22,106,597 SHARES
CELANESE CORPORATION
SERIES A COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $.0001 PER SHARE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
May 14, 2007
May 14, 2007
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 1, an exempted company
incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands ("BCP 1"), Blackstone Capital
Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 2, an exempted company incorporated under the laws of the
Cayman Islands ("BCP 2"), Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 3, an
exempted company incorporated under the laws of the Cayman Islands ("BCP 3") and
Blackstone Management Partners IV L.L.C., a Delaware limited liability company
("BMP" and together with BCP 1, BCP 2 and BCP 3, the "SELLING STOCKHOLDERS")
propose to sell to you, as Underwriter (the "UNDERWRITER"), an aggregate of
22,106,597 shares (the "SHARES") of the Series A Common Stock, par value $.0001
per share, of Celanese Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), as
set forth in Schedule I hereto. The outstanding shares of the Series A Common
Stock, par value $.0001 per share, of the Company, including the Shares, are
hereinafter referred to as the "COMMON STOCK."
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") a registration statement on Form S-3 (registration No.
333-133934), including a prospectus, relating to the Shares. The registration
statement, as amended to the Applicable Time (as defined below), including the
information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration statement at the time
of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or 430B under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), is hereinafter referred to as the
"REGISTRATION STATEMENT"; and the related prospectus included in the
Registration Statement in the form first used to confirm sales of Shares is
hereinafter referred to as the "BASIC PROSPECTUS." The Basic Prospectus, as
supplemented by the prospectus supplement, dated May 14, 2007 in the form first
used to confirm sales of the Shares (or in the form first made available to the
Underwriter by the Company to meet the requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule
173 under the Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS,"
and the term "PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS" means any preliminary form of the
Prospectus. For the purposes of this Agreement, "FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS" has
the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act and "TIME OF SALE
PROSPECTUS" means the preliminary prospectus together with the free writing
prospectuses, if any, each identified in Schedule II hereto. As used herein, the
terms "Registration Statement," "Basic Prospectus," "preliminary prospectus,"
"Time of Sale Prospectus" and "Prospectus" shall include the documents, if any,
incorporated by reference therein. The terms "SUPPLEMENT," "AMENDMENT," and
"AMEND" as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Basic
Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus or free
writing prospectus shall include all
documents subsequently filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT"), that are
deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. "APPLICABLE TIME" means 8:00
p.m. (Eastern time) on the date of this Agreement.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to and agrees with the Underwriter that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect,
and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or, to the knowledge
of the Company, threatened by the Commission. The Company is a well-known
seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) eligible
to use the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration
statement and the Company has not received notice that the Commission
objects to the use of the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf
registration statement.
(b) The Company is not an "ineligible issuer" in connection with the
offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act. Any
free writing prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to
Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be, filed with the
Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each
free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or is required to file,
pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by or
behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in
all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for
the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule II hereto
forming part of the Time of Sale Prospectus, and electronic road shows, if
any, each furnished to you before first use, the Company has not prepared,
used or referred to, and will not, without your prior consent, prepare, use
or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
(c) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective and as of
the Applicable Time, did not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (iii) the
Time of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the Applicable Time and at the
Closing Date (as defined in Section 5), the Time of Sale Prospectus as then
amended or supplemented by the
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Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading and (iv) the Prospectus does not contain and, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and
warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or
omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus based upon (A) information relating to the Underwriter furnished
to the Company in writing by the Underwriter expressly for use therein or
(B) the Selling Stockholders Information (as defined below).
(d) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has the corporate power and authority to own its property
and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and
is duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except to the extent
that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and
each of its direct and indirect subsidiaries, taken together as a whole (a
"MATERIAL ADVERSE EFFECT"), and the Company has the power and authority to
execute, deliver and perform its obligations hereunder and under each
agreement or instrument contemplated hereby to which it is or will be a
party.
