus." Such
registration statement, including the exhibits thereto and schedules thereto at
the time it became effective and including the Rule 430A Information and the
Rule 434 Information, as applicable, is herein called the "Registration
Statement." Any registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933
Act Regulations is herein referred to as the "Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement," and after such filing the term "Registration Statement" shall
include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. The final Form of U.S.
Prospectus and the Final Form of International Prospectus in the form first
furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the
Securities are herein called the "U.S. Prospectus" and the "International
Prospectus," respectively, and collectively, the "Prospectuses." If Rule 434 is
relied on, the term "U.S. Prospectus" and "International Prospectus" shall refer
to the preliminary U.S. Prospectus dated October 17, 1997 and preliminary
International Prospectus dated October 17, 1997, respectively, each together
with the applicable Term Sheet and all references in this Agreement to the date
of the Prospectuses shall mean the date of the applicable Term Sheet. For
purposes of this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus, the U.S. Prospectus, the International Prospectus or any
Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be
deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("XXXXX").
SECTION 1. Representations and Warranties.
(a) Representations and Warranties by the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to each U.S. Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of
the Closing Time referred to in
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Section 2(c) hereof, and as of each Date of Delivery (if any) referred to in
Section 2(b), hereof and agrees with each U.S. Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Compliance with Registration Requirements. Each of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and
any request on the part of the Commission for additional information
has been complied with.
At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto
became effective and at the Closing Time (and, if any U.S. Option
Securities are purchased, at the Date of Delivery), the Registration
Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments
and supplements thereto complied and will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
the Prospectuses, any preliminary prospectuses and any supplement
thereto or prospectus wrapper prepared in connection therewith, at
their respective times of issuance and at the Closing Time, complied
and will comply in all material respects with any applicable laws or
regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Prospectuses and such
preliminary prospectuses, as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
are distributed in connection with the offer and sale of Reserved
Securities. Neither the Prospectuses nor any amendments or supplements
thereto (including any prospectus wrapper), at the time the
Prospectuses or any amendments or supplements thereto were issued and
at the Closing Time (and, if any U.S. Option Securities are purchased,
at the Date of Delivery), included or will include an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If Rule 434
is used, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule 434 and
the Prospectuses shall not be "materially different", as such term is
used in Rule 434, from the prospectuses included in the Registration
Statement at the time it became effective. The representations and
warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Registration Statement or the U.S. Prospectus made
in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company in writing by any U.S. Underwriter through the U.S.
Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the
U.S. Prospectus.
Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectuses filed as part
of the Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any
amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act,
complied when so filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act
Regulations and each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectuses
delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering
was identical to the
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electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Independent Accountants. The accountants who certified
the financial statements and supporting schedules included in the
Registration Statement are independent public accountants as required
by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.
(iii) Financial Statements. The financial statements included
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectuses, together with the
related schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated
and the statement of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods
specified; said financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles ("GAAP") applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The supporting
schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in
accordance with GAAP the information required to be stated therein. The
selected financial data and the summary financial information included
in the Prospectuses present fairly the information shown therein and
have been compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited
financial statements included in the Registration Statement. The pro
forma financial statements and the related notes thereto included in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectuses present fairly the
information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the
Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial
statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described
therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are
reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give
effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.
(iv) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectuses, except as otherwise stated therein, (A)
there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or
not arising in the ordinary course of business (a "Material Adverse
Effect"), (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary
course of business, which are material with respect to the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) there has been
no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
Company on any class of its capital stock.
(v) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the State of Delaware and has corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectuses or as proposed to be
conducted and to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation
to transact business and is in good
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standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or
the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to
be in good standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(vi) Good Standing of Subsidiaries. All of the subsidiaries of
the Company (each a "Subsidiary") have been duly organized and are
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectuses and is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by
reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good
standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as
otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly
authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is
owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear
of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or
equity; none of the outstanding shares of capital stock of any
Subsidiary was issued in violation of the preemptive or similar rights
of any securityholder of such Subsidiary. The only subsidiaries of the
Company are the subsidiaries listed on Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration
Statement.
(vii) Capitalization. The authorized, issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectuses in the
column entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to
reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the
Prospectuses or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or
options referred to in the Prospectuses). The shares of issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; none of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in
violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any
securityholder of the Company.
(viii) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement and the
International Purchase Agreement have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company.
(ix) Authorization and Description of Securities. The
Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the
Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the
consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable; the Common Stock conforms to all statements relating
thereto contained in the Prospectus and such description conforms to
the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same; no holder of
the Securities will be subject to personal liability by reason of being
such a holder; and the issuance of the Securities is not subject to the
preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the
Company.
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(x) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or in
default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement,
covenant or condition contained in any contract, franchise agreement,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note,
lease or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound,
or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any
subsidiary is subject (collectively, "Agreements and Instruments")
except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
and the International Purchase Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in this Agreement, and the International
Purchase Agreement and in the Registration Statement (including the
issuance and sale of the Securities and the use of the proceeds from
the sale of the Securities as described in the Prospectuses under the
caption "Use of Proceeds", the reorganization as described in the
Prospectuses (the "Reorganization"), entering into the Bank Credit
Agreement and consummating the Acquisitions) and compliance by the
Company with its obligations under this Agreement and the International
Purchase Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action and do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of
notice or passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach
of, or default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result
in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon
any property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary pursuant to,
the Agreements and Instruments, nor will such action result in any
violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or
any subsidiary or any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation,
judgment, order, writ or decree of any government, government
instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
the Company or any subsidiary or any of their assets, properties or
operations. As used herein, a "Repayment Event" means any event or
condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other
evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's behalf)
the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or
a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any subsidiary.
