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EXHIBIT 1
Draft of 6/19/00
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
July ____, 2000
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
WitSoundView Corporation
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
INTRODUCTORY. Convergent Group Corporation, a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several
underwriters named in Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 7,750,000
shares of its Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Shares").
The 7,750,000 Common Shares to be sold by the Company are designated the "Firm
Shares". In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to
purchase up to an additional 170,500 Common Shares and the stockholders named in
Schedule B (collectively, the "Selling Stockholders) have granted to the
Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 992,000 Common Shares as
set forth opposite each Selling Stockholder's name in Schedule B, all as
provided in Section 2. The additional 170,500 Common Shares to be sold by the
Company and the additional 992,000 Common Shares to be sold by the Selling
Stockholders pursuant to such option are collectively called the "Option
Shares". The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the
Option Shares are collectively called the "Shares". FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Inc. ("Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx"), Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities
Corporation and WitSoundView Corporation have agreed to act as representatives
of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the "Representatives") in
connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
As a part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement,
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx has agreed to reserve out of the Firm Shares set forth
opposite its name on the Schedule A to this Agreement, up to _________________
shares, for sale to the Company's employees, officers, and directors and other
parties associated with the Company (collectively, "Participants"), as set forth
in the Prospectus (as defined herein) under the heading "Underwriting" (the
"Directed Share Program"). The Shares to be sold by Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx pursuant
to the Directed Share Program (the "Directed Shares") will be sold by Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx pursuant to this Agreement at the initial public offering price. Any
Directed Shares not orally confirmed for purchase by any Participants as of 7:00
am New York time on the first day trading of the shares commences will be
offered to the public by Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx as set forth in the Prospectus.
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The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-30586), which contains a form of prospectus, subject to
completion, to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the
Shares. Each such prospectus, subject to completion, used in connection with
such public offering is called a "preliminary prospectus". Such registration
statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and
schedules thereto, in the form in which it was declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any
information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to
Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is called the "Registration Statement". Any
registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act is called the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement", and from and
after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the
term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to
confirm sales of the Shares, is called the "Prospectus". All references in this
Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any
of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System
("XXXXX").
The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders hereby
confirms their respective agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
A. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
hereby represents and warrants to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared
effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied
to the Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for
additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted
or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or
threatened by the Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed
complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by
electronic transmission pursuant to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by
Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof
delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of
the Shares. Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became
effective and on the Closing Date (as defined herein) complied and will comply
in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading. Each preliminary prospectus, as of its date, and the Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, as of its date and on the Closing Date did not and will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or 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. The representations
and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not
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apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements
thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to
any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives
expressly for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to
be described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has
delivered to the Representatives three complete conformed copies of the
Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a
part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without
exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives have
reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has
not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second
Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters'
distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of,
the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to
indemnification and contribution hereunder may be limited by applicable law and
except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Company. The Shares
to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized
for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered
by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against the payment therefor, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Selling Stockholders.
The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Selling
Stockholders, when issued, were validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(g) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement except for such rights as have been
duly waived.
(h) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as
of which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material
adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result
in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change or effect, where the
context so requires, is called a "Material Adverse Change" or a "Material
Adverse Effect"); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
entity, have not incurred any material liability or
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obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of
business nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the
ordinary course of business; and (iii) there has been no dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company or, except for
dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on
any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(i) Independent Accountants. Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP, who have expressed
their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in
this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) filed with the Commission as
a part of the Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus, are
independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities
Act.
(j) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included
in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of
their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. Such financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the
related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are
required to be included in the Registration Statement. The financial data set
forth in the Prospectus under the captions "Summary--Summary Selected
Consolidated Financial Data", "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and
"Capitalization" fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the
Registration Statement.
(k) Company's Accounting System. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries maintain a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(l) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than
the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(m) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized
and is validly existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the
case may be, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
organized with full power and authority to own its properties and conduct its
business as described in the prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as
a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction which requires such qualification, except where the failure to be
so qualified or in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(n) Capitalization of the Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly authorized and validly issued
and are fully paid and
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nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, all
outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries are owned by the Company
either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any
security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
(o) No Prohibition on Subsidiaries from Paying Dividends or Making
Other Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited,
directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making
any other distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the
Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from
transferring any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any
other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized,
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the
Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options described in the Prospectus).
The Common Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the issued and
outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued, are
fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and
state securities laws. None of the outstanding Common Shares were issued in
violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are no
authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first
refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries other than those described in the Prospectus. The
description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or
arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder, set forth in
the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents in all material respects the
information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements,
options and rights.
(q) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares have been approved for listing
on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(r) No Consents, Approvals or Authorizations Required. No consent,
approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained or made under the
Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act") and such as may be required (i) under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters in the manner contemplated herein and in the Prospectus, (ii)
by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. and (iii) by the federal
and provincial laws of Canada.
(s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments Agreements. Neither the
issue and sale of the Shares to be sold by the Company nor the consummation of
any other of the transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the
terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture,
contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or
other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their
property is subject or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order
or
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decree applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court,
regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other
authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
of its or their properties, except in the case of clause (ii), such conflicts,
breaches, violations or impositions as would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) No Defaults or Violations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary
is in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or by-laws, (ii)
the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note
agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or
instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject
or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or
other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any
of its properties, as applicable, except any such violation or default which
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect
except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus.
(u) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. No action, suit or proceeding by
or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is
pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of
this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(v) All Necessary Permits, Etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess
such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits (collectively,
"Permits") issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory
agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses, except
where the failure to possess such Permits would not have a Material Adverse
Effect, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance
with, any such Permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, is reasonably likely to result in a
Material Adverse Change.
(w) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in
the financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above in each case free
and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities,
claims and other defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect
the value of such property and do not materially interfere with the use made or
proposed to be made of such property by the Company or such subsidiary. The real
property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under lease by the
Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases, with such
exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere with the use made
or proposed to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or
personal property by the Company or such subsidiary.
(x) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
have filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax
returns or have properly requested extensions thereof and have paid all taxes
required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or
similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be
being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings. The Company has
made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial
statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above in respect of all material
federal, state and foreign income
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and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of the Company
or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally determined. The
Company is not aware of any tax deficiency that has been or might be asserted or
threatened against the Company that would result in a Material Adverse Change.
