Exhibit 1.1
[Form of Underwriting Agreement - Subject to Additional Review]
1,200,000 SHARES OF CLASS A COMMON STOCK
VASO ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
, 2003
-
As Representative of the
several Underwriters named
in Schedule A annexed hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Vaso Active Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
confirms its agreement with - ("-") and each of the underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters," which term shall also
include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in SECTION 11), for
whom - is acting as Representative (in such capacity, - shall hereinafter be
referred to as "you" or the "Representative"), with respect to the sale by the
Company and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly,
of the respective number of shares ("Shares") of the Company's Class A Common
Stock, $0.0001 par value per share ("Class A Common Stock"). The aggregate
1,200,000 shares of Class A Common Stock are hereinafter referred to as the
"Firm Securities."
Upon your request, as provided in Section 2(b) of this Agreement, the
Company shall also issue and sell to the Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, up to an additional 180,000 shares of Class A Common Stock for the
purpose of covering over-allotments, if any. Such 180,000 shares of Class A
Common Stock are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Option
Securities." The Company also proposes to issue and sell to you warrants (the
"Representative's Warrants") pursuant to the Representative's Warrant Agreement
(the "Representative's Warrant Agreement") for the purchase of an additional
120,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The shares of Class A Common Stock
issuable upon exercise of the Representative's Warrants are hereinafter referred
to as the "Representative's Securities." The Firm Securities, the Option
Securities, the Representative's Warrants and the Representative's Securities
(collectively, hereinafter referred to as the "Securities") are more fully
described in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus referred to below.
1A. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters as of the date hereof, and as of the Closing Date (as hereinafter
defined) and each Option Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), if any, as
follows:
(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement, and an
amendment or amendments thereto, on Form SB-2 (No. 333-106785), including any
related preliminary prospectus or prospectuses (each a "Preliminary
Prospectus"), for the registration of the Firm Securities and the Option
Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which
registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the
Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the Act. The Company will not file any other
amendment to such registration statement to which the Underwriters shall have
objected in writing after having been furnished with a copy thereof. Except as
the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on
file with the Commission at the time the registration statement becomes
effective (including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits
and all other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein
(including, but not limited to those documents or information incorporated by
reference therein) and all information deemed to be a part thereof as of such
time pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430(A) of the Regulations), is
hereinafter called the "Registration Statement", and the form of prospectus in
the form first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the
Regulations, is hereinafter called the "Prospectus." For purposes hereof, "Rules
and Regulations" mean the rules and regulations adopted by the Commission under
either the Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), as applicable.
(b) Neither the Commission nor any state regulatory authority has
issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any part of any thereof and no
proceedings for a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any of the Company's securities have been instituted or are pending
or threatened. Each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof, complied with the requirements of
the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and none of the Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, at the time of filing thereof,
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,
in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
provided, however, that this representation and warranty does not apply to
statements made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company with respect to the Underwriters by or on behalf of the
Underwriters expressly for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto. The
Company has filed all reports, forms or other documents required to be filed
under the Act and Exchange Act and the respective Rules and Regulations
thereunder, and all such reports, forms or other documents, when so filed or as
subsequently amended, complied in all material respects with the Act and the
Exchange Act and the respective Rules and Regulations thereunder.
(c) When the Registration Statement becomes effective and at all
times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date (as defined herein) and each
Option Closing Date (as defined herein), if any, and during such longer period
as the Prospectus may be required to be delivered in connection with sales by
the Underwriters or a dealer, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will
contain all statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance
with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will conform to the requirements
of
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the Act and the Rules and Regulations; neither the Registration Statement nor
the Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement thereto, will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, PROVIDED, HOWEVER,
that this representation and warranty does not apply to statements made or
statements omitted in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information
furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of any Underwriter expressly
for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
(d) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Company
does not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture
or other business entity. The Company is duly qualified and licensed and in good
standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or
leasing of any properties or the character of its operations requires such
qualification or licensing. The Company has all requisite power and authority
(corporate and other), and has obtained any and all necessary authorizations,
approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises and permits of and from
all governmental or regulatory officials and bodies (including, without
limitation, those having jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), to
own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus; the Company is and has been doing business in compliance with all
such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises and
permits and all federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations to
which it is subject; and the Company has not received any notice of proceedings
relating to the revocation or modification of any such authorization, approval,
order, license, certificate, franchise, or permit which, singly or in the
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would
materially and adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
earnings, position, prospects, stockholders' equity, value, operations,
properties, business or results of operations of the Company.
(e) The Company has a duly authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus under "Capitalization" and
"Description of Capital Stock" and will have the adjusted capitalization set
forth therein on the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, based
upon the assumptions set forth therein, and the Company is not a party to or
bound by any instrument, agreement or other arrangement providing for it to
issue any capital stock, rights, warrants, options or other securities, except
for this Agreement, the Representative's Warrant Agreement and as described in
the Prospectus. The Securities and all other securities issued or issuable by
the Company on or prior to the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if
any, conform or, when issued and paid for, will conform, in all respects to all
statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and the
holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not
subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such
securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holder of
any security of the Company or any similar contractual right granted by the
Company. The Securities are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or
other similar rights of any stockholder, have been duly authorized and, when
issued, paid for and delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to
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the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus; the holders thereof will
not be subject to any liability solely as such holders; all corporate action
required to be taken for the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities has
been duly and validly taken; and the certificates representing the Securities,
when delivered by the Company, will be in due and proper form. Upon the issuance
and delivery pursuant to the terms hereof of the Securities to be sold by the
Company hereunder, the Underwriters or the Representative, as the case may be,
will acquire good and marketable title to such Securities free and clear of any
lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest, defect or other
restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever asserted against the Company or any
affiliate of the Company.
(f) The audited financial statements of the Company, together
with the related notes and schedules thereto, included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus fairly present the financial position, income,
changes in cash flow, changes in stockholders' equity and the results of
operations of the Company at the respective dates and for the respective periods
to which they apply and such financial statements have been prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and the Rules and
Regulations, consistently applied throughout the periods involved and such
financial statements as are audited have been examined by Xxxxx & Xxxxx, who are
independent certified public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the
Rules and Regulations, as indicated in their respective reports filed therewith.
There has been no change or development involving a material adverse prospective
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, position,
prospects, stockholders' equity, operations, properties, business, or results of
operations of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, since the date of the financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the outstanding debt, the
property, both tangible and intangible, and the business of the Company, conform
in all respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus. The financial information (including, without limitation, any pro
forma financial information) set forth in the Prospectus under the headings
"Summary Financial Data," "Selected Financial Data," "Capitalization," and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," fairly present, on the basis stated in the Prospectus, the
information set forth therein, and have been derived from or compiled on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the
Prospectus; and, in the case of pro forma information, if any, 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. The amounts shown as accrued for current and deferred income and other
taxes in such financial statements are sufficient for the payment of all accrued
and unpaid domestic and foreign income taxes, interest, penalties, assessments
or deficiencies applicable to the Company, whether disputed or not, for the
applicable period then ended and periods prior thereto; adequate allowance for
doubtful accounts has been provided for unindemnified losses due to the
operations of the Company; and the statements of income do not contain any items
of special or nonrecurring income not earned in the ordinary course of business,
except as specified in the notes thereto.
(g) There are no pro forma or as adjusted financial statements
which are required to be included in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus in accordance with Regulation S-X which have not been included as so
required. The pro forma and pro forma as adjusted financial information included
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus has been
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properly compiled and prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of
the Act and the Rules and Regulations and include all adjustments necessary to
present fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles the
pro forma and as adjusted financial position of the respective entity or
entities presented therein at the respective dates indicated and their cash
flows and the results of operations for the respective periods specified.
(h) The assumptions used in preparing the pro forma and pro
forma as adjusted financial information included in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant
effects directly attributable to the transactions or events described therein;
the related pro forma and pro forma as adjusted adjustments give appropriate
effect to those assumptions; and the pro forma and pro forma as adjusted
financial information reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the
corresponding historical financial statement amounts.
(i) The Company (i) has paid all federal, state, local and
foreign taxes for which it is liable, (ii) has established adequate reserves for
such taxes which are not due and payable, and (iii) does not have any tax
deficiency or claims outstanding, proposed or assessed against it.
(j) No transfer tax, stamp duty or other similar tax is payable
by or on behalf of the Underwriters in connection with (i) the issuance by the
Company of the Securities, (ii) the purchase by the Underwriters of the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities from the Company and the purchase by the
Representative of the Representative's Warrants from the Company, (iii) the
consummation by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement or
the Representative's Warrant Agreement, or (iv) resales of the Firm Securities
and the Option Securities in connection with the distribution contemplated
hereby.
(k) The Company maintains insurance policies, including, but not
limited to, general liability, property, personal and product liability
insurance, and surety bonds which insures the Company and its employees against
such losses and risks generally insured against by comparable businesses. The
Company (A) has not failed to give notice or present any insurance claim with
respect to any matter, including but not limited to the Company's business,
property or employees, under any insurance policy or surety bond in a due and
timely manner, (B) does not have any disputes or claims against any underwriter
of such insurance policies or surety bonds, nor has the Company failed to pay
any premiums due and payable thereunder, or (C) has not failed to comply with
all conditions contained in such insurance policies and surety bonds. There are
no facts or circumstances under any such insurance policy or surety bond which
would relieve any insurer of its obligation to satisfy in full any valid claim
of the Company.
(l) There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration,
investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding (including, without
limitation, those pertaining to environmental or similar matters), domestic or
foreign, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against (or
circumstances that may give rise to the same), or involving the properties or
business of, the Company which (i) questions the validity of the capital stock
of the Company, this Agreement or the Representative's Warrant Agreement, or of
any action taken or to be taken by the Company pursuant to or in connection with
this Agreement or the Representative's Warrant Agreement, (ii) is required to be
disclosed in the Registration
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Statement which is not so disclosed (and such proceedings as are summarized in
the Registration Statement are accurately summarized in all respects), or (iii)
might materially and adversely affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or
the earnings, position, prospects, stockholders' equity, operations, properties,
business or results of operations of the Company.
