EXHIBIT 1.1
3,750,000 Shares
U S Liquids Inc.
Common Stock
FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
May ___, 1998
XXXXXXXXX, XXXXXX & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
DEUTSCHE XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
XXX XXXXXX & COMPANY
XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXX
As representatives of the several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto c/x
Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs:
U S Liquids Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes to
issue and sell 3,750,000 shares of its Common Stock, $.01 par value (the "FIRM
SHARES") to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"UNDERWRITERS"). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several
Underwriters not more than an additional 562,500 shares of its Common Stock, par
value $.01 per share (the "ADDITIONAL SHARES") if requested by the Underwriters
as provided in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are
hereinafter referred to
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collectively as the "SHARES". The shares of common stock of the Company to be
outstanding after giving effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter
referred to as the "COMMON STOCK".
SECTION 1. REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS. The Company has prepared
and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") in
accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the
"Act"), a registration statement on Form S-1, including a prospectus, relating
to the Shares. The registration statement, as amended at the time it became
effective, including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the
registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under
the Act, is hereinafter referred to as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT"; and the
prospectus in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter
referred as the "PROSPECTUS". If the Company has filed or is required pursuant
to the terms hereof to file a registration statement pursuant to Rule 462(b)
under the Act registering additional shares of Common Stock (a "RULE 462(b)
REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), then, unless otherwise specified, any reference herein
to the term "Registration Statement" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement.
SECTION 2. AGREEMENTS TO SELL AND PURCHASE AND LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS. On the
basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and
subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to issue and sell, and
each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company
at a price per Share of $______________ (the "PURCHASE PRICE") the number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I
hereto.
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to issue
and sell the Additional Shares and the Underwriters shall have the right to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to _________ Additional Shares from the
Company at the Purchase Price. Additional Shares may be purchased solely for the
purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the
Firm Shares. The Underwriters may exercise their right to purchase Additional
Shares in whole or in part from time to time by giving written notice thereof to
the Company within 30 days after the date of this Agreement. You shall give any
such notice on behalf of the Underwriters and such notice shall specify the
aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased pursuant to such exercise
and the date for payment and delivery thereof, which date shall be a business
day (i) no earlier than two business days after such notice has been given (and,
in any event, no earlier than the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined)) and
(ii) no later than ten business days after such notice has been given. If any
Additional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter, severally and not
jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company the number of Additional Shares
(subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may
determine) which bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional
Shares to be purchased from the Company as the number of Firm Shares set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I bears to the total number of
Firm Shares.
The Company hereby agrees not to (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
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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 or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement
that transfers all or a portion of the economic consequences associated with the
ownership of any Common Stock (regardless of whether any of the transactions
described in clause (i) or (ii) is to be settled by the delivery of Common
Stock, or such other securities, in cash or otherwise), except to the
Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, for a period of 120 days after the date
of the Prospectus without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx &
Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation. Notwithstanding the foregoing, during such
period (i) the Company may grant stock options pursuant to the Company's
existing stock option plan and (ii) the Company may issue shares of Common Stock
upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
outstanding on the date hereof. The Company also agrees not to file any
registration statement with respect to any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock for
a period of 120 days after the date of the Prospectus without the prior written
consent of Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation. The Company
shall, prior to or concurrently with the execution of this Agreement, deliver an
agreement executed by (i) each of the directors and officers of the Company and
(ii) each stockholder listed on Annex I hereto to the effect that such person
will not, during the period commencing on the date such person signs such
agreement and ending 120 days after the date of the Prospectus, without the
prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation,
(A) engage in any of the transactions described in the first sentence of this
paragraph or (B) make any demand for, or exercise any right with respect to, the
registration of any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock.
SECTION 3. TERMS OF PUBLIC OFFERING. The Company is advised by you that
the Underwriters propose (i) to make a public offering of their respective
portions of the Shares as soon after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement as in your judgment is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the
Shares upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.