(y) Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its
subsidiaries owns or possesses adequate rights to use all patents, patent rights
or licenses, inventions, collaborative research agreements, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which are
necessary to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, except where the failure to own or possess such rights would not
have a Material Adverse Effect; the expiration of any patents, patent rights,
trade secrets, trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights would not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change that is not
otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus; the Company has not received any notice
of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or conflict with asserted
rights of the Company by others with respect to any patent, patent rights,
inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or
copyrights; and the Company has not received any notice of, and has no knowledge
of, any infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect
to any patent, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks,
service marks, trade names or copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if
the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, is reasonably likely
to have a Material Adverse Change. There is no claim being made against the
Company regarding patents, patent rights or licenses, inventions, collaborative
research, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or
copyrights. To the best of the Company's knowledge, the Company and its
subsidiaries do not in the conduct of their business as now or proposed to be
conducted as described in the Prospectus infringe or conflict with any right or
patent of any third party, or any discovery, invention, product or process which
is the subject of a patent application filed by any third party, known to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, which such infringement or conflict is
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(z) Y2K. There are no Y2K issues related to the Company, or any of its
subsidiaries, that (i) are of a character required to be described or referred
to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus by the Securities Act which have
not been accurately described in all material respects in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or (ii) might reasonably be expected to result in any
Material Adverse Change or that might materially affect their properties, assets
or rights.
(aa) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or
other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company
of the Shares to be sold by the Company.
(bb) Company Not an "Investment Company". The Company is not, and after
receipt of payment for the Shares will not be, an "investment company" or an
entity "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the
Investment Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will
not become subject to the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
"Investment Company Act").
(cc) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by
recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such
amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally
deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited
to, policies covering real and personal property owned or
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leased by the Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction,
acts of vandalism and earthquakes, general liability and Directors and Officers
liability. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will
not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such
policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions
as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and
at a cost that would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the
Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has
sought or for which it has applied.
(dd) Labor Matters. To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor
disturbance by the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or
is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor
disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, that reasonably
might be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(ee) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken
and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might
be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of
the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(ff) Lock-Up Agreements. Each officer and director of the Company, each
Selling Stockholder and each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the
outstanding issued share capital of the Company has agreed to sign an agreement
substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Lock-up
Agreements"). The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters a
complete and accurate list of all securityholders of the Company and the number
and type of securities held by each securityholder. The Company has provided to
counsel for the Underwriters true, accurate and complete copies of all of the
Lock-up Agreements presently in effect or effected hereby. The Company hereby
represents and warrants that it will not release any of its officers, directors
or other stockholders from any Lock-up Agreements currently existing or
hereafter effected without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx.
(gg) 1999 Stock Option Plan. The Company (i) has notified each holder
of a currently outstanding option issued under the 1999 Stock Option Plan (the
"Option Plan") and each person who has acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant
to the exercise of any option granted under the Option Plan that pursuant to the
terms of the Option Plan, that none of such options or shares may be sold or
otherwise transferred or disposed of for a period of 180 days after the
effective date of the Registration Statement and (ii) has imposed a
stop-transfer instruction with the Company's transfer agent in order to enforce
the foregoing lock-up provision imposed pursuant to the Option Plan.
(hh) Registration Rights Agreement. The Company (i) has notified each
stockholder who is party to the Registration Rights Agreement dated August 13,
1999, (the "Registration Rights Agreement"), that pursuant to the terms of the
Registration Rights Agreement, none of the shares of the Company's capital stock
held by such stockholder may be sold or otherwise transferred or disposed of for
a period of 180 days after the effective date of the Registration Statement and
(ii) has imposed a stop-transfer instruction with the Company's transfer agent
in order to enforce the foregoing lock-up provision imposed pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement.
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(ii) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or
related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other
person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described
as required.
(jj) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any
employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or
other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or
foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be
disclosed in the Prospectus.
(kk) Environmental Laws. (i) The Company is in compliance in all
material respects with all rules, laws and regulations relating to the use,
treatment, storage and disposal of toxic substances and protection of health or
the environment ("Environmental Laws") which are applicable to its business,
except where the failure to comply would not result in a Material Adverse
Change, (ii) the Company has received no notice from any governmental authority
or third party of an asserted claim under Environmental Laws, which claim is
required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (iii)
the Company is not currently aware that it will be required to make future
material capital expenditures to comply with Environmental Laws and (iv) no
property which is owned, leased or occupied by the Company has been designated
as a Superfund site pursuant to the Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and
Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601, et seq.), or
otherwise designated as a contaminated site under applicable state or local law.
(ll) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the
ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the
effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the
Company and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates
associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or
operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any
related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to
third parties). On the basis of such review and the amount of its established
reserves, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and
liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change.
(mm) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any
"employee benefit plan" (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (collectively, "ERISA")) established or maintained by
the Company, its subsidiaries or their "ERISA Affiliates" (as defined below) are
in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. "ERISA Affiliate" means, with
respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations
described in Sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
(the "Code") of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No "reportable
event" (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur
with respect to any "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the
Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No "employee benefit
plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA Affiliates, if such "employee benefit plan" were terminated, would have
any "amount of unfounded benefit liabilities" (as defined under ERISA). Neither
the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or
reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with
respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any "employee benefit plan" or
(ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each "employee
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benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any
of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a)
of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or
failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(nn) No Improper Influence in Connection with the Directed Share
Program. The Company has not offered, or caused FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Inc. to offer, Directed Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share
Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or
supplier of the Company to alter the customer's or supplier's level or type of
business with the Company or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or
publish favorable information about the Company or its products.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and
delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as
to the matters set forth therein.
B. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS. Each
Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, represents, warrants and
covenants to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder
and is a valid and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification and contribution
hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by
general equitable principles.
(b) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney. Each of the (i)
Custody Agreement signed by such Selling Stockholder and [___], as custodian
(the "Custodian"), relating to the deposit of the Option Shares to be sold by
such Selling Stockholder (the "Custody Agreement") and (ii) Power of Attorney
appointing certain individuals named therein as such Selling Stockholder's
attorneys-in-fact (each, an "Attorney-in-Fact") to the extent set forth therein
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (the
"Power of Attorney"), of such Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding
agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnification and contribution thereunder may be limited
by applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles. Each Selling Stockholder agrees that the Option Shares to
be sold by such Selling Stockholder on deposit with the Custodian is subject to
the interests of the Underwriters, that the arrangements made for such custody
are to that extent irrevocable, and that the obligations of such Selling
Stockholder hereunder shall not be terminated, except as provided in this
Agreement or in the Custody Agreement, by any act of the Selling Stockholder, by
operation of law, by death or incapacity of such Selling Stockholder or by the
occurrence of any other event. If such Selling Stockholder should die or become
incapacitated, or in any other event should occur, before the delivery of the
Option Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder, the documents
evidencing the Option Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder then on
deposit with the Custodian shall be delivered by the Custodian in accordance
with the terms and conditions of
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this Agreement as if such death, incapacity or other event had not occurred,
regardless of whether or not the Custodian shall have received notice thereof.
