MASTER AGREEMENT AMONG UNDERWRITERS
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______, 2001
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxx xx xxx Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000
Dear Sirs:
We understand that from time to time you may act as Representative or
as one of the Representatives of the several underwriters of offerings of
securities of various issuers. This Agreement shall apply to any offering of
securities handled by your Corporate Syndicate Department in which we elect to
act as an underwriter after receipt of an invitation from your Corporate
Syndicate Department which shall identify the issuer, contain information
regarding certain terms of the securities to be offered and specify the amount
of our proposed participation and the names of the other Representatives, if
any, and that our participation as an underwriter in the offering shall be
subject to the provisions of this Agreement. Your invitation will include
instructions for our acceptance of such invitation. At or prior to the time of
an offering, you will advise us, to the extent applicable, as to the expected
offering date, the expected closing date, the initial public offering price, the
interest or dividend rate (or the method by which such rate is to be
determined), the conversion price, the underwriting discount, the management
fee, the selling concession and the reallowance, except that if the public
offering price of the securities is to be determined by a formula based upon the
market price of certain securities (such procedure being hereinafter referred to
as "Formula Pricing"), you shall so advise us and shall specify the maximum
underwriting discount, management fee and selling concession. Such information
may be conveyed by you in one or more communications (such communications
received by us with respect to the offering are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Invitation"). If the Underwriting Agreement (as hereinafter
defined) provides for the granting of an option to purchase additional
securities to cover over-allotments, you will notify us, in the Invitation, of
such option.
This Agreement, as amended or supplemented by the Invitation, shall
become effective with respect to our participation in an offering of securities
if your Corporate Syndicate Department receives our oral or written acceptance
and does not subsequently receive a written communication revoking our
acceptance prior to the time and date specified in the Invitation (our unrevoked
acceptance after expiration of such time and date being hereinafter referred to
as our "Acceptance"). Our Acceptance will constitute our confirmation that,
except as otherwise stated in such Acceptance, each statement included in the
Master Underwriters' Questionnaire set forth as Exhibit A
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hereto (or otherwise furnished to us) is correct. The issuer of the securities
in any offering of securities made pursuant to this Agreement is hereinafter
referred to as the "Issuer". If the Underwriting Agreement does not provide for
an over-allotment option, the securities to be purchased are hereinafter
referred to as the "Securities"; if the Underwriting Agreement provides for an
over-allotment option, the securities the Underwriters (as hereinafter defined)
are initially obligated to purchase pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement are
hereinafter called the "Firm Securities" and any additional securities which may
be purchased upon exercise of the over-allotment option are hereinafter called
the "Additional Securities", with the Firm Securities and all or any part of the
Additional Securities being hereinafter collectively referred to as the
"Securities". Any underwriters of Securities under this Agreement, including
the Representatives (as hereinafter defined), are hereinafter collectively
referred to as the "Underwriters". All references herein to "you" or to the
"Representatives" shall mean Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated and
the other firms, if any, which are named as Representatives in the Invitation.
The Securities to be offered may, but need not, be registered for a delayed or
continuous offering pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"1933 Act").
The following provisions of this Agreement shall apply separately to
each individual offering of Securities. This Agreement may be supplemented or
amended by you by written notice to us and, except for supplements or amendments
set forth in an Invitation relating to a particular offering of Securities, any
such supplement or amendment to this Agreement shall be effective with respect
to any offering of Securities to which this Agreement applies after this
Agreement is so amended or supplemented.
1. UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT; AUTHORITY OF REPRESENTATIVES. We
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authorize you to execute and deliver an underwriting or purchase agreement and
any amendment or supplement thereto and any associated Terms Agreement or other
similar agreement (collectively, the "Underwriting Agreement") on our behalf
with the Issuer and/or any selling securityholder with respect to the Securities
in such form as you determine. We will be bound by all terms of the
Underwriting Agreement as executed. We understand that changes may be made in
those who are to be Underwriters and in the amount of Securities to be purchased
by them, but the amount of Securities to be purchased by us in accordance with
the terms of this Agreement and the Underwriting Agreement, including the amount
of Additional Securities, if any, which we may become obligated to purchase by
reason of the exercise of any over-allotment option provided in the Underwriting
Agreement, shall not be changed without our consent.