(xi) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the
employees of the Company or any subsidiary exists or, to the knowledge
of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not aware of any
existing or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its
or any subsidiary's principal suppliers, manufacturers, customers or
contractors, which, in any case, may reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xii) Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to
the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against or affecting the
Company or any subsidiary, which is required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which
might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect
the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the
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transactions contemplated in this Agreement and the International
Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder or thereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal or
governmental proceedings to which the Company or any subsidiary is a
party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the
subject which are not described in the Registration Statement,
including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, could
not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xiii) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or
documents which are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectuses or to be filed as exhibits thereto which
have not been so described and filed as required.
(xiv) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its
subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms,
adequate patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights,
know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or
unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or
procedures), trademarks, service marks, trade names or other
intellectual property (collectively, "Intellectual Property") necessary
to carry on the business now operated by them, and neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice or is otherwise
aware of any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others
with respect to any Intellectual Property or of any facts or
circumstances which would render any Intellectual Property invalid or
inadequate to protect the interest of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or conflict (if the
subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or invalidity
or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(xv) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with,
or authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or
agency is necessary or required for the performance by the Company of
its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or
sale of the Securities under this Agreement and the International
Purchase Agreement or the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and the International Purchase Agreement, except (i)
such as have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933
Act or the 1933 Act Regulations and foreign or state securities or blue
sky laws and (ii) such as have been obtained under the laws and
regulations of jurisdictions outside the United States in which the
Reserved Securities are offered.
(xvi) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its
subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses, approvals, consents and
other authorizations (collectively, "Governmental Licenses") issued by
the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or
bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them; the
Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms and
conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure
so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full
force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental
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Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full
force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither
the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
Governmental Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject
of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(xvii) Title to Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have
good and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and
its subsidiaries and good title to all other properties owned by them,
in each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security
interests, claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such
as (a) are described in the Prospectuses or (b) do not, singly or in
the aggregate, 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 or any of its subsidiaries; and all of the leases and
subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries,
considered as one enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries holds properties described in the Prospectuses, are in
full force and effect, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has
any notice of any material claim of any sort that has been asserted by
anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any subsidiary under any
of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning
the rights of the Company or such subsidiary to the continued
possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or
sublease.
(xviii) Investment Company Act.. The Company is not, and upon
the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and the
application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the
Prospectuses 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 "1940 Act").
(xix) Environmental Laws. Except as described in the
Registration Statement and except as would not, singly or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state,
local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code,
policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative
interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order,
consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of
human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient
air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or
wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating
to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum
or petroleum products (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") or to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage,
disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively,
"Environmental Laws"), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all
permits, authorizations and approvals required under any applicable
Environmental Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements,
(C) there are no pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or
judicial actions, suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens,
notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or
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proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or
any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or circumstances
that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an order for
clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any
private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the
Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or
any Environmental Laws.
(xx) Registration Rights. There are no persons with
registration rights or other similar rights to have any securities
registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or otherwise
registered by the Company under the 1933 Act.
(xxi) Income Taxes. All United States federal income tax
returns of the Company and its subsidiaries required by law to be filed
have been filed (taking into account extensions granted by the
applicable federal governmental agency) and all taxes shown by such
returns or otherwise assessed, which are due and payable, have been
paid, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested in good
faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. All other
corporate franchise and income tax returns of the Company and its
subsidiaries required to be filed pursuant to applicable foreign, state
or local law have been filed, except insofar as the failure to file
such returns would not individually or in the aggregate have in a
material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered together as one enterprise, and all taxes
shown on such returns or otherwise assessed which are due and payable
have been paid, except for such taxes, if any, as are being contested
in good faith and as to which adequate reserves have been provided. The
charges, accruals and reserves on the books of the Company in respect
of any income and corporation tax liability for any years not finally
determined are adequate to meet any assessments or re-assessments for
additional income tax for any years not finally determined, except to
the extent of any inadequacy that would not have a material adverse
effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business
affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries,
considered together as one enterprise.
(xxii) Internal Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries
maintain (and in the future will maintain) a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that
(A) transactions are executed in accordance with management's general
or specific authorization; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP
and to maintain accountability for assets; (C) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(xxiii) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries carry or
are entitled to the benefits of insurance, with financially sound and
reputable insurers, in such amounts and
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covering such risks as is generally maintained by companies of
established repute engaged in the same or similar business, and all
such insurance is in full force and effect.
(xxiv) Offering Material. The Company has not distributed and,
prior to the later to occur of (i) the Closing Time and (ii) completion
of the distribution of the Securities, will not distribute any offering
material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities
other than the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectuses,
the Prospectuses or other materials, if any, permitted by the 1933 Act
and approved by the Representative(s).
(xxv) Suppliers. No supplier of merchandise to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries has ceased shipments of merchandise to the
Company, other than in the normal and ordinary course of business
consistent with past practices, which cessation would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
(xxvi) Related Party Transactions. There are no business
relationships or related party transactions of the nature described in
Item 404 of Regulation S-K involving the Company or any of businesses
being acquired pursuant to the Acquisitions (as defined in the
Prospectuses) and any person described in such Item that are required
to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and which have not been
so disclosed.
(xxvii) Reorganization. The representations and warranties of
the Company contained in the Reorganization documents (the
"Reorganization Agreements") as set forth in Exhibit C hereto are true
and correct as of the date hereof and the Reorganization Agreements are
enforceable against the Company. All of the transactions contemplated
by such agreements have been consummated in accordance with the terms
as described therein (and as described in the Prospectuses) and none of
such agreements have been amended or modified since the date of their
execution.
(xxviii) Pending Acquisitions. Each of the agreements (collectively,
the "Acquisition Agreements") governing the Acquisitions that are
contemplated to occur on or before the Closing Date has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by each of the parties, and
constitutes a legally valid and binding obligation of the Company and
to the Company's knowledge is enforceable against each such party
thereto in accordance with its terms; except as described in the
Prospectuses, each of the representations and warranties of the Company
and its subsidiaries and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, of
each of the other parties set forth in the Acquisition Agreements was
true and correct at the time such representations and warranties were
made and will be true and correct at and as of the Closing Date and the
Company has received manufacturers consents to all of the Acquisitions.
