UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT between GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC as Issuer and as Representatives of the Underwriters Dated as of [ ]
EXHIBIT 1.1
between
GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC
as Issuer
and
[ ]
as Representatives of the Underwriters
Dated as of [ ]
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page | ||||||
1. |
Representations and Warranties | 1 | ||||
2. |
Purchase and Sale | 5 | ||||
3. |
Delivery and Payment | 5 | ||||
4. |
[Reserved] | 5 | ||||
5. |
Agreements | 5 | ||||
6. |
Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters | 8 | ||||
7. |
Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses | 11 | ||||
8. |
Indemnification and Contribution | 11 | ||||
9. |
Default by an Underwriter | 14 | ||||
10. |
Termination | 14 | ||||
11. |
Representations and Indemnities to Survive | 15 | ||||
12. |
Notices | 15 | ||||
13. |
Successors | 15 | ||||
14. |
Applicable Law | 15 | ||||
15. |
Counterparts | 15 | ||||
16. |
Headings | 15 | ||||
17. |
No Fiduciary Duty | 15 | ||||
18. |
Consent to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent to Accept Service of Process | 16 | ||||
19. |
Definitions | 17 |
SCHEDULES |
||
Schedule I |
Terms of the Securities | |
Schedule II |
Underwriting Commitments | |
Schedule III |
Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses Included in the Disclosure Package | |
Schedule IV |
Form of Pricing Term Sheet | |
EXHIBITS |
||
Exhibit A-1 |
Form of Opinion of U.S. Counsel to the Company | |
Exhibit A-2 |
Form of Opinion of U.K. Counsel to the Company | |
Exhibit B |
Form of Letter of Counsel to the Company |
GlaxoSmithKline plc
[ ] Notes Due [ ]
[ ] Notes Due [ ]
[ ], 20[ ]
[ ]
as Representatives of the
several Underwriters named
in Schedule II hereto
several Underwriters named
in Schedule II hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
GlaxoSmithKline plc, a public limited company incorporated in England and Wales (the
“Company”), proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the
“Underwriters”), for whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as
representatives, the principal amount of its securities identified in Schedule I hereto (the
“Securities”), to be issued under an indenture dated as of March 4, 2008 (the
“Indenture”), between the Company, and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee
(the “Trustee”).
Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 6 of Form F-3 that were filed under the U.S.
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange
Act”), on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the
Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and any
reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the Registration
Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed
to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date
of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus
or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.
Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 19 hereof.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees
with, each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Effective. The Company meets the requirements for
use of Form F-3 under the U.S. Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”) and
has filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration statement, as defined in Rule
405 (No. 333-[___]) on Form F-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under
the Securities Act of the offering and sale from time to time of certain debt
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securities, including the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any
amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, became effective upon filing. The
Company may have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration
Statement or pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements
relating to the Securities, each of which will have previously been furnished to you. The
Company will file with the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the
Securities in accordance with Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall
contain all information required by the Securities Act, and, except to the extent the
Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive
respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not
completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and
other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus and any Preliminary Prospectus)
as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made
therein. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set
forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x). No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been instituted or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission.
(b) Registration Statement Not Misleading. On each Effective Date, the
Registration Statement complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
the Securities Act; on each Effective Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration
Statement did not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act and on the Closing Date (as defined below), the Final Prospectus (together
with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided,
however, that the Company makes no representation or warranty as to (i) the
Statement of Eligibility and Qualification of the Trustee under the Trust Indenture Act
(Form T-1), which is included in the Registration Statement, or (ii) the information
contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any
supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing
to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically
for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement
thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on
behalf of any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.
(c) Disclosure Package. At the Execution Time, (i) the Disclosure Package and
(ii) each electronic road show, if any, when taken together as a whole with the Disclosure
Package, do not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence
2
does not apply to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through
the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the
only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the
information described as such in Section 8 hereof.
(d) Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. (i) At the time of filing the Registration
Statement, (ii) at the time of the most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of
complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the Securities Act (whether such amendment was by
post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act or form of prospectus) and (iii) at the time the Company or any person acting
on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer
relating to the Securities in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163, the Company was or is
(as the case may be) a “well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Company
agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Securities within the time
required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance
with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).
(e) Not an Ineligible Issuer. (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the
Registration Statement that the Company or another offering participant made a bona fide
offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the Securities and (ii) as of the Execution
Time (with such date being used as the determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)),
the Company was not and is not an Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking
account of any determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary
to consider whether the Company would be considered an Ineligible Issuer.
(f) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
(including the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof) does not
include any information that conflicts with the information contained in the Registration
Statement, including any document incorporated therein by reference and any prospectus
supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been superseded or modified. The
foregoing sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being
understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any
Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.
(g) Authorization of Indenture and Securities. The Indenture has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company and has been duly qualified under the U.S.
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder (collectively, the “Trust Indenture Act”); the Securities have been duly
authorized by the Company, and when the Securities are delivered and paid for pursuant to
this Agreement on the Closing Date, the Securities will have been duly
3
executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and will constitute valid and legally
binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and to general
principles of equity; and, when the Securities have been duly executed, authenticated,
issued and delivered, the Securities will conform in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
(h) Organization of the Company. The Company is organized and validly existing
as a public limited company under the laws of England and Wales, with power and authority to
own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and the
Final Prospectus.
(i) No Consents. No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or filing
with, any governmental agency or body or any court is required for the consummation by the
Company of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the issuance
and sale of the Securities by the Company, except such as have been obtained or made under
the Securities Act, the Exchange Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such as may be required under state securities laws or the securities laws of any
jurisdiction outside the United States in which the Securities are offered and sold.
(j) No Breach or Default. The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of the Indenture, this Agreement and the issuance and sale of the Securities and
compliance with the terms and provisions thereof by the Company will not result in a breach
or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under, any
statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries or any of its
properties, or any material agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the
Company’s subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or the Company’s subsidiaries is
bound or to which any of their respective properties is subject, or the charter or by-laws
of the Company.
(k) Investment Company Act. The Company is not, nor, after giving effect to
the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds therefrom as
described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will it be an “investment
company” as defined in the U.S. Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(l) Regulatory Matters. Neither the Company nor any of the Company’s
subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent or employee
of the Company, the Company or any of the Company’s subsidiaries is currently subject to any
sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Treasury
Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the
proceeds of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to
any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of
financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered
by OFAC.