(m) The Company has full legal right, corporate power and
authority to authorize, issue, deliver and sell the Securities, to enter into
this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement and to consummate the
transactions provided for in this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant
Agreement; and this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement have
each been duly and properly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
Each of this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement constitutes a
legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the
Company in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability may be
limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights and the application of equitable principles in any action,
legal or equitable, and except as obligations to indemnify or contribute to
losses may be limited by applicable law). None of the Company's issuance and
sale of the Securities, execution or delivery of this Agreement or the
Representative's Warrant Agreement, its performance hereunder and thereunder,
its consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein, or the
conduct of its business as described in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto, conflicts with or will
conflict with or results or will result in any breach or violation of any of the
terms or provisions of, or constitutes or will constitute a default under, or
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance,
pledge, security interest, defect or other restriction or equity of any kind
whatsoever upon, any property or assets (tangible or intangible) of the Company
pursuant to the terms of (i) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the
Company, (ii) any license, contract, collective bargaining agreement, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, lease, voting trust agreement, stockholders agreement,
note, loan or credit agreement or other agreement or instrument evidencing an
obligation for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which the Company is or may be bound or to which its
properties or assets (tangible or intangible) are or may be subject or (iii) any
statute, judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company
of any arbitrator, court, regulatory body or administrative agency or other
governmental agency or body (including, without limitation, those having
jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its activities or properties.
(n) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no
filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, government
agency or other body, domestic or foreign, is required for the issuance of the
Securities, the performance of this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant
Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including
without limitation, any waiver of any preemptive right, first refusal or other
rights that any entity or person may have for the issue and/or sale of any of
the Securities, except such as have been obtained under the Act or may be
required under state securities laws or the rules of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") in connection with the Underwriters' purchase
and distribution of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, and the
Representative's Warrants to be sold by the Company hereunder. All
authorizations, approvals, consents, orders, registrations, licenses or permits
of any court or governmental agency or body
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necessary for the consummation of the organization of the Company have been
obtained or effected and are in full force and effect.
(o) All executed agreements, contracts or other documents or
copies of executed agreements, contracts or other documents filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement to which the Company is a party or by which it may be
bound or to which its assets, properties or business may be subject have been
duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and
constitute the legal, valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable
against it in accordance with its terms. The descriptions in the Registration
Statement of agreements, contracts and other documents are accurate and fairly
present the information required to be shown with respect thereto by Form SB-2,
and there are no agreements, contracts or other documents which are required by
the Act to be described in the Registration Statement or filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required, and the
exhibits which have been filed are complete and correct copies of the documents
of which they purport to be copies.
(p) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
set forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and except as may
otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not
(i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or
contingent, for borrowed money, (ii) entered into any transaction other than in
the ordinary course of business, or (iii) declared or paid any dividend or made
any other distribution on or in respect of its capital stock of any class, and
there has not been any change in the capital stock, or any change in the debt
(long or short term) or liabilities or material adverse change in or affecting
the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, position, prospects,
stockholders' equity, value, operations, properties, business, or results of
operations of the Company.
(q) No default exists in the due performance and observance of
any material term, covenant or condition of any license, contract, collective
bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage, installment sale agreement, lease,
deed of trust, voting trust agreement, stockholders agreement, partnership
agreement, note, loan or credit agreement, purchase order, or any other
agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any
other material agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by
which the Company may be bound or to which the property or assets (tangible or
intangible) of the Company is subject or affected.
(r) The Company has generally enjoyed a satisfactory
employer-employee relationship with its employees and is in compliance with all
federal, state, local and foreign laws rules and regulations respecting
employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of employment and
wages and hours. There are no pending investigations involving the Company by
any governmental agency responsible for the enforcement of such domestic or
foreign laws and regulations. There is no unfair labor practice charge or
complaint against the Company or any lockout, strike, picketing, boycott,
dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the knowledge of the Company,
threatened against or involving the Company, or any predecessor entity, and none
has ever occurred. No representation question exists respecting the employees of
the Company, and no collective bargaining agreement or modification thereof is
currently being negotiated by the Company. No grievance or arbitration
proceeding is pending under any
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expired or existing collective bargaining agreements of the Company. No labor
dispute with the employees of the Company exists, or, is imminent.
(s) The Company does not maintain, sponsor or contribute to any
program or arrangement that is an "employee pension benefit plan," an "employee
welfare benefit plan," or a "multiemployer plan" as such terms are defined in
Sections 3(2), 3(1) and 3(37), respectively, of the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") ("ERISA Plans"). The Company does not
maintain or contribute, now or at any time previously, to a defined benefit
plan, as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA. No ERISA Plan (or any trust created
thereunder) has engaged in a "prohibited transaction" within the meaning of
Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, which could subject the
Company to any tax penalty on prohibited transactions and which has not
adequately been corrected. Each ERISA Plan is in compliance with all reporting,
disclosure and other requirements of the Code and ERISA as they relate to any
such ERISA Plan. Determination letters have been received from the Internal
Revenue Service with respect to each ERISA Plan which is intended to comply with
Code Section 401(a), stating that such ERISA Plan and the attendant trust are
qualified thereunder. The Company has never completely or partially withdrawn
from a "multiemployer plan."
(t) Neither the Company, nor any of its employees, directors,
stockholders, partners, or affiliates (within the meaning of the Rules and
Regulations) of any of the foregoing has taken or will take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or which has constituted or which might be
expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act, or otherwise,
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or otherwise.
(u) None of the trademarks, trade names, service marks, service
names, copyrights, patents and patent applications, and none of the licenses and
rights to the foregoing, presently owned or held by the Company are in dispute
or are in conflict with the right of any other person or entity except as and to
the extent described in the Prospectus. Except as described in or contemplated
by the Prospectus, the Company (i) owns or has the right to use, free and clear
of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security interests,
defects or other restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever, all
trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, patents and
patent applications, and licenses and rights with respect to the foregoing, used
in the conduct of its business as now conducted or proposed to be conducted
without infringing upon or otherwise acting adversely to the right or claimed
right of any person, corporation or other entity under or with respect to any of
the foregoing and (ii) is not obligated or under any liability whatsoever to
make any payments by way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any owner or
licensee of, or other claimant to, any trademark, trade name, service xxxx,
service name, copyright, patent or patent application. There is no action, suit,
proceeding, inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental or
other proceeding, domestic or foreign, pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened (or circumstances that may give rise to the same) against
the Company which challenges the exclusive rights of the Company with respect to
any trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, patents,
patent applications or licenses or rights to the foregoing used in the conduct
of its business, or which challenge the right of the Company to use any
technology presently used or contemplated to be used in the conduct of its
business.
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(v) Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus,
the Company owns and has the unrestricted right to use all trade secrets,
know-how (including all unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or
confidential information, systems or procedures), inventions, technology,
designs, processes, works of authorship, computer programs and technical data
and information (collectively herein "intellectual property") that are material
to the development, manufacture, operation and sale of all products and services
sold or proposed to be sold by the Company, free and clear of and without
violating any right, lien, or claim of others, including without limitation,
former employers of its employees.
(w) The Company has good and marketable title to, or valid and
enforceable leasehold estates in, all items of real and personal property stated
in the Prospectus to be owned or leased by it, free and clear of all liens,
charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects, or other
restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever, other than those referred to in
the Prospectus and liens for taxes not yet due and payable.
(x) Xxxxx & Xxxxx, whose report is filed with the Commission
as a part of the Registration Statement, are independent certified public
accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
(y) The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding
and enforceable agreements pursuant to which each of the Company's officers,
directors, stockholders and holders of securities exchangeable or exercisable
for or convertible into shares of Class A Common Stock in excess of 2% or more
of the Class A Common Stock then outstanding, has agreed not to, directly or
indirectly, issue, offer, offer to sell, sell, grant any option for the sale or
purchase of, assign, transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or
dispose of any shares of Class A Common Stock or securities convertible into,
exercisable or exchangeable for or evidencing any right to purchase or subscribe
for any shares of Class A Common Stock (either pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules
and Regulations or otherwise) or dispose of any beneficial interest therein for
a period of not less than twelve (12) months following the effective date of the
Registration Statement (the "Lock-Up Period") without the prior written consent
of the Representative and the Company (the "Lock-Up Agreements"). During the 12
month period commencing on the effective date of the Registration Statement, the
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative,
sell, contract or offer to sell, issue, transfer, assign, pledge, distribute, or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Class A Common Stock
or any options, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of Class A Common
Stock. The Company will cause the Transfer Agent (as hereinafter defined) to
xxxx an appropriate legend on the face of stock certificates representing all of
such securities and to place "stop transfer" orders on the Company's stock
ledgers.
(z) There are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or
understandings, whether oral or written, for services in the nature of a
finder's or origination fee with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder
or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuance with
respect to the Company, or any of its officers, directors, stockholders,
partners, employees or affiliates, that may affect the Underwriters'
compensation, as determined by the NASD.
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(aa) The Class A Common Stock has been approved for quotation on
the NASDAQ Small Cap Market ("NASDAQ") subject to notice of issuance and
evidence of satisfactory distribution, and the Company has taken no action
designed to terminate, or likely to have the effect of terminating, the
quotation of the shares on the NASDAQ, nor has the Company received any
notification that the NASDAQ is contemplating terminating such quotation.
