Exhibit h.3
____________, 2005
MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX0000
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000-0000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
1. We understand that Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC ("WCM") is entering into
this Master Agreement Among Underwriters in counterparts with us and other firms
that may be Underwriters (as defined below) for issues of Securities (as defined
below) in which WCM is acting as Representative or one of the Representatives.
Irrespective of whether we have executed this Master Agreement Among
Underwriters, this Master Agreement Among Underwriters shall apply to any
offering of Securities in which we elect to act as an Underwriter after receipt
of an Invitation (as defined below) from WCM identifying the Issuer (as defined
below), any applicable terms of the Securities proposed to be offered by such
Issuer, the amount of our proposed participation and the names of the other
Representatives, if any, and stating that our participation as an Underwriter in
the proposed offering shall be subject to the provisions of this Master
Agreement Among Underwriters.
Your invitation will include instructions for our acceptance of such invitation.
At or prior to the time of an offering, you will advise us, to the extent
applicable, as to (i) the expected offering date, (ii) the expected closing
date, (iii) the initial offering price, (iv) the interest or dividend rate (or
the method by which such rate is to be determined), (v) the conversion, (vi)
exercise or exchange price or rate, (vii) the redemption or liquidation price,
(viii) the underwriting discount or commission, (ix) the management fee, (x) the
selling concession and (xi) the reallowance, except that if the offering price
of the Securities is to be determined as contemplated by Rule 430A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), such procedure being hereinafter
referred to as "430A Pricing", you shall so advise us and shall specify the
maximum underwriting discount or commission, management fee and selling
concession. Such information may be conveyed by you in one or more written or
verbal communications (such communications received by us with respect to an
offering being hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Invitation"). If the
Underwriting Agreement (as defined below) provides for the granting of an option
to purchase additional Securities to cover over-allotments or otherwise (an
"over allotment option"), you will notify us in the Invitation of such option
and of our maximum obligation upon exercise of such option.
This Master Agreement Among Underwriters, as amended or supplemented by the
Invitation, shall become binding upon us and the Representatives with respect to
such offering if you receive our written or verbal acceptance and you do not
receive a written communication
revoking our acceptance prior to the time and date specified in the Invitation
(our unrevoked acceptance after expiration of such time and date being
hereinafter referred to as our "Acceptance"). If we have not previously executed
this Master Agreement Among Underwriters, by our Acceptance we shall be deemed
to be signatories hereof with respect to the offering to which the Acceptance
relates. To the extent that any terms contained in the Invitation are
inconsistent with any provisions herein, such terms shall supersede any such
provisions. Our Acceptance will also constitute our confirmation that, except as
otherwise stated in such Acceptance, each applicable statement included in the
Master Underwriters' Questionnaire attached as Annex A hereto (or otherwise
furnished to us) is correct. We agree to notify you immediately of any
development before the termination of the offering provisions referred to in
Section 10(a) with respect to any particular offering of Securities which makes
untrue or incomplete any information that we have given or are deemed to have
given in response to the Master Underwriters' Questionnaire. The obligations of
each underwriter shall be several and not joint. The securities offered in any
offering of securities made pursuant to this Master Agreement Among
Underwriters, including any guarantees relating to such securities or any other
securities into which such securities are convertible or exchangeable into or
exercisable for and any securities that may be purchased upon exercise of an
over-allotment option, are hereinafter referred to as the "Securities". The
issuer or issuers of the Securities are hereinafter referred to as the "Issuer".
All references herein to "you" or the "Representatives" shall include WCM and
the other firms, if any, which are named as Representatives in the Invitation,
it being understood and agreed that WCM is authorized to act on behalf of all
Representatives. Any underwriters of Securities under this Master Agreement
Among Underwriters, including the Representatives, are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Underwriters". Except as otherwise provided in Section
10(c), the following provisions of this Master Agreement Among Underwriters
shall apply separately to each individual offering of Securities.
2. The Representatives shall determine which signatories or other parties deemed
to be signatories to this Master Agreement Among Underwriters will be invited to
become Underwriters for the Securities. Changes may be made by the
Representatives in those who are to be Underwriters and in the respective
amounts of Securities to be purchased by them, provided that, notwithstanding
anything to the contrary contained in this Master Agreement Among Underwriters,
our consent shall be required for any increase in the amount of Securities to be
purchased by us, except in the following cases: (i) an increase in the amount of
Securities to be purchased by us as may be required by the underwriting or
purchase agreement or any associated terms or similar agreement with the Issuer
or any selling securityholders or any amendment or supplement thereto
(collectively, the "Underwriting Agreement") covering the Securities in the
event of a default by one or more of the Underwriters; (ii) an increase in the
amount of such Securities as a result of (a) an increase in the aggregate amount
of such Securities proposed to be purchased by the Underwriters as a whole; (b)
a reallotment of Securities among the Underwriters; or (c) any other cause,
which in any such case of (a) through (c) results in an aggregate net change of
25% or less in the amount of Securities to be purchased by us. We authorize you
on our behalf to execute and deliver the Underwriting Agreement or any agreement
between or among Underwriters (as defined in the next sentence), on the one
hand, and one or more groups of underwriters for the Securities not acting as
such pursuant to this
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Master Agreement Among Underwriters, on the other hand (an "Intersyndicate
Agreement"), in such forms as you determine and to take such action as you deem
advisable in connection with the performance of the Underwriting Agreement, any
Intersyndicate Agreement and this Master Agreement Among Underwriters and the
purchase, carrying, sale and distribution of the Securities. We further
authorize you to take such action as you deem necessary or advisable to carry
out this Master Agreement Among Underwriters, the Underwriting Agreement and the
purchase and sale of the Securities. You may waive performance or satisfaction
by the Issuer, any selling securityholders or any other party to the
Underwriting Agreement of certain of its or their obligations or conditions
included in the Underwriting Agreement, if in your judgment such waiver will not
have a material adverse effect upon the interests of the Underwriters. With
respect to offerings of Securities using 430A Pricing, you are also authorized
to determine the initial public offering price and the price at which the
Securities are to be purchased in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement.
