Exhibit 1(b)
FLEET FINANCIAL GROUP INC.
Preferred Stock
($1 par value)
Underwriting Agreement
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New York, New York
[ Date ]
To the Representatives
named in Schedule I
hereto of the Under-
writers named in
Schedule II hereto
Dear Sirs:
Fleet Financial Group, Inc., a Rhode Island corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to sell to the underwriters named in Schedule II
hereto (the "Underwriters"), for whom you are acting as representatives
(the "Representatives"), the number of shares of preferred stock of the
Company identified in Schedule I hereto (said shares to be issued and sold
by the Company being hereinafter called the "Underwritten Securities").
The Company also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to
purchase up to such additional number of shares of preferred stock of the
Company as is specified in Schedule I hereto (the "Option Securities";
together with the Underwritten Securities, the "Securities") to cover over-
allotments. If "Depositary Receipt Arrangements" is specified in
Schedule I hereto, the Securities are to be deposited by you or on your
behalf against delivery of Depositary Receipts (the "Depositary Receipts")
to be issued by the bank or trust company identified in Schedule I hereto
as Depositary (the "Depositary"), under the deposit agreement described in
Schedule I hereto (the "Deposit Agreement"), among the Company, the
Depositary and the holders from time to time of the Depositary Receipts
issued thereunder. Any Depositary Receipts will evidence Depositary Shares
(the "Depositary Shares") and each Depositary Share will represent a
fraction of a Security, as specified in Schedule I hereto. Except where
the context otherwise requires, references to Securities herein shall
include any related Depositary Shares and associated Depositary Receipts.
If the firm or firms listed in Schedule II hereto include only the firm or
firms listed in
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Schedule I hereto, then the terms "Underwriters" and "Representatives", as
used herein, shall each be deemed to refer to such firm or firms.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
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warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this
Section 1. Certain terms used in this Section 1 are defined in
paragraph (c) hereof.
(a) If the offering of the Securities is a Delayed Offering (as
specified in Schedule I hereto), paragraph (i) below is applicable
and, if the offering of the Securities is a Non-Delayed offering (as
so specified), paragraph (ii) below is applicable.
(i) The Company meets the requirements for the use of
Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act") and has
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement (the file number of which
is set forth in Schedule I hereto) on such Form, including a
basic prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering
and sale of the Securities. The Company may have filed one or
more amendments thereto, and may have used a Preliminary Final
Prospectus, each of which has previously been furnished to you.
Such registration statement, as so amended, has become effective.
The offering of the Securities is a Delayed Offering and,
accordingly, it is not necessary that any further information
with respect to the Securities and the offering thereof required
by the Act and the rules thereunder to be included in the Final
Prospectus have been included in an amendment to such
registration statement prior to the Effective Date. The Company
will next file with the Commission pursuant to Rules 415 and
424(b)(2) or (5) a final supplement to the form of prospectus
included in such registration statement relating to the
Securities and the offering thereof. As filed, such final
prospectus supplement shall include all required information with
respect to the Securities and the offering thereof and, except to
the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a
modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the form
furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent
not
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completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific
additional information and other changes (beyond that contained
in the Basic Prospectus and any Preliminary Final Prospectus) as
the company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be
included or made therein. If the Rule 434 Delivery Alternative
is used, the Company will also file the Rule 434 Term Sheet in
accordance with Rule 434. As filed, such Rule 434 Term Sheet
shall contain all the information required by Rule 434, and
except to the extent the Representatives shall agree in writing
to a modification, shall be in all substantive respects in the
form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the
extent not completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only
such specific additional information and other changes (beyond
that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the
Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be
included or made therein. Upon your request, but not without
your agreement, the Company will also file a Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement in accordance with Rule 462(b).
