6,000,000] Shares PREMIUM STANDARD FARMS, INC. COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE) UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
Draft 5/9/06
[6,000,000] Shares
COMMON STOCK (PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE)
[•], 2006
[•], 2006
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The shareholders named in Schedule I hereto (each a “Selling Shareholder” and collectively,
the “Selling Shareholders”) severally propose to sell to the Underwriter named in Schedule II
hereto (the “Underwriter”) an aggregate of [6,000,000] shares (the “Shares”) of the Common Stock
(par value $0.01 per share) of Premium Standard Farms, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
“Company”). Each Selling Shareholder is selling the amount set forth opposite such Selling
Shareholder’s name under “Number of Shares To Be Sold” in Schedule I hereto.
The shares of Common Stock (par value $0.01 per share) of the Company to be outstanding after
giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the “Common Stock.”
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a
registration statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 333-132963), including a prospectus, relating
to the Shares, and the offering by the Selling Shareholders of an additional ___shares of
Common Stock from time to time in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the “Securities Act”). The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes
effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at
the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act is hereinafter referred to
as the “Registration Statement”; the prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares
(or in the form first made available to the Underwriter by the Company to meet requests of
purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the
“Prospectus.” If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register additional
shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act (the “Rule 462 Registration
Statement”), then any reference herein to the term “Registration Statement” shall be deemed to
include such Rule 462 Registration Statement.
For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule
405 under the Securities Act, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus together
with the free writing
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prospectuses, if any, each identified in Schedule III hereto, and “broadly available road
show” means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities
Act that has been made available without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms
“Registration Statement,” “preliminary prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and Prospectus shall
include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein. The terms “supplement,”
“amendment,” and “amend” as used herein with respect to the Time of Sale Prospectus or any free
writing prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), that
are incorporated by reference therein.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to and
agrees with the Underwriter that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are
pending before or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended
or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or
supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus
does not, and at the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the
Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in
Section 5), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if
applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, (iv) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together
with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (v) the Prospectus does not contain
and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and
warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or omissions in
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the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter
through you expressly for use therein.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and
authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale
Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(d) Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case may
be, is validly existing as a corporation or partnership in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, has the corporate or other power and authority
to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and is
duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except
to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; all of the issued shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued,
are fully paid and non-assessable and are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, equities or claims.
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(f) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the
description thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; and except
as disclosed in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding
securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or warrants, rights or options to subscribe to or
purchase from the Company, or obligation of the Company to issue, shares of the Company.
(g) The shares of Common Stock (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders)
outstanding prior to the sale of the Shares by the Selling Shareholders have been duly authorized
and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
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(h) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company of its
obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene any provision (i) of applicable law; (ii) the
certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company, (iii) any agreement or other instrument
binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (iv) any judgment, order or decree of any
governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or any subsidiary, except
in the case of clauses (i), (iii) or (iv) for such contraventions as could not reasonably be
expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
or on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus
and the Prospectus, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under
this Agreement, except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
states in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares.
(i) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any development involving a
prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth
in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(j) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the
Company, threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of
the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject (i) other than proceedings
accurately described in all material respects in the Time of Sale Prospectus and proceedings that
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, or
on the power or ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to
consummate the transactions contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus or (ii) that are required
to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and
are not so described; and there are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are
required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not described or filed
as required.
(j) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration statement as originally
filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act,
complied when so filed in all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
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(k) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the
application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus will not be, required to
register as an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940,
as amended.
(l) The Company and each of its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any and all applicable
foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations, and all orders, agreements, determinations
and all other provisions having the force and effect of law relating to the protection of human
health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants,
contaminants, noise or odor (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received all permits, licenses and
other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective
businesses as currently conducted or as otherwise described in each of the Registration Statement,
the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and
conditions of any such permit, license and approval, except where such noncompliance with or
liability under Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses and other
approvals or failure to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(m) There are no costs, obligations or liabilities pursuant to Environmental Laws and/or
environmental theories of common law (including, without limitation, any current or future capital
or operating expenditures required for clean-up, corrective action, upgrades, pollution control
equipment or methods, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit,
license, approval, judgment, order, decree or agreement, or any related constraints on operating
activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject, other than costs, obligations or liabilities described in each of the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and costs, obligations or
liabilities which could not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(n) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person
granting such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the
Securities Act with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the Company to include
such securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement, except as
described in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
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(o) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in each of the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, (i) 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; (ii) 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 other than ordinary and customary
dividends; and (iii) there has not been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt
or long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in each case as described in each of
the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, respectively.
(p) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple to all real
property and good and marketable title to all personal property owned by them which is material to
the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances and defects except such liens, encumbrances and defects as are described in
each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus or such as could
not, singly or in the aggregate, be reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. There are no outstanding options, rights of first
offer or rights of first refusal to purchase any such real properties, Leasehold Improvements or
any portion thereof or interest therein, which could reasonably be expected, singly or in the
aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
Any real property and buildings held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries are held by
them under valid, legal, binding, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as are not
material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property and
buildings by the Company and its subsidiaries, in each case except as described in the Time of Sale
Prospectus.