(bb) Neither the Company, nor any of its directors, officers,
employees, shareholders, agents or any other person acting on behalf of the
Company has, directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or
similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary
course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer
or supplier, or any official or employee of any governmental agency (domestic or
foreign) or instrumentality of any government (domestic or foreign) or any
political party or candidate for office (domestic or foreign) or any other
person who was, is or may be in a position to help or hinder the business of the
Company (or assist the Company in connection with any actual or proposed
transaction) which (a) might subject the Company, or any other such person to
any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or
proceeding (domestic or foreign), (b) if not given in the past, might have had a
material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, earnings,
position, properties, stockholders' equity, value, operations or prospects of
the Company, or (c) if not continued in the future, might adversely affect the
condition, financial or otherwise, earnings, position, properties, stockholders'
equity, value, operations or prospects of the Company. The Company's internal
accounting controls are sufficient to cause the Company to comply with the
Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended.
(cc) Except as set forth in the Prospectus, no officer,
director, stockholder or partner of the Company, or any "affiliate" or
"associate" (as these terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Rules
and Regulations) of any of the foregoing persons or entities has or has had,
either directly or indirectly, (i) an interest in any person or entity which (A)
furnishes or sells services or products which are furnished or sold or are
proposed to be furnished or sold by the Company, or (B) purchases from or sells
or furnishes to the Company any goods or services, or (ii) a beneficial interest
in any contract or agreement to which the Company is a party or by which it may
be bound or affected. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no
existing agreements, arrangements, understandings or transactions, or proposed
agreements, arrangements, understandings or transactions, between or among the
Company, and any officer, director, or 5% or greater securityholder of the
Company, or any partner, affiliate or associate of any of the foregoing persons
or entities.
(dd) Any certificate signed by the president and chief executive
officer or the chief financial officer of the Company, and delivered to the
Underwriters or to Underwriters' Counsel (as defined herein) shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the matters
covered thereby.
(ee) The minute books of each of the Company have been made
available to the Underwriters and contain a complete summary of all meetings and
actions of the directors (including committees thereof) and stockholders of the
Company, since the time of
10
incorporation, and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes
accurately in all material respects.
(ff) Except and to the extent described in the Prospectus, no
holders of any securities of the Company or of any options, warrants or other
convertible or exchangeable securities of the Company have the right to include
any securities issued by the Company in the Registration Statement or any
registration statement to be filed by the Company or to require the Company to
file a registration statement under the Act and no person or entity holds any
anti-dilution rights with respect to any securities of the Company.
(gg) The Company has as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement entered into an employment agreement with each of Xxxx
Masiz and Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, PhD in the form filed as Exhibits _______________,
respectively, to the Registration Statement.
(hh) The Company confirms as of the date hereof that it is in
compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198,
AN ACT RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF DOING BUSINESS WITH CUBA, and the Company
further agrees that if it or any affiliate commences engaging in business with
the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba after the
date the Registration Statement becomes or has become effective with the
Commission or with the Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the
"Department"), whichever date is later, or if the information reported or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, if any, concerning the Company's,
or any affiliate's, business with Cuba or with any person or affiliate located
in Cuba changes in any material way, the Company will provide the Department
notice of such business or change, as appropriate, in a form acceptable to the
Department.
(ii) The Company is not, and upon the issuance and sale of the
Firm Securities and Option Securities as herein contemplated and the application
of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the Prospectus under the caption
"Use of Proceeds" will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled"
by an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company
Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").
(jj) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorizations;
(ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparations of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorizations; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(kk) The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning
the effects of federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations on
the Company's business as currently conducted and as contemplated are correct in
all material respects and do not omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements contained, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
11
1B. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF BIOCHEMICS. Bio Chemics, Inc. (the
"Parent") represents and warrants to, and covenants and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters as of the date hereof, and as of the Closing Date (as hereinafter
defined) and each Option Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), if any, as
follows:
(a) The Parent has been duly organized and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
organization. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Parent does
not own an interest in any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture or
other business entity. The Parent is duly qualified and licensed and in good
standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or
leasing of any properties or the character of its operations requires such
qualification or licensing.
(b) There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration,
investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding (including, without
limitation, those pertaining to environmental or similar matters), domestic or
foreign, pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against (or
circumstances that may give rise to the same), or involving the properties or
business of, the Parent which questions the validity of this Agreement, or of
any action taken or to be taken by the Parent pursuant to or in connection with
this Agreement.
(c) The Parent has full legal right, power and authority to enter
into this Agreement and this Agreement has been duly and properly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Parent. This Agreement constitutes a legal, valid
and binding agreement of the Parent enforceable against the Parent in accordance
with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general
application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and
the application of equitable principles in any action, legal or equitable, and
except as obligations to indemnify or contribute to losses may be limited by
applicable law). None of the Parent's execution or delivery of this Agreement or
its performance hereunder conflicts with or will conflict with or results or
will result in any breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitutes or will constitute a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest,
defect or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever upon, any property
or assets (tangible or intangible) of the Parent pursuant to the terms of (i)
the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Parent, (ii) any license,
contract, collective bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
lease, voting trust agreement, stockholders agreement, note, loan or credit
agreement or other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed
money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Parent is a party or by
which the Parent is or may be bound or to which its properties or assets
(tangible or intangible) are or may be subject or (iii) any statute, judgment,
decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Parent of any arbitrator,
court, regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental agency or
body (including, without limitation, those having jurisdiction over
environmental or similar matters), domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over
the Parent or any of its activities or properties.
(d) No consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no
filing with, any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, government
agency or other body, domestic or foreign, is required for the performance of
this Agreement. All authorizations, approvals, consents, orders, registrations,
licenses or permits of any court or governmental agency or body
12
necessary for the consummation of the organization of the Parent have been
obtained or effected and are in full force and effect.
(e) All executed agreements, contracts or other documents or
copies of executed agreements, contracts or other documents filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement to which the Parent is a party or by which it may be
bound or to which its assets, properties or business may be subject have been
duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Parent and constitute
the legal, valid and binding agreements of the Parent, enforceable against it in
accordance with its terms.
(f) No default exists in the due performance and observance of
any material term, covenant or condition of any license, contract, collective
bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage, installment sale agreement, lease,
deed of trust, voting trust agreement, stockholders agreement, partnership
agreement, note, loan or credit agreement, purchase order, or any other
agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any
other material agreement or instrument to which the Parent is a party or by
which the Parent may be bound or to which the property or assets (tangible or
intangible) of the Parent is subject or affected.
(g) None of the trademarks, trade names, service marks, service
names, copyrights, patents and patent applications, and none of the licenses and
rights to the foregoing, presently owned or held by the Parent are in dispute or
are in conflict with the right of any other person or entity except as and to
the extent described in the Prospectus. Except as described or referred to in
the Prospectus, the Parent (i) owns or has the right to use, free and clear of
all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects
or other restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever, all trademarks, trade
names, service marks, service names, copyrights, patents and patent
applications, and licenses and rights with respect to the foregoing, used in the
conduct of its business as now conducted or proposed to be conducted without
infringing upon or otherwise acting adversely to the right or claimed right of
any person, corporation or other entity under or with respect to any of the
foregoing and (ii) is not obligated or under any liability whatsoever to make
any payments by way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any owner or licensee of,
or other claimant to, any trademark, trade name, service xxxx, service name,
copyright, patent or patent application. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
inquiry, arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental or other
proceeding, domestic or foreign, pending or, to the knowledge of the Parent,
threatened (or circumstances that may give rise to the same) against the Parent
which challenges the exclusive rights of the Parent with respect to any
trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, patents,
patent applications or licenses or rights to the foregoing used in the conduct
of its business, or which challenge the right of the Parent to use any
technology presently used or contemplated to be used in the conduct of its
business.
2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company at a price of
$4.50 per share of Class A Common Stock, that number of Firm Securities set
forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, subject to such
13
adjustment as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate
any sales or purchases of fractional shares, plus any additional number of Firm
Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to
the provisions of SECTION 11 hereof.
(b) In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase all or any part of an
additional 150,000 shares of Class A Common Stock at a price of $4.50 per share
of Class A Common Stock. The option granted hereby will expire forty-five (45)
days after (i) the date the Registration Statement becomes effective, if the
Company has elected not to rely on Rule 430A under the Rules and Regulations, or
(ii) the date of this Agreement if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule
430A under the Rules and Regulations, and may be exercised in whole or in part
from time to time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be
made in connection with the offering and distribution of the Firm Securities
upon notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the number of
Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the
option and the time and date of payment and delivery for any such Option
Securities. Any such time and date of delivery (an "Option Closing Date") shall
be determined by the Representative, but shall not be later than three (3) full
business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the
Closing Date, as hereinafter defined, unless otherwise agreed upon by the
Representative and the Company. Nothing herein contained shall obligate the
Underwriters to make any over-allotments. No Option Securities shall be
delivered unless the Firm Securities shall be simultaneously delivered or shall
theretofore have been delivered as herein provided.
(c) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Firm Securities shall be made at the offices of the
Representative at 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or at
such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company.
Such delivery and payment shall be made at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on
________, 2003 or at such other time and date as shall be agreed upon by the
Representative and the Company, but not less than three (3) nor more than five
(5) full business days after the effective date of the Registration Statement
(such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing
Date"). In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Securities are
purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price for, and delivery
of certificates for, such Option Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned
office of the Representative or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by
the Representative and the Company on each Option Closing Date as specified in
the notice from the Representative to the Company. Delivery of the certificates
for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be made to the
Underwriters against payment by the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, of
the purchase price for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if any, to
the order of the Company for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if
any, by New York Clearing House funds. In the event such option is exercised,
each of the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, shall purchase that
proportion of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which
the number of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule A hereto opposite the name
of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Securities, subject in
each case to such adjustments as the Representative in its discretion shall make
to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares. Certificates for the
Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in definitive, fully
registered form, shall bear no restrictive legends and shall be in such
14
denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriters may request in
writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date or the relevant
Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates for the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be made available to the
Representative at such office or such other place as the Representative may
designate for inspection, checking and packaging no later than 9:30 a.m. on the
last business day prior to the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date,
as the case may be.