It is understood that, if so specified in the Invitation for the issue,
arrangements may be made for the sale of Securities by the Issuer or selling
securityholders pursuant to delayed delivery contracts. Such Securities are
hereinafter referred to as "Delayed Delivery Securities", and such contracts as
"Delayed Delivery Contracts". Securities for which such contracts are not
entered into by the Issuer or selling securityholders are hereinafter referred
to as "Immediate Delivery Securities". References herein to delayed delivery and
Delayed Delivery Contracts apply only to offerings in which delayed delivery is
authorized. The term "underwriting obligation", as used in this Master Agreement
Among Underwriters with respect to any Underwriter, shall refer to the principal
amount or number of shares or units of the Securities (plus such additional
Securities as may be required by the Underwriting Agreement to be purchased by
such Underwriter in the event of a default by one or more of the Underwriters)
which such Underwriter is obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of
the Underwriting Agreement, without regard to any reduction in such obligation
as a result of Delayed Delivery Contracts which are entered into by the Issuer.
If the Securities consist in whole or in part of debt obligations maturing
serially, the serial Securities being purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to
the Underwriting Agreement will consist, subject to adjustment as provided in
the Underwriting Agreement, of serial Securities of each maturity in a principal
amount that bears the same proportion to the aggregate principal amount of the
serial Securities of such maturity to be purchased by all the Underwriters as
the respective principal amount of serial Securities set forth opposite such
Underwriter's name in the Underwriting Agreement bears to the aggregate
principal amount of the serial Securities to be purchased by all Underwriters.
As compensation for your services to each of the Underwriters in connection with
the Underwriting Agreement and this Master Agreement Among Underwriters we will
pay a management fee as specified in the Invitation for the offering (without
deduction in respect of Delayed Delivery Securities), and you may charge our
account therefore. If there is more than one Representative, such compensation
will be divided among the Representatives in such proportions as they determine.
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3. We understand and acknowledge that if registration of the offer and sale of
the Securities as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement is required by the
Issuer under the Act on a registration statement or statements to be filed with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"), you will either
provide us with the file number or numbers of such registration statement or
statements with respect to the Securities or, as soon as practicable after the
later of the date of the Invitation or the date made available to you by the
Issuer, furnish to us (or make available for our review in your office) a copy
of such registration statement or statements (other than any documents
incorporated therein by reference and any exhibits) and any amendments thereto.
In any event you will furnish to us, as soon as practicable after sufficient
quantities thereof are made available to you by the Issuer, copies of the
Prospectus or supplemented Prospectus (excluding any documents incorporated by
reference herein) to be used in connection with the offering of the Securities.
As used herein "Prospectus" means the form of prospectus (including any
supplements and any documents incorporated by reference therein) authorized for
use in connection with the offering of such Securities, and "Registration
Statement" means the registration statement filed by the Issuer with the
Commission, as amended and including any documents incorporated by reference
therein, under which the offer and sale of the Securities are registered under
the Act.
We understand and acknowledge that if the offer and sale of the Securities are
exempt from the registration requirements of the Act, no registration statement
will be filed with the Commission. In any such case involving an offering
circular or other offering materials to be used in connection with the offering
of the Securities (any such circular or materials, as it or they may be amended
or supplemented, being hereinafter referred to as the "Offering Circular"), you
will either provide us with information as to the availability of a preliminary
offering circular through a specified regulatory authority or, as soon as
practicable after the later of the date of the Invitation or the date made
available to you by the Issuer, furnish to us (or make available for our review
in your office) a copy of any preliminary offering circular or a proof of the
Offering Circular. In any event, in any such offering involving an Offering
Circular you will furnish to us, as soon as practicable after sufficient
quantities thereof are made available to you by the Issuer, copies of the final
Offering Circular. The Prospectus or Offering Circular, as the case may be,
relating to an offering of Securities is herein referred to as the "Offering
Document".
We understand and acknowledge that we are not authorized to give any information
or make any representation not contained in the Offering Document, as amended or
supplemented, or in any document incorporated by reference therein in connection
with the offering of the Securities. Our Acceptance of an invitation shall
constitute our agreement that, if requested by you, we will furnish a copy of
any amendment or supplement to any preliminary or final Offering Document to
each person to whom we have furnished a previous preliminary or final Offering
Document. Our Acceptance of an Invitation relating to an offering of Securities
registered under the Act shall constitute (i) our acknowledgement that we are
familiar with the Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated
by reference therein and the forms of Underwriting Agreement and indenture or
other documents describing the terms of the Securities filed as exhibits thereto
or otherwise made available to us, with any preliminary prospectus, preliminary
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supplemented prospectus or Prospectus relating to the Securities theretofore
filed with the Commission, and with the information to be set forth in an
amendment to the Registration Statement or in the Prospectus proposed to be
filed with the Commission and (ii) our confirmation that we have delivered, and
our agreement that we will deliver, all preliminary and final Prospectuses
required for compliance with Rule 15c2-8 (or any successor provision) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"). Our Acceptance
of an Invitation relating to an offering of Securities exempt from registration
under the Act shall constitute (i) our acknowledgment that we are familiar with
the information set forth in any preliminary offering circular or proof of the
Offering Circular made available to us and with the information to be set forth
in the Offering Circular, (ii) our confirmation that we have delivered, and our
agreement that we will deliver, all preliminary and final Offering Circulars
required for compliance with the applicable Federal and state laws and the
applicable rules and regulations of any regulatory body promulgated thereunder
governing the use and distribution of offering circulars by underwriters, and
(iii) to the extent consistent with such laws, rules and regulations, our
confirmation that we have delivered and our agreement that we will deliver all
preliminary and final Offering Circulars that would be required if Rule 15c2-8
(or any successor provision) under the Exchange Act applied to such offering. We
hereby consent to being named in the Offering Document as one of the
Underwriters of the Securities.
