Shares GLOBE SPECIALTY METALS, INC. Common Stock UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
Shares
GLOBE SPECIALTY METALS, INC.
Common Stock
, 2009
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters,
c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC,
Eleven Madison Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10010-3629
Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters,
c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC,
Eleven Madison Avenue,
New York, N.Y. 10010-3629
Dear Sirs:
1. Introductory. Globe Specialty Metals, Inc., a Delaware corporation (“Company”) agrees
with the several Underwriters named in Schedule B hereto (“Underwriters”) to issue and sell to the
several Underwriters shares of its common stock (“Securities”) and the stockholders listed in
Schedule A hereto (“Selling Stockholders”) agree severally with the Underwriters to sell to the
several Underwriters an aggregate of outstanding shares of the Securities (such shares of
Securities being hereinafter referred to as the “Firm Securities”) on the terms set forth in this
Agreement. The Selling Stockholders also agree, severally and not jointly, to sell to the
Underwriters, at the option of the Underwriters, an aggregate of not more than additional
outstanding shares (together, the “Optional Securities”) of the Company’s Securities, as set forth
below. The Firm Securities and the Optional Securities are herein collectively called the “Offered
Securities”. As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, Credit Suisse Securities
(USA) LLC (the “Designated Underwriter”) has agreed to reserve out of the Firm Securities purchased
by it under this Agreement, up to shares, for sale to the Company’s directors, officers,
employees and other parties associated with the Company (collectively, “Participants”), as set
forth in the Final Prospectus (as defined herein) under the heading “Underwriting” (the “Directed
Share Program”). The Firm Securities to be sold by the Designated Underwriter pursuant to the
Directed Share Program (the “Directed Shares”) will be sold by the Designated Underwriter pursuant
to this Agreement at the public offering price. Any Directed Shares not subscribed for by the end
of the business day on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public by the
Underwriters as set forth in the Final Prospectus.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders. (a) The
Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the several Underwriters that:
(i) Filing and Effectiveness of Registration Statement; Certain Defined Terms. The
Company has filed with the Commission a registration statement on Form S-1 (No. 333-152513)
covering the registration of the Offered Securities under the Act, including a related
preliminary prospectus or prospectuses. At any particular time, this initial registration
statement, in the form then on file with the Commission, including all information
contained in the registration statement (if any) pursuant to Rule 462(b) and then deemed to
be a part of the initial registration statement, and all 430A Information and all 430C
Information, that in any case has not then been superseded or modified, shall be referred
to as the “Initial Registration Statement”. The Company may also have filed, or may file
with the Commission, a Rule 462(b) registration statement covering the
registration of Offered Securities. At any particular time, this Rule 462(b)
registration statement, in the form then on file with the Commission, including the
contents of the Initial Registration Statement incorporated by reference therein and
including all 430A Information and all 430C Information, that in any case has not then been
superseded or modified, shall be referred to as the “Additional Registration Statement”.
As of the time of execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Initial Registration
Statement has been declared effective under the Act and is not proposed to be amended. Any
Additional Registration Statement has or will become effective upon filing with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 462(b) and is not proposed to be amended. The Offered
Securities all have been or will be duly registered under the Act pursuant to the Initial
Registration Statement and, if applicable, the Additional Registration Statement.
For purposes of this Agreement:
“430A Information”, with respect to any registration statement, means information
included in a prospectus and retroactively deemed to be a part of such registration
statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b).
“430C Information”, with respect to any registration statement, means information
included in a prospectus then deemed to be a part of such registration statement pursuant
to Rule 430C.
“Act” means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
“Applicable Time” means :00 [a/p]m (Eastern time) on the date of this
Agreement. “Closing Date” has the meaning defined in Section 3 hereof.
“Commission” means the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Effective Time” with respect to the Initial Registration Statement or, if filed prior
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Additional Registration Statement
means the date and time as of which such Registration Statement was declared effective by
the Commission or has become effective upon filing pursuant to Rule 462(c). If an
Additional Registration Statement has not been filed prior to the execution and delivery of
this Agreement but the Company has advised the Representatives that it proposes to file
one, “Effective Time” with respect to such Additional Registration Statement means the date
and time as of which such Registration Statement is filed and becomes effective pursuant to
Rule 462(b).
“Exchange Act” means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
“Final Prospectus” means the Statutory Prospectus that discloses the public offering
price, other 430A Information and other final terms of the Offered Securities and otherwise
satisfies Section 10(a) of the Act.
“General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
that is intended for general distribution to prospective investors, as evidenced by its
being so specified in Schedule C to this Agreement.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any “issuer free writing prospectus,” as
defined in Rule 433, relating to the Offered Securities in the form filed or
required to be filed with the Commission or, if not required to be filed, in the form
retained in the Company’s records pursuant to Rule 433(g).
“Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
that is not a General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
The Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement are
referred to collectively as the “Registration Statements” and individually as a
“Registration Statement”. A “Registration Statement” with reference to a particular time
means the Initial Registration Statement and any Additional Registration Statement as of
such time. A “Registration Statement” without reference to a time means such Registration
Statement as of its Effective
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Time. For purposes of the foregoing definitions, 430A Information with respect to a
Registration Statement shall be considered to be included in such Registration Statement as
of the time specified in Rule 430A.
“Rules and Regulations” means the rules and regulations of the Commission.
“Securities Laws” means, collectively, the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002
(“Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx”), the Act, the Exchange Act, the Rules and Regulations, the auditing
principles, rules, standards and practices applicable to auditors of “issuers” (as defined
in Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx) promulgated or approved by the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board
and, as applicable, the rules of The NASDAQ Global Market (“Exchange Rules”).
“Statutory Prospectus” with reference to a particular time means the prospectus
included in a Registration Statement immediately prior to that time, including any 430A
Information or 430C Information with respect to such Registration Statement. For purposes
of the foregoing definition, 430A Information shall be considered to be included in the
Statutory Prospectus as of the actual time that form of prospectus is filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) or Rule 462(c) and not retroactively.
Unless otherwise specified, a reference to a “rule” is to the indicated rule under the
Act.
(ii) Compliance with Securities Act Requirements. (i) (A) At their respective
Effective Times, (B) on the date of this Agreement and (C) on each Closing Date, each of
the Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement (if any)
conformed and will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and did
not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (ii) on its date, at the time of filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to
Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is required) at the Effective Time of the Additional
Registration Statement in which the Final Prospectus is included, and on each Closing Date,
the Final Prospectus will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act
and the Rules and Regulations and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading and (iii) on the date of this Agreement, at their
respective Effective Times or issue dates and on each Closing Date, each Registration
Statement, the Final Prospectus, any Statutory Prospectus, any prospectus wrapper and any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied or comply, and such documents and any further
amendments or supplements thereto will comply, in all material respects with any applicable
laws or regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the Final Prospectus, any Statutory
Prospectus, any prospectus wrapper or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, if applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program.
The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from any such document
based upon written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only
such information is that described as such in Section 8(c) hereof.
(iii) Ineligible Issuer Status. (i) At the time of the initial filing of the Initial
Registration Statement and (ii) at the date of this Agreement, [the Company was not and is
not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, including] (x) the Company or any other
subsidiary in the preceding three years not having been convicted of a felony or
misdemeanor or having been made the subject of a judicial or administrative decree or order
as described in Rule 405 and (y) the Company in the preceding three years not having been
the subject of a bankruptcy petition or insolvency or similar proceeding, not having had a
registration statement be the subject of a proceeding under Section 8 of the Act and not
being the subject of a proceeding under Section 8A of the Act in connection with the
offering of the Offered Securities, all as described in Rule 405.
