XXXX'X CIGAR HOLDINGS, INC.
_______Shares*
Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
__________ __, 1997
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXX, INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Prudential Securities Incorporated
Xxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
Xxxx'x Cigar Holdings, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") and
Xxxxxx Xxxxx (the "Securityholder") hereby confirm their agreement with the
several underwriters named in Schedule 1 hereto (the "Underwriters"), for whom
you have been duly authorized to act as representatives (in such capacities, the
"Representatives"), as set forth below. If you are the only Underwriters, all
references herein to the Representatives shall be deemed to be to the
Underwriters.
1. Securities. Subject to the terms and conditions herein contained,
the Company proposes to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate
of _____ shares (the "Firm Securities") of the Company's Common Stock, par value
$______ per share ("Common Stock"). The Securityholder also proposes to sell to
the several Underwriters not more than _______________ additional shares of
Common Stock if requested by the Representatives as provided in Section 3 of
this Agreement. Any and all shares of Common Stock to be purchased by the
Underwriters pursuant to such option are referred to herein as the "Option
Securities," and the Firm Securities and any Option Securities are collectively
referred to herein as the "Securities".
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* Plus an option to purchase from the Selling Securityholder up to
_____________ additional shares to cover over-allotments.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the
Securityholder. (a) The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with,
each of the several Underwriters that:
(i) A registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-_________) with
respect to the Securities, including a prospectus subject to completion, has
been filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), and one
or more amendments to such registration statement may have been so filed. After
the execution of this Agreement, the Company will file with the Commission
either (A) if such registration statement, as it may have been amended, has been
declared by the Commission to be effective under the Act, either (1) if the
Company relies on Rule 434 under the Act, a Term Sheet (as hereinafter defined)
relating to the Securities, that shall identify the Preliminary Prospectus (as
hereinafter defined) that it supplements containing such information as is
required or permitted by Rules 434, 430A and 424(b) under the Act or (2) if the
Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the Act, a prospectus in the form most
recently included in an amendment to such registration statement (or, if no such
amendment shall have been filed, in such registration statement), with such
changes or insertions as are required by Rule 430A under the Act or permitted by
Rule 424(b) under the Act, and in the case of either clause (A)(1) or (A)(2) of
this sentence as have been provided to and approved by the Representatives prior
to the execution of this Agreement, or (B) if such registration statement, as it
may have been amended, has not been declared by the Commission to be effective
under the Act, an amendment to such registration statement, including a form of
prospectus, a copy of which amendment has been furnished to and approved by the
Representatives prior to the execution of this Agreement. The Company may also
file a related registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Act for the purpose of registering certain additional
Securities, which registration shall be effective upon filing with the
Commission. As used in this Agreement, the term "Original Registration
Statement" means the registration statement initially filed relating to the
Securities, as amended at the time when it was or is declared effective,
including all financial schedules and exhibits thereto and including any
information omitted therefrom pursuant to Rule 430A under the Act and included
in the Prospectus (as hereinafter defined); the term "Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement" means any registration statement filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 462(b) under the Act (including the Registration Statement and any
Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus incorporated therein at the time such
Registration Statement becomes effective); the term "Registration Statement"
includes both the Original Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement; the term "Preliminary Prospectus" means each prospectus
subject to completion filed with such registration statement or any amendment
thereto (including the prospectus subject to completion, if any, included in the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto at the time it was or is
declared effective); the term "Prospectus" means:
(A) if the Company relies on Rule 434 under the Act, the Term Sheet
relating to the Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule
424(b)(7) under the Act,
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together with the Preliminary Prospectus identified therein that such
Term Sheet supplements;
(B) if the Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the Act, the
prospectus first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Act; or
(C) if the Company does not rely on Rule 434 under the Act and if no
prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
Act, the prospectus included in the Registration Statement;
and the term "Term Sheet" means any term sheet that satisfies the requirements
of Rule 434 under the Act. Any reference herein to the "date" of a Prospectus
that includes a Term Sheet shall mean the date of such Term Sheet.
(ii) The Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending
use of any Preliminary Prospectus. When any Preliminary Prospectus was filed
with the Commission it (A) contained all statements required to be stated
therein in accordance with, and complied in all material respects with the
requirements of, the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and (B) did not include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. When the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto was or is
declared effective, it (A) contained or will contain all statements required to
be stated therein in accordance with, and complied or will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of, the Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and (B) did not or will not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
to make the statements therein not misleading. When the Prospectus or any Term
Sheet that is a part thereof or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus is
filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (or, if the Prospectus or part
thereof or such amendment or supplement is not required to be so filed, when the
Registration Statement or the amendment thereto containing such amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus was or is declared effective) and on the Firm
Closing Date and any Option Closing Date (both as hereinafter defined), the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at any such time, (A) contained or will
contain all statements required to be stated therein in accordance with, and
complied or will comply in all material respects with the requirements of, the
Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder and (B) did not
or will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The foregoing
provisions of this paragraph (ii) do not apply to statements or omissions made
in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein.
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(iii) If the Company has elected to rely on Rule 462(b) and the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement has not been declared effective (A) the Company
has filed a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement in compliance with and that is
effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(b) and has received confirmation of
its receipt and (B) the Company has given irrevocable instructions for
transmission of the applicable filing fee in connection with the filing of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, in compliance with Rule 111 promulgated
under the Act or the Commission has received payment of such filing fee.
(iv) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized
and are validly existing as corporations in good standing under the laws of
their respective jurisdictions of incorporation and are duly qualified to
transact business as foreign corporations and are in good standing under the
laws of all other jurisdictions where the ownership or leasing of their
respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses requires
such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified does not amount
to a material liability or disability to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken
as a whole.
(v) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have full power (corporate
and other) to own or lease their respective properties and conduct their
respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus; and the Company has full power (corporate and other) to
enter into this Agreement and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof
to be carried out by it.
(vi) The issued shares of capital stock of each of the Company's
subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
nonassessable and are owned beneficially by the Company free and clear of any
security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.
(vii) The Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus. All of the issued shares of
capital stock of the Company, including the Option Securities, have been duly
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. The Firm
Securities have been duly authorized and at the Firm Closing Date, after payment
therefor in accordance herewith, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable. No holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
are entitled as such to any preemptive or other rights to subscribe for any of
the Securities, and no holder of securities of the Company has any right which
has not been fully exercised or waived to require the Company to register the
offer or sale of any securities owned by such holder under the Act in the public
offering contemplated by this agreement.
(viii) The capital stock of the Company conforms to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is not in existence,
the most recent Preliminary Prospectus.
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(ix) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), there are no
outstanding (A) securities or obligations of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries convertible into or exchangeable for any capital stock of the
Company or any such subsidiary, (B) warrants, rights or options to subscribe for
or purchase from the Company or any such subsidiary any such capital stock or
any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or (C)
obligations of the Company or any such subsidiary to issue any shares of capital
stock, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or obligations, or any
such warrants, rights or options.
(x) The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus) fairly present the financial position of the Company and
its consolidated subsidiaries and the results of operations and changes in
financial condition as of the dates and periods therein specified. Such
financial statements and schedules have been prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied throughout the
periods involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The selected financial
data set forth under the caption "Selected Financial Data" in the Prospectus
(or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus) fairly present, on the basis stated in the Prospectus (or such
Preliminary Prospectus), the information included therein. The pro forma
consolidated financial statements of the Company and its consolidated
subsidiaries together with the related notes thereto included under the captions
"Summary Historical and Pro Forma Combined Financial Data," "Selected Financial
Data" and elsewhere in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the
Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) present
fairly the information contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with
the Commission's rules and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial
statements and have been properly presented on the pro forma basis described
therein, and the assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and
the adjustments used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions
and circumstances referred to therein.
