THE WHITEWAVE FOODS COMPANY [—] Shares of Class A Common Stock Underwriting Agreement
Exhibit 1.1
THE WHITEWAVE FOODS COMPANY
[—] Shares of Class A Common Stock
[—], 2013
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
As Representatives of the
several Underwriters listed
in Schedule 1 hereto
c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
c/o Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Certain stockholders named in Schedule 2 hereto (the “Selling Stockholders”) of The WhiteWave Foods Company, a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), propose to sell to the several Underwriters listed in Schedule 1 hereto (the “Underwriters”), for whom you are acting as representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of [—] shares (the “Underwritten Shares”) of Class A common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Class A Common Stock”). Xxxx Foods Company, a Delaware corporation (“Xxxx Foods”), holds as of the date hereof an aggregate of 34,400,000 shares of Class A Common Stock and no shares of Class B common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company (the “Class B Common Stock” and, together with the Class A Common Stock, the “Common Stock”). The Selling Stockholders also propose to sell to the Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, up to an additional [—] shares of Class A Common Stock (the “Option Shares”) solely to cover over-allotments. The Underwritten Shares and the Option Shares are herein referred to as the “Shares”. The outstanding shares of Class A Common Stock are referred to herein as the “Stock”.
On the date hereof, Xxxx Foods has entered into an exchange agreement with the Selling Stockholders and, solely with respect to certain sections thereof, the Company (the “Exchange Agreement” and, together with this Agreement, the “Transaction Documents”), whereby (i) Xxxx Foods will transfer to the Selling Stockholders the Underwritten Shares in exchange for indebtedness of Xxxx Foods held by the Selling Stockholders and (ii) the Selling Stockholders will have the option to acquire the Option Shares in exchange for other indebtedness of Xxxx Foods held by the Selling Stockholders.
Each of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders hereby confirms its agreement with the several Underwriters concerning the purchase and sale of the Shares, as follows:
1. Registration Statement. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”), a registration statement (File No. 333-[—]), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. Such registration statement, as amended at the time it became effective, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act to be part of the registration statement at the time of its effectiveness (“Rule 430 Information”), is referred to herein as the “Registration Statement”; and as used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus” means each prospectus included in such registration statement (and any amendments thereto) before effectiveness, any prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) under the Securities Act and the prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time of its effectiveness that omits Rule 430 Information, and the term “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form first used (or made available upon request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) in connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement 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. Any reference in this Agreement to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to and include the exhibits thereto. Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meanings given to such terms in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
At or prior to the Applicable Time (as defined below), the Company had prepared the following information (collectively with the pricing information set forth on Annex A, the “Pricing Disclosure Package”): a Preliminary Prospectus dated [—], 2013, and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405 under the Securities Act) listed on Annex A hereto.
“Applicable Time” means [—] [A/P].M., New York City time, on [—], 2013.
2. Purchase of the Shares by the Underwriters.
(a) Each of the Selling Stockholders agrees, severally and not jointly, to sell the Underwritten Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and each Underwriter, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from each of the Selling Stockholders at a purchase price per share of $[—] (the “Purchase Price”) the number of Underwritten Shares (to be adjusted by the Underwriters so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be sold by each of the Selling Stockholders as set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule 2 hereto by a fraction, the numerator of which is the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased by such Underwriter as set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule 1 hereto (or such number as may be increased in accordance with Section 13 hereof) and the denominator of which is the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares to be purchased by all the Underwriters from all of the Selling Stockholders hereunder.
In addition, the Selling Stockholders, as and to the extent indicated in Schedule 2 hereto, agree, severally and not jointly, to sell the Option Shares to the several Underwriters as provided in this Agreement, and the Underwriters, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements set forth herein and subject to the conditions set forth herein, shall have the option to purchase, severally and not jointly, from the Selling Stockholders the Option Shares at the Purchase Price less an amount per share equal to any dividends or distributions declared by the Company and payable on the Underwritten Shares but not payable on the Option Shares.
If any Option Shares are to be purchased by the Underwriters, the number of Option Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number of Option Shares which bears the same ratio to the
-2-
aggregate number of Option Shares being purchased as the number of Underwritten Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule 1 hereto (or such number as may be increased in accordance with Section 13 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of Underwritten Shares being purchased from the Selling Stockholders by the several Underwriters, subject, however, to such adjustments to eliminate any fractional Shares as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall make. Any such election to purchase Option Shares shall be made in proportion to the maximum number of Option Shares to be sold by each Selling Stockholder as set forth in Schedule 2 hereto.
The Underwriters may exercise the option to purchase Option Shares at any time in whole, or from time to time in part, on or before the thirtieth day following the date of the Prospectus, by written notice from the Representatives to the Selling Stockholders, Xxxx Foods and the Company. Such notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares as to which the option is being exercised and the date and time when the Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for, which may be the same date and time as the Closing Date (as defined below) but shall not be earlier than the Closing Date or later than the tenth full business day (as defined below) after the date of such notice (unless such time and date are postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 13 hereof). Any such notice shall be given at least two business days prior to the date and time of delivery specified therein; provided, however, that if such Option Shares are to be delivered and paid for on the Closing Date, notice may be given one business day prior to such date.
(b) Each of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders understands that the Underwriters intend to make a public offering of the Shares as soon after the effectiveness of this Agreement as in the judgment of the Representatives is advisable, and initially to offer the Shares on the terms set forth in the Prospectus. Each of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters may offer and sell Shares to or through any affiliate of an Underwriter.
(c) Payment for the Shares shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the Selling Stockholders to the Representatives in the case of the Underwritten Shares, at the offices of Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000-0000 at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on [—], 2013, or at such other time or place on the same or such other date, not later than the fifth business day thereafter, as the Representatives, the Selling Stockholders, Xxxx Foods and the Company may agree upon in writing (the “Closing Date”) or, in the case of the Option Shares, on the date and at the time and place specified by the Representatives in the written notice of the Underwriters’ election to purchase such Option Shares (the “Additional Closing Date”); provided that the date and time and place of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be on the same date as and promptly after, and at the same place as, the applicable closing of the exchange of certain indebtedness of Xxxx Foods for Class A Common Stock contemplated by the Exchange Agreement.
Payment for the Shares to be purchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be made against delivery to the Representatives of the Shares to be purchased on such date with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the sale of such Shares duly paid by the Selling Stockholders. Delivery of the Shares shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) unless the Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
(d) Each of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to each of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders with respect to the offering of Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with determining the terms of the offering) and not as a
-3-
financial advisor or a fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company, Xxxx Foods, the Selling Stockholders or any other person. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company, Xxxx Foods, the Selling Stockholders or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment, accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction. Each of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders shall consult with its own advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or liability to the Company, Xxxx Foods or the Selling Stockholders with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on behalf of any of the Company, Xxxx Foods or the Selling Stockholders.
3. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter, each Selling Stockholder and Xxxx Foods that:
(a) Preliminary Prospectus. No order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus has been issued by the Commission, and each Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, complied in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, and no Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with (i) Xxxx Foods Information (as defined below), (ii) Selling Stockholder Information (as defined below) or (iii) Underwriter Information (as defined below).
(b) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with (i) Xxxx Foods Information, (ii) Selling Stockholder Information or (iii) Underwriter Information.
(c) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Other than the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters in their capacity as such) has not used, authorized, approved or referred to and will not use, authorize, approve or refer to any “written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy the Shares (each such communication by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 134 under the Securities Act or (ii) the documents listed on Annex A hereto, each electronic road show and any other written communications approved in writing in advance by the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all material respects with the Securities Act on the date of its first use and as of the Applicable Time, has been or will be (within the time period specified in Rule 433) filed in accordance with the Securities Act (to the extent required thereby) and, when taken
-4-
together with the Preliminary Prospectus and all other such Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, on the date of its first use and as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or Preliminary Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with (i) Xxxx Foods Information, (ii) Selling Stockholder Information or (iii) Underwriter Information.