(ii) The Company meets the requirements for the use of
Form S-3 under the Act and has filed with the Commission a
registration statement (the file number of which is set forth in
Schedule I hereto) on such Form, including a basic prospectus,
for registration under the Act of the offering and sale of the
Securities. The Company may have filed one or more amendments
thereto, including a Preliminary Final Prospectus, each of which
has previously been furnished to you. The Company will next file
with the Commission either (x) a final prospectus supplement
relating to the Securities in accordance with Rules 430A and
424(b)(1) or (4), or (y) prior to the effectiveness of such
registration statement, an amendment to such registration
statement, including the form of final prospectus supplement. In
the case of clause (x), the Company has included in such
registration statement, as amended at the Effective Date, all
information (other than Rule 430A Information) required by the
Act and the rules thereunder to be included in the Final
Prospectus with respect to the Securities
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and the offering thereof. As filed, such final prospectus
supplement or such amendment and form of final prospectus
supplement shall contain all Rule 430A Information, together with
all other such required information, with respect to the
Securities and the offering thereof and, except to the extent the
Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall
be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior
to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the
Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional
information and other changes (beyond that contained in the Basic
Prospectus and any Preliminary Final Prospectus) as the Company
has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included or
made therein. If the Rule 434 Delivery Alternative is used, the
Company will also file the Rule 434 Term Sheet in accordance with
Rule 434. As filed, such Rule 434 Term Sheet shall contain all
the information required by Rule 434, and except to the extent
the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification,
shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you
prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at
the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional
information and other changes (beyond that contained in the
latest Preliminary Prospectus) as the Company has advised you,
prior to the Execution Time, will be included or made therein.
Upon your request, but not without your agreement, the Company
will also file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement in accordance
with Rule 462(b).
(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did or
will, and when the Final Prospectus is first filed (if required) in
accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date, the Final
Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and the
respective rules thereunder; on the Effective Date, the Registration
Statement did not or will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the
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statements therein not misleading; and, on the Effective Date, the
Final Prospectus, if not filed pursuant to Rule 424(b), did not or
will not, and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on
the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement
thereto) will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes
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no representations or warranties as to the information contained in or
omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus (or
any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use in
connection with the preparation of the Registration Statement or the
Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).
(c) The terms which follow, when used in this Agreement, shall
have the meanings indicated. The term "the Effective Date" shall mean
each date that the Registration Statement, any post-effective
amendment or amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement became or become effective. "Execution Time" shall mean the
date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by the
parties hereto. "Basic Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus referred
to in paragraph (a) above contained in the Registration Statement at
the Effective Date including, in the case of a Non-Delayed Offering,
any Preliminary Final Prospectus. "Preliminary Final Prospectus"
shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Basic
Prospectus which describes the Securities and the offering thereof and
is used prior to filing of the Final Prospectus. "Final Prospectus"
shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that
is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time,
together with the Basic Prospectus or, if, in the case of a Non-
Delayed Offering, no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is required, shall
mean the form of final prospectus relating to the Securities,
including the Basic Prospectus, included in the Registration Statement
at the Effective Date. If the Rule 434 Delivery Alternative is used,
such term shall also include the Basic Prospectus and the Rule 434
Term Sheet, taken together. "Registration Statement" shall
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mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph (a) above,
including incorporated documents, exhibits and financial statements,
as amended at the Execution Time (or, if not effective at the
Execution Time, in the form in which it shall become effective) and,
in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as
hereinafter defined), shall also mean such registration statement as
so amended. Such term shall include any Rule 430A Information and
Rule 434 Information deemed to be included therein at the Effective
Date as provided by Rule 430A and Rule 434, respectively. "Rule 415",
"Rule 424", "Rule 43OA", "Rule 434", "Rule 462(b)" and "Regulation S-
K" refer to such rules or regulation under the Act. "Rule 430A
Information" means information with respect to the Securities and the
offering thereof permitted to be omitted from the Registration
Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A. "Rule 434
Delivery Alternative" shall mean the delivery alternative permitted by
Rule 434. "Rule 434 Information" shall mean any information to be
included in a Rule 434 Term Sheet. "Rule 434 Term Sheet" shall mean
the term sheet or abbreviated term sheet delivered by the Underwriters
to investors and filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 434. "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement" shall mean a
registration statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to
Rule 462(b) relating to the final Delayed Offering covered by the
initial Registration Statement. Any reference herein to the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or
the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of
Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the
Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the
Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms
"amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration
Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or
the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date
of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Basic Prospectus,
any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case
may be, deemed to be
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incorporated therein by reference. A "Non-Delayed Offering" shall
mean an offering of securities which is intended to commence promptly
after the effective date of a registration statement, with the result
that, pursuant to Rules 415 and 430A, all information (other than
Rule 430A information) with respect to the securities so offered must
be included in such registration statement at the effective date
thereof. A "Delayed Offering" shall mean an offering of securities
pursuant to Rule 415 which does not commence promptly after the
effective date of a registration statement, with the result that only
information required pursuant to Rule 415 need be included in such
registration statement at the effective date thereof with respect to
the securities so offered. Whether the offering of the Securities is
a Non-Delayed Offering or a Delayed Offering shall be set forth in
Schedule I hereto.