(q) (i) The classification of each parcel of real property owned or leased by the Company and
its subsidiaries under applicable zoning laws, ordinances and regulations permits the use and
occupancy of such parcel and the operation of its business as currently conducted thereon and
permits all improvements located thereon as currently constructed, used and occupied, (ii) all
certificates of occupancy, permits, licenses, franchises, approvals and authorizations
(collectively, the “Real Property Permits”) of all governmental authorities, board of fire
underwriters, association or any other entity having jurisdiction over such owned and leased real
properties, which are required or appropriate to use or occupy such owned and leased real
properties or operate the business as currently conducted or as otherwise described in each of the
Registration Statement, the
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Time of Sale Prospectus, and the Prospectus, if any, have been issued and are in full force
and effect, (iii) the Company has not received any notice from any governmental authority or other
entity having jurisdiction over the owned and leased real properties threatening a suspension,
revocation, modification or cancellation of any Real Property Permit, if any exists, and, to the
Company’s knowledge, there is no basis for the issuance of any such notice or the taking of any
such action and (iv) the Real Property Permits, if any, will remain in effect after the closing
hereunder without the consent or approval of the issuing governmental authority or entity, no
disclosure, filing or other action by the Company is required in connection with the transactions
hereunder, and the Company shall not be required to assume any additional liabilities or
obligations under the Real Property Permits, if any, as a result of such transfer, except where any
failures of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above to be true could not reasonably be expected, singly or
in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
(r) The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, all
patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and
other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or
procedures), trademarks, service marks and trade names currently employed by them in connection
with the business now operated by them, except where the failure to own or possess or to have the
right to acquire any of the foregoing, singly or in the aggregate, does not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, and neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has received any notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of
others with respect to any of the foregoing which, singly or in the aggregate, would have a
material adverse affect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(s) No labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists,
except as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is
imminent, except for disputes that do not or would not have a material adverse effect on the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and the Company is not aware of any existing,
threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers,
manufacturers or contractors that could reasonably be expected to have a material adverse affect on
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(t) None of the following events has occurred or exists: (i) a failure to fulfill the
obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of Xxxxxxx 000 xx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”) or Section 412 of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”), and the regulations and published
interpretations
7
thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such obligations
or extension of any amortization period; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue
Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other
federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to the
employment or compensation of employees by the Company or its subsidiaries; (iii) any breach by the
Company or its subsidiaries of any contractual obligation to employees; or (iv) any failure with
respect to a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) to comply with the terms of such
plan or applicable law, except where any failures of (i), (ii), (iii) or (iv) above to be true
could not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. None of the following events has or is, to the
knowledge of the Company reasonably likely to occur: (i) an increase in the aggregate amount of
contributions required to be made to all Plans in the current fiscal year of the Company compared
to the amount of such contributions made in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (ii)
an increase in the Company’s or its subsidiaries’ “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations”
(within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) compared to the amount of
such obligations in the Company’s most recently completed fiscal year; (iii) the termination of any
Plan the assets of which are not sufficient to pay benefit liabilities; (iv) a complete or partial
withdrawal from a multiemployer plan (as such term is defined under Section 3(37) of ERISA); or (v)
the filing of a claim by one or more employees or former employees of the Company or its
subsidiaries related to their employment, except where any failures of (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or
(v) above to be true could not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole. For purposes of
this paragraph, the term “Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject
to Title IV of ERISA with respect to which the Company, its subsidiaries and any other entity that,
together with the Company or any subsidiary, is treated as a single employer under Section 404 of
the Code, may have any liability.
(u) 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 of its subsidiaries believes
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 have a material adverse affect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
8
(v) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its certificate of
incorporation or bylaws or other organizational document, as the case may be, or (ii) in default in
any material respect, and no event has occurred which, with notice or lapse of time or both, would
constitute such a default, in the due performance or observance of any term, covenant or condition
contained in any material indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, credit agreement or other agreement
or instrument to which it is a party or by which it is bound or to which any of its property or
assets is subject.
(w) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Company and each of its
subsidiaries are in compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws
and regulations, all orders and determinations, and all other applicable provisions having the
force and affect of law, including without limitation, those concerning agriculture, food, food
safety, livestock, animal feeding operations, medication in feed and animal waste, and no action,
suit, proceeding, hearing, investigation, charge, complaint, demand, or notice has been filed or
commenced against any of them alleging any failure to so comply, except where such noncompliance
could not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on
the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(x) (i) The Company and each of its subsidiaries possess and are in compliance with all
certificates, authorizations and permits issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign
regulatory authorities (including, without limitation, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and
the U.S. Department of Agriculture) necessary to conduct their respective businesses and operate
their properties, (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or
permit; and (iii) none of the terms or conditions in any such certificate, authorization or permit
are likely to prevent, limit or hinder the continued operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, except where any failures of (i), (ii) or (iii) above to be true could not reasonably
be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to have a material adverse effect on the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(y) (i) The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and local tax
returns required to be filed through the date of this Agreement or has requested extensions
thereof, (ii) and all such tax returns are true and complete in all material respects and are
prepared in substantial compliance with all applicable laws and regulations, (iii) the Company and
each of its subsidiaries have paid all taxes (whether or not shown or required to be shown on any
tax return), and (iv) except as currently being contested in good faith and for which reserves
required by generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
9
have been created on the financial statements of the Company, no tax deficiency has been
determined adversely to the Company, or any of its subsidiaries (nor does the Company, and each of
its subsidiaries have any knowledge of any tax deficiency, except where any failures of (i), (ii),
(iii) or (iv) above to be true could not reasonably be expected, singly or in the aggregate, to
have a material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole.
