EXHIBIT 1.0
PanAmerican Bancorp
0000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
December __, 2003
Forge Financial Group, Inc.
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned, PanAmerican Bancorp, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), hereby confirms its agreement with Forge Financial Group, Inc., as
managing underwriter on behalf of the underwriting group (being referred to
herein as "you" or the "Underwriter"), as follows:
1. Introduction. The Company proposes to engage you to sell on
its behalf, 1,500,000 Units (the "Units") of the Company's $0.01 par value per
share Common Stock (the "Common Stock") and warrants to purchase Common Stock.
Each Unit consists of one share of Common Stock and two redeemable Common Stock
Purchase Warrants for a price per unit price of $4.50. The Company also
proposes to issue and sell to you up to an additional 225,000 Units as an
over-allotment option, on the same terms and conditions. The Company also
proposes to issue and sell to you warrants, pursuant to the terms of the
Underwriter's Warrant Agreement (the "Underwriter's Warrants"), for the purchase
of up to 150,000 Units, as defined. The Underwriter's Warrants shall be
exercisable during the four year period commencing one year from the date of the
Prospectus at an exercise price of 165% of the Offering Price per Warrant,
subject to adjustments in the number of Units issuable upon the exercise thereof
and in the exercise price of the Underwriter's Warrants as a result of certain
events, including subdivisions and combinations of the Common Stock. The Units
and the Underwriter's Warrants are more fully described in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus referred to below.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company
represents and warrants to the Underwriter that:
a. The Company has filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "SEC") a registration statement and an amendment or
amendments thereto, on Form SB-2 (No. 333-109363), including any related
preliminary prospectus (the "Preliminary Prospectus"), for the registration of
the Units and the Underwriter's Warrants (the "Common Shares"), under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which registration statement and
amendment or amendments have been prepared by the Company in conformity with the
requirements of the Act, and the rules and regulations (the "Regulations") of
the SEC promulgated under the Act. The Company will promptly file a further
amendment to said
registration statement, which has been similarly prepared, in the form
heretofore delivered to you and will not, before the registration statement
becomes effective, file any other amendment thereto to which you shall have
reasonably objected after having been furnished with a copy thereof. Except as
the context may otherwise require, such registration statement, as amended, on
file with the SEC at the time the registration statement becomes effective
(including the prospectus, financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all
other documents filed as a part thereof or incorporated therein and all
information deemed a part thereof as of such time pursuant to paragraph (b) of
Rule 430(A) of the Regulations), is hereinafter called the "Registration
Statement," and the form of prospectus, in the form first filed with the SEC
pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Regulations, is hereinafter called the
"Prospectus."
b. On the date upon which the Registration Statement is
declared effective by the SEC (the "Effective Date") and all times subsequent
thereto up to the Closing Date (as such term is defined in Section 4.c. hereof),
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will comply in all material
aspects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations; neither
the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement
thereto, will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. When any Preliminary Prospectus was first filed with the SEC
(whether filed as a part of the Registration Statement for the registration of
the securities or any amendment thereto or pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the
Regulations) and when any amendment thereof or supplement thereto was first
filed with the SEC, such Preliminary Prospectus complied or will comply in all
material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act and the Regulations
and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any 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 representation and warranty made in this Section
2.b. does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect
to the Underwriter by the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
c. This Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant
Agreement have been (or as of the Closing Date will have been) duly and validly
authorized by the Company, and this Agreement constitutes and the Underwriter's
Warrant Agreement, when executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will
(assuming due execution by the Underwriter) constitute a valid and binding
agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its
respective terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any indemnification provision may be
limited under the federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy
of specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may
be subject to the equitable defenses and the discretion of the court before
which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Units, the Underwriter's
Warrants and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Underwriter's Warrants to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement, have been duly authorized and, when issued and paid for
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pursuant to the terms of the Underwriter's Warrant, will be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable; the holders thereof are not and will not be
subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; the Units and the
Underwriter's Warrants are not and will not be subject to the preemptive rights
of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual right
granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for the
authorization, issuance and sale of the Units and the Underwriter's Warrants has
been duly and validly taken. The Underwriter's Warrants constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms,
to issue and sell, upon exercise in accordance with the terms thereof, the
number and type of the Company's securities called for thereby; except (i) as
such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of
any indemnification provision may be limited under the federal and state
securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of specific performance and
injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the equitable
defenses and the discretion of the court before which any proceeding therefor
may be brought.
d. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company
have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; the issuance and sales of all such securities complied in all
respects with applicable federal and state securities laws; the holders thereof
have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to
personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities
were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security
of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company.
e. The Company has good and marketable title to, or
valid and enforceable contractual or leasehold estate in, all items of real and
personal property stated in the Prospectus to be owned or leased by it, free and
clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims, security interests, defects and
restrictions of any material nature whatsoever, other than those referred to in
the Prospectus and liens for taxes not yet due and payable.
f. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry,
investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding pending or threatened
against, or involving the properties or business of the Company which might
materially and adversely affect the financial position, or prospects, or
business of the Company, except as referred to in the Prospectus.
g. All contracts and other documents required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus fairly present the
financial position and the results of operations of the Company at the dates and
for the periods to which they apply; and such financial statements have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles,
consistently applied throughout the periods involved. There has been no material
adverse change in financial condition or results of operations of the Company or
development involving a prospective change in the condition or prospects of the
Company, financial or otherwise, since the date of the financial statements
included in the Prospectus, except as disclosed therein.