(e) Each significant subsidiary (as such term is defined in Rule 405
under the Securities Act) of the Company (a "SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARY") has
been duly incorporated or formed, as the case may be, is validly existing
as a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or exempted
company in good standing (or if applicable, in a foreign jurisdiction,
enjoys the equivalent status under the laws of any jurisdiction of
organization outside the United States) under the laws of the jurisdiction
of its organization, has the corporate, limited liability company or
partnership power and authority, as the case may be, to own its property
and assets and to conduct its business as described in the Time of Sale
Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction where such qualification is required, except
to the extent that the failure to be so incorporated or formed, as the case
may be, or existing, to have such power and authority or to be so qualified
or be in good standing would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; all of the issued shares of capital stock of each
Significant Subsidiary of the Company that are owned by the Company have
been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable and are owned by the Company, free and clear of all liens,
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encumbrances, equities or claims, except liens, encumbrances, equities or
claims created pursuant to the senior secured credit facilities described
in the Time of Sale Prospectus or otherwise as described in the Time of
Sale Prospectus.
(f) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.
(g) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus under the heading "Description of Capital
Stock."
(h) The shares of Common Stock currently outstanding (including the
Shares) have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.
(i) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance
by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene
(A) the certificate of incorporation, as amended, or by-laws of the
Company, (B) any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company or
any of its subsidiaries that is material to the Company, (C) any provision
of applicable law or any judgment, order or decree of any governmental
body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company, except, in the
case of clauses (B) and (C), such contraventions as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval,
authorization or order of, or qualification with, any governmental body or
agency is required for the performance by the Company of its obligations
under this Agreement, except such as may be required by the securities or
Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and sale
of the Shares.
(j) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development which would reasonably be likely to involve a prospective
material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, business or operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(k) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, threatened to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is subject, other than proceedings described in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus and
proceedings that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect.
(l) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
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pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in
all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(m) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus will not be, required to
register as an "investment company" as such term is defined in the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(n) The Company and its subsidiaries (i) are in compliance with any
and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or
hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants
("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other
approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
their respective businesses as they are currently conducted and (iii) are
in compliance with all terms and conditions of any such permit, license or
approval, except (A) where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws,
failure to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure
to comply with the terms and conditions of such permits, licenses or
approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect or (B) as described in the Time of Sale
Prospectus.
(o) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Company is
not obligated to take any action or incur any costs to comply with, and
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any liabilities under,
applicable Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital
or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any
related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities
to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate, reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(p) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, 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 Securities Act with respect to any
securities of the Company or to require the Company to include such
securities with the Shares registered pursuant to the Registration
Statement.
(q) Except as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Company
maintains a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
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conformity with generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the
United States 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 inventory
is compared with existing inventories at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences.
2. Representations and Warranties of Each Selling Stockholder. Each Selling
Stockholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to and agrees
with the Underwriter that:
(a) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
such Selling Stockholder.
(b) The execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of, and the
performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, this
Agreement will not contravene (A) the organizational documents of such
Selling Stockholder, (B) any agreement or other instrument binding upon
such Selling Stockholder that is material to such Selling Stockholder, (C)
any provision of applicable law or any judgment, order or decree of any
governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over such Selling
Stockholder, except, in the case of clauses (B) and (C), such
contraventions as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material
Adverse Effect; and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
qualification with, any governmental body or agency, other than those
obtained, is required for the performance by such Selling Stockholder of
its obligations under this Agreement, except such as may be required by the
securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the
offer and sale of the Shares.
(c) Such Selling Stockholder has, and on the Closing Date (as defined
below) 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 Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder,
free and clear of all security interests, claims, liens, equities or other
encumbrances, and has the legal right and power, and all authorization and
approval required by law, to enter into this Agreement, and to sell,
transfer and deliver the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder or a
security entitlement in respect of such Shares.
(d) Upon payment for the Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such Shares, as directed by the
Underwriter, to Cede & Co. ("CEDE") or such other nominee as may be
designated by The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), registration of such
Shares in the name of Cede or such other nominee and the crediting of such
Shares on the books of DTC to the securities account of the Underwriter
(assuming that neither DTC nor the
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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 Shares within the meaning of Section 8-303 of the UCC, (B) under
Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriter will acquire a valid security
entitlement in respect of such Shares and (C) no action based on any
"adverse claim", within the meaning of Section 8-102 of the UCC, to such
Shares may be asserted against the Underwriter 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 Shares will have been registered in the name of Cede or
another nominee designated by 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 account of the Underwriter on the records of DTC will have been made
pursuant to the UCC.