(c) Title to Shares to be Sold. Such Selling Stockholder is the lawful
owner of the Option Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and
upon sale and delivery of, and payment for, such Option Shares, as provided
herein, such Selling Stockholder will convey good and marketable title to such
Option Shares, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims
whatsoever.
(d) All Authorizations Obtained. Such Selling Stockholder has, and on
the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date (as defined below) will have,
good and valid title to all of the Option Shares which may be sold by the
Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement on such date and the legal right
and power, and all authorizations and approvals required by law and under its
charter or by-laws, partnership agreement, trust agreement or other
organizational documents, as applicable, to enter into this Agreement and its
Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all of
the Option Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this
Agreement and to comply with its other obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(e) No Further Consents, Authorization or Approvals. No consent,
approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body is
required for the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as may have been obtained under the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act and such as may be required under the federal and
provincial securities laws of Canada or the blue sky laws or any jurisdiction in
connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters
and such other approvals as have been obtained.
(f) Non-Contravention. Neither the sale of the Option Shares being sold
by such Selling Stockholder nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated by such Selling Stockholder or the fulfillment
of the terms hereof by such Selling Stockholder will conflict with, result in a
breach or violation of, or constitute a default under any law or the terms of
any indenture or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder
is party or bound, any judgment, order or decree applicable to such Selling
Stockholder or any court or regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental
body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder.
(g) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling Stockholder
does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration
Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for
such rights as are described in the Prospectus under "Shares Eligible for Future
Sale".
(h) No Preemptive, Co-sale or other Rights. Such Selling Stockholder
does not have, or has waived prior to the date hereof, any preemptive right,
co-sale right or right of first refusal or other similar right to purchase any
of the Shares that are to be sold by the Company or any of the Selling
Stockholders to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement; and such Selling
Stockholder does not own any warrants, options or similar rights to acquire, and
does not have any right or arrangement to acquire, any capital stock, right,
warrants, options or other securities from the Company, other than those
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
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(i) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Stockholder in the Prospectus. All
information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in writing
expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is, and on the
First Closing Date (as defined below) will be, true, correct, and complete in
all material respects, and does not, and on the First Closing Date will not,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make such information not misleading. Such Selling Stockholder
confirms as accurate the number of shares of Company Shares set forth opposite
such Selling Stockholder's name in the Prospectus under the caption "Principal
and Selling Stockholders" or in the notes thereto (both prior to and after
giving effect to the sale of the Shares).
(j) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Such Selling Stockholder
has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to
or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale
of the Shares.
(k) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or
other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the sale by the Selling Stockholders
of the Option Shares.
(l) Distribution of Offering Materials by the Selling Stockholders. The
Selling Stockholders have not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the
later of the Second Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the
Underwriters' distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection
with the offering and sale of the Shares by such Selling Stockholder other than
a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(m) Confirmation of Company Representations and Warranties. Such
Selling Stockholder has no reason to believe that the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Section 1(A) hereof are not true and
correct, is familiar with the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and has
no knowledge of any material fact, condition or information not disclosed in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus which has had or may result in a
Material Adverse Change on the condition, financial or otherwise, or on the
earnings, business, operation or prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one entity, and is not prompted to sell the Shares
to be sold by such Selling Stockholder by any information concerning the Company
which is not set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of any Selling
Stockholder and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Selling
Stockholder to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SHARES.
(a) The Firm Shares. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the
several Underwriters the Firm Shares upon the terms herein set forth. On the
basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and
upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters
agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company the respective
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A. The purchase
price per Firm Share to be paid by the several Underwriters to the Company shall
be $[___] per share.
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(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be purchased
by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made by the Company and the
Representatives at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, at the offices of X'Xxxxxxxx,
Graev & Karabell L.L.P. (or at such other place as may be agreed upon among the
Representatives and the Company), (i) on the third (3rd) full business day
following the first day that Shares are traded, (ii) if this Agreement is
executed and delivered after 1:30 P.M., San Francisco time, the fourth (4th)
full business day following the day that this Agreement is executed and
delivered or (iii) at such other time and date not later that seven (7) full
business days following the first day that Shares are traded as the
Representatives and the Company may determine (or at such time and date to which
payment and delivery shall have been postponed pursuant to Section 8 hereof),
such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing
Date;" provided, however, that if the Company has not made available to the
Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time provided in Section
2(g) and 3(e) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole discretion,
postpone the Closing Date until no later that two (2) full business days
following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives.
(c) The Option Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition, on the
basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and
upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company and
the Selling Stockholders hereby grant an option to the several Underwriters to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of 1,162,500 Option
Shares from the Company and the Selling Stockholders at the purchase price per
share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option granted
hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments
in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option
granted hereunder may be exercised at any time upon notice by the
Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, which notice may be
given at any time within 30 days from the date of this Agreement. The time and
date of delivery of the Option Shares, is called the "Second Closing Date" and
shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be earlier than three
nor later than five full business days after delivery of such notice of
exercise. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, (i) each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Option Shares (subject to
such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may
determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Option Shares
to be purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite
the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares and (ii)
the Company and each Selling Stockholder agree, severally and not jointly, to
sell the number of Option Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate
fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same
proportion to the total number of Option Shares to be sold as the number of
Option Shares set forth in Schedule B opposite the name of such Selling
Stockholder (or, in the case of the Company, as the number of Option Shares to
be sold by the Company as set forth in the paragraph "Introductory" of this
Agreement) bears to the total number of Option Shares. The Representatives may
cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice
of such cancellation to the Company and the Selling Stockholders.
(d) Public Offering of the Shares. The Representatives hereby advise
the Company and the Selling Stockholders that the Underwriters intend to offer
for sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective
portions of the Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed and the
Registration Statement has been declared effective as the Representatives, in
their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.
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(e) Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the
Company shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the
Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
order of the Company. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Stockholders shall be made, if applicable, at the Second Closing Date by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Custodian.