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(m) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain “disclosure
controls and procedures” (as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act);
such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter,
and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the
purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities set forth
opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto.
3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made on
the date and at the time specified in Schedule I hereto or on such other date and at such other
time as the Company and the Representatives may agree (such date and time of delivery and payment
for the Securities being herein called the “Closing Date”). For purposes of this
Agreement, “Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, Sunday or legal holiday
or day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close
in New York City or London.
Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of
the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the Representatives of
the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day
funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall be made through the
facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
4. [Reserved]
5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters as follows:
(a) File Prospectus. The Company will file the Final Prospectus with the
Commission pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act within
the time period prescribed.
(b) Amendments to Registration Statement or Prospectus; Stop Orders. The
Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any proposal to amend the Registration
Statement or file any supplement (including the Final Prospectus or any Preliminary
Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus and will afford the Representatives a reasonable
opportunity to comment on any such proposed amendment or supplement. The Company will
promptly advise the Representatives of the filing of any such amendment or supplement and of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or the institution or
5
threatening of any proceeding for that purpose. The Company will use its reasonable
best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain as
soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(c) Final Term Sheet. The Company will prepare a final term sheet, containing
solely a description of final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form
approved by you and attached as Schedule IV hereto and to file such term sheet pursuant to
Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.
(d) Amendment of Disclosure Package. If, at any time prior to the filing of
the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the
Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not misleading, the Company
will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of the Disclosure Package may
cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or supplement the Disclosure Package
to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply any amendment or supplement to you
in such quantities as you may reasonably request.
(e) Material Changes. If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the
Securities is required to be delivered under the Securities Act (including in circumstances
where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result
of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it shall
be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the Final Prospectus to
comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, the Company will promptly notify the
Representatives of such event and prepare and file with the Commission an amendment or
supplement that will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(f) Delivery of Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will
make generally available to its security holders an earnings statement or statements of the
Company and its subsidiaries that will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the
Securities Act and Rule 158.
(g) Delivery of Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Company will
furnish to the Representatives copies of the Registration Statement and, so long as delivery
of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Securities Act (including
in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), as many
copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus and any supplement to any of the foregoing as the Representatives may reasonably
request. The Company will pay the expenses of preparation, printing or other production of
all documents relating to the offering; provided that, if any Underwriter is
required to deliver a Final Prospectus in connection with sales of Securities at any time
six months or more after the date of the Final
6
Prospectus, the expenses relating to such Final Prospectus shall be paid by such
Underwriter.
(h) Qualification of Securities. The Company will arrange, if necessary, for
the qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representatives may designate, will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as
required for the distribution of the Securities and will pay any fee of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. in connection with its review of the offering;
provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business
in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified, to take any action that would subject
it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale of
the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject or to subject itself to
taxation as doing business in any such jurisdiction.
(i) No Other Offering Materials. The Company agrees that, unless it has or
shall have obtained the prior written consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company that, unless it has or shall have
obtained, as the case may be, the prior written consent of the Company, it has not made and
will not make any offer relating to the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or that would otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as
defined in Rule 405) required to be filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by
the Company under Rule 433, other than a free writing prospectus containing the information
contained in the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof;
provided that the prior written consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to
have been given in respect of the Free Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule III hereto
and any electronic road show. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the
Representatives and the Company is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus.” The Company agrees that (x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be,
each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has
complied and will comply, as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433
applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing
with the Commission, legending and record keeping.
(j) Lock-up. The Company will not, without the prior written consent of the
Representatives, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, directly or
indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a registration
statement with the Commission in respect of, any U.S. dollar-denominated debt securities
issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities) or publicly announce an
intention to effect any such transaction, until the Business Day set forth on Schedule I
hereto.
(k) Stabilization. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any
action that is designed to or that constitutes or that might reasonably be expected to cause
or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
7
(l) [Listing. The Company will use reasonable best efforts to have the
Securities listed and admitted to trading on the [ ] Stock Exchange or another
“recognised exchange” (as defined in Section 1005 of the Income Tax Act 2007), and
satisfactory evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the Representatives.]
6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties on the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time and as of the
Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to
the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the
following additional conditions:
(a) Prospectus Filed; No Stop Order. The Final Prospectus, and any supplement
thereto, shall have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by Rule
424(b); the final term sheet contemplated by Section 5(c) hereof, and any other material
required to be filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 433(d), shall have been filed with the
Commission within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge
of the Company or any Underwriter, threatened.
(b) Opinions of Counsel to the Company. On the Closing Date, the
Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, shall have received an opinion or opinions
of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel to the Company, dated such date,
substantially to the effect set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 hereto.
(c) Letter of Counsel to the Company. On the Closing Date, the
Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, shall have received a letter of Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel to the Company, dated such date, substantially in the
form set forth in Exhibit B hereto.
(d) Opinion of Counsel to the Underwriters. The Representatives, on behalf of
the Underwriters, shall have received from Sidley Austin llp, counsel for the
Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the
Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, with respect to the issuance and sale of the
Securities, the Indenture, the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the
Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel
such documents as they reasonably request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such
matters.
(e) Certificate of the Company. The Company shall have furnished to the
Representatives, on behalf of the Underwriters, a certificate of the Company, signed by the
Chief Executive Officer and the principal financial or accounting officer of the Company,
dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully
examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final
8
Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto, as well as each electronic road
show used in connection with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are
true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on
the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and satisfied
all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the
Closing Date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (in
each case, exclusive of any supplement thereto after the date hereof), there has
been no material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise),
prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the
Final Prospectus (in each case, exclusive of any supplement thereto after the date
hereof) or as described in such certificate.