(d) On the Closing Date, the Company shall issue and sell to the
Representative or its designees, Representative's Warrants at a purchase price
of $.0001 per warrant, which Representative's Warrants shall entitle the holders
thereof to purchase an aggregate of 100,000 shares of Class A Common Stock. The
Representative's Warrants shall be exercisable for a period of four (4) years
commencing one (1) year from the effective date of the Registration Statement at
a price equaling one hundred twenty percent (120%) of the respective initial
public offering price of the Shares. The Representative's Warrant Agreement and
form of Warrant Certificate shall be substantially in the form filed as Exhibit
1.2 to the Registration Statement. Payment for the Representative's Warrants
shall be made on the Closing Date.
3. PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SHARES. As soon after the Registration
Statement becomes effective as the Representative deems advisable, the
Underwriters shall make a public offering of the Shares (other than to residents
of or in any jurisdiction in which qualification of the Securities is required
and has not become effective) at the price and upon the other terms set forth in
the Prospectus. The Representative may from time to time increase or decrease
the public offering price after distribution of the Shares has been completed to
such extent as the Representative, in its sole discretion deems advisable. The
Underwriters may enter into one of more agreements as the Underwriters, in each
of their sole discretion, deem advisable with one or more broker-dealers who
shall act as dealers in connection with such public offering.
4. COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants and
agrees with each of the Underwriters as follows:
(a) The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto to become effective as
promptly as practicable and will not at any time, whether before or after the
effective date of the Registration Statement, file any amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or file any document
under the Act or Exchange Act before termination of the offering of the Shares
by the Underwriters of which the Representative shall not previously have been
advised and furnished with a copy, or to which the Representative shall have
objected or which is not in compliance with the Act, the Exchange Act or the
Rules and Regulations.
(b) As soon as the Company is advised or obtains knowledge
thereof, the Company will advise the Representative and confirm the same in
writing (i) when the Registration Statement, as amended, becomes effective, if
the provisions of Rule 430A promulgated under the Act will be relied upon, when
the Prospectus has been filed in accordance with said Rule 430A and when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii)
of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the
threatening, of any proceeding the outcome of which may result in the suspension
of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any order preventing or
suspending the use of the
15
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or the institution of any proceedings for that purpose; (iii) of the
issuance by the Commission or by any state securities commission of any
proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of any of the Securities for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening,
of any proceeding for that purpose; (iv) of the receipt of any comments from the
Commission; and (v) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the
Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for
additional information. If the Commission or any state securities regulatory
authority shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at any time,
the Company will make every effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
(c) The Company shall file the Prospectus (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representative) with the Commission, or transmit the
Prospectus by a means reasonably calculated to result in filing the same with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) of the Act (or, if applicable and if
consented to by the Representative, pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4)) of the Act not
later than the Commission's close of business on the earlier of (i) the second
business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement and (ii) the
fifth business day after the effective date of the Registration Statement.
(d) The Company will give the Representative notice of its
intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement
(including any post-effective amendment) or any amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus (including any revised prospectus which the Company proposes for use
in connection with the offering of the Firm Securities or Option Securities
which differs from the corresponding prospectus on file at the Commission at the
time the Registration Statement becomes effective, whether or not such revised
prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and
Regulations), and will furnish the Representative with copies of any such
amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed
filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file any such amendment or
supplement to which the Representative or -, its counsel ("Underwriters'
Counsel"), shall object.
(e) The Company shall endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with
the Representative, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes
effective, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities
laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may designate to permit the
continuance of sales and dealings therein for as long as may be necessary to
complete the distribution contemplated hereby, and shall make such applications,
file such documents and furnish such information as may be required for such
purpose; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, the Company shall not be required to qualify as a
foreign corporation or file a general or limited consent to service of process
in any such jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be
effected, the Company will, unless the Representative agrees that such action is
not at the time necessary or advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and
make such statements or reports at such times as are or may reasonably be
required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification.
(f) During the time when a prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Act, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the Exchange Act, as now and
hereafter amended and by the Rules and Regulations, so far as necessary to
permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities in accordance
with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements
16
thereto. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Firm Securities and
Option Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall
have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or
Underwriters' Counsel, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it
is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the
Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the
Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10
of the Act, each such amendment or supplement to be satisfactory to
Underwriters' Counsel, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters copies
of such amendment or supplement as soon as available and in such quantities as
the Underwriters may request.
(g) As soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
forty-five (45) days after the end of the 12-month period beginning on the day
after the end of the fiscal quarter of the Company during which the effective
date of the Registration Statement occurs (ninety (90) days in the event that
the end of such fiscal quarter is the end of the Company's fiscal year), the
Company shall make generally available to its security holders, in the manner
specified in Rule 158(b) of the Rules and Regulations, and to the
Representative, an earnings statement which will be in the detail required by,
and will otherwise comply with, the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and
Rule 158(a) of the Rules and Regulations, which statement need not be audited
unless required by the Act, covering a period of at least twelve (12)
consecutive months after the effective date of the Registration Statement.
(h) During a period of seven (7) years after the date hereof, the
Company will furnish to its stockholders, as soon as practicable, annual reports
(including financial statements audited by independent public accountants) and
unaudited quarterly reports of earnings, and will deliver to the Representative:
(i) concurrently with furnishing such quarterly reports to
the Commission, statements of income of the Company for such quarter in
the form furnished to the Company's stockholders and certified by the
Company's principal financial or accounting officer;
(ii) concurrently with furnishing such annual reports to
its stockholders, a balance sheet of the Company as at the end of the
preceding fiscal year, together with statements of operations,
stockholders' equity, and cash flows of the Company for such fiscal year,
accompanied by a copy of the report thereon of the Company's independent
certified public accountants;
(iii) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports
(financial or other) mailed to stockholders;
(iv) as soon as they are available, copies of all reports
and financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission, the
NASD or any securities exchange;
17
(v) every press release and every material news item or
article of interest to the financial community in respect of the Company,
or its affairs, which was released or prepared by or on behalf of the
Company; and
(vi) any additional information of a public nature concerning
the Company (and any future subsidiary) or its businesses which the
Representative may request.
During such seven-year period, if the Company has an active subsidiary, the
foregoing financial statements will be on a consolidated basis to the extent
that the accounts of the Company and its subsidiary(ies) are consolidated, and
will be accompanied by similar financial statements for any significant
subsidiary which is not so consolidated.
(i) The Company will maintain a transfer agent ("Transfer Agent")
and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a
Registrar (which may be the same entity as the Transfer Agent) for its Class A
Common Stock.
(j) The Company will furnish to the Representative or on the
Representative's order, without charge, at such place as the Representative may
designate, copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement and
any pre-effective or post-effective amendments thereto (two of which copies will
be signed and will include all financial statements and exhibits), the
Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, including any prospectus
prepared after the effective date of the Registration Statement, in each case as
soon as available and in such quantities as the Representative may request.
(k) On or before the effective date of the Registration Statement,
the Company shall provide the Representative with true, originally executed,
legally binding and enforceable Lock-Up Agreements which are in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representative. On or before the Closing Date, the
Company shall deliver instructions to the Transfer Agent authorizing it to place
appropriate legends on the certificates representing the securities subject to
the Lock-Up Agreements and to place appropriate stop transfer orders on the
Company's ledgers.
(l) The Company agrees that, for a period of twelve (12) months
commencing on the effective date of the Registration Statement, and except (i)
as contemplated by this Agreement and (ii) upon the conversion of the Company's
Class B Common Stock into Class A Common Stock, it and its present and future
subsidiaries will not, without the prior written consent of the Representative
issue, sell, contract or offer to sell, grant an option for the purchase or sale
of, assign, transfer, pledge, distribute or otherwise dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any option, right or warrant with
respect to any shares of Common Stock or any type of capital stock having voting
or dividend rights on a parity with or superior to the Common Stock, except
pursuant to stock options or warrants issued on the date hereof, for cash at
less than the greater of the initial public offering price of shares of Common
Stock or the then market value of such shares.
(m) Neither the Company, nor any of its officers, directors,
stockholders, nor any of their respective affiliates (within the meaning of the
Rules and Regulations) will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to, or which might in the future reasonably be
18
expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of
any securities of the Company.
(n) The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Securities in the manner, and subject to the conditions, set forth under "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus. No portion of the net proceeds will be used,
directly or indirectly, to acquire any securities issued by the Company.
(o) The Company shall timely file all such reports, forms or other
documents as may be required from time to time, under the Act, the Exchange Act,
and the Rules and Regulations, and all such reports, forms and documents filed
will comply as to form and substance with the applicable requirements under the
Act, the Exchange Act, and the Rules and Regulations.
(p) The Company shall furnish to the Representative as early as
practicable prior to each of the date hereof, the Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, if any, but no later than two (2) full business days prior
thereto, a copy of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements
of the Company (which in no event shall be as of a date more than thirty (30)
days prior to the date of the Registration Statement) which have been read by
the Company's independent public accountants, as stated in their letters to be
furnished pursuant to SECTIONS 6(j) hereof.
(q) The Company shall cause the Class A Common Stock to be quoted
on NASDAQ and, for a period of seven (7) years from the date hereof, use its
best efforts to maintain the NASDAQ listing of the Class A Common Stock to the
extent outstanding.
(r) For a period of seven (7) years from the Closing Date, the
Company shall furnish to the Representative at the Company's sole expense, (i)
daily consolidated transfer sheets relating to the Class A Common Stock, (ii)
the list of holders of all of the Company's securities and (iii) a Blue Sky
"Trading Survey" for secondary sales of the Company's securities prepared by
counsel to the Company and take all necessary and appropriate actions to further
qualify the Company's securities in all jurisdictions of the United States in
order to permit secondary sales of such securities pursuant to the "blue sky"
laws of those jurisdictions, provided that such jurisdictions do not require the
Company to qualify as a foreign corporation.