It is understood that the Representatives have been
authorized, for their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters,
to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price
for, the Firm Shares and any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to
purchase. FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc., individually and not as the
Representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make
payment for any Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not
have been received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such Underwriter,
but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its
obligations under this Agreement.
Each Selling Stockholder hereby agrees that it will pay all
stock transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable upon
the sale or delivery of the Option Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder
to the several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the performance of
such Selling Stockholder's obligations hereunder.
(f) Delivery of the Shares. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be
delivered a credit representing the Firm Shares to an account or accounts at The
Depository Trust Company as designated by the Representatives for the accounts
of the Representatives and the several Underwriters at the First Closing Date,
against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available
funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. The Company and the Selling
Stockholders shall deliver, or cause to be delivered a credit representing the
Option Shares to an account or accounts at The Depository Trust Company as
designated by the Representatives for the accounts of the Representatives and
the several Underwriters, at the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of
immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor. Time
shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this
Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00
noon on the second business day following the date the Shares are released by
the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to
be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as
the Representatives shall request.
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS.
A. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company further covenants and
agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Matters. The Company will (i) use its best
efforts to cause a registration statement on Form 8-A (the "Form 8-A
Registration Statement") as required by the Exchange Act to become effective
simultaneously with the Registration Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to
cause the Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in
Rule 430A of the Securities Act is followed, to prepare and timely file with the
Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act a Prospectus in a form
approved by the Representatives containing information previously omitted at the
time of effectiveness of the
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Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Securities Act and (iii)
not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act. If
the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act prior to the time
confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2) under the
Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111
under the Securities Act.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. The Company will advise the
Representatives promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (ii) of receipt of
any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request of the Commission for
amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or
for any additional information and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use
of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The
Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as
soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters in endeavoring to qualify the
Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions (both national
and foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to
time, prepare and file such statements, reports and other documents, as are or
may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period
as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities
Act Matters. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit
the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable
opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus
is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time
to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company
promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish, at its own
expense, for a period of nine (9) months after the date of this Agreement and
thereafter at the expense of the Underwriters, to the Underwriters and to
dealers, an appropriate amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to
the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in
the light of the circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so
that the Prospectus will comply with the law.
(e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the First Closing Date
or such date, not to exceed nine (9)
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months from the date of this Prospectus (after which time such deliveries shall
be made at the expense of the Underwriters), as in the opinion of counsel for
the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in
connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery
Period"), as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements
thereto as the Representatives may request.
(f) Insurance. The Company shall (i) obtain Directors and Officers
liability insurance in the minimum amount of $10 million which shall apply to
the offering contemplated hereby and (ii) cause Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx to be added
to such policy such that up to $500,000 of its expenses pursuant to Section 7(a)
shall be paid directly by such insurer.
(g) Notice of Subsequent Events. If at any time during the ninety (90)
day period after the Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor,
publication or event relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as a
result of which, in your opinion, the market price of the Shares has been or is
likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor, publication
or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus), the
Company will, after written notice from you advising the Company to the effect
set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you concerning the substance of
and disseminate a press release or other public statement, reasonably
satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such rumor, publication or
event.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(i) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its
expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Company Shares.
(j) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period
ending June 30, 2001 that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act.
(k) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery
Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the
Nasdaq National Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the
Exchange Act.
(l) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. The Company
will not offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or enter into
any transaction which is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the
disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due
to cash settlement or otherwise by the Company or any affiliate of the Company
or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company)
directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any other Common Shares or
any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, Common Shares; provided,
however, that the Company may (i) issue and sell Common Shares pursuant to any
director or employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend
reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the date of the Prospectus and
described in the Prospectus so long as none of those shares may be transferred
and the Company shall enter stop transfer instructions with its transfer agent
and registrar against the transfer of any such Common Shares and (ii) the
Company may issue Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of securities or
the exercise of warrants outstanding at the date of the Prospectus and described
in the Prospectus. These restrictions
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terminate after the close of trading of the Shares on the 180th day of (and
including) the day the Shares commenced trading on the Nasdaq National Market
(the "Lock-Up Period").
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five
years hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of
the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for
the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the
Company with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any
report or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its
capital stock.
(n) Directed Share Program. The Company (i) will indemnify Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx for any losses incurred in connection with the Directed Share Program,
(ii) will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules
and regulations in each jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in
connection with the Directed Share Program and (iii) will pay all reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the Underwriters in connection
with the Directed Share Program and any stamp duties, similar taxes or duties or
other taxes, if any, incurred by the underwriters in connection with the
Directed Share Program.
B. COVENANTS OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS. Each Selling
Stockholder further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:
(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such Selling
Stockholder will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make a disposition of
Securities (as defined in Exhibit A hereto) now owned or hereafter acquired
directly by such person or with respect to which such person has or hereafter
acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide gift or
gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound by this
restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or shareholders of such person,
provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by the terms
of this restriction, (iii) with respect to dispositions of Common Shares
acquired on the open market or (iv) with the prior written consent of
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc. The foregoing restriction has been expressly
agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or
other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or
result in a disposition of Securities during the Lock-Up Period, even if such
Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such
prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any
short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of
any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect
to any Securities or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based
market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant
part of its value from Securities. Furthermore, such person has also agreed and
consented to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer
agent against the transfer of the Securities held by such person except in
compliance with this restriction.
(b) Delivery of Form W-9. To deliver to the Representatives prior to
the First Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States Treasury
Department Form W-9.
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(c) Notification of Untrue Statements, etc. If, at any time prior to
the date on which the distribution of the Common Shares as contemplated herein
and in the Prospectus has been completed, as determined by the Representatives,
such Selling Stockholder has knowledge of the occurrence of any event as a
result of which the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, in each case as
then amended or supplemented, would include an untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, such Selling Stockholder will promptly notify the Company and the
Representatives.
SECTION 4. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as
provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling
Stockholders set forth in Sections 1(A) and 1(B) hereof as of the date hereof
and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the
Option Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely
performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholders of their respective
covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No
Objection from the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. The
Registration Statement shall have become effective prior to the execution of
this Agreement, or at such later date as shall be consented to in writing by
you; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the
knowledge of the Company, any Selling Stockholder or any Underwriter, threatened
by the Commission, and any request of the Commission for additional information
(to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise)
shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel; and
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. shall have raised no
objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and
arrangements.