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x. Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Company, LLC and McGaldrey & Xxxxxx,
whose reports are filed with the SEC as part of the Registration Statement, are
independent accountants as required by the Act and the Regulations, and are
qualified in all respects to provide the services contemplated by this
Agreement.
i. The Company has one subsidiary, PanAmerican Bank,
Inc. Both entities have been duly organized and are validly existing as
corporations in good standing under the laws of their respective states of
incorporation. Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, the Company does
not own, directly or indirectly, an interest in any corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other business entity. The Company is duly qualified and
licensed and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in
which operations require such qualification or licensing. The Company has all
requisite corporate power and authority, and the Company has all necessary
authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and
from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies (collectively, the
"Approvals"), to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus, except where the failure to have such Approvals
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company is and has
been doing business in compliance with all such material authorizations,
approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits and all federal state and
local laws, rules and regulations except where the failure to do so would not
have a material adverse effect on the Company. The Company has all requisite
corporate power and authority to enter into this Agreement and the Underwriter's
Warrant Agreement and to carry out the provisions and conditions hereof, and all
consents, authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith
have been obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with,
any court, government agency or other body is required for the issuance of the
Units and the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement, pursuant to the Agreement, and as
contemplated by the Prospectus, except with respect to applicable federal and
state securities laws.
j. The outstanding debt, the property and the business
of the Company, conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof
contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
k. The Units and the Underwriter's Warrants and other
securities issued or to be issued by the Company on or before the Closing Dates
described herein conform, or will conform when issued, in all material respects,
to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus.
l. No material default exists in the due performance and
observance of any term, covenant or condition of any license, contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note, loan or credit agreement, or any other
agreement or instrument evidencing instrument to which the Company, is a party
or by which the Company may be bound or to which any of the property or assets
of the Company, is subject.
m. The Company is not in violation of any term or
provision of its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws. Neither the execution and
delivery of this Agreement, nor the issue
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and sale of the Units, the Underwriter's Warrants, nor the consummation of any
of the transactions contemplated herein, nor the compliance by the Company with
the terms and provisions hereof has materially conflicted with or will
materially conflict with, or has resulted in or will result in a material breach
of, any of the terms and provisions of, or has constituted or will constitute a
material default under, or has resulted in or will result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon the property or assets of the
Company, pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, note,
loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an
obligation for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which the Company is or may be bound or to which any of
the property or assets of the Company, is subject; nor will such action result
in any material violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or
the By-laws of the Company or any contract or agreement, or any statute or any
order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any other regulatory
authority or other governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company.
n. All taxes that are due from the Company have been
paid in full, and the Company has no tax deficiency or claim outstanding or
assessed against it.
o. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which
information is given in the most recently circulated Preliminary Prospectus
included as a part of the Registration Statement, and except as may otherwise be
indicated or contemplated herein or therein, the Company has not issued any
securities (except for the issuance of securities described under the caption
"Capitalization") or (ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other
distribution on or in respect to its capital stock; and the Company has not (i)
incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money;
or (ii) entered into any transaction other than in the ordinary course of
business.
p. The SEC has not issued any order preventing or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or part thereof.
q. Except for the registration rights granted under the
Underwriter's Warrant Agreement, no holders of any securities of the Company or
of any options, warrants or convertible of exchangeable securities of the
Company exercisable for or convertible or exchangeable for securities of the
Company have the right to include any securities issued by the Company in the
Registration Statement or any registration statement to be filed by the Company.
r. The Company has entered employment agreements with
Xxxx Xxxxxx and Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, in the form filed as Exhibit 10.1 and 10.2,
respectively, to the Registration Statement.
s. The Company has filed a Registration Statement with
the SEC pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act, and has used its best
efforts to have same declared effective by the SEC on an accelerated basis on
the Effective Date. In addition, the Company has taken all actions necessary to
qualify the Shares for listing on either the Nasdaq Small Capital Market
("Nasdaq") on the Effective Date.
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t. Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no
claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services in the
nature of a finder's or origination fee with respect to the sale of the
Securities hereunder or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings,
commitments, payments or issuances of securities with respect to the Company
that may affect the Underwriters' compensation, as determined by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").
u. Neither the Company nor any of its officers,
directors or partners, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of its
employees, agents or any other person acting on behalf of the Company has,
directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or similar
benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the ordinary course
of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or agent of a customer,
supplier or official or governmental agency or instrumentality of any government
(domestic or foreign) or person who was, is, or may be in a position to help or
hinder the business of the Company (or assist it in connection with any actual
or proposed transaction) which (i) might subject the Company to any damage or
penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if
not given in the past, might have had a materially adverse effect on the assets,
business or operations of the Company as reflected in any of the financial
statements contained in the Prospectus, or (iii) if not continued in the future,
might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of the
Company.
v. The Company owns or possesses the requisite licenses
or rights to use all trademarks, service marks, service names, trade names,
patents and patent applications, copyrights, methods, protocols, techniques,
technologies, procedures and other rights (collectively the "Intangibles")
described as owned or used by the Company in the Registration Statement. There
is no claim, action or proceeding by any person pending or, to the Company's
knowledge, threatened, which pertains to or challenges the rights of the Company
with respect to any Intangibles used in the conduct of the business of the
Company, except as described in the Prospectus. To the Company's knowledge, the
Company's current products, services and processes do not infringe on any
Intangibles held by any third party.
w. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement,
the Company is under no obligation to pay royalties or fees of any kind
whatsoever to any third party with respect to Intangibles it has developed,
uses, employees or intends to use or employ.
x. The Company has generally enjoyed a satisfactory
employer/employee relationship with is respective employees and is in compliance
in all material respects with all federal, state and local laws and regulations
respecting the employment of their respective employees and employment
practices, terms and conditions of employment wages and hours relating thereto.