(xi) Each of Price Waterhouse, L.L.P. and Xxxxxxxxxx, Master & Xxxxxx,
P.C., who have certified certain financial statements of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their reports with respect to their
respective audited consolidated financial statements and schedules included in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), are independent public
accountants as required by the Act and the applicable rules and regulations
thereunder.
(xii) The execution and delivery of this Agreement have been duly
authorized by the Company and this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Company, and is the valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms.
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(xiii) No legal or governmental proceedings are pending to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which the property of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not described therein
(or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus), and no such proceedings have been threatened against the Company or
any of its subsidiaries or with respect to any of their respective properties;
and no contract or other document is required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement that is not described therein (or, if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus) or filed as required.
(xiv) The issuance, offering and sale of the Firm Securities to the
Underwriters by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by the
Company with the other provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the
other transactions herein contemplated do not (A) require the consent, approval,
authorization, registration or qualification of or with any governmental
authority, except such as have been obtained, such as may be required under
state securities or blue sky laws and, if the registration statement filed with
respect to the Securities (as amended) is not effective under the Act as of the
time of execution hereof, such as may be required (and shall be obtained as
provided in this Agreement) under the Act, or (B) conflict with or result in a
breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other agreement
or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective
properties are bound, or the charter documents or by-laws of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries, or any statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or
regulation of any court or other governmental authority or any arbitrator
applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(xv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus, neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any material loss or interference with
their respective businesses or properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident
or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding and there has not been any
material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), management, business
prospects, net worth, or results of the operations of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, except in each case as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus.
(xvi) The Company has not, directly or indirectly, (A) taken any action
designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities or (B) since the filing of the
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Registration Statement (1) sold, bid for, purchased, or paid anyone any
compensation for soliciting purchases of, the Securities or (2) paid or agreed
to pay to any person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any
other securities of the Company.
(xvii) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is
not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus), (A) the Company and
its subsidiaries have not incurred any material liability or obligation, direct
or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction not in the ordinary
course of business; (B) the Company has not purchased any of its outstanding
capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution
of any kind on its capital stock; and (C) there has not been any material change
in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries, except in each case as described in or contemplated
by the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus).
(xviii) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and
marketable title in fee simple to all items of real property and marketable
title to all personal property owned by each of them, in each case free and
clear of any security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other
defects, except such as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such
property and do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such
property by the Company or such subsidiary, and any real property and buildings
held under lease by the Company or any such subsidiary are held under valid,
subsisting and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and
do not interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property and
buildings by the Company or such subsidiary, in each case except as described in
or contemplated by the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence,
the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(xix) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries exists or is threatened or imminent that could result in a material
adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business prospects,
net worth or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, except
as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not
in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(xx) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on
reasonable terms, all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service
marks, trade names, licenses, copyrights and proprietary or other confidential
information currently employed by them in connection with their respective
businesses, and neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any
notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of any third party
with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, if the
subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business
prospects, net worth or results of operations of the Company and
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its subsidiaries, except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (or,
if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(xxi) The Company and each of its subsidiaries are insured by insurers
of recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in such
amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they are
engaged; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any
insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor any such
subsidiary has any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its
existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain
similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its
business at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect the condition
(financial or otherwise), business prospects, net worth or results of operations
of the Company and its subsidiaries, except as described in or contemplated by
the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus).
(xxii) No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly
or indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other
distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the Company
any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring
any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any other
subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus).
(xxiii) The Company and its subsidiaries possess all certificates,
authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state or foreign
regulatory authorities necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and
neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate,
authorization or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a material adverse
change in the condition (financial or otherwise), business prospects, net worth
or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, except as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in
existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(xxiv) The Company will conduct its operations in a manner that will
not subject it to registration as an investment company under the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and this transaction will not cause the Company
to become an investment company subject to registration under such Act.
(xxv) The Company has filed all foreign, federal, state and local tax
returns that are required to be filed or has requested extensions thereof
(except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries) and has paid all taxes
required to be paid by it and any other assessment, fine or penalty levied
against it, to the extent that any of the foregoing is due and payable, except
for any such assessment, fine or penalty that is currently being
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contested in good faith or as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus
(or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus).
(xxvi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation
of any federal or state law or regulation relating to occupational safety and
health or to the storage, handling or transportation of hazardous or toxic
materials and the Company and its subsidiaries have received all permits,
licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable federal and state
occupational safety and health and environmental laws and regulations to conduct
their respective businesses, and the Company and each such subsidiary is in
compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
approval, except any such violation of law or regulation, failure to receive
required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the
terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals which would not,
singly or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise), business prospects, net worth or results of operations
of the Company and its subsidiaries, except as described in or contemplated by
the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent
Preliminary Prospectus).
(xxvii) Each certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed
to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the
matters covered thereby.
(xxviii) Except for the shares of capital stock of each of the
subsidiaries owned by the Company and such subsidiaries, neither the Company nor
any such subsidiary owns any shares of stock or any other equity securities of
any corporation or has any equity interest in any firm, partnership, association
or other entity, except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (or,
if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(xxix) There are no holders of securities of the Company, who, by
reason of the filing of the Registration Statement, have the right (and have not
waived such right) to request the Company to register under the Act, or to
include in the Registration Statement, securities held by them.
(xxx) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (A)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorizations; (B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles and to maintain asset accountability; (C) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.
(xxxi) No default exists, and no event has occurred which, with notice
or lapse of time or both, would constitute a default in the due performance and
observance of
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any term, covenant or condition of any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease
or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
respective properties is bound or may be affected in any material adverse
respect with regard to property, business or operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
(xxxii) The reorganization of the Company as described in the
Registration Statement in the Section "Reorganization of the Company" (the
"Reorganization") has been consummated as described therein and was made in
compliance with the provisions of the Company's and its subsidiaries' respective
charter documents and by-laws and in compliance with all applicable laws.
(xxxiii) Each of the Amended and Restated Private Label Manufacturing
Agreement dated as of April 27, 1997 by and between Fuente Cigar Ltd. and Ashton
Distributors, Inc. (the "PLMA") and the Exclusive Distributorship Agreement
dated as of __________ by and between Fuente Cigar Ltd. and Ashton Distributors,
Inc. (the "Distributorship Agreement") has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and the other parties thereto, constitutes a legal,
valid and binding agreement enforceable in accordance with its terms and is in
full force and effect on the date hereof. A complete and correct copy of each of
the PLMA and the Distributorship Agreement has been delivered to you and no
changes have been made therein prior to the date hereof.
(xxxiv) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later of (A)
the Closing Date and (B) the completion of the distribution of the Securities,
will not distribute any offering material in connection with the offering and
sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or
supplement thereto, or other materials, if any permitted by the Act.
(b) The Securityholder represents and warrants to, and agrees with,
each of the several Underwriters that:
(i) The Securityholder has full power to enter into this Agreement and
to sell, assign, transfer and deliver to the Underwriters the Option Securities
to be sold by the Securityholder hereunder (if requested by the Representatives
as provided in Section 3 of this Agreement) in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement; and this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the
Securityholder and constitutes the legal, valid and binding agreement of the
Securityholder enforceable in accordance with its terms.