(d) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement has been declared effective by the Commission. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by the Commission, and no proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act against the Company or related to the offering of the Shares has been initiated or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; as of the applicable effective date of the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, the Registration Statement and any such post-effective amendment complied and will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that the Company makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with (i) Xxxx Foods Information, (ii) Selling Stockholder Information or (iii) Underwriter Information.
(e) Financial Statements. The historical consolidated financial statements (including the related notes thereto) of The WhiteWave Foods Company and its subsidiaries (the “Financial Statements”) included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”), as applicable, and present fairly in all material respects the financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries, as the case may be, as of the dates indicated, the results of their operations and the changes in their cash flows for the periods specified; such Financial Statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods covered thereby, and any supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated therein; the other financial information (other than the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus has been derived from the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries and presents fairly in all material respects the information shown thereby; and the pro forma financial information and the related notes thereto included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the assumptions underlying such pro forma financial information are reasonable and are set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
-5-
(f) No Material Adverse Change. Since the date of the most recent Financial Statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any change in the capital stock (other than the grant of options, restricted stock units and other awards under existing equity incentive plans described in, the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus or in connection with the vesting or exercise thereof as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) of the Company, any material change in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or WWF Operating Company (“WWF Opco”) or any of their subsidiaries, or any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, set aside for payment, paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock, or any material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; (ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any transaction or agreement (whether or not in the ordinary course of business) that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its business that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and that is either from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor disturbance or dispute or any action, order or decree of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except in each case as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(g) Organization and Good Standing. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have been duly organized and are validly existing and in good standing under the laws of their respective jurisdictions of organization, are duly qualified to do business and are in good standing in each jurisdiction in which their respective ownership or lease of property or the conduct of their respective businesses requires such qualification, and have all corporate or comparable power and authority necessary to own or hold their respective properties and to conduct the businesses in which they are engaged, except where the failure to be so qualified or in good standing or have such power or authority would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to (i) have a material adverse effect on the business, properties, management, financial position, stockholders’ equity, results of operations or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole or (ii) prevent or materially interfere with the performance by the Company of its obligations under the Transaction Documents (each, and collectively, a “Material Adverse Effect”). The Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity that is not listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement, other than any such corporations, associations or other entities that would not be a significant subsidiary (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X).
(h) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus under the heading “Capitalization”; all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders) have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and are not subject to any pre-emptive or similar rights; except as described in or expressly contemplated by the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no outstanding rights (including, without limitation, pre-emptive rights),
-6-
warrants or options to acquire, or instruments convertible into or exchangeable for, any shares of capital stock or other equity interest in the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or any contract, commitment, agreement, understanding or arrangement of any kind relating to the issuance of any capital stock of the Company or any such subsidiary, any such convertible or exchangeable securities or any such rights, warrants or options; the terms of the capital stock of the Company conform in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; and all the outstanding shares of capital stock or other equity interests of each subsidiary owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except, in the case of any foreign subsidiary, for directors’ qualifying shares and except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) and are owned directly or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of any lien, charge, encumbrance, security interest, restriction on voting or transfer or any other claim of any third party (other than any security interests and liens securing the senior secured credit facilities defined and described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus).
(i) Stock Options. With respect to the stock options (the “Stock Options”) granted pursuant to the stock-based compensation plans of the Company and its subsidiaries (the “Company Stock Plans”), (i) each Stock Option intended to qualify as an “incentive stock option” under Section 422 of the Code so qualifies, (ii) each grant of a Stock Option was duly authorized no later than the date on which the grant of such Stock Option was by its terms to be effective by all necessary corporate action, including, as applicable, approval by the board of directors of the Company (or a duly constituted and authorized committee thereof) and any required stockholder approval by the necessary number of votes or written consents, and the award agreement governing such grant (if any) was duly executed and delivered by each party thereto (including through electronic acceptance), (iii) each such grant was made in accordance with the terms of the Company Stock Plans, the Securities Act and all other applicable laws and regulatory rules or requirements, including, to the extent applicable, the rules of The New York Stock Exchange (the “Exchange”) and any other exchange on which Company securities are traded, and (iv) each such grant was properly accounted for in accordance with GAAP in the Financial Statements. The Company has not knowingly granted, and there is no and has been no policy or practice of the Company of granting, Stock Options prior to, or otherwise coordinating the grant of Stock Options with, the release or other public announcement of material information regarding the Company or its subsidiaries or their results of operations or prospects.
(j) Due Authorization. The Company has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver each of the Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents has been duly and validly taken.
(k) Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(l) Exchange Agreement. The Exchange Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
-7-
(m) Descriptions of the Transaction Documents. Each Transaction Document conforms in all material respects to the description thereof contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(n) No Violation or Default. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents; (ii) in default, and no event has occurred that, 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 indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject; or (iii) in violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (ii) and (iii) above, for any such default or violation that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by the Company of each of the Transaction Documents, the sale of the Shares and the consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for (i) the registration of the offering and sale of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters or by the Exchange in connection with the listing of the Shares and (ii) such other consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications that have been or will be obtained or made on or prior to the Closing Date.
(q) Legal Proceedings. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no legal, governmental or regulatory investigations, actions, suits or proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the Company or any of its
-8-
subsidiaries is subject that, individually or in the aggregate, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; no such investigations, actions, suits or proceedings are, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened or contemplated by any governmental or regulatory authority or threatened by others; and (i) there are no current or pending legal, governmental or regulatory actions, suits or proceedings that are required under the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and (ii) there are no statutes, regulations or contracts or other documents that are required under the Securities Act to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus that are not so filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement or described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(r) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who has certified the financial statements included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, is an independent registered public accounting firm with respect to the Company and WWF Opco and its subsidiaries within the applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission and the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States) and as required by the Securities Act.
(s) Title to Real and Personal Property. The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title in fee simple (in the case of real property) to, or have valid and marketable rights to lease or otherwise use, all items of real and personal property and assets that are material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims and defects and imperfections of title except those that (i) do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries or (ii) would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) Title to Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own or possess adequate rights to use all material patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names, trademark registrations, service xxxx registrations, copyrights, licenses and know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures) necessary for the conduct of their respective businesses as currently conducted (as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), and the conduct of their respective businesses do not conflict in any material respect with any such rights of others. The Company and its subsidiaries have not received any notice of any claim of infringement, misappropriation or conflict with any such rights of others in connection with its patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights and know-how, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(u) No Undisclosed Relationships. No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the one hand, and the directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, on the other, that is required by the Securities Act to be described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and that is not so described in such documents and in the Pricing Disclosure Package.
(v) Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, immediately after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, will
-9-
not be required to register as an “investment company” or an entity “controlled” by an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the “Investment Company Act”).