4. (a) In connection with the public offering of the Securities, we authorize
you, in your discretion, to determine the time of the initial public offering,
to determine the amount of Securities, if any, to be purchased by the
Underwriters pursuant to the over-allotment option, if any, to change the price
and/or size of the initial public offering, to furnish the Issuer with the
information to be included in the Registration Statement or Offering Circular
with respect to the terms of offering, and to determine all matters relating to
advertising and communications with dealers or others. Each Underwriter also
authorizes us to reserve for sale, and authorizes us or any Underwriter
designated by us to sell and deliver for its account to such retail purchasers
as we may select, at the public offering price, such number as we may determine
of the Securities that such Underwriter agrees to purchase under the
Underwriting Agreement. Such reservations and sales to retail purchasers shall
be made for the respective accounts of the Underwriters in the same proportions,
as nearly as may be practicable and so long as Securities of the respective
Underwriters are available therefor, as the respective underwriting obligations
of the Underwriters.
We also authorize you, in your discretion, to reserve for sale, and to sell and
deliver to securities dealers and others, which may include any Underwriters,
selected by you ("Selected Dealers"), and to reserve for sale pursuant to
Delayed Delivery Contracts arranged by you through Selected Dealers, all or any
portion of the Securities to be purchased by us under the Underwriting
Agreement, all as you shall determine. Any such sales to Selected Dealers may be
made pursuant to the terms and conditions of your Master Selected Dealers
Agreement or otherwise and shall be made for the respective accounts of the
Underwriters in such proportions as you may determine. Each Selected Dealer
shall be a person (a "Dealer") who is (a) a broker or dealer (as defined in the
By-Laws of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"))
actually engaged in the investment banking or securities business and (i) a
member in good
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standing of the NASD that makes the representations and agreements applicable to
such a member contained in Section 17 hereof or (ii) a foreign bank, broker,
dealer or other institution not eligible for membership in the NASD that makes
the representations and agreements applicable to such foreign institutions
contained in Section 17 hereof, or (b) a "bank" as defined in Section 3(a)(6) of
the Exchange Act (a "Bank") that is not a member of the NASD and that makes the
representations and agreements applicable to Banks contained in Section 17
hereof. Reservations for sales to Selected Dealers for our account need not be
in proportion to our underwriting obligation, but sales of Securities reserved
for our account for sale to Selected Dealers shall be made as nearly as
practicable in the ratio which the amount of Securities reserved for our account
bears to the aggregate amount of Securities reserved for the account of all
Underwriters, as calculated from day-to-day. Sales to Selected Dealers shall
initially be at the public offering price, less a concession not in excess of
the Selected Dealers' concession set forth in the Invitation and the price to
persons other than Selected Dealers shall be at the public offering price. With
your consent, the Underwriters may allow, and Selected Dealers may re-allow, a
discount on sales to Dealers in an amount not in excess of the amount set forth
in the Invitation. Upon your request, we will advise you of the identity of any
Dealer to whom we allow such a discount and any Underwriter or Selected Dealer
from whom we receive such a discount.
We also authorize you, in your discretion, to buy Immediate Delivery Securities
for our account from Selected Dealers at the public offering price less such
amount not in excess of the Selected Dealers' concession as you may determine.
At or before the time the Securities are released for sale, you shall notify us
of the amount of Securities that has been reserved for our account for sale to
Selected Dealers and for sale pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts and the
amount that is to be retained by us for direct sale. After advice from you that
the Securities are released for public offering, we will offer to the public, in
conformity with the terms of the offering set forth in the Offering Document,
such of our Securities, as you advise are not reserved. In connection with any
offering of Securities that are registered under the Act and issued by an Issuer
that was not, immediately prior to the filing of the Registration Statement,
subject to the requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, we
agree that unless otherwise advised by you and disclosed in the Prospectus we
will not make sales to any account over which we exercise discretionary
authority with respect to that sale.
We agree that we will from time to time, upon your request, report to you the
amount of Securities retained by us for direct sale that remain unsold. Upon
your request, we will deliver to you for our account, or sell to you for the
account of one or more of the Underwriters, such amount of unsold Securities as
you may designate at the public offering price less, in the case of sales or
deliveries for the account of Selected Dealers, an amount determined by you not
in excess of the concession to Selected Dealers. You may also repurchase
Securities from other Underwriters and Selected Dealers, for the account of one
or more of the other Underwriters, at the public offering price less, in the
case of purchases for the account of Selected Dealers, an amount determined by
you not in excess of the concession to Selected Dealers.
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You may from time to time deliver to any Underwriter, for carrying purposes or
for sale by such Underwriter, any of the Securities then reserved for sale
pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts or for sale to, but not purchased and
paid for by, Selected Dealers, all as above; provided, however, to the extent
that Securities are so delivered for sale by such Underwriter, the amount of
Securities then reserved for the account of such Underwriter shall be
correspondingly reduced. Securities delivered for carrying purposes only shall
be redelivered to you upon demand.
If, in accordance with the terms of offering set forth in the Offering Document,
the offering of the Securities is not at a fixed price but at varying prices set
by individual Underwriters based on market prices or at negotiated prices, the
provisions of the first paragraph of this Section relating to your right to
change the public offering price and concessions and discounts to dealers shall
not apply, and other references in this Section and elsewhere in this Master
Agreement among Underwriters to the public offering price or Selected Dealers'
concession shall be deemed to mean the prices and concessions determined by you
from time to time in your discretion.