SECTION 4. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT. The Shares shall be represented by
definitive certificates and shall be issued in such authorized denominations and
registered in such names as Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
shall request no later than two business days prior to the Closing Date or the
applicable Option Closing Date (as defined below), as the case may be. The
Company shall deliver the Shares, with any transfer taxes thereon duly paid by
the respective Sellers, to Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment to the Company
of the Purchase Price therefore by wire transfer of Federal or other funds
immediately available in New York City. The certificates representing the Shares
shall be made available for inspection not later than 9:30 A.M., New York City
time, on the business day prior to the Closing Date or the applicable Option
Closing Date (as defined below), as the case may be, at the office of DTC or its
designated custodian (the "DESIGNATED OFFICE"). The time and date of delivery
and payment for the Firm Shares shall be 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on
__________, 1998 or such other time on the same or such other date as Xxxxxxxxx,
Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation and the Company shall agree in writing.
The time and date of delivery for the Firm Shares are hereinafter referred to as
the "CLOSING DATE". The time and date of
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delivery and payment for any Additional Shares to be purchased by the
Underwriters shall be 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on the date specified in
the applicable exercise notice given by you pursuant to Section 2 or such other
time on the same or such other date as Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities
Corporation and the Company shall agree in writing. The time and date of
delivery for the Additional Shares are hereinafter referred to as an "OPTION
CLOSING DATE".
The documents to be delivered on the Closing Date or any Option Closing
Date on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 8 of this Agreement
shall be delivered at the offices of XxXxxxxxx, Will & Xxxxx, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 and the Shares shall be delivered at
the Designated Office, all on the Closing Date or such Option Closing Date, as
the case may be.
SECTION 5. AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company agrees with you:
(a) To advise you promptly and, if requested by you, to confirm such
advice in writing, (i) of any request by the Commission for amendments to
the Registration Statement or amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
or for additional information, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
or of the suspension of qualification of the Shares for offering or sale
in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding for such
purposes, (iii) when any amendment to the Registration Statement becomes
effective, (iv) if the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement after the effectiveness of this Agreement, when the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has become effective and (v) of the
happening of any event during the period referred to in Section 5(d) below
which makes any statement of a material fact made in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus untrue or which requires any additions to or
changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make
the statements therein not misleading. If at any time the Commission shall
issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement, the Company will use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal
or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.
(b) To furnish to you five signed copies of the Registration
Statement as first filed with the Commission and of each amendment to it,
including all exhibits, and to furnish to you and each Underwriter
designated by you such number of conformed copies of the Registration
Statement as so filed and of each amendment to it, without exhibits, as
you may reasonably request.
(c) To prepare the Prospectus, the form and substance of which shall
be satisfactory to you, and to file the Prospectus in such form with the
Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the
Act; during the period specified in Section 5(d) below, not to file any
further amendment to the Registration Statement and not to make any
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus of which you shall not
previously
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have been advised or to which you shall reasonably object after being so
advised; and, during such period, to prepare and file with the Commission,
promptly upon your reasonable request, any amendment to the Registration
Statement or amendment or supplement to the Prospectus which may be
necessary or advisable in connection with the distribution of the Shares
by you, and to use its best efforts to cause any such amendment to the
Registration Statement to become promptly effective.
(d) Prior to 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the first business
day after the date of this Agreement and from time to time thereafter for
such period as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus
is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
Underwriter or a dealer, to furnish in New York City to each Underwriter
and any dealer as many copies of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus) as such Underwriter or dealer may reasonably
request.
(e) If during the period specified in Section 5(d), any event shall
occur or condition shall exist as a result of which, in the opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes necessary to amend or supplement
the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not
misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable
law, forthwith to prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate
amendment or supplement to the Prospectus so that the statements in the
Prospectus, as so amended or supplemented, will not in the light of the
circumstances when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the
Prospectus will comply with applicable law, and to furnish to each
Underwriter and to any dealer as many copies thereof as such Underwriter
or dealer may reasonably request.
