SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
Exhibit 1.3
SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY
$350,000,000
5.75% Notes due 2040
October 25, 0000
Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
October 25, 0000
XXXX XX XXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
XXXXX FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
As representatives of the several underwriters
XXXXX FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
As representatives of the several underwriters
c/o | Banc of America Securities LLC Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxx Xxxx , XX 00000 |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. Sonoco Products Company, a South Carolina corporation (the “Company”),
proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the
“Underwriters”), acting severally and not jointly, the respective amounts set forth in such
Schedule A of $350,000,000 aggregate principal amount of the Company’s 5.75% Notes due 2040 (the
“Notes”). Banc of America Securities LLC, Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC, Deutsche Bank
Securities Inc. and X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC have agreed to act as representatives of the several
Underwriters (in such capacity, the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and
sale of the Notes.
The Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of June 15, 1991 (the “Base
Indenture”), between the Company and The Bank of New York Mellon Trust Company, N.A. (formerly
known as The Bank of New York), as successor in interest to Wachovia Bank of North Carolina,
National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). Certain terms of the Notes will be
established pursuant to a supplemental indenture (the “Supplemental Indenture”) to the Base
Indenture (together with the Base Indenture, the “Indenture”). The Notes will be issued in
book-entry form in the name of Cede & Co., as nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the
“Depositary”), pursuant to a Letter of Representations, to be dated on or before the
Closing Date (as defined in Section 2 below) (the “DTC Agreement”), among the Company, the
Trustee and the Depositary.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-160964), which contains a
base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), to be used in connection with the public offering
and sale of debt securities, including the Notes, and other securities of the Company under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the “Securities Act”), and the offering thereof from time to time in
accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Such registration statement, including the
financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it became effective
under the Securities Act, including any required information deemed to be a part thereof at the
time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430B under the Securities Act, is called the
“Registration Statement.” The term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus
supplement relating to the
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Notes, together with the Base Prospectus, that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after
the date and time that this Agreement is executed (the “Execution Time”) by the parties
hereto. The term “Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement
relating to the Notes, together with the Base Prospectus, that is first filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b). Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents that are or are
deemed to be incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the Securities
Act prior to 4:00 p.m. on October 25, 2010 (the “Initial Sale Time”). All references in
this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the 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”).
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information
which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” (or other references of like import) in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and
include all such financial statements and schedules and other information which is or is deemed to
be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary
Prospectus, as the case may be, prior to the Initial Sale Time; and all references in this
Agreement to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the
Preliminary Prospectus shall be deemed to include the filing of any document under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the “Exchange Act”), which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be,
after the Initial Sale Time.
The Company hereby confirms its agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company
The Company hereby represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as of the date
hereof, as of the Initial Sale Time and as of the Closing Date (in each case, a “Representation
Date”), as follows:
a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets the requirements for use
of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement has become effective under the
Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
are pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission,
and any request on the part of the Commission for additional information has been complied with.
In addition, the Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (the “Trust Indenture Act”).
At the respective times the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto
(including the filing with the Commission of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K
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for the year ended December 31, 2009 (the “Annual Report on Form 10-K”)) became
effective and at each Representation Date, the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto
(i) complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act
and the Trust Indenture Act, and (ii) 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. At the date of the Prospectus and at the Closing Date,
neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto included or will include an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the representations and warranties in this subsection
shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by any of the Underwriters through
the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such
information furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information
described as such in Section 8 hereof.
Each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, at the time each was filed with the SEC,
complied in all material respects with the Securities Act, and the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of the Notes will,
at the time of such delivery, be identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed
with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
b) Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the
Preliminary Prospectus dated October 25, 2010, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as defined
in Rule 433 of the Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any,
identified in Annex I hereto and (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto
shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package. As of the
Initial Sale Time, the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not
apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information
furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information described as
such in Section 8 hereof.
c) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (i) at the
time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied or will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act and (ii) when read together with the other
information in the Disclosure Package, at the Initial Sale Time, and when read together with the
other information in the Prospectus, at the date of the Prospectus and at the Closing Date, did not
or will not include an 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.
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d) Company is a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration
Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with
Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment,
incorporated report filed pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of
prospectus), (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning,
for this clause only, of Rule 163(c) of the Securities Act) made any offer relating to the Notes in
reliance on the exemption of Rule 163 of the Securities Act, and (iv) as of the Execution Time, the
Company was and is a “well known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act.