Any Securities sold or loaned by us (otherwise than through you) which you
purchase in the open market for the account of any Underwriter will be
repurchased by us on demand at the cost of such purchase plus commissions and
taxes on redelivery. Securities delivered on such repurchase need not be
represented by the identical certificates so purchased. In lieu of such action
you may in your discretion sell for our account the Securities so purchased and
debit or credit our account for the loss or profit resulting from such sale, or
charge our account with an amount not in excess of the Selected Dealers'
concession with respect to such Securities.
(b) We authorize you to act on our behalf in making all arrangements for the
solicitation of offers to purchase Delayed Delivery Securities from the Issuer
pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts and we agree that all such arrangements
will be made only through you, directly or through Selected Dealers (including
Underwriters acting as Selected Dealers) to whom you may pay a commission as
provided in the Offering document and herein.
The obligation of each of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for securities as
set forth in the Underwriting Agreement shall be reduced in the proportion
provided for therein, except that (i) as to any Delayed Delivery Contract
determined by you, in your discretion, to have been directed and allocated by a
purchaser to a particular Underwriter, such obligation of such Underwriter shall
be reduced by the amount of Delayed Delivery Securities covered thereby, (ii) as
to any Delayed Delivery Contracts for which arrangements are made through
Selected Dealers, such Obligation of each Underwriter shall be reduced as nearly
as practicable in the proportion determined by you that the amount of Securities
of such Underwriter reserved and sold pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts
arranged through Selected Dealers bears to the total Securities so reserved and
sold, and (iii) such reductions shall be rounded, as you shall determine, to the
nearest $1,000 principal amount or whole share or unit of the Securities.
The fee payable by the Issuer to each Underwriter with respect to Delayed
Delivery Securities pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement shall be credited to
the account of such Underwriter
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based upon the amount by which such Underwriter's underwriting obligation is
reduced as specified in the preceding paragraph.
If the amount of Delayed Delivery Securities applied to reduce an Underwriter's
underwriting obligation and the amount of Immediate Delivery Securities sold by
or for the account of such Underwriter exceeds such Underwriter's underwriting
obligation, there shall be credited to such Underwriter with respect to such
excess amount of Securities only the amount of the Selected Dealers' concession;
provided, however, that no amount shall be credited to such Underwriter with
respect to such excess amount of such Securities if such Underwriter is a Bank
and the Securities do not constitute "exempted securities" within the meaning of
Section 3(a)(12) of the Exchange Act.
The commissions payable to Selected Dealers in respect of Delayed Delivery
Contracts arranged through them shall be charged to each Underwriter in the
proportion which the amount of Securities of such Underwriter reserved and sold
pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts arranged through Selected Dealers bears
to the total Securities so reserved and sold.
5. We authorize you to make payment on our behalf to the Issuer or any selling
securityholder of the purchase price of our Securities, to take delivery of our
Securities, registered as you may direct in order to facilitate deliveries, and
to deliver our reserved Securities against sales. At your request we will pay
you an amount equal to the public offering price, less the selling concession,
of either our Securities or our unreserved Securities as you direct, and such
payment will be credited to our account and applied to the payment of the
purchase price. After you receive payment for reserved Securities sold for our
account, you will remit to us the purchase price (if any) paid by us for such
Securities and credit or debit our account with the difference between the sale
prices and the purchase price thereof. You will deliver to us our unreserved
Securities promptly, and our reserved but unsold Securities, against payment of
the purchase price therefor (except in the case of Securities for which payment
has previously been made), as soon as practicable after the termination of the
provisions referred to in Section 10(a), except that if the aggregate amount of
reserved but unsold Securities upon such termination does not exceed 20% of the
total amount of the Securities, you may in your discretion sell such reserved
but unsold Securities for the accounts of the several Underwriters as soon as
practicable after such termination, at such prices and in such manner as you
determine.
In the event that the Underwriting Agreement for an offering provides for the
payment of a commission or other compensation, we authorize you to receive for
our account payments of the commission or other compensation payable to the
Underwriters by the Issuer, as provided in the Underwriting Agreement.
Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, if transactions in the
Securities can be settled through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company
("DTC"), if we are a member of DTC we hereby authorize you, in your discretion,
to make appropriate arrangements for payment and/or delivery through the
facilities of DTC of the Securities to be purchased by us, or if we are
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not a member of DTC, settlement may be made through a corespondent that is a
member of DTC pursuant to our timely instructions.
6. In connection with the purchase or carrying of our Securities or other
securities purchased for our account, we authorize you, in your discretion, to
advance your funds for our account, charging current interest rates, to arrange
loans for our account, and in connection therewith to execute and deliver any
notes or other instruments and hold or pledge as security any of our Securities
or such other securities. Any lender may rely upon your instructions in all
matters relating to any such loan. Any Securities or such other securities held
by you for our account may be delivered to us for carrying purposes, and if so
delivered will be redelivered to you upon demand.
7. We authorize you, in your discretion, to make purchases and sales of
Securities, and other securities of the Issuer of the same class and series and
any other securities of the Issuer which you may designate in the open market or
otherwise, for long or short account, on such terms as you deem advisable, and
to over-allot in arranging sales to Selected Dealers or others. You may, in your
discretion, liquidate any long position or cover any short position incurred
pursuant to this Section 7 at such prices and on such terms as you may
determine. Such purchases and sales (including over-allotments) will be made for
the accounts of the Underwriters as nearly as practicable in proportion to their
respective underwriting obligations. It is understood that you may have made
purchases of securities of the Issuer for stabilizing purposes prior to the time
when we became one of the Underwriters, and we agree that any such securities so
purchased shall be treated as having been purchased for the respective accounts
of the Underwriters pursuant to the foregoing authorization. We further
authorize you, in your discretion, to cover any short position incurred pursuant
to this Section by purchasing securities on such terms as you deem advisable.