As Representatives of the Underwriters, you are authorized to take
such action as you deem necessary or advisable to carry out this Agreement, the
Underwriting Agreement, and the
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purchase, sale and distribution of the Securities, and to agree to any waiver or
modification of any provision of the Underwriting Agreement. To the extent
applicable, you are also authorized to determine (i) the amount of Additional
Securities, if any, to be purchased by the Underwriters pursuant to any over-
allotment option and (ii) with respect to offerings using Formula Pricing, the
initial public offering price and the price at which the Securities are to be
purchased in accordance with the Underwriting Agreement. It is understood and
agreed that Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated may act on behalf of
all Representatives.
It is understood that, if so specified in the Invitation, arrangements
may be made for the sale of Securities by the Issuer pursuant to delayed
delivery contracts (hereinafter referred to as "Delayed Delivery Contracts").
References herein to delayed delivery and Delayed Delivery Contracts apply only
to offerings to which delayed delivery is applicable. The term "underwriting
obligation", as used in this Agreement with respect to any Underwriter, shall
refer to the amount of Securities, including any Additional Securities (plus
such additional Securities as may be required by the Underwriting Agreement in
the event of a default by one or more of the Underwriters) which such
Underwriter is obligated to purchase pursuant to the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement, without regard to any reduction in such obligation as a
result of Delayed Delivery Contracts which may be entered into by the Issuer.
If the Securities consist in whole or in part of debt obligations
maturing serially, the serial Securities being purchased by each Underwriter
pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement will consist, subject to adjustment as
provided in the Underwriting Agreement, of serial Securities of each maturity in
a principal amount which bears the same proportion to the aggregate principal
amount of the serial Securities of such maturity to be purchased by all the
Underwriters as the principal amount of serial Securities set forth opposite
such Underwriter's name in the Underwriting Agreement bears to the aggregate
principal amount of the serial Securities to be purchased by all the
Underwriters.
2. REGISTRATION STATEMENT PROSPECTUS; OFFERING CIRCULAR. In the case
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of an Invitation regarding an offer of Securities registered under the 1933 Act
(a "Registered Offering"), you will furnish to us, to the extent made available
to you by the Issuer, copies of any registration statement or registration
statements relating to the Securities which may be filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to the 1933 Act and of each
amendment thereto (excluding exhibits but including any documents incorporated
by reference therein). Such registration statement(s) as amended, and the
prospectus(es) relating to the sale of Securities by the Issuer constituting a
part thereof, including all documents incorporated therein by reference, as
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from time to time amended or supplemented by the filing of documents pursuant to
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), the 1933 Act or otherwise,
are referred to herein as the "Registration Statement" and "Prospectus",
respectively; provided, however, that a supplement to the Prospectus filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act with respect to an
offering of Securities (a "Prospectus Supplement") shall be deemed to have
supplemented the Prospectus only with respect to the offering of Securities to
which it relates.
With respect to Securities for which no Registration Statement is
filed with the Commission, you will furnish to us, to the extent made available
to you by the Issuer, copies of any offering circular or other offering
materials to be used in connection with the offering of the Securities and of
each amendment thereto (the "Offering Circular").
3. PUBLIC OFFERING. The sale of the Securities to the public shall
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commence as soon as you deem advisable. We will not sell any Securities until
they are released by you for that purpose. When notified by you that the
Securities are released for sale, we will offer to the public in conformity with
the terms of offering set forth in the Prospectus or Offering Circular, such of
the Securities to be purchased by us ("our Securities") as are not reserved for
our account for sale to Selected Dealers and others pursuant to Section 5.
After the initial public offering, the public offering price and the concession
and discount therefrom may be changed by you by notice to the Underwriters, and
we agree to be bound by any such change.
If, in accordance with the terms of offering set forth in the
Prospectus or Offering Circular, the offering of the Securities is not at a
fixed price but at varying prices set by individual Underwriters based on market
prices or at negotiated prices, the provisions above relating to your right to
change the public offering price and concession and discount to dealers shall
not apply, and other references in this Section and elsewhere in this Agreement
to the public offering price or Selected Dealers' concession shall be deemed to
mean the prices and concessions determined by you from time to time in your
discretion.
If so directed in the Invitation, we will not sell any Securities to
any account over which we have discretionary authority. We will also comply
with any other restrictions which may be set forth in the Invitation.
