Graphic Packaging International, Inc. Graphic Packaging Holding Company Graphic Packaging Corporation and the other Guarantors party hereto UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT dated September 15, 2010 Banc of America Securities LLC J.P. Morgan Securities LLC...
Exhibit 1.1
Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
Graphic Packaging Holding Company
Graphic Packaging Corporation
and the other Guarantors party hereto
Graphic Packaging Corporation
and the other Guarantors party hereto
dated September 15, 0000
Xxxx xx Xxxxxxx Securities LLC
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
September 15, 0000
XXXX XX XXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
As Representative of the several Underwriters
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
As Representative of the several Underwriters
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. Graphic Packaging International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”)
and an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company (“Parent”), proposes
to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (the “Underwriters”), for
whom you (the “Representative”) are acting as the representative, $250,000,000 principal amount of
its 77/8% Senior Notes due 2018 (the “Notes”). The Notes will be guaranteed on a senior unsecured
basis, jointly and severally, by (i) the Parent Guarantors (as defined below), (ii) the Subsidiary
Guarantors listed on Schedule A hereto and (iii) any subsidiary of the Company formed or acquired
after the Closing Date that executes an additional guarantee in accordance with the terms of the
Indenture, and their respective successors and assigns (the entities described in clauses (ii) and
(iii), collectively, the “Subsidiary Guarantors” and, together with the Parent Guarantors, the
“Guarantors”), pursuant to their guarantees (collectively the “Guarantees”). The Notes and the
Guarantees are collectively referred to herein as the “Securities.” The Securities will be issued
pursuant to an indenture dated as of the Closing Date (as defined in Section 4 hereof) (the
“Indenture”), among the Company, Parent, Graphic Packaging Corporation, a direct wholly-owned
subsidiary of Parent (“GPC” and, together with Parent, the “Parent Guarantors”), the Subsidiary
Guarantors and U.S. Bank National Association, as trustee (the “Trustee”). To the extent there are
no additional underwriters listed on Schedule A other than you, the term Representative as used
herein shall mean you as the Underwriters, and the terms Representative and Underwriters shall mean
either the singular or plural as the context requires. The use of the neuter in this Underwriting
Agreement (this “Agreement”) shall include the feminine and masculine wherever appropriate.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company and each Guarantor, jointly and
severally, represent and warrant to, and agree with, each of the Underwriters as of the date hereof
that:
(a) The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-166324), which contains a
base prospectus (the “Base Prospectus”), to be used in connection with the public offering
and sale of the Securities. Such registration statement, as amended, including the
financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, at the time of effectiveness under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the “Securities Act”), including any required information deemed to be a part
thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the
Securities Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the
“Exchange Act”), is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement filed
by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement. Any preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities
that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), together with the Base
Prospectus, is hereafter called a “Preliminary Prospectus.” The term “Prospectus” shall
mean the final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant
to Rule 424(b) after the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the
parties hereto, including the Base Prospectus. Any reference herein to the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3
under the Securities Act; any reference to any amendment or supplement to any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed
after the date of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the
Exchange Act, and incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as
the case may be, and prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities by the
Underwriters; and any reference to any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be
deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section
13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the Registration Statement
that is incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement prior to the termination of
the offering of the Securities by the Underwriters.
(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Company meets the requirements for
use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act. The Registration Statement became effective on
July 1, 2010 under the Securities Act. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement is in effect, the Commission has not issued any order or notice
preventing or suspending the use of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus
or the Prospectus and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the
Securities Act have been instituted or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company
and the Guarantors, are contemplated or threatened by the Commission.
Each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all
material respects with the Securities Act. Each of the Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, at each time of effectiveness, at the date hereof and at
the Closing Date, complied and will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act
and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date, at the time of any filing pursuant
to Rule 424(b) and, at the Closing Date, did not and will not contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement
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or any post-effective amendment thereto, or the Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto, made or omitted in reliance upon and
in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in
writing by the Representative expressly for use therein, it being understood and agreed that
the only such information furnished by the Representative consists of the information
described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.
The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package (as defined herein) and the Prospectus, when they were filed with the Commission
conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Exchange Act. Any further
documents so filed and incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when
such documents are filed with the Commission will conform in all material respects to the
requirements of the Exchange Act. All documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, as of
their respective dates, when taken together with the other information in the Disclosure
Package, at the Applicable Time and, when taken together with the other information in the
Prospectus, at the Closing Date, did not or will not include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
(c) Disclosure Package. The term “Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Preliminary
Prospectus, (ii) the issuer free writing prospectuses as defined in Rule 433 of the
Securities Act (each, an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”), if any, identified on
Schedule C hereto, (iii) any other free writing prospectus that the parties hereto
shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package and
(iv) the Final Term Sheet (as defined herein), which also shall be identified on
Schedule C hereto. As of 3:02 pm (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement (the
“Applicable Time”), the Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package
based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through the Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and
agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists
of the information described as such in Section 8(b) hereof.
(d) Company Not Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the
Registration Statement relating to the Securities that the Company or another offering
participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) of the Securities
Act and (ii) as of the Applicable Time (with such date being used as the determination date
for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer” (as
defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act), without taking account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 of the Securities Act that it is not
necessary that the Company be considered an “ineligible issuer.”
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(e) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its
issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the offering of Securities
under this Agreement or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies the
Representative as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any
information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. If at any time
following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or
development as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would
conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the
Representative and has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly amend or
supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct
such conflict. Any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus not identified on Schedule C
hereto, when taken together with the Disclosure Package, did not, and at the Closing Date
will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing three sentences do not apply to
statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the
Representative specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only
such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such
in Section 8(b) hereof.
(f) Distribution of Offering Material by the Company and the Guarantors. Neither the
Company nor any Guarantor has distributed or will distribute, prior to the later of the
Closing Date and the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Securities, any
offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities other than the
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus and any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus reviewed and
consented to by the Representative.