The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined in Rule 405
of the Securities Act, that automatically became effective not more than three years prior to the
Execution Time; the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule
401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration statement form
and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration
form.
e) Company is not an Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration
Statement and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the determination date
for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined
in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission
pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not necessary that the Company be considered
an Ineligible Issuer.
f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its issue
date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offering of Notes under this
Agreement or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the Representatives as
described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any information that
conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. If at any time following issuance of an
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of
which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information
contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus the Company
has promptly notified or will promptly notify the Representatives and has promptly amended or
supplemented or will promptly amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus to eliminate or correct such conflict. The foregoing two sentences do not apply to
statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information
furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information described as
such in Section 8 hereof.
g) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and
will not distribute, prior to the later of the Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriters’
distribution of the Notes, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the
Notes other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and consented to by the Representatives and included in Annex I
hereto or any electronic road show or other written communications reviewed and consented to by the
Representatives and listed on Annex II hereto
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(each a, “Company Additional Written Communication”). Each such Company Additional
Written Communication, when taken together with the Disclosure Package, did not, and at the Closing
Date 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 preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or
omissions from the Company Additional Written Communication based upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information
furnished by any Underwriter through the Representatives consists of the information described as
such in Section 8 hereof.
h) 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.
i) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
j) Authorization of the Indenture. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and constitutes a
valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and
remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles.
k) Authorization of the Notes. The Notes to be purchased by the Underwriters from the
Company are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized for issuance and
sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the Closing Date, will have been duly
executed by the Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and
delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium
or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles, and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
l) Description of the Notes and the Indenture. The Notes and the Indenture conform in all
material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus.
m) Accuracy of Statements in Prospectus. The statements in each of the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of the Notes, “ “Description of the
Securities,” and “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations”, in each case insofar as
such statements constitute a summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to
therein, fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.
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n) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package,
subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package, (i)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference
with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree and (ii)
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,
management, business, properties, results of 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 is called a “Material Adverse Change”).
o) Independent Accountants. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, who have expressed their opinion
with respect to the Company’s audited financial statements for the fiscal years ended 2009, 2008
and 2007 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and
the Prospectus, are independent public accountants with respect to the Company as required by the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act and are an independent registered public accounting firm with
the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
p) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements together with the
related notes thereto incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus and 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 comply as to form with the accounting
requirements of the Securities Act and 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 are required to be included in the Registration Statement. The selected
financial data and the summary financial information included in the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the Registration Statement,
the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. In addition, if any pro forma financial
statements of the Company and its subsidiaries and the related notes thereto is included in the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, such pro forma financial
statements and related notes present fairly the information shown therein, have been prepared in
accordance with the Commission’s rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial
statements and have been properly compiled on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used
in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give
effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to therein.
q) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries. Each of the
Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and
authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, in the case of the Company,
to enter into and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each
subsidiary is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason
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of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions
where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the
aggregate, have a material adverse effect (i) on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, management, business, properties, results of 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 or (ii) the ability of the Company to perform its obligations under, and
consummate the transactions contemplated by, this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes (each, a
“Material Adverse Effect”). All of the shares of capital stock or other equity interest of
each subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, have been duly authorized
and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and are free and clear of any security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim that could, individually or in the
aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company does not have any subsidiary not listed on
Exhibit 21 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K which is required to be so listed. None of the
Company’s subsidiaries is a “significant subsidiary” as defined in Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X
promulgated by the Commission.
r) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and outstanding
capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the
caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit
plans described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding
options or warrants described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be).
s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals
Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation or in default (or,
with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both, would be in default) (“Default”) under
its articles of incorporation, charter or by-laws, (ii) in Default under any indenture, mortgage,
loan or credit agreement, deed of trust, note, contract, franchise, lease or other agreement,
obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a
party or by which it or any of them may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”) or (iii) in
violation of 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 any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, as applicable,
except, with respect to clauses (ii) and (iii) only, for such Defaults or violations as would not,
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company’s execution, delivery
and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the
Disclosure Package and by the Prospectus (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action and will not result in any Default under the articles of incorporation, charter or by-laws
of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default
or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing
Instrument, and (iii) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation,
judgment, order or 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
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any of its or their properties. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or regulatory authority or agency is
required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement or consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package or by the Prospectus, except such
as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities
Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the Financial Industry Regulatory
Authority (the “FINRA”). As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means
any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would
give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on
such holder’s behalf) issued by the Company, the right to require the repurchase, redemption or
repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
t) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus and the
Disclosure Package, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to
the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned
or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or
discrimination matters related to the Company or its subsidiaries, where any such action, suit or
proceeding, if determined adversely, could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect.
u) Labor Matters. No material dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries exists, and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by
the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers,
that could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
v) Intellectual Property Rights. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, the Company or its subsidiaries own or possess a valid right to use all patents,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patentable inventions, trade secret, know-how
and other intellectual property (collectively, the “Intellectual Property”) used by the
Company or its subsidiaries in, and material to, the conduct of the Company’s or its subsidiaries’
business as now conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus to be
conducted. Except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no material
infringement by third parties of any of the Company’s Intellectual Property and there are no legal
or governmental actions, suits, proceedings or claims pending or, to the Company’s knowledge,
threatened, against the Company (i) challenging the Company’s rights in or to any Intellectual
Property, (ii) challenging the validity or scope of any Intellectual Property owned by the Company,
or (iii) alleging that the operation of the Company’s business as now conducted infringes or
otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of a
third party, and the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any
such claim.
w) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and
current certificates, authorizations, permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other
authorizations issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary has
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received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or
non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization, permit, license, approval, consent or
other authorization which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, could have a Material Adverse Effect.
x) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, 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(p)
above (or elsewhere in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), 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.
y) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary federal,
state, local and foreign income and franchise tax returns in a timely manner 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 for any taxes, assessments, fines or
penalties as may be being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings, except where a
default to make such filings or payments would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect. The Company has made appropriate provisions in the applicable financial
statements referred to in Section 1(p) above in respect of all federal, state, local and foreign
income and franchise taxes for all current or prior periods as to which the tax liability of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined.
z) Company Not an Investment Company. The Company has been advised of the rules and
requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company
Act”). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Notes and the application of
the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
aa) Insurance. 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 leased by the Company and
its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and earthquakes. All
policies of insurance insuring the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective
businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are in full force and effect; the Company and
its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material
respects. Except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect, there are no claims by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which any insurance company is
denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights
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clause and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage
sought or applied for. 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 have a Material Adverse Effect.
bb) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not take,
directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would be reasonably expected to cause or
result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate
the sale or resale of the Notes.
cc) 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 Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus that have not been described as required.
dd) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. None of the Company, any of its
subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or
affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly
or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons of the FCPA, including, without
limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce
corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the payment of
any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of
value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political
party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the
FCPA, and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have
conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies
and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure,
continued compliance therewith.
“FCPA” means Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
ee) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”)
granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the
“Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock
option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly
authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be
effective (the “Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable,
approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee
thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written
consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by
each party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company
Stock Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements,
including the rules of the New York Stock Exchange and any other exchange on which Company
securities are traded, (iv) the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was
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equal to the fair market value of a share of common stock on the applicable Grant Date and (v)
each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements
(including the related notes) of the Company and disclosed in the Company’s filings with the
Commission in accordance with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. The Company has not
knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting,
Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinate the grant of Stock Options with, the release or
other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or
their results of operations or prospects.
ff) No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance in all material respects with
applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign
Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable
jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations
or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the
“Money Laundering Laws”) and 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 with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the
Company, threatened.
gg) No Conflict with OFAC Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to
the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of
Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not
directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make
available such proceeds, to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for
the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions
administered by OFAC.
hh) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of
any federal, state, local or foreign law, regulation, order, permit or other requirement relating
to pollution or protection of human health or the environment (including, without limitation,
ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including
without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened
releases of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances,
petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or
otherwise relating to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
transport or handling of Materials of Environment Concern (collectively, “Environmental
Laws”), which violation includes, but is not limited to, noncompliance with any permits or
other governmental authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its
subsidiaries under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions
thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether
from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company
or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law, except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) there is no claim, action or
cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation
11
with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no written notice by any
person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental
responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries, attorneys’ fees or
penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the presence, or release into the environment,
of any Material of Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”),
pending or, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any
of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law, except as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) to the best of
the Company’s knowledge, there are no past, present or anticipated future actions, activities,
circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without limitation, the release,
emission, discharge, presence or disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably
could result in a violation of any Environmental Law, require expenditures to be incurred pursuant
to Environmental Law, or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim
the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation
of law, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(iv) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any pending or threatened
proceeding under Environmental Law to which a governmental authority is a party and which is
reasonably likely to result in monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more.
ii) 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, be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
jj) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan”
(as defined in Section 3(3) of 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 (the
“Internal Revenue 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, except as would not have a Material Adverse Effect. 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
12
any material “amount of unfunded 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,” (ii) Sections 412, 4971 or 4975 of the Internal Revenue Code, or (iii) Section 4980B of the
Internal Revenue Code with respect to the excise tax imposed thereunder, except as would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. Each “employee 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 Internal Revenue Code has received a favorable determination letter from the Internal
Revenue Service and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act, which is reasonably
likely to cause disqualification of any such employee benefit plan under Section 401(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code.
kk) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Compliance. There is and has been no failure on the part of the
Company and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with
any provision of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in
connection therewith (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”), including Section 402 related to loans and
Sections 302 and 906 related to certifications.
ll) Company’s Accounting System. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain effective
internal control over financial reporting, as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the
Exchange Act.
mm) Internal Controls and Procedures. The Company maintains a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A) transactions are executed
in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is permitted only
in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (D) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
nn) No Material Weakness in Internal Controls. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus or in any document incorporated by reference therein, since the end of
the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change
in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
oo) Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no franchises, contracts or documents which are
required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or
the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement which have not been so described and filed as required
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.