2. Purchase and Sale. (a)(i) Subject to the terms and
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conditions and in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein
set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company, at the purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto, the number
of shares of the Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter's name in
Schedule II hereto, except that, if Schedule I hereto provides for the sale
of Securities pursuant to delayed delivery arrangements, the respective
number of shares of Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be
as set forth in Schedule II hereto less the respective number of shares of
Contract Securities determined as provided in Section 2(a)(ii) below.
Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters are herein sometimes called
the "Underwriters' Securities" and Securities to be purchased pursuant to
Delayed Delivery Contracts as hereinafter provided are herein called
"Contract Securities".
(ii) If so provided in Schedule I hereto, the Underwriters are
authorized to solicit offers to purchase Securities from the Company
pursuant to delayed delivery contracts ("Delayed Delivery Contracts"),
substantially in the form of Schedule III hereto but with such changes
therein as the Company may authorize or approve. The Underwriters will
endeavor to make such arrangements and, as compensation therefor, the
Company will pay to the Representatives, for the account of the
Underwriters, on the
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Closing Date, the percentage set forth in Schedule I hereto of the
aggregate liquidation preference of the Securities for which Delayed
Delivery Contracts are made. Delayed Delivery Contracts are to be with
institutional investors, including commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies and educational and
charitable institutions. The Company will enter into Delayed Delivery
Contracts in all cases where sales of Contract Securities arranged by the
Underwriters have been approved by the Company but, except as the Company
may otherwise agree, each such Delayed Delivery Contract must be for not
less than the minimum number of shares set forth in Schedule I hereto and
the aggregate number of shares of Contract Securities may not exceed the
maximum aggregate number of shares set forth in Schedule I hereto. The
Underwriters will not have any responsibility in respect of the validity or
performance of Delayed Delivery Contracts. The number of shares of
Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter as set forth in Schedule II
hereto shall be reduced by the number of shares which shall bear the same
proportion to the total number of shares of Contract Securities as the
number of shares of Securities set forth opposite the name of such
Underwriter bears to the aggregate number of shares set forth in
Schedule II hereto, except to the extent that you determine that such
reduction shall be otherwise than in such proportion and so advise the
Company in writing; provided, however, that the total number of shares of
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Securities to be purchased by all Underwriters shall be the aggregate
number of shares set forth in Schedule II hereto less the aggregate number
of shares of Contract Securities.
(b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants
an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not
jointly, the Option Securities at the same purchase price per share as the
Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities. Said option may be
exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the Underwritten
Securities by the Underwriters. Said option nay be exercised in whole or
in part at any time (but not more than once) on or before the 30th day
after the date of the Final Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice
by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of shares of
the Option Securities as to which the several Underwriters are exercising
the option and the settlement date. Delivery of certificates for the
shares of Option Securities, and payment therefor,
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shall be made as provided in Section 3 hereof. The number of shares of the
Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the number
of shares which shall bear the same proportion to the total number of
shares of the Option Securities to be purchased by the several Underwriters
an the number of shares of Securities set forth opposite the name of such
Underwriter bears to the aggregate number of shares set forth in
Schedule II hereto, subject to such adjustments as you in your absolute
discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.
3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the
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Underwriters' Securities shall be made on the date and at the time specified
in Schedule I hereto (or such later date not later than five business days
after such specified date as the Representatives shall designate), which
date and time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and
the Company or as provided in Section 8 hereof (such date and time of
delivery and payment for the Underwriters' Securities being herein called
the "Closing Date"). Delivery of the Underwriters' Securities shall be
made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through the
Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the
Company by either certified or official bank check or checks drawn on or by a
New York Clearing House bank and payable in next-day funds or in Federal or
similar same day funds as set forth in Schedule I. Delivery of the
Underwriters' Securities shall be made at such location an the
Representatives shall reasonably designate at least one business day in
advance of the Closing Date and payment for the Securities shall be made at
the office specified in Schedule I hereto. Certificates for the
Underwriters' Securities shall be registered in such names (including the
nominee for any depositary which will hold Securities to be established for
"book entry" issuance and transfer) and in such denominations as the
Representatives may request not less than three full business days in
advance of the Closing Date.