Except as provided in this Section, at no time will our net commitment under the
foregoing provisions of this Section exceed 20% (or such other amount as may be
specified in the Invitation) of our underwriting obligation excluding Securities
which may be purchased upon exercise of an over-allotment option, provided that
such percentage may be increased with the approval of a majority in interest of
the Underwriters. In the case of our net commitment for short account, our net
commitment will be computed assuming that all Securities which may be purchased
upon exercise of an over-allotment option are acquired. We will on demand take
up at cost any securities so purchased and deliver any securities so sold or
over-allotted for our account, and, if any other Underwriter defaults in its
corresponding obligation, we will assume our proportionate share of such
obligation without relieving the defaulting Underwriter from liability. Upon
request, we will advise you of the Securities retained by us and unsold and will
sell to you for the account of one or more of the Underwriters such of our
unsold Securities and at such price, not less than the net price to Selected
Dealers nor more than the public offering price, as you determine.
If you effect any stabilizing purchases pursuant to this Section 7, you shall
promptly notify us of the date and time of the first stabilizing purchase and
the date and time when stabilizing was terminated. You shall prepare and
maintain such records as are required to be maintained by you as manager
pursuant to Rule 17a-2 under the Exchange Act.
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8. Unless the Securities are "exempted securities" as defined in Section
3(a)(12) of the Exchange Act, we and you agree not to bid for, purchase, attempt
to induce others to purchase, or sell directly or indirectly, any Securities,
any other securities of the Issuer of the same class and series and any other
securities of the Issuer which you may designate, except as brokers pursuant to
unsolicited orders, except to the extent permitted by Regulation M (subject to
any applicable exemption therefrom) under the Exchange Act as interpreted by the
Commission, and except as otherwise provided in this Master Agreement Among
Underwriters. If the Securities are or include common stock or securities
convertible or exchangeable into or exchangeable for common stock and the
Securities are not "exempted securities" as defined in Section 3(a)(12) of the
Exchange Act, we and you also agree not to effect, or attempt to induce others
to effect, directly or indirectly, any transactions in or relating to put or
call options on any stock of the Issuer, except to the extent permitted by
Regulation M (subject to any applicable exemption therefrom) under the Exchange
Act as interpreted by the Commission.
If the Securities are convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for shares
of common stock and such common stock is subject to options traded on a
securities exchange, we represent and warrant that we have not, since the day
following the date of the invitation telex, entered into a discount or parity
opening uncovered writing transaction in options to acquire shares of such
common stock for our account or for the account of any customer and we agree
that we will not enter into any such transaction prior to the termination of the
provisions of Section pursuant to Section 10 hereof with respect to such
offering of Securities. The term "discount or parity opening uncovered writing
transaction" means an opening sale transaction where the seller is the writer of
an option to purchase shares of such common stock which he does not then own or
have the right to acquire upon exercise of conversion or option rights, which
option is sold at a price (exclusive of commissions) per optioned share which,
when added to the amount per share payable upon exercise of the option, shall be
equal to or less than the last reported sales price (exclusive of commissions)
per share immediately prior to the time such option is sold.
9. We represent and warrant that the incurrence by us of our obligations under
this Master Agreement Among Underwriters and the Underwriting Agreement in
connection with the offering of the Securities will not place us in violation of
Rule 15c3-1 under the Exchange Act, if such requirements are applicable to us,
or, if we are a financial institution subject to regulation by the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System, the Comptroller of the Currency or the
Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, will not place us in violation of the
capital requirements of such regulator or any other regulator to which we are
subject. We further represent and warrant that in connection with the offering
of the Securities we have complied, and agree that we will comply, with the
provisions of Regulation M under the Exchange Act with regard, inter alia, to
trading in the Securities by Underwriters. We agree that, for purposes of the
foregoing sentence, in addition to the Securities, any of the Issuer's
securities deemed to be of the same class and series as the Securities shall be
subject to trading restrictions under Regulation M.
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10. (a) With respect to any particular offering of Securities, the terms and
conditions of (i) the second and third sentences of the fourth paragraph of
section 4(a), (ii) the last paragraph of Section 4(a), (iii) the first sentence
of Section 7, and (iv) Section 8 (collectively, the "Offering Provisions") will
terminate at the close of business on the 45th day after the date of the initial
public offering of the Securities or at the close of business on the day of the
closing of the purchase of the Securities by the Underwriters pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement, whichever is later, unless in either such case the
effectiveness of the Offering Provisions is extended or sooner terminated as
hereinafter provided. You may extend the effectiveness of such Offering
Provisions up to an additional 15 days by notice to us to the effect that the
Offering Provisions of this Master Agreement Among Underwriters are extended to
the date or by the number of days indicated in the notice. You may terminate
such Offering Provisions, other than the last paragraph of Section 4(a), at any
time by notice to us to the effect that the Offering Provisions of this Master
Agreement Among Underwriters are terminated and you may terminate the provisions
of the last paragraph of Section 4(a) at any time at or subsequent to the
termination of the other provisions by notice to us to the effect that the
penalty bid provisions of this Master Agreement Among Underwriters are
terminated. All other provisions of this Master Agreement Among Underwriters
shall remain operative and in full force and effect with respect to such
offering of Securities.
(b) This Master Agreement Among Underwriters may be terminated by either party
hereto upon five business days' written notice to the other party; provided,
however, that with respect to any particular offering of Securities, if you
receive any such notice from us after our Acceptance for such offering, this
Master Agreement Among Underwriters shall remain in full force and effect as to
such offering and shall terminate with respect to such offering and all previous
offerings only in accordance with and to the extent provided in subsection (a)
of this Section.