(g) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no persons with
registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt securities registered for
sale under the Registration Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this
Agreement, except for such rights as have been duly waived.
(h) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, (i) there has been no material adverse
change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result in a material adverse
change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations
or prospects, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business,
of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change is called a
“Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material liability or
obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor
entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business;
and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by
the Company or,
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except for dividends paid to the Company, any of its subsidiaries on any
class of capital stock, or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(i) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and Its Subsidiaries. Each of the
Company and the Guarantors has been duly incorporated or organized and is validly existing
as a corporation or limited liability company in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization (to the extent the concept of good
standing is applicable in the relevant jurisdiction) and has requisite power and authority
to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Disclosure Package and Prospectus and, in the case of the Company and the Guarantors, to
enter into and perform its obligations (to the extent it is party thereto) under each of
this Agreement, the Securities and the Indenture. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries
is duly qualified as a foreign corporation or other entity to transact business and is in
good standing or equivalent status in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of
business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good
standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary
has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and nonassessable and is owned by
the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any material security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or claim, except for liens and encumbrances
pursuant to the Credit Agreement (as defined below).
(j) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. At June 30, 2010, on a
consolidated basis, after giving pro forma effect to the issuance and sale of the Notes
pursuant hereto and the application of proceeds, Parent and its subsidiaries (on a
consolidated basis) would have an authorized and outstanding capitalization as set forth in
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the caption “Capitalization” (other than for
subsequent issuances of capital stock, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described
in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options
described in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).
(k) The Notes. The Notes to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company are in
the form contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to
the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, at the Closing Date, will
have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated by the Trustee in the manner
provided for in the Indenture (assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
Indenture by the Trustee) and delivered against payment of the purchase price therefor, will
constitute valid and binding agreements of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their
terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by
general equitable principles and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding
therefor may be brought and will be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture. The
Guarantees of the Notes are in the respective forms contemplated by the Indenture, have been
duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and the Indenture and, as
related to
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the Guarantees of the Notes at the Closing Date, will have been duly executed by
each of the Guarantors and, when the Notes have been authenticated by the Trustee in the
manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment of the purchase price
therefor, will constitute valid and binding agreements of the Guarantors, enforceable in
accordance with their terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and the discretion of
the court before which any proceeding therefor may be brought and will be entitled to the
benefits of the Indenture.
(l) The Indenture. The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture
Act. The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and the Guarantors and, at the
Closing Date, will have been duly executed by the Company and the Guarantors and (assuming
due authorization, execution and delivery by the Trustee) will constitute a valid and
binding agreement of the Company and the Guarantors, enforceable against the Company and the
Guarantors in accordance with its terms, except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or
affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles and the
discretion of the court before which any proceedings therefor may be brought.
(m) Description of Documents. The Securities and the Indenture will conform in all
material respects to the descriptions thereof in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus
under the captions “Description of the Notes.”
(n) Regulations T, U and X. Neither the Company nor any Guarantor nor any of their
respective subsidiaries nor any agent thereof acting on their behalf has taken, and none of
them will take, any action that might cause this Agreement or the issuance or sale of the
Securities to violate Regulation T, Regulation U or Regulation X of the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System.
(o) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals
Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its
charter or bylaws or (ii) is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time,
would be in default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement,
note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound (including, without
limitation, the Indenture, the Company’s Senior Secured Credit Agreement dated as of May 16,
2007, as amended (the “Credit Agreement”), the indenture dated as of August 8, 2003
governing the Company’s 9.50% senior subordinated notes due 2013 (the “Senior Subordinated
Indenture”), the indenture dated as of August 8, 2003 governing the
Company’s 8.50% senior notes due 2011 (the “2011 Senior Notes Indenture”) and the
indenture dated as of June 2, 2009 and supplemental indenture dated as of August 20, 2009,
both governing the Company’s 9.50% senior notes due 2017 (the “2017 Senior Subordinated
Indenture”)) or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except, with respect to clause
(ii) only, for such Defaults as would not, individually or in the aggregate, rea-
6
sonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement and the Indenture, and the issuance and delivery of the
Securities, and consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the
Disclosure Package and Prospectus (i) will have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action and will not result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or
bylaws of the Company or any subsidiary, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach
of, or Default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in
the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other
party to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults, liens,
charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will not result in any violation
of any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company
or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency,
governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties, with respect to clauses (ii) and
(iii) only, except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change. Assuming the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Underwriters set forth in Section 3, no consent, approval, authorization
or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental or
regulatory authority or agency is required for the Company’s execution, delivery and
performance of this Agreement or the Indenture, or the issuance and delivery of the
Securities, or consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby and by the
Disclosure Package and Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company
and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act or any applicable securities laws
of the several states of the United States or provinces of Canada. As used herein, a “Debt
Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition which gives, or with the giving of
notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of
indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to require the
repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the Company
or any of its subsidiaries.
(p) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental actions, suits or
proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or (ii) which have as the subject thereof any property
owned or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries and in each case, any such action,
suit or proceeding, if determined adversely to the Company or such subsidiary, would
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or, to
the knowledge of the Company, with the employees of any principal supplier of the Company
exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened or imminent, except as would not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
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(q) Exchange Act Compliance. The Company is subject to and in compliance in all
material respects with the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange
Act.
(r) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, which
expressed their opinion with respect to certain financial statements (which term as used in
this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the
Commission and incorporated by reference into in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Prospectus, are independent public or certified public accountants as
required by Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the applicable
published rules and regulations thereunder and the rules of the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States), and any non-audit services provided by Ernst & Young LLP or
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to the Company or any of the Guarantors have been approved by the
Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of Parent.