(e) The Selling Stockholders represent and warrant that (i) the
Selling Stockholders Information (as defined below) contained in the
Registration Statement, when it became effective, did not contain, and if
the Registration Statement is amended or supplemented, will not contain,
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading and (ii) the
Selling Stockholders Information contained in the Time of Sale Prospectus
or the Prospectus does not contain and, if the Time of Sale Prospectus is
amended or supplemented, will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided that the representations and warranties set
forth in this paragraph are limited solely to the Selling Stockholders
Information. The Underwriter and the Selling Stockholders agree that
"SELLING STOCKHOLDERS INFORMATION" consists solely of the information with
respect to the Selling Stockholders under the caption "Principal and
Selling Stockholders" in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus.
3. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. Each Selling Stockholder, severally and
not jointly, hereby agrees to sell to the Underwriter, and the Underwriter, upon
the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, but
subject to its terms and conditions, agrees to purchase from such Selling
Stockholder at $35.50 a share (the "PURCHASE PRICE") the number of Shares set
forth in Schedule I opposite the name of such Selling Shareholder.
The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of the
Underwriter, it will not, during the period ending 30 days after the date of the
Prospectus, (i) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or
contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option,
right or
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warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock; (ii) file or cause to be filed any
registration statement with the Commission relating to the offering of any
shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock; or (iii) enter into any swap or other arrangement
that transfers to another, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
of ownership of the Common Stock, whether any such transaction described in
clause (i), (ii) or (iii) above is to be settled by delivery of Common Stock or
other securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply
to (A) the sale of Shares to be sold hereunder, (B) issuances by the Company of
shares of Common Stock (x) upon conversion, redemption, exchange or otherwise
pursuant to the terms of the Company's Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock or
(y) upon the exercise of an option, warrant or a similar security or the
conversion of a security outstanding on the date hereof and reflected in the
Prospectus, (C) the grants by the Company of options or stock, or the issuance
by the Company of stock, under its benefit plans described in the Prospectus,
(D) sales and transfers permitted under the Celanese Americas Retirement Savings
Plan, (E) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock in connection
with the acquisition of, a joint venture with or a merger with, another company,
and the filing of a registration statement with respect thereto; provided that
the recipient of such shares agrees in writing with the Underwriter in an
agreement in the form substantially identical to Exhibit E hereto, not to offer,
pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, grant
any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise transfer, directly
or indirectly, any such shares or options during such 30-day period without the
prior written consent of the Underwriter, (F) transactions by any person other
than the Company, relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities
acquired in the open market or other transactions after the completion of this
offering, or (G) the filing of a registration statement pursuant to the
registration rights of any of the Selling Stockholders.
4. Terms of Public Offering. The Company and each Selling Stockholder are
advised by you that the Underwriter proposes to make a public offering of the
Shares on the terms set forth in the Prospectus as soon after the Registration
Statement and this Agreement have become effective as in your judgment is
advisable.
5. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Shares shall be made to the
Selling Stockholders in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York
City against delivery of such Shares for the account of the Underwriter at 10:00
a.m., New York City time, on May 18, 2007, or at such other time on the same or
such other date, not later than May 25, 2007, as may be agreed to by you and the
Selling Stockholders. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred
to as the "CLOSING DATE."
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The Shares shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as
you shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date. The Shares shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date for the
account of the Underwriter, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with
the transfer of the Shares to the Underwriter duly paid, against payment of the
Purchase Price therefor.
6. Conditions to the Underwriter's Obligations. The obligations of the
Underwriter are subject to the following conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any
notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or of
any review for a possible change that does not indicate the direction
of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the securities
of the Company by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
under the Securities Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any development
involving a prospective change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of the Company
and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
Time of Sale Prospectus that, in your judgment, is material and
adverse and that makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market
the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of
Sale Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of
the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 6(a)(i) above and to the
effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the
Company has complied in all material respects with all of the agreements
and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon the best
of his or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
(c) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate dated the Closing Date and signed by an authorized officer of
each Selling Stockholder, to the effect that the representations and
warranties of such Selling Stockholder contained in this Agreement are true
and correct as of the Closing Date and that such Selling Stockholder has
complied in all material respects with all of the agreements and
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satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder on or before the Closing Date.
(d) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date (i) an
opinion of Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, special outside counsel for the
Company and the Selling Stockholders, to the effect set forth in Exhibit A,
(ii) an opinion of Walkers, special Cayman Islands counsel for the Selling
Stockholders, to the effect set forth in Exhibit B, and (iii) an opinion of
Xxxxxx X. Xxxx, Executive Vice President, General Counsel and Corporate
Secretary of the Company, to the effect set forth in Exhibit C.
