Exhibit 1.1
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
Debt Securities
_______________
Underwriting Agreement
----------------------
________________, 2001
To the Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in the
respective Pricing Agreements
hereinafter described.
Ladies and Gentlemen:
From time to time Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a
"Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and
deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in
Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the
"Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities
specified therein) certain of its debt securities (the "Securities") specified
in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing
Agreement, the "Designated Securities").
The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated Securities
shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and in or
pursuant to the indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing
Agreement.
1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to time
to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term
"Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of
the Underwriters and to an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm
being designated as its or their representatives. This Underwriting Agreement
shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the
Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the
Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the
Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the
Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities, the
initial public offering price of such Designated Securities, the purchase price
to the Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Underwriters
of such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of such
Underwriters and the principal amount of such Designated Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter and shall set forth the date, time and manner of
delivery of such Designated Securities and payment therefor. The Pricing
Agreement shall also specify (to the extent not set forth in the Indenture and
the registration statement and prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of
such Designated Securities. A Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an
executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be evidenced by an
exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid transmission device
designed to produce a written record of communications transmitted. The
obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each Pricing Agreement
shall be several and not joint.
2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:
(a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-...) (the
"Initial Registration Statement"), in respect of the Securities has been
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); the
Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to the
Representatives and, excluding exhibits to the Initial Registration
Statement but including all documents incorporated by reference in the
prospectus contained therein, to the Representatives for each of the other
Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form;
other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the
offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which
became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial
Registration Statement or document incorporated by reference therein has
heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing with the Commission (other
than prospectuses filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the Act, each in the form heretofore
delivered to the Representatives); and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective
amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has
been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or
threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the
Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(a) under the Act, is hereinafter called a "Preliminary
Prospectus"; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement, any
post-effective amendment thereto and the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and the documents
incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the Initial
Registration Statement at the time such part
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of the Initial Registration Statement became effective but excluding Form
T-1, each as amended at the time such part of the Initial Registration
Statement became effective or such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, if any, became or hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter
collectively called the "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating
to the Securities, in the form in which it has most recently been filed, or
transmitted for filing, with the Commission on or prior to the date of this
Agreement, is hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to
any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to
and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the
applicable form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary
Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any
amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after the date
of such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and
incorporated by reference in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as
the case may be; any reference to any amendment to the Initial Registration
Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the
Company filed pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after
the effective date of the Initial Registration Statement that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference
to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a)
hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the
date of such filing);
(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may
be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or
the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and none of such documents 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 any further documents so filed and incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto,
when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as
the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements
of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall
not apply to any statements or omissions
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made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in
writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter of Designated
Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities;
(c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the
Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable
filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto,
contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and
warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company
by or on behalf of any Underwriter of Designated Securities through the
Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented relating to such Securities;
(d) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when Designated
Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the
Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities, such
Designated Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued
and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will
be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement; the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under
the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Indenture will constitute
a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its
terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or
affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the
Indenture conforms, and the Designated Securities will conform in all
material respects, to the descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented with respect to such Designated Securities; and
(e) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries,
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would individually or in the aggregate have a material adverse effect on
the current or future consolidated financial position, shareholders' equity
or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the
best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others.
3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any
Designated Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of
such Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such
Designated Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented.
4. Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to
the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form specified in such Pricing
Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as
the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to
the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the
Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of
Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the
Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance or at such other place and
time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing,
such time and date being herein called the "Time of Delivery" for such
Securities.
5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Securities:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation
to the applicable Designated Securities in a form approved by the
Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the second
business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement
relating to the applicable Designated Securities or, if applicable, such
earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further
amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as
amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to
such Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Securities which
shall be disapproved by the Representatives for such Securities promptly
after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of
any such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish
the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and
any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the
Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required
in connection with the offering or
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sale of such Securities, and during such same period to advise the
Representatives, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time
when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes
effective or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has
been filed with the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any
prospectus relating to the Securities, of the suspension of the
qualification of such Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction,
of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such purpose, or
of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in
the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such order
preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to the
Securities or suspending any such qualification, to promptly use its best
efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order;
(b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities for
offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit
the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as
long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such Securities,
provided that in connection therewith 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;
(c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the business day next
succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the
Underwriters with written and electronic copies of the Prospectus in New
York City as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the
Representatives may reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a
prospectus is required at any time in connection with the offering or sale
of the Securities and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a
result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would
include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made when such Prospectus
is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any other reason it shall be
necessary during such same period to amend or supplement the Prospectus or
to file under the Exchange Act any document incorporated by reference in
the Prospectus in order to comply with the Act, the Exchange Act or the
Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives and upon their request
to file such document and to prepare and furnish without charge to each
Underwriter and to any dealer in securities as many written and electronic
copies as the Representatives may from time to time reasonably request
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of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the Prospectus which will
correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;
(d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as
practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
(which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the
option of the Company, Rule 158);
(e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing Agreement
for such Designated Securities and continuing to and including the later of
(i) the termination of trading restrictions for such Designated Securities,
as notified to the Company by the Representatives and (ii) the Time of
Delivery for such Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to
sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company which
mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and which are
substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior
written consent of the Representatives; and
(f) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b) under the Act, the
Company shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission
in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the
date of this Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either
pay to the Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement or give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee
pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.