The initial public advertisement with respect to the Securities shall
appear on such date, and shall include the names of such of the Underwriters, as
you may determine. Thereafter, any Underwriter may advertise at its own
expense.
4. DELAYED DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS. We authorize you to act on our
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behalf in making all arrangements for the solicitation
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of offers to purchase Securities from the Issuer pursuant to Delayed Delivery
Contracts, and we agree that all such arrangements will be made only through you
(directly or through Underwriters or Selected Dealers). You may allow to
Selected Dealers in respect of such Securities a commission equal to the
concession allowed to Selected Dealers pursuant to Section 5.
The obligations of the Underwriters shall be reduced in the aggregate
by the principal amount of Securities covered by Delayed Delivery Contracts made
by the Issuer, the obligation of each Underwriter to be reduced by the principal
amount of such Securities, if any, allocated by you to such Underwriter. Your
determination of the allocation of Securities covered by Delayed Delivery
Contracts among the several Underwriters shall be final and conclusive, and we
agree to be bound by any notice delivered by you to the Issuer setting forth the
amount of the reduction in our obligation as a result of Delayed Delivery
Contracts.
Upon receiving payment from the Issuer of the fee for arranging
Delayed Delivery Contracts, you will credit our account with the portion of such
fee applicable to the Securities covered by Delayed Delivery Contracts allocated
to us. You will charge our account with any commission allocated to Selected
Dealers in respect of Securities covered by Delayed Delivery Contracts allocated
to us.
5. OFFERING TO SELECTED DEALERS AND OTHERS; MANAGEMENT OF OFFERING.
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We authorize you, for our account, to reserve for sale and to sell to dealers
("Selected Dealers"), among whom any of the Underwriters may be included, such
amount of our Securities as you shall determine. Reservations for sales to
Selected Dealers for our account need not be in proportion to our underwriting
obligation, but sales of Securities reserved for our account for sale to
Selected Dealers shall be made as nearly as practicable in the ratio which the
amount of Securities reserved for our account bears to the aggregate amount of
Securities reserved for the account of all Underwriters, as calculated from day
to day. The price to Selected Dealers initially shall be in the public offering
price less a concession not in excess of the Selected Dealers concession set
forth in the Invitation. Selected Dealers shall be actually engaged in the
investment banking or securities business and shall be either members in good
standing of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") or
dealers with their principal place of business located outside the United
States, its territories and its possessions and not registered under the 1934
Act who agree to make no sales within the United States, its territories or its
possessions or to persons who are nationals thereof or residents therein. Each
Selected Dealer shall agree to comply with the provisions of Section 24 of
Article III of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD, and each foreign Selected
Dealer who is not a member of the NASD also shall agree to comply with the
NASD's interpretation with respect to free-riding and withholding, to comply, as
though it were a member of the NASD, with the provisions of Sections 8
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and 36 of Article III of such Rules of Fair Practice, and to comply with Section
25 of Article III thereof as that Section applies to a non-member foreign
dealer.
With your consent, the Underwriters may allow, and Selected Dealers
may reallow, a discount on sales to any dealer who meets the above NASD
requirements in an amount not in excess of the amount set forth in the
Invitation. Upon your request, we will advise you of the identity of any dealer
to whom we allow such a discount and any Underwriter or Selected Dealer from
whom we receive such a discount.
We also authorize you, for our account, to reserve for sale and to
sell our Securities at the public offering price to others, including
institutions and retail purchasers. Except for such sales which are designated
by a purchaser to be for the account of a particular Underwriter, such
reservations and sales shall be made as nearly as practicable in proportion to
our underwriting obligation, unless you agree to a smaller proportion at our
request.
At or before the time the Securities are released for sale, you shall
notify us of the amount of our Securities which have not been reserved for our
account for sale to Selected Dealers and others and which is to be retained by
us for direct sale.
We will from time to time, upon your request, report to you the amount
of Securities retained by us for direct sale which remains unsold and, upon your
request, deliver to you for our account, or sell to you for the account of one
or more of the Underwriters, such amount of our unsold Securities as you may
designate at the public offering price less an amount determined by you not in
excess of the concession to Selected Dealers. You may also repurchase
Securities from other Underwriters and Selected Dealers, for the account of one
or more of the Underwriters, at prices determined by you not in excess of the
public offering price less the concession to Selected Dealers.