(w) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have paid all federal, state, local and foreign taxes required to be paid (to the extent they are due and payable and not being contested in good faith) and filed all tax returns required to be filed through the date hereof (after considering any applicable extensions), except for any failure to pay such taxes or file such tax returns that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and except as otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there is no tax deficiency that has been, or could reasonably be expected to be, asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties or assets, except for any such deficiency that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(x) Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess all licenses, certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by, and have made all declarations and filings with, the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign governmental or regulatory authorities (including, without limitation, state or other food and drug regulatory authorities) that are necessary for the ownership or lease of their respective properties or the conduct of their respective businesses as described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, except where the failure to possess or make the same would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received notice of any revocation or modification of any such license, certificate, permit or authorization or has any knowledge that any such license, certificate, permit or authorization will not be renewed in the ordinary course, except for any such revocation, modification or non-renewal that would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(y) No Labor Disputes. No labor disturbance by or dispute with employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is contemplated or threatened, and the Company has no knowledge of any existing or imminent labor disturbance by, or dispute with, the employees of any of its or its subsidiaries’ principal suppliers, contractors or customers, except in each case as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(z) Compliance with and Liability under Environmental Laws. (i) The Company and its subsidiaries (a) are in compliance with any and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules, regulations, requirements, decisions, judgments, decrees, orders and the common law relating to pollution or the protection of the environment, natural resources or human health or safety, including those relating to the generation, storage, treatment, use, handling, transportation, Release (as defined below) of Hazardous Materials (as defined below) (collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (b) have received and are in compliance with all permits, licenses, certificates or other authorizations or approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct their respective businesses, (c) have not received notice of any liability under or relating to, or violation of, any Environmental Laws, including for the investigation or remediation of any Release of Hazardous Materials, and have no knowledge of any event or condition that would reasonably be expected to result in any such notice, (d) are not conducting or paying for, in whole or in part, any investigation, remediation or other corrective action
-10-
pursuant to any Environmental Law at any location, and (e) are not a party to any order, decree or agreement that imposes any obligation or liability under any Environmental Law, and (ii) there are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental Laws of or relating to the Company or its subsidiaries, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above, for any such matter, as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and (iii) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (a) there are no proceedings that are pending, or that are known by the Company or any of its subsidiaries to be contemplated, against the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any Environmental Laws in which a governmental entity is also a party, other than such proceedings regarding which it is reasonably believed no monetary sanctions of $100,000 or more will be imposed, (b) the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of any facts or issues regarding compliance with Environmental Laws, or liabilities or other obligations under Environmental Laws, including the Release of Hazardous Materials, that would, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, and (c) none of the Company and its subsidiaries anticipates material capital expenditures relating to any Environmental Laws that are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(aa) Hazardous Materials. There has been no storage, generation, transportation, use, handling, treatment, Release of Hazardous Materials by, relating to or caused by the Company or any of its subsidiaries (or, to the knowledge of the Company and its subsidiaries, any other entity (including any predecessor) for whose acts or omissions the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could reasonably be expected to be liable) at, on, under or from any property or facility now or previously owned, operated or leased by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or at, on, under or from any other property or facility, in violation of any Environmental Laws or in a manner or amount or to a location that would reasonably be expected to result in any liability under any Environmental Law, except for any violation or liability which would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. “Hazardous Materials” means any material, chemical, substance, waste, pollutant, contaminant, compound, mixture, or constituent thereof, in any form or amount, including petroleum (including crude oil or any fraction thereof) and petroleum products, natural gas liquids, asbestos and asbestos containing materials, naturally occurring radioactive materials, brine, and drilling mud, regulated or which can give rise to liability under any Environmental Law. “Release” means any spilling, leaking, seepage, pumping, pouring, emitting, emptying, discharging, injecting, escaping, leaching, dumping, disposing, depositing, dispersing, or migrating in, into or through the environment, or in, into from or through any building or structure.
(bb) Compliance with ERISA. Except in each case as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect, (i) each employee benefit plan, within the meaning of Section 3(3) of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), for which the Company or any member of its “Controlled Group” (defined as any organization which is a member of a controlled group of corporations within the meaning of Section 414 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the “Code”)) would have any liability (each, a “Plan”) has been maintained in compliance with its terms and the requirements of any applicable statutes, orders, rules and regulations, including but not limited to ERISA and the Code; (ii) no prohibited transaction, within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, has occurred with respect to any Plan excluding transactions effected pursuant to a statutory or administrative exemption; (iii) for each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, the minimum funding standard of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA, as applicable, has been satisfied
-11-
(without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period) and is reasonably expected to be satisfied in the future (without taking into account any waiver thereof or extension of any amortization period); (iv) the fair market value of the assets of each Plan that is subject to the funding rules of Section 412 of the Code or Section 302 of ERISA exceeds the present value of all benefits accrued under such Plan (determined based on those assumptions used to fund such Plan); (v) no “reportable event” (within the meaning of Section 4043(c) of ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur; (vi) neither the Company nor any member of the Controlled Group has incurred, nor reasonably expects to incur, any liability under Title IV of ERISA (other than contributions to the Plan or premiums to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation, in the ordinary course and without default) in respect of a Plan (including a “multiemployer plan”, within the meaning of Section 4001(a)(3) of ERISA); and (vii) to the knowledge of the Company, there is no pending audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any other governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect to any Plan. None of the following events has occurred or, to the knowledge of the Company, is reasonably likely to occur: (x) a material increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans by the Company or its subsidiaries in the current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such contributions made in the Company and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year; or (y) an increase that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, in the Company and 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 and its subsidiaries’ most recently completed fiscal year.
(cc) Disclosure Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain an effective system of “disclosure controls and procedures” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act) that complies with the requirements of the Exchange Act and that has been designed to ensure that information required to be disclosed by the Company in reports that it files or submits under the Exchange Act is recorded, processed, summarized and reported within the time periods specified in the Commission’s rules and forms, including controls and procedures designed to ensure that such information is accumulated and communicated to the Company’s management as appropriate to allow timely decisions regarding required disclosure. The Company and its subsidiaries have carried out evaluations of the effectiveness of their disclosure controls and procedures as required by Rule 13a-15 of the Exchange Act.
(dd) Accounting Controls. The Company and its subsidiaries maintain systems of “internal control over financial reporting” (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that comply with the requirements of the Exchange Act and have been designed by, or under the supervision of, their respective principal executive and principal financial officers, or persons performing similar functions, to provide reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of financial statements for external purposes in accordance with GAAP, including, but not limited to, 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 GAAP and to maintain asset accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (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; and (v) the interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents, in all material respects, the information called for and is prepared in
-12-
accordance, in all material respects, with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, there are no material weaknesses in the Company’s internal controls (it being understood that the Company is not required as of the date hereof to comply with Section 404 of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act (as defined below)). The Company’s auditors and the Audit Committee of the Board of Directors of the Company have been advised of: (i) all significant deficiencies and material weaknesses in the design or operation of the Company’s system of internal controls over financial reporting that have adversely affected or are reasonably likely to adversely affect the Company’s ability to record, process, summarize and report financial information; and (ii) any fraud, whether or not material, that involves management or other employees who have a significant role in the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting.
(ee) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries have insurance covering their respective properties, operations, personnel and businesses, which insurance is in amounts and insures against such losses and risks as the Company reasonably believes are adequate to protect the Company and its subsidiaries and their respective businesses in a manner that is materially consistent with other similarly situated businesses operating in the markets and industries in which the Company and its subsidiaries operate; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (i) has received notice from any insurer or agent of such insurer that capital improvements or other expenditures are required or necessary to be made in order to continue such insurance or (ii) believes that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage at reasonable cost from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business, except in the case of each of (i) and (ii) above as would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ff) No Unlawful Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or other person authorized to act on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has (i) used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift, entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity; (ii) made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic government official or employee from corporate funds; (iii) violated or is in violation of any provision of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977; (iv) made any bribe, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other unlawful payment; or (v) made any unlawful rebate.
(gg) Compliance with Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(hh) Compliance with OFAC. None of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (“OFAC”); and the Company will not, directly or indirectly, use the proceeds of the offering of the Shares hereunder, or lend,
-13-
contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(ii) No Restrictions on Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or indirectly, under any agreement or other instrument to which it is a party or is subject (other than by the definitive documentation governing the senior secured credit facilities described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus) from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other distribution on such subsidiary’s capital stock, from repaying to the Company any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any of such subsidiary’s properties or assets to the Company or any other subsidiary of the Company.