(xxix) Franchise Agreements. Each franchise agreement, in each case
between a Subsidiary and the applicable Manufacturer (as defined in the
Prospectuses) has been duly authorized by the Company and such
Subsidiaries, and, as of the Closing Date, the Company shall have
obtained all consents, authorizations and approvals from the
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Manufacturers required to conduct the Acquisitions and the public
offering of Common Stock as contemplated hereby except for Jaguar and
Kia.
(xxx) Credit Agreement. The Company has all necessary corporate
power and authority to execute, deliver and perform its obligations
under the New Credit Agreement, between the Company and Ford Motor
Credit Company (the "New Credit Agreement") and the credit agreement
between the Company and NationsBank N.A. (the "NationsBank Credit
Agreement"); the New Credit Agreement and the NationsBank Credit
Agreement have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company, are in the forms heretofore delivered to you, constitute valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company
in accordance with its terms; and at the Closing Date, the Company
shall be able to make borrowings thereunder.
(b) Officer's Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries delivered to the Global Coordinator, the
U.S. Representatives, or to counsel for the U.S. Underwriters shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to each U.S. Underwriter as to the
matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
(a) Initial Securities. On the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company agrees to sell to each U.S. Underwriter, severally and not
jointly, and each U.S. Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to
purchase from the Company, at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, the
number of Initial U.S. Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of
such U.S. Underwriter, plus any additional number of Initial U.S. Securities
which such U.S. Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to the
provisions of Section 10 hereof.
(b) Option Securities. In addition, on the basis of the representations
and warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein
set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the U.S. Underwriters,
severally and not jointly, to purchase up to an additional 600,000 shares of
Common Stock at the price per share set forth in Schedule B, less an amount per
share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and
payable on the Initial U.S. Securities but not payable on the U.S. Option
Securities. The option hereby granted will expire 30 days after the date hereof
and may be exercised in whole or in part from time to time only for the purpose
of covering over-allotments which may be made in connection with the offering
and distribution of the Initial U.S. Securities upon notice by the Global
Coordinator to the Company setting forth the number of U.S. Option Securities as
to which the several U.S. Underwriters are then exercising the option and the
time and date of payment and delivery for such U.S. Option Securities. Any such
time and date of delivery for the Option Securities (a "Date of Delivery") shall
be determined by the Global Coordinator, but shall not be later than seven full
business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the
Closing Time, as hereinafter defined. If the option is exercised as to all or
any portion of the U.S. Option Securities, each of the U.S. Underwriters, acting
severally and not jointly, will purchase that proportion of the total number of
U.S. Option Securities then being purchased
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which the number of Initial U.S. Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the
name of such U.S. Underwriter bears to the total number of Initial U.S.
Securities, subject in each case to such adjustments as the Global Coordinator
in their discretion shall make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional
shares.
(c) Payment Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Initial Securities shall be made at the offices of Fried,
Frank, Harris, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, or at
such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Global Coordinator and the
Company, at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing occurs
after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day business day after the date
hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10), or
such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be
agreed upon by the Global Coordinator and the Company (such time and date of
payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").
In addition, in the event that any or all of the U.S. Option Securities
are purchased by the U.S. Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and
delivery of certificates for, such U.S. Option Securities shall be made at the
above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the
Global Coordinator and the Company, on each Date of Delivery as specified in the
notice from the Global Coordinator to the Company.
Payment shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to
the U.S. Representatives for the respective accounts of the U.S. Underwriters of
certificates for the U.S. Securities to be purchased by them. It is understood
that each U.S. Underwriter has authorized the U.S. Representatives, for its
account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase
price for, the Initial U.S. Securities and the U.S. Option Securities, if any,
which it has agreed to purchase. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, individually and not as
representative of the U.S. Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to)
make payment of the purchase price for the Initial U.S. Securities or the U.S.
Option Securities, if any, to be purchased by any U.S. Underwriter whose funds
have not been received by the Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as
the case may be, but such payment shall not relieve such U.S.
Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(d) Denominations; Registration. Certificates for the Initial U.S.
Securities and the U.S. Option Securities, if any, shall be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the U.S. Representatives may
request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time or the
relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be. The certificates for the Initial
U.S. Securities and the U.S. Option Securities, if any, will be made available
for examination and packaging by the U.S. Representatives in The City of New
York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior to the
Closing Time or the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be.
(e) Appointment of Qualified Independent Underwriter. The Company
hereby confirms its engagement of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx as, and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx hereby
confirms its agreement with the Company to render services as, a "qualified
independent underwriter" within the
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meaning of Rule 2720 of the Conduct Rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. with respect to the offering and sale of the U.S.
Securities. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, solely in its capacity as qualified independent
underwriter and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the "Independent
Underwriter."
SECTION 3. Covenants of the Company. The Company covenants with each
U.S. Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission
Requests. The Company, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the
requirements of Rule 430A or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify
the Global Coordinator immediately, and confirm the notice in writing,
(i) when any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement
shall become effective, or any supplement to the Prospectuses or any
amended Prospectuses shall have been filed, (ii) of the receipt of any
comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission
for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectuses or for additional information, and (iv)
of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing
or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, or of the
suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale
in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any
proceedings for any of such purposes. The Company will promptly effect
the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424(b) and will take such steps
as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of
prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for
filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will
promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable
effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order
is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible
moment.
(b) Filing of Amendments. The Company will give the Global
Coordinator notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment to
the Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)),
any Term Sheet or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the
prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it became
effective or to the Prospectuses, will furnish the Global Coordinator
with copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to
such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file or
use any such document to which the Global Coordinator or counsel for
the U.S. Underwriters shall object.