(f) Accountants’ Comfort Letters. The Company shall have requested and caused
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP to have furnished to the Representatives, on behalf of the
Underwriters, at the Execution Time and on the Closing Date, letters (which may refer to
letters previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives), dated respectively as
of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, confirming that they are independent accountants within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act stating in effect, that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial statement
schedules, if any, included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and reported on by
them comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act;
(ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited financial statements
made available by the Company and its subsidiaries; carrying out certain specified
procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing
standards), which would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect
to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings
of the stockholders, directors and audit committee of the Company; and inquiries of
certain officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and
accounting matters of the Company and its
9
subsidiaries as to transactions and events subsequent to
[ ], nothing came to their attention, after due inquiry,
that caused them to believe that:
(1) any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Final Prospectus are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the
audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus;
(2) with respect to the period subsequent to December 31, 20[ ], there
were any changes (provided that the requested information was
available in response to such inquiry), at a specified date not more than
five days prior to the date of the letter, in the long-term debt of the
Company and its subsidiaries or capital stock of the Company or decreases in
the equity shareholders’ funds of the Company as compared with the amounts
shown on the December 31, 20[ ] consolidated balance sheet included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, or for the period from December 31,
20[ ] to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the
corresponding period in the preceding year or the corresponding period in
the preceding quarter in turnover or trading profit or profit on ordinary
activities before taxation or in earnings (profit attributable to
shareholders) or per share amounts of earnings of the Company and its
subsidiaries, except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth in
such letter, in which case the letter shall be accompanied by an explanation
by the Company as to the significance thereof unless said explanation is not
deemed necessary by the Representatives; or
(3) the information included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus
in response to Form 20-F, Item 3.A. (Selected Financial Data) and Regulation
S-K, Item 503(d) (Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges) is not in conformity
with the applicable disclosure requirements of Form 20-F and Regulation S-K,
respectively; and
(iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of
which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or
statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
information derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus
and the Final Prospectus, including the information set forth under the captions
“Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final
10
Prospectus, the information included or incorporated by reference in Items 3,
4, 5 and 6 of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 20-F, incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus,
agrees with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding
any questions of legal interpretation.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall
not have been (i) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or
affecting the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in
the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus (in each case, exclusive of any supplement thereto after
the date hereof) or (ii) any decrease in the rating of any of the Company’s debt securities
by any “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of
Rule 436(g)) or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or
of a possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible
change, the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the
judgment of a majority in interest of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to
make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the
Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the
Final Prospectus (in each case, exclusive of any supplement thereto after the date hereof).
The Representatives may in their sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters
compliance with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of
Sidley Austin llp, counsel for the Underwriters, at 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx
00000 or 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, on the Closing Date.
7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided
for herein is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set
forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the
part of the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than
by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally through the Representatives on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in connection
with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.
8. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees and agents
of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of
either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of
11
them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other U.S.
federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base
Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or any other preliminary prospectus supplement
relating to the Securities, the Final Prospectus, or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or
the information contained in the final term sheet required to be prepared and filed pursuant
to Section 5(c) hereof, or in any amendment thereof 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, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such
indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them
in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action; 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 any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for
inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability that the
Company may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter
severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its
directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who
controls the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to
the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only
with reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company
by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion
in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be
in addition to any liability that any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company
acknowledges that the statements set forth in [ ] constitute the only information
furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(c) Actions Against Parties; Notification. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
thereof; but the failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise
learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of
substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying
party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than
12
the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The
indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s choice
at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in any action for
which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter
be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified
party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that such
counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an
action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ a single separate counsel, and
the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of such separate
counsel, if the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying party to represent the indemnified
party would present such counsel with a conflict of interest. An indemnifying party shall
not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim,
action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such
claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional
release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit
or proceeding. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such
action, suit or proceeding effected without its written consent.
(d) Contribution. In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or
(b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the
aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively
“Losses”) to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company
on the one hand and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities;
provided, however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be
provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be
responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable
to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by
the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the
Underwriters severally shall contribute 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
of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that
resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits
received by the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative
fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
13
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information provided
by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the other, the relative intent of the
parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the Underwriters agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or
any other method of allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this paragraph (d), no person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an Underwriter
within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act and each director,
officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to contribution as
such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed the
Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of
this paragraph (d).
9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase
and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters
hereunder and such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or
their obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to
take up and pay for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Securities set
forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of
Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities that the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided,
however, that in the event that the aggregate principal amount of Securities that the
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the
aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining
Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not be under any obligation to
purchase any, of the Securities, and if arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and the
Company for the purchase of such Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after
such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or
the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9, the
Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the
Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement
and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to
the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute
discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment
for the Securities, if at any time prior to such time (i) trading in the Company’s Common Stock
shall have been suspended by the London Stock Exchange or trading in the Company’s American
Depositary Shares shall have been suspended by the Commission or the
14
New York Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or
the London Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been
established on either of such exchanges, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either
by U.S. federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or
escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or
other calamity or crisis the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the
reasonable judgment of the Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering
or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus
(in each case, exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements,
representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of
the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or
any of the officers, directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8
hereof, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections
7, 8, 14 and 18 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
12. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only on
receipt, and, (i) if sent to the Representatives, shall be mailed, delivered or telefaxed
to[ ], attention: [ ]; or, (ii) if sent to the Company, shall be
mailed, delivered or telefaxed to 000 Xxxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, XX0 0XX,
Xxxxxxx, facsimile: 00 (0) 000 000 0000, attention: The Company Secretary.
13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers, directors, employees, agents and
controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder.
14. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance
with the laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the
State of New York.
15. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of
which shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
16. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not
affect the construction hereof.
17. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale
of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the
Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which any of them may be
acting, on the other hand, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or
fiduciary of the Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with
the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as
15
independent contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company agrees that
it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective
of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is currently advising the Company on related or
other matters). The Company agrees that it will not claim that the Underwriters have rendered
advisory services of any nature or respect in connection with the offering of the Securities, or
owe an agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the
process leading thereto.
18. Consent to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent to Accept Service of Process.
(a) The Company irrevocably consents and agrees that any legal action, suit or
proceeding against it with respect to any matter arising out of or based upon this Agreement
may be brought in the courts of the State of New York located in The City of New York or the
courts of the United States of America located in The City of New York and hereby
irrevocably consents and submits to the non-exclusive jurisdiction of each such court
in personam, generally and unconditionally with respect to any such action,
suit or proceeding.
