4,000,000 Shares
CENTENNIAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
Common Stock
($.01 Par Value)
Form of
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
----------------------
_______________, 1997
Alex. Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
Equitable Securities Corporation
As Representatives of the
Several Underwriters
c/o Alex. Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Centennial HealthCare Corporation, a Georgia corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to sell to the several underwriters (the "Underwriters") named in
Schedule I hereto for whom you are acting as representatives (the
"Representatives") an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of the Company's Common
Stock, $.01 par value (the "Firm Shares"). The respective amounts of the Firm
Shares to be so purchased by the several Underwriters are set forth opposite
their names in Schedule I hereto. The Company also proposes to sell at the
Underwriters' option an aggregate of up to 600,000 additional shares of the
Company's Common Stock (the "Option Shares") as set forth below.
As the Representatives, you have advised the Company (a) that you are
authorized to enter into this Agreement on behalf of the several Underwriters,
and (b) that the several Underwriters are willing, acting severally and not
jointly, to purchase the numbers of Firm Shares set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule I, plus their pro rata portion of the Option Shares
if you elect to exercise the over-allotment option in whole or in part for the
1
accounts of the several Underwriters. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares (to
the extent the aforementioned option is exercised) are herein collectively
called the "Shares."
In consideration of the mutual agreements contained herein and of the
interests of the parties in the transactions contemplated hereby, the parties
hereto agree as follows:
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
The Company represents and warrants to each of the Underwriters as
follows:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-24267) with
respect to the Shares has been carefully prepared by the Company in
conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
(the "Act"), and the Rules and Regulations (the "Rules and Regulations") of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") thereunder and
has been filed with the Commission. Copies of such registration statement,
including any amendments thereto, the preliminary prospectuses (meeting the
requirements of the Rules and Regulations) contained therein and the
exhibits, financial statements and schedules, as finally amended and
revised, have heretofore been delivered by the Company to you. Such
registration statement, together with any registration statement filed by
the Company pursuant to Rule 462 (b) of the Act, herein referred to as the
"Registration Statement," which shall be deemed to include all information
omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the
Prospectus referred to below, has become effective under the Act and no
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed as of
the date of this Agreement. "Prospectus" means (a) the form of prospectus
first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or (b) the last
preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement filed prior
to the time it becomes effective or filed pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the
Act that is delivered by the Company to the Underwriters for delivery to
purchasers of the Shares, together with the term sheet or abbreviated term
sheet filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)(7) under the Act.
Each preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement prior to
the time it becomes effective is herein referred to as a "Preliminary
Prospectus."
(b) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Georgia, with
corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Registration Statement. Each of the
subsidiaries of the Company as listed in Exhibit A hereto (collectively,
the "Subsidiaries") has been duly organized and is validly existing as a
corporation or partnership in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization, with requisite power and authority to own
or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement. The Subsidiaries are the only subsidiaries, direct
2
or indirect, of the Company. The Company and each of the Subsidiaries are
duly qualified to transact business in all jurisdictions in which the
conduct of their business requires such qualification. The outstanding
shares of capital stock or partnership interests of each of the
Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid
and non-assessable and to the extent shown in Exhibit A hereto are owned by
the Company or another Subsidiary free and clear of all liens, encumbrances
and equities and claims; and no options, warrants or other rights to
purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to
convert any obligations into shares of capital stock or ownership interests
in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.
(c) The outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company, have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable;
the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company have been duly authorized
and when issued and paid for as contemplated herein will be validly issued,
fully paid and non-assessable; and no preemptive rights of stockholders
exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue and sale thereof.
Neither the filing of the Registration Statement nor the offering or sale
of the Shares as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any rights,
other than those which have been waived or satisfied, for or relating to
the registration of any shares of Common Stock.
(d) The information set forth under the caption "Capitalization" in
the Prospectus is true and correct. All of the Shares conform to the
description thereof contained in the Registration Statement. The form of
certificates for the Shares conforms to the corporate law of the
jurisdiction of the Company's incorporation.
(e) The Commission has not issued an order preventing or suspending
the use of any Prospectus relating to the proposed offering of the Shares
nor instituted proceedings for that purpose. The Registration Statement
contains, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto will
contain, all statements which are required to be stated therein by, and
will conform, to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
The Registration Statement and any amendment thereto do not contain, and
will not contain, any untrue statement of a material fact and do not omit,
and will not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus
and any amendments and supplements thereto do not contain, and will not
contain, any untrue statement of material fact; and do not omit, and will
not omit, to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
Company makes no representations or warranties as to information contained
in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
such amendment or supplement, in reliance upon, and in conformity with,
written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any
3
Underwriter through the Representatives, specifically for use in the
preparation thereof.