13
Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Notes.
a) The Notes. The Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters, severally
and not jointly, all of the Notes 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 aggregate principal amount of Notes set forth opposite their names on Schedule A at
a purchase price of 98.334% of the principal amount of the Notes, payable on the Closing Date.
b) The Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Notes in global form to be
purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Xxxxx Xxxxx LLP,
00 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx, XX 00000 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and
the Representatives) at 9:00 a.m., New York City time, on November 1, 2010, or such other time and
date as the Underwriters and the Company shall mutually agree (the time and date of such closing
are called the “Closing Date”).
c) Public Offering of the Notes. The Representatives hereby advise the Company that the
Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, their respective portions of the Notes as soon after the Execution Time as the
Representatives, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.
d) Payment for the Notes. Payment for the Notes shall be made at the Closing Date by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their own accounts and for
the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment
of the purchase price for, the Notes that the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. The
Representatives may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Notes to be purchased by
any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representatives by the Closing Date
for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from
any of its obligations under this Agreement.
e) Delivery of the Notes. The Company shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the
Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters certificates for the Notes at the
Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for
the amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for the Notes shall be in such
denominations and registered in such names and denominations as the Representatives shall have
requested at least two full business days prior to the Closing Date and shall be made available for
inspection on the business day preceding the Closing Date at a location in New York City, as the
Representatives may designate. 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.
Section 3. Covenants of the Company.
The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
14
a) Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject
to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 430B of the Securities Act, and will
promptly notify the Representatives, and confirm the notice in writing, of (i) the effectiveness
during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below) of any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement or the filing of any supplement or amendment to the Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus, (ii) the receipt of any comments from the Commission during the Prospectus
Delivery Period, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration
Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or for
additional information, and (iv) the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of the suspension of the qualification of the Notes
for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any proceedings
for any of such purposes. The Company will promptly effect the filings necessary pursuant to
Rule 424 and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain promptly whether the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus transmitted for filing under Rule 424 was received for
filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such document.
The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if
any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.
b) Filing of Amendments. During such period beginning on the date of this Agreement and
ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date as, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
of the Notes by an Underwriter or dealer, including in circumstances where such requirement may be
satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 of the Securities Act (the “Prospectus Delivery Period”),
the Company will give the Representatives notice of its intention to file or prepare any amendment
to the Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b) of the Securities Act), or
any amendment, supplement or revision to the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, whether pursuant
to the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, will furnish the Representatives with copies
of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use, as the case
may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for the
Underwriters shall reasonably object.
c) Delivery of Registration Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies of the Registration
Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, and will also
deliver to the Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters.
The Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be
identical to any electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The Company will deliver to each Underwriter, without charge, as
many copies of the Preliminary Prospectus as such Underwriter may
reasonably request, and the Company hereby consents to the use of such copies for purposes
15
permitted by the Securities Act. The Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge,
during the Prospectus Delivery Period, such number of copies of the Prospectus as such Underwriter
may reasonably request. The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments or
supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to any electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
e) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. The Company will comply with the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Notes as
contemplated in this Agreement and in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus. If at any time during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event shall occur or
condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement in order that the Registration
Statement will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or to
amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus in order that the Disclosure Package
or the Prospectus, as the case may be, will not include an 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 existing at the Initial Sale Time or at the time it is delivered or conveyed to a
purchaser, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of either such counsel, at
any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or
the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of any law, the Company will (1) notify the
Representatives of any such event, development or condition and (2) promptly prepare and file with
the Commission, subject to Section 3(b) hereof, such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to
correct such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or
the Prospectus comply with such law, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters, without
charge, such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably
request.
f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel for
the Underwriters to qualify or register the Notes for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the
application of) the state securities or blue sky laws of those jurisdictions designated by the
Representatives, shall comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations
and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Notes. The Company shall
not be required to qualify to transact business or to take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it
would be subject to taxation as a foreign business. The Company will advise the Representatives
promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating
to) the Notes for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any
proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending such
qualification, registration or exemption, the Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the
withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.
g) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the Notes sold
by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Preliminary Prospectus and
the Prospectus.
16
h) Depositary. The Company will cooperate with the Underwriters and use its best efforts to
permit the Notes to be eligible for clearance and settlement through the facilities of the
Depositary.
i) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall
file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the New York Stock Exchange all reports and
documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.
j) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. During the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending on the Closing Date, the Company will not, without the prior written consent
of the Representatives (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the
Representatives), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell,
pledge, transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h)
under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file
any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any debt securities of the
Company similar to the Notes or securities exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities
similar to the Notes (other than as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Notes).
k) Final Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a final term sheet containing only a
description of the Notes, in a form approved by the Underwriters and attached as Exhibit B hereto,
and will file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act within the time
required by such rule (such term sheet, the “Final Term Sheet”). Any such Final Term Sheet
is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus for purposes of this Agreement.
l) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made, and
agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representatives, it will not make,
any offer relating to the Notes that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or that
would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities
Act) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under
Rule 433 of the Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Representatives
shall be deemed to have been given in respect of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses included in
Annex I to this Agreement. Any such free writing prospectus consented to or deemed to be consented
to by the Representatives is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be,
each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has complied
and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of the Securities
Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with
the Commission, legending and record keeping. The Company consents to the use by any Underwriter
of a free writing prospectus that (a) is not an “issuer free writing prospectus” as defined in
Rule 433, and (b) contains only (i) information describing the preliminary terms of the Notes or
their offering, (ii) information permitted by Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (iii)
information that describes the final terms of the Notes or their offering and that is included in
the Final Term Sheet of the Company contemplated in Section 3(k).