You may from time to time deliver to any Underwriter, for carrying
purposes or for sale by such Underwriter, any of the Securities then reserved
for sale to, but not purchased and paid for by, Selected Dealers or others as
above provided, but to the extent that Securities are so delivered for sale by
such Underwriter, the amount of Securities then reserved for the account of such
Underwriter shall be correspondingly reduced. Securities delivered for carrying
purposes only shall be redelivered to you upon demand.
The Underwriters and Selected Dealers may, with your consent, purchase
Securities from and sell Securities to each other at the public offering price
less a concession not in excess of the concession to Selected Dealers.
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6. REPURCHASE OF SECURITIES NOT EFFECTIVELY PLACED. In recognition
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of the importance of distributing the Securities to bona fide investors, we
agree to repurchase on demand any Securities sold by us, except through you,
which are purchased by you in the open market or otherwise during a period
terminating as provided in Section 16, at a price equal to the cost of such
purchase, including accrued interest, amortization of original issue discount or
dividends, commissions and transfer and other taxes, if any, on redelivery. The
certificates delivered to us need not be the identical certificates delivered to
you in respect of the Securities purchased. In lieu of requiring repurchase,
you may, in your discretion, sell such Securities for our account at such
prices, upon such terms and to such persons, including any of the other
Underwriters, as you may determine, charging the amount of any loss and expense,
or crediting the amount of any net profit, resulting from such sale, to our
account, or you may charge our account with an amount determined by you not in
excess of the concession to Selected Dealers.
7. STABILIZATION AND OVER-ALLOTMENT. In order to facilitate the
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distribution of the Securities, we authorize you, in your discretion, to
purchase and sell Securities, any securities into which the Securities are
convertible or for which the Securities are exchangeable, and any other
securities of the Issuer or any guarantor of the Securities specified in the
Invitation, in the open market or otherwise, for long or short account, at such
prices as you may determine, and, in arranging for sales to Selected Dealers or
others, to over-allot. You may liquidate any long position or cover any short
position incurred pursuant to this Section at such prices as you may determine.
You shall make such purchases and sales (including over-allotments) for the
accounts of the Underwriters as nearly as practicable in proportion to their
respective underwriting obligations. It is understood that, in connection with
any particular offering of Securities to which this Agreement applies, you may
have made purchases of any such securities for stabilizing purposes prior to the
time when we became one of the Underwriters, and we agree that any such
securities so purchased shall be treated as having been purchased for the
respective accounts of the Underwriters pursuant to the foregoing authorization.
At the close of business on any day our net commitment, either for long or short
account, resulting from such purchases or sales (including over-allotments)
shall not exceed 15% (or such other amount as may be specified in the
Invitation) of our underwriting obligation, except that such percentage may be
increased with the approval of a majority in interest of the Underwriters. We
will take up at cost on demand any Securities or any such other securities so
sold or over-allotted for our account, including accrued interest, amortization
of original issue discount or dividends, and we will pay to you on demand the
amount of any losses or expenses incurred for our account pursuant to this
Section. In the event of default by any Underwriter in respect of its
obligations under this Section, each non-defaulting Underwriter shall assume its
share of the
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obligations of such defaulting Underwriter in the proportion that its
underwriting obligation bears to the underwriting obligations of all non-
defaulting Underwriters without relieving such defaulting Underwriter of its
liability hereunder.
If you effect any stabilizing purchase pursuant to this Section, you
shall promptly notify us of the date and time of the first stabilizing purchase
and the date and time when stabilizing was terminated. You shall prepare and
maintain such records as are required to be maintained by you as manager
pursuant to Rule 17a-2 under the 1934 Act.
8. RULE 10B-6. We represent and agree that in connection with the
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offering of Securities we have complied and will comply with the provisions of
Rule 10b-6 under the 1934 Act as they apply to the offering of the Securities.
9. PAYMENT AND DELIVERY. At or before such time, on such dates and
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at such places as you may specify in the Invitation, we will deliver to you a
certified or official bank check in such funds as are specified in the
Invitation, payable to the order of Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Co.