(z) The Company and each of its subsidiaries maintain a system of internal accounting controls
sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded
accountability for assets is compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Based on an evaluation of the
controls described above, the Company is not aware of any fraud, whether or not material, that
involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s or its
subsidiaries’ internal accounting or other controls; and since the date of the most recent
evaluation, there have been no changes in such controls that have materially and adversely
affected, or are reasonably likely to materially and adversely effect, the Company’s or its
subsidiaries’ internal accounting or other controls.
(aa) The Company has established and maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such
term is defined in Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that are effective in
ensuring that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the reports that it files or
submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported, within the time
periods specified in the rules and forms of the Commission, including, without limitation, controls
and procedures designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in the
reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is accumulated and communicated to the
Company’s management, including its principal executive officer or officers and its principal
financial officer or officers, as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required
disclosure.
(bb) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Company has not sold, issued or
distributed any shares of Common Stock during the six-month period preceding the date hereof,
including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or S of, the Securities Act, other
than shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other
10
employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.
(cc) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action which is
designed to or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or
resale of the Shares.
(dd) The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in connection with the offering pursuant to
Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is
required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with
the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has
filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was
prepared by or behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any,
identified in Schedule III hereto, and electronic road shows, if any, furnished to you before first
use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent,
prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
2. Representations
and Warranties of the Selling Shareholders. Each Selling Shareholder,
severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to and agrees with the Underwriter and the
Company, solely as to itself, that:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such
Selling Shareholder.
(b) The execution and delivery by such Selling Shareholder of, and the performance by such
Selling Shareholder of its obligations under, this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of
Attorney (the “Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney”) signed by such Selling Shareholder and the
Custodian and Attorneys-in-Fact referenced therein, relating to the deposit of the Shares to be
sold by such Selling Shareholder and appointing certain individuals as such Selling Shareholder’s
attorneys-in-fact to the extent set forth therein, relating to the transactions contemplated hereby
and by the Registration Statement will not contravene any provision of applicable law, or the
organizational documents of such Selling Shareholder (i.e., the certificate of incorporation and
by-laws if such Selling Shareholder is a corporation), or any agreement or other instrument binding
upon such Selling Shareholder or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or
court having jurisdiction over such Selling
11
Shareholder, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by such Selling Shareholder of its
obligations under this Agreement or the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of such Selling
Shareholder, except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
states in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares and such as may have previously been
made or obtained.
(c) Such Selling Shareholder has on the date hereof, and on the Closing Date such Selling
Shareholder will have, valid title to, or a valid “security entitlement” within the meaning of
Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) in respect of, the Shares to be
sold by such Selling Shareholder free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities
or other encumbrances and the legal right and power, and all authorization and approval required by
law, to enter into this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney and to sell,
transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder or a security entitlement in
respect of such Shares.
(d) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by such Selling Shareholder and are valid and binding agreements of such Selling
Shareholder.
(e) Upon payment for the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this
Agreement, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the Underwriter, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such
other nominee as may be designated by the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registration of
transfer of such Shares in the stock registry of the Company in the name of Cede or such other
nominee and the crediting of such Shares on the books of DTC to securities account of the
Underwriter (assuming that neither DTC nor the Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (within
the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC) to such Shares), (A) DTC shall be a “protected purchaser”
of such Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under Section 8-501 of the UCC,
the Underwriter will acquire a valid security entitlement in respect of such Shares and (C) no
action based on any “adverse claim”, within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, to such Shares
may be successfully asserted against the Underwriter with respect to such shares; for purposes of
this representation, such Selling Shareholder may assume that when such payment, delivery and
crediting occur, (x) such Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee
designated by DTC, in each case on the Company’s share registry in accordance with its certificate
of incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (y) DTC will be registered as a “clearing corporation”
within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (z) appropriate entries to the accounts of the
Underwriter on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the UCC.
12
(f) The sale of Shares by such Selling Shareholder pursuant hereto is not prompted by any
material non-public historical information concerning the Company or its subsidiaries.