17
m) Registration Statement Renewal Deadline. If immediately prior to the third anniversary
(the “Renewal Deadline”) of the initial effective date of the Registration Statement, any
of the Notes remain unsold by the Underwriters, the Company will prior to the Renewal Deadline
file, if it has not already done so and is eligible to do so, a new automatic shelf registration
statement relating to the Notes, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives. If the Company is
no longer eligible to file an automatic shelf registration statement, the Company will prior to the
Renewal Deadline, if it has not already done so, file a new shelf registration statement relating
to the Notes, in a form satisfactory to the Representatives, and will use its best efforts to cause
such registration statement to be declared effective within 60 days after the Renewal Deadline.
The Company will take all other action necessary or appropriate to permit the public offering and
sale of the Notes to continue as contemplated in the expired registration statement relating to the
Notes. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include such new automatic shelf
registration statement or such new shelf registration statement, as the case may be.
n) Notice of Inability to Use Automatic Shelf Registration Statement Form. If at any time
during the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company receives from the Commission a notice pursuant
to Rule 401(g)(2) or otherwise ceases to be eligible to use the automatic shelf registration
statement form, the Company will (i) promptly notify the Representatives, (ii) promptly file a new
registration statement or post-effective amendment on the proper form relating to the Notes, in a
form satisfactory to the Representatives, (iii) use its best efforts to cause such registration
statement of post-effective amendment to be declared effective and (iv) promptly notify the
Representatives of such effectiveness. The Company will take all other action necessary or
appropriate to permit the public offering and sale of the Notes to continue as contemplated in the
registration statement that was the subject of the Rule 401(g)(2) notice or for which the Company
has otherwise become ineligible. References herein to the Registration Statement shall include
such new registration statement or post-effective amendment, as the case may be.
o) Filing Fees. The Company agrees to pay the required Commission filing fees relating to the
Notes within the time required by and in accordance with Rule 456(b)(1) and 457(r) of the
Securities Act.
p) Compliance with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. The Company will comply with all applicable securities
and other laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, and
use its best efforts to cause the Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to
comply with such laws, rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act.
q) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be expected to
constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of
any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Notes.
The Representatives, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in their sole discretion,
waive in writing the performance by the Company of any one or more of the foregoing covenants or
extend the time for their performance.
18
Section 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company agrees to pay all costs, fees and
expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations hereunder and in connection
with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident
to the issuance and delivery of the Notes (including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all
necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the
Notes, (iii) all fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public
accountants and other advisors to the Company, (iv) 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
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments
and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, the Indenture, the DTC Agreement and the Notes, (v)
all filing fees, 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 Notes for offer and sale under the state
securities or blue sky laws, and, if requested by the Representatives, preparing a “Blue Sky
Survey” or memorandum, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such
qualifications, registrations and exemptions, (vi) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review, if any, by
the FINRA of the terms of the sale of the Notes, (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee,
including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the
Indenture and the Notes, (viii) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Notes with
the ratings agencies, (ix) all fees and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of
counsel) of the Company in connection with approval of the Notes by the Depositary for “book-entry”
transfer, (x) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the
Registration Statement, and (xi) all other fees, costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of its obligations hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section.
Except as provided in this Section 4 and Sections 6, 8 and 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay
their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their counsel.
Section 5. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of
the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Notes as provided herein on the Closing Date
shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
set forth in Section 1 hereof as of the date hereof, as of the Initial Sale Time, and as of the
Closing Date as though then made and to the timely performance by the Company of its covenants and
other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following additional conditions:
a) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. The Registration Statement shall have become
effective under the Securities Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been instituted or be pending or threatened by the Commission, any request on
the part of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the Underwriters and the Company shall not have received from
the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the
automatic shelf registration statement form. The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus shall
have been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b)
19
(or any required post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and
declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A).
b) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have received
from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent registered public accountants for the Company, a
letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representatives with respect to the audited and unaudited financial statements and certain
financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus.
c) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received
from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the
Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to
the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to
subsection (b) of this Section 5, except that the specified date referred to therein for the
carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.
d) No Objection. If the Registration Statement and/or the offering of the Notes has been
filed with the FINRA for review, the FINRA shall not have raised any objection with respect to the
fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and arrangements.
e) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after the
date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall not have occurred any Material
Adverse Change;
(ii) there shall not have been any change or decrease specified in the letter or
letters referred to in paragraph (c) of this Section 5 which is, in the sole judgment of the
Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed
with the offering or delivery of the Notes as contemplated by the Prospectus; and
(iii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been
given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that
does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any
securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized
statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
under the Securities Act.
f) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have
received the favorable opinion of Haynsworth Xxxxxxx Xxxx, P.A., counsel for the Company, dated as
of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A.
g) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall
have received the favorable opinion of Xxxxx Xxxxx LLP, counsel for the
Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as may be reasonably
requested by the Underwriters.