Incorporated (unless otherwise specified in the Invitation) in an amount equal
to, as you direct, either (i) the public offering price or prices plus accrued
interest, amortization or original issue discount or dividends, if any, set
forth in the Prospectus or Offering Circular less the concession to Selected
Dealers in respect of the amount of Securities to be purchased by us in
accordance with the terms of this Agreement, or (ii) the amount set forth in the
Invitation with respect to the Securities to be purchased by us. We authorize
you to make payment for our account of the purchase price for the Securities to
be purchased by us against delivery to you of such Securities (which, in the
case of Securities which are debt obligations, may be in temporary form), and
the difference between such purchase price of the Securities and the amount of
our funds delivered to you therefor shall be credited to our account.
Delivery to us of Securities retained by us for direct sale shall be
made by you as soon as practicable after your receipt of the Securities. Upon
termination of the provisions of this Agreement as provided in Section 16, you
shall deliver to us any Securities reserved for our account for sale to Selected
Dealers and others which remain unsold at that time. If, upon termination of
the provisions of this Agreement specified in Section 16 hereof, an aggregate of
not more than 10% of the Securities remains unsold, you may, in your discretion,
sell such Securities at such prices as you may determine.
If we are a member of The Depository Trust Company or any other
depository or similar facility, you are authorized to make appropriate
arrangements for payment for and/or delivery through its facilities of the
Securities to be purchased by us, or, if we are not a member, settlement may be
made through a
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correspondent that is a member pursuant to our timely instructions to you.
Upon receiving payment for Securities sold for our account to Selected
Dealers and others, you shall remit to us an amount equal to the amount paid by
us to you in respect of such Securities and credit or charge our account with
the difference, if any, between such amount and the price at which such
Securities were sold.
In the event that the Underwriting Agreement for an offering provides
for the payment of a commission or other compensation to the Underwriters, we
authorize you to receive such commission or other compensation for our account.
10. MANAGEMENT COMPENSATION. As compensation for your services in
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the management of the offering, we will pay you an amount equal to the
management fee specified in the Invitation in respect of the Securities to be
purchased by us pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, and we authorize you to
charge our account with such amount. If there is more than one Representative,
such compensation shall be divided among the Representatives in such proportions
as they may determine.
11. AUTHORITY TO BORROW. We authorize you to advance your own funds
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for our account, charging current interest rates, or to arrange loans for our
account or the account of the Underwriters, as you may deem necessary or
advisable for the purchase, carrying, sale and distribution of the Securities.
You may execute and deliver any notes or other instruments required in
connection therewith and may hold or pledge as security therefor all or any part
of the Securities which we or such Underwriters have agreed to purchase. The
obligations of the Underwriters under loans arranged on their behalf shall be
several in proportion to their respective participations in such loans, and not
joint. Any lender is authorized to accept your instructions as to the
disposition of the proceeds of any such loans. You shall credit each
Underwriter with the proceeds of any loans made for its account.
12. BLUE SKY QUALIFICATION. You shall inform us, upon request, of
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the states and other jurisdictions of the United States in which it is believed
that the Securities are qualified for sale under, or are exempt from the
requirements of, their respective securities laws, but you assume no
responsibility with respect to our right to sell Securities in any jurisdiction.
You are authorized to file with the Department of State of the State of New York
a Further State Notice with respect to the Securities, if necessary.
If we propose to offer Securities outside the United States, its
territories or its possessions, we will take, at our own expense, such action,
if any, as may be necessary to comply
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with the laws of each foreign jurisdiction in which we propose to offer
Securities.
13. MEMBERSHIP IN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SECURITIES DEALERS, INC.;
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FOREIGN UNDERWRITERS. We understand that you are a member in good standing of
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the NASD. We confirm that we are actually engaged in the investment banking or
securities business and are either (i) a member in good standing of the NASD or
(ii) a dealer with its principal place of business located outside the United
States, its territories and its possessions and not registered under the 1934
Act who hereby agrees to make no sales within the United States, its territories
or its possessions or to persons who are nationals thereof or residents therein
(except that we may participate in sales to Selected Dealers and others under
Section 5 of this Agreement). We hereby agree to comply with Section 24 of
Article III of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD, and if we are a foreign
dealer and not a member of the NASD we also hereby agree to comply with the
NASD's interpretation with respect to free-riding and withholding, to comply, as
though we were a member of the NASD, with the provisions of Sections 8 and 36 of
Article III of such Rules of Fair Practice, and to comply with Section 25 of
Article III thereof as that Section applies to a non-member foreign dealer.