(b) The Company hereby irrevocably designates, appoints, and empowers [ ], with
offices currently at [ ], New York, New York [ ], as its designee, appointee and agent
to receive, accept and acknowledge for and on its behalf, service of any and all legal
process, summons, notices and documents that may be served in any action, suit or proceeding
brought against the Company in any such United States or State court with respect to any
matter arising out of or based upon this Agreement and that may be made on such designee,
appointee and agent in accordance with legal procedures prescribed for such courts. The
Company further hereby irrevocably consents and agrees to the service of any and all legal
process, summons, notices and documents in any such action, suit or proceeding against it by
serving a copy thereof upon the relevant agent for service of process referred to in this
Section 18 (whether or not the appointment of such agent shall for any reason prove to be
ineffective or such agent shall accept or acknowledge such service). The Company agrees
that the failure of any such designee, appointee and agent to give any notice of such
service to it shall not impair or affect in any way the validity of such service or any
judgment rendered in any such action or proceeding based thereon. Nothing herein shall in
any way be deemed to limit the ability of the Underwriters to serve such legal process,
summons, notices and documents in any other manner permitted by applicable law or to obtain
jurisdiction over the Company or bring actions, suits or proceedings against the Company in
such other jurisdictions, and in such manner, as may be permitted by applicable law. The
Company hereby irrevocably and unconditionally waives, to the fullest extent permitted by
law, any objection that it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any of the
aforesaid actions, suits or proceedings arising out of or based upon this Agreement brought
in the United States federal courts located in The City of New York or the courts of the
State of New York located in The City of New York and hereby further irrevocably and
unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any such
action, suit or proceeding brought in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient
forum.
16
19. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the
meanings indicated.
“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above
contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.
“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary
Prospectus used most recently prior to the Execution Time, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing
Prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule III hereto, (iv) the final term sheet prepared and
filed pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof, if any, and (v) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the
parties hereto shall hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure
Package.
“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective.
“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and
delivered by the parties hereto.
“Final Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities
that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Base
Prospectus.
“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule
405.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as
defined in Rule 433.
“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base
Prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above which is used prior to the filing of the Final
Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus.
“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in
paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement
relating to the Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed
part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and,
in the event any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date,
shall also mean such registration statement as so amended.
“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule
405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule 430B”, “Rule 433”,
“Rule 436”, Rule 456” and Rule 457” refer to such rules under the
Securities Act.
17
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and
return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall
represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.
VERY TRULY YOURS, GLAXOSMITHKLINE PLC |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted
as of the date specified in Schedule I hereto.
as of the date specified in Schedule I hereto.
[ ]
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
For themselves and the other several Underwriters, if any,
named in Schedule II to the foregoing Agreement.
named in Schedule II to the foregoing Agreement.
SCHEDULE I
Terms of the Securities
Underwriting Agreement dated [ ]
Registration Statement No. 333-[ ]
Representatives: [ ]
Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:
Title: [ ]
Principal amount: $[ ]
Purchase price (include accrued interest or amortization, if any): $[ ]
Sinking fund provisions: [ ]
Redemption provisions: [ ]
Other provisions: As described in the applicable prospectus supplement referred to in this Agreement.
Closing Date, Time and Location: [ ] at [ ] a.m./p.m., simultaneously, at Sidley
Austin llp, 000 Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000 and 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx 00000 and 00 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Type of Offering: Non-delayed.
Date referred to in Section 5(j) after which the Company may offer or sell debt securities issued
or guaranteed by the Company without the consent of the Representatives: [ ].
I-1
SCHEDULE II
Underwriting Commitments
Principal Amount | ||||
of Securities to be | ||||
Underwriters | Purchased | |||
[Names of Underwriters] |
||||
Total |
$ | |||
II-1
SCHEDULE III
Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package
[list all FWPs included in the Disclosure Package]
III-1
SCHEDULE IV
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333 -
l, 200l
Registration No. 333 -
l, 200l
FORM OF PRICING TERM SHEET
l Notes due | ||
Issuer:
|
GlaxoSmithKline plc | |
Size:
|
$l | |
Trade Date:
|
l, 20l | |
Maturity Date:
|
l, | |
Coupon:
|
l% | |
Interest Payment Dates:
|
l, commencing l, | |
Price to Public:
|
l% | |
Benchmark Treasury:
|
l | |
Benchmark Treasury Yield:
|
l% | |
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:
|
+ l bp | |
Yield:
|
l% | |
Make-Whole Call:
|
l | |
CUSIP:
|
l | |
Expected Settlement Date:
|
l, | |
Day Count Fraction:
|
l | |
Business Day:
|
New York and London | |
Denominations:
|
l | |
Anticipated Ratings:
|
[l by Xxxxx’x Investors Service, Inc.] | |
[l by Standard & Poor’s Ratings Services] | ||
Joint Book-Running Managers:
|
l | |
Co-Managers:
|
l |
Note: A securities rating is not a recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities and may be
subject to revision or withdrawal at any time.
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the
offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in
that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete
information about the issuer and this offering.
You may get these documents for free by visiting XXXXX on the SEC website at xxx.xxx.xxx.
Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange
to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling [ ] toll free at [ ] or
[ ].
IV-1
EXHIBIT A-1
[Form of Opinion of U.S. Counsel to the Company ]
[ ], 20[ ]
[ ]
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o [ ]
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o [ ]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special United States counsel to GlaxoSmithKline plc, a public limited
company incorporated in England and Wales (the “Company”), in connection with the offering from
time to time, together or separately and in one or more series, pursuant to a registration
statement on Form F-3 (No. 333-[ ]) of (i) debt securities of the Company (the
“Securities”) to be issued under an indenture dated as of March 4, 2008 (the “Indenture”) between
the Company and Law Debenture Trust Company of New York, as trustee (the “Trustee”). Such
registration statement, as amended as of its most recent effective date ([ ], 20[ ]),
insofar as it relates to the Securities (as determined for purposes of Rule 430B(f)(2) under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), but excluding the documents
incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the “Registration Statement;” the related
prospectus dated [ ], 20[ ], as first filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the Securities Act, but
excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the “Base Prospectus;”
the preliminary prospectus supplement dated [ ], 20[ ], as filed with the Commission
pursuant to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the Securities Act, but excluding the documents incorporated by
reference therein, is herein called the “Preliminary Prospectus Supplement;” and the related
prospectus supplement dated [ ], 20[ ], as filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the Securities Act, but excluding the documents incorporated by reference
therein, is herein called the “Final Prospectus Supplement.” The Base Prospectus and the
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement together are herein called the “Pricing Prospectus,” and the Base
Prospectus and the Final Prospectus Supplement together are herein called the “Final Prospectus.”