The Company agrees to have the Underwriters' Securities available
for inspection, checking and packaging by the Representatives in New York,
New York, not later than 1:00 p.m. on the business day prior to the Closing
Date.
If the option provided for in Section 2(b) hereof is exercised
after the third business day prior to the
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Closing Date, the Company will deliver (at the expense of the Company) to
the Representatives, on the date specified by the Representatives (which
shall be within three business days after exercise of said option),
certificates for the Option Securities in such names and denominations as
the Representatives shall have requested against payment of the purchase
price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by certified or official
bank check or checks drawn on or by a New York Clearing House bank and
payable in next-day funds or in Federal or similar same day funds as set
forth in Schedule I. If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after
the Closing Date, the Company will deliver to the Representatives on the
settlement date for the Option Securities, and the obligation of the
Underwriters to purchase the Option Securities shall be conditioned upon
receipt of, supplemental opinions certificates and letters confirming as of
such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on the Closing
Date pursuant to Section 5 hereof.
Notwithstanding the preceding paragraphs, if "Depositary Receipt
Arrangements" is specified in Schedule I hereto, certificates representing
Securities shall be delivered in the names of the Representatives. Such
certificates shall be delivered by the Representatives to the Depositary
against delivery of Depositary Receipts representing Depositary Shares.
Such Depositary Receipts shall be issued in such denominations and
registered in such names as the Representatives shall request and shall be
made available for inspection, checking and packaging by the
Representatives in New York, New York, not later than 1:00 p.m. on the
business day prior to the due date for delivery thereof.
4. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters
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that:
(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, and
any amendment thereto, to become effective. Prior to the termination
of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any
amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the
Final Prospectus or any Preliminary Final Prospectus) to the Basic
Prospectus or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement unless the
Company has furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and
will not file any such proposed amendment
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or supplement or Rule 462(b) Registration Statement to which you
reasonably object. Subject to the foregoing sentence, the Company
will cause the Final Prospectus, properly completed, and any supple-
ment thereto to be filed with the Commission pursuant to the
applicable paragraph of Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed
and will provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such
timely filing. If the Rule 434 Delivery Alternative is used, the
Company will also cause the Rule 434 Term Sheet, properly completed,
to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 434 within the time
period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the
Representatives of such timely filing. Upon your request, the Company
will cause the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, properly completed,
to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) and will
provide evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such filing.
The Company will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the
Registration Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, and
any amendment thereto, shall have become effective, (ii) when the
Final Prospectus, any supplement thereto, any Rule 434 Term Sheet or
any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (iii) when, prior to termination
of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration
Statement shall have been filed or became effective, (iv) of any
request by the Commission for any amendment of the Registration
Statement or supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional
information, (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and
(vi) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to
the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any
jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
such purpose. The Company will use its best efforts to prevent the
issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain as soon as
possible the withdrawal thereof.
(b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities
is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a
result of which the Final Prospectus as then supplemented would
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
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any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading,
or if it shall be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or
supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act or the Exchange
Act or the respective rules thereunder, the Company promptly will
prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence
of paragraph (a) of this Section 4, an amendment or supplement which
will correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance.
(c) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally
available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and
Rule 158 under the Act.
(d) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel
for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of the Registration
Statement (including exhibits thereto) and, so long as delivery of a
prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be required by the Act, as
many copies of any Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final
Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives may
reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or
other production of all documents relating to the offering.
(e) The Company will arrange for the qualification of the
Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representatives may designate, will maintain such qualifications in
effect so long as required for the distribution of the Securities and
will arrange for the determination of the legality of the Securities
for purchase by institutional investors.