14. DISTRIBUTION OF PROSPECTUSES; OFFERING CIRCULARS. We are
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familiar with Securities Act of 1933 Release No. 4968 and Rule 15c2-8 under the
1934 Act, relating to the distribution of preliminary and final prospectuses,
and we confirm that we will comply therewith, to the extent applicable, in
connection with any sale of Securities. You shall cause to be made available to
us, to the extent made available to you by the Issuer, such number of copies of
the Prospectus as we may reasonably request for purposes contemplated by the
1933 Act, the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder.
If an Invitation states that the offering is subject to the 48-hour
prospectus delivery requirement set forth in Rule 15c2-8(b), our Acceptance of
the Invitation shall be deemed to constitute confirmation that we have delivered
(or we will deliver) a copy of the preliminary prospectus to all persons to whom
we expect to confirm a sale of Securities and that such delivery was effected
(or will be effected) at least 48 hours prior to the mailing of such
confirmations of sale.
Our Acceptance of an Invitation relating to an offering made pursuant
to an Offering Circular shall constitute our agreement that, if requested by
you, we will furnish a copy of any amendment to a preliminary or final Offering
Circular to each person to whom we shall have furnished a previous preliminary
or final Offering Circular. Our Acceptance shall constitute our confirmation
that we have delivered and our agreement that we will deliver all preliminary
and final Offering Circulars required for compliance with the applicable federal
and state laws and the applicable rules and regulations of any regulatory
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body promulgated thereunder governing the use and distribution of offering
circulars by underwriters and, to the extent consistent with such laws, rules
and regulations, our Acceptance shall constitute our confirmation that we have
delivered and our agreement that we will deliver all preliminary and final
Offering Circulars which would be required if the provisions of Rule 15c2-8 (or
any successor provision) under the 1934 Act applied to such offering.
15. NET CAPITAL. The incurrence by us of our obligations hereunder
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and under the Underwriting Agreement in connection with the offering of the
Securities will not place us in violation of the capital requirements of Rule
15c3-1 under the 0000 Xxx.
16. TERMINATION. With respect to each offering of Securities to
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which this Agreement applies, all limitations in this Agreement on the price at
which the Securities may be sold, the period of time referred to in Section 6,
the authority granted by the first sentence of Section 7, and the restrictions
contained in Section 8 shall terminate at the close of business on the 45th day
after the commencement of the offering of such Securities. You may terminate
nay or all of such provisions at any time prior thereto by notice to the
Underwriters. All other provisions of this Agreement shall remain operative and
in full force and effect with respect to such offering.
17. EXPENSES AND SETTLEMENT. You may charge our account with any
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transfer taxes on sales of Securities made for our account and with our
proportionate share (based upon our underwriting obligation) of all other
expenses incurred by you under this Agreement or otherwise in connection with
the purchase, carrying, sale or distribution of the Securities. With respect to
each offering of Securities to which this Agreement applies, the respective
accounts of the Underwriters shall be settled as promptly as practicable after
the termination of all the provisions of this Agreement as provided in Section
16, but you may reserve such amount as you may deem advisable for additional
expenses. Your determination of the amount to be paid to or by us shall be
conclusive. You may at any time make partial distributions of credit balances
or call for payment of debit balances. Any of our funds in your hands may be
held with your general funds without accountability for interest.
Notwithstanding any settlement, we will remain liable for any taxes on transfers
for our account and for our proportionate share (based upon our underwriting
obligation) of all expenses and liabilities which may be incurred by or for the
accounts of the Underwriters with respect to each offering of Securities to
which this Agreement applies.
18. INDEMNIFICATION. With respect to each offering of Securities
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pursuant to this Agreement, we will indemnify and hold harmless each other
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls each other Underwriter within
the meaning of Section 15
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of the 1933 Act, to the extent that and on the terms upon which we agree to
indemnify and hold harmless the Issuer and other specified persons as set forth
in the Underwriting Agreement.