6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that
the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing
any Agreement among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any
Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents
(including any compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with
the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses
in connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale
under state securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment
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Memoranda; (iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the
Securities; (v) any filing fees incident to any required review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the
Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and
expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and the fees and
disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection with any Indenture and
the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as
provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will
pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel,
transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising
expenses connected with any offers they may make.
7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject to
the condition that all representations and warranties and other statements of
the Company in, or incorporated by reference in, the Pricing Agreement relating
to such Designated Securities are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such
Designated Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall
have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and
the following additional conditions; provided, however, the Representatives may
waive the compliance with, or satisfaction of, any such conditions in their
discretion:
(a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules
and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; if the
Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on
the date of this Agreement; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the
Commission; and all requests for additional information on the part of the
Commission shall have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable
satisfaction;
(b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
Representatives such written opinion or opinions, dated the Time of Delivery for
such Designated Securities, with respect to the issuance and sale of the
Designated Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as well as such other related matters as the Representatives may
reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and
information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such
matters;
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(c) Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP or, at the Company's discretion, other
counsel for the Company reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives shall
have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the Time of
Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, with corporate power and authority to own its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented;
(ii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as set
forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings
pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of
which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject
of a character required to be disclosed, but which is not adequately
disclosed and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings
are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
others;
(iii) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company;
(iv) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed,
authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the
Indenture; and the Designated Securities and the Indenture conform to the
descriptions thereof in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
(v) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, subject, as
to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of
general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights and to
general equity principles; and the Indenture has been duly qualified under
the Trust Indenture Act;
(vi) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities and the
compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Designated
Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with
respect to the Designated Securities and the consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated will not result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms or provisions
9
of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to
which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound, nor will
such actions result in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate
of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any statute or any order,
rule or regulation known to such counsel of any court or governmental
agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
properties;
(vii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities or the
consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement or such Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except such as have
been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents,
approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as may
be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters;
(viii) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of Debt Securities We May Offer", insofar as they purport to
constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities are accurate and fair;
(ix) The Company is not an "investment company", as such term is
defined in the Investment Company Act;
(x) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any further amendments and supplements thereto made by the
Company prior to the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities (other
than the financial statements and any financial schedules therein, as to
which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Trust Indenture
Act and the rules and regulations thereunder; although they do not assume
any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
except for those referred to in the opinion in subsection (viii) of this
Section 7(c), they have no reason to believe that, as of its effective
date, the Registration Statement or any further amendment thereto made by
the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial
statements and any financial schedules therein, as to which such counsel
need express no opinion) 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 or that, as of its
date, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further
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amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company prior to the Time of
Delivery (other than the financial statements and any financial schedules
therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained an
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading or that, as of the Time of
Delivery, either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the
Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements
and any financial schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express
no opinion) contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
they do not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to
be filed or any contracts or other documents of a character required to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or required to be
incorporated by reference into the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented which are not filed or incorporated by reference or
described as required;
(d) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated Securities at
a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement with respect to such
Designated Securities and at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, the independent accountants of the Company who have certified the
financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall have furnished to
the Representatives a letter, dated the effective date of the Registration
Statement or the date of the most recent report filed with the Commission
containing financial statements and incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, if the date of such report is later than such effective
date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set
forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect to such letter dated such Time of
Delivery, as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably request
and in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives;
(e) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities there shall not have been any change in the capital stock
or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any change, or
any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the general
affairs, management, financial position,
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shareholders' equity or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as
amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated
Securities, the effect of which is in the judgment of the Representatives so
material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms
and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or
supplemented relating to the Designated Securities;
(f) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
accorded the Company's debt securities or the Company's financial strength or
claims paying ability by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization", as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule
436(g)(2) under the Act, and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly
announced that it has under surveillance or review, with possible negative
implications, its rating of any of the Company's debt securities or the
Company's financial strength or claims paying ability;
(g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a
suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New
York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"); (ii) a suspension or material limitation in
trading in the Company's securities on the NYSE; (iii) a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities declared by either Federal or New York State
authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the
United States or the declaration by the United States of a national emergency or
war, if the effect of any such event specified in this clause (iv) in the
reasonable judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable
to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Designated Securities
on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended
or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities;
(h) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section 5(c)
hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the business day next
succeeding the date of this Agreement; and
(i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the
Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities a
certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the
Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the
Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the
Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such
Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this
Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably
request.