(f) Until the date set forth in Schedule I hereto, the Company
will not, without the consent of the Representatives, offer, sell or
contract to sell, or announce the offering of (i) any debt securities
issued or guaranteed by the Company, (ii) shares of any class of
capital stock of the Company (other than the Securities) which is
preferred as to the payment of dividends, or as to the distribution of
assets upon any
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liquidation or dissolution of the Company, over shares of any other
class of capital stock of the Company or if the Securities are
convertible into other securities of the Company, any of such other
securities (other than shares of common stock of the Company issued
pursuant to any employee stock benefit plan, stock ownership plan or
dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the Execution
Time).
(g) The Company confirms as of the date hereof that it is in
compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida,
Chapter 92-198, An Act Relating to Disclosure of Doing Business with
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Cuba, and the Company further agrees that if it commences engaging in
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business with the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate
located in Cuba after the date the Registration Statement becomes or
has become effective with the Securities and Exchange Commission or
with the Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the "Department"),
whichever date is later, or if the information reported in the
Prospectus, if any, concerning the Company's business with Cuba or
with any person or affiliate located in Cuba changes in any material
way, the Company will provide the Department notice of such business
or change, as appropriate, in a form acceptable to the Department.
5. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The
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obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Underwriters' Securities
shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on
the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time and the
Closing Date, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company made in any
certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional
conditions:
(a) If the Registration Statement has not become effective prior
to the Execution Time, unless the Representatives agree in writing to
a later time, the Registration Statement will became effective not
later than (i) 6:00 p.m. New York City time, on the date of
determination of the public offering price, if such determination
occurred at or prior to 3:00 p.m. New York City time on such date or
(ii) 12:00 Noon on the business day following the day on which the
public offering price was determined, if such determination
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occurred after 3:00 p.m. New York City time on such date; if filing of
the Final Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, is required pursuant
to Rule 424(b), the Final Prospectus, and any such supplement, shall
have been filed in the manner and within the time period required by
Rule 424(b), or if the filing of the Rule 434 Term Sheet is required
pursuant to Rule 434, the Rule 434 Term Sheet will be filed in the
manner and within the time period required by Rule 434; and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been
instituted or threatened.
(b) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives the
opinion of Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, counsel for the Company, dated the
Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) each of the Company, Fleet National Bank ("Fleet Bank -
RI") and if any Depositary is a subsidiary of the Company, the
Depositary and any other subsidiary or subsidiaries which the
Representatives may reasonably request (individually a
"Subsidiary" and collectively the "Subsidiaries") has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation or national
banking association in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction in which it is chartered or organized, with full
corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Final Prospectus; the Company is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under the
laws of the State of New York; and neither the Company, nor Fleet
Bank - RI or any such other Subsidiary is required to be
qualified to do business as a foreign corporation under the laws
of any other jurisdiction; and the Company is duly registered as
a bank holding company under the Bank Holding Company Act of
1956, as amended;
(ii) all the outstanding shares of the capital stock of Fleet
Bank - RI and any such other Subsidiaries have been duly and
validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and (except as
provided in 12 U.S.C. Sec. 55 in the case of the Bank)
nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set
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forth in the Final Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital
stock of Fleet Bank - RI and such other Subsidiaries are owned by
the Company, free and clear of any perfected security interest
and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry, any
other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances;
(iii) the Company's authorized equity capitalization is as set
forth in the Final Prospectus; the Securities and any Depositary
Receipts conform to the description thereof contained in the
Final Prospectus; the Securities have been duly and validly
authorized, and, when issued and delivered to and paid for by the
Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will be fully paid and
nonassessable; and, if the Securities or related Depositary
Shares, if any, are to be listed on any stock exchange,
authorization therefor has been given, subject to official notice
of issuance and evidence of satisfactory distribution, or the
Company has filed a preliminary listing application and all
required supporting documents with respect to the Securities or
such Depositary Shares, if any, with such stock exchange and such
counsel has no reason to believe that the Securities or such
Depositary Shares, if any, will not be authorized for listing,
subject to official notice of issuance and evidence of
satisfactory distribution;
(iv) to the best knowledge of such counsel, there is no
pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding before any court
or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries, of a character
required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is
not adequately disclosed in the Final Prospectus, and there is no
franchise, contract or other document of a character required to
be described in the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus,