(f) The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, together with related notes and schedules as set forth in the
Registration Statement, present fairly the financial position and the
results of operations and cash flows of the Company and the consolidated
Subsidiaries, at the indicated dates and for the indicated periods. Such
financial statements and related schedules have been prepared in accordance
with generally accepted principles of accounting, consistently applied
throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed herein, and all
adjustments necessary for a fair presentation of results for such periods
have been made. The summary financial and statistical data included in the
Registration Statement presents fairly the information shown therein and
such data has been compiled on a basis consistent with the financial
statements presented therein and the books and records of the Company. The
pro forma financial statements and other pro forma financial information
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus present fairly
the information shown therein, have been prepared in accordance with the
Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial
statements, have been properly compiled on the pro forma bases described
therein, and, in the opinion of the Company, the assumptions used in the
preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are
appropriate to give effect to the transactions or circumstances referred to
therein.
(g) Coopers & Xxxxxxx, L.L.P., who have certified certain of the
financial statements filed with the Commission as part of the Registration
Statement, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and
the Rules and Regulations.
(h) There is no action, suit, claim or proceeding pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened against the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries before any court or administrative agency or otherwise which
if determined adversely to the Company or any of its Subsidiaries might
result in any material adverse change in the earnings, business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise) or prospects of the Company and of the Subsidiaries taken as a
whole or to prevent the consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby, except as set forth in the Registration Statement.
(i) The Company and the Subsidiaries have good and marketable title to
all of the properties and assets reflected in the financial statements
(except as indicated in the footnotes thereto)(or as described in the
Registration Statement) hereinabove described, subject to no lien,
mortgage, pledge, charge or encumbrance of any kind except those reflected
in such financial statements (or as described in the Registration
Statement) or which are not material in amount. The Company and the
4
Subsidiaries occupy their leased properties under valid and binding leases
conforming in all material respects to the description thereof set forth in
the Registration Statement.
(j) The Company and the Subsidiaries have filed all federal, State,
local and foreign income tax returns which have been required to be filed
and have paid all taxes indicated by said returns and all assessments
received by them or any of them to the extent that such taxes have become
due. All tax liabilities have been adequately provided for in the
financial statements of the Company.
(k) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement, as it may be amended or supplemented, there has not
been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change in or affecting the earnings, business,
management, properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or
otherwise), or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, whether or not occurring in the ordinary course of business, and
there has not been any material transaction entered into or any material
transaction that is probable of being entered into by the Company or the
Subsidiaries, other than transactions in the ordinary course of business
and changes and transactions described in the Registration Statement, as it
may be amended or supplemented. The Company and the Subsidiaries have no
material contingent obligations which are not disclosed in the Company's
financial statements which are included in the Registration Statement.
(l) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is or with the
giving of notice or lapse of time or both, will be, in violation of or in
default under its Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws or under any
agreement, lease, contract, indenture or other instrument or obligation to
which it is a party or by which it, or any of its properties, is bound and
which default is of material significance in respect of the condition,
financial or otherwise of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole
or the business, management, properties, assets, rights, operations,
condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The execution and delivery of this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions herein contemplated and
the fulfillment of the terms hereof will not conflict with or result in a
breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party, or of the Articles of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any order, rule or regulation
applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary of any court or of any
regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body having
jurisdiction.
(m) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or other
5
governmental body necessary in connection with the execution and delivery
by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
herein contemplated (except such additional steps as may be required by the
Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the
"NASD") or such additional steps as may be necessary to qualify the Shares
for public offering by the Underwriters under state securities or Blue Sky
laws) has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect.
(n) The Company and each of the Subsidiaries holds all material
licenses, certificates and permits from governmental authorities which are
necessary to the conduct of their businesses; and neither the Company nor
any of the Subsidiaries has infringed any patents, patent rights, trade
names, trademarks or copyrights, which infringement is material to the
business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole. The Company
knows of no material infringement by others of patents, patent rights,
trade names, trademarks or copyrights owned by or licensed to the Company.
(o) Neither the Company, nor to the Company's best knowledge, any of
its affiliates, has taken or may take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of
the price of the shares of Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of
the Shares.
(p) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is an "investment company"
within the meaning of such term under the Investment Company Act of 1940
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(q) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization;
(ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of
financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles 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.
(r) The Company and each of its Subsidiaries carry, or are covered by,
insurance in such amounts and covering such risks as is adequate for the
conduct of their respective businesses and the value of their respective
properties and as is customary for companies engaged in similar industries.
(s) To the Company's knowledge, the Company and each of the
Subsidiaries is conducting its business in material compliance with all the
6
laws, rules and regulations of the jurisdictions in which they are
conducting businesses, including those relating to healthcare. Without
limiting the foregoing, the Company and each of the Subsidiaries owns or
possesses and is operating in compliance with the terms, provisions and
conditions of all authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses,
registrations, certificates and permits of and from all governmental
regulatory officials and bodies necessary to conduct their respective
businesses, except where the failure to comply, individually or in the
aggregate, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and the
Subsidiaries, taken as a whole; each such authorization, approval, order,
license, registration, other certificate and permit of and from such
governmental regulatory officials and bodies is valid and in full force and
effect and there is no proceeding pending or, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened (or any basis therefor) which may cause any such authorization,
approval, order, license, registration, other certificate or permit of and
from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies that is material to
the conduct of the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a
whole as present conducted to be revoked, withdrawn, cancelled, suspended
or not renewed.