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8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will
reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the
Company shall 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 any Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to
the Securities, 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 Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly
for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such
Securities.
(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may
become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement,
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any
other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through
the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.
13
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection
(a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in
writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such
action 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 (who shall not,
except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying
party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party
of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall
not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal
expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other
than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the
written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise
of, or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or
threatened action or claim in respect of which indemnification or contribution
may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or
potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or
judgment (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or
on behalf of any indemnified party.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions 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 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
of the Designated Securities on the other from the offering of the Designated
Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect
thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified
party failed to give the notice required under subsection (c) above, 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 of the Designated Securities on the other in connection with
the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well as any
14
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from such offering (before
deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters. 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 such 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 contribution pursuant to this subsection (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
subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result
of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the
public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. 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 obligations of the Underwriters of Designated
Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to
their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Securities and
not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.
9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase
the Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the Representatives may in
their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Designated Securities
15
on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by
any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such
Designated Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a further period of
thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or other parties
satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Designated Securities on
such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the
Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase
of such Designated Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that
it has so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, the
Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Time of
Delivery for such Designated Securities for a period of not more than seven
days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or supplemented, or in any
other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which
in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term
"Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted
under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a
party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of
the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities which remains
unpurchased does not exceed one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the
Designated Securities, then the Company shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the principal amount of Designated
Securities which such defaulting Underwriter agreed to purchase under the
Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities and, in addition, to
require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on
the principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Designated Securities of such
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been
made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability
for its default.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of
the Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities which remains unpurchased
exceeds one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated
Securities, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not
exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting
Underwriters to purchase Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities
shall
16
thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company
and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and
contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth
in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to
this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.
11. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9
hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter
with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason
Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as
provided herein, the Company will severally reimburse the Underwriters through
the Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the
Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and
delivery of such Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.
12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of
Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the
parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.
All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the
Registration Statement: Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice
to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set
forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such
Questionnaire, which
17
address will be supplied to the Company by the Representatives upon request. Any
such statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt
thereof.
13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent
provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company
and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no
other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities
from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of
such purchase.
14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used
herein, "business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in
Washington, D.C. is open for business.
15. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one
or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.
17. The Company is authorized, subject to applicable law, to disclose
any and all aspects of this potential transaction that are necessary to support
any U.S. federal income tax benefits expected to be claimed with respect to such
transaction, without the Underwriters imposing any limitation of any kind.
Very truly yours,
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
By:_________________________
Name:
Title:
18
ANNEX I
Pricing Agreement
-----------------
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.,
[Names of Co-Representative(s)],
As Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
[c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,]
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
.............., 2001
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Berkshire Hathaway Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting
Agreement, dated . . . . . . . . . . . ., 2001 (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
to issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated
Securities"). Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a
part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set
forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth
therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement, except that each representation and warranty which refers to the
Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a
representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in
relation to the Prospectus (as therein defined), and also a representation and
warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Prospectus
as amended or supplemented relating to the Designated Securities which are the
subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each reference to the Representatives herein
and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference
shall be deemed to refer to you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined
in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The
Representatives designated to act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf
of each of the Underwriters of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12
of the Underwriting Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to
in such Section 12 are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.
An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place
and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto,
the principal amount of Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us [ ] counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf
of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to
the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.
Very truly yours,
Berkshire Hathaway Inc.
By:........................................
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof:
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
[Name(s) of Co-Representative(s)]
[By:]..............................
(Xxxxxxx, Sachs & Co.)