(iv) General Disclosure Package. As of the Applicable Time, neither (i) the General
Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus(es) issued at or prior to the Applicable Time, the
preliminary prospectus, dated July 16, 2009 (which is the most recent Statutory Prospectus
distributed to investors generally) and the other information, if any, stated in Schedule C
to this Agreement to be
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included in the General Disclosure Package, all considered together (collectively, the
“General Disclosure Package”), nor (ii) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, when considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or
omissions from any Statutory Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed
that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information
described as such in Section 8(c) hereof.
(v) Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, as of its
issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale
of the Offered Securities or until any earlier date that the Company notified or notifies
Credit Suisse as described in the next sentence, did not, does not and will not include any
information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information then contained
in the Registration Statement. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which such
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the information then
contained in the Registration Statement or as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, if republished immediately following such event or development, would include
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or would 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, (i) the Company has promptly notified or will
promptly notify Credit Suisse and (ii) the Company has promptly amended or will promptly
amend or supplement such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to eliminate or correct such
conflict, untrue statement or omission. The preceding two sentences do not apply to
statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the only
such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information described as such
in Section 8(c) hereof.
(vi) Good Standing of the Company. The Company has been duly incorporated and is an
existing corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power
and authority (corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as
described in the General Disclosure Package; and the Company is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its
ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be duly qualified or in good standing would not, individually
or in the aggregate, result in a material adverse effect on the condition (financial or
otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole (“Material Adverse Effect”).
(vii) Subsidiaries. Each subsidiary of the Company has been duly incorporated or
organized and is an existing corporation or other business entity in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or organization, with power and authority
(corporate and other) to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
General Disclosure Package; and each subsidiary of the Company is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation in good standing in all other jurisdictions in which its
ownership or lease of property or the conduct of its business requires such qualification
except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect;
all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each subsidiary of the Company has been
duly authorized and validly issued and is fully paid and nonassessable; and the capital
stock of each subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned
free from liens, encumbrances and defects, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure
Package. Globe Metallurgical, Inc., West Virginia Alloys, Inc., Solsil, Inc., Alabama Sand
and Gravel, Inc., Globe Metales S.A. and Globe Metais Industria e Comercio S.A. are the
only significant subsidiaries (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the Act) of
the Company.
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(viii) Offered Securities. The Offered Securities and all other outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized; the authorized equity
capitalization of the Company is as set forth in the General Disclosure Package; all
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are, and, when the Offered Securities
have been delivered and paid for in accordance with this Agreement on each Closing Date,
such Offered Securities will have been, validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, will
conform to the information in the General Disclosure Package and to the description of such
Offered Securities contained in the Final Prospectus; the stockholders of the Company have
no preemptive rights with respect to the Securities; and none of the outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company have been issued in violation of any preemptive or similar
rights of any security holder.
(ix) No Finder’s Fee. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there
are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person that
would give rise to a valid claim against the Company or any Underwriter for a brokerage
commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this offering.
(x) Registration Rights. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there
are no contracts, agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting
such person the right to require the Company to file a registration statement under the Act
with respect to any securities of the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to
require the Company to include such securities in the securities registered pursuant to a
Registration Statement or in any securities being registered pursuant to any other
registration statement filed by the Company under the Act (collectively, “registration
rights”), and any person to whom the Company has granted registration rights has agreed not
to exercise such rights until after the expiration of the Lock-Up Period referred to in
Section 5(l) hereof.
(xi) Listing. The Offered Securities have been approved for listing on The NASDAQ
Global Market, subject to notice of issuance.
(xii) Absence of Further Requirements. No consent, approval, authorization, or order
of, or filing or registration with, any person (including any governmental agency or body
or any court) is required to be obtained or made by the Company for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement in connection with the sale of the Offered
Securities, except (a) such as have been obtained, or made and such as may be required
under state securities laws, or (b) as may be required by the rules of the Financial
Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”).
(xiii) Title to Property. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, the
Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all real properties and all
other properties and assets owned by them which are necessary and material to their
business, in each case free from liens, charge, encumbrances and defects that would
materially affect the value thereof or materially interfere with the use made or currently
proposed to be made thereof by them and, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure
Package, the Company and its subsidiaries hold any leased real or personal property under
valid and enforceable leases with no terms or provisions that would materially interfere
with the use made or currently proposed to be made thereof by them.
(xiv) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction. The execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement, and the issuance and sale of the Offered
Securities will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of,
or constitute a default or a Debt Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or
result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to, (a) the charter or by-laws of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, (b) any statute, rule, regulation or order of any
governmental agency or body or any court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties, or (c) any agreement or
instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the properties of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, except, in the case of clauses (b) or (c),
where any such breach, violation or
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default would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
A “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any event or condition that gives, or with the
giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the holder of any note, debenture, or other
evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder’s behalf) the right to
require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(xv) Absence of Existing Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation of its respective charter or by-laws or in default (or with
the giving of notice or lapse of time would be in default) under any existing obligation,
agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage,
lease or other agreement or instrument to which any of them is a party or by which any of
them is bound or to which any of the properties of any of them is subject, except such
defaults that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xvi) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company.
(xvii) Possession of Licenses and Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess,
and are in compliance with the terms of, adequate certificates, authorizations, franchises,
licenses and permits (“Licenses”) necessary or material to the conduct of the business now
conducted or proposed in the General Disclosure Package to be conducted by them, and have
not received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any
Licenses that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xviii) Absence of Labor Dispute. No labor dispute with the employees of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent that
would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xix) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its subsidiaries own,
possess or can acquire on reasonable terms, sufficient trademarks, trade names and other
rights to inventions, know-how, patents, copyrights, confidential information and other
intellectual property (collectively, “intellectual property rights”) necessary to conduct
the business now operated by them, or presently employed by them, and have not received any
notice of infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any
intellectual property rights that, if determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xx) Environmental Laws. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, (a)(i)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of, or has any liability
under, any federal, state, local or non-U.S. statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance,
code, other requirement or rule of law (including common law), or decision or order of any
domestic or foreign governmental agency, governmental body or court, relating to pollution,
to the use, handling, transportation, treatment, storage, discharge, disposal or release of
Hazardous Substances, to the protection or restoration of the environment or natural
resources (including biota), to health and safety including as such relates to exposure to
Hazardous Substances, and to natural resource damages (collectively, “Environmental Laws”),
(ii) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries owns, leases or operates any real
property contaminated with Hazardous Substances, (iii) neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is conducting or funding any investigation, remediation, remedial action or
monitoring of actual or suspected Hazardous Substances in the environment, (iv) neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries is liable or allegedly liable for any release or
threatened release of Hazardous Substances, including at any off-site treatment, storage or
disposal site, (v) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is subject to any claim
by any governmental agency or governmental body or person relating to Environmental Laws or
Hazardous Substances, and (vi) the Company and its subsidiaries have
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received and are in
compliance with all, and have no liability under any, permits, licenses, authorizations,
identification numbers or other approvals required under applicable Environmental Laws to
conduct their respective businesses, except in each case covered by clauses (i) — (vi)
such as would not individually or in the aggregate have a Material Adverse Effect; (b) to
the knowledge of the Company there are no facts or circumstances that would reasonably be
expected to result in a violation of, liability under, or claim pursuant to any
Environmental Law that would have a Material Adverse Effect; (c) to the knowledge of the
Company there are no requirements proposed for adoption or implementation under any
Environmental Law that would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(d) in the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically evaluates the effect,
including associated costs and liabilities, of Environmental Laws on the business,
properties, results of operations and financial condition of it and its subsidiaries, and,
on the basis of such evaluation, the Company has reasonably concluded that such
Environmental Laws will not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
For purposes of this subsection “Hazardous Substances” means (A) petroleum and petroleum
products, by-products or breakdown products, radioactive materials, asbestos-containing
materials, polychlorinated biphenyls and mold, and (B) any other chemical, material or
substance defined or regulated as toxic or hazardous or as a pollutant, contaminant or
waste under any federal, state, local or non-U.S. statute, law, rule or regulation.