(t) The Company is in compliance in all material respects with all
presently applicable provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended, including the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder ("ERISA"); no "reportable event" (as defined in
ERISA) has occurred with respect to any "pension plan" (as defined in
ERISA) for which the Company would have any liability; the Company has not
incurred and does not expect to incur liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA
with respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any "pension plan" or
(ii) Sections 412 or 4971 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended,
including the regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the
"Code"); and each "pension plan" for which the Company would have any
liability that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code
is so qualified in all material respects and nothing has occurred, whether
by action or by failure to act, which would cause the loss of such
qualification.
(u) The Company confirms as of the date hereof that it is in
compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter
92-198, An Act Relating to Disclosure of doing Business with Cuba, and the
Company further agrees that if it commences engaging in business with the
government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba after
the date the Registration Statement becomes or has become effective with
the Commission or with the Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the
"Department"), whichever date is later, or if the information reported or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, if any, concerning the
Company's business with Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in
Cuba changes in any material way, the Company will provide the Department
notice of such business or change, as appropriate, in a form acceptable to
the Department.
7
2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Firm Shares.
(a) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants
herein contained, and subject to the conditions herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters and each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase, at a price of $_____ per share, the
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of each Underwriter in
Schedule I hereof, subject to adjustments in accordance with Section 9
hereof.
(b) Payment for the Firm Shares to be sold hereunder is to be made in
New York Clearing House funds by certified or bank cashier's checks drawn
to the order of the Company against delivery of certificates therefor to
the Representatives for the several accounts of the Underwriters. Such
payment and delivery are to be made at the offices of Alex. Xxxxx & Sons
Incorporated, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, at 10:00 a.m.,
Baltimore time, on the third business day after the date of this Agreement
or at such other time and date not later than five business days thereafter
as you and the Company shall agree upon, such time and date being herein
referred to as the "Closing Date." (As used herein, "business day" means a
day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading and on which
banks in New York are open for business and are not permitted by law or
executive order to be closed.) The certificates for the Firm Shares will
be delivered in such denominations and in such registrations as the
Representatives requests in writing not later than the second full business
day prior to the Closing Date, and will be made available for inspection by
the Representatives at least one business day prior to the Closing Date.
(c) In addition, on the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth,
the Company hereby grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase
the Option Shares at the price per share as set forth in the first
paragraph of this Section 2. The option granted hereby may be exercised in
whole or in part by giving written notice (i) at any time before the
Closing Date and (ii) only once thereafter within 30 days after the date of
this Agreement, by you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, to
the Company setting forth the number of Option Shares as to which the
several Underwriters are exercising the option, the names and denominations
in which the Option Shares are to be registered and the time and date at
which such certificates are to be delivered. The time and date at which
certificates for Option Shares are to be delivered shall be determined by
the Representatives but shall not be earlier than three nor later than 10
full business days after the exercise of such option, nor in any event
prior to the Closing Date (such time and date being herein referred to as
the "Option Closing Date"). If the date of exercise of the option is three
or more days before the Closing Date, the notice of exercise shall set the
Closing Date as the Option Closing Date. The number of Option Shares to be
purchased by each Underwriter shall be in the same proportion to the total
8
number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Firm Shares being
purchased by such Underwriter bears to 4,000,000, adjusted by you in such
manner as to avoid fractional shares. The option with respect to the
Option Shares granted hereunder may be exercised only to cover
over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters. You,
as Representatives of the several Underwriters, may cancel such option at
any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such
cancellation to the Company. To the extent, if any, that the option is
exercised, payment for the Option Shares shall be made on the Option
Closing Date in New York Clearing House funds by certified or bank
cashier's check drawn to the order of the Company against delivery of
certificates therefor at the offices of Alex. Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated,
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx.
3. Offering by the Underwriters.
It is understood that the several Underwriters are to make a public
offering of the Firm Shares as soon as the Representatives deems it
advisable to do so. The Firm Shares are to be initially offered to the
public at the initial public offering price set forth in the Prospectus.
The Representatives may from time to time thereafter change the public
offering price and other selling terms. To the extent, if at all, that any
Option Shares are purchased pursuant to Section 2 hereof, the Underwriters
will offer them to the public on the foregoing terms.
It is further understood that you will act as the Representatives for
the Underwriters in the offering and sale of the Shares in accordance with
a Master Agreement Among Underwriters entered into by you and the several
other Underwriters.
4. Covenants of the Company.
The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will (A) use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement to become effective or, if the procedure in Rule
430A of the Rules and Regulations is followed, to prepare and timely file
with the Commission under Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations a
Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives containing information
previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the Registration
Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations and (B) not
file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been
advised and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall
have reasonably objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the
Rules and Regulations.