20
h) Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date, the Representatives shall have received a
written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board or the Chief Executive Officer or a
Senior Vice President of the Company and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of
the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Company has received no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or
threatened by the Commission;
(ii) the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule
401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic shelf registration
statement form;
(iii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in
Section 1 of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and
(iv) the Company has complied with all the agreements hereunder and satisfied all the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing
Date.
i) Additional Documents. On or before the Closing Date, 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
Notes 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 5 is not satisfied when and as required to be
satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Company at any
time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of
any party to any other party, except that Sections 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 6. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated
by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5, 10 or 11, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the
Notes on the Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on the
part of the Company 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 Notes,
including but not limited to fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses,
postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
Section 7. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become
effective until the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto.
21
Section 8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees and agents, 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 director,
officer, employee, agent 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 the Company), 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, 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 Company Additional
Written Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the 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; and to reimburse each Underwriter and
each such director, officer, employee, agent and controlling person for any and all expenses
(including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such director, officer, employee, agent or
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 any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for
use in the Registration Statement, any Company Additional Written Communication, any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto). The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any
liabilities that the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. 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 and each person, if any, who controls the
Company 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 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 (i) upon any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any
amendment thereto, 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
22
untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Company Additional
Written Communication, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the 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 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 Company Additional Written Communication, any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse
the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person for any legal and other expense
reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim,
damage, liability, expense or action. The Company hereby acknowledges that the only information
furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any Company Additional Written Communication, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
are the statements set forth under the heading “Underwriting” in the first paragraph under the
sub-heading “Commissions and Discounts” and the first and second paragraphs under the sub-heading
“Short Positions” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set
forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may
otherwise have.
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under this Section 8 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 8, 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 8 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, to
assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party;
provided, however, such indemnified party shall have the right to employ its own counsel in any
such action and to participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party, unless: (i) the employment of such counsel has
been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party; (ii) the indemnifying party has
failed promptly to assume the defense and employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party; or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include both
such indemnified party and the
indemnifying
party or any affiliate of the indemnifying party, and such indemnified party shall have
reasonably concluded that either (x) there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which
are different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party or such affiliate of
the indemnifying party or (y) a conflict may exist between such indemnified party and the
23
indemnifying party or such affiliate of the indemnifying party (it being understood, however, that
the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but
substantially similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm of
attorneys (in addition to a single firm of local counsel) for all such indemnified parties, which
firm shall be designated in writing by the Representatives and that all such reasonable fees and
expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred). 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 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless the indemnified
party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding
sentence, in which case the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the
indemnifying party.
(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, 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 8(c) 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 30 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 (i)
includes 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.
Section 9. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for
any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then
each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses
referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the
offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i)
above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the
relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company, on
the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any
other
24
relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company, on the one
hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Notes
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total
net proceeds from the offering of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each
case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial public
offering price of the Notes as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company, on the
one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, on the
one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 8(c), any reasonable legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in
connection with investigating or defending any action or claim.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 9 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 in this Section 9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in
connection with the Notes underwritten by it and distributed to the public. 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 to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint,
in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their names in
Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each director, officer, employee and agent of an
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter,
and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration
Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.
Section 10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters. If, on the Closing
Date, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Notes that it or
they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate principal amount of Notes,
which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to
purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes to be purchased on
such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportion to the aggregate
principal amounts of such Notes set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to
the aggregate principal amount of such Notes set forth opposite the names of all such
non-defaulting
25
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the
Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase such Notes which
such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date.
If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase such
Notes and the aggregate principal amount of such Notes with respect to which such default occurs
exceeds 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Notes to be purchased on such date, and
arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Notes 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 Sections 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 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 Closing Date, but in no event
for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration
Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary Prospectus or 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 10. Any action taken under this
Section 10 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of
such Underwriter under this Agreement.
Section 11. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, this
Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company if at any time
(i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by
the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange, 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 FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by any of
federal or New York authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of
national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity involving the United States, or any
change in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or
development involving a prospective substantial 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 Notes in the manner and on the
terms described in the Disclosure Package or 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) there shall have occurred a material disruption in commercial banking or
securities settlement or clearance services. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be
without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Sections 4 and 6 hereof,
and provided further that Sections 4, 6, 8, 9 and 17 shall survive such termination and remain in
full force and effect.