(s) Preparation of the Financial Statements; Other Data. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus present
fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of Parent and its
subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their operations, cash
flows and changes in stockholders equity for the periods specified. The related schedules
and notes incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement present fairly in all
material respects the information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements
and supporting schedules comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of
Regulation S-X and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the
periods presented, except as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other
financial statements or supporting schedules are required to be included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement. The financial data set forth in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Prospectus Summary—Summary Financial and
Other Information,” and “Capitalization,” or incorporated by reference in the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus from the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K under the
caption “Selected Financial Data,” fairly present the information set forth therein on a
basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement. The Company’s ratios of earnings to fixed charges set forth in
each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the caption “Prospectus
Summary—Summary Financial and Other Information,” and in Exhibit 12 to the Registration
Statement have been calculated in compliance in all material respects with the requirements
of Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act.
(t) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and each Guarantor.
(u) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess
sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses, approvals,
8
trade
secrets and other similar rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property Rights”) reasonably
necessary to conduct their businesses in the manner described in the Disclosure Package and
Prospectus, except where the failure to own or possess adequate licenses or other
Intellectual Property Rights, individually or in the aggregate, would not reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change; and the expected expiration of any of such
Intellectual Property Rights would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material
Adverse Change. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which
infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, would reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(v) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess such valid and
current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state, federal or
foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to conduct their respective businesses in
the manner described in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus, except where the failure to
possess such certificates, authorizations or permits would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, and neither the
Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation
or modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or
finding, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change.
(w) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good title in
fee simple to, or have valid right to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal
property which are material to their respective businesses, in each case free and clear of
any security interests, mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other title
defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property
and do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by
the Company or such subsidiary or those created pursuant to the Credit Agreement.
(x) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all necessary
federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns or have properly requested
extensions thereof and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due
and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them
other than those taxes and other charges with respect to which the failure to pay, in the
aggregate, would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Change and except for
those being contested in good faith and by appropriate proceedings diligently conducted.
The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial
statements referred to in Section 1(n) hereof in respect of all federal, state
and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax liability of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally determined.
(y) Company Not an “Investment Company.” The Company has been advised of the rules and
requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company
Act,” which term, as used herein, includes the
9
rules and regulations of the Commission
promulgated thereunder). Neither the Company nor any of the Guarantors is, or after receipt
of payment for the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated
under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
will be, an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act.
(z) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is insured by recognized
institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks
as in its reasonable determination is adequate and customary for its businesses, including,
without limitation, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the
Company and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and
earthquakes, except where the failure to carry such insurance would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Change. The Company has no reason to believe that it or
any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when
such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may
be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that
would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the Company nor any subsidiary
has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
(aa) No Restrictions on Dividends. No subsidiary of the Company is currently
prohibited, directly or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making
any other distribution on such subsidiary’s shares of capital stock or other ownership
interests, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the
Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s property or assets to the Company or
any other subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(bb) Solvency. The Company and the Guarantors taken as a whole are, and immediately
after the Closing Date will be, Solvent. As used herein, the term “Solvent” means, with
respect to any person on a particular date, that on such date (i) the fair market value of
the assets of such person is greater than the total amount of liabilities (including
contingent liabilities) of such person, (ii) the present fair salable value of the assets of
such person is greater than the amount that will be required to pay the probable liabilities
of such person on its debts as they become absolute and matured, (iii) such person is able
to realize upon its assets and pay its debts and other liabilities, including contingent
obligations, as they mature and (iv) such person does not have unreasonably small capital.
(cc) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken and will not
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably
expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(dd) Compliance with Labor Laws. Except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change, (i) there is (A) no unfair labor practice
complaint pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of
its subsidiaries before the National Labor Relations Board, and no grievance or ar-
10
bitration
proceeding arising out of or under collective bargaining agreements pending, or to the
Company’s knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (B) no
strike, labor dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or, to the Company’s knowledge,
threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (C) no union representation
question existing with respect to the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
and, to the Company’s knowledge, no union organizing activities taking place and (ii) there
has been no violation of any federal, state or local law relating to discrimination in
hiring, promotion or pay of employees or of any applicable wage or hour laws.
(ee) Related Party Transactions. To the Company’s knowledge, no relationship, direct
or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any affiliate of the Company, on the one
hand, and any director, officer, member, stockholder, customer or supplier of the Company or
any affiliate of the Company, on the other hand, which is required by the Securities Act to
be disclosed in Parent’s Annual Report on Form 10-K which is not so disclosed in the
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus. Except as set forth or incorporated by reference
in the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, there are no outstanding loans, advances
(except advances for business expenses in the ordinary course of business) or guarantees of
indebtedness by the Company or any affiliate of the Company to or for the benefit of any of
the officers or directors of the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any of their
respective family members.
(ff) Company’s Accounting System. Parent and its subsidiaries maintain a system of
accounting controls that is sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization;
(ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and
to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
(gg) Disclosure Controls and Procedures. Parent has established and maintains
disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rules 13a-15 and 15d-14 under
the Exchange Act); such disclosure controls and procedures are designed to ensure that
material information relating to Parent and its subsidiaries is made known to the chief
executive officer and chief financial officer of Parent by others within Parent or any of
its subsidiaries, and such disclosure controls and procedures are reasonably effective to
perform the functions for which they were established subject to the limitations of
any such control system; Parent’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of
Directors of Parent have been advised of (i) any significant deficiencies or material
weaknesses in the design or operation of internal control over financial reporting which
could adversely affect Parent’s ability to record, process, summarize, and report financial
data; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other
employees who have a role in Parent’s internal control over financial reporting; and since
the date of the most recent evaluation of such disclosure controls and procedures, there
have been no significant changes in internal control over financial reporting or in other
factors that
11
could significantly affect internal control over financial reporting, including
any corrective actions with regard to significant deficiencies and material weaknesses.
(hh) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company and the Guarantors, any director, officer,
agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has
taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a violation by such persons
of the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or
instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment,
promise to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift,
promise to give, or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign
official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official
thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA and the
Company and its subsidiaries have instituted and maintain policies and procedures designed
to ensure continued compliance therewith.