(c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has
furnished or will deliver to the U.S. Representatives and counsel for
the U.S. Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the
Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by
reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates
of experts, and will also deliver to the U.S. Representatives, without
charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as originally
filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the
U.S. Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto
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furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX,
except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company has delivered to
each U.S. Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each
preliminary prospectus as such U.S. Underwriter reasonably requested,
and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes
permitted by the 1933 Act. The Company will furnish to each U.S.
Underwriter, without charge, during the period when the U.S. Prospectus
is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), such number of copies of the
U.S. Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as such U.S. Underwriter
may reasonably request. The U.S. Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto furnished to the U.S. Underwriters will be
identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with
the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation S-T.
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company
will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations so as to
permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as
contemplated in this Agreement, the International Purchase Agreement
and in the Prospectuses. If at any time when a prospectus is required
by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales of the
Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as a result
of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the U.S.
Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or
amend or supplement any Prospectus in order that the Prospectuses will
not include any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is
delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion
of such counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement
or amend or supplement any Prospectus in order to comply with the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company
will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section
3(b), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such
statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the
Prospectuses comply with such requirements, and the Company will
furnish to the U.S. Underwriters such number of copies of such
amendment or supplement as the U.S.
Underwriters may reasonably request.
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will use its best
efforts, in cooperation with the U.S. Underwriters, to qualify the
Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws
of such states and other jurisdictions as the Global Coordinator may
designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of
not less than one year from the later of the effective date of the
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement;
provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any
general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which
it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of
doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is
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not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the Securities
have been so qualified, the Company will file such statements and
reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue
such qualification in effect for a period of not less than one year
from the effective date of the Registration Statement and any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement.
(g) Rule 158. The Company will timely file such reports
pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make generally
available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings
statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated
by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds
received by it from the sale of the Securities in the manner specified
in the Prospectuses under "Use of Proceeds".
(i) Listing. The Company will use its best efforts to effect
the listing of the Common Stock (including the Securities) on the New
York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE").
(j) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 180
days from the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not, without the
prior written consent of the Global Coordinator, (i) directly or
indirectly, offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant
any option, right or warrant to purchase or otherwise transfer or
dispose of any share of Common Stock or any securities convertible into
or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or file any
registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the
foregoing or (ii) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any
transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or
indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock,
whether any such swap or transaction described in clause (i) or (ii)
above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not
apply to the Securities to be sold hereunder or under the International
Purchase Agreement; provided that the Company may sell shares of Class
A Common Stock to a third party as consideration for the Company's
acquisition from such third party of a car dealership, provided that
such third party executes a lock-up agreement on substantially the same
terms described above for a period expiring 180 days after the date of
the Prospectuses.
(k) Reporting Requirements. The Company, during the period
when the Prospectus are required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or
the 1934 Act, will file all documents required to be filed with the
Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by
the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
(l) Compliance with NASD Rules. The Company hereby agrees that
it will ensure that the Reserved Securities will be restricted as
required by the National
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Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or the NASD rules
from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period
of three months following the date of this Agreement. The Underwriters
will notify the Company as to which persons will need to be so
restricted. At the request of the Underwriters, the Company will direct
the transfer agent to place a stop transfer restriction upon such
securities for such period of time. Should the Company release, or seek
to release, from such restrictions any of the Reserved Securities, the
Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for any reasonable
expenses (including, without limitation, legal expenses) they incur in
connection with such release.
SECTION 4. Payment of Expenses. (a) Expenses. The Company will pay all
expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement,
including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement
(including financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each
amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of this Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other
documents as may be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale,
issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and
delivery of the certificates for the Securities to the Underwriters, including
any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties payable upon the
sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters and the
transfer of securities between the U.S. Underwriters and the International
Managers, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel, accountants
and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Securities under securities
laws in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing
fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters
in connection therewith and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky
Survey and any supplement thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of
the Prospectuses and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky
Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii) the fees and expenses of any transfer
agent or registrar for the Securities and (ix) the filing fees incident to, and
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in
connection with, the review by the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD") of the terms of the sale of the Securities and (x) the fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Securities on the
NYSE and all costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, in connection with matters
related to the Reserved Securities which are designated by the Company for sale
to employees and others having a business relationship with the Company. In
addition, the Company will pay all expenses above $90,000 incurred in connection
with the lodging, meals and travel costs incurred by or on behalf of Company
officers and the Underwriters in connection with the road show presentations to
prospective purchasers of the Securities. The Underwriters will pay the first
$90,000 of such expenses.
(b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
U.S. Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section
9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the U.S. Underwriters for all of
their out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the U.S. Underwriters.
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SECTION 5. Conditions of U.S. Underwriters' Obligations. The
obligations of the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of
the representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof
or in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary of the
Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following
further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration
Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued
under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by
the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for
additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable
satisfaction of counsel to the U.S. Underwriters. A prospectus
containing the Rule 430A Information shall have been filed with the
Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post-effective
amendment providing such information shall have been filed and declared
effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A) or, if the
Company has elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have been
filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).
(b) Opinion of Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the U.S.
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
Closing Time, of Parker, Poe, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the
Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the U.S.
Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
for each of the other U.S. Underwriters to the effect set forth in
Exhibit A hereto and to such further effect as counsel to the U.S.
Underwriters may reasonably request.