There are no pending or, to the Company's knowledge, threatened investigations
involving the Company by the U.S. Department of Labor, or any other governmental
agency responsible for the enforcement of such federal, state or local laws and
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regulations. There is no unfair labor practice charge or complaint against the
Company pending before the National Labor Relations Board or any strike,
picketing, boycott, dispute, threatened against or involving the Company, or any
predecessor entity, and none has occurred. No collective bargaining agreement or
modification thereof is currently being negotiated by the Company. No grievance
or arbitration proceeding is pending under any expired or existing collective
bargaining agreements of the Company.
y. Neither the Company nor, to the Company's knowledge,
any of its employees, directors or shareholders has taken, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to or which has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange Act or
otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Units.
z. Except as described in the Registration Statement and
financial statements included therein, the Company does not maintain or has not
maintained, sponsored or contributed to any program or arrangement that is an
"employee pension benefit plan," and "employee welfare benefit plan" or a
"multi-employer plan" as such terms are defined in Sections 3(2), 3(1) and
3(37), respectively of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as
amended ("ERISA") ("ERISA Plans"), except for the Company's Stock Option Plan.
The Company does not presently maintain or contribute to or at any time in the
past, maintained or contributed to a defined benefit plan, as defined in Section
3(35) of ERISA. The Company has never completely or partially withdrawn from a
"multi-employer plan."
aa. Except as set forth in the Prospectus under "Certain
Transactions," the Company is not a party to any agreement with any officer,
director or shareholder of the Company, or any affiliate or associate of any
such person or entity which is required to be disclosed in the Prospectus
pursuant to Regulation S-B. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, to the
Company's knowledge, no officer, director or shareholder of the Company or any
"affiliate" or "associate" (as these terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated
under the Regulations) of any such person or entity or the Company, has or has
had, either directly or indirectly, (i) an interest in any person or entity
which (A) furnishes or sells services or products which are furnished or sold or
are proposed to be furnished or sold by the Company, or (B) purchases from or
sells or furnishes to the Company, any goods or services, or (ii) a beneficial
interest in any contract or agreement to which the Company is a party or by
which it may be bound or affected.
ab. The minute books of the Company have been made
available to Underwriter's counsel and contain a complete summary of all
meetings and actions by unanimous consent of directors and shareholders since
the time of incorporation and reflect all transactions referred to in such
minutes accurately in all material respects.
ac. In accordance with the provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes, the Company represents and warrants that it does not now do
business nor has it ever done business in or with the government of Cuba.
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3. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE UNDERWRITER. The
Underwriter represents and warrants to the Company that it is a member of the
NASD and registered as a broker/dealer with the SEC. There are no past, pending
or, to the best of the Underwriter's knowledge, threatened proceedings involving
the NASD, the Commission or any state regulatory authority which would impair
the ability of the Underwriter to conduct the Offering contemplated hereunder.
4. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES AND
UNDERWRITER'S WARRANTS.
a. On the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to the Underwriter 1,500,000 Units, and the Underwriter
agrees to purchase from the Company such 1,500,000 Units at a purchase price of
90.0% of the public offering price per Unit at the time described herein to be
sold by the Underwriter, at an initial purchase price of $4.05 per Unit.
b. On the Closing Date, the Company shall issue and sell
to the Underwriter, the Underwriter's Warrants at an aggregate purchase price of
$100, which warrants shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase an aggregate
of up to 150,000 Shares. All of the Underwriter's Warrants shall be exercisable
for a period of four (4) years commencing one year from the date of the
Prospectus at an initial exercise price of 165% of the Offering Price per Unit.
The Underwriter's Warrant Agreement and form of Warrant Certificate shall be
substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement.
c. Payment for the Underwriter's Warrants shall be made
on the Closing Date. Payment for the Shares shall be made on the Closing Date by
wire transfer to the Company, upon delivery of certificates (in form and
substance satisfactory to the Underwriter) representing the Units or by
confirmation of electronic transfer of the Units by or on behalf of the Company
to the Underwriter, through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company
("DTC"), for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by or on behalf of
such Underwriter of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of Federal
(same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the Underwriter at
least forty-eight hours in advance. Delivery and payment for the Units shall be
made at 10:00 a.m. New York time, on or before the third business day following
the Closing Date or at such other time as shall be agreed upon by the
Underwriter and the Company. The hour and date of delivery and payment for the
Units are called the "Closing Date." The Units shall be registered in such name
or names and in such authorized denominations as the Underwriter may request in
writing at lease two (2) full business days prior to the Closing Date. The
Company will permit the Underwriter to examine and package any certificates
representing the Units for delivery, at least one (1) full business day prior to
the Closing Date.
d. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver
Units except upon tender of payment by the Underwriter for the Units.
5. PUBLIC OFFERING. The Underwriter is to make a public offering
of the Units, on a
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firm commitment basis. The Securities are to be initially offered to the public
at the offering price set forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (such price
being hereinafter called the "Public Offering Price"). The Underwriter may, at
its own expense, enter into one or more agreements as the Underwriter, in its
sole discretion, deems advisable, with one or more broker-dealers who shall act
as dealers in connection with such public offering.
6. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants and agrees
that it will:
a. Use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement to become effective and will notify the Underwriter immediately and
confirm the notice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective, (ii) of the issuance by the
SEC of any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any
proceeding for that purpose, (iii) of the issuance by any state securities
commission of any proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the
Units, or the Underwriter's Warrants for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or
of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose, and
(iv) of the receipt of any comments from the SEC. If the SEC or any state
securities commission shall enter a stop order or suspend such qualification at
anytime, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain promptly the
lifting of such order.
b. File the Prospectus (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriter) or transmit the Prospectus by a means
reasonably calculated to result in filing with the SEC in accordance with Rule
424.
c. During the time when a prospectus is required to be
delivered under the Act, use all reasonable efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the Exchange Act, as now and
hereafter amended and by the Regulations, as from time to time are in force, so
far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Units
and the Common Stock in accordance with the provisions hereof and the
Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Units is required
to be delivered under the Act, any event shall have occurred as a result of
which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or counsel for the Underwriter
the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes an untrue statement of
a material fact or omits to state any material fact required to be stated in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or if it
is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the
Company will notify the Underwriter promptly and prepare and file with the SEC
an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10 of the Act.
d. Deliver to the Underwriter, without charge, such
number of copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as the
Underwriter may reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or
any amendment or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to the
Underwriter two signed copies of the Registration Statement, including exhibits,
and all post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed
therewith or incorporated therein by reference and signed copies of all consents
of certified experts.
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e. Endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the
Underwriter, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes
effective, to qualify the Units and the Common Stock for offering and sale under
the securities' laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter may reasonably
designate, provided that no such qualification shall be required in any
jurisdiction where, as a result thereof, the Company would be subject to service
of general process or to taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in
such jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be
effected, the Company will, unless the Underwriter agrees that such action is
not at the time necessary or advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and
make such statements or reports at such times as are or may reasonably be
required by the laws of such jurisdiction.
f. Make generally available to its security holders as
soon as practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full
calendar month following the Closing Date, an earnings statement (which need not
be certified by independent public or independent certified public accounts
unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve
consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
g. For a period of five years from the Effective Date,
furnish to the Underwriter copies of such financial statements and other
periodic and special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes
generally to holders of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the
Underwriter (i) a copy of each periodic report the Company shall be required to
file with the SEC, (ii) a copy of each press release and every news item and
article with respect to the Company or any Subsidiary or their respective
affairs which was released by the Company, (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K or
Schedules 13D, 13G, 14D-1 or 13E-4 received or prepared by the Company, and (iv)
such additional documents and information with respect to the Company or any
Subsidiary and their respective affairs or any future subsidiaries of the
Company as the Underwriter may from time to time reasonably request.
h. Apply the net proceeds from the offering received by
it in a manner consistent with the caption "USE OF PROCEEDS" in the Prospectus.
i. Deliver to the Underwriter, prior to filing, any
amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to
be filed after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement
to which the Underwriter shall reasonably object, after being furnished such
copy, in writing with reasonable specificity as to the nature and extent of any
objection.
j. Furnish to the Underwriter as early as practicable
prior to the date hereof and the Closing Date, but not later than two (2) full
business days prior thereto, a copy of the latest available unaudited interim
financial statements of the Company (which in no event shall be as of a date
more than thirty (30) days prior to the Effective Date) which have been read by
the Company's independent accountants as stated in their letter to be furnished
to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(g) hereof.
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k. For a period of three (3) years from the Closing
Date, provide the Underwriter, upon its request, at the Company's sole expense,
with access to daily consolidated financial transfer sheets and weekly
Depository Trust Company reports, relating to the Common Stock, such Common
Stock reports to be transmitted by facsimile and designate Olde Monmouth Stock
Transfer Company, Inc., as transfer agent for the Company's securities or such
other transfer agent mutually agreeable by the Company and the Underwriter.
l. For a period of three (3) years after the Effective
Date, engage an advisor (the "Advisor") designated in writing by the Underwriter
to the Board of Directors of the Company (the "Board"), if requested by the
Underwriter. In the event the Underwriter shall not have designated such
individual at the time of any meeting of the Board or such person is unavailable
to serve, the Company shall notify the Underwriter of each meeting of the Board.
All individual designated by the Underwriter shall receive all notices and other
correspondence and communications sent by the Company to members of the Board.
In addition, such Advisor shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for all
reasonable costs incurred in attending such meetings, including, but not limited
to food, lodging and transportation. The Company further agrees that, during
said three (3) year period, it shall schedule not less than four (4) formal and
"in person" meetings of its Board of Directors in each such year at which
meetings such Advisor shall be permitted to attend as set forth herein; said
meetings shall be held quarterly each year and thirty (30) days advance notice
of such meetings shall be given to the Advisor. Further, during such three (3)
year period, the Company and its principal stockholders shall give notice to the
Underwriter with respect to any proposed acquisitions, mergers, reorganizations
or other similar transactions.
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold the Underwriter and
such Advisor harmless against any and all claims, actions, damages, costs and
expenses, and judgments arising solely out of the attendance and participation
of the Advisor at any such meeting described herein. In the event the Company
maintains a liability insurance policy affording coverage for the acts of its
officers and directors, it agrees, if possible (without any additional premium
or other related cost to the Company) to include the Advisor as an insured under
such policy.
m. Until the sooner of (i) seven (7) years from the date
hereof, or (ii) the sale to the public of the Units, the Company will not take
any action or actions which may prevent or disqualify the Company's use of Form
SB-2 (or other appropriate form) for the registration under the Act of the
Common Shares.
n. For a period of five (5) years from the date hereof,
use its best efforts to maintain the quotation by Nasdaq of the Common Stock and
Warrants underlying the Units.
o. Supply the Underwriter with one, and Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx
LLP, counsel to the Underwriter, with two (2) bound volumes of the underwriting
materials within a reasonable time after the latest Closing Date.