(c) This Master Agreement Among Underwriters may be supplemented or amended by
you by notice to us by written communication and, except for supplements or
amendments set forth in an Invitation, any such supplement or amendment to this
Master Agreement Among Underwriters shall be effective with respect to any
offering to which this Master Agreement Among Underwriters applies after the
date of such supplement or amendment. Each reference to "this Master Agreement
Among Underwriters" herein shall, as appropriate, be to this Master Agreement
Among Underwriters as so supplemented and amended.
11. Except as otherwise provided herein, you may charge our account with any
transfer taxes on sales made by you of Securities purchased by us under the
Underwriting Agreement and with our proportionate share (based upon our
underwriting obligation) of all other expenses incurred by you under this Master
Agreement Among Underwriters or in connection with the purchase, carrying, sale
or distribution of the Securities. The accounts hereunder will be settled as
promptly as practicable after the termination of the Offering Provisions
referred to in the first sentence of Section 10(a), but you may reserve such
amount as you deem advisable for additional expenses. Your determination of the
amount to be paid to or by us will be conclusive. You may at any time make
partial distributions of credit balances or call for payment of debit balances.
Any of our funds in your hands may be held with your general funds without
11
accountability for interest. Notwithstanding any settlement, we will remain
liable for any taxes on transfers for our account, and for our proportionate
share (based upon our underwriting obligation) of all expenses and liabilities
which may be incurred by or for the accounts of the Underwriters.
12. Default by one or more Underwriters hereunder or under the Underwriting
Agreement will not release the other Underwriters from their obligations or
affect the liability of any defaulting Underwriter to the non-defaulting
Underwriters for damages resulting from such default. If one or more
Underwriters default under the Underwriting Agreement, you may arrange for the
purchase by others, including non-defaulting Underwriters, of Securities not
taken up by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters.
13. You will be under no liability to us for any act or omission except for
obligations expressly assumed by you herein, and no obligations on your part
will be implied hereby or inferred here. The rights and liabilities of the
Underwriters are several and not joint, and nothing will constitute the
Underwriters a partnership, association or separate entity.
If for Federal income tax purposes the Underwriters should be deemed to
constitute a partnership then we elect to be excluded from the application of
Subchapter K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as
amended, and agree not to take any position inconsistent with such election.
You, as Representative, are authorized, in your discretion, to execute on behalf
of the Underwriters such evidence of such election as may be required by the
Internal Revenue Service.
14. We agree to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse each other Underwriter
and each person, if any, who controls such other Underwriter within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act, to the extent, and upon the terms, that such
Underwriter agrees to indemnify, hold harmless and reimburse the Issuer and
certain other persons pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. This indemnity
agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any investigation
made by or on behalf of such other Underwriter or controlling person or any
statement made to the Commission as to the results thereof.
15. Each Underwriter (including you) agrees to pay upon your request, as
contribution, its proportionate share, based upon its underwriting obligation,
of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, under the Act
or otherwise, paid or incurred by any Underwriter (including you) to any person
other than an Underwriter (including amounts paid by an Underwriter as
contribution), arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Offering Document, any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any related preliminary Offering Document or
any other selling or advertising material approved by you for use by the
Underwriters in connection with the sale of the Securities, or arising out of or
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading (other than an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to he
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Issuer by an Underwriter through you specifically for use therein); and we will
pay such proportionate share of any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by you or with your consent in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage or liability, or any action in respect thereof. In
determining the amount of any Underwriter's obligation under this Section,
appropriate adjustment may be made by you to reflect any amounts received by any
one or more Underwriters from any person in respect of such claim from the
Issuer, any selling securityholder or any other person (other than an
Underwriter) pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement or otherwise. In respect of
any claim there shall be credited against any amount paid or payable by us
pursuant to this Section any loss, damage, liability or expense which is
incurred by us as a result of any such claim being asserted against us, and if
such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense is incurred by us subsequent to
any payment by us pursuant to this Section, appropriate provision shall be made
to effect such credit, by refund or otherwise. If any such claim is asserted,
you may take such action in connection therewith as you deem necessary or
desirable, including retention of counsel for the Underwriters, and in your
discretion separate counsel so retained by you shall be included in the amounts
payable pursuant to this Section. In determining amounts payable pursuant to
this Section, any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense paid or incurred,
and any amount received, by any person controlling any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act which has been paid or incurred or received by
reason of such control relationship shall be deemed to have been paid or
incurred or received by such Underwriter. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. At your discretion, you may consent to being named as the
representatives of a defendant class of underwriters. Any Underwriter may elect
to retain at its own expense its own counsel and, on advice of such counsel and
with your consent, may settle or consent to the settlement of any such claim.
You may settle or consent to the settlement of any such claim, on advice of
counsel retained by you, with the approval of a majority in interest of the
Underwriters. Whenever we receive notice of the assertion of any claim to which
the provisions of this Section would be applicable, we will give prompt notice
thereof to you. Whenever you receive notice of the assertion of any claim to
which the provisions of this Section would be applicable, you will give prompt
notice thereof to each Underwriter. You will also furnish each Underwriter with
periodic reports, at such times as you deem appropriate, as to the status of
such claim and the action taken by you in connection therewith. If any
Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligation to make any payments
under this Section, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall be obligated to pay
its proportionate share of all defaulted payments, based upon such Underwriter's
underwriting obligation as related to the underwriting obligations of all
non-defaulting Underwriters without, however, relieving such defaulting
Underwriter from its liability therefor.