(xxi) Accurate Disclosure. The statements in the General Disclosure Package and the
Final Prospectus under the headings “Material U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations”,
“Description of Capital Stock”, “Risk Factors-Our U.S.-based businesses benefit from
U.S. anti-dumping duties and laws that protect U.S. companies by taxing imports from
foreign companies. If these laws change, foreign companies will be able to compete more
effectively with us. Conversely, our foreign operations are adversely affected by these
U.S. duties and laws”, “Risk Factors-Provisions of our certificate of incorporation
and by-laws could discourage potential acquisition proposals and could deter or prevent a
change in control”, “Executive Compensation” and “Certain Relationships and Related Party
Transactions”, insofar as such statements summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or
proceedings discussed therein, are accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters,
agreements, documents or proceedings and present the information required to be shown in
all material respects.
(xxii) Absence of Manipulation. The Company has not taken, directly or indirectly,
any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected
to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
(xxiii) Statistical and Market-Related Data. Any third-party statistical and
market-related data included in a Registration Statement, a Statutory Prospectus or the
General Disclosure Package are based on or derived from sources that the Company believes
to be reliable and accurate.
(xxiv) Internal Controls and Compliance with the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act. Except as set
forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Company, its subsidiaries and, to the
Company’s knowledge, the Company’s Board of Directors (the “Board of Directors”) are in
compliance with Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx and all applicable Exchange Rules. Except as set forth in
the General Disclosure Package, the Company maintains a system of internal controls,
including, but not limited to, disclosure controls and procedures, internal controls over
accounting matters and financial reporting, an internal audit function and legal and
regulatory compliance controls (collectively, “Internal Controls”) that comply with the
Securities Laws and are sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions
are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations, (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with U.S. General Accepted Accounting Principles and to maintain accountability
for assets, (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s
general or specific authorization, and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
with respect to any differences. The Internal Controls are, or upon consummation of the
offering of the Offered Securities will be, overseen by the
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Audit
Committee (the “Audit Committee”) of the Board of Directors in accordance with Exchange
Rules. Except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Company has not publicly
disclosed or reported to the Audit Committee or the Board of Directors and within the next
135 days does not reasonably expect to publicly disclose or report to the Audit Committee
or the Board of Directors, a significant deficiency, material weakness, change in Internal
Controls or fraud involving management or other employees who have a significant role in
Internal Controls (each, an “Internal Control Event”), any violation of, or failure to
comply with, the Securities Laws, or any matter which, if determined adversely, would have
a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxv) Absence of Accounting Issues. A member of the Audit Committee has confirmed to
the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer or General Counsel that, except as set
forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Audit Committee is not reviewing or
investigating, and neither the Company’s independent auditors nor its internal auditors
have recommended that the Audit Committee review or investigate, (i) adding to, deleting,
changing the application of, or changing the Company’s disclosure with respect to, any of
the Company’s material accounting policies; (ii) any matter which could result in a
restatement of the Company’s financial statements for any annual or interim period during
the current or prior three fiscal years; or (iii) any Internal Control Event.
(xxvi) Litigation. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are
no pending actions, suits or proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any
court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign) against or affecting the
Company, any of its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties that, if determined
adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate
have a Material Adverse Effect, or would materially and adversely affect the ability of the
Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement, or which are otherwise material in
the context of the sale of the Offered Securities; and no such actions, suits or
proceedings (including any inquiries or investigations by any court or governmental agency
or body, domestic or foreign) are, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened or contemplated.
(xxvii) Financial Statements. The financial statements and the notes and schedules
thereto included in each Registration Statement and the General Disclosure Package present
fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company (or its
predecessor entities, where applicable) and its subsidiaries as of the dates shown and
their results of operations and cash flows for the periods shown, and such financial
statements have been prepared in conformity with the generally accepted accounting
principles in the United States applied on a consistent basis; and the schedules included
in each Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the information
required to be stated therein; and the assumptions used in preparing the pro forma
financial statements included in each Registration Statement and the General Disclosure
Package provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant effects directly
attributable to the transactions or events described therein, the related pro forma
adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions, and the pro forma columns therein
reflect the proper application of those adjustments to the corresponding historical
financial statement amounts.
(xxviii) No Material Adverse Change in Business. Except as disclosed in the General
Disclosure Package, since the end of the period covered by the latest audited financial
statements included in the General Disclosure Package (i) there has been no change, nor any
development or event involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or
otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, that is material and adverse, (ii) except as disclosed in
or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package, there has been no dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital
stock and (iii) except as disclosed in or contemplated by the General Disclosure Package,
there has been no material adverse change in the capital stock, short-term indebtedness,
long-term indebtedness, net current assets or net assets of the Company and its
subsidiaries.
(xxix) Investment Company Act. The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Offered Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the
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General Disclosure Package, will not be an “investment company” as defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(xxx) Ratings. No “nationally recognized statistical rating organization” as such
term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) (i) has imposed (or has informed the Company
that it is considering imposing) any condition (financial or otherwise) on the Company’s
retaining any rating assigned to the Company or any securities of the Company or (ii) has
indicated to the Company that it is considering any of the actions described in Section
7(c)(ii) hereof.
(xxxi) Absence of Unlawful Influence. The Company has not offered or sold, or caused
the Underwriters to offer or sell, any Offered Securities to any person pursuant to the
Directed Share Program with the specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or
supplier of the Company to alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business
with the Company or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or publish favorable
information about the Company or its products.
(xxxii) Insurance. The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers with
appropriately rated claims paying abilities against such losses and risks and in such
amounts as are prudent and customary for the businesses in which they are engaged; all
policies of insurance and fidelity or surety bonds insuring the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or their respective businesses, assets, employees, officers and directors are
in full force and effect; the Company and its subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms
of such policies and instruments in all material respects; and there are no material claims
by the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any such policy or instrument as to which
any insurance company is denying liability or defending under a reservation of rights
clause; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has been refused any insurance coverage
sought or applied for; neither the Company nor any such subsidiary has any reason to
believe that it will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such
coverage expires or to obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to
continue its business at a cost that would not have a Material Adverse Effect, except as
set forth in or contemplated in the General Disclosure Package; and the Company has
obtained directors’ and officer’s insurance in such amounts as is customary for an initial
public offering.
(xxxiii) Taxes. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all federal, state, local
and non-U.S. tax returns that are required to be filed or have requested extensions thereof
(except in any case in which the failure so to file would not have a Material Adverse
Effect); and, except as set forth in the General Disclosure Package, the Company and its
subsidiaries have paid all taxes (including any assessments, fines or penalties) required
to be paid by them, except for any such taxes, assessments, fines or penalties currently
being contested in good faith or as would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(xxxiv) No Recent Sales of Common Stock. Except as described in the General
Disclosure Package and the Registration Statement, the Company has not sold, issued or
distributed any shares of its common stock during the six-month period preceding the date
hereof, including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or S of, the Act,
other than shares issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans
or other employee compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or
warrants.