11
p. So long as the Units or Common Stock underlying such
Units are registered under the Exchange Act, the Company will hold an annual
meeting of shareholders for the election of directors within 180 days after the
end of each of the Company's fiscal years or at such other date as mutually
agreed upon by and between the Underwriter and the Company, and, within 150 days
after the end of each of the Company's fiscal years will provide the Company's
shareholders with the audited financial statements of the Company as of the end
of the fiscal year just completed prior thereto. Such financial statements shall
be those required by Rule 14a-3 under the Exchange Act and shall be included in
an annual report pursuant to the requirements of such Rule.
q. Enter into the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement in
substantially the form filed as Exhibit 4.5 to the Registration Statement.
r. Take all necessary and appropriate actions to be
included in Standard and Poor's Corporation Descriptions.
7. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.
a. The Company hereby agrees to pay all reasonable
expenses (other than fees of counsel to the Underwriter, except as provided in
(iii) below) in connection with the offering, including but not limited to, (i)
the preparation, printing, filing and mailing (including the payment of postage
with respect to such mailing) of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
and the printing and mailing of this Agreement and related documents, including
the cost of all copies thereof and of the Preliminary Prospectus and of the
Prospectus and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the
Underwriter in quantities of herein above state, (ii) the printing, engraving,
issuance, and delivery of the Units and the Underwriter's Warrants, including
any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the qualification of the
Units and the Underwriter's Warrants under state or foreign securities or "Blue
Sky" laws and determination of the status of such securities under legal
investment laws, including the costs of printing and mailing the "Preliminary
Blue Sky Memorandum," and "Legal Investments Survey," if any (which fees shall
be payable by the Company) and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriter,
(iv) advertising costs and expenses including but not limited to the costs and
expenses in connection with the "road show", information meetings and
presentations, bound volumes and "tombstones" in publications selected by the
Underwriter and prospectus memorabilia, (v) costs and expenses in connection
with due diligence investigations, including but not limited to the fees of any
independent counsel or consultant retained, and all reasonable travel and
lodging expenses incurred by you and/or counsel to the Underwriter in connection
with visits to, and examination of, the Company's premises, (vi) fees and
expenses of the transfer agent and warrant agent, (vii) applications for
assignments of a rating of the Securities by qualified rating agencies, and
(viii) the fees payable to NASD and Nasdaq. In this connection, Blue Sky
applications, as and if required, shall be made in such states and jurisdictions
as shall be requested by the Underwriter. Payments with regard to items (iii),
(iv), and (v) shall be made on or before the Closing Date. In addition to the
foregoing, the Company shall subscribe to Blue Sky Data, a data and reporting
concern, for the
12
purpose of tracking and maintaining compliance with all applicable Blue Sky
laws.
b. The Company additionally agrees to pay to the
Underwriter an aggregate non-accountable expense allowance in addition to the
expenses payable, pursuant to Section 7(a), equal to 3.0% of the gross proceeds
received by the Company from the sale of Units and, on its part, the Underwriter
agrees to deduct from the said 3.0% allowance, $20,000 previously paid by the
Company to the Underwriter as an advance against payment due pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 7(b). In the event the Underwriter terminates the
offering or is unable to consummate the offering within one year of the date
hereof, the advances toward the non-accountable expenses shall be non-refundable
and deemed fully earned in connection with its due diligence efforts and all
services provided to the date of such termination.
8. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of
the Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Securities, as provided herein,
shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, to
the accuracy of the statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the
provisions hereof and to the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder and to the following conditions:
a. The Registration Statement shall have become
effective not later than 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement
or such later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by you, and, at
the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have
been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the SEC and any request
on the part of the SEC for additional information shall have been complied with
to the reasonable satisfaction of Underwriter's Counsel.
b. At the Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have
received the favorable opinion of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, PA, counsel to the Company
dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriter and in form and substance
satisfactory to Underwriter's Counsel, to the effect that:
(1) the Company (A) has been incorporated under the
Delaware General Business Law and its status is active, (B) is
qualified and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each
jurisdiction in which, to such counsel's knowledge, its ownership or
leasing of any properties or the character of its operations requires
such qualifications, except where failure to do so would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company, and (C ) has all requisite
power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus;
(2) the Units, Underwriter's Warrants and the Common
Stock have been duly authorized and are, or in the case of the
Underwriter's Warrants, will be, upon exercise and payment therefor,
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable securities of the
Company, and the holders thereof are not and will not be subject to
personal liability by
13
reason of being such holders; none of the Units, Underwriter's Warrants
or the Common Stock (i) are subject to any preemptive or similar
contractual rights of any stockholder of the Company by reason of the
Company's certificate of incorporation, as amended, or any applicable
statute; or (ii) are subject to any preemptive, or, to such counsel's
knowledge, similar contractual rights of any stockholder of the Company
by reason of any agreement to which the Company is a party; all
corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issue and
sale of such securities has been duly and validly taken; if issued, the
Underwriter's Warrants shall constitute, valid and binding obligations
of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment
therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for
thereby; and the certificates representing the Units and the
Underwriter's Warrant are in due and proper form;
(3) except as described in the Prospectus, to such
counsel's knowledge, the Company does not own an interest in any
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other business
entity.