Section 12. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company acknowledges and agrees that: (i) the
purchase and sale of the Notes pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the
public offering price of the Notes and any related discounts and commissions, is an
arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand, and the several
Underwriters, on the other hand, and the Company is capable of evaluating and understanding and
understands and accepts the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement;
26
(ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to
such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the
financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the Company or its affiliates, stockholders, creditors or
employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an advisory, agency
or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to any of the transactions
contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has
advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any
obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations
expressly set forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective
affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ from
those of the Company and that the several Underwriters have no obligation to disclose any of such
interests by virtue of any advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Underwriters
have not provided any legal, accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering
contemplated hereby and the Company has consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax
advisors to the extent it deemed appropriate.
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral)
between the Company and the several Underwriters with respect to the subject matter hereof. The
Company hereby waives and releases, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any claims that the
Company may have against the several Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of
agency or fiduciary duty.
Section 13. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, of its
officers and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement (i) will
remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any (A) investigation, or statement as
to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or employees of any
Underwriter, or any person controlling the Underwriter, the Company, the officers or employees of
the Company, or any person controlling the Company, as the case may be or (B) acceptance of the
Notes and payment for them hereunder and (ii) will survive delivery of and payment for the Notes
sold hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
Section 14. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
Banc of America Securities LLC
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: High Grade Debt Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal;
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
XX0-000-00-00
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: High Grade Debt Capital Markets Transaction Management/Legal;
27
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Transaction Management;
000 X. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Transaction Management;
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Debt Capital Markets Syndicate Desk;
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Debt Capital Markets Syndicate Desk;
and
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Investment Grade Syndicate Desk
with a copy to:
Xxxxx Xxxxx LLP
00 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Best, Esq.
00 X. Xxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Best, Esq.
If to the Company:
Sonoco Products Company
0 X. Xxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Treasurer
0 X. Xxxxxx Xx.
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Treasurer
with a copy to:
Haynsworth Xxxxxxx Xxxx, P.A.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx., Esq.
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 00xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Xx., Esq.
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice
to the others.
28
Section 15. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and
to the benefit of the directors, officers, employees, agents and controlling persons referred to in
Sections 8 and 9, and in each case their respective successors, and no other person will have any
right or obligation hereunder. The term “successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Notes
as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
Section 16. 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 17. Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE
TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN THAT STATE.
Section 18. General Provisions. 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. The Section
headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction
or interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was
adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including,
without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of
Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further
acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of
the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to
assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act.
29
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and
return to the Company 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, SONOCO PRODUCTS COMPANY |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Title: | Treasurer | |||
[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]
30
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the
Representatives as of the date first above written
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
XXXXX FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
XXXXX FARGO SECURITIES, LLC
DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES INC.
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
Acting as Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
By: | Banc of America Securities LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
By: | Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director |
By: | Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxx | |||
Title: | Managing Director |
By: | /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director |
By: | X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC | |||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||||
Title: | Executive Director |
[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]
31
SCHEDULE A
Aggregate Principal | ||||
Amount of Notes | ||||
Underwriters | to be Purchased | |||
Banc of America Securities LLC |
$ | 105,000,000 | ||
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC |
87,500,000 | |||
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. |
35,000,000 | |||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
35,000,000 | |||
Mitsubishi UFJ Securities (USA) Inc. |
35,000,000 | |||
U.S. Bancorp Investments, Inc. |
35,000,000 | |||
BNY Mellon Capital Markets, LLC |
17,500,000 | |||
Total |
$ | 350,000,000 |
Sch-1
ANNEX I
Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses
Final Term Sheet dated October 25, 2010.
Annex-1
ANNEX II
Company Additional Written Communication
Electronic (Netroadshow) road show of the Company relating to the offering of the Notes dated
October 25, 2010.
Annex-2
EXHIBIT
A
Form of Opinion of Issuer’s Counsel
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and
authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform
its obligations under this Agreement; the Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not,
individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ii) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for
subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options described in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, as the case may be).
(iii) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(iv) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and (assuming the due authorization, execution
and delivery thereof by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable
principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).
(v) The Notes are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized and
executed and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against
payment of the purchase price as specified in this Agreement, will constitute valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium
or other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or
at law), and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
(vi) The Notes and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof
contained in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(vii) The Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement,” as defined
in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, that automatically became effective not more than three years
prior to the Execution Time; the Company has not received from the Commission any notice pursuant
to Rule 401(g)(2) of the Securities Act objecting to use of the automatic
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shelf registration statement form and the Company has not otherwise ceased to be eligible to
use the automatic shelf registration form.
(viii) The Registration Statement, including without limitation the Rule 430B Information,
the Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, and each amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated
by reference therein, as of their respective effective or issue dates (including without limitation
each deemed effective date with respect to the Underwriters pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) of the
Securities Act), other than the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein or
omitted therefrom, and the Trustee’s Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 (the “Form T-1”),
as to which we need express no opinion, complied as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Securities Act.