(s) As soon as practicable, (i) file a Form 8-A with the
Commission providing for the registration under the Exchange Act of the
Securities and (ii) but in no event more than thirty (30) days after the
effective date of the Registration Statement, take all necessary and appropriate
actions to be included in Standard and Poor's Corporation Descriptions and
Xxxxx'x OTC Manual and to continue such inclusion for a period of not less than
seven (7) years.
(t) The Company hereby agrees that it will not, for a period of
twelve (12) months from the effective date of the Registration Statement, adopt,
propose to adopt or otherwise permit to exist any employee, officer, director,
consultant or compensation plan or similar arrangement permitting (i) the grant,
issue, sale or entry into any agreement to grant, issue or sell any option,
warrant or other contract right (x) at an exercise price that is less than the
greater of the public offering price of the Shares set forth herein and the fair
market value on the
19
date of grant or sale or (y) to any of its executive officers or directors or to
any holder of 5% or more of the Class A Common Stock other than pursuant to the
Company's 2003 stock incentive plan and 2003 non-employee director compensation
plan each as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus; (ii) the payment
for such securities with any form of consideration other than cash; or (iii) the
existence of stock appreciation rights, phantom options or similar arrangements.
(u) Until the completion of the distribution of the Securities,
the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative
and Underwriters' Counsel, issue, directly or indirectly, any press release or
other communication or hold any press conference with respect to the Company or
its activities or the offering contemplated hereby, other than trade releases
issued in the ordinary course of the Company's business consistent with past
practices with respect to the Company's operations.
(v) For a period equal to the lesser of (i) five (5) years from
the date hereof, and (ii) the sale to the public of the Representative's
Securities, the Company will not take any action or actions which may prevent or
disqualify the Company's use of Form SB-2 (or other appropriate form) for the
registration under the Act of the Representative's Securities.
(w) For a period of twenty four (24) months after the effective
date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall not restate, amend or
alter any term of any written employment, consulting or similar agreement
entered into between the Company and any officer, director or key employee as of
the effective date of the Registration Statement in a manner which is more
favorable to such officer, director or key employee, without the prior written
consent of the Representative.
(x) The Company will use its best efforts to maintain the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement for a period of five years after the
date hereof.
5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.
(a) The Company hereby agrees to pay (such payment to be made, at
the discretion of the Representation, on the Closing Date and any Option Closing
Date to the extent not paid on the Closing Date or a previous Option Closing
Date) all expenses and fees (other than fees of Underwriters' Counsel) incident
to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement and
the Representative's Warrant Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) the
fees and expenses of accountants and counsel for the Company, (ii) all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, duplication, printing
(including mailing and handling charges), filing, delivery and mailing
(including the payment of postage with respect thereto) of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto and the
printing, mailing (including the payment of postage overnight delivery or
courier charges with respect thereto) and delivery of this Agreement, the
Representative's Warrant Agreement, the Agreement Among Underwriters, the
Selected Dealer Agreements, and related documents, including the cost of all
copies thereof and of the Preliminary Prospectuses and of the Prospectus and any
amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the Underwriters and such
dealers as the Underwriters may request, in quantities as hereinabove stated,
(iii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the Securities
including, but not limited to, (x) the purchase by the Underwriters of the Firm
20
Securities and the Option Securities and the purchase by the Representative of
the Representative's Warrants from the Company, (y) the consummation by the
Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement and the Representative's
Warrant Agreement, and (z) resale of the Firm Securities and the Option
Securities by the Underwriters in connection with the distribution contemplated
hereby, (iv) the qualification of the Securities under state or foreign
securities or "Blue Sky" laws and determination of the status of such securities
under legal investment laws, including the costs of printing and mailing the
"Preliminary Blue Sky Memorandum", the "Supplemental Blue Sky Memorandum" and
"Legal Investments Survey," if any, and disbursements and fees of counsel in
connection therewith, (v) costs and expenses incurred by the Company in
connection with the "road shows", (vi) costs and expenses in connection with due
diligence investigations, including, but not limited to, the fees of independent
counsel, (vii) applications for assignment of a rating of the Securities by
qualified rating agencies, (viii) the fees payable to the Commission and the
NASD, and (ix) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the quotation
of the Securities on NASDAQ and any other exchange.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in
accordance with the provisions of SECTION 6, SECTION 10(a) or SECTION 12, the
Company shall reimburse and indemnify the Underwriters for all of their actual
out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of Underwriters'
Counsel, less any amounts already paid pursuant to SECTION 5(c) hereof.
(c) The Company further agrees that, in addition to the expenses
payable pursuant to subsection (a) of this SECTION 5, it will pay to the
Representative on the Closing Date by certified or bank cashier's check or, at
the election of the Representative, by deduction from the proceeds of the
offering of the Firm Securities, a non-accountable expense allowance equal to 3%
of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Firm
Securities. In the event the Underwriter elects to exercise the over-allotment
option described in Section 2(b) hereof, the Company further agrees to pay to
the Underwriter on each Option Closing Date, by certified or bank cashier's
check, or, at the Underwriter's election, by deduction from the proceeds of the
Option Securities purchased on such Option Closing Date, a non-accountable
expense allowance equal to three percent (3%) of the gross proceeds received by
the Company from the sale of such Option Securities.
6. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company herein as of the date hereof and
as of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, as if they had been
made on and as of the Closing Date or each Option Closing Date, as the case may
be; the accuracy on and as of the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, if any,
of the statements of the officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions
hereof; and the performance by the Company on and as of the Closing Date and
each Option Closing Date, if any, of its covenants and obligations hereunder and
to the following further conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective not
later than 12:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such
later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative,
and, at the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have
21
been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or
shall be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part
of the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to
the reasonable satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel. If the Company has elected
to rely upon Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, the price of the Shares and
any price-related information previously omitted from the effective Registration
Statement pursuant to such Rule 430A shall have been transmitted to the
Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations
within the prescribed time period and, prior to the Closing Date, the Company
shall have provided evidence satisfactory to the Representative of such timely
filing, or a post-effective amendment providing such information shall have been
promptly filed and declared effective in accordance with the requirements of
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations.
(b) The Representative shall not have advised the Company that the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, contains an untrue statement
of fact which, in the Representative's opinion, is material, or omits to state a
fact which, in the Representative's opinion, is material and is required to be
stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or that the
Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact
which, in the Representative's opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact
which, in the Representative's opinion, is material and is required to be stated
therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) On or prior to each of the Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, if any, the Representative shall have received from Underwriters'
Counsel, such opinion or opinions with respect to the organization of the
Company, the validity of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus and other related matters as the Representative may request and
Underwriters' Counsel shall have received such papers and information as they
request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(d) At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the
favorable opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, counsel to the Company, dated the
Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance
satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel, to the effect that:
(i) the Company (A) has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of organization, (B) is duly qualified and licensed and in
good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its
ownership or leasing of any properties or the character of its operations
requires such qualification or licensing, and (C) has all requisite
corporate power and authority and has obtained any and all necessary
authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises and
permits of and from all governmental or regulatory officials and bodies
(including, without limitation, those having jurisdiction over
environmental or similar matters), to own or lease its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; and, to the knowledge
of such counsel, the Company has not received any notice of proceedings
relating to the revocation or modification of any such authorization,
approval, order, license, certificate, franchise, or permit which, singly
or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling
22
or finding, would materially adversely affect the condition, financial or
otherwise, earnings, position, properties, stockholders' equity value,
operations or prospects of the Company.
(ii) except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, the Company does not own,
directly or indirectly, an interest in any corporation, partnership,
trust, joint venture or other business entity;
(iii) the Company has a duly authorized, issued and
outstanding capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, and any
amendment or supplement thereto, under "Capitalization" and "Description
of Capital Stock", and, to the knowledge of such counsel, except as set
forth in the Prospectus, the Company is not a party to or bound by any
instrument, agreement or other arrangement providing for it to issue,
sell, transfer, purchase or redeem any capital stock, rights, warrants,
options or other securities, except for this Agreement and the
Representative's Warrant Agreement and as described in the Prospectus. The
Securities and all other securities issued or issuable by the Company
conform in all respects to the descriptions thereof contained in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All issued and outstanding
securities of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof have no rights of
rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to personal liability
by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities were issued
in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security of
the Company or any similar rights granted by the Company. The Securities
are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar rights
of any stockholder, have been duly authorized and, when issued, paid for
and delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the descriptions thereof
contained in the Prospectus; the holders thereof will not be subject to
any liability solely as such holders; all corporate action required to be
taken for the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities has been
duly and validly taken; and the certificates representing the Securities
are in due and proper form. The Representative's Warrants constitute valid
and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise
thereof and payment therefor, the number and type of securities of the
Company called for thereby. Upon the issuance and delivery pursuant to
this Agreement of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities and the
Representative's Warrants to be sold by the Company, the Underwriters and
the Representative, respectively, will acquire good and marketable title
to the Firm Securities and the Option Securities and the Representative's
Warrants free and clear of any pledge, lien, charge, claim, encumbrance,
pledge, security interest, or other restriction or equity of any kind
whatsoever. No transfer tax is payable by or on behalf of the Underwriters
in connection with (A) the issuance by the Company of the Securities, (B)
the purchase by the Underwriters of the Firm Securities and the Option
Securities from the Company, and the purchase by the Representative of the
Representative's Warrants from the Company (C) the consummation by the
Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement or the
Representative's Warrant Agreement, or (D) resales of the Firm Securities
and the Option Securities in connection with the distribution contemplated
hereby.
23
(iv) the Registration Statement is effective under the Act,
and, if applicable, filing of all pricing information has been timely made
in the appropriate form under Rule 430A, and, to the knowledge of such
counsel, no stop order suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any part of any thereof or
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued
and no, to the knowledge of such counsel, proceedings for that purpose
have been instituted or are pending or threatened or contemplated under
the Act;
(v) each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto
(other than the financial statements and other financial and statistical
data included therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) comply as
to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the
Rules and Regulations. For the purpose of passing upon the form of such
documents, such counsel have not independently verified and are not
passing upon and have assumed the correctness and completeness of the
statements made therein.