(g) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain and, as amended
or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or
supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) the Time of Sale Prospectus
does not, and at the time of each sale of the Shares in connection with the offering when the
Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at the Closing Date (as defined in
Section 5), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented by the Company, if
applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, (iv) each broadly available road show, if any, when considered together
with the Time of Sale Prospectus, does not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (v) the Prospectus does not contain
and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, that (1) the representations
and warranties set forth in this paragraph 2(g) are limited to statements or omissions made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information relating to such Selling Shareholder
provided to the Company by or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and (2) the representations
and warranties set forth in this paragraph 2(g) do not apply to statements or omissions in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus based upon information
relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Underwriter through you
expressly for use therein.
(h) Such Selling Shareholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any
action which is designed to or which has constituted or which might reasonably be expected to cause
or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of its Shares.
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(i) Except as disclosed by such Selling Shareholder in writing to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, neither such
Selling Shareholder nor any of his, her or its affiliates directly, or indirectly through one or
more intermediaries, controls, or is controlled by, or is under common control with, or has any
other association with (within the meaning of Article 1(q) of the Bylaws of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the “NASD”)), any member firm of the NASD.
3. Agreements
to Sell and Purchase. Each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly,
hereby agrees to sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter, upon the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated,
agrees, to purchase from such Selling Shareholder at [•] a share (the “Purchase Price”)
the number of Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may
determine) set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such Selling Shareholder.
The Company and each Selling Shareholder hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent
of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriter, it will not, during the period ending 90 days after
the date of the Prospectus, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract
to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock; or (2)
enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in
clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in
cash or otherwise; or (3) file any registration statement with the Commission relating to the
offering of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock.
The restrictions contained in the preceding paragraph shall not apply to (a) the Shares to be
sold hereunder, (b) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an
option or warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof of which the
Underwriter have been advised in writing, (c) the grant of options or the issuance of shares of
Common Stock by the Company to employees, officers or directors pursuant to an employee benefit
plan described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, (d) transactions by a Selling Shareholder relating
to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the
completion of the offering of the Shares, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the
Exchange Act, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made in connection with subsequent sales of
Common Stock or other securities acquired in such open market transactions or
14
(e) transfers of shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock by a Selling Shareholder to affiliates (as such term is defined in
Rule 405 under the Securities Act) of such Selling Shareholder provided that the transferee shall
sign and deliver to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx a lock-up agreement in the form of Exhibit A hereto prior to the
transfer. In addition, each Selling Shareholder, agrees that, without the prior written consent of
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriter, it will not, during the period ending 90 days after
the date of the Prospectus (as such period may be extended as described below), make any demand
for, or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any
security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock. Each Selling
Shareholder consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company’s transfer agent
and registrar against the transfer of any Shares held by such Selling Shareholder except in
compliance with the foregoing restrictions. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (1) during the last
17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or material news or
a material event relating to the Company occurs; or (2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day
restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day
period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, the restrictions imposed by this agreement
shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the issuance of the
earnings release or the occurrence of the material news or material event. The Company shall
promptly notify Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx of any earnings release, news or event that may give rise to an
extension of the initial 90-day restricted period.
4. Terms
of Public Offering. The Company and the Selling Shareholders are advised by you that
you propose to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and
this Agreement have become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Company and the Selling
Shareholders are further advised by you that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially
at $ [•] a share (the “Public Offering Price”) and to certain dealers selected by you at a
price that represents a concession not in excess of $ [•] a share under the Public
Offering Price.
5. Payment
and Delivery. Payment for the Shares to be sold by each Selling Shareholder shall
be made to such Selling Shareholder in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York
City against delivery of such Shares for the account of the Underwriter at 10:00 a.m., New York
City time, on [•] , 2006, or at such other time on the same or such other date, not later
than [•] , 2006, as shall be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such
payment are hereinafter referred to as the “Closing Date.”
15
The Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as you shall request in
writing not later than one full business day prior to the Closing Date. The Shares shall be
delivered to you on the Closing Date for your account, with any transfer taxes payable in
connection with the transfer of the Shares to you duly paid, against payment of the Purchase Price
therefor.
6. Conditions to the Underwriter’s Obligation. The obligations of the Selling Shareholders to
sell the Shares to the Underwriter and the obligation of the Underwriter to purchase and pay for
the Shares on the Closing Date are subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall
have become effective not later than 5:00 p.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.
The obligation of the Underwriter is subject to the following further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been
given of any intended or potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change that
does not indicate the direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the
securities of the Company or any of its subsidiaries by any “nationally recognized
statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
under the Securities Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development involving a
prospective change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth
in the Time of Sale Prospectus that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and that
makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing
Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 6(a)(i)
above and to the effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in this
Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date, and that the Company has complied with all
of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
16
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best of his or
her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Sidley Austin LLP,
outside counsel for the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Company is a corporation duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware. The Company has the corporate power and
authority to own its properties and conduct its business as presently conducted as
described in the Prospectus.
(ii) Intentionally omitted.