[[Name(s) of Co-Representative Corporation(s)]
By:................................
2
Name:
Title:
................................
[(Name(s) of Co-Representative
Partnership(s))]]
On behalf of each of the Underwriters
3
SCHEDULE I
Principal
Amount of
Designated
Securities
to be
Underwriter Purchased
------------ ----------
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co. ............................... $
[Name(s) of Co-Representative(s)]...................
[Names of other Underwriters].......................
----------
Total $
==========
4
SCHEDULE II
Title of Designated Securities:
[ %] [Floating Rate] [Zero Coupon] [Notes]
[Debentures] due ,
Aggregate principal amount:
[$]
Price to Public:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
interest[, if any,] from to [and accrued
amortization[, if any,] from to ]
Purchase Price by Underwriters:
% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
interest from to [and accrued amortization[, if any,]
from to ]
Form of Designated Securities:
Book-entry only form represented by one or more global securities deposited
with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated custodian, to
be made available for checking by the Representatives at least twenty-four
hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of DTC.
Specified funds for payment of purchase price:
Federal (same day) funds
Time of Delivery:
a.m. (New York City time), , 20[ ]
Indenture:
Indenture dated , 20[ ] between the Company
and , as Trustee
5
Maturity:
Interest Rate:
[ %] [Zero Coupon] [See Floating Rate Provisions]
Interest Payment Dates:
[months and dates, commencing ....................., 20[ ]
Redemption Provisions:
[No provisions for redemption]
[The Designated Securities may be redeemed, otherwise than through the
sinking fund, in whole or in part at the option of the Company, in the
amount of [$ ] or an integral multiple thereof,
[on or after , at the following redemption prices (expressed in
percentages of principal amount). If [redeemed on or before , %,
and if] redeemed during the 12-month period beginning ,
Redemption
Year Price
---- -----
and thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together in each case
with accrued interest to the redemption date.]
[on any interest payment date falling on or after , , at
the election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the principal
amount thereof, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.]
[Other possible redemption provisions, such as mandatory redemption upon
occurrence of certain events or redemption for changes in tax law]
[Restriction on refunding]
Sinking Fund Provisions:
6
[No sinking fund provisions]
[The Designated Securities are entitled to the benefit of a sinking fund to
retire [$ ] amount of Designated Securities on in each of
the years through at 100% of their principal amount plus
accrued interest[, together with [cumulative] [noncumulative] redemptions
at the option of the Company to retire an additional [$ ] principal
amount of Designated Securities in the years through
at 100% of their principal amount plus accrued interest.]
[If Designated Securities are extendable debt securities, insert--
Extendable provisions:
Designated Securities are repayable on , [insert date
and years], at the option of the holder, at their principal amount with
accrued interest. The initial annual interest rate will be %, and
thereafter the annual interest rate will be adjusted on ,
and to a rate not less than % of the effective annual
interest rate on U.S. Treasury obligations with -year maturities as
of the [insert date 15 days prior to maturity date] prior to such [insert
maturity date].]
[If Designated Securities are floating rate debt securities, insert--
Floating rate provisions:
Initial annual interest rate will be % through [and
thereafter will be adjusted [monthly] [on each , ,
and ] [to an annual rate of % above the average rate for
-year [month][securities][certificates of deposit] issued by and
[insert names of banks].] [and the annual interest rate [thereafter] [from
through ] will be the interest yield equivalent of the weekly
average per annum market discount rate for -month Treasury
bills plus % of Interest Differential (the excess, if any, of (i)
the then current weekly average per annum secondary market yield for
-month certificates of deposit over (ii) the then current interest yield
equivalent of the weekly average per annum market discount rate for
-month Treasury bills); [from and thereafter the rate will be the then
current interest yield equivalent plus % of Interest Differential].]
Defeasance provisions:
7
Closing location for delivery of Designated Securities:
Additional Closing Conditions:
Paragraph 7(g) of the Underwriting Agreement should be modified in the
event that the Securities are denominated in, indexed to, or principal or
interest are paid in, a currency other than the U.S. dollar, more than one
currency or in a composite currency. The country or countries issuing such
currency should be added to the banking moratorium and hostilities clauses
and the following additional clause should be added to the paragraph (the
entire paragraph should be restated, as amended):
"; ( ) the imposition of the proposal of exchange controls by any
governmental authority in [insert the country or countries issuing such
currency, currencies or composite currency]".