(b) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal
matters in connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and
delivery of the Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters'
Counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and
information as they may reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon
the matters referred to in this Section.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and
delivery of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date, or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, there shall not have been any Material Adverse
Change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business
or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus,
which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your
sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering
of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus; and
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion
of X'Xxxxxxxx, Graev & Karabell L.L.P., counsel for the Company substantially in
the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, dated the First Closing Date, or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be,
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addressed to the Underwriters and with reproduced copies or signed counterparts
thereof for each of the Underwriters.
Counsel rendering the opinion contained in Exhibit B may rely
as to questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the State
of New York, Colorado and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
upon opinions of local counsel, and as to questions of fact upon representations
or certificates of officers of the Company, the Selling Stockholders or officers
of the Selling Stockholders (when the Selling Stockholder is not natural
person), and of government officials, in which case their opinion is to state
that they are so relying and that they have no knowledge of any material
misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or certificate.
Copies of any opinion, representation or certificate so relied upon shall be
delivered to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, and to Underwriters'
Counsel.
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, Professional Corporation,
substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto. The Company shall have furnished
to such counsel such documents as they may have reasonably requested for the
purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(f) Accountants' Comfort Letter. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First Closing Date
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, confirming that they are
independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Securities Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations
and based upon the procedures described in such letter delivered to you
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (herein called the "Original
Letter"), but carried out to a date not more than four (4) business days prior
to the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, (i)
confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in
the Original Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and
additions to the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original Letter
which are necessary to reflect any changes in the facts described in the
Original Letter since the date of such letter, or to reflect the availability of
more recent financial statements, data or information. The letter shall not
disclose any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that
makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus. The
Original Letter from Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP shall be addressed to or for the use of
the Underwriters in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives and
shall (i) represent, to the extent true, that they are independent certified
public accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and
the applicable published Rules and Regulations, (ii) set forth their opinion
with respect to their examination of the consolidated balance sheet of the
Company as of December 31, 1999 and related consolidated statements of
operations, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for the twelve (12) months
ended December 31, 1999, (iii) state that Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP has performed the
procedures set out in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 71 ("SAS 71") for a
review of interim financial information and providing the report of Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx LLP as described in SAS 71 on the financial statements for each of the
quarters in the 9-quarter period ended March 31, 2000 (the "Quarterly Financial
Statements"), (iv) state that in the course of such review, nothing came to
their attention that leads them to believe that any
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material modifications need to be made to any of the Quarterly Financial
Statements in order for them to be in compliance with generally accepted
accounting principles consistently applied across the periods presented, and
address other matters agreed upon by Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP and you. In addition,
you shall have received from Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP a letter addressed to the
Company and made available to you for the use of the Underwriters stating that
their review of the Company's system of internal accounting controls, to the
extent they deemed necessary in establishing the scope of their examination of
the Company's consolidated financial statements as of December 31, 1999, did not
disclose any weaknesses in internal controls that they considered to be material
weaknesses.
(g) Officers' Certificate. You shall have received on the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the
Company, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of the First Closing Date
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has complied
with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be; and
(ii) 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 to the knowledge of such officers threatened
under the Securities Act.
(h) Lock-up Agreement from Certain Stockholders of the Company. The
Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto from each officer and director of the
Company, the Selling Stockholder and each beneficial owner of one or more
percent of the outstanding issued share capital of the Company.
(i) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. You shall have
received on the Second Closing Date, an opinion of counsel for each Selling
Stockholder reasonably acceptable to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx,
Professional Corporation, substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to
questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the States of
Colorado and Delaware upon opinions of local counsel and as to questions of fact
upon representations or certificates of the Selling Stockholders or of officers
of the Selling Stockholders (when the Selling Stockholder is not a natural
person), and of governmental officials, in which case their opinion is to state
that they are so relying and that they have no knowledge of any material
misstatement or inaccuracy of any material misstatement or inaccuracy in any
such opinion, representation or certificate so relied upon shall be delivered to
you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, and to Underwriters' Counsel.
(j) Selling Stockholder's Certificate. On the Second Closing Date, the
Representatives shall have received a written certificate executed by the
Attorney-in-Fact of each Selling Stockholder, dated as of such Closing Date, to
the effect that:
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(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of such
Selling Stockholder set forth in Section 1(B) of this Agreement are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made by such Selling
Stockholder on and as of such Closing Date; and
(ii) such Selling Stockholder has complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date.
(k) Selling Stockholder's Documents. At least three business days prior
to the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have
furnished for review by the Representatives copies of the Power of Attorney and
Custody Agreement executed by the Selling Stockholders and such further
information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably
request.
(l) Stock Exchange Listing. The Common Shares shall have been approved
for listing on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of
issuance.
(m) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Company shall
have complied with the provisions of Sections 2(g) and 3(e) hereof with respect
to the furnishing of Prospectuses.
(n) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives and counsel
for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and
opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to
pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein, or in
order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or
the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied
when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders at any
time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall be
without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that
Section 5 (Payment of Expenses), Section 6 (Reimbursement of Underwriters'
Expenses), Section 7 (Indemnification and Contribution) and Section 10
(Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery) shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company and the Selling
Stockholders, jointly and severally, agree to pay in such proportions as they
may agree upon among themselves all costs, fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the performance their obligations hereunder and in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all
expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Shares (including all
printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and
transfer agent of the Common Shares, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and
other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the
Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company's counsel, independent
public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping
and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements,
exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each preliminary
prospectus and the
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Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi)
all costs and expenses incurred by Underwriters counsel in connection with the
Directed Share Program, (vii) all filing fees, and reasonable attorneys' fees
and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in connection with
qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or
registration of) all or any part of the Shares for offer and sale under the
state securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada or
any other country, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing and
printing a "Blue Sky Survey", an "International Blue Sky Survey" or other
memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such
qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (viii) the filing fees incident
to, and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. review and
approval of the Underwriters' participation in the offering and distribution of
the Shares, (ix) the fees and expenses associated with listing the Common Shares
on the Nasdaq National Market, (x) all costs and expenses incident to the travel
and accommodation of the Company's employees on the "roadshow", and (xi) all
other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the
Registration Statement. Except as provided in this Section 5, Section 6, and
Section 7 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the
fees and disbursements of their counsel.
The Selling Stockholders further agree with each Underwriter
to pay (directly or by reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the
performance of their obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise
specifically provided for herein, including but not limited to (i) fees and
expenses of counsel and other advisors for such Selling Stockholders, (ii) fees
and expenses of the Custodian and (iii) expenses and taxes incident to the sale
and delivery of the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholders to the
Underwriters hereunder.