(f) Prior to any public offering of the Shares, to cooperate with
you and counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration
or qualification of the Shares for offer and sale by the several
Underwriters and by dealers under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of
such jurisdictions as you may request, to continue such registration or
qualification in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares
and to file such consents to service of process or other documents as may
be necessary in order to effect such registration or qualification;
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required in connection
therewith to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which
it is not now so qualified or to take any action that would subject it to
general consent to service of process or taxation other than as to matters
and transactions relating to the Prospectus, the Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus or the offering or sale of the Shares, in any
jurisdiction in which it is not now so subject.
(g) To mail and make generally available to its stockholders as soon
as practicable an earnings statement covering the twelve-month period
ending June 30, 1998 that shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of
the Act, and to advise you in writing when such statement has been so made
available.
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(h) During the period of three years after the date of this
Agreement, to furnish to you as soon as available copies of all reports or
other communications furnished to the record holders of Common Stock or
furnished to or filed with the Commission or any national securities
exchange on which any class of securities of the Company is listed and
such other publicly available information concerning the Company and its
subsidiaries as you may reasonably request.
(i) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement
are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be
paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under
this Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the
Company's counsel and the Company's accountants in connection with the
registration and delivery of the Shares under the Act and all other fees
and expenses in connection with the preparation, printing, filing and
distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements
and exhibits), any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and all
amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including the mailing
and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers in the
quantities specified herein, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the
transfer and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any
transfer or other taxes payable thereon, (iii) all costs of printing or
producing this Agreement and any other agreements or documents in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale or delivery of the Shares,
(iv) all expenses in connection with the registration or qualification of
the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the
several states and all costs of printing or producing any Preliminary and
Supplemental Blue Sky Memoranda in connection therewith (including the
filing fees and fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with such registration or qualification and memoranda relating
thereto), (v) the filing fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with the review and clearance of the offering
of the Shares by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.,
(vi) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation and filing
of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common Stock and
all costs and expenses incident to the listing of the Shares on AMEX,
(vii) the cost of printing certificates representing the Shares, (viii)
the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar and/or depositary,
and (ix) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance of the
obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is not otherwise
made in this Section.
(j) To use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance,
the Shares on the AMEX and to maintain the listing of the Shares on the
AMEX for a period of three years after the date of this Agreement.
(k) To use its best efforts to do and perform all things required or
necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by the Company
prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares.
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(l) If the Registration Statement at the time of the effectiveness
of this Agreement does not cover all of the Shares, to file a Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement with the Commission registering the Shares not so
covered, in compliance with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., New York City time,
on the date of this Agreement and to pay to the Commission the filing fee
for such Rule 462(b) Registration Statement at the time of the filing
thereof or to give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee
pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.
SECTION 6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective (other than any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the
effectiveness of this Agreement); any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement
filed after the effectiveness of this Agreement will become effective no
later than 10:00 P.M., New York City time, on the date of this Agreement;
and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement is in effect, and no proceedings for such purpose are pending
before or threatened by the Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement (other than any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness
of this Agreement), when it became effective, did not contain and, as
amended, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii)
the Registration Statement (other than any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement to be filed by the Company after the effectiveness of this
Agreement) and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will comply in all material respects with the Act, (iii) if
the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement after
the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and any amendments thereto, when they become effective (A) will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (B) will comply in all material
respects with the Act and (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and
warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or
omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in
writing by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.
(c) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the Registration
Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or
filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, complied when so filed in all
material respects with the Act, and did not contain an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under
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which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and
warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or
omissions in any preliminary prospectus based upon information relating to
any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter
through you expressly for use therein.
(d) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power
and authority to carry on its business as described in the Prospectus and
to own, lease and operate its properties, and each is duly qualified and
is in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in
each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure
to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(e) There are no outstanding subscriptions, rights, warrants,
options, calls, convertible securities, commitments of sale or liens
granted or issued by the Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to or
entitling any person to purchase or otherwise to acquire any shares of the
capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except as
otherwise disclosed in the Registration Statement.