or to be filed as an exhibit, which is not described or filed as
required;
(v) the Registration Statement has become effective under
the Act; any required filing of the Basic Prospectus, any
Preliminary Final
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Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, and any supplements thereto,
pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within
the time period required by Rule 424(b), or if the Rule 434
Delivery Alternative was used, the required filing of the Rule
434 Term Sheet has been made in the manner and time period
required by Rule 434; to the best knowledge of such counsel, no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued, no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted or threatened, and the Registration Statement and
the Final Prospectus (other than the financial statements and
other financial and statistical information contained therein as
to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form
in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder; and
such counsel has no reason to believe that at the Effective Date
the Registration Statement contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or that at the Closing Date the Final Prospectus
includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading;
(vi) this Agreement, any Deposit Agreement and any Delayed
Delivery Contracts have been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and, if any Depositary is also a
Subsidiary, by such Depositary;
(vii) no consent, approval, authorization or order of any
court or governmental agency or body in required for the
consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or in any
Deposit Agreement or Delayed Delivery Contracts, except such as
have been obtained under the Act and such as may be required
under the blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection with
the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the
Underwriters and such other approvals (specified in such opinion)
as have been obtained;
17
(viii) neither the issue and sale of the Securities, nor the
consummation of any other of the transactions herein contemplated
nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof or of any Deposit
Agreement or Delayed Delivery Contracts will conflict with,
result in a breach of, or constitute a default under the charter
or by-laws of the Company or the terms of any indenture or other
agreement or instrument known to such counsel and to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound, or any
order or regulation known to such counsel to be applicable to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries; and
(ix) no holders of securities of the Company have rights to
the registration of such securities under the Registration
Statement.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the
State of Rhode Island or the United States, to the extent deemed
proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other
counsel of good standing believed to be reliable and who are
satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (B) as to matters of
fact, to the extent deemed proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials. References to the Final
Prospectus in this paragraph (b) include any supplements thereto at
the Closing Date.
(c) The Representatives shall have received from Cravath,
Swaine & Xxxxx, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion or
opinions, dated the Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and
sale of the Securities, any Deposit Agreement or Delayed Delivery
Contracts, the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus (together
with any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the
Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have
furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the
purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
18
(d) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a
certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the
President or any Executive Vice President and the principal financial
or accounting officer or treasurer of the Company, dated the Closing
Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have
carefully examined the Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus,
any supplement to the Final Prospectus and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in
this Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on
and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the
Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements
and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for
that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company's knowledge,
threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements
included in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
thereto), there has been no material adverse change in the
condition (financial or other), earnings, business or properties
of the Company and its subsidiaries, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set
forth in or contemplated in the Final Prospectus (exclusive of
any supplement thereto).
(e) At the Closing Date, KPMG Peat Marwick shall have furnished
to the Representatives a letter or letters (which may refer to letters
previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives), dated as
of the Closing Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives, confirming that they are independent accountants
within the meaning of
19
the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable published
rules and regulations thereunder and stating in effect that:
(i) in their opinion the audited consolidated financial
statements and financial statement schedules included or
incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus and reported on by them comply in form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
and the Exchange Act and the related published rules and
regulations;
(ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited
consolidated condensed financial statements made available by the
Company and its subsidiaries; carrying out certain specified
procedures (but not an audit in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal
matters of significance with respect to the comments set forth in
such letter; a reading of the minutes of the meetings of the
stockholders, directors and the executive and audit committees of
the Company; and inquiries of certain officials of the Company
who have responsibility for financial and accounting matters of
the Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and events
subsequent to the date of the most recent audited financial
statements in or incorporated in the Final Prospectus, nothing
came to their attention which caused them to believe that:
(1) the amounts in the unaudited "Summary Consolidated