(jj) No Broker’s Fees. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person (other than this Agreement) that would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
(kk) No Registration Rights. No person has the right to require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register any securities for sale under the Securities Act by reason of the filing of the Registration Statement with the Commission or, to the knowledge of the Company, the sale of the Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders hereunder.
(ll) No Stabilization. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares (it being understood that the Company makes no statement as to the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the offering contemplated hereby).
(mm) Forward-Looking Statements. No forward-looking statement (within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act) contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus has been made or reaffirmed without a reasonable basis or has been disclosed other than in good faith.
(nn) Statistical and Market Data. Nothing has come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that the statistical and market-related data included in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus is not based on or derived from sources that are reliable and accurate in all material respects.
(oo) Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company or, to the knowledge of the Company, any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any applicable provision of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”), including Section 402 related to loans.
(pp) Status under the Securities Act. At the time of filing the Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the earliest time thereafter that the Company or any offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2) under the Securities Act) of the Shares and at the date hereof, the Company was not and is not an “ineligible issuer”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act. The Company has paid the registration fee for this offering pursuant to the applicable rules and regulations under the Securities Act.
-14-
(qq) eXtensible Business Reporting Language. The interactive data in eXtensible Business Reporting Language included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement fairly presents, in all material respects, the information called for and has been prepared in accordance, in all material respects, with the Commission’s rules and guidelines applicable thereto.
4. Representations and Warranties of Xxxx Foods. Xxxx Foods represents and warrants to each Underwriter and the Company that:
(a) Due Authorization. Xxxx Foods has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver each of the Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents has been duly and validly taken.
(b) Transaction Documents. Each of the Transaction Documents has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by Xxxx Foods and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the other parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of Xxxx Foods enforceable against Xxxx Foods in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
(c) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by Xxxx Foods of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by Xxxx Foods of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for (i) the registration of the offering and sale of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by FINRA and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters or by the Exchange in connection with the listing of the Shares, (ii) such other consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications that have been or will be obtained or made on or prior to the Closing Date, and (iii) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, registrations or qualifications the failure of which to obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Xxxx Foods Material Adverse Effect (as defined below).
(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by Xxxx Foods of each of the Transaction Documents and the consummation by Xxxx Foods of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of Xxxx Foods pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which Xxxx Foods is a party or by which Xxxx Foods is bound or to which any of the property or assets of Xxxx Foods is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of Xxxx Foods or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually
-15-
or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Xxxx Foods Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this Agreement, “Xxxx Foods Material Adverse Effect” shall have the meaning set forth in the Exchange Agreement.
(e) Preliminary Prospectus. No Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that Xxxx Foods’ representation under this Section 4(e) shall only apply to any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Xxxx Foods Information.
(f) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that Xxxx Foods’ representation under this Section 4(f) shall only apply to any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Xxxx Foods Information.
(g) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus and all other such Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, on the date of its first use and as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that Xxxx Foods’ representation under this Section 4(g) shall only apply to any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Xxxx Foods Information.
(h) Registration Statement and Prospectus. The Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; and as of the date of the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, the Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that Xxxx Foods’ representation under this Section 4(h) shall only apply to any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Xxxx Foods Information.
(i) No Stabilization. Xxxx Foods has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares (it being understood that Xxxx Foods makes no statement as to the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the offering contemplated hereby).
(j) Material Information. Xxxx Foods’ entry, as of the date hereof, into the Exchange Agreement and this Agreement, and Xxxx Foods’ consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement and by this Agreement to occur on the Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, is not prompted by any material nonpublic information concerning the Company that is required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and is not so set forth.
-16-
5. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholders. Each of the Selling Stockholders severally represents and warrants to each Underwriter, the Company and Xxxx Foods that:
(a) Due Authorization. Such Selling Stockholder has full right, power and authority to execute and deliver each of the Transaction Documents and to perform its obligations under each of the Transaction Documents; and all action required to be taken for the due and proper authorization, execution and delivery by it of each of Transaction Documents and the consummation by it of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents has been duly and validly taken.
(b) Transaction Documents. Each of the Transaction Documents has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and, when duly executed and delivered in accordance with its terms by each of the other parties thereto, will constitute a valid and legally binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder enforceable against such Selling Stockholder in accordance with its terms, except as enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally or by equitable principles relating to enforceability.
(c) No Consents Required. No consent, approval, authorization, order, license, registration or qualification of or with any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority is required for the execution, delivery and performance by such Selling Stockholder of each of the Transaction Documents, the sale of the Shares and the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents, except for (i) the registration of the offering and sale of the Shares under the Securities Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders and registrations or qualifications as may be required by FINRA and under applicable state securities laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters or by the Exchange in connection with the listing of the Shares, (ii) such other consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications that have been or will be obtained or made on or prior to the Closing Date, and (iii) for such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, licenses, registrations or qualifications the failure of which to obtain would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on such Selling Stockholder, or on the ability to perform, or prevent or materially interfere with the performance by it of, its obligations under the Transaction Documents.
(d) No Conflicts. The execution, delivery and performance by such Selling Stockholder of each of the Transaction Documents, the sale of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder and the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents will not (i) conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of such Selling Stockholder pursuant to, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which such Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the property or assets of such Selling Stockholder is subject, (ii) result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder or (iii) result in the violation of any law or statute or any judgment, order, rule or regulation of any court or arbitrator or governmental or regulatory authority, except, in the case of clauses (i) and (iii) above, for any such conflict, breach, violation, default, lien, charge or encumbrance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, prevent or materially interfere with the performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under the Transaction Documents.
-17-
(e) Preliminary Prospectus. No Preliminary Prospectus included in the Pricing Disclosure Package, at the time of filing thereof, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that that such Selling Stockholder’s representation under this Section 5(e) shall only apply to any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Selling Stockholder Information.
(f) Pricing Disclosure Package. The Pricing Disclosure Package as of the Applicable Time did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that such Selling Stockholder’s representation under this Section 5(f) shall only apply to any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Selling Stockholder Information.
(g) Issuer Free Writing Prospectus. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when taken together with the Preliminary Prospectus and all other such Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses accompanying, or delivered prior to delivery of, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, on the date of its first use and as of the Applicable Time, did not, and as of the Closing Date and as of the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided that such Selling Stockholder’s representation under this Section 5(g) shall only apply to any untrue statement of a material fact or omission to state a material fact made in reliance upon and in conformity with the Selling Stockholder Information.
(h) Title to Shares. Such Selling Stockholder will have, immediately prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, good and valid title to the Shares to be sold at the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, by such Selling Stockholder, free and clear of all Liens, equities or adverse claims, including adverse claims under Section 8-303 of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect on the date hereof in the State of New York (the “UCC”); and, upon delivery of the certificates representing such Shares and payment therefor pursuant hereto, good and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of all Liens, equities or adverse claims, including adverse claims under Section 8-303 of the UCC, will pass to the several Underwriters.
(i) No Stabilization. Such Selling Stockholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares (it being understood that such Selling Stockholder makes no statement as to the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the offering contemplated hereby).
(j) Material Information. Each Selling Stockholders’ entry, as of the date hereof, into the Exchange Agreement and this Agreement, and such Selling Stockholder’s consummation of the transactions contemplated by the Exchange Agreement and by this Agreement to occur on the Closing Date and any Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, is not prompted by any material nonpublic information concerning the Company that is required to be set forth in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus, and is not so set forth.
-18-
(k) No Broker’s Fees. Such Selling Stockholder is not a party to any contract, agreement or understanding with any person that would give rise to a valid claim against such Selling Stockholder or any Underwriter for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or like payment in connection with the offering and sale of the Shares.
6. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees with each Underwriter, each Selling Stockholder and Xxxx Foods that:
(a) Required Filings. The Company will file the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A, 430B or 430C under the Securities Act, will file any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act; and will furnish copies of the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus (to the extent not previously delivered) to the Underwriters in New York City prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the second business day following the date of this Agreement in such quantities as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(b) Delivery of Copies. The Company will deliver, without charge, (i) to the Representatives, upon request, three photocopies of the signed Registration Statement as originally filed and each amendment thereto, in each case including all exhibits and consents filed therewith; and (ii) to each Underwriter, during the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined below), as many copies of the Prospectus (including all amendments and supplements thereto and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus) as the Representatives may reasonably request. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period” means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered but for Rule 172 under the Securities Act) in connection with sales of the Shares by any Underwriter or dealer.
(c) Amendments or Supplements, Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Before using, authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and will not use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object within a reasonable time period, unless otherwise required by applicable law.
(d) Notice to the Representatives. The Company will advise the Representatives promptly, and confirm such advice in writing (including by electronic mail): (i) when the Registration Statement has become effective; (ii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective; (iii) when any supplement to the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any amendment to the Prospectus has been filed or distributed; (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or the receipt of any comments from the Commission relating to the Registration Statement or any other request by the Commission for any additional information; (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Securities Act;
-19-
(vi) of the occurrence of any event or development within the Prospectus Delivery Period as a result of which the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus, the Pricing Disclosure Package or any such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading and (vii) of the receipt by the Company of any notice with respect to (x) any suspension of the qualification of the Shares for offer and sale in any jurisdiction or (y) the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and the Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, any of the Pricing Disclosure Package or the Prospectus or suspending any such qualification of the Shares and, if any such order is issued, will use its reasonable best efforts to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(e) Ongoing Compliance. (1) If during the Prospectus Delivery Period (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate such amendments or supplements to the Prospectus as may be necessary so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with law and (2) if at any time prior to the Closing Date (i) any event or development shall occur or condition shall exist as a result of which the Pricing Disclosure Package as then amended or supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or (ii) it is necessary to amend or supplement the Pricing Disclosure Package to comply with law, the Company will promptly notify the Underwriters thereof and prepare and, subject to paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission (to the extent required) and furnish to the Underwriters and to such dealers as the Representatives may designate, such amendments or supplements to the Pricing Disclosure Package as may be necessary so that the statements in the Pricing Disclosure Package as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Pricing Disclosure Package is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Pricing Disclosure Package will comply with law.
(f) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts, in cooperation with the Representatives, to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives shall reasonably request and will continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares; provided that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or other entity or as a dealer in securities in any such jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be required to so qualify, (ii) file any general consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction or (iii) subject itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not otherwise so subject.
(g) Earning Statement. The Company will make generally available to its security holders and the Representatives as soon as practicable an earning statement that satisfies the
-20-
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 of the Commission promulgated thereunder covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal quarter of the Company occurring after the “effective date” (as defined in Rule 158) of the Registration Statement; provided, however, that such requirement shall be deemed to be met by the Company’s compliance with its reporting requirements pursuant to the Exchange Act.
(h) Clear Market. For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, the Company will not (i) 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 (except in the case of a registration statement on Form S-8 with respect to employee benefit plans described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act relating to, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge, disposition or filing, or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, without the prior written consent of the Representatives, other than (A) stock options, restricted stock, restricted stock units or other equity-based awards, and any shares of Class A Common Stock underlying or subject to such compensatory awards, granted pursuant to Company Stock Plans or other employee benefit plans, equity incentive plans or other employee compensation plans disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (provided that such awards and the shares of Class A Common Stock underlying or subject to such awards shall not vest during the 90-day period referred to above, except (i) in connection with terminations of service, death, disability or a change in control in accordance with the terms and conditions of the relevant plan and award or other agreement or (ii) pursuant to the director compensation programs described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus), (B) any shares of Common Stock of the Company issued upon the exercise of options granted or the vesting of restricted stock units outstanding on the date hereof and (in each case) described in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus, (C) any securities issued in connection with the acquisition by the Company of the securities, business, property or other assets of another person or entity, or pursuant to any employee benefit plan assumed by the Company in connection with any such acquisition, or (D) any securities issued in connection with joint ventures, commercial relationships or other strategic transactions; provided that, in the case of clauses (C) and (D), the aggregate number of shares issued in all such acquisitions and transactions does not exceed 10% of the outstanding Common Stock following the offering of the Shares and provided further that, prior to any such issuance pursuant to clause (C) or (D), the Company shall cause each such recipient of such securities to execute and deliver to the Representatives a Lock-Up Agreement substantially in the form of Exhibit A. 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.
(i) No Stabilization. The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or
-21-
manipulation of the price of the Class A Common Stock (it being understood that the Company makes no statement as to the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the offering contemplated hereby).
(j) Reports. Through the second anniversary of the date hereof, the Company will make available to the Representatives, promptly after they are available, copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other) furnished by the Company to holders of the Shares, and copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to or filed by the Company with the Commission or any national securities exchange or automatic quotation system; provided that the Company will be deemed to have furnished such reports and financial statements to the Representatives to the extent they are filed on the Commission’s Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis, and Retrieval system.
(k) Record Retention. The Company will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain copies of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in accordance with, and to the extent required by, Rule 433 under the Securities Act.
7. Further Agreements of Xxxx Foods. Xxxx Foods covenants and agrees with each Underwriter that:
(a) Clear Market. For a period of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, Xxxx Foods will not (i) 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, 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 (including without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities which may be deemed to be beneficially owned by Xxxx Foods in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant, or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or any such other securities, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or otherwise or (iii) 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 without the prior written consent of the Representatives, other than (A) the transactions contemplated by the Transaction Documents pursuant to the terms and provisions of the Transaction Documents, or (B) the delivery of a demand notice for registration of shares of Common Stock pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2012, between the Company and Xxxx Foods, but only the delivery of such notice and not the registration or sale of any shares of Common Stock. 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.
(b) No Stabilization. Xxxx Foods will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or
-22-
manipulation of the price of the Class A Common Stock (it being understood that Xxxx Foods makes no statement as to the activities of the Underwriters in connection with the offering contemplated hereby).
8. Certain Agreements of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter hereby represents and agrees that:
(a) It has not used, authorized use of, referred to or participated in the planning for use of, and will not use, authorize use of, refer to or participate in the planning for use of, any “free writing prospectus”, as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act (which term includes use of any written information furnished to the Commission by the Company and any press release issued by the Company) other than (i) a free writing prospectus that contains no “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433(h)(2) under the Securities Act) that was not included in the Preliminary Prospectus or a previously filed Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Annex A or prepared pursuant to Section 3(c) or Section 4(c) above (including any electronic road show approved by the Company), or (iii) any free writing prospectus prepared by such underwriter and approved by the Company in advance in writing.
(b) It has not used and will not, without the prior written consent of the Company, use any free writing prospectus that contains the final terms of the Shares unless such terms have previously been included in a free writing prospectus filed with the Commission; provided that the Underwriters may use a term sheet substantially in the form of Annex C hereto without the consent of the Company; provided, further, that any Underwriter using such term sheet shall notify the Company, and provide a copy of such term sheet to the Company, prior to, or substantially concurrently with, the first use of such term sheet.
(c) It is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the Securities Act with respect to the offering contemplated hereby (and will promptly notify the Company if any such proceeding against it is initiated during the Prospectus Delivery Period).