(ii) The Securityholder is the lawful owner of the Option Securities to
be sold by the Securityholder hereunder and upon sale and delivery of, and
payment for, such Securities, as provided herein, the Securityholder will convey
good and marketable title to such Securities, free and clear of any security
interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims or other defects.
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(iii) The Securityholder has not, directly or indirectly, (A) taken any
action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities or (B) since the filing of the Registration Statement (1) sold, bid
for, purchased, or paid anyone any compensation for soliciting purchases of, the
Securities or (2) paid or agreed to pay to any person any compensation for
soliciting another to purchase any other securities of the Company (except for
the sale of Securities by the Securityholder under this Agreement).
(iv) To the extent that any statements or omissions are made in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by the Securityholder specifically for use
therein, such Preliminary Prospectus did, and the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, when they become effective
or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be, will conform in all
material respects to the requirements of the Act and the respective rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they are made, not misleading. The Securityholder has
reviewed the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus is not in existence, the most
recent Preliminary Prospectus) and the Registration Statement, and the
information regarding the Securityholder set forth therein under the caption
"Principal and Selling Shareholder" is complete and accurate.
(v) The sale by the Securityholder of Option Securities pursuant hereto
is not prompted by any adverse information concerning the Company that is not
set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (or, if the Prospectus
is not in existence, the most recent Preliminary Prospectus).
(vi) The sale of the Option Securities to the Underwriters by the
Securityholder pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by the Securityholder
with the other provisions of this Agreement and the consummation of the other
transactions herein contemplated do not (A) require the consent, approval,
authorization, registration or qualification of or with any governmental
authority, except such as have been obtained, such as may be required under
state securities or blue sky laws and, if the registration statement filed with
respect to the Securities (as amended) is not effective under the Act as of the
time of execution hereof, such as may be required (and shall be obtained as
provided in this Agreement) under the Act, or (B) conflict with or result in a
breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
default under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other agreement
or instrument to which the Securityholder is a party or by which the
Securityholder or any of the Securityholder's properties are bound, or any
statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or regulation of any court or other
governmental authority or any arbitrator applicable to the Securityholder.
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(vii) The Securityholder has not distributed and, prior to the later of
(A) the Closing Date and (B) the completion of the distribution of the
Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto, or other materials, if any permitted by the Act.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities. (a) On the basis of
the representations, warranties, agreements and covenants herein contained and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at a purchase
price of $________ per share, the number of Firm Securities set forth opposite
the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto. One or more certificates in
definitive form for the Firm Securities that the several Underwriters have
agreed to purchase hereunder, and in such denomination or denominations and
registered in such name or names as the Representatives request upon notice to
the Company at least 48 hours prior to the Firm Closing Date, shall be delivered
by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives for the respective
accounts of the Underwriters, against payment by or on behalf of the
Underwriters of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer in same-day funds
(the "Wired Funds") to the account of the Company. Such delivery of and payment
for the Firm Securities shall be made at the offices of Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx
L.L.P., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 at 9:30 A.M., New York time,
on __________, 1997, or at such other place, time or date as the Representatives
and the Company may agree upon or as the Representatives may determine pursuant
to Section 9 hereof, such time and date of delivery against payment being herein
referred to as the "Firm Closing Date". The Company will make such certificate
or certificates for the Firm Securities available for checking and packaging by
the Representatives at the offices in New York, New York of the Company's
transfer agent or registrar or of Prudential Securities Incorporated at least 24
hours prior to the Firm Closing Date.
(b) For the purpose of covering any over-allotments in connection with
the distribution and sale of the Firm Securities as contemplated by the
Prospectus, the Securityholder hereby grants to the several Underwriters an
option to purchase, severally and not jointly, the Option Securities. The
purchase price to be paid for any Option Securities shall be the same price per
share as the price per share for the Firm Securities set forth above in
paragraph (a) of this Section 3. The option granted hereby may be exercised as
to all or any part of the Option Securities from time to time within thirty (30)
days after the date of the Prospectus (or, if such 30th day shall be a Saturday
or Sunday or a holiday, on the next business day thereafter when the New York
Stock Exchange is open for trading). The Underwriters shall not be under any
obligation to purchase any of the Option Securities prior to the exercise of
such option. The Representatives may from time to time exercise the option
granted hereby by giving notice in writing or by telephone (confirmed in
writing) to the Company and the Securityholder setting forth the aggregate
number of Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then
exercising the option and the date and time for delivery
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of and payment for such Option Securities. Any such date of delivery shall be
determined by the Representatives but shall not be earlier than two business
days or later than five business days after such exercise of the option and, in
any event, shall not be earlier than the Firm Closing Date. The time and date
set forth in such notice, or such other time on such other date as the
Representatives and the Securityholder may agree upon or as the Representatives
may determine pursuant to Section 9 hereof, is herein called the "Option Closing
Date" with respect to such Option Securities. Upon exercise of the option as
provided herein, the Securityholder shall become obligated to sell to each of
the several Underwriters, and, subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, each of the Underwriters (severally and not jointly) shall become
obligated to purchase from the Securityholder, the same percentage of the total
number of the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then
exercising the option as such Underwriter is obligated to purchase of the
aggregate number of Firm Securities, as adjusted by the Representatives in such
manner as they deem advisable to avoid fractional shares. If the option is
exercised as to all or any portion of the Option Securities, one or more
certificates in definitive form for such Option Securities, and payment
therefor, shall be delivered on the related Option Closing Date in the manner,
and upon the terms and conditions, set forth in paragraph (a) of this Section 3,
except that reference therein to the Firm Securities and the Firm Closing Date
shall be deemed, for purposes of this paragraph (b), to refer to such Option
Securities and Option Closing Date, respectively.
(c) Each of the Company and the Securityholder hereby acknowledges that
the wire transfer by or on behalf of the Underwriters of the purchase price for
any Securities does not constitute closing of a purchase and sale of the
Securities. Only execution and delivery of a receipt for Securities by the
Underwriters indicates completion of the closing of a purchase of the Securities
from the Company or the Securityholder, as the case may be. Furthermore, in the
event that the Underwriters wire funds to the Company or the Securityholder
prior to the completion of the closing of a purchase of Securities, each of the
Company and the Securityholder hereby acknowledges that until the Underwriters
execute and deliver a receipt for the Securities, by facsimile or otherwise, the
Company or the Securityholder, as the case may be, will not be entitled to the
wired funds and shall return the wired funds to the Underwriters as soon as
practicable (by wire transfer of same-day funds) upon demand. In the event that
the closing of a purchase of Securities is not completed and the wire funds are
not returned by the Company or the Securityholder, as the case may be, to the
Underwriters on the same day the wired funds were received by the Company or the
Securityholder, as the case may be, each of the Company and the Securityholder
agrees to pay to the Underwriters in respect of each day the wire funds are not
returned by it, in same-day funds, interest on the amount of such wire funds in
an amount representing the Underwriters' cost of financing as reasonably
determined by Prudential Securities Incorporated.
(d) It is understood that either of you, individually and not as one of
the Representatives, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment on behalf
of any Underwriter or Underwriters for any of the Securities to be purchased by
such
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Underwriter or Underwriters. No such payment shall relieve such Underwriter or
Underwriters from any of its or their obligations hereunder.
4. Offering by the Underwriters. Upon your authorization of the release
of the Firm Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm
Securities for sale to the public upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.