(xxxv) Compliance with Law. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries, and to the
knowledge of the Company, its affiliates, and any of their respective officers, directors,
supervisors, managers, agents, or employees, has not violated, and its participation in the
offering will not violate: (a) anti-bribery laws, including but not limited to, any
applicable law, rule, or regulation of any locality, including but not limited to any law,
rule, or regulation promulgated to implement the OECD Convention on Combating Bribery of
Foreign Public Officials in International Business Transactions, signed December 17, 1997,
including the U.S. Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 or any other law, rule or
regulation of similar purpose and scope, (b) anti-money laundering laws, including but not
limited to, applicable federal, state, international, foreign or other laws, regulations or
government guidance regarding anti-money laundering, including, without limitation, Title
18
9
U.S. Code section 1956 and 1957, the Patriot Act, the Bank Secrecy Act, and international
anti-money laundering principals or procedures by an intergovernmental group or
organization, such as the Financial Action Task Force on Money Laundering, of which the
United States is a member and with which designation the United States representative to
the group or organization continues to concur, all as amended, and any Executive order,
directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, or any orders
or licenses issued thereunder or (c) laws and regulations imposing U.S. economic sanctions
measures, including, but not limited to, the International Emergency Economic Powers Act,
the Trading with the Enemy Act, the United Nations Participation Act, and the Syria
Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Act, all as amended, and any Executive Order,
directive, or regulation pursuant to the authority of any of the foregoing, including the
regulations of the United States Treasury Department set forth under 31 CFR, Subtitle B,
Chapter V, as amended, or any orders or licenses issued thereunder.
(b) Each Selling Stockholder severally represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the
several Underwriters that:
(i) Good Standing of Selling Stockholder. To the extent such Selling Stockholder is
an entity, such Selling Stockholder is validly existing and, to the extent such concept
exists in the relevant jurisdiction, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its organization.
(ii) General Disclosure Package. As of the Applicable Time, neither (i) the General
Disclosure Package nor (ii) any individual Limited Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, when
considered together with the General Disclosure Package, included any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The preceding sentence applies only to the extent that any statements in or
omissions from any such document are made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder specifically for use
therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is the information
related to such Selling Stockholder as set forth in the Statutory Prospectus distributed to
investors and the Final Prospectus under the heading “Principal and Selling Stockholders”
(such information referred to herein as the “Selling Stockholder Information”).
(iii) Title to Securities. Such Selling Stockholder has and on each Closing Date
hereinafter mentioned will have, valid title to, or a valid “security entitlement” within
the meaning of Section 8-501 of the New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) in respect
of, the Offered Securities to be delivered by such Selling Stockholder on such Closing Date
free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other encumbrances,
and such Selling Stockholder has and on each Closing Date hereinafter mentioned will have
the legal right and power, and all authorization and approval required by law, to enter
into this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the
Offered Securities to be sold by such Selling Stockholder or a security entitlement in
respect of Offered Securities. Upon payment for the Offered Securities to be sold by such
Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such Offered Securities, as
directed by the Underwriters, to Cede & Co. (“Cede”) or such other nominee as may be
designated by the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”), registration of such Offered Securities
in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such Offered Securities on
the books of DTC to securities accounts of the Underwriters (assuming that neither DTC nor
any such Underwriter has notice of any adverse claim (within the meaning of Section 8-105
of the UCC) to such Shares), (A) DTC shall be a “protected purchaser” of such Offered
Securities within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under Section 8-501 of the
UCC, the Underwriters will acquire a valid security entitlement in respect of such Offered
Securities and (C) no action based on any “adverse claim,” within the meaning of Section
8-102 of the UCC, to such Offered Securities may be asserted against the Underwriters with
respect to such security entitlement; for purposes of this representation, such Selling
Stockholder may assume that when such payment, delivery and crediting occur, (x) such
Offered Securities will have been registered in the name of Cede or another nominee
designated by
10
DTC, in each case on the Company’s share registry in accordance with its
certificate of
incorporation, bylaws and applicable law, (y) DTC will be registered as a “clearing
corporation” within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC and (z) appropriate entries to
the accounts of the several Underwriters on the records of DTC will have been made pursuant
to the UCC.
(iv) Absence of Further Requirements. No consent, approval, authorization or order
of, or filing with, any person (including any governmental agency or body or any court) is
required to be obtained or made by any Selling Stockholders for the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by the Custody Agreement, the Powers of Attorney or this
Agreement in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities sold by the
Selling Stockholders, except such as have been obtained and made under the Act and such as
may be required under state securities laws.
(v) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts Resulting from Transaction. The execution,
delivery and performance of the Custody Agreement, the Powers of Attorney and this
Agreement and the consummation of the transactions therein and herein contemplated will not
result in a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a
default under, (a) any statute, any rule, regulation or order of any governmental agency or
body or any court having jurisdiction over any Selling Stockholder or any of their
properties, (b) any agreement or instrument to which any Selling Stockholder is a party or
by which any Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the properties of any Selling
Stockholder is subject, or (c) the charter or by-laws of any Selling Stockholder that is a
corporation or the constituent documents of any Selling Stockholder that is not a natural
person or a corporation, except, in the case of clause (a) or (b) as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in an a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or prospects of the
Selling Stockholder and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, adversely affect such Selling
Stockholder’s ability to perform its obligations hereunder and under the Power of Attorney
and related Custody Agreement or impair the validity or enforceability hereof and thereof.
(vi) Custody Agreement. The Power of Attorney and related Custody Agreement with
respect to each Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
such Selling Stockholder and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each such
Selling Stockholder enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy,
insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles.
(vii) Compliance with Securities Act Requirements. (i) (A) At their respective
Effective Times, (B) on the date of this Agreement and (C) on each Closing Date, each of
the Initial Registration Statement and the Additional Registration Statement (if any) did
not and will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, and (ii) on its date, at the time of filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to
Rule 424(b) or (if no such filing is required) at the Effective Time of the Additional
Registration Statement in which the Final Prospectus is included, and on each Closing Date,
the Final Prospectus will not include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading. The preceding sentence applies only to the extent that any
statements in or omissions from any such document are made in reliance upon and in
conformity with the Selling Stockholder Information.
(viii) No Undisclosed Material Information. The sale of the Offered Securities by
such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement is not prompted by any material
information concerning the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is not set forth the
General Disclosure Package.
(vix) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by each Selling Stockholder.
11
(x) No Finder’s Fee. Except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package, there are
no contracts, agreements or understandings between such Selling Stockholder and any person
that would give rise to a valid claim against such Selling Stockholder or any Underwriter
for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like payment in connection with this
offering.
(xi) Absence of Manipulation. Such Selling Stockholder has not taken, directly or
indirectly, any action that is designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably
be expected to cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
(xii) No Distribution of Offering Material. Such Selling Stockholder has not
distributed and will not distribute any prospectus or other offering material in connection
with the offering and sale of the Offered Securities.
(xiii) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If, at any time when a prospectus
relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be)
required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a
result of which the General Disclosure Package or the Final Prospectus as then amended or
supplemented would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading with respect to such
Selling Stockholder, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, such
Selling Stockholder will immediately notify the Company and the Representative of such
change.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of Offered Securities. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements and subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Company and
each Selling Stockholder agree, severally and not jointly, to sell to each Underwriter, and each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company and each Selling
Stockholder, at a purchase price of $ per share, that number of Firm Securities (rounded up or
down, as determined by Credit Suisse in its discretion, in order to avoid fractions) obtained by
multiplying Firm Securities in the case of the Company and the number of Firm Securities set
forth opposite the name of such Selling Stockholder in Schedule A hereto, in the case of a Selling
Stockholder, in each case by a fraction the numerator of which is the number of Firm Securities set
forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule B hereto and the denominator of which is
the total number of Firm Securities.