9. Conditions of Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligation of each Underwriter to purchase the Underwritten Shares on the Closing Date or the Option Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, as provided herein is subject to the performance by each of the Company, Xxxx Foods and each of the Selling Stockholders of its respective covenants and other obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) Registration Compliance; No Stop Order. No order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceeding for such purpose or pursuant to Section 8A under the Securities Act shall be pending before or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened by the Commission; the Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission under the Securities Act (in the case of an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under the Securities Act) and in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof; and all requests by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
(b) Representations and Warranties. The respective representations and warranties of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders contained herein shall be true and correct on the date hereof and on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be; and the statements of the Company and its officers and of Xxxx Foods and its officers made in any certificates delivered pursuant to this Agreement shall be true and correct on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
-23-
(c) No Downgrade. Subsequent to the earlier of (A) the Applicable Time and (B) the execution and delivery of this Agreement, if there are any debt securities or preferred stock of, or guaranteed by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries that are rated by a “nationally recognized statistical rating organization,” as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act, (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded any such debt securities or preferred stock and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review, or has changed its outlook with respect to, its rating of any such debt securities or preferred stock (other than an announcement with positive implications of a possible upgrading).
(d) No Material Adverse Change. No event or condition of a type described in Section 3(f) hereof shall have occurred or shall exist, which event or condition is not described in the Pricing Disclosure Package (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the Prospectus (excluding any amendment or supplement thereto) and the effect of which in the judgment of the Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus.
(e) Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate (A) of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company and one additional senior executive officer of the Company who is reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives (i) confirming that such officers have reviewed the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus and, to the knowledge of such officers, the representations of the Company set forth in Sections 3(b) and 3(d) hereof are true and correct, (ii) confirming that the other representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct and that the Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (iii) to the effect set forth in paragraphs (a), (c) and (d) above, (B) of the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of Xxxx Foods and one additional senior executive officer of Xxxx Foods who is reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters confirming that the representations and warranties of Xxxx Foods in this agreement are true and correct and that Xxxx Foods has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and (C) of each Selling Stockholder confirming that the representations and warranties of such Selling Stockholder in this Agreement are true and correct and that such Selling Stockholder has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
(f) Comfort Letters. On the date of this Agreement and on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, letters, dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus; provided, that the letter delivered on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall use a “cut-off” date no more than three business days prior to such Closing Date or such Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
-24-
(g) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Company. Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx and Xxxx LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, their written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B-1 hereto. Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, in-house counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Company, his written opinion and 10b-5 statement, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B-2 hereto.
(h) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. Counsel for the Selling Stockholders (such counsel being set forth opposite the name of each such Selling Stockholder on Schedule 2) shall have furnished to the Representatives, at the request of the Selling Stockholders, their written opinions, dated the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, and addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth in Annex B-3 hereto.
(i) Opinion and 10b-5 Statement of Counsel for the Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion and 10b-5 statement of Cravath, Swaine & Xxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such documents and information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(j) No Legal Impediment to Sale. No action shall have been taken and no statute, rule, regulation or order shall have been enacted, adopted or issued by any federal, state or foreign governmental or regulatory authority that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the sale of the Shares; and no injunction or order of any federal, state or foreign court shall have been issued that would, as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, prevent the sale of the Shares.
(k) Good Standing. The Representatives shall have received (i) on and as of the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, satisfactory evidence of the good standing of the Company in its jurisdiction of organization and (ii) not more than five business days prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, its good standing as a foreign entity in the jurisdictions specified on Annex D, in the case of each of clauses (i) and (ii) above, in writing or any standard form of telecommunication from the appropriate governmental authorities of such jurisdictions.
(l) Exchange Listing. The Shares to be delivered on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall have been approved for listing on the Exchange.
(m) Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto, between the Representatives and certain stockholders of the Company and the officers and directors of the Company named on Annex E relating to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to the Representatives on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date or Additional Closing Date, as the case may be.
-25-
(n) Exchange of Shares. With respect to the Underwritten Shares, the First Exchange (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) shall have occurred, and with respect to the Option Shares, an Optional Exchange (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) shall have occurred, in each case in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement and without giving effect to any waiver of a material condition or any material amendment not consented to by the Representatives.
(o) Additional Documents. On or prior to the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, each of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished to the Representatives such further certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
All opinions, letters, certificates and evidence mentioned above or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters.
10. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters, the Selling Stockholders and Xxxx Foods by the Company. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters, the Selling Stockholders, Xxxx Foods and their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter or such Selling Stockholder within the meaning of 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, reasonable legal fees and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred), joint or several, that arise out of, or are based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any “issuer information” filed or required to be filed pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, any road show as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act (a “road show”) or any Pricing Disclosure Package (including any Pricing Disclosure Package that has subsequently been amended), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, in each case except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with (i) Xxxx Foods Information, (ii) Selling Stockholder Information or (iii) Underwriter Information.
(b) Indemnification of the Underwriters, the Selling Stockholders and the Company by Xxxx Foods. Xxxx Foods agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the Underwriters, the Selling Stockholders, the Company and their respective affiliates, selling agents, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter or such Selling Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information furnished to the Company in writing by Xxxx Foods
-26-
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by Xxxx Foods consists of the following information in the Registration Statement, Pricing Disclosure Package or Prospectus furnished by Xxxx Foods: the information in the row beginning with “Xxxx Foods Company” in the table in the section entitled “Principal and Selling Stockholders,” the information appearing under the heading “Prospectus Summary—The Underwriting and Debt-for-Equity Exchange” and the information appearing under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest) —The Debt-For-Equity Exchange” (the “Xxxx Foods Information”); provided, however, that the obligation of Xxxx Foods to indemnify the Company, its affiliates, directors and officers shall be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate public offering price less the aggregate underwriting discounts and commissions, each as shown on the cover page of the Prospectus, from the sale of the Underwritten Shares and from the sale of any Option Shares purchased by the Underwriters under this Agreement.
(c) Indemnification of the Underwriters and the Company by the Selling Stockholders. Each of the Selling Stockholders severally in proportion to the number of Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the Company, and their respective affiliates, directors and officers and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information relating to such Selling Stockholder furnished to the Company in writing by such Selling Stockholder expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package (the “Selling Stockholder Information”).
(d) Indemnification of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders by the Underwriters. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, Xxxx Foods, the Selling Stockholders and their respective affiliates, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the indemnity set forth in paragraph (a) above, but only with respect to any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including, without limitation, reasonable legal fees and other reasonable expenses incurred in connection with any suit, action or proceeding or any claim asserted, as such fees and expenses are incurred) that arise out of, or are based upon, any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with any information furnished to the Company in writing by any Underwriter or through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any road show or any Pricing Disclosure Package, it being understood and agreed upon that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter or through the Representatives consists of the following information in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter: the sixth paragraph on the cover page regarding the delivery of the Shares, the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the third paragraph under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” and the information contained in the thirteenth and fourteenth paragraphs under the heading “Underwriting (Conflicts of Interest)” (the “Underwriter Information”).