“FCPA” means the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and
regulations thereunder.
(ii) No Conflict with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable
financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all applicable
jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules,
regulations or guidelines issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency
(collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before
any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company
or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the
best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(jj) No Conflict with OFAC Laws. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor,
to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered
by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the
Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend,
contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture
partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person
currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(kk) Compliance with and Liability Under Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise
disclosed in the Disclosure Package and Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Change, (i) neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign
law or regulation relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment
(including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or
subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating
to emissions, discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals,
12
pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum and petroleum
products (collectively, “Materials of Environmental Concern”), or otherwise relating to the
manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or
handling of Materials of Environmental Concern (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), which
violation includes, without limitation, noncompliance with any permits or other governmental
authorizations required for the operation of the business of the Company or its subsidiaries
under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and conditions thereof,
nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any written communication, whether
from a governmental authority, citizens group, employee or otherwise, that alleges that the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any Environmental Law; (ii) there is
no claim, action or cause of action filed with a court or governmental authority, no
investigation with respect to which the Company has received written notice and no written
notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for investigatory costs, cleanup
costs, governmental responses costs, natural resources damages, property damages, personal
injuries, attorneys’ fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from the
presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of Environmental Concern at any
location owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the
past (collectively, “Environmental Claims”), pending or, to the Company’s knowledge,
threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or entity whose
liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or
assumed either contractually or by operation of law; and (iii) to the Company’s knowledge,
there are no past or present actions, activities, circumstances, conditions, events or
incidents, including, without limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or
disposal of any Material of Environmental Concern, that would result in a violation of any
Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose liability for any
Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries has retained or assumed either
contractually or by operation of law.
(ll) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In the ordinary course of
its business, the Company conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on
the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries, in the course
of which it identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of
properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any
related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties).
On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves, the
Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(mm) ERISA Compliance. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Offering Memorandum, the
Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan” (as defined under the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (as amended, “ERISA,” which term, as used herein,
includes the regulations and published interpretations thereunder)) established or
maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their ERISA Affiliates (as defined below) are
in compliance in all material respects with applicable pro-
13
visions of ERISA, except where the
failure to so comply would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Change. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the Company
or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Section 414 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (as amended, the “Code,” which term, as used herein, includes
the regulations and published interpretations thereunder) of which the Company or such
subsidiary is a member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is
reasonably expected to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or
maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No “employee
benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were terminated, would have any “amount of
unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company, its
subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably expects to incur
any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to termination of, or withdrawal
from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Section 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code,
which would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Change. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the
Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401 of the Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or
failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(nn) Brokers. Other than the underwriting discount pursuant to Section 2 of this
Agreement, there is no broker, finder or other party that is entitled to receive from the
Company any brokerage or finder’s fee or other fee or commission as a result of any
transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(oo) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Compliance. The Parent and its subsidiaries and their respective
directors and officers are in compliance with the applicable provisions of the
Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act,” which term, as used herein, includes
the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder).
(pp) Ratings. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package, no “nationally
recognized statistical rating organization” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule
436(g)(2) under the Securities Act (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company that it is
considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company’s retaining any
rating assigned to the Company, any securities of the Company or (ii) has indicated to the
Company that it is considering (a) the downgrading, suspension, or withdrawal of, or any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction of
the possible change in, any rating so assigned or (b) any change in the outlook for any
rating of the Company or any securities of the Company.
(qq) Subsidiaries. The subsidiaries listed on Schedule B attached hereto are the only
significant subsidiaries of the Company as defined by Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X (the
“Subsidiaries”).
(rr) Lending Relationship. Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, the Company (i) does not have any material lending or other relationship
14
with
any bank or lending affiliate of any Underwriter and (ii) does not intend to use any of the
proceeds from the sale of the Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any
affiliate of any Underwriter.
(ss) Statistical and Market Related Data; Forward-looking Statements. The statistical
and market-related data and forward-looking statements included in the each of the
Disclosure Package and Prospectus are based on or derived from sources that the Company and
its subsidiaries believe to be reliable and accurate in all material respects and represent
their good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data derived from such sources.
(tt) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted
pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of Parent (the “Parent Stock Plans”), (i)
each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of
the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than
the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective (the
“Grant Date”) by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the
board of directors of Parent (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and
any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and
the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each
party thereto, (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of Parent Stock
Plans, the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements,
including the rules of any securities exchange on which Parent securities are traded, (iv)
the per share exercise price of each Stock Option was equal to the fair market value of a
share of common stock on the applicable Grant Date and (v) each such grant was properly
accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the financial statements (including the related
notes) of the Company and disclosed in Parent’s filings with the Commission in accordance
with the Exchange Act and all other applicable laws. Parent has not knowingly granted, and
there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options
prior to, or otherwise coordinate the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other
public announcement of material information regarding Parent or its subsidiaries or their
results of operations or prospects.
(uu) Patriot Act Acknowledgement. In accordance with the requirements of the USA
Patriot Act (Title III of Pub. L. 107-56 (signed into law October 26, 2001)), the
Underwriters are required to obtain, verify and record information that identifies its
clients, including the Company, which information may include the name and address of its
clients, as well as other information that will allow the Underwriters to properly
identify its clients.
(vv) Filing Fees. The Company has paid the required Commission filing fees relating to
the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) of the Securities Act without
regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r) of
the Securities Act.
15
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company or any Guarantor and delivered to the
Representative or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and
warranty by the Company or such Guarantor to each Underwriter as to the matters set forth therein.
2. Purchase and Sale. Each of the Company and the Guarantors agree to issue and sell
to the several Underwriters the Securities upon the terms herein set forth and, on the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements and upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein
set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company and the
Guarantors the respective aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth opposite their names
on Schedule A. The purchase price per Security to be paid by the several Underwriters to
the Company shall be equal to 98.25% of the principal amount thereof.