This opinion letter is furnished pursuant to Section 6(b) of the underwriting agreement dated
[ ], 20[ ] (the “Underwriting Agreement”) between the Company and the several
underwriters named in Schedule II thereto (the “Underwriters”).
In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have reviewed the following documents:
(a) | an executed copy of the Underwriting Agreement; | ||
(b) | the Registration Statement and the documents incorporated by reference therein; |
A-1-1
(c) | the Pricing Prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference therein [and the documents listed in Schedule I hereto]; | ||
(d) | the Final Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein; | ||
(e) | [a facsimile copy of] the Securities in global form as executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee; | ||
(f) | an executed copy of the Indenture, including the certificated form of Securities; and | ||
(g) | the documents delivered to you by the Company at the closing pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement. |
In addition, we have reviewed the originals or copies certified or otherwise identified to our
satisfaction of all such corporate records of the Company and such other instruments and other
certificates of public officials, officers and representatives of the Company and such other
persons, and we have made such investigations of law, as we have deemed appropriate as a basis for
the opinions expressed below.
In rendering the opinions expressed below, we have assumed the authenticity of all documents
submitted to us as originals and the conformity to the originals of all documents submitted to us
as copies. In addition, we have assumed and have not verified (i) the accuracy as to factual
matters of each document we have reviewed (including, without limitation, the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company in the Underwriting Agreement) and (ii) that any
Securities in certificated form issued in exchange for the Securities in global form will conform
to the form thereof that we have reviewed and will be duly authenticated in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture.
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further assumptions and qualifications set forth
below, it is our opinion that:
1. The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by the Company under the law of the
State of New York and has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
“Trust Indenture Act”), and is a valid, binding and enforceable agreement of the Company.
2. (a) The Securities in global form have been duly executed and delivered by the Company
under the law of the State of New York and are, and (b) the Securities in certificated form when
exchanged for interests in the Securities in global form in accordance with the terms thereof and
of the Indenture will be, the valid, binding and enforceable obligations of the Company and
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.
3. The statements under the heading “Description of the Notes” in the Pricing Prospectus,
considered together with the documents listed in Schedule I hereto, and in the Final Prospectus,
together in each case with the statements under the heading “Description of Debt Securities” in the
Base Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to summarize certain provisions of the
Securities and the Indenture, provide a fair summary of such provisions.
A-1-2
4. The Underwriting Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company under the
law of the State of New York.
5. The issuance and sale of the Securities to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement do not, and the performance by the Company of its obligations in the Underwriting
Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities, respectively, will not, require any consent, approval,
authorization, registration or qualification of or with any governmental authority of the United
States or the State of New York that in our experience normally would be applicable to general
business entities with respect to such issuance, sale or performance, except such as have been
obtained or effected under the Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and
the Trust Indenture Act (but we express no opinion relating to any state securities or Blue Sky
laws).
6. No registration of the Company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, is
required for the offer and sale of the Securities by the Company in the manner contemplated by the
Underwriting Agreement and the Final Prospectus.
Insofar as the foregoing opinions relate to the validity, binding effect or enforceability of
any agreement or obligation of the Company, (a) we have assumed that the Company and each other
party to such agreement or obligation has satisfied those legal requirements that are applicable to
it to the extent necessary to make such agreement or obligation enforceable against it (except that
no such assumption is made as to the Company regarding matters of the federal law of the United
States of America or the law of the State of New York that in our experience normally would be
applicable to general business entities with respect to such agreement or obligation), (b) such
opinions are subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and to general principles of equity and (c) such opinions are subject to the
effect of judicial application of foreign laws or foreign governmental actions affecting creditors’
rights.
The waiver of defenses contained in Section 6.01 of the Indenture may be ineffective to the
extent that any such defense involves a matter of public policy in New York (such as reflected in
New York’s anti-champerty statute). With respect to Section 18 of the Underwriting Agreement, we
express no opinion as to the subject matter jurisdiction of any United States federal court to
adjudicate any action relating to the Underwriting Agreement where jurisdiction is based on
diversity of citizenship under 28 U.S.C. § 1332 does not exist.
The foregoing opinions are limited to the federal law of the United States of America and the
law of the State of New York.
A-1-3
We are furnishing this opinion letter to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, solely
for the benefit of the Underwriters in their capacity as such in connection with the offering of
the Securities. This opinion letter is not to be relied on by or furnished to any other person or
used, circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose, except that this opinion
letter may be relied upon by the Trustee in its capacity as such. We assume no obligation to
advise you or any other person, or to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or
factual matters arising subsequent to the date hereof that might affect the opinions expressed
herein.
Very truly yours, XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXX & XXXXXXXX LLP |
||||
By: | ||||
A-1-4
Schedule I
X-0-0
XXXXXXX X-0
[Form of Opinion of U.K. Counsel to the Company]
[ ], 20[ ]
[ ]
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o [ ]
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o [ ]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special English counsel to GlaxoSmithKline plc, a public limited company
incorporated in England and Wales (the “Company”), which proposes to offer pursuant to a
registration statement on Form F-3 (No. 333-[ ]) debt securities of the Company consisting
of [ ] Notes due [ ] (the “Securities”) to be issued under an indenture dated
as of March 4, 2008 (the “Indenture”) between the Company and Law Debenture Trust Company of New
York, as trustee (the “Trustee”). Such registration statement, as amended as of its most recent
effective date ([ ], 20[ ]), insofar as it relates to the Securities (as determined for
purposes of Rule 430B(f)(2) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)),
but excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the “Registration
Statement;” the related prospectus dated [ ], 20[ ], as first filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the
Securities Act, but excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the
“Base Prospectus;” the preliminary prospectus supplement dated [ ], 20[ ], as
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the Securities Act, but excluding the
documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the “Preliminary Prospectus
Supplement;” and the related prospectus supplement dated [ ], 20[ ], as first filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the Securities Act, but excluding the
documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the “Final Prospectus Supplement.”
The Base Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement together are herein called the
“Pricing Prospectus,” and the Base Prospectus and the Final Prospectus Supplement together are
herein called the “Final Prospectus.” This opinion letter is furnished to you pursuant to
Section 6(b) of the underwriting agreement dated [ ], 20[ ] (the “Underwriting
Agreement”) between the Company and the several underwriters named in Schedule II thereto (the
“Underwriters”).