(vi) (A)to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no
agreements, contracts or other documents required by the Act to be
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement other than those described in the
Registration Statement (or required to be filed under the Exchange Act if
upon such filing they would be incorporated, in whole or in part, by
reference therein) and the Prospectus and filed as exhibits thereto, and
the exhibits which have been filed are correct copies of the documents of
which they purport to be copies; (B) the descriptions in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and any supplement or amendment thereto of
contracts and other documents to which the Company is a party or by which
it is bound insofar as such descriptions constitute a summary of documents
referred to therein or matters of law, fairly summarize in all material
respects the information required to be shown by Form SB-2; (C) there is
not pending or, to the knowledge of such counsel, threatened against the
Company any action, arbitration, suit, proceeding, inquiry, investigation,
litigation, governmental or other proceeding (including, without
limitation, those pertaining to environmental or similar matters),
domestic or foreign, pending or, to the knowledge of such counsel,
threatened against (or circumstances that may give rise to the same), or
involving the properties or business of the Company which (x) is required
to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not so disclosed
(and such proceedings as are summarized in the Registration Statement are
accurately summarized in all respects), (y) questions the validity of the
capital stock of the Company or this Agreement or the Representative's
Warrant Agreement, or of any action taken or to be taken by the Company
pursuant to or in connection with any of the foregoing; and (D) there is
no action, suit or proceeding pending, or, to the knowledge of such
counsel, threatened, against or affecting the Company before any court or
arbitrator or governmental body, agency or official (or any basis thereof
known to such counsel) in which there is a reasonable possibility of a
decision which may result in a material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings, position, prospects,
stockholders' equity, operation, properties, business or results of
operations of the Company, which could adversely affect the present or
prospective ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement or the Representative's
24
Warrant Agreement or which in any manner draws into question the validity
or enforceability of this Agreement or the Representative's Warrant
Agreement;
(vii) the Company has full legal right, corporate power and
authority to enter into each of this Agreement and the Representative's
Warrant Agreement, and to consummate the transactions provided for
therein; and each of this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
Each of this Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement,
assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party
thereto constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as
such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application relating
to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and the application
of equitable principles in any action, legal or equitable, and except as
obligations to indemnify or contribute to losses may be limited by
applicable law). None of the Company's execution or delivery of this
Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement, its performance
hereunder or thereunder, its consummation of the transactions contemplated
herein or therein, or the conduct of its business as described in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements
thereto, conflicts with or will conflict with or results or will result in
any breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitutes or will constitute a default under, or result in the creation
or imposition of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security
interest, defect or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever
upon, any property or assets (tangible or intangible) of the Company
pursuant to the terms of, (A) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws
of the Company, (B) to the knowledge of such counsel, any license,
contract, collective bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, lease, voting trust agreement, stockholders agreement, note, loan
or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an
obligation for borrowed money or any other agreement or instrument to
which the Company is a party or by which it is or they are or may be bound
or to which any of its or their respective properties or assets (tangible
or intangible) is or may be subject, or any indebtedness, or (C) any
statute applicable to the Company or (D) to the knowledge of such counsel,
any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company
of any arbitrator, court, regulatory body or administrative agency or
other governmental agency or body (including, without limitation, those
having jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), domestic or
foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of their respective
activities or properties;
(viii) no consent, approval, authorization or order of, and
no filing with, any arbitrator court, regulatory body, administrative
agency government agency or other body (other than such as may be required
under state securities laws and the rules of the NASD, as to which no
opinion need be rendered) is required in connection with the issuance of
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities pursuant to the Prospectus
and the Registration Statement, the issuance of the Representative's
Warrants, the performance of this Agreement and the Representative's
Warrant Agreement, and the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby;
25
(ix) to the knowledge of such counsel, the Company is not
in breach of, or in default under, any term or provision of any license,
contract, collective bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage,
installment sale agreement, deed of trust, lease, voting trust agreement,
stockholders' agreement, partnership agreement, note, loan or credit
agreement or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation
for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which the Company may be bound or to which the
properties or assets (tangible or intangible) of the Company is subject or
affected; and the Company is not in violation of any term or provision of
its certificate of incorporation or by-laws with respect to the Company
or, to the knowledge of such counsel, in violation of any franchise,
license, permit, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation;
(x) the statements in the Prospectus under "Prospectus
Summary," "Business," "Management," "Principal Stockholders," "Related
Party Transactions," "Description Of Capital Stock," and "Shares Eligible
For Future Sale" have been reviewed by such counsel, and insofar as they
refer to statements of law, descriptions of statutes, governmental
licenses, rules or regulations or legal conclusions, are correct in all
material respects;
(xi) the Firm Securities and Option Securities have been
accepted for quotation on NASDAQ;
(xii) to the knowledge of such counsel, the persons listed
under the caption "Principal Stockholders" in the Prospectus are the
respective "beneficial owners" (as such phrase is defined in Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act) of the securities set forth opposite their
respective names thereunder as and to the extent set forth therein;
(xiii) to the knowledge of such counsel, none of the
trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names, copyrights, patents
and patent applications, and none of the licenses and rights to the
foregoing, presently owned or held by the Company are in dispute or are in
conflict with the right of any other person or entity except as and to the
extent described in the Prospectus. Except as described or referred to in
the Prospectus, the Company (i) owns or has the right to use, free and
clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security
interests, defects or other restrictions or equities of any kind
whatsoever, all trademarks, trade names, service marks, service names,
copyrights, patents and patent applications, and licenses and rights with
respect to the foregoing, used in the conduct of its business as now
conducted or proposed to be conducted without infringing upon or otherwise
acting adversely to the right or claimed right of any person, corporation
or other entity under or with respect to any of the foregoing and (ii) is
not obligated or under any liability whatsoever to make any payments by
way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any owner or licensee of, or other
claimant to, any trademark, trade name, service xxxx, service name,
copyright, patent or patent application. Except as described or referred
to in the Prospectus, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry,
arbitration, investigation, litigation or governmental or other
proceeding, domestic or foreign, pending or threatened (or circumstances
that may give rise to the same) against the Company which challenges the
exclusive rights of the Company with respect to any trademarks, trade
names, service marks, service names,
26
copyrights, patents, patent applications or licenses or rights to the
foregoing used in the conduct of its business, or which challenge the
right of the Company to use any technology presently used or contemplated
to be used in the conduct of its business;
(xiv) Except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus, to the knowledge of such counsel, no person, corporation,
trust, partnership, association or other entity has the right to include
and/or register any securities of the Company in the Registration
Statement, require the Company to file any registration statement or, if
filed, to include any security in such registration statement which has
not been effectively waived;
(xv) except as described in the Prospectus, to the
knowledge of such counsel, there are no claims, payments, issuances,
arrangements or understandings for services in the nature of a finder's or
origination fee with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder or
financial consulting arrangements or any other arrangements, agreements,
understandings, payments or issuances that may affect the Underwriters'
compensation, as determined by the NASD;
(xvi) assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by
the parties thereto the Lock-Up Agreements are legal, valid and binding
obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable against such parties and
any subsequent holder of the securities subject thereto in accordance with
their terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of
general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors'
rights and the application of equitable principles in any action, legal or
equitable, and except as obligations to indemnify or contribute to losses
may be limited by applicable law);
(xvii) except as described in the Prospectus, to the
knowledge of such counsel, the Company does not (A) maintain, sponsor or
contribute to any ERISA Plans, (B) maintains or contributes, now or at any
time previously, to a defined benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(35) of
ERISA, and (C) has ever completely or partially withdrawn from a
"multiemployer plan";
(xviii) the Company, or any of its affiliates shall be subject
to the requirements of or shall be deemed an "Investment Company,"
pursuant to and as defined under, respectively, the Investment Company
Act.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has held conversations with officers
and other representatives of the Company, and representatives of the independent
public accountants for the Company, and during such conversations, such counsel
has made inquiries of such officers, representatives and accountants and
discussed the contents of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and
related matters. In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall
also include a statement to the effect that although such counsel is not passing
upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel which lead them
to believe that either the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, at
the time such Registration Statement or amendment became effective, or the
Preliminary
27
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the
date of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and as of the date of
such opinion, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion
with respect to the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
statistical data included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus). As
to any facts material to the foregoing opinions which were not independently
established or verified, Xxxxxxxx & Sole LLP may state that they have relied on
representatives of officers and other representatives of the Company.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the
application of laws other than the laws of the United States and jurisdictions
in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems proper and to the
extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion or opinions (in
form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel) of other counsel
acceptable to Underwriters' Counsel, familiar with the applicable laws; (B) as
to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates and written
statements of responsible officers of the Company and certificates or other
written statements of officers of departments of various jurisdictions having
custody of documents respecting the corporate existence or good standing of the
Company, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be
delivered to Underwriters' Counsel if requested. The opinion of such counsel for
the Company shall state that the opinion of any such other counsel is in form
satisfactory to such counsel and that the Representative, Underwriters' Counsel
and they are each justified in relying thereon. Any opinion of counsel for the
Company shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or that it is
otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document relating to
legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the
ABA Section of Business Law (1991) or any comparable state accord.
(e) At each Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriters shall
have received the favorable opinions of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, counsel to the
Company, dated such Option Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and
in form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel confirming as of
such Option Closing Date the statements made by Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP in their
opinion delivered on the Closing Date.
(f) On or before the Closing Date (and each Option Closing Date,
if applicable), the Underwriters shall have received the favorable opinion of
Obermayer Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Hippel LLP, special intellectual property counsel to
the Company, dated the Closing Date (or the Option Closing Date, if applicable),
addressed to the Underwriters, the form of which is attached hereto as Exhibit
A. The opinion shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the
Company and shall so state therein.
(g) On or prior to each of the Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, if any, Underwriters' Counsel shall have been furnished such
documents, certificates and opinions as they may reasonably require for the
purpose of enabling them to review or pass upon the matters referred to in
subsection (c) of this SECTION 6, or in order to evidence the accuracy,
completeness or satisfaction of any of the representations, warranties or
conditions of the Company herein contained.