Certificates in negotiable form for the Offered Securities to be sold by the Selling
Stockholders hereunder have been placed in custody, for delivery under this Agreement, under
Custody Agreements made with , as custodian (“Custodian”). Each Selling Stockholder agrees that
the shares represented by the certificates held in custody for the Selling Stockholders under such
Custody Agreements are subject to the interests of the Underwriters hereunder, that the
arrangements made by the Selling Stockholders for such custody are to that extent irrevocable, and
that the obligations of the Selling Stockholders hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of
law, whether by the death of any individual Selling Stockholder or the occurrence of any other
event, or in the case of a trust, by the death of any trustee or trustees or the termination of
such trust. If any individual Selling Stockholder or any such trustee or trustees should die, or
if any other such event should occur, or if any of such trusts should terminate, before the
delivery of the Offered Securities hereunder, certificates for such Offered Securities shall be
delivered by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if such
death or other event or termination had not occurred, regardless of whether or not the Custodian
shall have received notice of such death or other event or termination.
The Company and the Custodian will deliver the Firm Securities to or as instructed by Credit
Suisse for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to Credit
Suisse against payment of the purchase price in Federal (same day) funds by official bank check or
checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to Credit Suisse drawn to the order of
in the case of shares of Firm Securities and in the case of shares of Firm
Securities, at the New York office of Xxxxx Xxxx &
00
Xxxxxxxx XXX, xx X.X., Xxx Xxxx time, on
, 2009, or at such other time not later than seven full business days thereafter as Credit Suisse
and the Company determine, such time being herein referred to as
the “First Closing Date”. For purposes of Rule 15c6-1 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
the First Closing Date (if later than the otherwise applicable settlement date) shall be the
settlement date for payment of funds and delivery of securities for all the Offered Securities sold
pursuant to the offering. The Firm Securities so to be delivered or evidence of their issuance will
be made available for checking at the above office of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP at least 24 hours
prior to the First Closing Date.
In addition, upon written notice from Credit Suisse given to the Company and the Selling
Stockholders from time to time not more than 30 days subsequent to the date of the Final
Prospectus, the Underwriters may purchase all or less than all of the Optional Securities at the
purchase price per Security to be paid for the Firm Securities. The Selling Stockholders agree,
severally and not jointly, to sell to the Underwriters the respective numbers of Optional
Securities obtained by multiplying the number of Optional Securities specified in such notice by a
fraction the numerator of which is the number of shares set forth opposite the names of such
Selling Stockholders in Schedule A hereto under the caption “Number of Optional Securities to be
Sold” and the denominator of which is the total number of Optional Securities (subject to
adjustment by Credit Suisse to eliminate fractions). Such Optional Securities shall be purchased
from each Selling Stockholder for the account of each Underwriter in the same proportion as the
number of Firm Securities set forth opposite such Underwriter’s name bears to the total number of
Firm Securities (subject to adjustment by Credit Suisse to eliminate fractions) and may be
purchased by the Underwriters only for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection
with the sale of the Firm Securities. No Optional Securities shall be sold or delivered unless the
Firm Securities previously have been, or simultaneously are, sold and delivered. The right to
purchase the Optional Securities or any portion thereof may be exercised from time to time and to
the extent not previously exercised may be surrendered and terminated at any time upon notice by
Credit Suisse to the Company and the Selling Stockholders.
Each time for the delivery of and payment for the Optional Securities, being herein referred
to as an “Optional Closing Date”, which may be the First Closing Date (the First Closing Date and
each Optional Closing Date, if any, being sometimes referred to as a “Closing Date”), shall be
determined by Credit Suisse but shall be not later than five full business days after written
notice of the election to purchase Optional Securities is given. The Custodian will deliver the
Optional Securities being purchased on each Optional Closing Date to or as instructed by Credit
Suisse for the accounts of the several Underwriters in a form reasonably acceptable to Credit
Suisse, against payment of the purchase price therefore in Federal (same day) funds by official
bank check or checks or wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to Credit Suisse drawn to
the order of in the case of Optional Securities and in the case of Optional
Securities, at the above office of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP. The Optional Securities being
purchased on each Optional Closing Date or evidence of their issuance will be made available for
checking at the above office of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP at a reasonable time in advance of such
Optional Closing Date.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer
the Offered Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.
5. Certain Agreements of the Company and the Selling Stockholders. The Company agrees with
the several Underwriters and the Selling Stockholders that:
(a) Additional Filings. Unless filed pursuant to Rule 462(c) as part of the
Additional Registration Statement in accordance with the next sentence, the Company will
file the Final Prospectus, in a form approved by the Representatives, with the Commission
pursuant to and in accordance with subparagraph (1) (or, if applicable and if consented to
by the Representatives, subparagraph (4)) of Rule 424(b) not later than the earlier of (A)
the second business day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement or (B) the
fifteenth business day after the Effective Time of the Initial Registration Statement. The
Company will advise the Representatives promptly of any such filing pursuant to Rule 424(b)
and provide satisfactory evidence to the Representatives of such timely filing. If an
Additional Registration Statement is necessary to register a portion of the Offered
Securities under the Act but the Effective Time thereof has not occurred as of the
execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Company will file the additional registration
13
statement or, if filed, will file a post-effective amendment thereto with the Commission
pursuant to and in accordance with Rule 462(b) on or prior to 10:00 P.M., New York time, on
the date of this
Agreement or, if earlier, on or prior to the time the Final Prospectus is finalized and
distributed to any Underwriter, or will make such filing at such later date as shall have
been consented to by the Representatives.
(b) Filing of Amendments: Response to Commission Requests. The Company will promptly
advise the Representatives of any proposal to amend or supplement at any time the Initial
Registration Statement, any Additional Registration Statement or any Statutory Prospectus
and will not effect such amendment or supplementation without the Representatives’ consent;
and the Company will also advise the Representatives promptly of (i) the effectiveness of
any Additional Registration Statement (if its Effective Time is subsequent to the execution
and delivery of this Agreement), (ii) any amendment or supplementation of a Registration
Statement or any Statutory Prospectus, (iii) any request by the Commission or its staff for
any amendment to any Registration Statement, for any supplement to any Statutory Prospectus
or for any additional information, (iv) the institution by the Commission of any stop order
proceedings in respect of a Registration Statement or the threatening of any proceeding for
that purpose, and (v) the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect to the
suspension of the qualification of the Offered Securities in any jurisdiction or the
institution or threatening of any proceedings for such purpose. The Company will use its
reasonable best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of
any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal
thereof.
(c) Continued Compliance with Securities Laws. If, at any time when a prospectus
relating to the Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be)
required to be delivered under the Act by any Underwriter or dealer, any event occurs as a
result of which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state 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 is necessary at any time to amend the Registration Statement or
supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify
the Representatives of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the Commission
and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and any dealers upon request of the
Representatives, an amendment or supplement which will correct such statement or omission
or an amendment which will effect such compliance. Neither the Representatives’ consent
to, nor the Underwriters’ delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a
waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 7 hereof.
(d) Rule 158. As soon as practicable, but not later than the Availability Date (as
defined below), the Company will make generally available to its security holders an
earnings statement covering a period of at least 12 months beginning after the Effective
Date of the Initial Registration Statement (or, if later, the Effective Time of the
Additional Registration Statement) which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of
the Act and Rule 158 under the Act. For the purpose of the preceding sentence,
“Availability Date” means the day after the end of the fourth fiscal quarter following the
fiscal quarter that includes such Effective Time on which the Company is required to file
its Form 10-Q for such fiscal quarter except that, if such fourth fiscal quarter is the
last quarter of the Company’s fiscal year, “Availability Date” means the day after the end
of such fourth fiscal quarter on which the Company is required to file its Form 10-K.
(e) Furnishing of Prospectuses. The Company will furnish to the Representatives
copies of each Registration Statement (three of which will be signed and will include all
exhibits), each related Statutory Prospectus, and, so long as a prospectus relating to the
Offered Securities is (or but for the exemption in Rule 172 would be) required to be
delivered under the Act, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements to such
documents, in each case in such quantities as the Representatives request. The Final
Prospectus shall be so furnished on or prior to 3:00 P.M., New York time, on the business
day following the execution and delivery of this Agreement. All other such documents shall
be so furnished as soon as available. The Company will pay the expenses of printing and
distributing to the Underwriters all such documents.