3. Delivery and Payment; Representations and Warranties and Covenants of the
Underwriters.
(a) Delivery of certificates for the Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters and
payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx llp, 00 Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company and the
Representative) at 9:00 a.m. New York time, on September 29, 2010 or such other time and date not
later than the fifth business day thereafter as the Representative shall designate by notice to the
Company (the time and date of such closing are called the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the
Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the
Representative shall otherwise instruct. Time shall be of the essence, and delivery at the time
and place specified in this Agreement is a further condition to the obligations of the
Underwriters.
(b) Public Offering of the Notes. The Representative hereby advise the Company that the
Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public, as described in the Disclosure Package and the
Prospectus, their respective portions of the Notes as soon after this Agreement has been executed
the Representative, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.
(c) Payment for the Notes. Payment for the Notes shall be made on the Closing Date by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company.
It is understood that the Representative has been authorized, for its own account and the
accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of
the purchase price for, the Notes. BAS, individually and not as the Representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Notes to be
purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the Representative by the
Closing Date for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such
Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
(d) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 10:00 a.m. on the second
business day following the date the Notes are first released by the Underwriters for
16
sale to the
public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be delivered, copies of the Prospectus in such
quantities and at such places as the Representative shall reasonably request.
4. Covenants. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, covenant and
agree with each of the Underwriters as follows:
(a) Representative’s Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. During the period
beginning at the Applicable Time and ending on the later of the Closing Date or such date,
as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required by
law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, including in
circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172 (the “Prospectus
Delivery Period”), prior to amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representative for
review a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file
or use any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representative reasonably
objects.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement and during the
Prospectus Delivery Period, the Company shall promptly advise the Representative in writing
(i) when the Registration Statement, if not effective at the Applicable Time, shall have
become effective, (ii) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or
supplemental information from, the Commission, (iii) of the time and date of any filing of
any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to
any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iv) of the time and date that any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, and (v) of the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or of any order or notice preventing or suspending the use of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any receipt by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or of the threatening or initiation of any proceedings
for any of such purposes (including any notice or order pursuant to Section 8A or Rule
401(g)(2) of the Securities Act). The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to
prevent the issuance of any such stop order or notice of prevention or suspension of such
use. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order or issue any such notice at any
time, the Company will use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the lifting or reversal
of such order or notice at the earliest possible moment, or, subject to Section 4(a), will
file an amendment to the Registration Statement or will file a new registration statement
and use its best efforts to have such amendment or new registration statement declared
effective as soon as practicable. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall
comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b) and 430B, as applicable, under the
Securities Act, including with respect to the timely filing of documents thereunder, and
will use commercially reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company
under such Rule 424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.
(c) Exchange Act Compliance. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the Parent will
file all documents required to be filed with the Commission and the New
17
York Stock Exchange
(the “NYSE”) pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act in the manner and within
the time periods required by the Exchange Act.
(d) Final Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a final term sheet in a form approved
by the Representative, and will file such term sheet pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the
Securities Act within the time required by such rule (such term sheet, the “Final Term
Sheet”).
(e) Permitted Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company represents that it has not made,
and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior written consent of the Representative, it will
not make, any offer relating to the Notes that constitutes or would constitute an Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus or that otherwise constitutes or would constitute a “free writing
prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act) or a portion thereof required to
be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433 of the
Securities Act; provided that the prior written consent of the Representative hereto shall
be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in
Schedule C hereto and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented
to by the Representative is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (i) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be,
each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and (ii) has
complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 of
the Securities Act applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect
of timely filing with the Commission, legending and record keeping. The Company consents to
the use by any Underwriter of a free writing prospectus that (a) is not an “issuer free
writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 433, or (b) contains only (1) information describing
the preliminary terms of the Securities or their offering, (2) information that describes
the final terms of the Securities or their offering and that is included in the Final Term
Sheet of the Company contemplated in Section 1(d) or (3) information permitted under Rule
134 under the Securities Act; provided that each Underwriter severally covenants with the
Company not to take any action without the Company’s consent which consent shall be
confirmed in writing that would result in the Company being required to file with the
Commission under Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by
or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the
Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
(f) Amendments and Supplements to the Registration Statement, Disclosure Package and
Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any
event or development shall occur or condition exist as a result of which
the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to
amend or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange
Act any document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading, or if
18
in the opinion of
the Representative it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file under the Exchange Act any
document incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or to file a
new registration statement containing the Prospectus, in order to comply with law, including
in connection with the delivery of the Prospectus, the Company agrees to (i) notify the
Representative of any such event or condition and (ii) promptly prepare (subject to Section
4(a) and 4(e) hereof), file with the Commission (and use its best efforts to have any
amendment to the Registration Statement or any new registration statement to be declared
effective) and furnish at its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, or any
new registration statement, necessary in order to make the statements in the Disclosure
Package or the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made or then prevailing, as the case may be, not misleading or so that
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, will comply with law.
(g) Copies of Any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The Company agrees to
furnish to the Representative, without charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as
many copies of the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto (including any
documents incorporated or deemed incorporated by reference therein) and the Disclosure
Package as the Representative may reasonably request.
(h) Copies of the Registration Statements and the Prospectus. The Company will furnish
to the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters signed copies of the Registration
Statement and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated
by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
therein) and, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of each Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplement thereto and the Disclosure Package as the
Representative may reasonably request.
(i) Blue Sky Compliance. Each of the Company and the Guarantors shall reasonably
cooperate with the Representative and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register
(or to obtain exemptions from qualifying or registering) all or any part of the Securities
for offer and sale under the securities laws of the several states of the United States, the
provinces of Canada or any other jurisdictions designated by the Underwriters, shall comply
with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in
effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities. None of the Company or
any of the Guarantors shall be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or
to take any action that would subject it to general service of process in any such
jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as
a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Underwriters promptly of the suspension
of the qualification or registration of (or any such exemption relating to) the Securities
for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any
proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of any order suspending
such qualification, registration or exemption, each of the Company and the Guarantors shall
use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible moment.