In addition, at Closing Time, the U.S. Representatives shall
have received a signed copy of the opinions rendered by Parker, Poe,
Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP pursuant to the New Credit Agreement, the
NationsBank Credit Agreement and the Acquisition Agreements,
accompanied by a letter dated as of the date of such opinions stating
that the Underwriters may rely on such opinions as if they were
addressed to the Underwriters.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for U.S. Underwriters. At Closing Time,
the U.S. Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion,
dated as of Closing Time, of Fried, Frank, Harris, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx,
counsel for the U.S. Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced
copies of such letter for each of the other U.S. Underwriters with
respect to the matters set forth in clauses (i), (ii), (v), (vi)
(solely as to preemptive or other similar rights arising by operation
of law or under the charter or by-laws of the Company), (viii) through
(x), inclusive, (xii), (xiv) (solely as to the information in the
Prospectus under "Description of Capital Stock--Common Stock") and the
penultimate paragraph of Exhibit A hereto. In giving such opinion such
counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of
jurisdictions other than the law of the State of New York and the
federal law of the United States and the General Corporation Law of the
State of
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Delaware, upon the opinions of counsel satisfactory to the U.S.
Representatives which may include counsel to the Company. Such counsel
may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters,
they have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of
officers of the Company and its subsidiaries and certificates of public
officials.
(d) Officers' Certificate. At Closing Time, there shall not
have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in
the ordinary course of business, and the U.S. Representatives shall
have received a certificate of the President of the Company and of the
chief financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of
Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been no such material
adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in Section 1(a)
hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the Company has
complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part
to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or are contemplated by the Commission.
(e) Accountant's Comfort Letter. At the time of the execution
of this Agreement, the U.S. Representatives shall have received from
Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter dated such date, in form and substance
satisfactory to the U.S. Representatives, together with signed or
reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other U.S.
Underwriters containing statements and information of the type
ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters
with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectuses.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At Closing Time, the
Representatives shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP a
letter, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the
statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of
this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall be a
date not more than three business days prior to Closing Time.
(g) Approval of Listing. At Closing Time, the Securities shall
have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official
notice of issuance.
(h) No Objection. The NASD has confirmed that it has not
raised any objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of
the underwriting terms and arrangements.
-19-
(i) Lock-up Agreements. At the date of this Agreement, the
U.S. Representatives shall have received an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit B hereto signed by the persons listed on Schedule C
hereto.
(j) Acquisition Agreements. The acquisitions contemplated by
the Acquisition Agreements shall have been consummated in accordance
with the terms described therein and there have been no amendments or
modifications to the Acquisition Agreements since the date of their
execution without the consent of the U.S. Representatives and no
conditions to the Acquisitions shall have been waived without the
consent of the U.S. Representatives.
(k) Reorganization. The Reorganization (as described in the
Prospectuses) shall have been consummated in accordance with the terms
as described therein and in the Reorganization Documents and there have
been no amendments or modifications to the Reorganization Documents
since the date of their execution.
(l) Manufacturers' Consents. The U.S. Representatives shall
have received on or as of the Closing Date, as the case may be, a
certificate, in a form and substance satisfactory to the U.S.
Representative, of two executive officers of the Company certifying
that each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns, possesses or has
obtained all required consents and approvals from all Manufacturers
with respect to the Acquisitions and the public offering of Common
Stock hereunder and such consents and approvals shall be in a form
satisfactory to the U.S. Representatives other than Jaguar and Kia.
(m) Credit Agreement. The New Credit Agreement and the
NationsBank Credit Agreement shall have been entered into at or prior
to Closing Time. The Company has obtained or assumed floor plan
financing for each of the dealerships acquired in the Acquisitions in
form and substance satisfactory to the U.S. Representatives and in
accordance with the pro forma presentation in the Prospectuses.
(n) Subscription Agreements. The subscription agreements and
related promissory notes relating to the sale of a 20% interest in the
Company's Xxxx Volvo and Volvo of Chattanooga dealerships to Xxxxxxx
Xxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, respectively, are substantially in the form
provided and there have been no amendments or modifications to such
agreements and related notes since the date of their execution.
(o) Purchase of Initial International Securities.
Contemporaneously with the purchase by the U.S. Underwriters of the
Initial U.S. Securities under this Agreement, the International
Managers shall have purchased the Initial International Securities
under the International Purchase Agreement.
(p) Additional Documents. At Closing Time and at each Date of
Delivery, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with
such documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as
herein contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of
-20-
the representations or warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the
conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company
in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein
contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the U.S.
Representatives and counsel for the U.S. Underwriters.
(q) Conditions to Purchase of U.S. Option Securities. In the
event that the U.S. Underwriters exercise their option provided in
Section 2(b) hereof to purchase all or any portion of the U.S. Option
Securities, the representations and warranties of the Company contained
herein and the statements in any certificates furnished by the Company
or any subsidiary of the Company hereunder shall be true and correct as
of each Date of Delivery and, at the relevant Date of Delivery, the
U.S. Representatives shall have received:
(i) Officers' Certificate. A certificate, dated such Date
of Delivery, of the President or a Vice President of
the Company and of the chief financial or chief
accounting officer of the Company confirming that the
certificate delivered at the Closing Time pursuant to
Section 5(d) hereof remains true and correct as of
such Date of Delivery.
(ii) Opinion of Counsel for Company. The favorable opinion
of Parker, Poe, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP, counsel for
the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to
counsel for the Underwriters, dated such Date of
Delivery, relating to the Option Securities to be
purchased on such Date of Delivery and otherwise to
the same effect as the opinion required by Section
5(b) hereof.
(iii) Opinion of Counsel for U.S. Underwriters. The
favorable opinion of Fried, Frank, Harris, Xxxxxxx &
Xxxxxxxx, counsel for the U.S. Underwriters, dated
such Date of Delivery, relating to the U.S. Option
Securities to be purchased on such Date of Delivery
and otherwise to the same effect as the opinion
required by Section 5(c) hereof.
(iv) Bring-down Comfort Letter. A letter from Deloitte &
Touche LLP, in form and substance satisfactory to the
U.S. Representatives and dated such Date of Delivery,
substantially in the same form and substance as the
letter furnished to the U.S. Representatives pursuant
to Section 5(f) hereof, except that the "specified
date" in the letter furnished pursuant to this
paragraph shall be a date not more than five days
prior to such Date of Delivery.