19. CLAIMS AGAINST UNDERWRITERS. With respect to each offering of
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Securities to which this Agreement applies, if at any time any person other than
an Underwriter asserts a claim (including any commenced or threatened
investigation or proceeding by any government agency or body) against one or
more of the Underwriters or against you as Representative(s) of the Underwriters
arising out of an alleged untrue statement or omission in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or in any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, or in any preliminary or
final Offering Circular, or relating to any transaction contemplated by this
Agreement, we authorize you to make such investigation, to retain such counsel
for the Underwriters and to take such action in the defense of such claim as you
may deem necessary or advisable. You may settle such claim with the approval of
a majority in interest of the Underwriters. We will pay our proportionate share
(based upon our underwriting obligation) of all expenses incurred by you
(including the fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters) in
investigating and defending against such claim and our proportionate share of
the aggregate liability incurred by all Underwriters in respect of such claim
(after deducting any contribution indemnification obtained pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement, or otherwise, from persons other than Underwriters),
whether such liability is the result of a judgment against one or more of the
Underwriters or the result of any settlement. Any Underwriter may retain
separate counsel at its own expense. A claim against or liability incurred by a
person who controls an Underwriter shall be deemed to have been made against or
incurred by such Underwriter. In the event of default by any Underwriter in
respect of its obligations under this Section, the non-defaulting Underwriters
shall be obligated to pay the full amount thereof in the proportions that their
respective underwriting obligations bear to the underwriting obligations of all
non-defaulting Underwriters without relieving such defaulting Underwriter of its
liability hereunder.
20. DEFAULT BY UNDERWRITERS. Default by any Underwriter in respect
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of its obligations hereunder or under the Underwriting Agreement shall not
release us from any of our obligations or in any way affect the liability of
such defaulting Underwriter to the other Underwriters for damages resulting from
such default. If one or more Underwriters default under the Underwriting
Agreement, if provided in the Underwriting Agreement you may (but shall not be
obligated to) arrange for the purchase by others, which may include yourselves
or other non-defaulting Underwriters, of all or a portion of the Securities not
taken up by the defaulting Underwriters.
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In the event that such arrangements are made, the respective
underwriting obligations of the non-defaulting Underwriters and the amounts of
the Securities to be purchased by others, if any, shall be taken as the basis
for all rights and obligations hereunder, but this shall not in any way affect
the liability of any defaulting Underwriter to the other Underwriters for
damages resulting from its default, nor shall any such default relieve any other
Underwriter of any of its obligations hereunder or under the Underwriting
Agreement except as herein or therein provided. In addition, in the event of
default by one or more Underwriters in respect of their obligations under the
Underwriting Agreement to purchase the Securities agreed to be purchased by them
thereunder and, to the extent that arrangements shall not have been made by you
for any person to assume the obligations of such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, we agree, if provided in the Underwriting Agreement, to assume our
proportionate share, based upon our underwriting obligation, of the obligations
of each such defaulting Underwriter (subject to the limitations contained in the
Underwriting Agreement) without relieving such defaulting Underwriter of its
liability therefor.
In the event of default by one or more Underwriters in respect of
their obligations under this Agreement to take up and pay for any securities
purchased, or to deliver any securities sold or over-allotted, by you for the
respective accounts of the Underwriters, or to bear their proportion of expenses
or liabilities pursuant to this Agreement, and to the extent that arrangements
shall not have been made by you for any persons to assume the obligations of
such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, we agree to assume our
proportionate share, based upon our underwriting obligation, of the obligations
of each defaulting Underwriter without relieving any such defaulting Underwriter
of its liability therefor.
21. LEGAL RESPONSIBILITY. As Representative(s) of the Underwriters,
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you shall have no liability to us, except for your lack of good faith and for
obligations assumed by you in this Agreement and except that we do not waive any
rights that we may have under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act or the rules and
regulations thereunder. No obligations not expressly assumed by you in this
Agreement shall be implied herefrom.
Nothing herein contained shall constitute the Underwriters an
association, or partners, with you, or with each other, or, except as otherwise
provided herein or in the Underwriting Agreement, render any Underwriter liable
for the obligations of any other Underwriter, and the rights, obligations and
liabilities of the Underwriters are several in accordance with their respective
underwriting obligations, and not joint.