9
(b) The Company will advise the Representatives promptly (A) when the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto shall have
become effective, (B) of receipt of any comments from the Commission, (C)
of any request of the Commission for amendment of the Registration
Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional
information, and (D) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use of
the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose.
The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
stop order preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain
as soon as possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) The Company will cooperate with the Representatives in endeavoring
to qualify the Shares for sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in
writing and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish
such information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided
the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
file a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it
is not now so qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company
will, from time to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and
other documents, as are or may be required to continue such qualifications
in effect for so long a period as the Representatives may reasonably
request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) The Company will deliver to, or upon the order of, the
Representatives, from time to time, as many copies of any Preliminary
Prospectus as the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will
deliver to, or upon the order of, the Representatives during the period
when delivery of a Prospectus is required under the Act, as many copies of
the Prospectus in final form, or as thereafter amended or supplemented, as
the Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will deliver to
the Representatives at or before the Closing Date, four signed copies of
the Registration Statement and all amendments thereto including all
exhibits filed therewith, and will deliver to the Representatives such
number of copies of the Registration Statement (including such number of
copies of the exhibits filed therewith that may reasonably be requested),
and of all amendments thereto, as the Representatives may reasonably
request.
(e) The Company will comply with the Act and the Rules and
Regulations, and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act"),
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit
the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus
is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event
shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the
reasonable opinion of the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
10
light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus is delivered
to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time to amend
or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company promptly
will prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the
Prospectus will comply with the law.
(f) The Company will make generally available to its security holders,
as soon as it is practicable to do so, but in any event not later than 15
months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, an earning
statement (which need not be audited) in reasonable detail, covering a
period of at least 12 consecutive months beginning after the effective date
of the Registration Statement, which earning statement shall satisfy the
requirements of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 of the Rules and
Regulations and will advise you in writing when such statement has been so
made available.
(g) The Company will, for a period of five years from the Closing
Date, deliver to the Representatives copies of annual reports and copies of
all other documents, reports and information furnished by the Company to
its stockholders or filed with any securities exchange pursuant to the
requirements of such exchange or with the Commission pursuant to the Act or
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. The Company will deliver
to the Representatives similar reports with respect to significant
subsidiaries, as that term is defined in the Rules and Regulations, which
are not consolidated in the Company's financial statements.
(h) No offering, sale, short sale or other disposition of any shares
of Common Stock of the Company or other securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for shares of Common Stock or derivative of
Common Stock (or agreement for such) will be made for a period of 180 days
after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, by the Company
otherwise than hereunder or with the prior written consent of Alex. Xxxxx
& Sons Incorporated.
(i) The Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice
of issuance, the Shares on The NASDAQ Stock Market.
(j) The Company has caused each officer and director and specific
shareholder of the Company to furnish to you, on or prior to the date of
this agreement, a letter or letters, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Underwriters, pursuant to which each such person shall agree not to
offer, sell, sell short or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock
of the Company or other capital stock of the Company, or any other
securities convertible, exchangeable or exercisable for Common Shares or
derivative of Common Shares owned by such person or request the
11
registration for the offer or sale of any of the foregoing (or as to which
such person has the right to direct the disposition of) for a period of 180
days after the date of this Agreement, directly or indirectly, except with
the prior written consent of Alex. Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated ("Lockup
Agreements").
(k) The Company shall apply the net proceeds of its sale of the Shares
as set forth in the Prospectus and shall file such reports with the
Commission with respect to the sale of the Shares and the application of
the proceeds therefrom as may be required in accordance with Rule 463 under
the Act.
(l) The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds
received by the Company from its sale of the Shares in such a manner as
would require the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to register as an
investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "1940 Act").
(m) The Company will maintain a transfer agent and, if necessary under
the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a registrar for the
Common Stock.
(n) 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, the stabilization or manipulation of the price
of any securities of the Company.
5. Costs and Expenses.
The Company will pay all costs, expenses and fees incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement,
including, without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the following:
accounting fees of the Company; the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Company; the cost of printing and delivering to, or as requested by,
the Underwriters copies of the Registration Statement, Preliminary
Prospectuses, the Prospectus, this Agreement, the Underwriters' internal
selling memorandum, the Underwriters' Invitation Letter, the Blue Sky
Survey and any supplements or amendments thereto; the filing fees of the
Commission; the filing fees and expenses (including legal fees and
disbursements) incident to securing any required review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of the terms of the
sale of the Shares; the Listing Fee of The NASDAQ Stock Market; and the
expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters, incurred in connection with the qualification of the Shares
under State securities or Blue Sky laws. The Company agrees to pay all
costs and expenses of the Underwriters, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters, incident to the offer and
sale of directed shares of the Common Stock by the Underwriters to
employees and persons having business relationships with the Company and
its Subsidiaries. The Company shall not, however, be required to pay for
12
any of the Underwriters expenses (other than those related to qualification
under NASD regulation and State securities or Blue Sky laws) except that,
if this Agreement shall not be consummated because the conditions in
Section 6 hereof are not satisfied, or because this Agreement is terminated
by the Representatives pursuant to Section 11 hereof, or by reason of any
failure, refusal or inability on the part of the Company to perform any
undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement or to comply with
any of the terms hereof on its part to be performed, unless such failure to
satisfy said condition or to comply with said terms be due to the default
or omission of any Underwriter, then the Company shall reimburse the
several Underwriters for reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including fees
and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred in connection with
investigating, marketing and proposing to market the Shares or in
contemplation of performing their obligations hereunder; but the Company
shall not in any event be liable to any of the several Underwriters for
damages on account of loss of anticipated profits from the sale by them of
the Shares.