(f) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable
and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights; and the Shares have
been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered to the Underwriters
against payment therefor as provided by this Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares
will not be subject to any preemptive or similar rights.
(g) All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of the
Company's subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly issued and
are fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, directly
or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries, free and clear of any
security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of any
nature.
(h) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation
of its respective charter or by-laws or in default in the performance of
any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or
instrument that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as
a whole, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their respective property
is bound.
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(j) The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the
Company, the compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof and
the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not (i)
require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or
qualification with, any court or governmental body or agency (except such
as may be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
states), (ii) conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or
provisions of, or a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
lease or other agreement or instrument that is material to the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
or their respective property is bound, (iii) violate or conflict with any
applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
court or any governmental body or agency having jurisdiction over the
Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective property or (iv)
result in the suspension, termination or revocation of any Authorization
(as defined below) of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other
impairment of the rights of the holder of any such Authorization.
(k) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or
threatened to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could be
a party or to which any of their respective property is or could be
subject that are required to be described in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus and are not so described; nor are there any statutes,
regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed
as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so described or
filed as required.
(l) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has violated any
foreign, federal, state or local law or regulation relating to the
protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or
toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants ("ENVIRONMENTAL
LAWS"), any provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, or any provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act,
or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder, except for such
violations which, singly or in the aggregate, would not have a material
adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or results
of operation of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(m) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such permits,
licenses, consents, exemptions, franchises, authorizations and other
approvals (each, an "AUTHORIZATION") of, and has made all filings with and
notices to, all governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory
organizations and all courts and other tribunals, including, without
limitation, under any applicable Environmental Laws, as are necessary to
own, lease, license and operate its respective properties and to conduct
its business, except where the failure to have any such Authorization or
to make any such filing or notice would not, singly or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole. Each such Authorization is valid and in full force and
effect and each of the
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Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance with all the terms and
conditions thereof and with the rules and regulations of the authorities
and governing bodies having jurisdiction with respect thereto; and no
event has occurred (including, without limitation, the receipt of any
notice from any authority or governing body) which allows or, after notice
or lapse of time or both, would allow, revocation, suspension or
termination of any such Authorization or results or, after notice or lapse
of time or both, would result in any other impairment of the rights of the
holder of any such Authorization; and such Authorizations contain no
restrictions that are burdensome to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries; except where such failure to be valid and in full force and
effect or to be in compliance, the occurrence of any such event or the
presence of any such restriction would not, singly or in the aggregate,
have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects, financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
(n) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental
Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or operating expenditures
required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with
Environmental Laws or any Authorization, any related constraints on
operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which
would, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
business, prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(o) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by the Company.
(p) Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx LLP are independent public accountants with
respect to the Company and its subsidiaries as required by the Act.
(q) The consolidated financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
thereto), together with related schedules and notes, present fairly the
consolidated financial position, results of operations and changes in
financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries on the basis stated
therein at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which
they apply; such statements and related schedules and notes have been
prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed
therein; the supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration
Statement present fairly in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles the information required to be stated therein; and the other
financial and statistical information and data set forth in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement
thereto) are, in all material respects, accurately presented and prepared
on a basis consistent with such financial statements and the books and
records of the Company.
(r) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Prospectus, will not
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be, an "investment company" as such term is defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(s) There are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the
Company and any person granting such person the right to require the
Company to file a registration statement under the Act with respect to any
securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such
securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
(t) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this
Agreement), (i) there has not occurred any material adverse change or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business, management
or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii)
there has not been any material adverse change or any development
involving a prospective material adverse change in the capital stock or in
the long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (iii)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has incurred any material
liability or obligation, direct or contingent.