Financial Data", if any, included in the Final Prospectus do
not agree with the corresponding amounts in the audited
consolidated condensed financial statements or analyses
prepared by the Company from which such amounts were
derived; or
(2) any unaudited consolidated financial statements
included or incorporated in the Registration Statement and
the Final Prospectus do not comply in form in all material
respects with applicable accounting requirements and with
the published rules and
20
regulations of the Commission with respect to financial
statements included or incorporated in quarterly reports on
Form 10-Q under the Exchange Act; and said unaudited
consolidated condensed financial statements are not in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the
audited consolidated financial statements included or
incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus;
(3) with respect to the period subsequent to the date
of the most recent consolidated financial statements (other
than any capsule information), audited or unaudited, in or
incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus, there were any changes, at a specified date not
more than five business days prior to the date of the
letter, in the long-term debt of the Company or capital
stock of the Company or decreases in the stockholders'
equity of the Company as compared with the amounts shown on
the most recent consolidated balance sheet included or
incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus, or for the period from the date of the most
recent consolidated financial statements included or
incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus to such specified date there were any decreases,
as compared with the corresponding period in the preceding
year, in consolidated net interest income, consolidated net
interest income after provision for possible loan losses,
consolidated income before income taxes or in total or per
share amounts of consolidated net income of the Company,
except in all instances for changes or decreases set forth
in such letter, in which case the letter shall be
accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the
significance thereof unless said explanation is not deemed
necessary by the Representatives; or
21
(4) the amounts included in any unaudited "capsule"
information included or incorporated in the Registration
Statement and the Final Prospectus do not agree with the
amounts set forth in the unaudited financial statements for
the same periods or were not determined on a basis
substantially consistent with that of the corresponding
amounts in the audited financial statements included or
incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus; and
(iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures
as a result of which they determined that certain information of
an accounting, financial or statistical nature (which is limited
to accounting, financial or statistical information derived from
the general accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Final Prospectus and in Exhibit 12 to the Registration Statement,
including the information set forth under the captions "Fleet
Financial Group, Inc.", "Recent Developments" and "Consolidated
Ratios of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock
Dividends" in the Final Prospectus, the information included or
incorporated in Items 1, 6 and 7 of the Company's Annual Report
on Form 10-K incorporated in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and the information included in the "Management's
Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations" included or incorporated in the Company's Quarterly
Reports on Form 10-Q, incorporated in the Registration Statement
and the Final Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of
the Company and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of
legal interpretation.
References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (e) include
any supplement thereto at the date of the letter.
(f) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates
as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
(exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus
(exclusive of any supplement thereto), there shall not have been
(i) any
22
change or decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in
paragraph (e) of this Section 5 or (ii) any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in or affecting the business or
properties of the Company and its subsidiaries the effect of which, in
any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the judgment
of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it
impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or the
delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the Registration
Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Final
Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
(g) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been
any decrease in the ratings of any of the Company's debt or equity
securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act)
or any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such
rating.
(h) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished
to the Representatives such further information, certificates and
documents (including an opinion of counsel for the Company with
respect to the foreign qualification of specified subsidiaries) as the
Representatives may reasonably request.
(i) The Company shall have accepted Delayed Delivery Contracts
in any case where sales of Contract Securities arranged by the
Underwriters have been approved by the Company.
(j) Any Deposit Agreement shall have been duly executed by the
Company and the Depositary.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not
have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this
Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects
reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and
counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the
Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of such cancelation
23
shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or telegraph
confirmed in writing.
6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the sale of the
----------------------------------------
Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to
the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 5 hereof is not
satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of
the Company to perform any agreement herein or comply with any provision
hereof other than by reason of a default by any of the Underwriters, the
Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally upon demand for all out-
of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel)
that shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed
purchase and sale of the Securities.
7. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to
---------------------------------
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person who controls
any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or
several, to which they or any of them may become subject under the Act, the
Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law or regulation, at
common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the registration statement for the registration of the
Securities and any related Depositary Shares as originally filed or in any
amendment thereof, or in the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final
Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or
alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and
agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal
or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with
investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action; provided, however, that (i) the Company will not be liable in any
-------- -------
such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use
in connection with the
24
preparation thereof, and (ii) such indemnity with respect to the Basic
Prospectus or any Preliminary Final Prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any Underwriter (or any person controlling such Underwriter)
from whom the person asserting any such loss, claim, damage or liability
purchased the Securities or any related Depositary Shares which are the
subject thereof if such person did not receive a copy of the Final
Prospectus (or the Final Prospectus as supplemented) excluding documents
incorporated therein by reference at or prior to the confirmation of the
sale of such Securities or Depositary Shares, if any, to such person in any
case where such delivery is required by the Act and the untrue statement or
omission of a material fact contained in the Basic Prospectus or any
Preliminary Final Prospectus was corrected in the Final Prospectus (or the
Final Prospectus as supplemented). This indemnity agreement will be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs
the Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within
the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with
reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for use in the preparation of the documents referred to in the
foregoing indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any
liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company
acknowledges that the statements set forth in the last paragraph of the
cover page, under the heading "Underwriting" or "Plan of Distribution" and,
if Schedule I hereto provides for sales of Securities pursuant to delayed
delivery arrangements, in the last sentence under the heading "Delayed
Delivery Arrangements" in any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus constitute the only information furnished in writing by or on
behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in the documents referred
to in the foregoing indemnity, and you, as the Representatives, confirm
that such statements are correct.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party
25
under this Section 7, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party
will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified
party otherwise than under this Section 7. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying
party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled
to appoint counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party in such action; provided, however, that if the defendants
-------- -------
in any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties
which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right
to select separate counsel to defend such action on behalf of such
indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying
party to such indemnified party of its election so to appoint counsel to
defend such action and approval by the indemnified party of such counsel,
the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under
this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless
(i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in
accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being
understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be liable for
the expenses of more than one separate counsel (plus any local counsel),
approved by the Representatives in the case of paragraph (a) of this
Section 7, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a)
who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of
the action or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of
counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party;
and except that, if clause (i) or (iii) is applicable, such liability shall
be only in respect of the counsel referred to in such clause (i) or (iii).
(d) In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in
circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) of
this Section 7 is due in accordance with its terms but is for any reason
held by a
26
court to be unavailable from the Company on grounds of policy or otherwise,
the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same) to
which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in
such proportion so that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion
represented by the percentage that the underwriting discount bears to the
sum of such discount and the purchase price of the Securities specified in
Schedule I hereto and the Company is responsible for the balance; provided,
--------
however, that (y) in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be
-------
provided in any agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of
the Securities) be responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting
discount applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter
hereunder and (z) 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.
For purposes of this Section 7, each person who controls an Underwriter
within the meaning of the Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company within the
meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company
who shall have signed the Registration Statement and each director of the
Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, subject
in each case to clauses (y) and (z) of this paragraph (d). Any party
entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of
commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in
respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against another party
or parties under this paragraph (d), notify such party or parties from whom
contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party or
parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may
be sought from any other obligation it or they may have hereunder or
otherwise than under this paragraph (d).
8. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters
--------------------------
shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be
purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to
purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their
obligations under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be
obligated severally to take up and pay for (in the respective proportions
which the amount of Securities set
27
forth opposite their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate
amount of Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining
Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the
-------- -------
event that the aggregate amount of Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10%
of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in Schedule II hereto, the
remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but shall not
be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such
nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this
Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter
or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth
in this Section 8, the Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not
exceeding seven days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that
the required changes in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus
or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected. Nothing
contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its
liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for
damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
9. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination
------------
in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given to the
Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if prior to
such time (i) trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have been
suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been
suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been established on such
Exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been declared either by
Federal or New York, Rhode Island, Connecticut, Maine, New Hampshire or
Massachusetts state authorities or (iii) there shall have occurred any
outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the United States of
a national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis the effect of which
on financial markets is such as to make it, in the judgment of the
Representatives, impracticable to market the Securities.
10. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective
-------------------------------------------
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements
of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made
28
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless
of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company
or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in
Section 7 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the
Securities. The provisions of Sections 6 and 7 hereof shall survive the
termination or cancelation of this Agreement.
11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing
--------
and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be
mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to them, at the address
specified in Schedule I hereto; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at 00 Xxxxxxx Xxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxx 00000, attention of the Senior Vice President and
General Counsel.
12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and
-----------
be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7
hereof, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
13. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and
---------------
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof,
whereupon this letter and
29
your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement among the Company and
the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
FLEET FINANCIAL
GROUP, INC.
By:
-------------------------------
Title: Vice President - Finance
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED
as of the date first above written:
BY:
-------------------------------------
For themselves and as Representatives
of the other Underwriters named in
Schedule II hereto.