(e) The Underwriter shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
of Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel for the Underwriter, dated the Closing
Date to the effect set forth in Exhibit D.
(f) The Underwriter shall have received, on each of the date hereof
and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date,
as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter,
from each of KPMG Deutsche Treuhand-Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft
Wirtschaftsprufungsgesellschaft, independent registered public accountants,
and KPMG LLP, independent registered public accountants, containing
statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants'
"comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements
and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement,
the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; provided that the letters
shall use a "cut-off date" not earlier than the business day prior to the
date hereof.
(g) The "lock-up" agreements, each substantially in the form of
Exhibit E hereto, between you and each of the Selling Stockholders relating
to sales and certain other dispositions of shares of Common Stock or
certain other securities, delivered to you on or before the date hereof,
shall be in full force and effect on the Closing Date.
7. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the agreements of
the Underwriter herein contained, the Company covenants with the Underwriter as
follows:
(a) To furnish, upon request, to you, without charge, a copy of the
signed Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to furnish
to you in New York City, without charge, prior to 10:00 a.m. New York City
time on the second business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement
and during the period mentioned in Sections 7(e) and 7(f) below, as many
copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, and any supplements
and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may
reasonably request.
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(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement, the
Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each
such proposed amendment or supplement and not to file any such proposed
amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object, and to file with
the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such
Rule.
(c) To furnish to you a copy of each proposed free writing prospectus
to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company
and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which
you reasonably object.
(d) Not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the
Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d)
under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf
of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been
required to file thereunder.
(e) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering
of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter and counsel
for the Company the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to
in Rule 173(e) under the Securities Act) is required by law to be delivered
in connection with sales by the Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the
notice referred to in Rule 173(e) under the Securities Act) is delivered to
a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriter and counsel for the Company, it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to
prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the
Underwriter and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish
to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by you and to any other
dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so
that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will
not, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu
thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(e) under the Securities Act) is
delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(f) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to solicit offers to
buy the Shares at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to
prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a
result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
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circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or condition
exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the
information contained in the Registration Statement then on file in any
material respect, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriter and
counsel for the Company, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of
Sale Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file
with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriter and
to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of
Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so
amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when
delivered to a prospective purchaser, be misleading or so that the Time of
Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer conflict with
the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, will comply with applicable law.
(g) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably
request.
(h) To make generally available to the Company's security holders and
to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering a period of at
least 12 months ending June 30, 2008 that satisfies the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder.
8. Covenant of the Underwriter. The Underwriter covenants with the Company
not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to file
with the Commission under Rule 433(d) a free writing prospectus prepared by or
on behalf of the Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by
the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
9. Expenses. Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement
are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, the Company agrees to pay or
cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement (except to the extent the Selling Stockholders are
obligated to pay or cause to be paid any expenses described below), including:
(i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the counsel to the Company and
counsel(s) to the Selling Stockholders and the Company's accountants in
connection with the registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities
Act and all other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing
of the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf
of, used by, or referred to by the Company and amendments and supplements to any
of the foregoing, including the filing fees payable to the Commission relating
to the Shares (within the time required by Rule 456 (b)(1), if applicable), all
printing costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies
12
thereof to the Underwriter and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove specified,
(ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery of the Shares
to the Underwriter (excluding any transfer or other taxes payable thereon, which
shall be paid or caused to be paid by the Selling Stockholders), (iii) the cost
of printing or producing any Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum in
connection with the offer and sale of the Shares under state securities laws and
all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Shares for offer and
sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 7(g) hereof, including
filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriter in connection with such qualification and in connection with the
Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all filing fees and the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriter incurred in connection with
the review and qualification of the offering of the Shares by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., (v) the costs and charges of any
transfer agent, registrar or depositary, (vi) the costs and expenses of the
Company relating to investor presentations on any "road show" undertaken in
connection with the marketing of the offering of the Shares, including, without
limitation, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and
graphics, fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the
road show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and
lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any such
consultants, and one-half of the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection
with the road show, and (vii) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of the obligations of the Company hereunder for which provision is
not otherwise made in this Section. It is understood, however, that except as
provided in this Section, Section 10 entitled "Indemnity and Contribution" and
the last paragraph of Section 12 below, the Underwriter will pay all of its
costs and expenses, including fees and disbursements of its counsel, stock
transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them and any
advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make. The provisions of
this Section shall not supersede or otherwise affect any agreement that the
Company and the Selling Stockholders may otherwise have for the allocation of
such expenses among themselves.
10. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act, and each affiliate of the Underwriter within the meaning of
Rule 405 under the Securities Act 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) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer
free writing prospectus as defined in Rule 433(h) under the Securities Act, any
"issuer information" that the Company has filed, or is required to file,
pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or the Prospectus (as amended
or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto), or
13
caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities are
caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission based upon (i) information relating to the Underwriter furnished to the
Company in writing by the Underwriter expressly for use therein or (ii) Selling
Stockholders Information.
(b) The Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the
Selling Stockholders, the directors of the Company, the officers of the Company
who sign the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company or any Selling Stockholder within the meaning of either Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriter, but only with reference
to information relating to the Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
by the Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any issuer free writing
prospectus or the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.
(c) Each Selling Stockholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act, and each affiliate of the Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under
the Securities Act 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) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Selling Stockholders Information included in the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereof, any preliminary prospectus, the
Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Selling Stockholders shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission with respect to the
Selling Stockholders Information to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. The
liability of each Selling Stockholder under the indemnity agreement contained in
this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the total net proceeds
received by such Selling Stockholder under this Agreement.
(d) Pursuant to Section 3.2 of Amended and Restated Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of January 26, 2005, by and among the Company, BCP 1, BCP 2,
BCP 3 and BA Capital Investors Sidecar Fund, L.P. (the "REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT"), each Selling Stockholder agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company and the Company Indemnified Parties (as such term is defined in the
Registration Rights Agreement) as set forth in Article III of the Registration
Rights Agreement. The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders acknowledge
and agree that the Company has agreed to
14
indemnify and hold harmless the Selling Stockholders and their Related Persons
(as such term is defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) as set forth in
Article III of the Registration Rights Agreement.
(e) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation) shall
be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be sought
pursuant to Section 10(a), 10(b) or 10(c) such person (the "INDEMNIFIED PARTY")
shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (the
"INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the indemnifying party, upon request of the
indemnified party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party and any others the
indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the indemnifying party
shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any indemnified party in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for (i) the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in
addition to any local counsel) for the Underwriter and all persons, if any, who
control the Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act or who are affiliates of the
Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (ii) the
fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to any local
counsel) for the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of either such Section and (iii) the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm (in addition to any local counsel) for all Selling Stockholders and all
persons, if any, who control any Selling Stockholder within the meaning of
either such Section, and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as
they are incurred. In the case of any such separate firm for the Underwriter and
such control persons and affiliates of the Underwriter, such firm shall be
designated in writing by the Underwriter. In the case of any such separate firm
for the Company, and such directors, officers and control persons of the
Company, such firm shall be designated in writing by the Company. In the case of
any such separate firm for the Selling Stockholders and such control persons of
any Selling Stockholders, such firm shall be designated in writing by the
Selling Stockholders. The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if
settled with such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against
any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment. No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect
any
15
settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding 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 includes an
unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims
that are the subject matter of such proceeding.
(f) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 10(a), 10(b)
or 10(c) is unavailable to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand
and the Underwriter on the other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if
the allocation provided by clause 10(f)(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 10(f)(i) above but also the relative fault of the
Company and the Selling Stockholders on the one hand and of the Underwriter on
the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the
Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand in
connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares
(before deducting expenses) received by the Selling Stockholders and the total
underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter, in each case
as set forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate
public offering price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company and the
Selling Stockholders on the one hand and the Underwriter on the other hand shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, the Selling
Stockholders or by the Underwriter and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The liability of each Selling Stockholder under the contribution
agreement contained in this paragraph shall be limited to an amount equal to the
total net proceeds received by such Selling Stockholder under this Agreement.
(g) The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriter agree that it
would not be just or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were
determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation that does
not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in Section 10(f).
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding
paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth
above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party
in connection with
16
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 10, the Underwriter shall not be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the
public exceeds the amount of any damages that the 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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 10 are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(h) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this Section 10
and the representations, warranties and other statements of the Company and the
Selling Stockholders contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in
full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii)
any investigation made by or on behalf of the Underwriter, any person
controlling the Underwriter or any affiliate of the Underwriter, any Selling
Stockholder, any person controlling any Selling Stockholder, or by or on behalf
of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the Company
and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the Shares.