5. Covenants. (a) The Company covenants and agrees with each of the
Underwriters that:
(i) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the Registration
Statement, if not effective at the time of execution of this Agreement, and any
amendments thereto to become effective as promptly as possible. If required, the
Company will file the Prospectus or any Term Sheet that constitutes a part
thereof and any amendment or supplement thereto with the Commission in the
manner and within the time period required by Rules 434 and 424(b) under the
Act. During any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to
be delivered under the Act, the Company (A) will comply with all requirements
imposed upon it by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder to the extent necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or
dealings in the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and of the
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, and (B) will not file with the
Commission the Prospectus, Term Sheet or the amendment referred to in the second
sentence of Section 2(a)(i) hereof, any amendment or supplement to such
Prospectus, Term Sheet or any amendment to the Registration Statement or any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement of which the Representatives previously have
been advised and furnished with a copy for a reasonable period of time prior to
the proposed filing and as to which filing the Representatives shall not have
given their consent. The Company will prepare and file with the Commission, in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission, promptly upon
request by the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, any amendments
to the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
that may be necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the
Securities by the several Underwriters, and will use its best efforts to cause
any such amendment to the Registration Statement to be declared effective by the
Commission as promptly as possible. The Company will advise the Representatives,
promptly after receiving notice thereof, of the time when the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed or declared effective or the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto has been filed and will
provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of each such filing or
effectiveness.
(ii) The Company will advise the Representatives, promptly after
receiving notice or obtaining knowledge thereof, of (A) the issuance by the
Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Original
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto or any order preventing or suspending the use of any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto,
(B) the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or sale
in any jurisdiction, (C) the institution, threatening or
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contemplation of any proceeding for any such purpose or (D) any request made by
the Commission for amending the Original Registration Statement or any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement, for amending or supplementing the Prospectus or
for additional information. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order and, if any such stop order is issued, to obtain
the withdrawal thereof as promptly as possible.
(iii) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the Securities
for offering and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and will continue such
qualifications in effect for as long as may be necessary to complete the
distribution of the Securities, provided, however, that in connection therewith
the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to
execute a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.
(iv) If, at any time prior to the later of (A) the final date when a
prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act
or (B) the Option Closing Date, any event occurs as a result of which the
Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, would 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, or if for any other reason it is necessary at any time to
amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with the Act or the rules or
regulations of the Commission thereunder, the Company will promptly notify the
Representatives thereof and, subject to Section 5(a)(i) hereof, will prepare and
file with the Commission, at the Company's expense, an amendment to the
Registration Statement or an amendment or supplement to the Prospectus that
corrects such statement or omission or effects such compliance.
(v) The Company will, without charge, provide (A) to the
Representatives and to counsel for the Underwriters a signed copy of the
registration statement originally filed with respect to the Securities and each
amendment thereto (in each case including exhibits thereto) or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company to be true and complete copies thereof as filed with the Commission
by electronic transmission, (B) to each other Underwriter, a conformed copy of
such registration statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and each
amendment thereto (in each case without exhibits thereto) and (C) so long as a
prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act,
as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment
or supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably request; without
limiting the application of clause (C) of this sentence, the Company, not later
than (A) 6:00 PM, New York City time, on the date of determination of the public
offering price, if such determination occurred at or prior to 10:00 A.M., New
York City time, on such date or (B) 2:00 PM, New York City time, on the business
day following the date of determination of the public offering price, if such
determination occurred after 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on such date, will
deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, as many copies of the Prospectus
and any amendment or supplement thereto as the Representatives may reasonably
request for purposes of confirming
-15-
orders that are expected to settle on the Firm Closing Date. The Company will
provide or cause to be provided to each of the Representatives, and to each
Underwriter that so requests in writing, a copy of each report on Form SR filed
by the Company as required by Rule 463 under the Act.
(vi) The Company, as soon as practicable, will make generally available
to its securityholders and to the Representatives a consolidated earnings
statement of the Company and its subsidiaries that satisfies the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158 thereunder.
(vii) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Securities as set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(viii) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, without the prior
written consent of Prudential Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the
Underwriters, offer, sell, offer to sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any
option to purchase or otherwise sell or dispose (or announce any offer, sale,
offer of sale, contract of sale, pledge, grant of any option to purchase or
other sale or disposition) of any shares of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into, or exchangeable or exercisable for, shares of Common Stock for
a period of 180 days after the date hereof, except pursuant to this Agreement
and except for issuances pursuant to the exercise of outstanding employee stock
options and pursuant to options granted under the Company's stock option plans.
(ix) The Company will not, directly or indirectly, (A) take any action
designed to cause or to result in, or that has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities or (B) (1) sell, bid for, purchase, or pay anyone any compensation
for soliciting purchases of, the Securities or (2) pay or agree to pay to any
person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities
of the Company.
(x) The Company will obtain the agreements described in Section 7(j)
hereof prior to the Firm Closing Date.
(xi) If at any time during the 25-day period after the Registration
Statement becomes effective or the period prior to the Option Closing Date, any
rumor, publication or event relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as
a result of which in your opinion the market price of the Common Stock has been
or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor,
publication or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the
Prospectus), the Company will, after notice from you advising the Company to the
effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you concerning the
substance of, and disseminate a press release or other public statement,
reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such rumor,
publication or event.
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(xii) If the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b), the Company shall
both file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance
with Rule 462(b) and pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111
promulgated under the Act by the earlier of (A) 10:00 P.M. Eastern time on the
date of this Agreement and (B) the time confirmations are sent or given, as
specified by Rule 462(b)(2).
(xiii) The Company will cause the securities to be included for
quotation on The Nasdaq Stock Market's National Market (the "Nasdaq National
Market") prior to the Firm Closing Date. The Company will ensure that the
Securities remain included for quotation on the Nasdaq National Market following
the Firm Closing Date.
(b) The Securityholder covenants and agrees with each of the several
Underwriters that:
(i) Such Securityholder will not, directly or indirectly, (A) take any
action designed to cause or result in, or that has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the
price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Securities or (B) (1) sell, bid for, purchase, or pay anyone any compensation
for soliciting purchases of, the Securities or (2) pay or agree to pay to any
person any compensation for soliciting another to purchase any other securities
of the Company other than as provided by this Agreement.
(ii) The Securityholder will not, directly or indirectly, without the
prior written consent of Prudential Securities Incorporated, offer, sell, offer
to sell, contract to sell, grant any option to purchase or otherwise sell or
dispose (or announce any offer, sale, offer of sale, contract of sale, grant of
any option to purchase or other sale or disposition) of any Securities legally
or beneficially owned by such Securityholder or any securities convertible into,
or exchangeable or exercisable for, Securities for a period of 180 days after
the date hereof, except for up to an aggregate of _____ shares of Common Stock
that may be sold by the Securityholder pursuant to options previously granted to
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx and Xxxxx Xxxxx.
(iii) As soon as the Securityholder is advised thereof, the
Securityholder will advise the Representatives (and immediately thereafter
confirm such advise in writing), (A) of receipt by the Securityholder or by any
representative or agent of the Securityholder, of any communication from the
Commission relating to the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any
Preliminary Prospectus, or any notice or order of the Commission relating to the
Company or the Securityholder in connection with the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement and (B) of the happening of any event which makes or may make
any statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus relating to the Securityholder untrue
or that requires the making of any change in the Registration Statement,
Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to make such
statement, in light of the circumstances in which it was made, not misleading.