This Section 5 shall not affect or modify any separate, valid
agreement relating to the allocation of payment of expenses between the Company,
on the one hand, and the Selling Stockholders, on the other hand.
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If this Agreement
is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4, Section 8, Section 9
or Section 15, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares on the First
Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on
the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholder to perform any agreement
herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse
the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have
terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand
for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the
Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase
and the offering and sale of the Shares, including but not limited to fees and
disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel and accommodation expenses,
postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters.
(1) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter,
its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which
such Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or
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regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), insofar as such
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a
part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, 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 (ii) upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (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; or (iii) in whole or
in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company
contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company to
perform its respective obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any
audio or visual materials provided by the Company or based upon written
information furnished by or on behalf of the Company including, without
limitation, slides, videos, films or tape recordings, used in connection with
the marketing of the Shares; or (vi) any act or failure to act or any alleged
act or failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any
manner to, the Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included
as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv)
or (v) above, provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause
(vi) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined
by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted
directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken
by such Underwriter through its bad faith or willful misconduct; and to
reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person for any and all
expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling,
compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or
action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not
apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only
to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and
provided, further, that with respect to any preliminary prospectus, the
foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter
from whom the person asserting any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense
purchased Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if copies of the
Prospectus were timely delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a
copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by
or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have
been delivered, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have
cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense.
The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to
any liabilities that the Company and the Selling Stockholder may otherwise have.
(2) Each of the Selling Stockholders, jointly and severally, agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, and
each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act against
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any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such
Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, under the Securities
Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or
at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such
settlement is effected with the written consent of the Company, which consent
shall not be unreasonably withheld), insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below)
arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any
amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof
pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, 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 (ii) upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (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, in the case of subparagraphs (i) and (ii) of this
Section 7(a)(2) to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company or such Underwriter by such Selling Stockholder directly or through such
Selling Stockholder's representatives, specifically for use in the preparation
thereof; or (iii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations
and warranties of the Selling Stockholders contained herein; or (iv) in whole or
in part upon any failure of the Selling Stockholders to perform their respective
obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any act or failure to act or any
alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or relating
in any manner to, the Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and which is
included as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or
action arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i), (ii),
(iii) or (iv) above, provided that the Selling Stockholders shall not be liable
under this clause (v) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall
have determined by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or
omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its bad faith or willful
misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person
for any and all expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen
by Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such
Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating,
defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity
agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to
the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto); and provided, further, that with respect to any preliminary
prospectus, the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of
any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense purchased Shares, or any person controlling such
Underwriter, if copies of the Prospectus were timely delivered to the
Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended
or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter
to such person, if required by law so to have been delivered and if the
Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured the defect giving
rise to such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense. The indemnity agreement
set forth in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the
Selling Stockholders may otherwise have; and provided, further, that the
liability of each Selling Stockholder under the foregoing indemnity agreement
shall be
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limited to an amount equal to the initial public offering price of the Shares
sold by such Selling Stockholder, less the underwriting discount, as set forth
on the front cover page of the Prospectus.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors, Officers and Selling
Stockholders. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
signed the Registration Statement, the Selling Stockholders and each person, if
any, who controls the Company or any Selling Stockholder within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director,
officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of such
Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or
actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon
any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case
to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholders by the Representatives
expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director,
officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person for any legal and other
expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer,
Selling Stockholder or controlling person in connection with investigating,
defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section
7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise
have.
(c) Information Provided by the Underwriters. Each of the Company and
each of the Selling Stockholders, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, hereby
acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to
the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are, the
names of the Underwriters, the statements set forth in the table in the first
paragraph and the second, third, eighth and fourteenth paragraphs under the
caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such
statements are correct.
(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 or to the extent it is not
prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or
intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect,
jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written
notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid
notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with
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counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if
the defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to
assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying
party's election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the
indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in
accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood,
however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of
more than one separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the
indemnifying party (Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx in the case of Section 7(b)),
representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), (ii) the
indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time
after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) the indemnifying party has
authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of
the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel
shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with
such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by Section 7(d) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days
after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or
threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding 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.
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by such party on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided
by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
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applicable law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the such
party on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Company and the Selling
Stockholder on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.
The Company, each Selling Stockholder and Underwriters agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
Section 7(f) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above in this Section 7(f). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7(f) shall be
deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (f), (i) no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by
such Underwriter and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this Section 7(f) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(g) Timing of Any Payments of Indemnification. Any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are incurred, but in all cases, no later than forty-five
(45) days of invoice to the indemnifying party.
(h) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in
this Section 7 and the representation and warranties set forth in this Agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any
Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, the Selling
Stockholder or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the
benefits of the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained
in this Section 7.
(i) Acknowledgements of Parties. The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by
counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to
investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate
27
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disclosure is made in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
(j) Indemnification for Directed Share Program. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx and its affiliates and each
person, if any, who controls Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx or its affiliates within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act ("Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Entities"), from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating
any such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the
consent of the Company for distribution to participants in connection with the
Directed Share Program, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading; (ii) the failure of any participant to pay
for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the participant has agreed to
purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of, or in connection with the
Directed Share Program other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
expenses relating thereto) that are finally judicially determined to have
resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Entities.
SECTION 8. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS. If, on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one
or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that
it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate
number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the
Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated,
severally, in the proportions that the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite
their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of Firm
Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or
in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the
consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Shares which such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase
on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the
case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such
default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on
such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company
for the purchase of such Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default,
this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any other party
except that the provisions of Section 5, and Section 7 shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the
Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for
longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements
may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be
deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this
Section 8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be
terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company and the Selling
Stockholders if (a) at any time after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date
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(i) trading or quotation in any of the Company's securities shall have been
suspended or limited by the Commission or by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading
in securities generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock
Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices
shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the
Commission or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; (ii) a
general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of federal, New York
state, Delaware state or California state authorities; (iii) there shall have
occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or
any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international
financial markets, or any substantial change or development involving a
prospective change in United States' or international political, financial or
economic conditions, as in the judgment of the Representatives is material and
adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to market the Common Shares in
the manner and on the terms contemplated in the Prospectus or to enforce
contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the
Representatives there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v)
the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake,
accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the
Representatives may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and
operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been
insured and (b) in the case of any of the events specified 9(a)(i)-(v), such
event singly or together with any other event, makes it, in your judgement,
impracticable or inadvisable to market the Shares in the manner and on the terms
contemplated in the Prospectus. Any termination pursuant to this Section 9 shall
be without liability on the part of (x) the Company or the Selling Stockholders
to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall be
obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters
pursuant to Sections 5 and 6 hereof, (y) any Underwriter to the Company or any
person controlling the Company or the Selling Stockholders, or (z) of any party
hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7 shall at all
times be effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 10. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company or any person controlling the company, of its
officers, of the Selling Stockholders and of the several Underwriters set forth
in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the
Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any
controlling person, or the Selling Stockholders, as the case may be, and will
survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold hereunder and any
termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 11. NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
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30
If to the Representatives:
FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
with copies to:
XXXXXX XXXXXXX XXXXXXXX & XXXXXX, P.C.