In arriving at the opinions expressed below, we have reviewed the following documents:
(a) | a copy of the Underwriting Agreement executed by the Company; |
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(b) | a Certificate of the Secretary of the Company dated [ ] (the “Secretary’s Certificate”) having annexed thereto and certified as true, complete and up-to-date copies, the following documents: |
(i) | the Memorandum and Articles of Association of the Company; and | ||
(ii) | the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors and Corporate Administration & Transactions Committee of the Company; |
(c) | the Registration Statement; | ||
(d) | the Pricing Prospectus; | ||
(e) | the Final Term Sheet filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433 on [ ], 20[ ]; | ||
(f) | the Final Prospectus; | ||
(g) | [a facsimile copy of] the Securities in global form as executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee; and | ||
(h) | a copy of the Indenture. |
Unless defined herein, capitalised terms have the meanings attributed to them in the
Underwriting Agreement.
In rendering the opinions expressed below we have assumed and not verified:
(a) | the genuineness of all signatures, stamps and seals, the authenticity and completeness of all documents supplied to us and the conformity to the originals of all documents supplied to us as photocopies or facsimile copies; | ||
(b) | that, where a document has been examined by us in draft, specimen or certificated form, it has been or will be executed in the form of that draft or specimen and, in the case of the Securities, that they have been or will be authenticated in accordance with the terms of the Indenture; | ||
(c) | that each of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities (together, the “Transaction Documents”) has been or will be duly authorised, executed and delivered by or on behalf of each of the parties to the Transaction Documents (other than the Company) and each such party (other than the Company) has the power, capacity and authority to execute and deliver and to perform its obligations contained in each of the Transaction Documents to which it is a party; |
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(d) | the absence of any other arrangements between any of the parties to any of the Transaction Documents that modify or supersede any of the terms of any of the Transaction Documents; | ||
(e) | the accuracy as to factual matters of each document we have reviewed (including, without limitation, the accuracy of the representations and warranties of each of the parties to the Transaction Documents and the accuracy of all statements in the Secretary’s Certificate) and the compliance by each of the parties thereto with each of their respective obligations under the Transaction Documents; | ||
(f) | that none of the execution of the Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement, the issue of the Securities, the performance of the respective obligations of each of the parties thereto and the application of the proceeds of the issue of the Securities constitutes financial assistance prohibited by Section 151 of the Companies Xxx 0000; | ||
(g) | that the Transaction Documents have been duly executed by the parties thereto and constitute valid and binding obligations of the parties thereto under all applicable laws (including the laws of the State of New York by which the Transaction Documents are expressed to be governed) enforceable in accordance with their terms and have the same meaning and effect as if they were governed by English law; | ||
(h) | that the information relating to the Company disclosed by our on-line searches on [ ], 20[ ], at Companies House and by telephone at the Central Registry of Winding up Petitions at the Companies Court in London on [ ], 20[ ], in relation to the Company was then complete, up to date and accurate and has not since then been materially altered and that such searches did not fail to disclose any material information that had been delivered for registration at the time of our search but did not appear online or on the file in London (as applicable) at the time of our search, and that the information relating to the Company disclosed by our on-line searches and by telephone did not fail to include any material information or disclose any petition for an administration order or winding up in respect of the Company that has been presented in England and Wales; | ||
(i) | that, except insofar as matters are on public record and are discoverable by making any of the searches referred to in (h) above, the Company has not passed any voluntary winding-up resolution and that no petition has been presented to, or order made by, any competent authority for the winding-up, dissolution or administration of the Company and that no receiver, interim liquidator, administrative receiver, trustee, administrator or similar officer has been appointed in relation to the Company or any of its assets or revenues; |
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(j) | that the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Corporate Administration & Transactions Committee of the Company at which the resolutions authorising the Company to enter into the Transaction Documents were passed, were duly convened and held and such resolutions are a true record of the proceedings at such meetings and are in full force and effect and have not been amended, revoked or superseded; | ||
(k) | that there are no provisions of the laws of any jurisdiction outside England and Wales that would have any implication for the opinions we express, and insofar as the laws of any jurisdiction other than England and Wales may be relevant to this opinion letter, such laws have been and will be complied with; | ||
(l) | that any party to the Transaction Documents that is subject to the supervision of any regulatory authority in the United Kingdom has complied and will comply with the requirements of such regulatory authority in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities; | ||
(m) | that the aggregate initial offering price of all Securities issued will not exceed any limit (calculated, where applicable, as described in the relevant Indenture) in other currencies that may now or in the future be imposed by the terms of the Memorandum or Articles of Association or any corporate resolution of the Company; | ||
(n) | that the terms and conditions applicable to the relevant Securities will not be inconsistent with the terms and conditions of the relevant Indenture and will not be inconsistent with the Final Prospectus; | ||
(o) | that where a document is required to be delivered, each party to it has delivered the same without it being subject to any escrow or other similar arrangement; | ||
(p) | that each of the parties has fully complied with its obligations under all applicable money laundering legislation; | ||
(q) | that any provision of the Transaction Documents that is expressed to be governed by the laws of any jurisdiction other than England and Wales is valid, binding and enforceable under the laws of such other jurisdiction; and | ||
(r) | that each of the parties to the Transaction Documents has complied with all applicable provisions of Directive 2003/71/EC of the European Parliament (the “Prospectus Directive”) as it applies and as implemented in the United Kingdom, the Financial Services and Markets Xxx 0000 (“FSMA”) and any applicable secondary legislation made under it with respect to anything done by any of them in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise involving the United Kingdom (including Sections 19 |
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(carrying on a regulated activity), 21 (financial promotion), 85 (public offers) and 000 (xxxxxx xxxxx) xx XXXX). |
Based on the foregoing, and subject to the further qualifications and limitations set forth
below, it is our opinion that:
(a) | the Company is a public limited company incorporated under the laws of England and Wales and resident in the United Kingdom for UK tax purposes; | ||
(b) | the Company has the corporate power to enter into and perform its obligations under the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture; | ||
(c) | each of the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture has each been duly authorised, executed and delivered by the Company; | ||
(d) | no consent, approval, authorisation, order, licence, registration and qualification or filing of or with any court or governmental agency or body in the United Kingdom is required for the issue and initial sale of the Securities to the Underwriters; | ||
(e) | neither the execution nor the delivery of the Indenture nor the performance of the Company thereunder will conflict with or violate or result in a breach of or constitute a default under any term or provision of its Memorandum or Articles of Association; and | ||