6. Conditions of Obligations of the Underwriters.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm
Shares on the Closing Date and the Option Shares, if any, on the Option
Closing Date are subject to the accuracy, as of the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, of the representations and
warranties of the Company contained herein, and to the performance by the
Company of its covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following
additional conditions:
(a) The Registration Statement and all post-effective amendments
thereto shall have become effective and any and all filings required by
Rule 424 and Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations shall have been made,
and any request of the Commission for additional information (to be
included in the Registration Statement or otherwise) shall have been
disclosed to the Representatives and complied with to their reasonable
satisfaction. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, as amended from time to time, shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been taken or, to the
knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated by the Commission and no
injunction, restraining order, or order of any nature by a Federal or state
court of competent jurisdiction shall have been issued as of the Closing
Date which would prevent the issuance of the Shares.
(b) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the opinions of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx & Scarborough, L.L.P. counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, addressed to the
Underwriters (and stating that it may be relied upon by counsel to the
Underwriters) to the effect that:
13
(i) The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of
Georgia, with corporate power and corporate authority to own or lease
its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement; each of the Subsidiaries has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with
corporate power and corporate authority to own or lease its properties
and conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement;
the Company and each of the Subsidiaries are duly qualified to
transact business in all jurisdictions in which the conduct of their
business requires such qualification, or in which the failure to
qualify would have a materially adverse effect upon the business of
the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and the outstanding
shares of capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable
and are owned by the Company or a Subsidiary; and, to such counsel's
knowledge, the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
Subsidiaries is owned free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and
equities and claims, and no options, warrants or other rights to
purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue or other rights to
convert any obligations into any shares of capital stock or of
ownership interests in the Subsidiaries are outstanding.
(ii) As of the date specified therein, the Company had
authorized and outstanding capital stock as set forth under the
caption "Capitalization" in the Prospectus; the authorized shares of
the Company's Common Stock have been duly authorized; the outstanding
shares of the Company's Common Stock, have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; all of the
Shares conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;
the certificates for the Shares, assuming they are in the form filed
with the Commission, are in due and proper form; the shares of Common
Stock, including the Option Shares, if any, to be sold by the Company
pursuant to this Agreement have been duly authorized and will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable when issued and paid for
as contemplated by this Agreement; and no preemptive rights of
stockholders exist with respect to any of the Shares or the issue or
sale thereof.
(iii) Except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus,
to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no outstanding securities
of the Company convertible or exchangeable into or evidencing the
right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of capital stock of the
Company and there are no outstanding or authorized options, warrants
or rights of any character obligating the Company to issue any shares
of its capital stock or any securities convertible or exchangeable
14
into or evidencing the right to purchase or subscribe for any shares
of such stock; and except as described in the Prospectus, to the
knowledge of such counsel, no holder of any securities of the Company
or any other person has the right, contractual or otherwise, which has
not been satisfied or effectively waived, to cause the Company to
sell or otherwise issue to them, or to permit them to underwrite the
sale of, any of the Shares or the right to have any Common Shares or
other securities of the Company included in the Registration Statement
or the right, as a result of the filing of the Registration Statement,
to require registration under the Act of any shares of Common Stock or
other securities of the Company.
(iv) The Registration Statement has become effective under the
Act and, to the knowledge of such counsel, based on a confirming
telephone call to the Commission on the Closing Date, no stop order
proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or are pending
or threatened under the Act.
(v) The Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each
amendment or supplement thereto as of their respective issue or
effective date complied as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations
thereunder (except that such counsel need express no opinion as to the
financial statements, data and related schedules and "Underwriting"
section therein).
(vi) The statements under the captions "Description of Capital
Stock" and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" in the Prospectus,
insofar as such statements constitute a summary of documents referred
to therein or matters of law, fairly summarize in all material
respects the information required to be stated with respect to such
documents and matters.
(vii) Such contracts and documents as are summarized in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus are fairly summarized in all
material respects.
(viii) Such counsel knows of no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries which could have a material adverse effect on the
financial condition of the Company except as set forth in the
Prospectus.