-17-
6. Expenses. The Company will pay all costs and expenses incident to
the performance of its and the Securityholder's obligations under this
Agreement, whether or not the transactions contemplated herein are consummated
or this Agreement is terminated pursuant to Section 11 hereof, including all
costs and expenses incident to (i) the printing or other production of documents
with respect to the transactions, including any costs of printing the
registration statement originally filed with respect to the Securities and any
amendment thereto, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, this
Agreement and any blue sky memoranda, (ii) all arrangements relating to the
delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the foregoing documents, (iii) the
fees and disbursements of the counsel, the accountants and any other experts or
advisors retained by the Company, (iv) preparation, issuance and delivery to the
Underwriters of any certificates evidencing the Securities, including transfer
agent's and registrar's fees, (v) the qualification of the Securities under
state securities and blue sky laws, including filing fees and fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters relating thereto, (vi) the filing
fees of the Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
relating to the Securities, (vii) any quotation of the Securities on the Nasdaq
National Market, (viii) any meetings with prospective investors in the
Securities (other than as shall have been specifically approved by the
Representatives to be paid for by the Underwriters), and (ix) advertising
related to the offering of the Securities (other than as shall have been
specifically approved by the Representatives to be paid for by the
Underwriters). 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 7 hereof is not satisfied, because this Agreement is terminated
pursuant to Section 11 hereof or because of any failure, refusal or inability on
the part of the Company to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on
its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including counsel fees and
disbursements) that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the
proposed purchase and sale of the Securities. The Company shall not in any event
be liable to any of the Underwriters for the loss of anticipated profits from
the transactions covered by this Agreement.
7. Conditions of the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities shall be
subject, in the Representatives' sole discretion, to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company and the Securityholder contained
herein as of the date hereof and as of the Firm Closing Date, as if made on and
as of the Firm Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company's
officers made pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its covenants and agreements hereunder and to the following
additional conditions:
(a) If the Original Registration Statement or any amendment thereto
filed prior to the Firm Closing Date has not been declared effective as of the
time of execution hereof, the Original Registration Statement or such amendment
and, if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement
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shall have been declared effective not later than the earlier of (i) 11:00 A.M.,
New York time, on the date on which the amendment to the registration statement
originally filed with respect to the Securities or to the Registration
Statement, as the case may be, containing information regarding the initial
public offering price of the Securities has been filed with the Commission and
(ii) the time confirmations are sent or given as specified by Rule 462(b)(2), or
with respect to the Original Registration Statement, or such later time and date
as shall have been consented to by the Representatives; if required, the
Prospectus or any Term Sheet that constitutes a part thereof and any amendment
or supplement thereto shall have been filed with the Commission in the manner
and within the time period required by Rules 434 and 424(b) under the Act; no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto shall have been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose
shall have been instituted or threatened or, to the knowledge of the Company or
the Representatives, shall be contemplated by the Commission; and the Company
shall have complied with any request of the Commission for additional
information (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
otherwise).
(b) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Firm
Closing Date, of Fox, Rothschild, O'Brien & Xxxxxxx, LLP, counsel for the
Company, to the effect that:
(i) the Company and each of its subsidiaries listed in Exhibit
21 to the Registration Statement (the "Subsidiaries") have been duly
organized and are validly existing as corporations in good standing
under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of incorporation and
are duly qualified to transact business as foreign corporations and are
in good standing under the laws of all other jurisdictions where the
ownership or leasing of their respective properties or the conduct of
their respective businesses requires such qualification, except where
the failure to be so qualified does not amount to a material liability
or disability to the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(ii) the Company and each of the Subsidiaries have corporate
power to own or lease their respective properties and conduct their
respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, and the Company has corporate power to enter into this
Agreement and to carry out all the terms and provisions hereof to be
carried out by it;
(iii) the issued shares of capital stock of each of the
Subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully
paid and nonassessable and are owned beneficially by the Company free
and clear of any perfected security interests or, to the best knowledge
of such counsel, any other security interests, liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims;
(iv) the Company has an authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus; all of the issued shares
of capital stock of the Company, including the Option Securities, have
been duly
-19-
authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable,
have been issued in compliance with all applicable federal and state
securities laws and were not issued in violation of or subject to any
preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or purchase
securities; the Firm Securities have been duly authorized by all
necessary corporate action of the Company and, when issued and
delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable; the
Securities have been duly included for trading on the Nasdaq National
Market; no holders of outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company are entitled as such to any preemptive or other rights to
subscribe for any of the Securities; and no holders of securities of
the Company are entitled to have such securities registered under the
Registration Statement;
(v) the statements set forth under the heading "Description of
Capital Stock" in the Prospectus, insofar as such statements purport to
summarize certain provisions of the capital stock of the Company,
provide a fair summary of such provisions; and the statements set forth
under the headings "Risk Factors - Extensive and Increasing Regulation
of Tobacco Products" and "- Tobacco Industry Litigation,"
"Reorganization of the Company," "Business - Intellectual Property,"
"Business - The Tobacco Industry" and "Description of Capital Stock" in
the Prospectus, insofar as such statements constitute a summary of the
legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, provide a
fair summary of such legal matters, documents and proceedings;
(vi) the execution and delivery of this Agreement have been
duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and
this Agreement has been duly executed and delivered by the Company;
(vii) to the best knowledge of such counsel, (A) no legal or
governmental proceedings are pending to which the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries is a party or to which the property of the Company or any
of the Subsidiaries is subject that are required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not described therein
and no such proceedings have been threatened against the Company or any
of the Subsidiaries or with respect to any of their respective
properties and (B) no contract or other document is required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement that is not described
therein or filed as required;
(viii) the issuance, offering and sale of the Securities to
the Underwriters by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, the
compliance by the Company with the other provisions of this Agreement
and the consummation of the other transactions herein contemplated do
not (A) require the consent, approval, authorization, registration or
qualification of or with any governmental authority, except such as
have been obtained and such as may be required under state securities
or blue sky laws, or (B) conflict with or result in a breach or
-20-
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other
agreement or instrument, known to such counsel, to which the Company or
any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries or any of their respective properties are bound, or
the charter documents or by-laws of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries, or any statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or
regulation of any court or other governmental authority or any
arbitrator known to such counsel and applicable to the Company or
Subsidiaries;
(ix) the Reorganization was consummated as described in the
Registration Statement and was in compliance with the provisions of the
Company's and the Subsidiaries' respective charter documents and
by-laws and in compliance with all applicable laws and all required
filings with federal or state authorities necessary to consummate the
Reorganization have been made;
(x) the Registration Statement is effective under the Act; any
required filing of the Prospectus, or any Term Sheet that constitutes a
part thereof, pursuant to Rules 434 and 424(b) has been made in the
manner and within the time period required by Rules 434 and 424(b); and
no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any amendment thereto has been issued, and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or threatened or, to the best
knowledge of such counsel, are contemplated by the Commission; and
(xi) the Registration Statement originally filed with respect
to the Securities and each amendment thereto, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (in each case, other than the
financial statements and other financial information contained therein,
as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in
all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(xii) if the Company elects to rely on Rule 434, the
Prospectus is not "materially different", as such term is used in Rule
434, from the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the
time of its effectiveness or an effective post-effective amendment
thereto (including such information that is permitted to be omitted
pursuant to Rule 430A).