(r) Termination of Agreement. If any condition specified in
this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be
fulfilled, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the
purchase of U.S. Option Securities on a Date of Delivery which is after
the Closing Time, the obligations of the several U.S. Underwriters to
purchase the relevant Option Securities, may be terminated by the U.S.
Representatives
-21-
by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to Closing Time or
such Date of Delivery, as the case may be, and such termination shall
be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided
in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any
such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 6. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of U.S. Underwriters. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each U.S. Underwriter and each person, if any, who
controls any U.S. Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
or Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:
(i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule
430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact included in any preliminary prospectus or
the Prospectuses (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading;
(ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount
paid in settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened,
or of any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or
omission provided that (subject to Section 6(d) below) any such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company; and
(iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred
(including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission, to the extent that any such
expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
U.S. Underwriter through the U.S. Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A
Information and the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any preliminary
prospectus or the U.S. Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
-22-
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each U.S.
Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its
directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a)
of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and
the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any preliminary U.S. prospectus or
the U.S. Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such U.S.
Underwriter through the U.S. Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus
or the U.S. Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
(c) Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of
any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such
indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement. In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, and, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the
indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided,
however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the
consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In
no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more
than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own
counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or
separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations or circumstances. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which
indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section
7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties
thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include
a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by
or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse. If at any time
an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by
Section 6(a) (ii) or (iii) effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying
party of the
-23-
aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of
the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being
entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such
indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement.
(e) Indemnification for Reserved Securities. In connection with the
offer and sale of the Reserved Securities, the Company agrees, promptly upon a
request, in writing to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters from and
against any and all losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred
by them as a result of the failure of eligible directors, officers, employees,
business associates and related persons of the Company to pay for and accept
delivery of Reserved Securities which, by the end of the first business day
following the date of this Agreement, were subject to a properly confirmed
agreement to purchase.
SECTION 7. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section
6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand and the U.S. Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
U.S. Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the U.S.
Securities pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the U.S.
Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and the total underwriting discount received by the U.S.
Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the cover of the U.S. Prospectus, or,
if Rule 434 is used, the corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the
aggregate initial public offering price of the U.S. Securities as set forth on
such cover.
The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the U.S.
Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by the U.S. Underwriters and the parties' relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent
such statement or omission.
The Company and the U.S. Underwriters agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the U.S. Underwriters were treated as one entity for
such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
-24-
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in
this Section 7. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and
expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above in this Section
7 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no U.S. Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the U.S. Securities underwritten by it and distributed to
the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which
such U.S. Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such
untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls a
U.S. Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20
of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such U.S.
Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who
signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the
1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The U.S.
Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7
are several in proportion to the number of Initial U.S. Securities set forth
opposite their respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.
SECTION 8. Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
Delivery. All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
Agreement or in certificates of officers of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any U.S.
Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of the Securities to the U.S. Underwriters.
SECTION 9. Termination of Agreement.
(a) Termination; General. The U.S. Representatives may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i)
if there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse
change in the financial markets in the United States or the international
financial markets, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other
-25-
calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change
in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in
each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the U.S.
Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities or to enforce contracts
for the sale of the Securities, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the
Company has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission, or the NYSE,
if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or the NYSE or in the Nasdaq
National Market has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum
prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been
required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the
Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or any other
governmental authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by
either Federal or New York authorities.
(b) Liabilities. If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this
Section, such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections
1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and
effect.
SECTION 10. Default by One or More of the U.S. Underwriters. If one or
more of the U.S. Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time or a Date of Delivery
to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this
Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the U.S. Representatives shall have the
right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting U.S. Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all,
but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be
agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the U.S.
Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10%
of the number of U.S. Securities to be purchased on such date, each of
the non-defaulting U.S. Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and
not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions
that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the
underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting U.S. Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the
number of U.S. Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement
or, with respect to any Date of Delivery which occurs after the Closing
Time, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase and of the Company
to sell the Option Securities to be purchased and sold on such Date of
Delivery shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting U.S. Underwriter.
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
U.S. Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement or, in the case of a Date of Delivery which is after the
Closing Time, which does not result in a termination of the obligation of the
U.S. Underwriters to purchase and the Company to sell the
-26-
relevant U.S. Option Securities, as the case may be, either the U.S.
Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone Closing Time or
the relevant Date of Delivery, as the case may be, for a period not exceeding
seven days in order to effect any required changes in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements. As used herein, the
term " U.S. Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a U.S. Underwriter
under this Section 10.
SECTION 11. Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder
shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the U.S.
Underwriters shall be directed to the U.S. Representatives at North Tower, World
Financial Center, New York, New York 10281-1201, attention of Xxxx Xxx Xxxxx;
with a copy to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq., Fried, Frank, Harris, Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000; and notices to the Company shall
be directed to it at Sonic Automotive, Inc., 0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx,
P.O. Box 18747, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000, attention of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx;
with a copy to Xxxx X. Xxxx, Esq., Parker, Poe, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx L.L.P, 0000
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000.
SECTION 12. Parties. This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the U.S. Underwriters and the Company and their respective
successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is intended or
shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the U.S.
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors and the controlling
persons and officers and directors referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their
heirs and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. This
Agreement and all conditions and provisions hereof are intended to be for the
sole and exclusive benefit of the U.S. Underwriters and the Company and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers and directors
and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other
person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Securities from any U.S.
Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
SECTION 13. GOVERNING LAW AND TIME. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK. SPECIFIED
TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.
SECTION 14. Effect of Headings. The Article and Section headings herein
and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
-27-
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
between the U.S. Underwriters and the Company in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC
By
Title:
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES, INC.
WHEAT, FIRST SECURITIES, INC.