16. We authorize you to file with the Commission and any other governmental
agency any reports required in connection with any transactions effected by you
for our account pursuant to this Master Agreement Among Underwriters, and we
will furnish any information needed for such reports. We agree to transmit to
you for filing with the Commission any report required to be made by us pursuant
to the Exchange Act as a result of any transactions effected in connection with
the offering of the Securities. You agree to inform us, upon our request, of the
13
states and other jurisdictions in the United States in which it is believed that
the Securities are qualified for sale under, or are exempt from the requirements
of, their respective securities laws. However, you will not have any
responsibility with respect to the right of any Underwriter or other person to
sell the Securities in any state or jurisdiction, notwithstanding any
information you may furnish in that connection. If we propose to offer
Securities outside the United States, its territories or its possessions, we
will take, at our own expense, such action, if any, as may be necessary to
comply with the laws of each foreign jurisdiction in which we propose to offer
Securities. If applicable, we further authorize you to file on behalf of the
several Underwriters with the NASD such required documents and information, if
any, which have been furnished to you for filing pursuant to the applicable,
rules, statements and interpretations of the NASD. If in your discretion you
deem it necessary, you are further authorized to file with the Department of
State of the State of New York and Further State Notice with respect to the
Securities.
17. You represent and warrant that you are a member in good standing of the
NASD, and we represent and warrant that we are (a) a member in good standing of
the NASD, (b) a Bank that is not a member of the NASD or (c) a foreign bank,
broker, dealer or other institution not eligible for membership in the NASD. If
we are such a member, we agree that in making sales of the Securities we will
comply with all applicable rules of the NASD, including, without limitation,
NASD Rule 2740. If we are not an NASD member, we agree to comply as though we
were a member with NASD Rules 2730, 2740, and 2750 and to comply with the
requirements of the NASD's Interpretation with Respect to Free-Riding and
Withholding. If we are such a foreign bank, broker, dealer or other institution,
we agree not to offer or sell any Securities in the United States of America
except through you and in making sales of Securities we agree to comply with
NASD Rule 2420 as it applies to a nonmember broker or dealer in a foreign
country. If we are a Bank, we agree that we will not accept any portion of the
management fee paid by the Underwriters with respect to the offering of any
Securities or, in connection with the public offering of any Securities that do
not constitute "exempted securities" within the meaning of Section 3(a)(12) of
the Exchange Act, purchase any Securities at a discount from the offering price
from any Underwriter or Selected Dealer or otherwise accept any selling
concession, discount or other allowance from any Underwriter or Selected Dealer,
which in any such case is not permitted under the NASD's Rules of Fair Practice,
and we agree to comply with NASD Rule 2420 as though we were a member.
18. Any notice to us shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed,
hand-delivered, telephoned (and confirmed in writing), telegraphed, telexed,
telecopied or wired communicated to us at the address set forth on the signature
page hereof, or at such other address as we shall notify you in writing.
Communications by telegram, telex, telecopy, wire or other written form shall be
deemed to be "written" communications.
19. This Master Agreement Among Underwriters shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements
made and to be wholly performed in such State.
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20. This Master Agreement Among Underwriters may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, which taken together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
Very truly yours,
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(Name of Firm)
By
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Name:
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Title:
---------------------------------
Address:
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Telephone:
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Telecopy:
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Confirmed, as of the date
first above written
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
By
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Name:
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Title:
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15
ANNEX A
WACHOVIA CAPITAL MARKETS, LLC
MASTER UNDERWRITERS' QUESTIONNAIRE
In connection with each offering of securities ("Securities") pursuant to
the Master Agreement Among Underwriters of Wachovia Capital Markets, LLC ("WCM")
dated __________, 2003, we confirm that except as set forth in our Acceptance of
an Invitation to participate in such offering or other communication furnished
to WCM prior to the effectiveness of our commitment to purchase:
(a) Neither we nor any of our directors, officers or partners have a
material relationship (as "material" is defined in Regulation C under the
Securities Act of 1933) with the Issuer and, if the offer and sale of the
Securities are to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933 pursuant
to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or F-1, neither we nor any "group"
(as that term is used in Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act")) of which we are a member is the
beneficial owner (determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the
Exchange Act), of more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the
Issuer, nor do we have any knowledge that more than 5% of any class of
voting securities of the Issuer is held or is to be held subject to any
voting trust or other similar agreement;
(b) Except as described in the Offering Document, we do not know of
any discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers, including
all cash, securities, contracts or other consideration to be received by
any dealer in connection with the sale of the Securities, nor are we aware
of any intention to overallot or that the price of any security may be
stabilized to facilitate the offering of the Securities;
(c) We have not prepared any report or memorandum for external use in
connection with the proposed offering and, if the offer and sale of the
Securities are to be registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act") pursuant to a Registration Statement on Form S-1 or
F-1, we have not within the past twelve months prepared or had prepared for
us any engineering, management, research or similar report or memorandum
relating (i) to the broad aspects of the business, operations or products
of the Issuer, with the exception of reports solely comprised of
recommendations to buy, sell or hold the Issuer's securities, unless such
recommendations have changed within the past six months or (ii) to
information already contained in documents filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission;
(d) We are not an "affiliate" of the Issuer for purposes of NASD Rule
2720 on the understanding that under NASD Rule 2720 (except as provided in
Rule 2720(b) thereof) two entities are "affiliates" of each other if one
entity controls, is controlled by, or is under common control with, the
second entity and that "control" is presumed to exist if one entity (or, in
the case of an NASD member, the entity and all "persons associated
16