(iii) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal matters to the
description thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(iv) the shares of Common Stock (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Shareholders) outstanding prior to the sale of the Shares by the Selling Shareholders have
been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable;
(v) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;
(vi) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by the Company
of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene any provision of applicable
law or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any agreement or
other instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is identified in
Annex 1 to such opinion letter (which an officer of the Company has certified to such
counsel constitutes a list of all of the contracts material to the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole), or, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, any
judgment, order or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction
over the Company or any subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of,
or qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the performance by
the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be required by the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale of
the Shares;
17
(vii) the statements relating to legal matters, documents or proceedings included in
(A) the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Certain
Relationships and Related Transactions,” “Description of Capital Stock” and “Plan of
Distribution” and (B) the Registration Statement in Items 14 and 15, in each case fairly
summarize in all material respects such matters, documents or proceedings;
(viii) a member of the Commission’s staff has advised such counsel by telephone that
the Commission’s Division of Corporation Finance, pursuant to authority delegated to it by
the Commission, has entered an order declaring the Registration Statement effective under
the Securities Act as of the date of this Agreement and such counsel has no knowledge that
any stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued or that any proceedings for
that purpose are pending before, or overtly threatened by the Commission.
(ix) the Company is not required to register as an “investment company” as such term
is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
(x) (A) in the opinion of such counsel, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(except for the financial statements and financial schedules and other financial and
statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express any belief)
appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the
requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder, and (B) nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that
causes such counsel to believe that (i) the Registration Statement or the prospectus
included therein (except for the financial statements and financial schedules and other
financial and statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express
any belief) at the time the Registration Statement became effective contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Time of Sale
Prospectus (except for the financial statements and financial schedules and other
financial and statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express
any belief) as of the date of this Agreement or as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
as of the Closing Date contained or contains 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 or
(iii) the
18
Prospectus (except for the financial statements and financial schedules and other
financial and statistical data included therein, as to which such counsel need not express
any belief) as of its date or as amended or supplemented, if applicable, as of the Closing
Date contained or contains 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.
(d) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx,
General Counsel and Vice President of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or organized, is
validly existing as a corporation or partnership in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, and has the corporate or other power
and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in the Time of
Sale Prospectus;
(ii) the Company and each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business
or its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent
that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole; and
(iii) such counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings pending or
threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of
the properties of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject that are required to
be described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus
and are not so described or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents
that are required to be described in the Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus
or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not
described or filed as required.
(e) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of legal counsel for
each Selling Shareholder, dated the Closing Date, either in the form attached to this Agreement
with respect to the Selling Shareholder(s) identified therein or to the effect that:
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(i) the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of each Selling Shareholder have been
duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Shareholder and are valid and
binding agreements of such Selling Shareholder enforceable against such Selling
Shareholder in accordance with its terms, except that the enforceability may be subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, fraudulent conveyance or transfer, moratorium or
similar laws affecting creditors’ right generally and subject to principles of equity,
and, assuming that one or more of the Attorneys-in-Fact has signed this Agreement on
behalf of such Selling Shareholder, this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Shareholders;
(ii) the execution and delivery by each Selling Shareholder of, and the performance
by such Selling Shareholder of its obligations under, this Agreement and the Custody
Agreement and Power of Attorney of such Selling Shareholder will not contravene any
provision of applicable law, or the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of such
Selling Shareholder (if such Selling Shareholder is a corporation), or, to the best of
such counsel’s knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon such Selling
Shareholder or, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of
any governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder,
and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with, any
governmental body or agency is required for the performance by such Selling Shareholder of
its obligations under this Agreement or the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of
such Selling Shareholder, except such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky
laws of the various states in connection with offer and sale of the Shares;
(iii) each of the Selling Shareholders has valid title to, or a valid security
entitlement in respect of, the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder free and
clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities and other encumbrances, and each
of the Selling Shareholders has the legal right and power, and all authorization and
approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power
of Attorney of such Selling Shareholder and to sell, transfer and deliver the Shares to be
sold by such Selling Shareholder or a security entitlement in respect of such Shares; and
(iv) upon payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders to the
Underwriter pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the
Underwriter, to Cede or such other nominee as may be designated by DTC, registration of
such Shares
20
in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Shares on the
books of DTC to securities account of the Underwriter (assuming that neither DTC nor the
Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the UCC
to such Shares or any security entitlement in respect thereof), (A) DTC shall be a
“protected purchaser” of such Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B)
under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriter will acquire a security entitlement in
respect of such Shares and (C) no action based on any “adverse claim” (within the meaning
of Section 8-102 of the UCC) to such Shares may be asserted against the Underwriter with
respect to such security entitlement; in giving this opinion, counsel for the Selling
Shareholders may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (x) such
Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee designated by DTC,
in each case on the Company’s share registry in accordance with its certificate of
incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (y) DTC will be registered as a “clearing
corporation” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (z) appropriate entries to
the account of the Underwriter on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant to the
UCC.
(f) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx
LLP, counsel for the Underwriter, dated the Closing Date, covering the matters referred to in
Sections 6(c)(v), 6(c)(vii) (but only as to the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus under
“Plan of Distribution”) and 6(c)(x) above.