000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxx, Esq.
If to the Company:
CONVERGENT GROUP CORPORATION
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx'x Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Chief Executive Officer
with copies to:
X'XXXXXXXX GRAEV & KARABELL, LLP
00 Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If to the Selling Stockholders:
[Custodian]
[address]
Facsimile: [___]
Attention: [___]
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
SECTION 12. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters
pursuant to Section 8 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and to their
respective successors, and personal representatives, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include
any purchaser of the Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by
reason of such purchase.
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31
SECTION 13. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or
provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is
for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed
to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to
make it valid and enforceable.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS.
(a) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in such state.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the
United States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the
courts of the State of California in each case located in the City and County of
San Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in
regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related
Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts
and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in the
United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System, which currently
maintains a San Francisco office at 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America, as its agent to receive service of
process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or
proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City and
County of San Francisco.
SECTION 15. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS TO SELL AND
DELIVER COMMON SHARES. If one or more of the Selling Stockholders shall fail to
sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to be sold and delivered by the
such Stockholder at the Second Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement, then the
Underwriters may at their option, by written notice from the Representatives to
the Company and the Selling Stockholders, either (i) terminate this Agreement
without any liability on the part of any Underwriter or, except as provided in
Sections 5, 6, and 7 hereof, the Company or the Selling Stockholders, or (ii)
purchase the shares which the Company has agreed to sell and deliver in
accordance with the terms hereof. If one or more of the Selling Stockholder
shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to be sold and
delivered by such Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement at the Second
Closing Date, then the Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice from
the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholder, to postpone the
Second Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that
the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
SECTION 16. GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous
31
32
oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject
matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures
thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be
amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no
condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by
each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. Section headings herein are
for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]
32
33
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, please sign and return to the Company and the Custodian the
enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts
hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
CONVERGENT GROUP CORPORATION
By:
--------------------------------
Chief Executive Officer
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
By:
--------------------------------
Attorney-in-fact for the Selling
Stockholders named in Schedule B
hereto
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted by the Representatives as of the date first above written.
FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
WITSOUNDVIEW CORPORATION
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the several underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
BY: FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.
By:
--------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
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34
SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF FIRM
COMMON SHARES
UNDERWRITERS TO BE PURCHASED
------------ ---------------
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc. ...................................... [_________]
Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation....................... [_________]
WitSoundView Corporation.................................................. [_________]
Total............................................................ 7,750,000
35
SCHEDULE B
MAXIMUM NUMBER
OF OPTION SHARES
SELLING STOCKHOLDER TO BE SOLD
------------------- ----------------
Convergent Group Corporation
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx'x Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 80111-4737...................................... 170,500
Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Xx.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx'x Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 80111-4737..................................... 586,000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
[Address] 406,000
------------
Total:............................................... 1,162,500
------------
36
EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
SoundView Technology Group, Inc.
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
RE: Convergent Group Corporation (the "Company")
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of
certain shares of Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company
proposes to carry out a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for
which you will act as the Representatives (the "Representatives") of the
underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to
the undersigned and will benefit the Company by, among other things, raising
additional capital for its operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you and
the other underwriters are relying on the representations and agreements of the
undersigned contained in this letter in carrying out the Offering and in
entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company with respect to the
Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby
agrees that the undersigned will not offer to sell, contract to sell, or
otherwise sell, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to
(collectively, a "Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or
warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now
owned or hereafter acquired directly by such person or with respect to which
such person has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than
(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or
shareholders of such person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to
sales or purchases of Common Stock acquired on the open market or (iv) with the
prior written consent of FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc. The foregoing
restrictions will terminate after the close of trading of the Common Stock on
the 180th day of (and including) the day the Common Stock commenced trading on
the Nasdaq National Market (the "Lock-Up" Period). The foregoing restriction has
been expressly agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in
any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to
lead to or result in a Disposition of Securities during the Lock-up Period, even
if such Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such
prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any
short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale
37
or grant of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option)
with respect to any Securities or with respect to any security (other than a
broad-based market basket or index) that included, relates to or derives any
significant part of its value from Securities. The undersigned also agrees and
consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer
agent and registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or Securities
held by the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
The undersigned also agrees not to exercise any demand
registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, dated August 13,
1999 until all of the shares of Common Stock governed by this Agreement are
released from this Agreement.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the
undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and
assigns of the undersigned.
Dated:
---------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Printed Name of Holder
By:
------------------------------------
Signature
----------------------------------------
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing
if signing as custodian, trustee, or on
behalf of an entity)
38
EXHIBIT B
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL
(i) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary (as that term
is defined in Regulation S-X of the Act) has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation;
(ii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary has the
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
(iii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary is duly
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction listed in a schedule to such opinion. To such counsel's
knowledge, the Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any
corporation, association or other entity other than [list subsidiaries];
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization"
as of the dates stated therein, the issued and outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company (including the Selling Stockholder Shares) outstanding
prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized and validly issued
and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such counsel's knowledge, were not
issued in violation of any preemptive or similar right arising under the
certificate of incorporation or the Delaware General Corporation Law, co-sale
right, right of first refusal or other similar right, other than any
registration rights described in Opinion (xix) hereof;
(v) All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such counsel's knowledge,
have not been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive right arising
under the certificate of incorporation or Delaware General Corporation Law,
co-sale right, right of first refusal or other similar right, other than any
registration rights described in Opinion (xix) hereof and except as set forth in
the Prospectus, are owned directly or indirectly by the Company free and clear
of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or equitable
interest;
(vi) The Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be,
to be issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement have been
duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor in
accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable, and will not have been issued in violation of or
subject to any preemptive or similar right, co-sale right, right of first
refusal or other similar right, other than any registration rights described in
Opinion (xix) hereof.