with" it (as defined in the NASD Rules)) beneficially owns 10% or more of
the second entity's outstanding voting securities;
(e) If the Securities to be offered are debt securities and their
offer and sale are to be registered under the Act, (i) we are not an
"affiliate" (as defined in Rule O-2 under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended) of the Trustee for Securities or of any parent company of such
Trustee; (ii) neither such Trustee nor its parent company, if any, nor any
director or executive officer of either of them is a "director, officer,
partner, employee, appointee or representative" of ours (as those terms are
defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, or in the relevant
instructions to Form T-1 thereunder); and (iii) we and our directors,
partners and executive officers, taken as a group, do not own beneficially
one percent or more of the shares of any class of outstanding voting
securities of such Trustee or of its parent company, if any;
(f) If we are a corporation, we do not have outstanding nor have we
assumed or guaranteed any securities issued otherwise than in our present
corporate name;
(g) If we are, or are affiliated with, any U.S. or non-U.S. bank, we
hereby represent and warrant that our participation in the offering of the
Securities on the terms contemplated in the Master Agreement Among
Underwriters and the proposed Underwriting Agreement does not contravene
any U.S. or state banking law restricting the exercise of securities powers
in the United States;
(h) If the Securities are not issued by a real estate investment
trust, then no portion of the net offering proceeds from the sale of the
Securities will be paid to us or any of our affiliates or "persons
associated with" us (as defined in the NASD Rules) or members of the
immediate family of any such person;
(i) If the filing with the NASD is required, then neither we nor any
of our directors, officers, partners or "persons associated with" us (as
defined in the NASD Rules), nor, to our knowledge, any "related person"
(defined by the NASD to include counsel, financial consultants and
advisors, finders, members of the selling or distribution group, any NASD
member participating in the public offering and any other persons
associated with or related to, and members of the immediate family of, any
of the foregoing) or any other broker-dealer, (i) within the last 12 months
has purchased in private transactions, or intends before, at or within 6
months after the commencement of the public offering of the Securities to
purchase in private transactions, any securities of the Issuer or any
Issuer Related Party (as hereinafter defined, (ii) within the last 12
months had any dealings with the Issuer, any of the selling stockholders or
any parent, subsidiary or controlling stockholder thereof (other than
relating to the proposed Underwriting Agreement, Master Agreement Among
Underwriters and selling arrangements), as to which documents or
information are required to be filed with the NASD pursuant to its
Corporate Financing Rule or (iii) during the 12 months immediately
preceding the filing of the registration statement, has entered into any
17
arrangement which provided or provides for the receipt of any item of value
(including, but not limited to, cash payments and expense reimbursements)
and/or the transfer of any warrants, options or other securities from the
Issuer or any Issuer Related Party to us or any related person;
(j) If the Securities are not issued by a registered investment
company, direct participation program or real estate investment trust, then
there is no association or affiliation between us and (i) any officer or
director of the Issuer or any Issuer Related Party, or (ii) any
securityholder of 5% or more of any class of securities of the Issuer or an
Issuer Related Party; it being understood that for purposes of paragraph
(k) above and this paragraph (l), the term "Issuer Related Party" includes
any selling securityholder offering securities to the public, any affiliate
of the Issuer or a selling security holder, and the officers, general
partners, directors, employees and securityholders thereof;
(k) If the Securities are not issued by a registered investment
company, direct participation program or real estate investment trust, then
we do not have a "conflict of interest" with the Issuer under NASD Rule
2720; it being understood that, except as otherwise provided in NASD Rule
2720(b), a conflict of interest would exist if we, our "parent" (as defined
in the NASD Rules), affiliates and "persons associated with" us (as defined
in the NASD Rules) in the aggregate beneficially owned 10% or more of the
Issuer's "common equity", "preferred equity" or "subordinated debt" (as
each such term is defined in NASD Rule 2720);
(l) If the Issuer does not have any securities registered under
Section 12 of Exchange Act and is not otherwise subject to Section 15(d) of
the Exchange Act, then we do not intend to confirm sales of the Securities
to any accounts over which we exercise discretionary authority; and
(m) If the Issuer is a public utility, then we are not a "holding
company" or a "subsidiary company" or an "affiliate" of a "holding company"
or of a "public utility", each as defined in the Public Utility Holding
Company Act of 1935.
(n) We are familiar with the rules, regulations and releases of the
Securities and Exchange Commission dealing with the dissemination of
information prior to and during registration, and we hereby inform you that
neither we nor any of our directors, officers or partners have disseminated
or will disseminate outside our organization any information relating to
the Company or its securities of a nature or under circumstances indicated
by those rules, regulations and releases to constitute a possible violation
of the securities laws.
(o) We have no knowledge of any untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement or any omission to state any
material fact required therein to be stated or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading.
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(p) Our commitment to purchase Securities, including pursuant to an
over-allotment option, will not result in the violation by us of the
financial responsibility requirements of Rule 15c3-1 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 or a similar provision of a securities exchange to
which we are subject.
WE WILL NOTIFY YOU IMMEDIATELY IN THE EVENT OF ANY DEVELOPMENT BEFORE THE
EFFECTIVE DATE OF THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH MAKES UNTRUE OR
INCOMPLETE ANY OF THE ABOVE STATEMENTS AS OF SUCH EFFECTIVE DATE. We will
keep an accurate record of the distribution of copies of the preliminary
prospectus and agree to deliver any revised preliminary prospectus. We also
agree to furnish the final prospectus to each person who purchases
Securities from us and to otherwise comply with applicable securities laws.
We are aware that the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission may
not review the registration statement (and we will assume, unless advised
to the contrary, that the staff of the Commission has not reviewed the
registration statement) and that the review process of the Commission may
not be relied upon in any degree to indicate the registration statement is
true, complete or accurate. We are aware of our statutory responsibilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, and we authorize Wachovia Securities,
Inc. on behalf of the Representatives, on our behalf to so advise the
Commission in writing.
Very truly yours,
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(Name of Firm)
By:
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Name:
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Title:
---------------------------------
Date:
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19