(ix) The execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
consummation of the transactions herein contemplated do not and will
not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, the Articles of
Incorporation or by-laws of the Company, or any agreement or
instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any of the
15
Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries may be bound where such conflict or breach would have a
material adverse effect on the financial condition of the Company.
(x) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(xi) No approval, consent, order, authorization, designation,
declaration or filing by or with any regulatory, administrative or
other governmental body is necessary in connection with the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated (other than as may be required by the
NASD or as required by State securities and Blue Sky laws as to which
such counsel need express no opinion) except such as have been
obtained or made, specifying the same.
(xii) The Company is not, and will not become, as a result of
the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
and application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the
Prospectus, required to register as an investment company under the
1940 Act.
In rendering such opinion letter, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxxxx,
L.L.P. may rely as to matters governed by the laws of states other than
Georgia or Federal laws on local counsel in such jurisdictions, provided
that in each case Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Scarborough, L.L.P. shall state
that they believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying
on such other counsel. Such opinion letter may be limited by, and be in
accordance with, the Interpretive Standards Applicable to Legal Opinions to
Third Parties, a copy of which has been provided to the Representatives.
In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion letter shall also
include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the attention of
such counsel which leads them to believe that (i) the Registration
Statement, at the time it became effective under the Act (but after giving
effect to any modifications incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A
under the Act) and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as
the case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or
any supplement thereto, on the date it was filed pursuant to the Rules and
Regulations and as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements, in the
light of the circumstances under which they are made, not misleading
(except that such counsel need express no view as to financial statements,
schedules and statistical information and "Underwriting" section therein).
With respect to such statement, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxxxx, L.L.P.
16
may state that their belief is based upon the procedures set forth therein,
but is without independent check and verification.
(c) The Representatives shall have received from Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, A Professional Limited Liability Company, counsel for the
Underwriters, an opinion dated the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, substantially to the effect specified in subparagraphs
(ii), (iii), (iv), (ix) and (xi) of Paragraph (b) of this Section 6, and
that the Company is a duly organized and validly existing corporation under
the laws of the State of Georgia. In rendering such opinion Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, A Professional Limited Liability Company may rely as to all
matters governed other than by the laws of the State of Tennessee or
Federal laws on the opinion of counsel referred to in Paragraph (b) of this
Section 6. In addition to the matters set forth above, such opinion shall
also include a statement to the effect that nothing has come to the
attention of such counsel which leads them to believe that (i) the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, as of the time it became
effective under the Act (but after giving effect to any modifications
incorporated therein pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act) as of the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and (ii) the Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, on the date
it was filed pursuant to the Rules and Regulations and as of the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact, necessary
in order to make the statements, in the light of the circumstances under
which they are made, not misleading (except that such counsel need express
no view as to financial statements, schedules and statistical information
therein). With respect to such statement, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, A
Professional Limited Liability Company, may state that their belief is
based upon the procedures set forth therein, but is without independent
check and verification.
(e) The Representatives shall have received, on each of the dates
hereof, the Closing Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a
letter dated the date hereof, the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to you, of Coopers &
Xxxxxxx, L.L.P. and BDO Xxxxxxx, LLP confirming that they are independent
public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the applicable
published Rules and Regulations thereunder and stating that in their
opinion the financial statements and schedules examined by them and
included in the Registration Statement comply in form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
related published Rules and Regulations; and containing such other
statements and information as is ordinarily included in accountants'
"comfort letters" to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements
17
and certain financial and statistical information contained in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus.
(f) The Representatives shall have received on the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate or certificates
of the Chief Executive Officer and the Chief Financial Officer of the
Company to the effect that, as of the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, each of them severally represents as follows:
(i) The Registration Statement has become effective under the
Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registrations Statement has been issued, and no proceedings for such
purpose have been taken or are, to his knowledge, contemplated by the
Commission;
(ii) The representations and warranties of the Company contained
in Section 1 hereof are true and correct as of the Closing Date or the
Option Closing Date, as the case may be;
(iii) All filings required to have been made pursuant to Rules
424 or 430A under the Act have been made;
(iv) He or she has carefully examined the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and, in his or her opinion, as of the effective
date of the Registration Statement, the statements contained in the
Registration Statement were true and correct, and such Registration
Statement and Prospectus did not omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading, and since the effective date of the
Registration Statement, no event has occurred which should have been
set forth in a supplement to or an amendment of the Prospectus which
has not been so set forth in such supplement or amendment; and
(v) Since the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been any
material adverse change or any development involving a prospective
material adverse change in or affecting the condition, financial or
otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the
earnings, business, management, properties, assets, rights,
operations, condition (financial or otherwise) or prospects of the
Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising
in the ordinary course of business.
(g) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives such
further certificates and documents confirming the representations and
18
warranties, covenants and conditions contained herein and related matters
as the Representatives may reasonably have requested.
(h) The Firm Shares and Option Shares, if any, have been approved for
designation upon notice of issuance on The NASDAQ Stock Market.