(4) this Agreement and the Underwriter's Warrant
Agreement have each been duly and validly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company, assuming due execution by the parties thereto
other than the Company, and are valid and binding agreements of the
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
respective terms, except (A) as such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally, (B) as enforceability of any
indemnification provision may be limited under the federal and state
securities laws, and C) that the remedy of specific performance,
injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be subject to the
equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before which any
proceeding therefor may be brought;
(5) to such counsel's knowledge, there are no contracts
or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus or to be
filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement other than those
described and filed as required, and to such counsel's knowledge, there
are no statutes, rules or regulations or legal governmental proceedings
required to be described in the Prospectus which are not described as
required and no legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened
which could materially adversely affect the business or financial
condition of the Company which have not been disclosed in the
Prospectus;
(6) the Registration Statement is effective under the
Act, and to such counsel's knowledge, no proceedings for a stop order
are pending or, to such counsel's knowledge threatened under the Act;
(7) all consents, approvals, authorizations or orders of
any court or governmental agency or body (other than such as may be
required under Blue Sky laws, as to which no opinion need be rendered)
required in connection with the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement have been obtained and are in effect;
14
(8) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
the Underwriter's Warrant Agreement nor the issue and sale of the
Units, Underwriter's Warrants or the Common Stock, nor the consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby, nor the compliance by the
Company with the terms and provisions hereof, constitute a default
under, any agreement that the Company is a party to, or result in the
creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Company pursuant to the terms of any
mortgage, deed of trust, note, indenture or loan or credit agreement or
any other agreement or instrument known to such counsel (after due
inquiry) to which the Company is a party or by which the Company may be
bound or which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject;
nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
Articles of Incorporation or the By-laws of the Company, or any statute
or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any court
or of any federal, state or other regulatory authority or other
governmental body having jurisdiction over the Company;
(9) the Registration Statement, each preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus and any post-effective amendments or
supplements thereto (other than the financial statements included
therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) comply as to form in
all material respects with the requirements of the Act and Regulations.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company,
representatives of the independent public accounts for the Company and
representatives of the Underwriter at which the contents of the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and related matters were
discussed and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not
assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement and Prospectus,
on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to the attention of
such counsel which lead them to believe that either the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto at the time such Registration
Statement or amendment became effective or the Prospectus as of the
date of such opinion contained any untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (it being
understood that such counsel need express no opinion with respect to
the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
statistical data included in the Registration Statement or Prospectus);
(10) the terms and provisions of the Units, the
Underwriter's Warrants, the Common Stock and all other securities
issued or issuable by the Company conform in all material respects to
the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus;
(11) to such counsel's knowledge, the Company is not in
breach of, or in default under, any term or provision of any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, lease, note, loan or credit agreement or any
other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation
15
for borrowed money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which the Company or any of their respective
properties may be bound or affected; the Company is not in violation of
any term or provision of its Articles of Incorporation or By-laws, and
the Company is not in violation of any franchise, license, permit,
judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation, except as
referred to in the Prospectus;
(12) the statements in the Prospectus under "RISK
FACTORS", "BUSINESS", "CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS", "MANAGEMENT" and
"DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES" have been reviewed by such counsel, and
insofar as they refer to statements of law, descriptions of statutes,
licenses, rules or regulations or legal conclusions are correct in all
material aspects;
(13) the authorized and outstanding capital stock of the
Company is as set forth under the caption "CAPITALIZATION" in the
Prospectus; all of the issued and outstanding capital stock, options
and warrants of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued and all of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of
the Company are fully paid and non-assessable; and none of such
securities or interests were issued in violation of the preemptive
rights or similar rights of any holder of any security of interest of
the Company or of any applicable federal or state securities law;
(14) to such counsel's knowledge, the Company is
conducting its operations in compliance with applicable federal, state
and local laws, statutes, rules and regulations;
(15) to such counsel's knowledge, the Company has good and
marketable title to, or valid and enforceable leasehold estates in the
item of real and personal property stated in the Prospectus to be owned
or leased by it as lessee, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
claims, security interests, defects and restrictions of any material
nature whatsoever, other than those referred to in the Prospectus and
liens for taxes not yet due and payable;
(16) to such counsel's knowledge, there are no claims,
payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services in the
nature of a finder's or origination fee with respect to the sale of the
Securities hereunder or financial consulting arrangement or any other
arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuances that
may affect the Underwriter's compensation, as determined by the NASD;
(17) to such counsel's knowledge, persons listed under the
caption "PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS" in the Prospectus are the respective
"beneficial owners" (as such phrase is defined in Regulation 13d-3
under the Exchange Act) of the shares of Common Stock set forth
opposite their respective names thereunder as and to the extent set
forth herein;
(18) to such counsel's knowledge, other than as set forth
in the Prospectus, no
16
person, corporation, trust, partnership, association or other entity
has the right to include and/or register any securities of the Company
in the Registration Statement therefore; and
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and
jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems
proper and to the extent specified in such option, if at all, upon an opinion or
opinions (in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to Underwriter's
counsel) of other counsel reasonably acceptable to Underwriter's counsel,
familiar with the applicable laws; (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they
deem proper, on certificates and written statements of responsible officers of
the Company and certificates or other written statements of officers of
departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the
corporate existence or good standing of the Company, provided that copies of any
such statements or certificates shall be delivered to Underwriter's counsel if
requested. The opinion of such counsel for the Company shall state that the
opinion of any such other counsel is in form satisfactory to such counsel and,
in their opinion, the Underwriter and they are justified in relying thereon.
c. On or prior to the Closing Date, counsel for the
Underwriter shall have been furnished such documents, certificates and opinions
as they may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling them to review or
pass upon the matters referred to in Section 8(b.), or in order to evidence the
accuracy, completeness or satisfaction of any of the representation, warranties
or conditions herein contained.