By: XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
By
Authorized Signatory
For themselves and as U.S. Representatives of the other U.S. Underwriters named
in Schedule A hereto
-28-
SCHEDULE A
Number of
Initial U.S.
Name of U.S. Underwriter Securities
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated...........................................
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, Inc.............................
Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
Total..............................................................
4,000,000
-1-
SCHEDULE B
SONIC AUTOMOTIVE, INC.
4,000,000 Shares of Class A Common Stock
(Par Value $0.01 Per Share)
1. The initial public offering price per share for the U.S.
Securities, determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $ [ ].
2. The purchase price per share for the U.S. Securities to be
paid by the several U.S. Underwriters shall be $ [ ], being an amount
equal to the initial public offering price set forth above less $ [ ]
per share; provided that the purchase price per share for any U.S.
Option Securities purchased upon the exercise of the over-allotment
option described in Section 2(b) shall be reduced by an amount per
share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company
and payable on the Initial U.S. Securities but not payable on the U.S.
Option Securities.
-1-
SCHEDULE C
O. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
B. Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Sonic Financial Corporation
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
O. Xxx Xxxxx, Jr.
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx
-1-
Exhibit A
October [ ], 1997
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, Inc.
Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
as U.S. Representatives of the several
U.S. Underwriters
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx International
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, Inc.
Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
as Lead Managers of the several
Managers
x/x Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xx.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as counsel for Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company") in connection with the underwritten public offering
of up to 5,750,000 shares (the "Shares") of Class A Common Stock, par value $.01
per share (the "Common Stock"), of the Company, of which 750,000 shares will be
sold pursuant to the exercise of an over-allotment option. This opinion is being
delivered to you pursuant to (i) Section 5(b) of the U.S. Purchase Agreement
between the U.S. Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto and the Company (the "
U.S. Purchase Agreement") and (ii) Section 5(b) of the International Purchase
Agreement between the International Managers named in Schedule A thereto and the
Company (the "International Purchase Agreement " and together with the U.S.
Purchase Agreement, the "Purchase Agreements"). All capitalized terms used
herein that are defined in, or by reference in, the Purchase Agreement have the
meanings assigned to such terms therein or by reference therein, unless
otherwise defined herein.
-1-
In connection with this opinion, we have (i) investigated such
questions of law, (ii) examined originals or certified, conformed or
reproduction copies of such agreements, instruments, documents and records of
the Company, such certificates of public officials and such other documents, and
(iii) received such information from officers and representatives of the Company
as we have deemed necessary or appropriate for the purposes of this opinion.
In all such examinations, we have assumed the legal capacity
of all natural persons executing Documents, the genuineness of all signatures,
the authenticity of original and certified documents and the conformity to
original or certified documents of all copies submitted to us as conformed or
reproduction copies.
To the extent it may be relevant to the opinions expressed
herein, we have assumed that the parties to the Documents other than the Company
have the power and authority to enter into and perform such documents and to
consummate the transactions contemplated thereby, that the Documents have been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by, and constitute legal, valid and
binding obligations of such parties enforceable against such parties in
accordance with their terms, and that such parties will comply with all of their
obligations under the Documents and all laws applicable thereto.
Based upon the foregoing, and subject to the limitations, qualifications and
assumptions set forth herein, we are of the opinion 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.
(ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own,
lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus or as proposed to be conducted and to enter
into and perform its obligations under the Purchase Agreement.
(iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation
to transact business and is in good standing in each state set forth on
Schedule A to the opinion.
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Company is as set forth in the Prospectuses in the column entitled
"Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to the Purchase Agreements or pursuant to
reservations, agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the
Prospectus or options referred to in the Prospectus); the shares of
issued and outstanding capital stock have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; and none of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in
violation of the preemptive or other similar rights of any
securityholder of the Company.
-2-
(v) The Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters from
the Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to the
Underwriters pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, and, when issued and
delivered by the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreements against
payment of the consideration set forth in the Purchase Agreements, will
be validly issued and fully paid and non-assessable and no holder of
the Securities is or will be subject to personal liability by reason of
being such a holder.
(vi) The issuance of the Securities is not subject to the
preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the
Company.
(vii) Each Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectuses and is duly qualified as a
foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by
reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good
standing would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as
otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, all of the issued
and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary has been duly
authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and, to
the best of our knowledge, is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, and except as described in the Prospectuses, free and
clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance,
claim or equity, and except as described in the Prospectuses, none of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued in
violation of the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of
such Subsidiary.
(viii) The Purchase Agreements have been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.
(ix) The Registration Statement has been declared effective
under the 1933 Act; any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to
Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within the time period
required by Rule 424(b); and, to the best of our knowledge, no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act
and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending
or threatened by the Commission.
(x) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, as applicable, the Prospectuses and each amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectuses as of its
effective or issue date (other than the financial statements and
supporting schedules included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which
we need express no opinion) complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations.
(xi) If Rule 434 has been relied upon, the Prospectuses were
not "materially different," as such term is used in Rule 434, from the
prospectuses included in the Registration Statement at the time it
became effective.
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(xii) The form of certificate used to evidence the Common
Stock complies in all material respects with all applicable statutory
requirements, with any applicable requirements of the charter and
by-laws of the Company and the requirements of the New York Stock
Exchange.
(xiii) To the best of our knowledge, there is not pending or
threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to
which the Company or any subsidiary is a party, or to which the
property of the Company or any subsidiary is subject, before or brought
by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, which
might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or
which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect
the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of the
transactions contemplated in the Purchase Agreements or the performance
by the Company of its obligations thereunder.
(xiv) The information in the Prospectuses under "Description
of Capital Stock--Common Stock", "Business--Governmental Regulation and
Environmental Matters ", "Business--Legal Proceedings and Insurance",
"Description of Capital Stock--Preferred Stock", and in the
Registration Statement under Item 14, to the extent that it constitutes
matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company's charter and
bylaws or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by
us and is correct in all material respects.