14
(f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will cooperate with Credit Suisse for the
qualification of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such states and other
jurisdictions as the Representatives reasonably designate and to maintain such
qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution, provided, however, that
the Company shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to
qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which
it is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any
jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.
(g) Reporting Requirements. During the period of five years hereafter, the Company
will furnish to the Representatives and, upon request, to each of the other Underwriters,
as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its annual report to
stockholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon
as available, a copy of each report and any definitive proxy statement of the Company filed
with the Commission under the Exchange Act or mailed to stockholders, and (ii) from time to
time, such other information concerning the Company as the Representatives may reasonably
request. However, so long as the Company is subject to the reporting requirements of
either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act and is timely filing reports with
the Commission on its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“XXXXX”),
it is not required to furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriters.
(h) Payment of Expenses. The Company and each Selling Stockholder agree with the
several Underwriters that the Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of
the obligations of the Company and each Selling Stockholder, as the case may be, under this
Agreement, including but not limited to any filing fees and other expenses (excluding fees
and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters) incurred in connection with qualification
of the Offered Securities for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
Representatives designate and the printing of memoranda relating thereto, costs and
expenses related to the review by FINRA of the Offered Securities (including filing fees
and the fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such review), costs
and expenses relating to investor presentations or any “road show” in connection with the
offering and sale of the Offered Securities including, without limitation, any travel
expenses of the Company’s officers and employees and any other expenses of the Company
(including the chartering of airplanes), fees and expenses incident to listing the Offered
Securities on The NASDAQ Global Market or other national and foreign exchanges and the
de-listing of the Company’s securities on the London Stock Exchange’s AIM market, fees and
expenses in connection with the registration of the Offered Securities under the Exchange
Act, any transfer taxes on the sale by the Selling Stockholders of the Offered Securities
to the Underwriters and expenses incurred in distributing preliminary prospectuses and the
Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the Underwriters and
for expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors; provided that this paragraph shall not
affect or modify any separate agreement relating to the allocation of payment of expenses
between the Company and the Selling Stockholders. Except as otherwise provided by this
Agreement, the Underwriters shall pay their own costs and expenses in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, including, without limitation, fees and expenses of their
counsel.
(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it in
connection with this offering in the manner described in the “Use of Proceeds” section of
the General Disclosure Package and, except as disclosed in the General Disclosure Package,
the Company does not intend to use any of the proceeds from the sale of the Offered
Securities hereunder to repay any outstanding debt owed to any affiliate of any
Underwriter.
(j) Absence of Manipulation. The Company and the Selling Stockholders will not take,
directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that would constitute or that might
reasonably be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of
any securities of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Securities.
15
(k) Restriction on Sale of Securities by Company. For the period specified below
(the “Lock-Up Period”), the Company will not, directly or indirectly, take any of the
following actions with
respect to its Securities or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or
exercisable for any of its Securities (“Lock-Up Securities”): (i) offer, sell, issue,
contract to sell, pledge or otherwise dispose of Lock-Up Securities, (ii) offer, sell,
issue, contract to sell, contract to purchase or grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase Lock-Up Securities, (iii) enter into any swap, hedge or any other agreement that
transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequences of ownership of Lock-Up
Securities, (iv) establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a
call equivalent position in Lock-Up Securities within the meaning of Section 16 of the
Exchange Act or (v) file with the Commission a registration statement under the Act
relating to Lock-Up Securities, other than (A) any concurrent registration statement
relating to the registration of shares of Common Stock with the Commission that are traded
on the AIM Market of the London Stock Exchange as of the date of this Agreement, or (B) a
registration statement on Form S-8, or publicly disclose the intention to take any such
action, without the prior written consent of Credit Suisse, except issuances of Lock-Up
Securities pursuant to the conversion or exchange of convertible or exchangeable securities
or the exercise of warrants or options, in each case outstanding on the date hereof and as
described in the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus, grants of employee stock
options and restricted stock pursuant to the terms of a plan in effect on the date hereof
and as described in the General Disclosure Package and Prospectus and issuances of Lock-Up
Securities pursuant to the exercise of such options. The previous sentence will not apply
to the offer and sale of Offered Securities pursuant to the offering contemplated by this
Agreement. The initial Lock-Up Period will commence on the date hereof and continue for 180
days after the date hereof or such earlier date that Credit Suisse consents to in writing;
provided, however, that if (1) during the last 17 days of the initial Lock-Up Period, the
Company releases earnings results or material news or a material event relating to the
Company occurs or (2) prior to the expiration of the initial Lock-Up Period, the Company
announces that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the
last day of the initial Lock-Up Period, then in each case the Lock-Up Period will be
extended until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of release of the
earnings results or the occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable,
unless Credit Suisse waives, in writing, such extension. The Company will provide Credit
Suisse with notice of any announcement described in clause (2) of the preceding sentence
that gives rise to an extension of the Lock-Up Period.
(l) Restriction on Sale of Securities by Selling Stockholders. For the period
specified in each of the lock-up letters (the “Stockholder Lock-Up Letters”) previously
executed by the Selling Stockholders in the applicable form included in Schedule G-2
hereto, each Selling Stockholder will not take any action in contravention of such
Stockholder Lock-Up Letters.
(m) Transfer Restrictions. In connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company
will ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent required by FINRA or
the FINRA Rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of
three months following the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The
Designated Underwriter will notify the Company as to which Participants will need to be so
restricted. The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer restrictions
upon such securities for such period of time.
(n) Payment of Expenses Related to Directed Share Program. The Company will pay all
fees and disbursements of counsel (including non-U.S. counsel, if applicable) incurred by
the Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp duties, similar
taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the underwriters in connection with the
Directed Share Program.
(o) Compliance with Foreign Laws. The Company will comply in all material respects
with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and regulations in each
foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are offered in connection with the
Directed Share Program.
16
6. [Free Writing Prospectuses. Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company and Selling
Stockholders represent and agree that, unless they obtain the prior consent of Credit Suisse, and
each Underwriter represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company and
Credit Suisse, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Offered Securities that
would constitute an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free
writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the Commission. Any such
free writing prospectus consented to by the Company and Credit Suisse is hereinafter referred to as
a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated and agrees that
it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer free writing prospectus,” as
defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433
applicable to any Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where
required, legending and record keeping. The Company represents that is has satisfied and agrees
that it will satisfy the conditions in Rule 433 to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission
any electronic road show.]
7. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the several
Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Securities on the First Closing Date and the Optional
Securities to be purchased on each Optional Closing Date will be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders herein (as though made
on such Closing Date), to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made pursuant to the
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholders of their
obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions precedent:
(a) Accountants’ Comfort Letter. The Representatives shall have received letters,
dated, respectively, the date hereof and each Closing Date, of each of KPMG LLP, Hobe &
Xxxxx Certified Public Accountants, Inc., BDO Trevisan Auditores Independetes, Deloitte &
Co. S.R.L. and Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, P.C., each confirming that they are independent public
accountants within the meaning of the Securities Laws and substantially in the form of
Schedule X-0, X-0, X-0, X-0 and D-5 hereto, respectively (except that, in any letter dated
a Closing Date, the specified date referred to in Schedule D-1 hereto shall be a date no
more than three days prior to such Closing Date).