-27-
(e) Notice and Procedures. If any suit, action, proceeding (including any governmental or regulatory investigation), claim or demand shall be brought or asserted against any person in respect of which indemnification may be sought pursuant to the preceding paragraphs of this Section 10, such person (the “Indemnified Person”) shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnification may be sought (the “Indemnifying Person”) in writing; provided that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 10 except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided, further, that the failure to notify the Indemnifying Person shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have to an Indemnified Person otherwise than under the preceding paragraphs of this Section 10. If any such proceeding shall be brought or asserted against an Indemnified Person and it shall have notified the Indemnifying Person thereof, the Indemnifying Person shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person (who shall not, without the consent of the Indemnified Person, be counsel to the Indemnifying Person) to represent the Indemnified Person in such proceeding and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such proceeding, as incurred. In any such proceeding, any Indemnified Person 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 Person unless (i) the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person shall have mutually agreed to the contrary; (ii) the Indemnifying Person has failed within a reasonable time to retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Indemnified Person; (iii) the Indemnified Person shall have reasonably concluded based on the advice of counsel that there may be legal defenses available to it that are different from or in addition to those available to the Indemnifying Person; or (iv) the named parties in any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include both the Indemnifying Person and the Indemnified Person and representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interest between them. It is understood and agreed that the Indemnifying Person shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Indemnified Persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall be paid or reimbursed as they are incurred. Any such separate firm for any Underwriter, its affiliates, directors and officers and any control persons of such Underwriter shall be designated in writing by the Representatives, and any such separate firm for the Company, its affiliates, its directors, its officers who signed the Registration Statement and any control persons of the Company shall be designated in writing by the Company and any such separate firm for the Selling Stockholders shall be designated in writing by the Selling Stockholders. The Indemnifying Person 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 Person agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Person shall have requested that an Indemnifying Person reimburse the Indemnified Person for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by this paragraph, the Indemnifying Person shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by the Indemnifying Person of the final terms of the proposed settlement and (ii) the Indemnifying Person shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Person in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Person shall, without the written consent of the Indemnified Person, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any Indemnified Person is or could have been a party and indemnification could have been sought hereunder by such Indemnified Person, unless such settlement (x) includes an unconditional release of such Indemnified Person, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to such Indemnified Person, from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding and (y) does not include any statement as to or any admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any Indemnified Person.
-28-
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (d) above is unavailable to an Indemnified Person or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each Indemnifying Person under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such Indemnified Person thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such Indemnified Person 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 Company and Xxxx Foods, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) but also the relative fault of the Company and Xxxx Foods, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, 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, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Company from the sale of the Shares and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters in connection therewith, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate offering price of the Shares. The relative benefits received by Xxxx Foods shall be deemed to be the aggregate principal amount of Xxxx Foods Debt (as defined in the Exchange Agreement) exchanged for Shares pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Agreement (the “Exchanged Debt”). The relative fault of the Company and Xxxx Foods, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, 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 and Xxxx Foods or by the Underwriters, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
(g) Limitation on Liability. The Company, Xxxx Foods, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to paragraph (f) above were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters 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 paragraph (f) above. The amount paid or payable by an Indemnified Person as a result of the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in paragraph (f) above shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any reasonable legal or other reasonable expenses incurred by such Indemnified Person in connection with any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, in no event shall an Underwriter be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriter with respect to the offering of the Shares 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. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, in no event shall Xxxx Foods be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds (before deducting expenses) received by the Selling Stockholders from the sale of the Shares exceeds the amount of any damages that Xxxx Foods 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 Underwriters’ obligations to contribute pursuant to paragraphs (f) and (g) are several in proportion to their respective purchase obligations hereunder and not joint.
(h) Non-Exclusive Remedies. The remedies provided for in this Section 10 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be available to any Indemnified Person at law or in equity.
-29-
11. Effectiveness of Agreement. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
12. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by written notice to the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders, if after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Shares, prior to the Additional Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by either of the Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market; (ii) trading of any securities issued or guaranteed by the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities shall have been declared by federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis, either within or outside the United States, that, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale or delivery of the Shares on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus. This Agreement shall terminate automatically upon any termination of the Exchange Agreement in accordance with its terms or by mutual agreement of the parties thereto prior to the Closing Date.
13. Defaulting Underwriter.
(a) If, on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, any Underwriter defaults on its obligation to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, the non-defaulting Underwriter may in its discretion arrange for the purchase of such Shares by other persons satisfactory to the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders on the terms contained in this Agreement. If, within 36 hours after any such default by any Underwriter, the non-defaulting Underwriter does not arrange for the purchase of such Shares, then the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be entitled to a further period of 36 hours within which to procure other persons satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase such Shares on such terms. If other persons become obligated or agree to purchase the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter, either the non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders may postpone the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, for up to five full business days in order to effect any changes that in the opinion of counsel for the Company or Xxxx Foods, counsel for the Selling Stockholders or counsel for the Underwriters may be necessary in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other document or arrangement, and the Company agrees to promptly prepare any amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus that effects any such changes. As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes, for all purposes of this Agreement unless the context otherwise requires, any person not listed in Schedule 1 hereto that, pursuant to this Section 13, purchases Shares that a defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed to purchase.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter by the non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, then the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders shall have the right to require the non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder on such date plus such Underwriter’s pro rata share (based on the number of Shares that such Underwriter agreed to purchase on such date) of the Shares of such defaulting Underwriter for which such arrangements have not been made.
-30-
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter by the non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders as provided in paragraph (a) above, the aggregate number of Shares that remain unpurchased on the Closing Date or the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate amount of Shares to be purchased on such date, or if the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders shall not exercise the right described in paragraph (b) above, then this Agreement or, with respect to any Additional Closing Date, the obligation of the Underwriters to purchase Shares on the Additional Closing Date, as the case may be, shall terminate without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriter. Any termination of this Agreement pursuant to this Section 13 shall be without liability on the part of the Company, Xxxx Foods and the Selling Stockholders, except that the Company will continue to be liable for the payment of expenses as set forth in Section 14 hereof and except that the provisions of Section 10 hereof shall not terminate and shall remain in effect.
(d) Nothing contained herein shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter of any liability it may have to the Company, Xxxx Foods, the Selling Stockholders or any non-defaulting Underwriter for damages caused by its default.
14. Payment of Expenses.
(a) Whether or not the transactions contemplated by this Agreement are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company will pay or cause to be paid all costs and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder, including without limitation, (i) the costs incident to the sale, preparation and delivery of the Shares and any taxes payable in that connection (except as provided in Section 2(c)), (ii) the costs incident to the preparation, printing and filing under the Securities Act of the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, any Pricing Disclosure Package and the Prospectus (including all exhibits, amendments and supplements thereto) and the distribution thereof; (iii) the costs of reproducing and distributing each of the Transaction Documents; (iv) the fees and expenses of the Company’s counsel and independent accountants; (v) the fees and expenses incurred in connection with the registration or qualification of the Shares under the state or foreign securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate (subject to the limitations set forth in Section 6(f)) and the preparation, printing and distribution of a Blue Sky Memorandum (including the related fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters, provided, however, that the fees and expenses of counsel incurred in connection with the Blue Sky Memorandum shall not exceed $15,000 in the aggregate); (vi) the cost of preparing stock certificates; (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent and any registrar; (viii) all expenses and application fees incurred in connection with any filing with, and clearance of the offering by, FINRA (provided, however, that the fees and expenses of counsel incurred in connection with such FINRA filings shall not exceed $35,000 in the aggregate); (ix) all expenses incurred by the Company in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors (provided, however, that the cost of any aircraft chartered for the road show by the Underwriters shall be borne by the Underwriters; it being understood and agreed that the Company shall use its own aircraft in connection with any road show); and (x) all expenses and application fees related to the listing of the Shares on the Exchange.
(b) If (i) this Agreement is terminated pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) of Section 12, (ii) the Selling Stockholders fail to tender the Shares for delivery to the Underwriters due to a failure by Xxxx Foods to transfer the Shares to the Selling Stockholders in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Agreement, or (iii) the Underwriters decline to purchase the Shares for any reason permitted under this Agreement (other than as a result of a termination of this Agreement pursuant to clause (iii) or (iv) of Section 12 or Section 13(c)), the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for all documented out-of-pocket costs and expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of their counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in connection with this Agreement and the offering contemplated hereby.