(vii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to
enter into this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver to the Underwriters the
Shares to be issued and sold by it hereunder;
(viii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery
by you, is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights
B-1
39
to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally
or by general equitable principles (whether relief is sought in a proceeding at
law or in equity);
(ix) Based on oral advice from the staff of the Commission,
the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and, to such
counsel's knowledge, 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 to our knowledge threatened by the Commission;
(x) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A
Registration Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and the Firm
Shares or the Option Shares have been validly registered under the Securities
Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
(xi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each
amendment or supplement thereto (other than the financial statements (including
supporting schedules) and financial and statistical data contained therein as to
which such counsel need express no opinion), as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement, complied as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations;
(xii) The statements in the Prospectus under the caption
"Description of Capital Stock," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law
or legal conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is a fair summary of
such matters and conclusions; and the form of certificates evidencing the Common
Stock and filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement comply with Delaware
law;
(xiii) The description in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus of the charter and bylaws of the Company and of statutes are accurate
and fairly present the information required to be presented by the Securities
Act;
(xiv) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no agreements,
contracts, leases or documents to which the Company is a party of a character
required to be described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which are not described
therein or filed as required;
(xv) The performance by the Company of this Agreement and the
consummation by the Company of the transactions herein contemplated (other than
performance of the Company's indemnification and contribution obligations
hereunder, concerning which no opinion need be expressed) will not (a) result in
any violation of the Company's charter or bylaws (b) to such counsel's
knowledge, result in a material breach or violation of any of the terms and
provisions of, or constitute a default under, any bond, debenture, note or other
evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other material agreement or instrument
known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by which its properties
are bound, or (c) violate any applicable statute, rule or regulation of the
United States, the State of New York or the Delaware General Corporation Law
known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge, any order, writ or decree
of any court, governmental agency or body of the United States or the
X-0
00
Xxxxxx xx Xxx Xxxx or Delaware having jurisdiction over the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, or over any of their properties or operations;
(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of or
qualification with any court or governmental agency or body of the United States
or the States of New York or Delaware having jurisdiction over the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, or over any of their properties or operations is
necessary in connection with the consummation by the Company of the transactions
herein contemplated, except (i) such as have been obtained under the Securities
Act, (ii) such as may be required under state or other securities or Blue Sky
laws in connection with the purchase and the distribution of the Shares by the
Underwriters, (iii) such as may be required by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. and (iv) such as may be required under the federal or
provincial laws of Canada or under the laws of any other foreign jurisdiction in
which the Shares may be offered and sold;
(xvii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of a character required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus by the Securities Act, other than those described
therein;
(xviii) To such counsel's knowledge, neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries is presently (a) in material violation of its respective
charter or bylaws, or (b) in material breach of any applicable statute, rule or
regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge, any order,
writ or decree of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction
over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or over any of their properties or
operations; and
(xix) To such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, no holders of Common Shares or other
securities of the Company have registration rights with respect to securities of
the Company and, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, all holders of securities of the Company having rights known to such
counsel to registration of such Common Shares or other securities, because of
the filing of the Registration Statement by the Company have, with respect to
the offering contemplated thereby, waived such rights or such rights have
expired by reason of lapse of time following notification of the Company's
intent to file the Registration Statement or have included securities in the
Registration Statement pursuant to the exercise of and in full satisfaction of
such rights.
(xx) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and the sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof
as described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as such
term is defined in the Investment Company Act.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, the Registration Statement (other than the financial statements including
supporting schedules and other financial and statistical information contained
therein, as to which such counsel need express no belief) at the time the
Registration Statement became effective contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or
B-3
41
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, or at the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement thereto (except as aforesaid) contains any untrue statement of a
material fact 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.
B-4
42
EXHIBIT C
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF
UNDERWRITERS' COUNSEL
(i) The Firm Shares and the Option Shares, as the case may be,
to be issued by the Company have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and
delivery and payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(ii) The Registration Statement complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act; the Registration Statement
has become effective under the Act and, to such counsel's knowledge, no stop
order proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or threatened or are
pending under the Securities Act.
(iii) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in
all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A
Registration Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and the
Shares have been validly registered under the Securities Act and the Rules and
Regulations of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder;
(iv) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.
(v) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Selling Stockholder.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has reviewed the
opinions addressed to the Representatives from X'Xxxxxxxx, Graev & Karabell
L.L.P., each dated the date hereof, and furnished to you in accordance with the
provisions of the Underwriting Agreement. Such opinions appear on their face to
be appropriately responsive to the requirements of the Underwriting Agreement.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective the Registration
Statement (other than the financial statements including supporting schedules
and other financial and statistical information derived therefrom, as to which
such counsel need express no comment) contained any 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 at the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid) contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
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43
EXHIBIT D
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER COUNSEL
(vi) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by or on behalf of, and is a valid and binding agreement
of, the Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable law and except
as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.
(vii) The execution and delivery by the Selling Stockholder
of, and the performance by the Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, the
Underwriting Agreement and its Custody Agreement and its Power of Attorney will
not contravene or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default
under, the charter or by-laws, partnership agreement, trust agreement or other
organization documents, as the case may be, of the Selling Stockholder, or, to
the best of such counsel's knowledge, violate, result in a breach of or
constitute a default under the terms of any other agreement or instrument to
which the Selling Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound, or any
judgement, order or decree applicable to the Selling Stockholder of any court,
regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
jurisdiction over the Selling Stockholder.
(viii) The Selling Stockholder has good and valid title to all
of the Common Shares which may be sold by the Selling Stockholder under the
Underwriting Agreement and has the legal right and power, and all authorization
and approvals required to enter into the Underwriting Agreement and its Custody
Agreement and its Power of Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all of the
Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder under the
Underwriting Agreement and to comply with its other obligations under the
Underwriting Agreement, its Custody Agreement and its Power of Attorney.
(ix) Each of the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of
the Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding agreement of the Selling
Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to
indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the
enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally or by general equitable principles.
(x) Assuming that the Underwriters purchase the Shares which
are sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement for
value, in good faith and without notice of any adverse claims, the delivery of
such Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement will pass good and valid
title to such Shares, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lieu encumbrance or other claim.
(xi) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any
court or governmental authority or agency, is required for the consummation by
such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated in the Underwriting
Agreement, except as required under the Securities Act, applicable state
securities or blue sky laws, and from the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc.
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