(u) Each certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to the Underwriters or counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to the
Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter, its directors, its officers and each person, if any, who
controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"EXCHANGE ACT"), from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and judgments (including, without limitation, any legal or
other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any
matter, including any action, that could give rise to any such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments) caused by any untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto) or any preliminary prospectus, or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments are caused by any such untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information
relating to any Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by such
Underwriter through you expressly for use therein; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
the foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary
prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter who failed to
deliver a Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented, provided by the
Company to the several Underwriters in the requisite
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quantity and on a timely basis to permit proper delivery on or prior to
the Closing Date) to the person asserting any losses, claims, damages and
liabilities and judgments caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, or
caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, if such material misstatement or omission or
alleged material misstatement or omission was cured in such Prospectus and
such Prospectus was required by law to be delivered at or prior to the
written confirmation of sale to such person.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
such Underwriter but only with reference to information relating to such
Underwriter furnished in writing to the Company by such Underwriter
through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) or any preliminary prospectus.
(c) In case any action shall be commenced involving any person in
respect of which indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b)
(the "indemnified party"), the indemnified party shall promptly notify the
person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying
party") in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the defense of
such action, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the indemnified party and the payment of all fees and expenses of such
counsel, as incurred (except that in the case of any action in respect of
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to both Sections 7(a) and 7(b), the
Underwriter shall not be required to assume the defense of such action
pursuant to this Section 7(c), but may employ separate counsel and
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel, except as provided below, shall be at the expense of such
Underwriter). Any indemnified party shall have the right to employ
separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense
of the indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall
have been specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party,
(ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the defense of
such action or employ counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified
party or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party, and the indemnified party shall have been advised by such counsel
that there may be one or more legal defenses available to it which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party
(in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the right to assume
the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party). In any
such case, the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any one
action or separate but substantially similar or related actions in the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one
separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for all
indemnified parties and all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
-12-
they are incurred. Such firm shall be designated in writing by Xxxxxxxxx,
Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation, in the case of parties
indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a), and by the Company, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(b). The indemnifying party shall
indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments by reason of any
settlement of any action (i) effected with its written consent or (ii)
effected without its written consent if the settlement is entered into
more than twenty business days after the indemnifying party shall have
received a request from the indemnified party for reimbursement for the
fees and expenses of counsel (in any case where such fees and expenses are
at the expense of the indemnifying party) and, prior to the date of such
settlement, the indemnifying party shall have failed to comply with such
reimbursement request. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior
written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement or
compromise of, or consent to the entry of judgment with respect to, any
pending or threatened action in respect of which the indemnified party is
or could have been a party and indemnity or contribution may be or could
have been sought hereunder by the indemnified party, unless such
settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an unconditional release
of the indemnified party from all liability on claims that are or could
have been the subject matter of such action and (ii) does not include a
statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act,
by or on behalf of the indemnified party.
(d) To the extent the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any
losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified
party, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified
party as a result of such losses, claims, damages, liabilities and
judgments (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation
provided by clause 7(d)(i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause 7(d)(i) above but also the relative fault
of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in
connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, 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 hand shall be deemed to be
in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (after
deducting underwriting discounts and commissions, but before deducting
expenses) received by the Company, and the total underwriting discounts
and commissions received by the Underwriters, bear to the total price to
the public of the Shares, in each case as set forth in the table on the
cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault of the Company on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the
Underwriters and the parties relative intent, knowledge, access to
information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
-13-
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by
pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity
for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as
a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred
to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include,
subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other expenses
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or
defending any matter, including any action, that could have given rise to
such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments. Notwithstanding
the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at
which the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were
offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of
the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations
to contribute pursuant to this Section 7(d) are several in proportion to
the respective number of Shares purchased by each of the Underwriters
hereunder and not joint.
(e) The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not exclusive
and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
SECTION 8. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares under this Agreement
are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:
(a) All the representations and warranties of the Company contained
in this Agreement shall be true and correct on the Closing Date with the
same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.
(b) If the Company is required to file a Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement after the effectiveness of this Agreement, such Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement shall have become effective by 10:00 P.M., New York
City time, on the date of this Agreement; and no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose shall have been commenced or shall be pending
before or contemplated by the Commission.