(b) Effectiveness of Registration Statement. If the Effective Time of the Additional
Registration Statement (if any) is not prior to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, such Effective Time shall have occurred not later than 10:00 P.M., New York
time, on the date of this Agreement or, if earlier, the time the Final Prospectus is
finalized and distributed to any Underwriter, or shall have occurred at such later time as
shall have been consented to by the Representatives. The Final Prospectus shall have been
filed with the Commission in accordance with the Rules and Regulations and Section 5(a)
hereof. Prior to such Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall
have been instituted or, to the knowledge of any Selling Stockholder, the Company or the
Representatives, shall be contemplated by the Commission.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement, there shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development or event
involving a prospective change, in the condition (financial or otherwise), results of
operations, business, properties or prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as
a whole which, in the judgment of the Representatives, is material and adverse
and makes it impractical or inadvisable to market or proceed with the completion of the
public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered Securities; (ii) any downgrading
in the rating of any debt securities of the Company by any “nationally recognized
statistical rating organization” (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)), or any public
announcement that any such organization has under surveillance or review its rating of any
debt securities of the Company (other than an announcement with positive implications of a
possible upgrading, and no implication of a possible downgrading, of such rating); (iii)
any change in U.S. or international financial, political or economic conditions or currency
exchange rates or exchange controls the effect of which is such as to make it, in the
judgment of the Representatives, impractical to market or to enforce contracts for the sale
of the Offered Securities, whether in the
17
primary market or in respect of dealings in the
secondary market; (iv) any suspension or material
limitation of trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or London
Stock Exchange or any setting of minimum or maximum prices for trading on either such
exchange; (v) or any suspension of trading of any securities of the Company on any exchange
or in the over-the-counter market; (vi) any banking moratorium declared by any U.S.
federal, New York or United Kingdom authorities; (vii) any major disruption of settlements
of securities, payment or clearance services in the United States, the United Kingdom or
any other country where such securities are listed or (viii) any attack on, outbreak or
escalation of hostilities or act of terrorism involving the United States, any declaration
of war by Congress or any other national or international calamity or emergency if, in the
judgment of the Representatives, the effect of any such attack, outbreak, escalation, act,
declaration, calamity or emergency makes it impractical or inadvisable to market or proceed
with the completion of the public offering or the sale of and payment for the Offered
Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Offered Securities.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. The Representatives shall have received (i)
an opinion and 10b-5 letter, each dated such Closing Date, of Arent Fox LLP, counsel for
the Company, in the form of Schedule E-1 hereto, and (ii) opinions, each dated the Closing
Date, of and , Brazilian and Argentinean counsel for the Company, respectively, in
the form of Schedules E-2 and E-3, respectively, hereto .
(e) Opinion of Counsels for Selling Stockholders. The Representatives shall have
received opinions, dated such Closing Date, of counsels for each of the Selling
Stockholders, in the forms of Schedule F hereto.
(f) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. The Representatives shall have received from
Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion and 10b-5 letter,
dated such Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Representatives may require,
and the Selling Stockholders 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.
(g) Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received a certificate,
dated such Closing Date, of an executive officer of the Company and a principal financial
or accounting officer of the Company in which such officers shall state that: the
representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are true and correct; the
Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date; no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of any Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or, to their knowledge after reasonable investigation, are
contemplated by the Commission; the Additional Registration Statement (if any) satisfying
the requirements of subparagraphs (1) and (3) of Rule 462(b) was timely filed pursuant to
Rule 462(b), including payment of the applicable filing fee in accordance with Rule 111(a)
or (b) of Regulation S-T under the Act; and, subsequent to the date of the most recent
financial statements in the General Disclosure Package, there has been no material adverse
change, nor any development or event involving a prospective material adverse change, in
the condition (financial or otherwise), results of operations, business, properties or
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole except as set forth in the
General Disclosure Package or as described in such certificate.
(h) Chief Financial Officer’s Certificate. The Representatives shall have received a
certificate, dated such Closing Date, of the chief financial officer of the Company in
which such officer shall state that certain estimates and statements disclosed in the
Registration Statement, General Disclosure Package and Final Prospectus, as of the date of
their respective dates thereof, are correctly recorded in all material respects, based on
reliable information available to the Company and are reasonable.
(i) Lock-Up Agreements. On or prior to the date hereof, the Representatives shall
have received lockup letters from each of the executive officers, directors and certain
stockholders of the Company listed in Schedule G-1 hereto, in the form of Schedule G-2
hereto.
18
(j) Form 1099. The Custodian will to deliver to the Representatives a letter stating
that they will deliver to each Selling Stockholder a United States Treasury Department Form
1099 (or other applicable form or statement specified by the United States Treasury
Department regulations in lieu thereof) on or before January 31 of the year following the
date of this Agreement.
The Selling Stockholders and the Company will furnish the Representatives with such conformed
copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as the Representatives reasonably
request. Credit Suisse may in its sole discretion waive on behalf of the Underwriters compliance
with any conditions to the obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, whether in respect of an
Optional Closing Date or otherwise.
8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) Indemnification of Underwriters by Company. The
Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its partners, members, directors,
officers, employees, agents, affiliates and each person, if any, who controls such Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each an “Indemnified
Party”), against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state
statutory law or regulation 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 any material fact contained in any part of any Registration Statement at any
time, any Statutory Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, 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 will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any loss,
claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or
not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection
with the enforcement of this provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are
incurred; provided, however, that 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 an untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and
agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information
described as such in subsection (c) below.
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Designated Underwriter and its
affiliates and each person, if any, who controls the Designated Underwriter within the meaning of
either Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act (the “Designated Entities”), from
and against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any such
action or claim) (i) arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any material prepared by or with the consent of the Company for
distribution to Participants in connection with the Directed Share Program or arising out of or
based upon any omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; (ii) arising out of or based upon the
failure of any Participant to pay for and accept delivery of Directed Shares that the Participant
agreed to purchase; or (iii) arising out of, related to, or in connection with the Directed Share
Program, other than losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are
finally judicially determined to have resulted from the willful misconduct or gross negligence of
the Designated Entities.
(b) Indemnification of Underwriters by Selling Stockholders. The Selling Stockholders,
severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Party against any and
all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may
become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation
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 any
material fact
contained in any part of any Registration Statement at any time, any Statutory
Prospectus as of any time, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
19
required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse
each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified
Party in connection with investigating or defending against any loss, claim, damage, liability,
action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Indemnified Party
is a party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of
this provision with respect to the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that
each Selling Stockholder will only be liable, in any case, to the extent that any such loss, claim,
damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
in or omission or alleged omission from any of such documents in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder specifically for use
therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such information is the Selling Stockholder
Information; provided, further, that the Selling Stockholders 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 an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such
documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by
any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and
agreed that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the information
described as such in subsection (c) below; provided, further, that the liability under this
subsection of each Selling Stockholder shall be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate gross
proceeds after underwriting commissions and discounts, but before expenses being borne by such
Selling Stockholder, if any, to such Selling Stockholder from the sale of Securities sold by such
Selling Stockholder hereunder.
(c) Indemnification of Company and Selling Stockholders. Each Underwriter will severally and
not jointly indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers
who signs a Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, and each Selling Stockholder
(each, an “Underwriter Indemnified Party”) against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to
which such Underwriter Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, or
other Federal or state statutory law or regulation 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 any material fact contained in any Registration Statement
at any time, any Statutory Prospectus at any time, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged omission to state therein
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for use therein, and will reimburse any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such Underwriter Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or
defending against any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or
proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Underwriter Indemnified Party is a party thereto),
whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
alleged untrue statement or omission as such expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed
that the only such information furnished by any Underwriter consists of the following information
under the caption “Underwriting” in the Final Prospectus furnished on behalf of each Underwriter:
(i) the concession and reallowance figures appearing in the fourth paragraph thereunder, (ii) the
information related to discretionary accounts in the sixth paragraph thereunder, and (iii) the
information related to stabilizing transactions, over-allotment transactions, syndicate covering
transaction and penalty bids contained in the twelfth paragraph thereunder.