d. Prior to the Closing Date, (i) there shall have been
no material adverse change nor development involving a prospective change in the
condition or prospects of the business activities, financial or otherwise, of
the Company from the latest dates as of which such condition is set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) there shall have been no
transaction, not in the ordinary course of business, entered into by the Company
from the latest date as of which the financial condition of the Company is set
forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus which is materially adverse
to the Company; (iii) the Company shall not be in default under any provision of
any instrument relating to any outstanding indebtedness which default would have
a material adverse effect on the Company; (iv) no material amount of the assets
of the Company shall have been pledged or mortgaged, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus; (v) no action, suit or proceeding, at law
or in equity, shall have been pending or threatened against the Company wherein
any unfavorable result or decision could materially adversely affect any of
their respective properties or business before or by any court or federal or
state commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding may materially adversely affect the business,
operations, prospects of financial condition or income of the Company, except as
set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (vi) no stop order shall
have been issued under the Act and no proceedings thereof shall have been
initiated or threatened by the SEC; and (vii) the market for securities in
general or for the Company's Common Stock in particular, or political, financial
or economic conditions shall have materially changed from those reasonably
foreseeable as of the date hereof as to render it impracticable in the
Underwriter's judgment to make a public offering
17
of the Units, or there has been a material adverse change in market levels for
securities in general (or those of the Company in particular) or financial or
economic conditions which render it inadvisable in the Underwriter's judgment to
proceed.
e. At the Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have
received a certificate of the Company signed by the Chairman of the Board or the
President and Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date to the effect
that the conditions set forth in subsections d. (i) through (vi) above have been
satisfied and that, as of the Closing Date, the representations and warranties
of the Company set forth in Section 2 hereof are true and correct.
f. By the Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have
received clearance from the NASD as to the amount of compensation allowable or
payable to the Underwriter, as described in the Registration Statement.
g. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at the
Closing Date, the Underwriter shall have received a letter, addressed to the
Underwriter and in form and substance satisfactory in all respects (including
the non-material nature of the changes or decreases, if any, referred to in
clause (iii) below) to the Underwriter and to Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx LLP, counsel for
the Underwriter, from Xxxxx Xxxxxx and Company, LLC dated, respectively, as of
the date of this Agreement and as of the Closing Date.
(1) confirming that they are independent accountants with
respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable
Regulations, appropriately qualified to perform the services
contemplated by their engagement;
(2) stating that in their opinion the financial
statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published
Regulations thereunder;
(3) stating that, on the basis of a reading of the latest
available minutes of the stockholders and board of directors and the
various committees of the board of directors of the Company,
consultations with officers and other employees of the Company
responsible for financial and accounting matters and other specified
procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention which
would lead them to believe that (A) either the audited financial
statements for the years ended December 31, 2001 and 2002 of the
Company in the Registration Statement do not comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
Act, and the Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
substantially consistent with that of the audited consolidated
financial statements of the Company included in the Registration
Statement, (B) at a date not later than five (5) days prior to the
Effective Date, there was any change in the capital stock or long-term
debt of the Company, or any decrease in the stockholders' equity of the
Company as compared with amounts shown in the December 31, 2002 balance
sheet
18
included in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or
contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any
decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (C) during the
period from January 1, 2003 to a specified date not more than five (5)
days prior to the Effective Date there was any decrease in net
revenues, increase in net losses or increases in net losses per common
share of the Company, in each case as compared with the corresponding
period, other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration
Statement, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount
of such decrease;
(4) stating that they have compared specific dollar
amounts, numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings,
statements and other financial information pertaining to the Company
set forth in the Prospectus in each case to the extent that such
amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be
derived from the audited financials as of December 31, 2001 and
December 31, 2002 of the Company and excluding any questions requiring
an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the
application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate
procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the
letter and found them to be in agreement; and
(5) statements as to such other matters incident to the
transaction contemplated hereby as the Underwriter may reasonably
request.
h. All proceedings taken in connection with the authorization,
issuance or sale of the Units, the Underwriter's Warrants and the Common Stock
as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Underwriter and to Underwriter's Counsel.
i. On the Closing Date, there shall have been duly tendered to
you for your account the appropriate number of Units and individually for your
own account the Underwriter's Warrants.
j. On the Closing Date, there shall be been provided to you a
duly executed three year consulting agreement providing for compensation of
$35,000 per year, due and payable in the aggregate amount of $105,000 on such
Closing Date.
k. No order suspending the sale of the Units or Common Stock
underlying such Units, in any jurisdiction designated by you pursuant to Section
5(d) hereof shall have been issued on the Closing Date (unless requested by the
Underwriter), and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or
to its knowledge or that of the Company shall be contemplated.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to the Underwriter or to counsel to the Underwriter shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriter as to the
statements made therein. If any condition to the
19
Underwriter's obligations hereunder to be fulfilled prior to or at the Closing
Date is not so fulfilled, the Underwriter may terminate this Agreement or, if
the Underwriter so elects, may waive any such conditions that have not been
fulfilled or extend the time for their fulfillment.
9. INDEMNIFICATION.
(1) The Company shall indemnify and hold the Underwriter,
and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter ("Controlling Person")
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange
Act), harmless against any and all liabilities, claims, lawsuits, including any
and all awards and/or judgments to which it may become subject under the Act,
the Exchange Act or any other federal or state statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as said liabilities, claims and lawsuits (including awards
and/or judgments) arise out of or are in connection with the Registration
Statement, Prospectus and related Exhibits filed under the Act. In addition, the
Company shall also indemnify and hold the Underwriter harmless against any and
all costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, incurred or relating
to the foregoing.