(c) You shall have received on the Closing Date a certificate dated
the Closing Date, signed by Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx and W. Xxxxxxx Xxx, in their
capacities as the Chief Executive Officer and President of the Company,
confirming the matters set forth in Sections 6(t), 8(a) and 8(b) and that
the Company has complied with all of the agreements
-14-
and satisfied all of the conditions herein contained and required to be
complied with or satisfied by the Company on or prior to the Closing Date.
(d) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Prospectus other than as set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendments or supplements thereto subsequent to the date of this
Agreement), (i) there shall not have occurred any change or any
development involving a prospective change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or the earnings, business, management or operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (ii) there shall not have
been any change or any development involving a prospective change in the
capital stock or in the long-term debt of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries and (iii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
shall have incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, the
effect of which, in any such case described in clause 8(d)(i), 8(d)(ii) or
8(d)(iii), in your judgment, is material and adverse and, in your
judgment, makes it impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in
the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
(e) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
(satisfactory to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing
Date, of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx, counsel for the Company, to the effect
that:
(i) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the
corporate power and authority to carry on its business as described
in the Prospectus and to own, lease and operate its properties;
(ii) each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly
qualified and is in good standing as a foreign corporation
authorized to do business in each jurisdiction in which the nature
of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires
such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified
would not have a material adverse effect on the business, prospects,
financial condition or results of operations of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(iii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
paid, non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive or similar
rights;
(iv) the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor as provided
by this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject
to any preemptive or similar rights;
-15-
(v) all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of each of
the Company's subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the
Company, directly or indirectly through one or more subsidiaries,
free and clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or
adverse interest of any nature;
(vi) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(vii) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as
to legal matters to the description thereof contained in the
Prospectus;
(viii) the Registration Statement has become effective under
the Act, no stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued
and no proceedings for that purpose are, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge after due inquiry, pending before or
contemplated by the Commission;
(ix) the statements under the captions "____________________",
"____________________","_________________",."_____________________",
"______________________", and "Description of Capital Stock" and
"Underwriting" in the Prospectus and Items 14 and 15 of Part II of
the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements constitute a
summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to
therein, fairly present the information called for with respect to
such legal matters, documents and proceedings;
(x) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
violation of its respective charter or by-laws and, to the best of
such counsel's knowledge after due inquiry, neither the Company nor
any of its subsidiaries is in default in the performance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or other agreement or
instrument that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
a party or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries or their
respective property is bound;
(xi) the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
by the Company, the compliance by the Company with all the
provisions hereof and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby will not (A) require any consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or qualification with, any court or
governmental body or agency (except such as may be required under
the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states), (B) conflict
with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or
a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, lease or
other agreement or instrument that is material to the Company and
its
-16-
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, (C) violate or
conflict with any applicable law or any rule, regulation, judgment,
order or decree of any court or any governmental body or agency
having jurisdiction over the Company, any of its subsidiaries or
their respective property or (D) result in the suspension,
termination or revocation of any Authorization of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries or any other impairment of the rights of the
holder of any such Authorization;
(xii) after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any
legal or governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is or could be a party or to
which any of their respective property is or could be subject that
are required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus and are not so described, or of any statutes,
regulations, contracts or other documents that are required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be
filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not so
described or filed as required;
(xiii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has
violated any Environmental Law, any provisions of the Employee
Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, or any
provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder, except for such violations
which, singly or in the aggregate, would not have a material adverse
effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or results of
operation of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(xiv) each of the Company and its subsidiaries has such
Authorizations of, and has made all filings with and notices to, all
governmental or regulatory authorities and self-regulatory
organizations and all courts and other tribunals, including, without
limitation, under any applicable Environmental Laws, as are