19
(j) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Securities sold by it in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each of
the Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(k) Agreement Not to Offer to Sell Additional Securities. During the period of 30 days
following the date hereof, the Company will not, without the prior written consent of (which
consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Representative), directly or
indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish
an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule 16a-1 under the Exchange Act,
or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or file any registration
statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any debt securities of the Company or
securities exchangeable for or convertible into debt securities of the Company (other than
as contemplated by this Agreement).
(l) DTC. The Company shall use commercially reasonable efforts to obtain the approval
of DTC to permit the Notes to be eligible for “book-entry” transfer and settlement through
the facilities of DTC, and agrees to comply with all of its agreements set forth in the
representation letters of the Company to DTC relating to the approval of the Notes by DTC
for “book-entry” transfer.
(m) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally
available to its security holders and to the Representative an earnings statement (which
need not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first
fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158
under the Securities Act) of the Registration Statement.
(n) Compliance with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the
Company will comply with all applicable securities and other laws, rules and regulations,
including, without limitation, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act, and use its best efforts to cause the
Company’s directors and officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with such laws,
rules and regulations, including, without limitation, the provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx
Act.
(o) Future Reports to the Representative. During the period of two years hereafter the
Company will furnish to the Representative (i) to the extent not available on the
Commission’s Next-Generation XXXXX filing system, as soon as practicable after the end of
each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of
the Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion
thereon of the Company’s independent public or certified public accountants; and (ii) as
soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed generally to
holders of its capital stock or debt securities (including the holders of the Securities).
(p) No Manipulation of Price. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any
action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or might reasonably be
expected to constitute, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, the stabilization or
20
manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale
of the Securities.
(q) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds
received by the Company from its sale of the Notes in such a manner as would require the
Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act.
5. Payment of Expenses. The Company and the Guarantors, jointly and severally, agree
to pay all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their
obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including
without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Securities
(including all printing and engraving costs), (ii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp
taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iii) all
fees and expenses of the Company’s and the Guarantors’ counsel, independent public or certified
public accountants and other advisors, (iv) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the
preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus, each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and
dealers, this Agreement, the Indenture and the Notes and Guarantees, (v) all reasonable filing
fees, attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company, the Guarantors or the Underwriters in
connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or
registration of) all or any part of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities laws of
the several states of the United States, the provinces of Canada or other jurisdictions designated
by the Underwriters (including, without limitation, the cost of preparing, printing and mailing
preliminary and final blue sky or legal investment memoranda and any related supplements to the
Disclosure Package and Prospectus, (vi) the fees and expenses of the Trustee, including the fees
and expenses of counsel for the Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Securities, (vii)
any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Securities with the ratings agencies, (viii)
any filing fees for the review by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) of the
offering of the Securities, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Underwriters in connection with compliance with FINRA’s rules and regulations, (ix) all fees and
expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) of the Company and the Guarantors in
connection with approval of the Securities by DTC for “book-entry” transfer, and the performance by
the Company and the Guarantors of their respective other obligations under this Agreement and (x)
all expenses incident to the “road show” for the offering of the Securities, including the cost of any chartered airplane or other transportation, (x) all other fees, costs and expenses
referred to in Item 14 of Part II of the Registration Statement, and (xi) all other costs and
expenses incident to the performance of their obligations hereunder which are not otherwise
specifically provided for in this Section 5. It is understood, however, that, except as provided
in this Section 5, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9 and Section 11 hereof, the Underwriters will pay
their own expenses, including the fees and expenses of their counsel.
6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder shall be subject, in their discretion, to the condition that all
representations and warranties of the Company and each Guarantor herein are true and correct at and
as of the date
21
hereof and the Closing Date, the condition that the Company and each Guarantor shall
have performed all of their respective obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and the
following additional conditions:
(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Underwriters shall have
received from Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public accounting firm for the
Company, a letter dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, covering the financial information included
in or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and other customary information.
(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order. For the period from and
after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date and, with respect to the
Securities:
(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including
the information required by Rules 430A, 430B and 430C under the Securities Act) in
the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities
Act;
(ii) the Final Term Sheet, and any other material required to be filed by the
Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, shall have been filed with
the Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings under
such Rule 433; and
(iii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
or any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement, shall be in effect
and no proceedings for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act
shall have been instituted or threatened by the Commission.
(c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency Change. For the period from and after
the date of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) in the reasonable judgment of the Representative there shall not have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have
been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible
change that does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating
accorded the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their securities or
indebtedness by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such
term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act, and no such
organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review,
with possible negative implications, any such rating.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall
have received the favorable opinion of each of (i) Xxxxxx & Bird LLP, counsel for the
Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhi-
22
bit A-1 and
(ii) Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary for the
Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A-2.
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On the Closing Date, the Underwriters
shall have received the favorable opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx llp, counsel
for the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to,
and addressed to, the Underwriters, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Notes, the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto), the
Disclosure Package and other related matters as the Representative may reasonably require,
and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they reasonably
request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(f) Officers’ Certificate. On the Closing Date, the Representative shall have received
a written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer or
President of the Company and each Guarantor and the Chief Financial Officer or Chief
Accounting Officer of the Company and each Guarantor, dated as of the Closing Date, to the
effect set forth in subsection (c)(ii) of this Section 6, and further to the effect that:
(i) for the period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the
Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;
(ii) the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in Section 1
of this Agreement were true and correct as of the date hereof and are true and
correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same force and effect as though
expressly made on and as of the Closing Date; and
(iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and covenants and satisfied
all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the
Closing Date.
(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have
received from Ernst & Young LLP, independent public accountants for the Company, a letter
dated such date addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representative, to the effect that they reaffirm the
statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section
6, except that (i) it shall cover the financial information included in or incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and (ii) the specified
date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three
business days prior to the Closing Date, as the case may be.