The Underwriter shall give the Company prompt notice
of any such liability, claim or lawsuit which the Underwriter contends is the
subject matter of the Company's indemnification, and the Company thereupon shall
be granted the right to take any and all necessary and proper action, at its
sole cost and expense, with respect to such liability, claim and lawsuit,
including the right to settle, compromise and dispose of such liability, claim
or lawsuit, excepting therefrom any and all proceedings or hearings before any
regulatory bodies and/or authorities.
The Underwriter shall indemnify and hold the Company,
and each Controlling Person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, harmless against
any and all liabilities, claims, lawsuits, including any and all awards and/or
judgments to which it may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or any
other federal or state statute, at common law or otherwise, insofar as said
liabilities, claims and lawsuits (including awards and/or judgments) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact required to be stated or necessary to make the statement therein,
not misleading, which statement or omission was made in reliance upon
information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the
Underwriter for inclusion in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto. In addition, the Underwriter shall also
indemnify and hold the Company harmless against any and all costs and expenses,
including reasonable counsel fees, incurred or relating to the foregoing.
The Company shall give to the Underwriter prompt
notice of any such liability, claim or lawsuit which the Company contends is the
subject matter of the Underwriter's indemnification and the Underwriter
thereupon shall be granted the right to take any and all necessary and proper
action, at its sole cost and expense, with respect to such liability, claim and
lawsuit, including the right to settle, compromise or dispose of such liability,
claim or lawsuit,
20
excepting therefrom any and all proceedings or hearings before any regulatory
bodies and/or authorities.
In order to provide for just and equitable
contribution under the Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to
indemnification under this Section 9 makes claim for indemnification pursuant
hereto but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final judgment or
decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of time to appeal
or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such indemnification may not be
enforced notwithstanding the fact that this Section 9 provides for
indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act may be required
on the part of any such person for which indemnification is provided under this
Section 9, then, and in each such case, the Company and the Underwriter shall
contributed to the aggregate losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which
they may be subject (after any contribution from others) in such proportion
taking into consideration the relative benefits received by each party from the
offering covered by the Prospectus (taking into account the portion of the
proceeds of the offering realized by each), the parties' relative knowledge and
access to information concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was
assessed, the opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission and
other equitable considerations appropriate under the circumstances; provided,
however, that notwithstanding the above in no event shall the Underwriter be
required to contribute any amount in excess of 10.0% of the initial public
offering price of the Securities; and provided, that, in any such case, no
person guilty of a fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11 (f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
Within fifteen (15) days after receipt of any party
to this Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any
action, suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in
respect thereof is to be made against another party (the "Contributing Party"),
notify the Contributing Party of the commencement thereof, but the omission so
to notify the Contributing Party will not relive it from any liability which it
may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any
such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party
notifies a Contributing Party of his or its representatives of the commencement
thereof within the aforesaid fifteen (15) days, the Contributing Party will be
entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other
Contributing Party similarly notified. Any such Contributing Party shall not be
liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any
claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without
the written consent of such Contributing Party. The indemnification provisions
contained in this Section 9 are in addition to any other rights or remedies
which either party hereto may have with respect to the other or hereunder.
10. REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. Except as
the context otherwise required, all representations, warranties and agreements
contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties
and agreements at the Closing Date and such representations, warranties and
agreements of the Underwriter and the Company, including the indemnity
agreements contained in Section 9 hereof, shall remain operative and in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any of
the Underwriter, the
21
Company or any controlling person, and shall survive termination of this
Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriter
until the earlier of the expiration of any applicable statue of limitations and
the seventh anniversary of the Closing Date, at which time the representations,
warranties and agreements shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.
11. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION HEREOF.
(1) This Agreement shall become effective at 9:30 a.m.,
New York time, on the first full business day following the day on which the
Registration Statement becomes effective or at the time of the initial pubic
offering by the Underwriter of the Securities, whichever is earlier. The time of
the initial public offering, for the purpose of this Section 11, shall mean the
time, after the Registration Statement becomes effective, of the release by the
Underwriter for publication of the first newspaper advertisement which is
subsequently published relating to the Securities or the time, after the
Registration Statement becomes effective, when the Securities are first released
by the Underwriter for offering by the Underwriter or dealers by letter or
telegram, whichever shall first occur. The Underwriter may prevent this
Agreement from becoming effective without liability to any other party, except
as noted below, by giving the notice indicated below in this Section 11 before
the time this Agreement becomes effective. The Underwriter agrees to give the
undersigned notice of the commencement of the offering described herein.
(2) The Underwriter shall have the right to terminate
this Agreement if any of the conditions enumerated in Section 8 are not
fulfilled or waived by the Underwriter on or before any Closing Date.
(3) If the Underwriter elects to prevent this Agreement
from becoming effective or to terminate this Agreement as provided in this
Section 11, the Company shall be notified on the same day as such election is
made by the Underwriter by telephone or telegram, confirmed by letter.
(4) In the event this Agreement is terminated prior to
the Effective Date, the $20,000 previously paid to the Underwriter shall be
refunded to the Company, less actual expenses incurred and documented.
Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this
agreement, any election hereunder or termination of this Agreement, and whether
or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 9
shall not be in any way affected.
22
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have executed this Agreement as
of the date first above written.
Witnesses: PanAmerican Bancorp
________________________ By: ______________________________
Name: ______________________________
________________________ Title:______________________________
Forge Financial Group, Inc.
________________________ By: ______________________________
Name: ______________________________
________________________ Title:______________________________
23
EXHIBIT "A"
NAME AND ADDRESS OF UNDERWRITER NO. OF UNITS
Forge Financial Group, Inc. -----,000
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
---------
Total: 1,500,000
=========
24