With respect to Section 6(c)(x) above, Sidley Austin LLP and Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLP may state
that their beliefs are based upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and
review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification,
except as specified. With respect to Section 6(e) above, such legal counsel may rely, with respect
to factual matters and to the extent such counsel deems appropriate, upon the representations of
each Selling Shareholder contained herein and in the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of
such Selling Shareholder and in other documents and instruments; provided that copies of such
Custody Agreements and Powers of Attorney and of any such other documents and instruments shall be
delivered to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx and shall be in form and substance satisfactory to counsel to the
Underwriter.
The opinions of Sidley Austin LLP, Xx. Xxxxxxx and legal counsel for each Selling Shareholder
described in Sections 6(c), 6(d) and 6(e) above (and any opinions of counsel for any Selling
Shareholder referred to in the immediately
21
preceding paragraph) shall be rendered to the Underwriter at the request of the Company or one
or more of the Selling Shareholders, as the case may be, and shall so state therein.
(g) The Underwriter shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the Closing Date, a
letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the case may be, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriter, from Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent public accountants,
containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort
letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information
contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided
that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off date” not earlier than the date
hereof.
(h) The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between you
and certain shareholders, officers and directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other
dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on or before
the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date and the applicable Option
Closing Date.
(i) The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date are listed on the NASDAQ National Market.
Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements of the Underwriter herein
contained, the Company covenants with the Underwriter as follows:
(j) To furnish to you, without charge, five signed copies of the Registration Statement
(including exhibits thereto) and to furnish to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00
a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and during
the period mentioned in Section 6(n) or 6(o) below, as many copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus,
the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you
may reasonably request.
(k) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus
or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement and not
to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with
the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
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(l) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on
behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free
writing prospectus to which you reasonably object.
(m) Not to take any action that would result in the Underwriter or the Company being required
to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing
prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not
have been required to file thereunder.
(n) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to buy the Shares at a time
when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or
condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances, not
misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale
Prospectus conflicts with the information contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or
if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time
of Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission
and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriter and to any dealer upon request, either
amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when delivered
to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, will no longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(o) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the
opinion of counsel for the Underwriter the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in
Rule 173(a) under the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule
173(a) under the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion
of counsel for the Underwriter, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply
with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own
expense, to the Underwriter and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the
Company) to which Shares may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriter and to any other
dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
23
so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light
of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a)
under the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
(p) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws
of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably request.
(q) To make generally available to the Company’s security holders and to you as soon as
practicable an earning statement covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the
first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the date of this Agreement which shall satisfy
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
7. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated
or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or cause to be paid all expenses
incident to the performance of their obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel, the Company’s accountants and counsel for the
Selling Shareholders in connection with the registration and delivery of the Shares under the
Securities Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus,
any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company and
amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing costs associated
therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriter and dealers, in the
quantities hereinabove specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery
of the Shares to the Underwriter, including any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) the
cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the
offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the
qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section
6(p) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriter in connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky or Legal
Investment memorandum (which fees of counsel shall not exceed $10,000), (iv) all filing fees and
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriter incurred in connection with the
review and qualification of the offering of the Shares by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of any
amendment to the Company’s registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common Stock and all
costs and expenses incident to listing the Shares on the NASDAQ National Market and
24
other national securities exchanges and foreign stock exchanges, (vi) the cost of printing
certificates representing the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar
or depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on
any “road show” undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares,
including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any
electronic roadshow, expense associated with the production of road show slides and graphics, fees
and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road show presentations with the
prior approval of the Company, travel and lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of
the Company and any such consultants, and 50% of the cost of any aircraft chartered or limousine
rented in connection with the road show, (ix) the document production charges and expenses
associated with printing this Agreement, (x) all expenses in connection with any offer and sale of
the Shares outside of the United States, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriter in connection with offers and sales outside the United
States and (xi) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood,
however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 8 entitled “Indemnity and Contribution”
and the last paragraph of Section 11 below, the Underwriter will pay all of their costs and
expenses, including fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale
of any of the Shares by them and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
8. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Underwriter, each Selling Shareholder, each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter or Selling
Shareholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, and each affiliate of the Underwriter or Selling Shareholder within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and
liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in
connection with defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing
prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the
Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, or the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are caused
25
by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon
information relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter
through you expressly for use therein or, with respect to the indemnification provided by the
Company under this Section 9(a) to each Selling Shareholder, each person, if any, who controls any
Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of Rule 405
under the Securities Act, information relating to any Selling Shareholder furnished in writing by
or on behalf of such Selling Shareholder to the Company expressly for use therein.
(b) Each Selling Shareholder agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless
the Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of the
Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act and the Company, the directors
of the Company, the officers of the Company who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act from and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities
(including, without limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with
defending or investigating any such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing
prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the
Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, or the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or caused by any omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent that the untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission is made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information relating to such Selling Shareholder furnished in writing by or on behalf of such
Selling Shareholder to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus as defined in Rule
433(h) under the Securities Act, any Company information that the Company has filed, or is required
to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, or the Prospectus or any amendments or
supplements thereto. The liability of each Selling Shareholder under the indemnity agreement
contained in this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate Public Offering
Price of the Shares sold by such Selling Shareholder under this Agreement.