necessary to own, lease, license and operate its respective
properties and to conduct its business, except where the failure to
have any such Authorization or to make any such filing or notice
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on the business, prospects, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
each such Authorization is valid and in full force and effect and
each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in compliance with all
the terms and conditions thereof and with the rules and regulations
of the authorities and governing bodies having jurisdiction with
respect thereto; and no event has occurred (including, without
limitation, the receipt of any notice from any authority or
governing body) which allows or, after notice or lapse of time or
both, would allow, revocation, suspension or termination of any such
Authorization or results or, after notice or lapse of time or both,
would result in any other impairment of the rights of the holder of
any such Authorization; and such Authorizations contain no
restrictions that are burdensome to the Company or any of
-17-
its subsidiaries; except where such failure to be valid and in full
force and effect or to be in compliance, the occurrence of any such
event or the presence of any such restriction would not, singly or
in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the business,
prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;
(xv) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment
company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended;
(xvi) to the best of such counsel's knowledge after due
inquiry, there are no contracts, agreements or understandings
between the Company and any person granting such person the right to
require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act
with respect to any securities of the Company or to require the
Company to include such securities with the Shares registered
pursuant to the Registration Statement; and
(xvii) (A) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and
any supplement or amendment thereto (except for the financial
statements and other financial data included therein as to which no
opinion need be expressed) comply as to form with the Act, (B) such
counsel has no reason to believe that at the time the Registration
Statement became effective or on the date of this Agreement, the
Registration Statement and the prospectus included therein (except
for the financial statements and other financial data as to which
such counsel need not express any belief) contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading and (C) such counsel has no reason to believe
that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable
(except for the financial statements and other financial data, as
aforesaid) contains any untrue statement of a material fact or omits
to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading.
The opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx described in Section 8(e) above
shall be rendered to you at the request of the Company and shall so state
therein.
(f) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion, dated
the Closing Date, of XxXxxxxxx, Will & Xxxxx, counsel for the
Underwriters, as to the matters referred to in Sections 8(e)(iv),
8(e)(vi), 8(e)(ix) (but only with respect to the statements under the
caption "Description of Capital Stock" and "Underwriting") and 8(e)(xvii).
In giving such opinions with respect to the matters covered by
Section 8(e)(xvii), Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx & Xxxxx and XxXxxxxxx, Will & Xxxxx may
state that their opinion and
-18-
belief are based upon their participation in the preparation of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but are without
independent check or verification except as specified.
(g) You shall have received, on each of the date hereof and the
Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date, as the
case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to you, from Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx LLP, independent public accountants, containing information and
statements of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort
letters" to Underwriters with respect to the financial statements and
certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus.
(h) The Company shall have delivered to you the agreements specified
in Section 2 hereof which agreements shall be in full force and effect on
the Closing Date.
(i) The Shares shall have been duly listed, subject to notice of
issuance, on the AMEX.
(j) The Company shall not have failed on or prior to the Closing
Date to perform or comply with any of the agreements herein contained and
required to be performed or complied with by the Company on or prior to
the Closing Date.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase any
Additional Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the
applicable Option Closing Date of such documents as you may reasonably
request with respect to the good standing of the Company, the due
authorization and issuance of such Additional Shares and other matters
related to the issuance of such Additional Shares.
SECTION 9. EFFECTIVENESS OF AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION. This Agreement
shall become effective upon the execution and delivery of this Agreement by the
parties hereto.
This Agreement may be terminated at any time on or prior to the
Closing Date by you by written notice to the Company if any of the
following has occurred: (i) any outbreak or escalation of hostilities or
other national or international calamity or crisis or change in economic
conditions or in the financial markets of the United States or elsewhere
that, in your judgment, is material and adverse and, in your judgment,
makes it impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus, (ii) the suspension or material limitation
of trading in securities or other instruments on the New York Stock
Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the Chicago Board of Options
Exchange, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange, the Chicago Board of Trade or
the Nasdaq National Market or limitation on prices for securities or other
instruments on any such exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, (iii) the
suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange or
in the over-the-counter market, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or
other promulgation of any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or
order of any court or other governmental authority which in your opinion
materially and
-19-
adversely affects, or will materially and adversely affect, the business,
prospects, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, (v) the declaration of a banking
moratorium by either federal or New York State authorities or (vi) the
taking of any action by any federal, state or local government or agency
in respect of its monetary or fiscal affairs which in your opinion has a
material adverse effect on the financial markets in the United States.