(i) The Lockup Agreements described in Section 4 (j) are in full
force and effect.
The opinions and certificates mentioned in this Agreement shall be
deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in
all material respects satisfactory to the Representatives and to Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, A Professional Limited Liability Company, counsel
for the Underwriters.
If any of the conditions hereinabove provided for in this Section 6
shall not have been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement to be
fulfilled, the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder may be terminated
by the Representatives by notifying the Company of such termination in
writing or by telegram at or prior to the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be.
In such event, the Company and the Underwriters shall not be under any
obligation to each other (except to the extent provided in Sections 5 and 8
hereof).
7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Company.
The obligations of the Company to sell and deliver the portion of the
Shares required to be delivered as and when specified in this Agreement are
subject to the conditions that at the Closing Date or the Option Closing
Date, as the case may be, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and in effect or proceedings
therefor initiated or threatened.
8. Indemnification.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within
the meaning of the Act, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities
to which such Underwriter or any such controlling person may become subject
under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or
are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii)
the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
19
misleading; and will reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling
person upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage or liability,
action or proceeding or in responding to a subpoena or governmental inquiry
related to the offering of the Shares, whether or not such Underwriter or
controlling person is a party to any action or proceeding; provided,
however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, or omission or
alleged omission made in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement, in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
or through the Representatives specifically for use in the preparation
thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability
which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly will indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
have signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, against any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company or any such director,
officer, or controlling person may become subject under the Act or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or
the alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made; and will reimburse
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such
director, officer, or controlling person in connection with investigating
or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action or proceeding;
provided, however, that each Underwriter will be liable in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission has been made in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or such
amendment or supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or through the Representatives
specifically for use in the preparation thereof. This indemnity agreement
will be in addition to any liability which such Underwriter may otherwise
have.
(c) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may
be sought pursuant to this Section 8, such person (the "indemnified party")
shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought
(the "indemnifying party") in writing. No indemnification provided for in
Section 8(a) or (b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give
20
notice as provided in this Section 8(c) if the party to whom notice was not
given was unaware of the proceeding to which such notice would have related
and was materially prejudiced by the failure to give such notice, but the
failure to give such notice shall not relieve the indemnifying party or
parties from any liability which it or they may have to the indemnified
party for contribution or otherwise than on account of the provisions of
Section 8(a) or (b). In case any such proceeding shall be brought against
any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof,
with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party and shall pay as
incurred the fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the
right to retain its own counsel at its own expense. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, the indemnifying party shall pay as incurred (or within 30 days
of presentation) the fees and expenses of the counsel retained by the
indemnified party in the event (i) the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel, (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be
inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them
or (iii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense and
employ counsel acceptable to the indemnified party within a reasonable
period of time after notice of commencement of the action. It is
understood that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any
proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for
the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm for all
such indemnified parties. Such firm shall be designated in writing by you
in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(a) and by the
Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 8(b). The
indemnifying party 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 from and against any loss or liability
by reason of such settlement or judgment. In addition, the indemnifying
party will not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party,
settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any pending
or threatened claim, action or proceeding of which indemnification may be
sought hereunder (whether or not any indemnified party is an actual or
potential party to such claim, action or proceeding) unless such
settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of each
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action or
proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 8(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
21
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid
or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the
offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided by the
immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only
such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by
the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the
total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters,
in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on
the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
The Company, and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 8(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity
for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section
8(d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings in
respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 8(d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), (i) no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares purchased
by such Underwriter, and (ii) no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this
Section 8(d) to contribute are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting obligations and not joint.
22
(e) In any proceeding relating to the Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any supplement or amendment
thereto, each party against whom contribution may be sought under this
Section 8 hereby consents to the jurisdiction of any court having
jurisdiction over any other contributing party, agrees that process issuing
from such court may be served upon him or it by any other contributing
party and consents to the service of such process and agrees that any other
contributing party may join him or it as an additional defendant in any
such proceeding in which such other contributing party is a party.
(f) Any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses for which an
indemnified party is entitled to indemnification or contribution under this
Section 8 shall be paid by the indemnifying party to the indemnified party
as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses are incurred. The
indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 8 and the
representations and warranties of the Company set forth in this Agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person
controlling any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any
persons controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment
therefor hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A
successor to any Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers,
or any person controlling the Company, shall be entitled to the benefits of
the indemnity, contribution and reimbursement agreements contained in this
Section 8.