Names and addresses of Representatives:
Designated Representatives:
Address for Notices, etc.:
[Other Terms]* :
______________________
* A description of particular tax, accounting or other unusual features (such
as the addition of event risk provisions) of the Designated Securities should be
set forth, or referenced to an attached and accompanying description, if
necessary, to ensure agreement as to the terms of the Designated Securities to
be purchased and sold. Such a description might appropriately be in the form in
which such features will be described in the Prospectus Supplement for the
offering.
8
ANNEX II
Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:
(i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to
the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the
applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Securities and Exchange
Commission;
(ii) In their opinion, the consolidated financial statements and any
supplementary financial statement schedules audited (and, if applicable,
financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial information examined) by
them and included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with
the applicable accounting requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as
applicable, and the related rules and regulations; and, if applicable, they
have made a review in accordance with standards established by the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the consolidated interim
financial statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial
information, financial forecasts and/or condensed financial statements
derived from audited financial statements of the Company for the periods
specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of
which have been [separately] furnished to the representative or
representatives of the Underwriters (the "Representatives") such term to
include an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm being
designated as its or their representatives [and are attached to such
letters];
(iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards established
by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited
consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets and
consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus and/or
included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q incorporated by
reference into the Prospectus copies of which [have been separately
furnished to the Representatives][are attached to such letters]; and on the
basis of specified procedures including inquiries of officials of the
Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters
regarding whether the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements
referred to in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations, nothing came to their
attention that caused them to believe that the unaudited condensed
consolidated financial statements do not comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and
the Exchange Act and the related rules and regulations adopted by the
Commission;
(iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to the
consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company
for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus and
included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year agrees with the
corresponding amounts (after restatement where applicable) in the audited
consolidated financial statements for five such fiscal years included or
incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for
such fiscal years;
(v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and on
the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came to
their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused them to
believe that this information does not conform in all material respects
with the disclosure requirements of Items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d),
respectively, of Regulation S-K;
(vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim
consolidated financial statements of the Company, inspection of the minute
books of the Company since the date of the latest audited financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
inquiries of officials of the Company responsible for financial and
accounting matters and such other inquiries and procedures as may be
specified in such letter, nothing came to their attention that caused them
to believe that:
(A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of
income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of
cash flows included in the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated
by reference in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form
in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
of the Exchange Act and the published rules and regulations adopted by
the Commission, or (ii) any material modifications should be made to
the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,
consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
included in the Prospectus or included in the Company's Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q incorporated by reference
2
in the Prospectus for them to be in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles;
(B) any other unaudited consolidated income statement data and
consolidated balance sheet items included in the Prospectus do not
agree with the corresponding items in the unaudited consolidated
financial statements from which such data and items were derived, and
any such unaudited data and items were not determined on a basis
substantially consistent with the basis for the corresponding amounts
in the audited consolidated financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the most recent fiscal year;
(C) the unaudited consolidated financial statements which were
not included in the Prospectus but from which were derived the
unaudited condensed financial statements referred to in clause (A) and
any unaudited consolidated income statement data and consolidated
balance sheet items included in the Prospectus and referred to in
clause (B) were not determined on a basis substantially consistent
with the basis for the audited financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the most recent fiscal year;
(D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do
not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations
adopted by the Commission thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have
not been properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation
of those statements;
(E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the
date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated
capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of
options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance
shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case
which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or any
increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company, or any
decreases in consolidated total assets or stockholders' equity or
other items specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
items specified by the Representatives, in each case as compared with
amounts shown in the latest consolidated balance sheet included or
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus,
3
except in each case for changes, increases or decreases which the
Prospectus discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described
in such letter; and
(F) for the period from the date of the latest financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to
the specified date referred to in clause (E) there were any decreases
in consolidated net revenues or operating profit or the total or per
share amounts of consolidated net income or other items specified by
the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period
of the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding
length specified by the Representatives, except in each case for
increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or
may occur or which are described in such letter; and
(vii) In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s)
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited
procedures, inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures
referred to in paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out
certain specified procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts,
percentages and financial information specified by the Representatives
which are derived from the general accounting records of the Company and
its subsidiaries, which appear in the Prospectus (excluding documents
incorporated by reference), or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules
to, the Registration Statement specified by the Representatives or in
documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus specified by the
Representatives, and have compared certain of such amounts, percentages and
financial information with the accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement.
All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) as
defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter delivered on
the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and to the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated Securities for
purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities.
4