Such counsel shall also state that they have no reason to believe that
the Registration Statement, as of its effective date, contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or
that the Prospectus, as of its date or the date of such opinion, included or
includes any 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.
-21-
In rendering any such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters of
fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials.
References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
paragraph (b) shall include any amendment or supplement thereto at the date of
such opinion.
(c) The Securityholder shall have furnished to the Representatives the
opinion of Fox, Rothschild, O'Brien & Xxxxxxx, LLP, counsel for the
Securityholder, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Securityholder has full power to enter into this
Agreement and to sell, transfer and deliver the Option Securities in
the manner provided in this Agreement and to perform his obligations
under this Agreement; this Agreement has been duly executed and
delivered by the Securityholder and is the legal, valid, binding and
enforceable agreement of the Securityholder, subject to applicable
bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors' rights
generally and subject, as to enforceability, to general principles of
equity (regardless of whether enforcement is sought in a proceeding in
equity or at law);
(ii) the delivery by the Securityholder to the several
Underwriters of certificates for the Option Securities against payment
therefor as provided herein, will convey good and marketable title to
such Securities to the several Underwriters, free and clear of all
security interests, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims or other
defects;
(iii) the sale of the Option Securities to the Underwriters by
the Securityholder pursuant to this Agreement, the compliance by the
Securityholder with the other provisions of this Agreement and the
consummation of the other transactions herein contemplated do not (A)
require the consent, approval, authorization, registration or
qualification of or with any governmental authority, except such as
have been obtained and such as may be required under state securities
or blue sky laws, or (B) conflict with or result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
default under any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease or other
agreement or instrument to which the Securityholder is a party or by
which the Securityholder or any of the Securityholder's properties are
bound, or any statute or any judgment, decree, order, rule or
regulation of any court or other governmental authority or any
arbitrator applicable to the Securityholder.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely, as to matters of
fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials.
-22-
References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
paragraph (c) shall include any amendment or supplement thereto at the date of
such opinion.
[(d) Placeholder for Dominican Republic counsel opinion]
(e) The Representatives shall have received an opinion, dated the Firm
Closing Date, of Fulbright & Xxxxxxxx L.L.P., New York, New York, counsel for
the Underwriters, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Firm Securities,
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and such other related matters as
the Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished
to such counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(f) The Representatives shall have received from Price Waterhouse,
L.L.P. a letter or letters dated, respectively, the date hereof and the Firm
Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the
effect that:
(i) they are independent accountants with respect to the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act
and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder;
(ii) in their opinion, the audited consolidated financial
statements and schedules examined by them and included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply in form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
Act and the related published rules and regulations;
(iii) on the basis of a reading of the latest available
interim unaudited consolidated condensed financial statements of the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, carrying out certain
specified procedures (which do not constitute an examination made in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) that would not
necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the comments
set forth in this paragraph (iii), a reading of the minute books of the
shareholders, the board of directors and any committees thereof of the
Company and each of its consolidated subsidiaries, and inquiries of
certain officials of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries who
have responsibility for financial and accounting matters, nothing came
to their attention that caused them to believe that: (A) the unaudited
consolidated condensed financial statements of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus do not comply in form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the related published
rules and regulations thereunder or are not in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles applied on a basis
substantially consistent with that of the audited consolidated
financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus; (B) at a specific date not more than five business days
prior to the date of such letter, there were any changes in the capital
stock
-23-
or long-term debt of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or
any decreases in net current assets or stockholders' equity of the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries, in each case compared with
amounts shown on the September 30, 1997 unaudited consolidated balance
sheet included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, or for
the period from October 1, 1997 to such specified date total revenues,
gross profit, operating income, net income and income per share of the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries were not at least ________%
of the comparable amounts for the comparable period in the prior year,
except in all instances for changes, decreases or increases set forth
in such letter;
(iv) they have carried out certain specified procedures, not
constituting an audit, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and
financial information that are derived from the general accounting
records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and are
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the
captions "Prospectus Summary," "Risk Factors," "Use of Proceeds,"
"Capitalization," "Dilution," "Selected Financial Data," "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," "Business," "Management," "Certain Transactions,"
"Principal and Selling Stockholder," and "Description of Capital
Stock," and in Exhibit 11 to the Registration Statement, and have
compared such amounts, percentages and financial information with such
records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and with
information derived from such records and have found them to be in
agreement, excluding any questions of legal interpretation; and
(v) on the basis of a reading of the unaudited pro forma
consolidated financial statements included in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, carrying out certain specified procedures
that would not necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect
to the comments set forth in this paragraph (v), inquiries of certain
officials of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries who have
responsibility for financial and accounting matters and proving the
arithmetic accuracy of the application of the pro forma adjustments to
the historical amounts in the unaudited pro forma consolidated
financial statements, nothing came to their attention that caused them
to believe that the unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed
financial statements do not comply in form in all material respects
with the applicable accounting requirements of Rule 11-02 of Regulation
S-X or that the pro forma adjustments have not been properly applied to
the historical amounts in the compilation of such statements.
In the event that the letters referred to above set forth any such
changes, decreases or increases, it shall be a further condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters that (A) such letters shall be accompanied by a
written explanation of the Company as to the significance thereof, unless the
Representatives deem such explanation unnecessary, and (B) such changes,
decreases or increases do not, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, make
it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with
-24-
the purchase and delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration
Statement, as amended as of the date hereof.
References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
paragraph (f) with respect to either letter referred to above shall include any
amendment or supplement thereto at the date of such letter.
(g) The Representatives shall have received from Xxxxxxxxxx, Master &
Xxxxxx, P.C. a letter or letters dated, respectively, the date hereof and the
Firm Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to
the effect that:
(i) they are independent accountants with respect to the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act
and the applicable rules and regulations thereunder;
(ii) in their opinion, the audited consolidated financial
statements and schedules examined by them and included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply in form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
Act and the related published rules and regulations; and
(iii) they have carried out certain specified procedures, not
constituting an audit, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and
financial information that are derived from the general accounting
records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and are
included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus under the
captions "Prospectus Summary," "Risk Factors," "Use of Proceeds,"
"Capitalization," "Dilution," "Selected Financial Data," "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," "Business," "Management," "Certain Transactions,"
"Principal and Selling Stockholder," and "Description of Capital
Stock," and in Exhibit 11 to the Registration Statement, and have
compared such amounts, percentages and financial information with such
records of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and with
information derived from such records and have found them to be in
agreement, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.
In the event that the letters referred to above set forth any such
changes, decreases or increases, it shall be a further condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters that (A) such letters shall be accompanied by a
written explanation of the Company as to the significance thereof, unless the
Representatives deem such explanation unnecessary, and (B) such changes,
decreases or increases do not, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, make
it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the purchase and delivery of the
Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, as amended as of the
date hereof.
Reference to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this
paragraph (g) with respect to either letter referred to above shall include any
amendment or supplement thereto at the date of such letter.
-25-
(h) The Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated the
Firm Closing Date, of the principal executive officer and the principal
financial or accounting officer of the Company to the effect that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct as if made on and as of the Firm Closing
Date; the Registration Statement, as amended as of the Firm Closing
Date, does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the
Firm Closing Date, does not include any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; and the Company has performed all covenants
and agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed
or satisfied at or prior to the Firm Closing Date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been issued, and no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened or, to
the best of the Company's knowledge, are contemplated by the
Commission; and
(iii) subsequent to the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any
material loss or interference with their respective businesses or
properties from fire, flood, hurricane, accident or other calamity,
whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any
legal or governmental proceeding, and there has not been any material
adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material
adverse change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), management,
business prospects, net worth or results of operations of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries, except in each case as described in or
contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement thereto).