(f) | the choice of New York law to govern the Underwriting Agreement and the Indenture is, under the laws of England, a valid choice of law. |
The foregoing opinions are, without limitation, subject to the following:
(a) | The opinions set forth above are subject to all limitations resulting from the laws of bankruptcy, insolvency, liquidation, administration, fraudulent transfer, reorganisation, moratorium, suretyship or any similar laws of general application affecting creditors’ rights. | ||
(b) | Enforcement may be limited by general principles of equity. For example, equitable remedies may not be available where damages are considered to be an adequate remedy. | ||
(c) | Where any obligations of any person are to be performed or observed in jurisdictions outside England and Wales, or by a person subject to the laws of a jurisdiction outside England and Wales, such obligations may not be enforceable under English law to the extent that performance or observance thereof would be illegal or contrary to public policy under the laws of any such jurisdiction. |
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(d) | The choice of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law of the Transaction Documents may be limited by the Contracts (Applicable Law) Xxx 0000 in certain circumstances, including, for example, in respect of laws that cannot be derogated from by contract or that are, irrespective of the governing law of the contract, mandatory in the relevant forum. | ||
(e) | Except in those cases where jurisdiction is determined in accordance with the provisions of the Council Regulation (EC) 44/2001 on jurisdiction and the recognition and enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters, the provisions of the Brussels Convention on jurisdiction in civil and commercial matters of 1968 or the provisions of the Lugano Convention on jurisdiction and the enforcement of judgments in civil and commercial matters of 1988, an English court has power to stay an action where it is shown that it can, without injustice to the plaintiff, be tried in a more convenient forum. However, such power may not be exercisable in all circumstances. For example, an English court may not be able to stay proceedings where the defendant is domiciled in England and the alternative jurisdiction is outside the European Union. | ||
(f) | Any provision providing that any calculation, certification, determination, notification, minute or opinion will be conclusive and binding will not be effective if such calculation, certification, determination, notification, minute or opinion is fraudulent or made on an unreasonable or arbitrary basis or in the event of manifest error despite any provision to the contrary and it will not necessarily prevent judicial enquiry into the merits of any claim by any party thereto. | ||
(g) | Where any person is vested with a discretion, or may determine any matter in its opinion, English law may require that such discretion is exercised reasonably or that such opinion is based on reasonable grounds. | ||
(h) | Any provision for the payment of liquidated damages, compensation, additional interest or similar amounts might be held to be unenforceable on the ground that it is a penalty. | ||
(i) | Any undertaking or indemnity may be void insofar as it relates to stamp duty payable in the United Kingdom. | ||
(j) | An English court may refuse to give effect to any provision of an agreement that amounts to an indemnity in respect of the costs of enforcement or of unsuccessful litigation brought before an English court or where the court has itself made an order for costs. | ||
(k) | Any question as to whether or not any provision of any agreement or instrument that is illegal, invalid, not binding, unenforceable or void may be severed from the other provisions thereof in order to save those other provisions would be determined by an English court in its discretion. |
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(l) | There is some possibility that an English court would hold that a judgment on a particular agreement or instrument, whether given in an English court or elsewhere, would supersede such agreement or instrument to all intents and purposes, so that any obligation thereunder that by its terms would survive such judgment might not be held to do so. | ||
(m) | Enforcement of rights may be or become limited by prescription or by the lapse of time or may be or become subject to defences of set-off or counterclaim. | ||
(n) | The effectiveness of terms exculpating a party from a liability or duty otherwise owed is limited by law. | ||
(o) | An English court is able, where the amount of a claim is denominated in a currency other than sterling, to give judgment in that other currency, as a matter of current procedural practice and at its own discretion. | ||
(p) | There is some possibility that an English court having jurisdiction in relation to insolvency law would apply the provisions of Section 426 of the Insolvency Xxx 0000 (Co-operation between courts exercising jurisdiction in relation to insolvency) in assisting the courts having the corresponding jurisdiction in any other part of the United Kingdom or any relevant country or territory (as such terms are defined in that section) (in this regard we refer you to Xxxxxx v. Hannover Ruckversicherungs-Aktiengesellschaft [1997] 1 BCLC 497) and, as a result, may, rather than apply insolvency law as it would otherwise apply in England, apply the insolvency law that is applicable in such other part of the United Kingdom or relevant country or territory in relation to comparable matters. | ||
(q) | An English court may refuse to give effect to a claim pursuant to an indemnity or contribution provision in a Transaction Document insofar as the subject matter of such claim relates to penalties imposed under Section 91 (breach of listing rules) or Section 123 (market abuse) of FSMA or any relevant provision of FSMA imposing penalties or of the rules made under it. | ||
(r) | The searches with Companies House referred to above are not conclusively capable of revealing whether or not (i) a winding up order has been made in respect of a company or a resolution passed for the winding up of a company, or (ii) an administration order has been made in respect of a company, or (iii) a receiver, administrative receiver, administrator or liquidator has been appointed in respect of a company, since notice of these matters might not be filed with Companies House immediately and, when filed, might not be entered on the files of Companies House relating to insolvency details with respect to the relevant company immediately. In addition, such searches are not capable of revealing, prior to the making of the relevant order, whether or not a |
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winding up petition or a petition for an administration order has been presented. | |||
(s) | The enquiry at the Central Registry of Winding up Petitions referred to above relates only to a compulsory winding up and is not capable of revealing conclusively whether or not a winding up petition in respect of a compulsory winding up has been presented since details of the petition may not have been entered on the records of the Central Registry of Winding up Petitions immediately or, in the case of a petition presented to a County Court, may not have been notified to the Central Registry and entered on such records at all, and the response to an enquiry only relates to the period of six months prior to the date when the enquiry was made. We have not made enquiries of any County Court as to whether a petition for the appointment of an administrator has been presented to, or an administration order has been made by, such County Court against the Company. |
We express no opinion as to any agreement, instrument or other document other than as
specified in this opinion letter, or as to any liability to tax that may arise or be incurred as a
result of or in connection with the Transaction Documents, including, without limitation, the
creation, issue or offer of the Securities or any other transaction. We have not been responsible
for the investigation or verification of statements of fact (including statements as to foreign
law) or the reasonableness of any statements of opinion contained in the Registration Statement,
the Pricing Prospectus, the Final Term Sheet or the Final Prospectus relating to the issue of the
Securities, or the entry into the Underwriting Agreement or the Indenture, nor have we been
responsible for ensuring that the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Final Term
Sheet and the Final Prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference therein contain all
material facts.