9. Default by Underwriters.
If on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
any Underwriter shall fail to purchase and pay for the portion of the
Shares which such Underwriter has agreed to purchase and pay for on such
date (otherwise than by reason of any default on the part of the Company),
you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, shall use your reasonable
efforts to procure within 36 hours thereafter one or more of the other
Underwriters, or any others, to purchase from the Company such amounts as
may be agreed upon and upon the terms set forth herein, the Firm Shares or
Option Shares, as the case may be, which the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters failed to purchase. If during such 36 hours you, as such
Representatives, shall not have procured such other Underwriters, or any
others, to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be,
agreed to be purchased by the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then
(a) if the aggregate number of shares with respect to which such default
shall occur does not exceed 10% of the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the
23
case may be, covered hereby, the other Underwriters shall be obligated,
severally, in proportion to the respective numbers of Firm Shares or Option
Shares, as the case may be, which they are obligated to purchase hereunder,
to purchase the Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, which
such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters failed to purchase, or (b) if
the aggregate number of shares of Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case
may be, with respect to which such default shall occur exceeds 10% of the
Firm Shares or Option Shares, as the case may be, covered hereby, the
Company or you as the Representatives of the Underwriters will have the
right, by written notice given within the next 36-hour period to the
parties to this Agreement, to terminate this Agreement without liability on
the part of the non-defaulting Underwriters or of the Company except to the
extent provided in Section 8 hereof. In the event of a default by any
Underwriter or Underwriters, as set forth in this Section 9, the Closing
Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may be, may be postponed for such
period, not exceeding seven days, as you, as Representatives, may determine
in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement or in the
Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. The
term "Underwriter" includes any person substituted for a defaulting
Underwriter. Any action taken under this Section 9 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
10. Notices.
All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, except as
otherwise provided herein, will be mailed, delivered, telecopied or
telegraphed and confirmed as follows: if to the Underwriters, to Alex.
Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000,
Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx, with a copy to Alex. Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated,
Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: General Counsel; if
to the Company to
Centennial Healthcare Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: J. Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Centennial Healthcare Corporation
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxx
with copies to: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Scarborough, L.L.P.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
00
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000
Attn: Xxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
11. Termination.
This Agreement may be terminated by you by notice to the Company as
follows:
(a) at any time prior to the earlier of (i) the time the Shares are
released by you for sale by notice to the Underwriters, or (ii) 11:30 a.m.
on the first business day following the date of this Agreement;
(b) at any time prior to the Closing Date if any of the following has
occurred: (i) since the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any material adverse
change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change
in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the earnings, business, management,
properties, assets, rights, operations, condition (financial or otherwise)
or prospects of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether
or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (ii) any outbreak or
escalation of hostilities or declaration of war or national emergency or
other national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic or
political conditions if the effect of such outbreak, escalation,
declaration, emergency, calamity, crisis or change on the financial markets
of the United States would, in your reasonable judgment, make it
impracticable to market the Shares or to enforce contracts for the sale of
the Shares, or (iii) suspension of trading in securities generally on the
New York Stock Exchange or the American Stock Exchange or limitation on
prices (other than limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for
securities on either such Exchange, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree
or other promulgation of any statute, regulation, rule or order of any
court or other governmental authority which in your opinion materially and
adversely affects or may materially and adversely affect the business or
operations of the Company, (v) declaration of a banking moratorium by
United States or New York State authorities, (vi) the suspension of trading
of the Company's common stock by the Commission on The NASDAQ Stock Market
or (vii) the taking of any action by any governmental body or agency in
respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your reasonable opinion
has a material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United
States; or
(c) as provided in Sections 6 and 9 of this Agreement.
12. Successors.
25
This Agreement has been and is made solely for the benefit of the
Underwriters and the Company and their respective successors, executors,
administrators, heirs and assigns, and the officers, directors and
controlling persons referred to herein, and no other person will have any
right or obligation hereunder. No purchaser of any of the Shares from any
Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign merely because of such
purchase.
13. Information Provided by Underwriters.
The Company, and the Underwriters acknowledge and agree that the only
information furnished or to be furnished by any Underwriter to the Company
for inclusion in any Prospectus or the Registration Statement consists of
the information set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page
(insofar as such information relates to the Underwriters), legends required
by Item 502(d) of Regulation S-K under the Act and the information under
the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus.
14. Miscellaneous.
The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution agreements
contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and
covenants in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect
regardless of (a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person
thereof, or by or on behalf of the Company or its directors or officers and
(c) delivery of and payment for the Shares under this Agreement.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument.
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of Maryland.
If the foregoing letter is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicates hereof,
whereupon it will become a binding agreement among the Company and the several
Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
CENTENNIAL HEALTHCARE CORPORATION
By:----------------------------------------
President and Chief Executive Officer
26
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement
is hereby confirmed and accepted as
of the date first above written.
ALEX. XXXXX & SONS INCORPORATED
-----------------------------
-----------------------------
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters listed on Schedule I
By: Alex. Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated
By:-----------------------------------
Authorized Officer
SCHEDULE I
Schedule of Underwriters
Number of Firm Shares
Underwriter to be Purchased
Alex. Xxxxx & Sons Incorporated
Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc.
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
Equitable Securities Corporation
__________
Total 4,000,000
28
SCHEDULE II
Schedule of Option Shares
Maximum Number Percentage of
of Option Shares Total Number of
Name of Seller to be Sold Option Shares
------- ------
Total 600,000 100%
------- ------
29