(i) The Representatives shall have received a certificate from the
Securityholder, signed by the Securityholder, dated the Closing Date, to the
effect that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Securityholder
in this Agreement are true and correct as if made on and as of the
Closing Date;
(ii) the Registration Statement, as amended as of the Closing
Date, does not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as of the
Closing Date, does not include any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; and
-26-
(iii) the Securityholder has performed all covenants and
agreements on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the
Closing Date.
(j) The Representatives shall have received from each person who is a
director or officer of the Company, who owns Common Stock or who has an option
to acquire Common Stock an agreement to the effect that such person will not,
directly or indirectly, without the prior written consent of Prudential
Securities Incorporated, on behalf of the Underwriters, offer, sell, offer to
sell, contract to sell, pledge, grant any option to purchase or otherwise sell
or dispose (or announce any offer, sale, offer of sale, contract of sale,
pledge, grant of an option to purchase or other sale or disposition) of any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable or
exercisable for, shares of Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date
of this Agreement.
(k) On or before the Firm Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel
for the Underwriters shall have received such further certificates, documents or
other information as they may have reasonably requested from the Company.
(l) Prior to the commencement of the offering of the Securities, the
Securities shall have been included for trading on the Nasdaq National Market.
(m) The PLMA and the Distributorship Agreement shall be in full force
and effect and no changes or amendments shall have been made thereto.
All opinions, certificates, letters and documents delivered pursuant to
this Agreement will comply with the provisions hereof only if they are
reasonably satisfactory in all material respects to the Representatives and
counsel for the Underwriters. The Company shall furnish to the Representatives
such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents in
such quantities as the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall
reasonably request.
The respective obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and
pay for any Option Securities shall be subject, in their discretion, to each of
the foregoing conditions to purchase the Firm Securities, except that all
references to the Firm Securities and the Firm Closing Date shall be deemed to
refer to such Option Securities and the related Option Closing Date,
respectively.
8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company and the
Securityholder jointly and severally agree to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act"), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities,
joint or several, to which such Underwriter or such controlling person may
become subject under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon:
-27-
(i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement made by
the Company or the Securityholder in Section 2 of this Agreement,
(ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in (A) the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto or (B) any application or other
document, or any amendment or supplement thereto, executed by the
Company or the Securityholder or based upon written information
furnished by or on behalf of the Company or the Securityholder filed in
any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Securities under the
securities or blue sky laws thereof or filed with the Commission or any
securities association or securities exchange (each an "Application"),
(iii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or
any Application a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or
(iv) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in any audio or visual materials used in
connection with the marketing of the Securities, including without
limitation, slides, videos, films, tape recordings,
and will reimburse, as incurred, each Underwriter and each such
controlling person for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
Underwriter or such controlling person in connection with investigating,
defending against or appearing as a third-party witness in connection with any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company and the Securityholder 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 untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission
made in such registration statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto or any
Application in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use therein; and provided, further, that the Company and the
Securityholder will not be liable to any Underwriter or any person controlling
such Underwriter with respect to any such untrue statement or omission made in
any Preliminary Prospectus that is corrected in the Prospectus (or any amendment
or supplement thereto) if the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or
liability purchased Securities from such Underwriter but was not sent or given a
copy of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person in any case where
such delivery of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) is required by the
Act, unless such failure to deliver the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented)
was a result of noncompliance by the Company with Section 5(a)(iv) or 5(a)(v) of
this Agreement. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to
-28-
any liability which the Company and the Securityholder may otherwise have.
Neither the Company nor the Securityholder will, without the prior written
consent of the Underwriter or Underwriters purchasing, in the aggregate, more
than fifty percent (50%) of the Securities, settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment in any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether
or not any such Underwriter or any person who controls any such Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act is
a party to such claim, action, suit or proceeding), unless such settlement,
compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of all of the
Underwriters and such controlling persons from all liability arising out of such
claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(b) Each Underwriter will, severally and not jointly, indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
signed the Registration Statement, the Securityholder and each person, if any,
who controls the Company or the Securityholder within the meaning of Section 15
of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities to which the Company, any such director or officer of the
Company, the Securityholder or any such controlling person of the Company or the
Securityholder may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in the Registration Statement or
any amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application or (ii) the omission or the
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated in the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, any Preliminary Prospectus or
the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Application or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
through the Representatives specifically for use therein; and, subject to the
limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, will reimburse, as
incurred, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company, any
such director, officer or controlling person or the Securityholder in connection
with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or any
action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which such Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) 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 of the commencement thereof; but the
omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any
liability which it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under this
Section 8. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and
it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party will be entitled to participate therein
-29-
and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
such indemnified party; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such
action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be one or more
legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
indemnifying party shall not have the right to direct the defense of such action
on behalf of such indemnified party or parties and such indemnified party or
parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to defend such action on
behalf of such indemnified party or parties. After notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof
and approval by such indemnified party of counsel appointed to defend such
action, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party
under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable
costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in
connection with the defense thereof, unless (i) the indemnified party shall have
employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding
sentence (it being understood, however, that in connection with such action the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel (in addition to local counsel) in any one action or separate
but substantially similar actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the
same general allegations or circumstances, designated by the Representatives in
the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 8, representing the indemnified
parties under such paragraph (a) who are parties to such action or actions) or
(ii) the indemnifying party does not promptly retain counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment
of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party.
After such notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party, the
indemnifying party will not be liable for the costs and expenses of any
settlement of such action effected by such indemnified party without the consent
of the indemnifying party.
(d) In circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in
the preceding paragraphs of this Section is unavailable or insufficient, for any
reason, to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), each indemnifying party,
in order to provide for just and equitable contribution, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect (i) the relative benefits received by
the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on
the other from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided
by the foregoing clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection
with the statements or omissions or alleged statements or omissions that
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company and the Securityholder on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other shall be deemed
-30-
to be in the same proportion as the total proceeds from the offering (before
deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Securityholder bear to the
total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters. The
relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other
things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company, the Securityholder or the Underwriters, the parties'
relative intents, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission, and any other equitable considerations
appropriate in the circumstances. The Company, the Securityholder and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be equitable if the amount of such
contribution were determined by pro rata or per capita allocation (even if the
Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method
of allocation that does not take into account the equitable considerations
referred to above in this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of
this paragraph (d), no Underwriter shall be obligated to make contributions
hereunder that in the aggregate exceed the total public offering price of the
Securities purchased by such Underwriter under this Agreement, less the
aggregate amount of any damages that such Underwriter has otherwise been
required to pay in respect of the same or any substantially similar claim, and
no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to
contribute hereunder are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint, and contributions among Underwriters shall be
governed by the provisions of the Prudential Securities Incorporated Master
Agreement Among Underwriters. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person,
if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company
who signed the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company or the Securityholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to contribution as
the Company or the Securityholder, as the case may be.
(e) The liability of the Securityholder under this Section 8 shall not
exceed an amount equal to the sum of (i) the aggregate public offering price of
any Option Securities sold by the Securityholder to the Underwriters plus (ii)
the aggregate amount of S Corporation distributions paid to the Securityholder
by the Company or its subsidiaries subsequent to July 1, 1997.