(d) Actions against Parties; Notification. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party
under this Section of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a
claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under subsection (a), (b) or
(c) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the failure to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have under subsection (a),
(b) or (c) above except to the extent that it has been materially prejudiced (through the
forfeiture of substantive rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability that it may have
to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above. In case any such
action is brought against any indemnified party and it notifies an indemnifying party of the
commencement
20
thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the
extent that it may wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel
satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified
party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party will not
be liable to such indemnified party under this Section for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, if indemnity may
be sought pursuant to the last paragraph in Section 8 (a) hereof in respect of such action or
proceeding, then in addition to such separate firm for the indemnified parties, the indemnifying
party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of not more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for the Designated Underwriter for the defense of any losses,
claims, damages and liabilities arising out of the Directed Share Program, and all persons, if any,
who control the Designated Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act of
Section 20 of the Exchange Act. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of
the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action
and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of, fault, culpability or a failure to
act by or on behalf of an indemnified party.
(e) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above, then
each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as
a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in subsection (a), (b) or (c)
above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other
from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the indemnifying party or
parties on the one hand and the indemnified party or parties on the other in connection with the
statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the
Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the
same respective proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders bear to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions received by the Underwriters. The relative fault shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Underwriters and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The
amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (e) shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or
defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (e). Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection (e), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations in this subsection (e)
to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8(e) were determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this Section
8(e).
9. Default of Underwriters. If any Underwriter or Underwriters default in their obligations
to purchase Offered Securities hereunder on either the First or any Optional Closing Date and the
aggregate
21
number of shares of Offered Securities that such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed to
purchase does not exceed 10% of the total number of shares of Offered Securities that the
Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date, Credit Suisse may make arrangements
satisfactory to the Company and the Selling Stockholders for the purchase of such Offered
Securities by other persons, including any of the Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are
made by such Closing Date, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated severally, in
proportion to their respective commitments hereunder, to purchase the Offered Securities that such
defaulting Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase on such Closing Date. If any Underwriter or
Underwriters so default and the aggregate number of shares of Offered Securities with respect to
which such default or defaults occur exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of Offered
Securities that the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such Closing Date and arrangements
satisfactory to Credit Suisse, the Company and the Selling Stockholders for the purchase of such
Offered Securities by other persons are not made within 36 hours after such default, this Agreement
will terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter, the Company or the
Selling Stockholders, except as provided in Section 10 (provided that if such default occurs with
respect to Optional Securities after the First Closing Date, this Agreement will not terminate as
to the Firm Securities or any Optional Securities purchased prior to such termination). As used in
this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under
this Section. Nothing herein will relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
10. Survival of Certain Representations and Obligations. The respective indemnities,
agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the several Selling Stockholders,
of the Company and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation, or statement as to the results
thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any Selling Stockholder, the Company or any of
their respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and will survive
delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If the purchase of the Offered Securities by
the Underwriters is not consummated for any reason other than solely because of the termination of
this Agreement pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their outside counsel) reasonably
incurred by them in connection with the offering of the Offered Securities, and the respective
obligations of the Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters pursuant to Section 8
hereof shall remain in effect. In addition, if any Offered Securities have been purchased
hereunder, the representations and warranties in Section 2 and all obligations under Section 5
shall also remain in effect.
11. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the
Underwriters, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to each of the
Representatives, c/o Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, Eleven Madison Avenue, New York, N.Y.
10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD, c/x Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X.
00000, c/o X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., 000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000 or, if
sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to it at One Penn
Plaza, Suite 2514, 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx, General Counsel, or, if sent to the Selling Stockholders or any of them, will be mailed,
delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to at ; provided, however, that any notice to an
Underwriter pursuant to Section 8 will be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to such
Underwriter.
12. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties
hereto and their respective personal representatives and successors and the officers and directors
and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder. No purchaser of Offered Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a
successor by reason of such purchase.
13. Representation. The Representatives will act for the several Underwriters in connection
with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, and any action under this Agreement taken by
the Representatives jointly or by Credit Suisse will be binding upon all the Underwriters. will
act for the Selling Stockholders in connection with such transactions, and any action under or in
respect of this Agreement taken by will be binding upon all the Selling Stockholders.
22
14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute one
and the same
Agreement.
15. Absence of Fiduciary Relationship. The Company and the Selling Stockholders acknowledge
and agree that:
(a) No Other Relationship. The Representatives have been retained solely to act as
underwriters in connection with the sale of the Offered Securities and that no fiduciary, advisory
or agency relationship between the Company or the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the
Representatives, on the other, has been created in respect of any of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or the Final Prospectus, irrespective of whether the Representatives have advised
or is advising the Company or the Selling Stockholders on other matters;
(b) Arms’ Length Negotiations. The price of the Offered Securities set forth in this
Agreement was established by Company and the Selling Stockholders following discussions and
arms-length negotiations with the Representatives and the Company and the Selling Stockholders are
capable of evaluating and understanding and understand and accept the terms, risks and conditions
of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(c) Absence of Obligation to Disclose. The Company and the Selling Stockholders have been
advised that the Representatives and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of transactions
which may involve interests that differ from those of the Company or the Selling Stockholders and
that the Representatives have no obligation to disclose such interests and transactions to the
Company or the Selling Stockholders by virtue of any fiduciary, advisory or agency relationship;
and
(d) Waiver. The Company and the Selling Stockholders waive, to the fullest extent permitted
by law, any claims they may have against the Representatives for breach of fiduciary duty or
alleged breach of fiduciary duty and agree that the Representatives shall have no liability
(whether direct or indirect) to the Company or the Selling Stockholders in respect of such a
fiduciary duty claim or to any person asserting a fiduciary duty claim on behalf of or in right of
the Company, including stockholders, employees or creditors of the Company.
16. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with,
the laws of the State of New York.
The Company, each of the Selling Stockholders and each of the Underwriters hereby submit to
the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in The
City of New York in any suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby. The Company, each of the Selling Stockholders and each of the
Underwriters irrevocably and unconditionally waives any objection to the laying of venue of any
suit or proceeding arising out of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby in Federal and state courts in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New York and
irrevocably and unconditionally waives and agrees not to plead or claim in any such court that any
such suit or proceeding in any such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
23
If the foregoing is in accordance with the Representatives’ understanding of our agreement,
kindly sign and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will become a
binding agreement among the Selling Stockholders, the Company and the several Underwriters in
accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, Globe Specialty Metals, Inc. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
[Insert name or names of Selling Stockholders], acting severally |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | Attorney-in-fact | |||
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby
confirmed and accepted as of the date first above
written.
Acting on behalf of themselves and as the Representatives of the several Underwriters. By Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
By Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
By X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
24
SCHEDULE A
Number of | ||||||||
Number of | Optional | |||||||
Firm Securities | Securities to | |||||||
Selling Stockholder | to be Sold | be Sold | ||||||
Total |
||||||||
A-1
SCHEDULE B
Number of | ||
Firm Securities | ||
Underwriter | to be Purchased | |
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC |
||
Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. |
||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
|
||
Total
|
||
B-1
SCHEDULE C
1. General Use Free Writing Prospectuses (included in the General Disclosure Package)
“General Use Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” includes each of the following documents:
2. Other Information Included in the General Disclosure Package
The following information is also included in the General Disclosure Package:
1. The initial price to the public of the Offered Securities.
C-1
SCHEDULE D
D-1
SCHEDULE X-0
X-0-0
XXXXXXXX X-0
X-0-0
XXXXXXXX E-3
E-3-1
SCHEDULE F
F-1
SCHEDULE G-1
G-1-1
SCHEDULE G-2
G-2-1