11. Termination. The Underwriter may terminate this Agreement by notice
given by you to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, if after the execution
and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading
generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on, or by, as the case
may be, the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National Market, (ii) trading
of the Common Stock shall have been suspended on the New York Stock Exchange,
(iii) a material disruption in securities settlement, payment or clearance
services in the United States shall have occurred, (iv) any moratorium on
commercial banking activities shall have been declared by Federal or New York
State authorities or (v) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of
hostilities, or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis that,
in your judgment, is material and adverse and which singly or together with any
other event specified in this clause (v), makes it, in your judgment,
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the offer, sale or delivery of the
Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Time of Sale
Prospectus or the Prospectus.
12. Effectiveness. This Agreement shall become effective upon the execution
and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriter because of any
failure or refusal on the part of the Company or any of the Selling Stockholders
to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement,
or if for any reason the Company or any of the Selling Stockholders shall be
unable to
17
perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company, in the case of any
failure, refusal or inability to perform on the part of the Company, or such
Selling Stockholder(s), in the case of any failure, refusal or inability to
perform on the part of such Selling Stockholder(s), will reimburse the
Underwriter for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements
of its counsel) reasonably incurred by the Underwriter in connection with this
Agreement or the offering contemplated hereunder.
13. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures
thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
14. Applicable Law; Submission to Jurisdiction; Appointment of Agent for
Service of Process.
(a) This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the internal laws of the State of New York.
(b) Each of the Selling Stockholders irrevocably submits to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of any New York State or United States Federal court
sitting in The City of New York over any suit, action or proceeding arising out
of or relating to this Agreement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or the offering of the Shares. Each of the Selling
Stockholders irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, any
objection which it may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such
suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court and any claim that any such
suit, action or proceeding brought in such a court has been brought in an
inconvenient forum. To the extent that any Selling Stockholder has or hereafter
may acquire any immunity (on the grounds of sovereignty or otherwise) from the
jurisdiction of any court or from any legal process with respect to itself or
its property, each Selling Stockholder irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, such immunity in respect of any such suit, action or
proceeding.
(c) Each of the Selling Stockholders hereby irrevocably appoints National
Registered Agents, Inc., with offices at 875 Avenue of the Americas, Xxxxx 000,
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 as its agent for service of process in any suit, action
or proceeding described in the preceding paragraph and agrees that service of
process in any such suit, action or proceeding may be made upon it at the office
of such agent. Each of the Selling Stockholders waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by law, any other requirements of or objections to personal
jurisdiction with respect thereto. Each of the Selling Stockholder represents
and warrants that such agent has agreed to act as such Selling Stockholder's
agent for service of process, and such Selling Stockholder agrees to take any
and all action, including the filing of any and all documents and instruments,
that may be necessary to continue such appointment in full force and effect.
18
15. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have been
inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part of
this Agreement.
16. Entire Agreement; No Effect on Other Agreements. This Agreement,
together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written
agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the
offering of the Shares, represents the entire agreement between the Company and
the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriter, on the other,
with respect to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus, the Prospectus, the conduct of the offering, and the purchase and
sale of the Shares. The provisions of this Agreement shall not supersede, amend,
terminate or otherwise affect any agreement among the Company and the Selling
Stockholders.
17. No Fiduciary Duty. Each of the Company and Selling Stockholders
acknowledges that in connection with the offering of the Shares: (i) the
Underwriter has acted at arms length, is not an agent of, and owes no fiduciary
duties to, the Company, the Selling Stockholders or any other person, (ii) the
Underwriter owes the Company and the Selling Stockholders only those duties and
obligations set forth in this Agreement and (iii) the Underwriter may have
interests that differ from those of the Company and the Selling Stockholders.
Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholders waives to the full extent
permitted by applicable law any claims it may have against the Underwriter
arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in connection with the offering
of the Shares.