9. Default of Underwriters. If one or more Underwriters default in
their obligations to purchase Firm Securities or Option Securities hereunder and
the aggregate number of such Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase is ten percent or less of the
aggregate number of Firm Securities or Option Securities to be purchased by all
of the Underwriters at such time hereunder, the other Underwriters may make
arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives for the purchase of such
Securities by other persons (who may include
-31-
one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, including the Representatives),
but if no such arrangements are made by the Firm Closing Date or the related
Option Closing Date, as the case may be, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated severally in proportion to their respective commitments hereunder to
purchase the Firm Securities or Option Securities that such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase. If one or more
Underwriters so default with respect to an aggregate number of Securities that
is more than ten percent of the aggregate number of Firm Securities or Option
Securities, as the case may be, to be purchased by all of the Underwriters at
such time hereunder, and if arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives are
not made within 36 hours after such default for the purchase by other persons
(who may include one or more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, including the
Representatives) of the Securities with respect to which such default occurs,
this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company other than as provided in Section 10
hereof. In the event of any default by one or more Underwriters as described in
this Section 9, the Representatives shall have the right to postpone the Firm
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, established as
provided in Section 3 hereof for not more than seven business days in order that
any necessary changes may be made in the arrangements or documents for the
purchase and delivery of the Firm Securities or Option Securities, as the case
may be. As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" includes any person
substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 9. Nothing herein shall
relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
10. Survival. The respective representations, warranties, agreements,
covenants, indemnities and other statements of the Company, its officers, the
Securityholder and the several Underwriters set forth in this Agreement or made
by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement shall remain
in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Company, any of its officers or directors, the Securityholder, any
Underwriter or any controlling person referred to in Section 8 hereof and (ii)
delivery of and payment for the Securities. The respective agreements,
covenants, indemnities and other statements set forth in Sections 6 and 8 hereof
shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or
cancellation of this Agreement.
11. Termination. (a) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to
the Firm Securities or any Option Securities in the sole discretion of the
Representatives by notice to the Company and the Securityholder given prior to
the Firm Closing Date or the related Option Closing Date, respectively, in the
event that the Company or the Securityholder shall have failed, refused or been
unable to perform all obligations and satisfy all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior thereto or, if at or prior to the
Firm Closing Date or such Option Closing Date, respectively,
(i) the Company or any of its subsidiaries shall have, in the
sole judgment of the Representatives, sustained any material loss or
interference with their respective businesses or properties from fire,
flood, hurricane, accident or
-32-
other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor
dispute or any legal or governmental proceeding or there shall have
been any material adverse change, or any development involving a
prospective material adverse change (including without limitation a
change in management or control of the Company), in the condition
(financial or otherwise), business prospects, net worth or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in each case as
described in or contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendment or supplement thereto);
(ii) trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended by
the Commission or the Nasdaq National Market or trading in securities
generally on the New York Stock Exchange or Nasdaq National Market
shall have been suspended or minimum or maximum prices shall have been
established on any such exchange or market system;
(iii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared by New
York or United States authorities; or
(iv) there shall have been (A) an outbreak or escalation of
hostilities between the United States and any foreign power, (B) an
outbreak or escalation of any other insurrection or armed conflict
involving the United States or (C) any other calamity or crisis or
material adverse change in general economic, political or financial
conditions having an effect on the U.S. financial markets that, in the
sole judgment of the Representatives, makes it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement, as amended as
of the date hereof.
(b) Termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 11 shall be
without liability of any party to any other party except as provided in Section
10 hereof.
12. Information Supplied by Underwriters. The statements set forth in
the last paragraph on the front cover page and under the heading "Underwriting"
in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (to the extent such statements
relate to the Underwriters) constitute the only information furnished by any
Underwriter through the Representatives to the Company for the purposes of
Sections 2(a)(ii) and 8 hereof. The Underwriters confirm that such statements
(to such extent) are correct.
13. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and, if
sent to any of the Underwriters, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission and confirmed in writing to Prudential Securities
Incorporated, Xxx Xxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Equity
Transactions Group; and if sent to the Company or the Securityholder, shall be
delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission and confirmed in
writing to the Company or the Securityholder at 00000 Xxxxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx 00000.
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14. Successors. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and shall
be binding upon the several Underwriters, the Company, the Securityholder and
their respective successors and legal representatives, and nothing expressed or
mentioned in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other
person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this
Agreement, or any provisions herein contained, this Agreement and all conditions
and provisions hereof being intended to be and being for the sole and exclusive
benefit of such persons and for the benefit of no other person except that (i)
the indemnities of the Company and the Securityholder contained in Section 8 of
this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of any person or persons who
control any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act and (ii) the indemnities of the Underwriters contained in
Section 8 of this Agreement shall also be for the benefit of the directors of
the Company, the officers of the Company who have signed the Registration
Statement and any person or persons who control the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act and the
Securityholder. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed
a successor because of such purchase.
15. Applicable Law. The validity and interpretation of this Agreement,
and the terms and conditions set forth herein, shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without giving
effect to any provisions relating to conflicts of laws.
16. Consent to Jurisdiction and Service of Process. All judicial
proceedings arising out of or relating to this Agreement may be brought in any
state or federal court of competent jurisdiction in the State of New York, and
by execution and delivery of this Agreement, each of the Company and the
Securityholder accepts for itself and in connection with its properties,
generally and unconditionally, the nonexclusive jurisdiction of the aforesaid
courts and waives any defense of forum non conveniens and irrevocably agrees to
be bound by any judgment rendered thereby in connection with this Agreement.
Each of the Company and the Securityholder designates and appoints
__________________, and such other persons as may hereafter be selected by the
Company or the Securityholder irrevocably agreeing in writing to so serve, as
its agent to receive on its behalf service of all process in any such
proceedings in any such court, such service being hereby acknowledged by the
Company and the Securityholder to be effective and binding service in every
respect. A copy of any such process so served shall be mailed by registered mail
to the Company and the Securityholder at its address provided in Section 13
hereof; provided, however, that, unless otherwise provided by applicable law,
any failure to mail such copy shall not affect the validity of service of such
process. If any agent appointed by the Company or the Securityholder refuses to
accept service, each of the Company and the Securityholder hereby agrees that
service of process sufficient for personal jurisdiction in any action against
the Company or the Securityholder in the State of New York may be made by
registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the Company or the
Securityholder at its address provided in Section 13 hereof, and the Company and
the Securityholder hereby acknowledges that such service shall be effective and
binding in every respect. Nothing herein shall affect the right to serve process
in any other manner permitted by law or shall limit the
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right of any Underwriter to bring proceedings against the Company or the
Securityholder in the courts of any other jurisdiction.
17. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed an original, but all of which
together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
If the foregoing correctly sets forth our understanding, please
indicate your acceptance thereof in the space provided below for that purpose,
whereupon this letter shall constitute an agreement binding the Company and each
of the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
XXXX'X CIGAR HOLDINGS, INC.
By
----------------------------------
[Title]
-------------------------------------
Xxxxxx Xxxxx
The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.
PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
XXXXXX XXXXXXXXXX XXXXX, INC.
By PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INCORPORATED
By
------------------
Xxxx-Xxxxxx Canfin
Managing Director
For itself and on behalf of the Representatives.
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SCHEDULE 1
UNDERWRITERS
Number of Firm
Securities to
Underwriter be Purchased
----------- --------------
Prudential Securities Incorporated. . . . . . .
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Inc. . . . . . . . . .
---------------
Total ..............
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