(h) Form of Securities and Indenture. The Securities and the Indenture shall be
executed by the Company, or the Guarantors, as the case may be, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Representative and the Trustee.
(i) Closing Documents. On or before the Closing Date, the Company and the Guarantors
shall have furnished counsel for the Company, the Guarantors or the Under-
23
writers and the
Underwriters, as the case may be, such documents and opinions as they reasonably require for
the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein
contemplated, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or
warranties or fulfillment of any of the conditions or agreements herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 6 is not satisfied when and as required to be
satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice to the Company at any
time on or prior to the Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on the part of
any party to any other party, except that Section 5, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9, Section 13
and Section 17 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses.
(a) If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative pursuant to Section 6 or Section
11, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Securities on the Closing Date is not consummated
because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or any Guarantor to perform
any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company and the Guarantors,
jointly and severally, agree to reimburse the Representative and the other Underwriters (or such
Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand
for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been incurred by the Representative and
the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale of the
Securities, including but not limited to reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel, printing
expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company and the Guarantors agree, jointly and
severally, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its directors, officers, employees,
agents and affiliates, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as
incurred, to which such Underwriter or each such affiliate director, officer, employee or
controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise
(including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent
of the Company or effected without the written consent of the Company in accordance with Section
8(d)), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto,
including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the
Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto),
or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact, in each case, necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
24
made, not
misleading, and to reimburse each Underwriter, its affiliates, officers, directors, employees,
agents and each such controlling person for any and all expenses (including, subject to Section
8(c), the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Banc of America Securities LLC) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter, or its affiliates, officers, directors,
employees and agents or such controlling person in connection with investigating, defending,
settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action;
provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out of or based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Representative
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The indemnity
agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company
may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company and the Guarantors, Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the
Guarantors, each of their respective directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls
the Company or any of the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, any
Guarantor or any such director or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act,
the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or
otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the
written consent of the Underwriters or effected without the written consent of the Company in
accordance with Section 8(d)), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or
actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement,
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representative
expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company and the Guarantors, or any such director or
controlling person for any and all expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by the Company and the Guarantors, or any such director or
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. The Company and the Guarantors hereby
acknowledge that the only information that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company through
the Representative expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto)
are the statements set forth in the table in the first paragraph and as the fifth (first sentence,
seventh (third and fourth sentences), ninth and tenth paragraphs under the caption “Underwriting”
in the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall be in addition to
any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.
25
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may
have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under the indemnity agreement
contained in this Section 8 or to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a proximate result
of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party and such
indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate in and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with all
other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice delivered to the indemnified party
promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between the positions
of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the indemnified party or
parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to
otherwise participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties.
Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying
party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of
counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 8
for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
the defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in
accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together
with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party (or by Banc of America Securities LLC in
the case of Sections 8(b) and 9 hereof), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to
such action) or (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of
commencement of the action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the
expense of the indemnifying party.
(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8 shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent
or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the
indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason of such
settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified
party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and
expenses of counsel as contemplated by this Section 8, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such
settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the
aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party
in accordance with such request or disputed in good faith the indemnified party’s entitlement to
such reimbursement prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement, compromise or consent
26
to the entry of judgment in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been
sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are
the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or any admissions of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.
9. Contribution.
(a) If the indemnification provided for in Section 8 is for any reason unavailable to or
otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute
to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one
hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Securities pursuant to this
Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable
law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in
clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand,
and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or
inaccuracies in the representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The
relative benefits received by the Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the offering of the Securities pursuant to this
Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net proceeds from
the offering of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by
the Company and the Guarantors, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters,
in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate initial
public offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the
Company and the Guarantors, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact or any such inaccurate
or alleged inaccurate representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company and
the Guarantors, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand, and the parties’ relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement,
omission or inaccuracy.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities
and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in
Section 8(c), any legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection
with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 8 hereof
with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to
be made under this Section 9; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with
respect to any action for which notice has been given under Section 8 hereof for purposes of
indemnification.
27
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section 9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in
connection with the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall
be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are
several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth
opposite their names in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each director,
officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter
within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company or a Guarantor, each officer of
the Company or a Guarantor who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who
controls the Company or a Guarantor within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company and the Guarantors.
10. Default of One or More of the Several Underwriters.
(a) If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse
to purchase Securities that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the
aggregate principal amount of Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in
the proportions that the principal amount of Securities to be purchased set forth opposite their
respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set
forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as
may be specified by the Representative with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to
purchase the Securities which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or
refused to purchase on such date. If, on the Closing Date, any one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and the principal amount of Securities with respect to
which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the principal amount of Securities to be purchased on such
date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representative and the Company for the purchase of such
Securities are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without
liability of any party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 5, Section 7,
Section 8, Section 9, Section 13 and Section 17 shall at all times be effective and shall survive
such termination. In any such case either the Representative or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the required
changes, if any, to the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, the Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected. As used in
this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person substituted for a
defaulting Underwriter under this Section 10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not
relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter
under this Agreement.
28
11. Termination of this Agreement.
(a) Prior to the Closing Date this Agreement may be terminated by the Representative by notice
given to the Company if at any time (i) trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities
shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission or by the NYSE, or trading in securities
generally on either the NYSE or the Nasdaq Stock Market, Inc. shall have been suspended or limited,
or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such quotation system
or stock exchanges by the Commission or FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been
declared by any of federal, New York or Delaware authorities or a material disruption in commercial
banking or securities settlement or clearance services in the United States has occurred; (iii) in
the judgment of the Representative there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; (iv)
there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or international hostilities or
any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United States or international financial markets, or
any substantial change or development involving a prospective substantial change in United States’
or international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the
Representative is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the offering, sale or delivery of the Securities in the manner and on the terms described in the
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; or (v) the
Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity
of such character as in the judgment of the Representative may interfere materially with the
conduct of the business and operations of the Company, regardless of whether or not such loss shall
have been insured. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability on the
part of (a) the Company or any Guarantor to any Underwriter, and the Guarantors shall be obligated
to reimburse the expenses of the Representative and Underwriters pursuant to Sections 5 and 7
hereof, (b) the Underwriters to the Company or any Guarantor or (c) any party hereto to any other
party except that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereof shall at all times be effective and
shall survive such termination.