28
(h) Prior to the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if
any, (i) there shall have been no material adverse change nor development
involving a prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise,
earnings, position, prospects, stockholders' equity, value, operations,
properties, business or results of operations of the Company, whether or not in
the ordinary course of business, from the latest dates as of which such
condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) there
shall have been no transaction, not in the ordinary course of business, entered
into by the Company, from the latest date as of which the financial condition of
the Company is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus which is
adverse to the Company; (iii) the Company shall not be in default under any
provision of any instrument relating to any outstanding indebtedness; (iv) the
Company shall not have issued any securities (other than the Securities) or
declared or paid any dividend or made any distribution in respect of its capital
stock of any class and there shall not been any change in the capital stock or
any material change in the debt (long or short term) or liabilities or
obligations of the Company (contingent or otherwise); (v) no material amount of
the assets of the Company shall have been pledged or mortgaged, except as set
forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (vi) no action, suit or
proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened (or
circumstances giving rise to same) against the Company, or affecting any of its
properties or businesses before or by any court or federal, state or foreign
commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding may adversely affect the condition, financial or
otherwise, earnings, position, properties, stockholders equity, value,
operations or prospects of the Company; and (vii) no stop order shall have been
issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been initiated,
threatened or contemplated by the Commission.
(i) At the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the
Underwriters shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the
principal executive officer and by the chief financial or chief accounting
officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, to the effect that each of such persons has carefully examined the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement, and that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in
this Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has
complied with all agreements and covenants and satisfied all conditions
contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any part thereof has been issued, and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
the best of each of such person's knowledge, are contemplated or
threatened under the Act;
(iii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, if
any, each amendment and each supplement thereto, contain all statements
and information required to be included therein, and none of the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement
thereto includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
29
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading and neither the Preliminary Prospectus or any
supplement thereto included any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a)
the Company has not incurred up to and including the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, other than in the ordinary course
of its business, any material liabilities or obligations, direct or
contingent; (b) the Company has not paid or declared any dividends or
other distributions on its capital stock; (c) the Company has not entered
into any transactions not in the ordinary course of business; (d) there
has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt or any
increase in the short-term borrowings (other than any increase in the
short-term borrowings in the ordinary course of business) of the Company;
(e) the Company has not sustained any loss or damage to its properties or
assets, whether or not insured; (f) there is no litigation which is
pending or threatened (or circumstances giving rise to same) against the
Company or any affiliated party which is required to be set forth in an
amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been set forth; and (g)
there has occurred no event required to be set forth in an amended or
supplemented Prospectus which has not been set forth.
References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this subsection
(i) are to such documents as amended and supplemented at the date of such
certificate.
(j) By the Closing Date, the Underwriters will have received
clearance from the NASD as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to
the Underwriters, as described in the Registration Statement.
(k) At the time this Agreement is executed, the Underwriters
shall have received a letter, dated such date, addressed to the Underwriters in
form and substance satisfactory (including the non-material nature of the
changes or decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) in all respects
to the Underwriters and Underwriters' Counsel, from Xxxxx & Xxxxx:
(i) confirming that they are independent certified public
accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and
the applicable Rules and Regulations;
(ii) stating that it is their opinion that the financial
statements and supporting schedules of the Company included in the
Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations thereunder and that the Representative may rely upon the
opinion of Xxxxx & Xxxxx, with respect to the financial statements and
supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement;
30
(iii) stating that, on the basis of a limited review which
included a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial
statements of the Company, a reading of the latest available minutes of
the stockholders and board of directors and the various committees of the
board of directors of the Company, consultations with officers and other
employees of the Company responsible for financial and accounting matters
and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their
attention which would lead them to believe that (A) the unaudited
financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company included in
the Registration Statement do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
Rules and Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially
consistent with that of the audited financial statements of the Company
included in the Registration Statement, or (B) at a specified date not
more than five (5) days prior to the effective date of the Registration
Statement, there has been any change in the capital stock or long-term
debt of the Company, or any decrease in the stockholders' equity or net
current assets or net assets of the Company as compared with amounts shown
in the June 30, 2003 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement,
other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration Statement,
or, if there was any change or decrease, setting forth the amount of such
change or decrease, and (C) during the period from June 30, 2003 to a
specified date not more than five (5) days prior to the effective date of
the Registration Statement, there was any decrease in net revenues, net
earnings or increase in net earnings per common share of the Company, in
each case as compared with the corresponding period beginning April 1,
2003, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration
Statement, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount of
such decrease;
(iv) setting forth, at a date not later than five (5) days
prior to the date of the Registration Statement, the amount of liabilities
of the Company taken as a whole (including a break-down of commercial
paper and notes payable to banks);
(v) stating that they have compared specific dollar
amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings,
statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company set
forth in the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such amounts,
numbers, percentages, statements and information may be derived from the
general accounting records, including work sheets, of the Company and
excluding any questions requiring an interpretation by legal counsel, with
the results obtained from the application of specified readings, inquiries
and other appropriate procedures (which procedures do not constitute an
examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set
forth in the letter and found them to be in agreement;
(vi) statements as to such other matters incident to the
transaction contemplated hereby as the Representatives may request.
(l) At the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the
Underwriters shall have received from Xxxxx & Xxxxx a letter, dated as of the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, to the effect that
they reaffirm the statements made
31
in the letter furnished pursuant to SUBSECTION (j) of this SECTION, except that
the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than five (5) days prior
to the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and, if the
Company has elected to rely on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, to the
further effect that they have carried out procedures as specified in clause (v)
of SUBSECTION (j) of this Section with respect to certain amounts, percentages
and financial information as specified by the Representative and deemed to be a
part of the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b) and have found such
amounts, percentages and financial information to be in agreement with the
records specified in such clause (v).
(m) On the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any,
there shall have been duly tendered to the Representative for the several
Underwriters' accounts the appropriate number of Securities.
(n) No order suspending the sale of the Securities in any
jurisdiction designated by the Representative pursuant to SUBSECTION (e) of
SECTION 4 hereof shall have been issued on either the Closing Date or each
Option Closing Date, if any, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been
instituted or shall be contemplated.
(o) On or before the Closing Date, the Company shall have executed
and delivered to the Representative, (i) the Representative's Warrant Agreement
substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [1.2] to the Registration Statement,
in final form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, and (ii) the
Representative's Warrants in such denominations and to such designees as shall
have been provided to the Company.
(p) On or before the Closing Date, the Firm Securities and Option
Securities shall have been duly approved for quotation on NASDAQ, subject to
official notice of issuance.
(q) On or before the Closing Date, there shall have been delivered
to the Representative all of the Lock-Up Agreements, in form and substance
satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel.
(r) At least two (2) full business days prior to the date hereof,
the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall have
delivered to the Underwriter the unaudited interim financial statements required
to be so delivered pursuant to Section 4(p) of this Agreement.
(s) At the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the
Underwriters shall have received a certificate of the Parent signed by the
principal executive officer and by the chief financial or chief accounting
officer of the Parent, dated the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, to the effect that each of such persons has carefully examined the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement, and that the
representations and warranties of the Parent in this Agreement are true and
correct, as if made on and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, and the Parent has complied with all agreements and covenants
and satisfied all conditions contained in this Agreement on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date,
as the case may be.
32
If any condition to the Underwriters' obligations hereunder to be
fulfilled prior to or at the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, is not so fulfilled, the Representative may terminate this
Agreement or, if the Representative so elects, it may waive any such conditions
which have not been fulfilled or extend the time for their fulfillment.
7. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the
Underwriters (for purposes of this SECTION 7 "Underwriter" shall include the
officers, directors, partners, employees, agents and counsel of the Underwriter,
including specifically each person who may be substituted for an Underwriter as
provided in SECTION 11 hereof), and each person, if any, who controls the
Underwriter ("controlling person") within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities, joint or several (and actions,
proceedings, investigations, inquiries, suits and litigation in respect
thereof), whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all expenses
whatsoever reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
any such claim, action, proceeding, investigation, inquiry, suit or litigation,
commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever), as such are incurred, to
which the Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject under the
Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or otherwise or
under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon (A) any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained (i) in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as from
time to time amended and supplemented); (ii) in any post-effective amendment or
amendments or any new registration statement and prospectus in which is included
securities of the Company issued or issuable upon exercise of the Securities; or
(iii) in any application or other document or written communication (in this
SECTION 7 collectively called "application") executed by the Company or based
upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order
to qualify the Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with the
Commission, any state securities commission or agency, NASDAQ or any securities
exchange; (B) the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made), or (C) any breach of any representation, warranty,
covenant or agreement of the Company contained herein or in any certificate by
or on behalf of the Company or any of its officers delivered pursuant hereto,
unless, in the case of clause (A) or (B) above, such statement or omission was
made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with written information
furnished to the Company with respect to any Underwriter by or on behalf of such
Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or in
any application, as the case may be. The indemnity agreement in this SUBSECTION
(a) shall be in addition to any liability which the Company may have at common
law or otherwise.