(ix) The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (i) at the time they were filed with the
Commission, complied in all material respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act;
provided, however, we do not express any belief or opinion with respect to the
financial statements, Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm or other financial
information set forth in any such filing, compliance with accounting requirements, compliance with
XBRL interactive data requirements, or matter relating to disclosure controls and procedures or
internal control over financial reportings.
(x) To the best of our knowledge, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or
proceedings pending or threatened (a) against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
(b) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director of, or property owned or leased by,
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (c) relating to environmental or discrimination matters
related to the Company or its subsidiaries, where any such action, suit or proceeding, if
determined adversely, could, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xi) The statements in each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the
captions “Description of the Notes,” “Description of the Securities” and “Certain United States
Federal Income Tax Considerations,” in each case insofar as such statements constitute a summary of
the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present and summarize, in
all material respects, the matters referred to therein.
(xii) There are no franchises, contracts or documents which are required to be described in
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Prospectus or the documents incorporated by
reference therein or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been so
described and filed as required
(xiii) To the best of our knowledge, the Company possesses such valid and current
certificates, authorizations, permits, licenses, approvals, consents and other authorizations
issued by the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to
conduct their respective businesses, and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings
relating to the revocation or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate,
authorization,
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permit, license, approval, consent or other authorization which, singly or in the aggregate,
if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, could have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xiv) The Company’s execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of
the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package and by the Prospectus (i) have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in any Default under the
articles of incorporation, charter or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of our knowledge, any
subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or Default or a Debt Repayment
Triggering Event under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance
upon any property or assets of the Company or, to the best of our knowledge, any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to, any Existing Instrument,
and (iii) will not result in any violation of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order
or 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. No consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or
regulatory authority or agency is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and performance of
this Agreement or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, by the Disclosure Package
or by the Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company and are in full
force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from
the FINRA.
(xv) The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the Notes and the application of
the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus will not be, required to register as an “investment company” within
the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
Nothing has come to our attention that would lead us to believe that (i) the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto, including the information required under Rule 430B of the
Securities Act (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial data included or
incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom and the Form T-1, as to which we need make
no statement), as of its original effective date and at each deemed effective date with respect to
the Underwriter pursuant to Rule 430B(f)(2) of the Securities Act, contained an untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Disclosure Package (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by reference therein or
omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no statement), as of the Initial Sale Time, contained
any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading or (iii) the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by reference therein or
omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no statement), as of the date of the Prospectus, as of
the date of any such amended or supplemented prospectus or as of the date hereof, included or
includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
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EXHIBIT B
Sonoco Products Company
Form of Final Term Sheet
October [•], 2010
Issuer:
|
Sonoco Products Company | |
Size:
|
$[•] | |
Maturity Date:
|
[•], 2040 | |
Coupon (Interest Rate):
|
[•]% | |
Yield to Maturity:
|
[•]% | |
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:
|
[•] bps | |
Benchmark Treasury:
|
[•]% US Treasury Notes due [•], 2040 | |
Benchmark Treasury Price and Yield:
|
[•]% | |
Interest Payment Dates:
|
Semi-annually on each [•] and [•], commencing on [•], 2011 | |
Make-Whole Call:
|
Make-whole at T + [•] bps (before six months prior to the Maturity Date) | |
Par Call:
|
At any time on or after the date that is six months prior to the Maturity Date, the Notes will be redeemable in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the Issuer’s option, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of the Notes to be redeemed plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of redemption. | |
Price to Public:
|
[•]% | |
Trade Date:
|
[•]% | |
Settlement Date:
|
[•], 2010 (T+[•]) | |
Expected Ratings:*
|
[•]/[•] (Xxxxx’x)/ [•]/[•] (S&P) | |
CUSIP / ISIN:
|
[•] / [•] | |
Joint Book-Running Managers:
|
Banc of America Securities LLC
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC Deutsche Bank Securities Inc. X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
|
Co-Managers:
|
[•] |
* | None of these ratings is a recommendation to buy, sell or hold these securities. Each rating may be subject to revision or withdrawal at any time, and should be evaluated independently of any other rating. |
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The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the
offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in
that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete
information about the issuer and this offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting
XXXXX on the SEC Web site at xxx.xxx.xxx. Alternatively, the issuer or any underwriter
participating in this offering can arrange to send you the prospectus supplement and accompanying
prospectus if you request it by calling or e-mailing Banc of America Securities LLC toll-free at
(000) 000-0000 or xx.xxxxxxxxxx_xxxxxxxx@xxxx.xxx; by calling or e-mailing Xxxxx Fargo Securities,
LLC tol1-free at (000) 000-0000 or xxxxxxxxxx.xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxx.xxx; by calling Deutsche
Bank Securities Inc. toll-free at (000) 000-0000; or calling X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC collect at
(000) 000-0000.
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