-31-
(c) Except as otherwise provided herein, (i) the Underwriters will pay all costs and expenses incurred by them, including, without limitation, all expenses incurred by the Underwriters in connection with any “road show” presentation to potential investors, fees and disbursements of their counsel, stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any Shares by them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make, (ii) the Selling Stockholders shall pay all costs incurred by the Selling Stockholders, and (iii) the Company shall not be obligated to pay or reimburse any costs, fees or expenses incurred by any Underwriter that defaults on its obligations to purchase the Shares that it has agreed to purchase. Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Agreement, as between the Company and Xxxx Foods, each such party shall bear the costs and expenses incurred in connection with this Agreement and the offering of the Shares in accordance with, and to the extent provided in, the Registration Rights Agreement, dated as of October 25, 2012, between the Company and Xxxx Foods.
15. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers and directors and any controlling persons referred to in Section 10 hereof. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any other person any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision contained herein. No purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor merely by reason of such purchase.
16. Survival. The respective indemnities, rights of contribution, representations, warranties and agreements of the Company, Xxxx Foods, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters contained in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of the Company, Xxxx Foods, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement or any certificate delivered pursuant hereto shall survive the delivery of and payment for the Shares and shall remain in full force and effect regardless of any termination of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of the Company, Xxxx Foods, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters.
17. Certain Defined Terms. For purposes of this Agreement, (a) except where otherwise expressly provided, the term “affiliate” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; (b) the term “business day” means any day other than a day on which banks are permitted or required to be closed in New York City; (c) the term “subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; and (d) the term “significant subsidiary” has the meaning set forth in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Exchange Act.
18. Form W-8 and Form W-9. All payments under this Agreement shall be made free and clear of, and without deduction for, withholding taxes, except to the extent that a Selling Stockholder has not delivered to the Underwriters a properly completed and executed IRS Form W-9 or W-8 (or other applicable form or statement specified by applicable law).
19. Miscellaneous.
(a) Authority of the Representatives. Any action by the Underwriters hereunder may be taken by the Representatives on behalf of the Underwriters, and any such action taken by the Representatives shall be binding upon the Underwriters.
(b) Notices. All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted and confirmed by any standard form of telecommunication. Notices to the Representatives shall be given to the Underwriters at X. X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC, 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 (fax: (000) 000-0000), Attention: Equity Syndicate Desk; and Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated, Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Syndicate Department, with a copy to ECM Legal. Notices to the
-32-
Company shall be given to it at The WhiteWave Foods Company, , , , (fax: ); Attention: General Counsel. Notices to Xxxx Foods shall be given to it at , , , (fax: ); Attention: . Notices to the Selling Stockholders shall be given to them at , , , (fax: ); Attention: .
(c) Governing Law. This Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.
(d) Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in counterparts (which may include counterparts delivered by any standard form of telecommunication), each of which shall be an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same instrument.
(e) Amendments or Waivers. No amendment or waiver of any provision of this Agreement, nor any consent or approval to any departure therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in writing and signed by the parties hereto.
(f) Headings. The headings herein are included for convenience of reference only and are not intended to be part of, or to affect the meaning or interpretation of, this Agreement.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
-33-
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your acceptance of this Agreement by signing in the space provided below.
| Very truly yours, | ||
| THE WHITEWAVE FOODS COMPANY | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| X. X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX INCORPORATED | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| XXXX FOODS COMPANY | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
-34-
Accepted: [—], 2013
X. X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
| XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX INCORPORATED | ||
| By: |
| |
| Name: | ||
| Title: | ||
-35-
Schedule 1
| Underwriter |
Number of Shares | |
| X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
||
| Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated |
||
| Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
||
| SunTrust Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, Inc. |
||
| Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC |
||
| Credit Agricole Securities (USA) Inc. |
||
| Rabo Securities USA, Inc. |
||
|
| ||
| Total |
||
Schedule 2
| Selling Stockholder |
Number of Underwritten Shares |
Number of Option Shares |
Legal Counsel | |||
| X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC |
||||||
| Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated |
Exhibit A
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
[—], 2013
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
| Re: | The WhiteWave Foods Company — Public Offering |
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), pursuant to which an offering (the “Public Offering”) will be made by X.X. Xxxxxx Securities LLC and Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx Incorporated (collectively, the “Underwriters”) of shares of Class A Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share (the “Common Stock”), of The WhiteWave Foods Company (the “Company”). Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Underwriting Agreement.
In consideration of the Underwriters’ agreement to purchase and make the Public Offering of the Common Stock, and for other good and valuable consideration receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, the undersigned will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date of the 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, 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 (including, without limitation, Common Stock or such other securities that may be deemed to be beneficially owned by the undersigned in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission and securities which may be issued upon exercise of a stock option or warrant), or publicly disclose the intention to make any offer, sale, pledge or disposition, (2) enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common Stock or such other securities, 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) 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, in each case other than (A) transactions relating to shares of Common Stock acquired in open market transactions
after the completion of the Public Offering, (B) entrance into a written trading plan meeting the requirements of Rule 10b5-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”), provided that no sales are made pursuant to such trading plan during the restricted period contemplated by this Letter Agreement, (C) transfers of shares of Common Stock to immediate family members or to a trust formed for the benefit of the undersigned or an immediate family member of the undersigned, in each case, for estate planning purposes, (D) the exercise of an option to purchase shares of Common Stock granted under a stock incentive plan or stock purchase plan of the Company described in the Prospectus, provided that the underlying shares of Common Stock continue to be subject to the restrictions and terms of this Letter Agreement, (E) transfers of shares of Common Stock as a bona fide gift or gifts, [and] (F) distributions of shares of Common Stock to members or stockholders of the undersigned [and (G) the exercise of the options to purchase shares of Common Stock granted on January 13, 2004, and expiring on January 13, 2014, and the transfer or sale of [ ] of shares of Common Stock underlying and subject to such options]; provided that, in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (C), (E) or (F), each donee, transferee or distributee shall execute and deliver to the Representative a lock-up letter in the form hereof; and provided, further, that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (B), (C), (E) or (F), no filing by any party (donor, donee, transferor or transferee) under the Exchange Act or otherwise, or other public announcement shall be required or shall be made voluntarily in connection with such transfer or distribution (other than a filing on a Form 5 made after the expiration of the 90-day period referred to above). For purposes of this paragraph, “immediate family” means any relationship by blood, marriage, domestic partnership or adoption, no more remote than a first cousin. For the avoidance of doubt, the restrictions in this letter agreement shall not apply to transfers of shares of the common stock of Xxxx Foods Company (“Xxxx Foods Stock”) or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Xxxx Foods Stock, irrespective of whether the holder of such shares of Xxxx Foods Stock shall be entitled to receive shares of Common Stock in connection with any distribution of Common Stock by Xxxx Foods Company.
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 Letter Agreement, subject to the foregoing exceptions, 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.
In furtherance of the foregoing, the Company, and any duly appointed transfer agent for the registration or transfer of the securities described herein, are hereby authorized to decline to make any transfer of securities if such transfer would constitute a violation or breach of this Letter Agreement.
The undersigned hereby represents and warrants that the undersigned has full power and authority to enter into this Letter Agreement. All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred and any obligations of the undersigned shall be binding upon the successors, assigns, heirs or personal representatives of the undersigned.
The undersigned understands that, if the Underwriting Agreement does not become effective, or if the Underwriting Agreement (other than the provisions thereof which survive termination) shall terminate or be terminated prior to payment for and delivery of the Common Stock to be sold thereunder, the undersigned shall be released from all obligations under this Letter Agreement.
Exhibit A – Page 2
The undersigned understands that the Underwriters are entering into the Underwriting Agreement and proceeding with the Public Offering in reliance upon this Letter Agreement.
This Letter Agreement and any claim, controversy or dispute arising under or related to this Letter Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York, without regard to the conflict of laws principles thereof.
Exhibit A – Page 3
| Very truly yours,
[—] | ||
| By: | ||
| Name: Title: | ||
Exhibit A – Page 4