(b) Each of the Underwriters agrees severally, but not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who has signed the Registration Statement, and each other person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, to the same extent
as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriters but only with
respect to statements or omissions, if any, made in any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement
33
thereto or in any application made in reliance upon, and in strict conformity
with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to any
Underwriter by such Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or in any such application, provided that such written
information or omissions only pertain to disclosures in the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus directly relating to the
transactions effected by the Underwriters in connection with this Offering. The
Company acknowledges that the statements with respect to the public offering of
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities set forth under the heading
"Underwriting" and the stabilization legend in the Prospectus have been
furnished by the Underwriters expressly for use therein and constitute the only
information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters for
inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus Registration Statement or Prospectus.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
SECTION 7 of notice of the commencement of any claim, action, suit,
investigation, inquiry, proceeding or litigation, such indemnified party shall,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against one or more indemnifying
parties under this SECTION 7, notify each party against whom indemnification is
to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but the failure so to
notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have under this SECTION 7 except to the extent that it has been prejudiced
in any material respect by such failure or from any liability which it may have
otherwise). In case any such claim, action, suit, investigation, inquiry,
proceeding or litigation is brought against any indemnified party, and it
notifies an indemnifying party or parties of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party or parties will be entitled to participate therein, and to
the extent it may elect by written notice delivered to the indemnified party
promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to
assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or
parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case
but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
indemnified party or parties unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall
have been authorized in writing by the indemnifying parties in connection with
the defense of thereof at the expense of the indemnifying party, (ii) the
indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party to have charge of the defense thereof within a reasonable
time after notice of commencement thereof, or (iii) such indemnified party or
parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be defenses available to
it or them which are different from or additional to those available to one or
all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the indemnifying parties shall
not have the right to direct the defense thereof on behalf of the indemnified
party or parties), in any of which events such fees and expenses of one
additional counsel shall be borne by the indemnifying parties. In no event shall
the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one
counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own counsel for
all indemnified parties in connection with any one claim, action, suit,
investigation, inquiry, proceeding or litigation or separate but similar or
related claims, actions, suits, investigations, inquiries, proceedings or
litigation in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations
or circumstances. Anything in this SECTION 7 to the contrary notwithstanding, an
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim, action,
suit, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or litigation effected without its
written consent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such consent was not unreasonably
withheld. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified
34
parties, settle, compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect
to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit, investigation, inquiry,
proceeding or litigation in respect of which indemnification or contribution may
be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or
potential parties to such claim, action, suit, investigation, inquiry,
proceeding or litigation), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or
litigation and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in any
case in which (i) an indemnified party makes claim for indemnification pursuant
to this SECTION 7, but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final
judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of
time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such
indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that
the express provisions of this SECTION 7 provide for indemnification in such
case, or (ii) contribution under the Act may be required on the part of any
indemnified party, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid as a result of such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) (A) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by each of the contributing parties, on the one
hand, and the party to be indemnified on the other hand, from the offering of
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities or (B) if the allocation provided
by clause (A) 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 each of the contributing parties, on the
one hand, and the party to be indemnified on the other hand in connection with
the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
expenses or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
In any case where the Company is the contributing party and the Underwriters are
the indemnified party, the relative benefits received by the Company on the one
hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Firm Securities
and the Option Securities (before deducting expenses) bear to the total
underwriting discounts received by the Underwriters hereunder, in each case as
set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, or by the
Underwriters, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to above in this SUBSECTION (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this SUBSECTION (d), the Underwriters shall not be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the
Firm Securities and the Option Securities purchased by the Underwriters
hereunder. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this
SECTION 7, each person, if any, who controls the Company or the Underwriter
within the meaning of the Act, each officer of the Company who has signed the
Registration Statement, and each director of the Company shall have the same
rights to contribution as the Company or the Underwriter, as the case may be,
subject in each case to this SUBSECTION (d). Any party entitled to contribution
will, promptly after receipt of
35
notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in
respect to which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or
parties under this SUBSECTION (d), notify such party or parties from whom
contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify such party or parties
shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from
any obligation it or they may have hereunder or otherwise than under this
SUBSECTION (d), or to the extent that such party or parties were not adversely
affected by such omission. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 7 to the
contrary, no party will be liable for contribution with respect to the
settlement of any action, investigation, inquiry, suit or proceeding effected
without its written consent. The contribution agreement set forth above shall be
in addition to any liabilities which any indemnifying party may have at common
law or otherwise.
8. REPRESENTATIONS WARRANTIES, COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE
DELIVERY. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements contained in
this Agreement or contained in certificates of officers of the Company and the
Parent submitted pursuant hereto, shall be deemed to be representations,
warranties and agreements at the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, and such representations, warranties and agreements of the
Company and the indemnity agreements contained in SECTION 7 hereof, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by
or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company, the Parent, any controlling person
of any Underwriter, the Company, the Parent and shall survive termination of
this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Securities to the
Underwriters and the Representative, as the case may be.
9. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Agreement shall become effective at 10:00 a.m.,
New York City time, on the next full business day following the date hereof, or
at such earlier time after the Registration Statement becomes effective as the
Representative, in its discretion, shall release the Firm Securities and the
Option Securities for sale to the public; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the provisions
of SECTIONS 5, 7 and 10 of this Agreement shall at all times be effective. For
purposes of this SECTION 9, the Firm Securities and the Option Securities to be
purchased hereunder shall be deemed to have been so released upon the earlier of
dispatch by the Representative of telegrams to securities dealers releasing such
securities for offering or the release by the Representative for publication of
the first newspaper advertisement which is subsequently published relating to
the Securities.
10. TERMINATION.
(a) Subject to SUBSECTION (b) of this SECTION 10, the
Representative shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, (i) if any
domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially adversely
disrupted, or in the Representative's opinion will in the immediate future
materially adversely disrupt, the financial markets; or (ii) if any material
adverse change in the financial markets shall have occurred; or (iii) if trading
generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case
may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the
NASD, the Boston Stock Exchange, the Commission or any governmental authority
having jurisdiction over such matters; or (iv) if trading of any of the
securities of the Company shall have been suspended, or any of the securities of
the Company shall have been delisted, on any exchange or in any over-the-counter
market; (v) if the United States shall have become involved in a war or major
hostilities, or if there shall have been an escalation in an existing war or
major hostilities or a national emergency
36
shall have been declared in the United States; or (vi) if a banking moratorium
has been declared by a state or federal authority; or (vii) if a moratorium in
foreign exchange trading has been declared; or (viii) if the Company shall have
sustained a loss material or substantial to the Company by fire, flood,
accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious
act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the
Representative's opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale
and/or delivery of the Securities; or (ix) if there shall have been such a
material adverse change in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or if
there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any
calamity or crises or there shall have been such a material adverse change in
the general market, political or economic conditions, in the United States or
elsewhere, as in the Representative's judgment, would make it inadvisable to
proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Securities.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative in
accordance with the provisions of SECTION 10(a) the Company shall promptly
reimburse and indemnify the Representative for all of its actual out-of-pocket
expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters
(less amounts previously paid pursuant to SECTION 5(c) above). Notwithstanding
any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, if this Agreement shall not
be carried out within the time specified herein, or any extension thereof
granted to the Representative, by reason of any failure on the part of the
Company to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement by
it to be performed or satisfied (including, without limitation, pursuant to
SECTION 6 or SECTION 12) then, the Company shall promptly reimburse and
indemnify the Representative for all of its actual out-of-pocket expenses,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters (less
amounts previously paid pursuant to SECTION 5(c) above). In addition, the
Company shall remain liable for all blue sky filing fees and counsel fees and
disbursements, expenses and filing fees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision
contained in this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this
Agreement (including, without limitation, pursuant to SECTIONS 6, 10, 11 and 12
hereof), and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the
provisions of SECTION 5 and SECTION 7 shall not be in any way affected by such
election or termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or
any part hereof.
11. SUBSTITUTION OF THE UNDERWRITERS. If one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail (otherwise than for a reason sufficient to justify the termination of
this Agreement under the provisions of SECTION 6, SECTION 10 or SECTION 12
hereof) to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase on
such date under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representative
shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangement for one or
more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase
all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may
be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the
Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of
the total number of Firm Securities to be purchased on such date, the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase the full amount
thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations
hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting
Underwriters, or
37
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the
total number of Firm Securities, this Agreement shall terminate without
liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriters (or, if such default
shall occur with respect to any Option Securities to be purchased on an Option
Closing Date, the Underwriters may at the Representative's option, by notice
from the Representative to the Company, terminate the Underwriters' obligation
to purchase Option Securities from the Company on such date).
No action taken pursuant to this SECTION 11 shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default by such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this
Agreement, the Representative shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date
for a period not exceeding seven (7) days in order to effect any required
changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements.
12. DEFAULT BY THE COMPANY. If the Company shall fail at the Closing
Date to sell and deliver the number of Firm Securities which it is obligated to
sell hereunder on such date, then this Agreement shall terminate (or, if such
default shall occur with respect to any Option Securities to be purchased on an
Option Closing Date, the Underwriters may at the Representative's option, by
notice from the Representative to the Company, terminate the Underwriters'
obligation to purchase Option Securities from the Company on such date) without
any liability on the part of any non-defaulting party other than pursuant to
SECTION 5, SECTION 7 and SECTION 10 hereof. No action taken pursuant to this
SECTION 12 shall relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such
default.
13. NOTICES. All notices and communications hereunder, except as herein
otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of
telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the
Representative at -, Attention: -, with a copy to - Attention: -, Esq. Notices
to the Company shall be directed to the Company at Vaso Active Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., 00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention:
Xxxx Masiz, with a copy to Xxxxxxxx & Xxxx LLP, Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
14. PARTIES. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and
shall be binding upon, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling
persons, directors and officers referred to in SECTION 7 hereof, and their
respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person
shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein
contained. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be
a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
15. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to the choice of law or conflict of laws principles.
16. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which
taken together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
38
17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS. This Agreement and the
Representative's Warrant Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the
parties hereto and supersede all prior written or oral agreements,
understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof and
thereof. This Agreement may not be amended except in a writing, signed by the
Representative and the Company.
39
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the
Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for
that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among
us.
Very truly yours,
VASO ACTIVE PHARMACEUTICALS, INC.
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
BIOCHEMICS, INC.
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written.
-
For itself and as Representative of the
several Underwriters named in Schedule A
hereto.
By:
------------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
40
SCHEDULE A
Number of Shares
Name of Underwriters to be Purchased
-------------------- ----------------
-, LLC..............................................
Total...............................................
-----------------
1,200,000
=================
41