The opinions set out above are limited to the laws of England and Wales as currently applied
by the courts in England and Wales and are given on the basis that this opinion letter will be
governed by and construed in accordance with English law. This opinion letter is given on the
basis of English law in force as at the date of this opinion.
We are furnishing this opinion letter to you as Representatives of the Underwriters solely for
your benefit in your capacity as such and to the several Underwriters solely for their benefit in
their capacity as Underwriters in connection with the issue of the Securities. This opinion letter
is not to be relied on by or furnished to any other person or used, circulated, quoted or otherwise
referred to for any other purpose. We assume no obligation to advise you or any other person, or
to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising subsequent to
the date hereof that might affect the opinions expressed herein.
Very truly yours, XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXX & XXXXXXXX LLP |
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By: | ||||
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EXHIBIT B
[Form of Letter of Counsel to the Company ]
[ ], 20[ ]
[ ]
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o [ ]
as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o [ ]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
We have acted as special United States counsel to GlaxoSmithKline plc, a public limited
company incorporated in England and Wales (the “Company”), in connection with the offering from
time to time, together or separately and in one or more series, pursuant to a registration
statement on Form F-3 (No. 333-[ ]) of debt securities of the Company (the “Securities”).
Such registration statement, as amended as of its most recent effective date ([ ],
20[ ]), insofar as it relates to the Securities (as determined for purposes of Rule 430B(f)(2)
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”)), but excluding the documents
incorporated by reference therein and Exhibit 25, is herein called the “Registration Statement;”
the related prospectus dated [ ], 20[ ], as first filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) pursuant to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the Securities Act,
but excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the “Base
Prospectus;” the preliminary prospectus supplement dated [ ], 20[ ], as filed
with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the Securities Act, but excluding the
documents incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the “Preliminary Prospectus
Supplement;” and the related prospectus supplement dated [ ], 20[ ], as filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)[(2)] under the Securities Act, but excluding the documents
incorporated by reference therein, is herein called the “Final Prospectus Supplement.” The Base
Prospectus and the Preliminary Prospectus Supplement together are herein called the “Pricing
Prospectus,” and the Base Prospectus and the Final Prospectus Supplement together are herein called
the “Final Prospectus.” This letter is furnished to you pursuant to Section 6(c) of the
underwriting agreement dated [ ], 20[ ] (the “Underwriting Agreement”) between the Company and
the several underwriters named in Schedule II thereto (the “Underwriters”).
Because the primary purpose of our professional engagement was not to establish or confirm
factual matters or financial, accounting or statistical information, and because many
determinations involved in the preparation of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus,
the Final Prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in each of them and the documents
listed in Schedule I hereto are of a wholly or partially non-legal character or relate to legal
matters outside the scope of our opinion letter to you of even date herewith, we are not passing
upon and do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Final
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Prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in each of them or the documents listed in
Schedule I hereto (except to the extent expressly set forth in numbered paragraph 5 of our opinion
letter to you of even date herewith) and we make no representation that we have independently
verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such statements (except as aforesaid). We also
are not passing upon and do not assume any responsibility for ascertaining whether or when any of
the Pricing Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, the documents incorporated by reference in each of
them or the documents listed in Schedule I hereto was conveyed to any person for purposes of
Rule 159 under the Securities Act.
However, in the course of our acting as special United States counsel to the Company in
connection with its preparation of the Registration Statement, the Pricing Prospectus, the Final
Prospectus and the documents listed in Schedule I hereto, we participated in conferences and
telephone conversations with representatives of the Company, representatives of the independent
public accountants for the Company, your representatives and representatives of your counsel,
during which conferences and conversations the contents of the Registration Statement, the Pricing
Prospectus, the Final Prospectus, portions of certain of the documents incorporated by reference in
each of them and the documents listed in Schedule I hereto and related matters were discussed, and
we reviewed certain corporate records and documents furnished to us by the Company.
Based on our participation in such conferences and conversations and our review of such
records and documents as described above, our understanding of the U.S. federal securities laws and
the experience we have gained in our practice thereunder, we advise you that:
(a) The Registration Statement (except the financial statements and schedules and other
financial and statistical data included therein, as to which we express no view), at the
time it became effective, and the Final Prospectus (except as aforesaid), as of the date
thereof, appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to
the requirements of the Securities Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and
the rules and regulations thereunder. In addition, we do not know of any contracts or other
documents of a character required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus that are not
filed or described as required.
(b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus (except the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
statistical data and management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over
financial reporting included therein, as to which we express no view), as of the respective
dates of their filing with the Commission, appeared on their face to be appropriately
responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(c) No information has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the
Registration Statement, including the documents incorporated by reference therein (except
the financial statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data and
management’s report on the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting
included therein, as to which we express no view), at the time it became effective,
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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.
(d) No information has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the Pricing
Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein considered together
with the documents listed in Schedule I hereto (except in each case the financial statements
and schedules and other financial and statistical data and management’s report on the
effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included in the Pricing
Prospectus, as to which we express no view), at the time of execution of the Underwriting
Agreement, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
(e) No information has come to our attention that causes us to believe that the Final
Prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein (except the financial
statements and schedules and other financial and statistical data and management’s report on
the effectiveness of internal control over financial reporting included therein, as to which
we express no view), as of the date thereof or hereof, contained or contains an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
We confirm to you that (based solely upon a telephonic confirmation from a representative of
the Commission) the Registration Statement is effective under the Securities Act and no stop order
with respect thereto has been issued, and, to the best of our knowledge, no proceeding for that
purpose has been instituted or threatened, by the Commission.
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We are furnishing this letter to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, solely for the
benefit of the Underwriters in their capacity as such in connection with the offering of the
Securities. This letter is not to be relied on by or furnished to any other person or used,
circulated, quoted or otherwise referred to for any other purpose. We assume no obligation to
advise you, or to make any investigations, as to any legal developments or factual matters arising
subsequent to the date hereof that might affect the views expressed herein.
Very truly yours, XXXXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXX & XXXXXXXX LLP |
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By: | ||||
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Schedule I
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