If the Underwriters are deemed to constitute a partnership for federal
income tax purposes, we elect to be excluded from the application of Subchapter
K, Chapter 1, Subtitle A, of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954, as amended, and
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agree not to take any position inconsistent with such election, and you, as
Representative(s), are authorized, in your discretion, to execute on behalf of
the Underwriters such evidence of such election as may be required by the
Internal Revenue Service.
Unless we have promptly notified you in writing otherwise, our name as
it should appear in the Prospectus or Offering Circular and our address are set
forth below.
22. NOTICES. Any notice from you shall be deemed to have been duly
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given if mailed or transmitted to us at our address appearing below.
23. GOVERNING LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of
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the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said
State.
Please confirm this Agreement and deliver a copy to us.
Very truly yours,
Name of Firm:
By _________________________________
Authorized Officer or Partner
Address:
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
---------------------------------
Confirmed as of the date
first above written.
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated
By ______________________________
Managing Director
EXHIBIT A
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MASTER UNDERWRITERS' QUESTIONNAIRE
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In connection with each offering of Securities pursuant to the Xxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated Master Agreement Among Underwriters,
dated July 18, 1985 (the "Agreement"), each Underwriter confirms the following
information, except as indicated in such Underwriter's Acceptance or other
written communication furnished to Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Co.
Incorporated. Defined terms used herein have the same meaning as defined terms
in the Master Agreement Among Underwriters.
(a) Neither such Underwriter nor any of its directors, officers or
partners have any material (as defined in Regulation C under the 0000 Xxx)
relationship with the Issuer, its parent (if any), any other seller of the
Securities or any guarantor of the Securities.
(b) Except as described or to be described in the Agreement, the
Underwriting Agreement or the Invitation, such Underwriter does not know: (i)
of any discounts or commissions to be allowed or paid to dealers, including all
cash, securities, contracts, or other consideration to be received by any dealer
in connection with the sale of the Securities, or of any other discounts or
commissions to be allowed or paid to the Underwriters or of any other items that
would be deemed by the NASD to constitute underwriting compensation for purposes
of the NASD's Rules of Fair Practice, (ii) of any intention to over-allot, or
(iii) that the price of any security may be stabilized to facilitate the
offering of the Securities.
(c) No report or memorandum has been prepared for external use (i.e.,
outside such Underwriter's organization) by such Underwriter in connection with
the proposed offering of Securities and, in the case of a Registered Offering,
where the Registration Statement is on Form S-1, such Underwriter has not
prepared or had prepared for it any engineering, management or similar report or
memorandum relating to the broad aspects of the business, operations or products
of the Issuer, its parent (if any) or any guarantor of the Securities within the
past twelve months. If any such report or memorandum has been prepared, furnish
to Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx & Co. Incorporated three copies thereof, together
with a statement as to the distribution of the report or memorandum, identifying
each class of persons to whom the report or memorandum was distributed, the
number of copies distributed to each class and the period of distribution.
(d) If the Securities are debt securities to be issued under an
indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, neither such
Underwriter nor any of its directors, officers or partners is an "affiliate", as
that term is defined under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, of the Trustee for
the
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Securities as specified in the Invitation, or of its parent (if any); neither
the Trustee nor its parent (if any) nor any of their directors or executive
officers is a director, officer, partner, employee, appointee or representative
of such Underwriter as those terms are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 or in the relevant instructions to Form T-1; neither such Underwriter nor
any of its directors, partners or executive officers, separately or as a group,
owns beneficially 1% or more of the shares of any class of voting securities of
the Trustee or of its parent (if any); and if such Underwriter is a corporation,
it does not have outstanding nor has it assumed or guaranteed any securities
issued otherwise than in its present corporate name, and neither the Trustee nor
its parent (if any) is a holder of any such securities.
(e) If the Issuer is a public utility, such Underwriter is not a
"holding company" or a "subsidiary company" or an "affiliate" of a "holding
company" or of a "public utility company", each as defined in the Public Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935.
(f) Neither such Underwriter nor any "group" (as that term is defined
in Section 13(d)(3) of the 0000 Xxx) of which it is a member is the beneficial
owner (determined in accordance with Rule 13d-3 under the 0000 Xxx) of more than
5% of any class of voting securities of the Issuer, its parent (if any), any
other seller of the Securities or any guarantor of the Securities nor does it
have any knowledge that more than 5% of any class of voting securities of the
Issuer is held or to be held subject to any voting trust or other similar
agreement.