12. No Advisory or Fiduciary Responsibility.
(a) The Company and each Guarantor acknowledge and agree that: (i) the purchase and sale of
the Securities pursuant to this Agreement, including the determination of the public offering price
of the Securities and any related discounts and commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial
transaction between the Company and such Guarantor, on the one hand, and the several Underwriters,
on the other hand, and the Company and such Guarantor are capable of evaluating and understanding
and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement; (ii) in connection with each transaction contemplated hereby and the process leading to
such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting solely as a principal and is not the
financial advisor, agent or fiduciary of the Company, the Guarantors or any of their respective
affiliates, stockholders, creditors or employees or any other party; (iii) no Underwriter has
assumed or will assume an advisory, agency or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company or
such Guarantor with respect to any of the transactions contemplated hereby or the process leading
thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter has advised or is currently advising the Company
or such Guarantor on other matters) and no Underwriter has any obligation to the Company or such
Guarantor with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the obligations expressly set
forth in this Agreement; (iv) the several Underwriters and their respective affiliates may be
engaged in a broad range of transactions that
29
involve interests that differ from those of the Company and the Guarantors and that the
several Underwriters have no obligation to disclose any of such interests by virtue of any
advisory, agency or fiduciary relationship; and (v) the Underwriters have not provided any legal,
accounting, regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the
Company and the Guarantors have consulted their own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors
to the extent they deemed appropriate.
This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral)
between the Company, the Guarantors and the several Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to
the subject matter hereof. The Company and each Guarantor hereby waive and release, to the fullest
extent permitted by law, any claims that the Company or such Guarantor may have against the several
Underwriters with respect to any breach or alleged breach of agency or fiduciary duty.
13. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective indemnities,
agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company, the Guarantors, their
respective officers and the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement
will remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any (A) investigation, or
statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the Company, any
Guarantor, the officers or employees of any Underwriter, the Company, any Guarantor, or any person
controlling the Underwriter or (B) acceptance of the Securities and payment for them hereunder.
The provisions of Section 5, Section 7, Section 8, Section 9, this Section 13 and Section 17 hereof
shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
14. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be mailed,
hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
If to the Representative:
Banc of America Securities LLC
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Legal Department
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Legal Department
with a copies to:
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxx Xxxxx
and
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
30
and
Deutsche Bank Securities Inc.
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Debt Capital Markets
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Debt Capital Markets
and
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx llp
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Xxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
00 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
Xxx Xxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Company or the Guarantors:
Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx & Bird LLP
One Atlantic Center
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
One Atlantic Center
0000 Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice
to the others.
15. Successors and Assigns. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 10
hereof, and to the benefit of (i) the Company and the Guarantors, their respective directors, any
person who controls the Company or any of the Guarantors within the meaning of the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act and any officer of the Company or any Guarantor who signed the Registration
Statement, (ii) the Underwriters, the officers, directors, employees and agents of the Underwri-
31
ters, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, and (iii) the respective successors and assigns of any of the
above, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and assigns” shall not
include a purchaser of any of the Securities from any of the several Underwriters merely because of
such purchase.
16. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section,
paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this
Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be
made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and
enforceable.
17. Governing Law Provisions. THIS AGREEMENT AND ANY CLAIM, CONTROVERSY OR DISPUTE
ARISING RELATED TO THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAW PRINCIPLES THEREOF.
(a) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based
upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby (“Related Proceedings”) may be
instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America located in the City and County of
New York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the City and County of New
York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits to the exclusive
jurisdiction (except for suits, actions, or proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of
a judgment of any Specified Court in a Related Proceeding (a “Related Judgment”), as to which such
jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of the Specified Courts in any Related Proceeding. Service of any
process, summons, notice or document by mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be
effective service of process for any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court. The
parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any Related
Proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead
or claim in any Specified Court that any Related Proceeding brought in any Specified Court has been
brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in the United States irrevocably appoints
CT Corporation System, as its agent to receive service of process or other legal summons for
purposes of any Related Proceeding that may be instituted in any Specified Court.
18. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the
parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral
agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with
the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. Delivery of
an executed counterpart of a signature page to this Agreement by telecopier, facsimile, email or
other electronic transmission (i.e., “pdf” or “tif”) shall be effective as delivery of a
manually executed counterpart of this Agreement. This Agreement may not be amended or modified
unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied)
32
may be waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to benefit.
The Section headings herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the
construction or interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was
adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including,
without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of
Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties hereto further
acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto fairly allocate the risks in light of
the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its business in order to
assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package
and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required by the Securities Act
and the Exchange Act.
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign and
return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all
counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL, INC. |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
|||
GRAPHIC PACKAGING CORPORATION |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
|||
GRAPHIC PACKAGING HOLDING COMPANY |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
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BLUEGRASS CONTAINER CANADA HOLDINGS, LLC BLUEGRASS FLEXIBLE PACKAGING COMPANY, LLC BLUEGRASS LABELS COMPANY, LLC BLUEGRASS MULTIWALL BAG COMPANY, LLC FIELD CONTAINER QUERETARO (USA), L.L.C. GRAPHIC PACKAGING FLEXIBLE HOLDINGS, LLC HANDSCHY HOLDINGS, LLC HANDSCHY INDUSTRIES, LLC RIVERDALE INDUSTRIES, LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary |
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The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the Representative as of the date
first above written.
BANC OF AMERICA SECURITIES LLC
Acting as Representative of the
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
By: Banc of America Securities LLC |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Director | |||
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