18. Notices. All communications under this Agreement shall be in writing
and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Underwriter, shall be mailed,
delivered or telefaxed to Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, 0000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, attention Xxx Xxxx, with a copy to Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx,
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, fax no. (000) 000-0000, attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Xx.; if sent to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered or
telefaxed to Celanese Corporation, 0000 X. XXX Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 00000, fax
no. (000) 000-0000, attention: General Counsel, with a copy to Simpson, Thacher
& Xxxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, fax no. (212)
000-0000, attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx III; or if sent to the Selling
Stockholders, shall be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to Blackstone Capital
Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 1, Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 2,
Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 3 or Blackstone Management Partners IV
L.L.C., as the case may be, x/x Xxxxxxx, X.X. Xxx 000 GT., Xxxx Street, Xxxxxx
Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands, attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx, with a copy to
Simpson, Thacher & Xxxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000, fax
no. (000) 000-0000, attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx III.
19
[Signature pages follow]
20
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please indicate your
acceptance of this Agreement in the space provided below.
Very truly yours,
CELANESE CORPORATION
By: /s/ Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxxx X. Xxxx
----------------------------------
Title: Executive Vice President
---------------------------------
BLACKSTONE CAPITAL PARTNERS (CAYMAN)
LTD. 1
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxx
----------------------------------
Title: Authorized Person
---------------------------------
BLACKSTONE CAPITAL PARTNERS (CAYMAN)
LTD. 2
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxx
----------------------------------
Title: Authorized Person
---------------------------------
BLACKSTONE CAPITAL PARTNERS (CAYMAN)
LTD. 3
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxx
----------------------------------
Title: Authorized Person
---------------------------------
BLACKSTONE MANAGEMENT PARTNERS IV L.L.C.
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxx
------------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxx
----------------------------------
Title: Authorized Person
---------------------------------
Accepted as of the date hereof
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
By: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
By: /s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
---------------------------------
Name: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
-------------------------------
Title: Executive Director
------------------------------
SCHEDULE I
NUMBER
SELLING STOCKHOLDER OF SHARES
------------------- ----------
Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 1 .. 13,647,620
Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 2 .. 946,501
Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 3 .. 7,420,144
Blackstone Management Partners IV L.L.C ...... 92,332
----------
Total: .................................... 22,106,597
==========
SCHEDULE II
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXXXX XXXXXXX & XXXXXXXX LLP]
EXHIBIT B
[FORM OF OPINION OF WALKERS]
EXHIBIT C
[FORM OF OPINION OF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL COUNSEL AND
CORPORATE SECRETARY OF THE COMPANY]
EXHIBIT D
[FORM OF OPINION OF XXXXX XXXX & XXXXXXXX]
EXHIBIT E
FORM OF LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
May 14, 2007
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The undersigned understands that Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated (the
"Underwriter") proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the
"Underwriting Agreement") with Celanese Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Company" and certain stockholders of the Company (the "Selling Stockholders"),
providing for the public offering (the "Public Offering") by the Underwriter of
shares (the "Common Shares") of the Series A Common Stock, par value $.0001 per
share of the Company (the "Common Stock") to be sold by the Selling Stockholders
identified in the Underwriting Agreement.
To induce the Underwriter to continue its efforts in connection with the
Public Offering, the undersigned hereby agrees that, without the prior written
consent of the Underwriter, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending 30 days after the date of the final prospectus relating
to the Public Offering (the "Prospectus"), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock
or (2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common
Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to
be settled by delivery of Common Stock or other securities, in cash or
otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) distributions of shares
of Common Stock or any security convertible into Common Stock to limited
partners or stockholders of the Selling Stockholders, provided that the
recipients of such Common Stock agree to be bound by the restrictions described
in this Lock-Up Agreement for the remainder of the 30-day period or (B)
transactions by any person other than the Company relating to shares of Common
Stock acquired in open market transactions after the completion of this
offering. In addition, the undersigned agrees that, without the prior written
consent of the Underwriter, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending 30 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any demand
for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of
Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock; provided that, if the undersigned
is a party to the Amended and Restated Registration Rights Agreement, dated as
of January 26, 2005, by and among Blackstone Capital Partners (Cayman) Ltd. 1 et
al., the undersigned may issue to the Company a notice of demand pursuant
thereto so long as no registration statement is filed during such 30-day period.
The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry of stop transfer
instructions with the Company's transfer agent and registrar against the
transfer of the undersigned's shares of Common Stock except in compliance with
the foregoing restrictions.
The undersigned understands that the Company and the Underwriter are
relying upon this Lock-Up Agreement in proceeding toward consummation of the
Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that this Lock-Up Agreement
is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned's heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of
factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to
negotiation between the Company and the Underwriter.
5
Very truly yours,
----------------------------------------
[Name]
---------------------------------
[Address]
------------------------------
6