(xv) To the best of our knowledge, there are no statutes or
regulations that are required to be described in the Prospectuses that
are not described as required.
(xvi) All descriptions in the Prospectuses of contracts and
other documents to which the Company or its subsidiaries are a party
are accurate in all material respects; to the best of our knowledge,
there are no franchises, contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan
agreements, notes, leases or other instruments required to be described
or referred to in the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits
thereto other than those described or referred to therein or filed or
incorporated by reference as exhibits thereto, and the descriptions
thereof or references thereto are correct in all material respects.
(xvii) To the best of our knowledge, neither the Company nor
any subsidiary is in violation of its charter or by-laws and no default
by the Company or any subsidiary exists in the due performance or
observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
contained in any item that is listed on Exhibit B to this opinion.
(xviii) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent,
license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or
governmental authority or agency, domestic or foreign (other than under
the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, which have been obtained, or
as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of the various
states, as to which we need express no opinion) is necessary or
required in connection with the due authorization, execution and
delivery of the Purchase Agreement or for the offering, issuance, sale
or delivery of the Securities.
(xix) The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase
Agreements and the consummation of the Acquisitions transactions
contemplated in Purchase Agreements
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(including the issuance and sale of the Securities, and the use of the
proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in the
Prospectuses under the caption "Use Of Proceeds") and the consummation
of the Acquisitions and the financing thereof and compliance by the
Company with its obligations under the Purchase Agreements do not and
will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time
or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or
Repayment Event (as defined in Section 1(a)(x) of the Purchase
Agreements) under or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any
subsidiary pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or any other agreement or
instrument, known to us, to which the Company or any subsidiary is a
party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to which any of
the property or assets of the Company or any subsidiary is subject, nor
will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, or any applicable
law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree, known
to us, of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic
or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary or
any of their respective properties, assets or operations.
(xx) To the best of our knowledge, there are no persons,
except as disclosed in the Prospectuses, with registration rights or
other similar rights to have any securities registered pursuant to the
Registration Statement or otherwise registered by the Company under the
0000 Xxx.
(xxi) The Company is not an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company," as such terms are defined in
the 0000 Xxx.
(xxii) To the best of our knowledge, the Company contained in
the Reorganization documents as set forth in Exhibit C of the Purchase
Agreements have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by each of
the parties thereto and constitute a legally valid and binding
obligation of the Company and is enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms.
(xxiii) To the best of our knowledge, each of the Acquisition
Agreements governing the acquisitions that are contemplated to occur on
or before the Closing Date has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company, and constitutes a legally valid and binding
obligation of the Company and is enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms.
(xxiv) To the best of our knowledge, each franchise agreement,
in each case between a Subsidiary and the applicable Manufacturer (as
defined in the Prospectuses) has been duly authorized by the Company
and such Subsidiaries, enforceable in accordance with its terms, and
the Company has obtained all consents, authorizations and approvals
from the Manufacturers required to conduct the Acquisitions and the
public offering of Common Stock as contemplated hereby other than
Jaguar and Kia.
(xxv) To the best of our knowledge, the Company has all
necessary corporate power and authority to execute, deliver and perform
its obligations under the New Credit Agreement and the NationsBank
Credit Agreement; and the New Credit Agreement and
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the NationsBank Credit Agreement have been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company, are in the form heretofore delivered to
you, and constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar laws relating to or affecting
enforcement of creditors' rights generally or by general principles of
equity.
Nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to
believe that the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto,
including the Rule 430A Information and Rule 434 Information (if
applicable), (except for financial statements and schedules and other
financial data included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we
need make no statement), at the time such Registration Statement or any
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 Prospectuses or any amendment or supplement thereto (except
for financial statements and schedules and other financial data
included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no
statement), at the time the Prospectuses were issued, at the time any
such amended or supplemented prospectus was issued or at the Closing
Time, included or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
Very truly yours
PARKER, POE, XXXXX & XXXXXXXXX L.L.P.
By:_______________________________________
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Exhibit B
October [ ], 1997
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, Inc.
Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
as U.S. Representatives of the several
U.S. Underwriters to be named in the
within-mentioned U.S. Purchase Agreement
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx International
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, Inc.
Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
as Lead Managers of the several
Managers to be named in the within-
mentioned International Purchase Agreement
x/x Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xx.
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000
Re: Proposed Public Offering by Sonic Automotive, Inc.
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned, a stockholder [and an officer and/or director] of
Sonic Automotive, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), understands that
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated
("Xxxxxxx Xxxxx"), NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, Inc. and Wheat, First
Securities, Inc. propose to enter into a U.S. Purchase Agreement (the "U.S.
Purchase Agreement") with the Company, and Xxxxxxx Xxxxx International,
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, Inc. and Wheat, First Securities, Inc.
propose to enter into an International Purchase Agreement (the "International
Purchase Agreement") with the Company, providing for the public offering of
shares (the "Securities") of the Company's Class A
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common stock, par value $0.01 per share (the "Common Stock"). In recognition of
the benefit that such an offering will confer upon the undersigned as a
stockholder [and an officer and/or director] of the Company, and for other good
and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which are hereby
acknowledged, the undersigned agrees with each underwriter to be named in the
U.S. Purchase Agreement and with each manager to be named in the International
Purchase Agreement that, during a period of 180 days from the date of the U.S.
Purchase Agreement and the International Purchase Agreement, the undersigned
will not, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, directly or
indirectly, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of or transfer any shares
of the Company's Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
or exercisable for Common Stock, whether now owned or hereafter acquired by the
undersigned or with respect to which the undersigned has or hereafter acquires
the power of disposition, or file any registration statement under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to any of the foregoing or (ii)
enter into any swap or any other agreement or any transaction that transfers, in
whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the economic consequence of ownership
of the Common Stock, whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by
delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or otherwise.
Very truly yours,
Signature:
Print Name:
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