26
(c) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Selling
Shareholders, the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company who sign the Registration
Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any Selling Shareholder within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same
extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to such Underwriter or from each Selling
Shareholder to such Underwriter, as the case may be, but only with reference to information
relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus, any issuer free writing prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(d) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall be instituted
involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 8(a), 8(b) or
9(c), such person (the “indemnified party”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such
indemnity may be sought (the “indemnifying party”) in writing and the indemnifying party, upon
request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party to represent the indemnified party and any others the indemnifying party may designate in
such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and disbursements of such counsel related to such
proceeding. In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have mutually
agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the named parties to any such proceeding (including
any impleaded parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or
potential differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party shall
not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in connection with any proceeding or
related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more than
one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for the Underwriter and all persons, if any,
who control the Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act or who are affiliates of the Underwriter within the meaning of Rule
405 under the Securities Act, (ii) the reasonable fees and expenses of more than one separate firm
(in addition to any local counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
either such Section and (iii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to
any local counsel) for all Selling Shareholders and all persons, if any, who
27
control any Selling Shareholder within the meaning of either such Section, and that all such
fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm
for the Underwriter and such control persons and affiliates of any Underwriter, such firm shall be
designated in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx. In the case of any such separate firm for the Company,
and such directors, officers and control persons of the Company, such firm shall be designated in
writing by the Company. In the case of any such separate firm for the Selling Shareholders and
such control persons of any Selling Shareholders, such firm shall be designated in writing by a
majority of the Selling Shareholders as measured by the number of Shares being sold pursuant to
this Agreement. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding
effected without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from
and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a
party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such
settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding and does not include a statement as to or an
admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(e) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 8(a), 9(b) or 9(c) is
unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other hand from the offering of
the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause 8(e)(i) above is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause 8(e)(i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and of the indemnified party or parties on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as
well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
and the Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand in connection
with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net
proceeds from the offering of the Shares (before deducting expenses) received by the Company and
the Selling
28
Shareholders on the one hand and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by
the Underwriter on the other hand, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the
Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the
Company and the Selling Shareholders on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand 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 Selling Shareholders or by the Underwriter and the parties’ relative
intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The Underwriter’s obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in
proportion to the respective number of Shares it has purchased hereunder, and not joint. The
Selling Shareholders’ respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several
in proportion to the respective number of shares they have sold hereunder and not joint. The
liability of each Selling Shareholder under the contribution agreement contained in this paragraph
shall be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate Public Offering Price of the Shares sold by
such Selling Shareholder under this Agreement.
(f) The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriter agree that it would not be just
or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Underwriter were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation that does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 8(e).
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject
to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute
any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares underwritten by it
and distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages that
such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in
this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 8 and the
representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the
29
Selling Shareholders contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and
effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on
behalf of the Underwriter, any person controlling the Underwriter or any affiliate of the
Underwriter, any Selling Shareholder or any person controlling any Selling Shareholder, or the
Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of
and payment for any of the Shares.
9. Covenants of the Underwriter. The Underwriter severally covenants with the Company not to
take any action that would result in the Company being required to file with the Commission under
Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise
would not be required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
10. Termination. The Underwriter may terminate this Agreement by notice given by you to the
Company, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i)
trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case may be,
any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market, the
Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade or
other relevant exchanges, (ii) trading of any securities of the Company shall have been suspended
on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market, (iii) a material disruption in securities
settlement, payment or clearance services in the United States or other relevant jurisdiction shall
have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by
Federal or New York State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that, in your
judgment, is material and adverse and which, singly or together with any other event specified in
this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
offer, sale or delivery of the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of
Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus.
11. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery
hereof by the parties hereto.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriter because of any failure or refusal on
the part of the Company or any Selling Shareholder to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of
the conditions of this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company or any Selling Shareholder, as
the case may be, shall be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company and
the Selling Shareholders who did not comply with the terms or fulfill any of the
30
conditions of this Agreement, as the case may be, will reimburse the Underwriter for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of its counsel) reasonably incurred by
such Underwriter in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
12. Entire
Agreement. (a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written
agreements and any prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that
relate to the offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement between the Company, the
Selling Shareholders and the Underwriter with respect to the preparation of any preliminary
prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the
purchase and sale of the Shares.
(b) The Company and each Selling Shareholder acknowledges that in connection with the offering
of the Shares: (i) the Underwriter has acted at arms length, is not an agent of, and owes no
fiduciary duty to, the Company, the Selling Shareholders or any other person, (ii) the Underwriter
owes the Company and the Selling Shareholders only those duties and obligations set forth in this
Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement), if any,
and (iii) the Underwriter may have interests that differ from those of the Company and the Selling
Shareholders. The Company and each Selling Shareholder waives to the full extent permitted by
applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriter arising from an alleged breach of
fiduciary duty in connection with the offering of the Shares.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the
same instrument.