If on the Closing Date or on an Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which it has or they have
agreed to purchase hereunder on such date and the aggregate number of Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more
than one-tenth of the total number of Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the
case may be, to be purchased on such date by all Underwriters, each
non-defaulting Underwriter shall be obligated severally, in the proportion which
the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite its name in Schedule I bears to the
total number of Firm Shares which all the non-defaulting Underwriters have
agreed to purchase, or in such other proportion as you may specify, to purchase
the Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such
date; PROVIDED that in no event shall the number of Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, as the case may be, which any Underwriter has agreed to purchase
pursuant to Section 2 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 9 by an
amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, as the case may be, without the written consent of such Underwriter. If
on the Closing Date any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm
Shares to be purchased by all Underwriters and arrangements satisfactory to you
and the Company for purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 48 hours
after such default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part
of any non-defaulting Underwriter and the Company. In any such case which does
not result in termination of this Agreement, either you or the Company shall
have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for longer than
seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be
effected. If, on an Option Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall
fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the aggregate number of
Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs is more than
one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be purchased on such
date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i) terminate
their obligation hereunder to purchase such Additional Shares or (ii) purchase
not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting
Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase on such date in the absence
of such default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of any such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
SECTION 10. MISCELLANEOUS. Notices given pursuant to any provision of this
Agreement shall be addressed as follows: (i) if to the Company, to U S Liquids
Inc., 000 X. Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000-0000 and
(ii) if to any Underwriter or to you, to you c/x Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx
Securities Corporation, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
-00-
Xxxx 00000, Attention: Syndicate Department, or in any case to such other
address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing.
The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations,
warranties and other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters set
forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full
force and effect, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares,
regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof,
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the officers or directors of any
Underwriter, any person controlling any Underwriter, the Company, the officers
or directors of the Company or any person controlling the Company, (ii)
acceptance of the Shares and payment for them hereunder and (iii) termination of
this Agreement.
If for any reason the Shares are not delivered by or on behalf of the
Company as provided herein (other than as a result of any termination of this
Agreement pursuant to Section 9), the Company agrees to reimburse the several
Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel) incurred by them. Notwithstanding any termination of
this Agreement, the Company shall be liable for all expenses which it has agreed
to pay pursuant to Section 5(i) hereof. The Company also agrees to reimburse the
several Underwriters, their directors and officers and any persons controlling
any of the Underwriters for any and all fees and expenses (including, without
limitation, the fees disbursements of counsel) incurred by them in connection
with enforcing their rights hereunder (including, without limitation, pursuant
to Section 7 hereof).
Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made solely
for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the Underwriters, the
Underwriters' directors and officers, any controlling persons referred to
herein, the Company's directors and the Company's officers who sign the
Registration Statement and their respective successors and assigns, all as and
to the extent provided in this Agreement, and no other person shall acquire or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. The term "successors and
assigns" shall not include a purchaser of any of the Shares from any of the
several Underwriters merely because of such purchase.
This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the laws
of the State of New York.
-21-
This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together shall
constitute one and the same instrument. Please confirm that the foregoing
correctly sets forth the agreement between the Company and the several
Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
U S LIQUIDS INC.
By: ________________________________
Title:
XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
DEUTSCHE XXXXXX XXXXXXXX
XXX XXXXXX & COMPANY
XXXXXXX XXXXXX XXXXX
Acting severally on behalf of
themselves and the several
Underwriters named in
Schedule I hereto
By: XXXXXXXXX, LUFKIN & XXXXXXXX
SECURITIES CORPORATION
By: ________________________
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SCHEDULE I
___________________________ ___________________________
Underwriters Number of Firm Shares to be
Purchased
Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities
Corporation
Deutsche Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxx & Company
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxx
___________________
Total
Annex I
[Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx
W. Xxxxxxx Xxx
Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx X. XxXxxxxxx, Xx.
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX
Sanifill, Inc.
Xxxxxxx X. XxXxxxx]