14. Applicable
Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
internal laws of the State of New York.
15. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been inserted for
convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of this Agreement.
16. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and effective only upon receipt
and if to the Underwriter shall be delivered, mailed or sent to you at 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx 00000, Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk, with a copy to the Legal Department; if to the
Company shall be delivered, mailed or sent to 000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000. Attention: Chief Financial Officer; and if to the Selling
31
Shareholders or any of them shall be delivered, mailed or sent to the Attorneys-in-Fact named
in the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney.
* * *
32
Very truly yours, PREMIUM STANDARD FARMS, INC. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxxx | |||
Title: | EVP | |||
The Selling Shareholders named in Schedule I hereto, acting severally |
||||
By: | ||||
Attorney-in Fact | ||||
Accepted as of the date hereof
By: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
||
By: | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Executive Director | ||
Signature Page to Underwriting Agreement
33
SCHEDULE I
Number of Shares | ||
Selling Shareholder | To Be Sold | |
ContiGroup Companies, Inc. |
||
Xxxxxx High Yield Fund, Inc. |
||
Total |
[•] | |
I-1
SCHEDULE II
Number of Shares To Be | ||||
Underwriter | Purchased | |||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated |
||||
Total: |
||||
II-1
SCHEDULE III
Time of Sale Prospectus
1. | Preliminary Prospectus issued [•], 2006. | |
2. | [Identify all free writing prospectuses filed by the Company under Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act]. | |
3. | [Free writing prospectus containing a description of terms that does not reflect final terms, if the Time of Sale Prospectus does not include a final term sheet]. | |
4. | [Orally communicated pricing information if a final term sheet is not used]. |
II-1
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER]
[________________], 2006
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The undersigned understands that Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated (“Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx”) proposes
to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”) with Premium Standard Farms,
Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public
Offering”) by the several Underwriters, including Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (the “Underwriters”), of shares
(the “Shares”) of the Common Stock (par value $0.01 per share) of the Company (the “Common Stock”).
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to continue their
efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the
prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the
period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after the date of the final prospectus
relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell
any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly,
any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock, or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole
or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such
transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or
such other securities, in cash or otherwise The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a)
transactions relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market
transactions after the completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section
16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, shall be required or shall be voluntarily
made in connection with subsequent sales of Common Stock or other securities acquired in such open
market transactions, (b) transfers of shares of Common Stock or other securities convertible into
or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock to affiliates (as such term is defined in Rule 405
under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended) of the undersigned provided that the transferee shall sign
and deliver to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx a lock-up agreement in the form of this letter prior to the transfer,
(c) shares of Common Stock sold pursuant to any written sales plan designed to comply with Rule
10b5-1 under the Exchange Act (a “10b5-1 Plan) existing on the date hereof, so long as any public
disclosure required or voluntarily made in connection with such sales reference the pre-existing
10b5-1 Plan, or (d) the entry into a new 10b5-1 Plan with respect to shares of Common Stock, so
long as no sales of Common Stock are made pursuant to such 10b5-1 Plan during the period ending 90
days after the date of the Prospectus (as such period may be extended as described below) and no
public disclosure about entering into such plan is required or voluntarily made. In addition, the
undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on behalf of the
Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof and ending 90 days after
the date of the Prospectus (as such period may be extended as described below): (a) make any demand
for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of Common Stock or any
security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or (b) amend, modify or
alter any 10b5-1 Plan; provided, however, the undersigned may voluntarily terminate an existing
10b5-1 Plan. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer instructions
with the Company’s transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of the undersigned’s shares of
Common Stock except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
If:
(1) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period the Company issues an earnings
release or material news or a material event relating to the Company occurs; or
(2) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, the Company announces that it
will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day
restricted period;
the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the
18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the occurrence of the material
news or material event.
The undersigned shall not engage in any transaction that may be restricted by this agreement
during the 34-day period beginning on the last day of the initial 90-day restricted period unless
the undersigned requests and receives prior written confirmation from the Company or Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
that the restrictions imposed by this agreement have expired.
2
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriters are relying upon this
agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further
understands that this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs,
legal representatives, successors and assigns.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including
market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement,
the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters. This
agreement shall automatically terminate upon the earlier of (i) July 31, 2006, if the Underwriting
Agreement has not been executed on or prior to that date, (ii) the date of the filing with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) of a notice of a withdrawal of the registration
statement relating to the Public Offering pursuant to Rule 477 promulgated under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (“1933 Act”), or (iii) the date of the filing with the SEC of an amendment to
the registration statement relating to the Public Offering that provides for an offering to be made
on a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the 1933 Act, provided that ContiGroup
Companies, Inc., as the Selling Shareholder holding the majority of the shares of Common Stock to
be sold in the Public Offering, gives prior written notice to the Company and the Underwriters that
it does not intend to proceed with the Public Offering at least forty-eight hours prior to the
filing of such amendment.
Very truly yours, | ||||
(Print Name) | ||||
(Address) |
3