OGE ENERGY CORP. (an Oklahoma corporation) __________ Shares of Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT Dated: _______________
Exhibit
1.01
(an
Oklahoma corporation)
__________
Shares of Common Stock, Par Value $0.01 Per Share
FORM OF
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Dated:
_______________
TABLE
OF CONTENTS
PAGE
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SECTION 1.
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REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES
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2
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SECTION 2.
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SALE
AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING
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9
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SECTION 3.
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COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY
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10
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SECTION 4.
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PAYMENT
OF EXPENSES
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13
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SECTION 5.
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CERTAIN
AGREEMENTS OF THE UNDERWRITERS
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14
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SECTION 6.
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CONDITIONS
OF UNDERWRITERS’ OBLIGATIONS
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14
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SECTION 7.
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CONDITIONS
OF COMPANY’S OBLIGATIONS
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18
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SECTION 8.
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INDEMNIFICATION
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19
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SECTION 9.
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CONTRIBUTION
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21
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SECTION 10.
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REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY
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22
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SECTION 11.
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TERMINATION
OF AGREEMENT
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22
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SECTION 12.
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DEFAULT
BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS
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23
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SECTION 13.
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NOTICES
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23
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SECTION 14.
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PARTIES
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24
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SECTION 15.
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GOVERNING
LAW AND TIME
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24
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SECTION 16.
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EFFECT
OF HEADINGS
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24
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SCHEDULES
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Schedule
A
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—
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List
of Underwriters
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A-1
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Schedule
B
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—
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Pricing
Information
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B-1
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Schedule
C
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—
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Time
of Sale Information
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C-1
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Schedule
D
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—
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Information
Provided by Underwriters
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D-1
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Schedule
E
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—
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Form
of Opinion of Xxxxx Day
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E-1
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(AN
OKLAHOMA CORPORATION)
__________
SHARES OF COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE
_______________
To:
|
Ladies
and Gentlemen:
OGE
Energy Corp., an Oklahoma corporation (the “Company”), confirms its
agreement with _______________________________ (the “Representatives”), and each
of the other entities identified on Schedule A hereto as underwriters
(collectively, with the Representatives, the “Underwriters,” which term
includes any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 11
hereof), with respect to the issue and sale by the Company and the purchase by
the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of an aggregate of
______________ shares (the “Firm Shares”) and at the
election of the Underwriters an aggregate of up to ______________ shares (the
“Option Shares”) of
common stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the Company, in each case including
the associated Series A preferred stock purchase rights (the “Common
Stock”). The Firm Shares and the Option Shares that the
Underwriters elect to purchase pursuant to Section 2 are hereinafter
collectively called the “Shares.”
The
Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of
the Shares as soon as they deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed
and delivered.
The
Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a joint
registration statement with Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company on Form S-3
(File No. 333-________) covering the registration of an indeterminate
amount of common stock and debt securities of the Company under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the “1933 Act”). Such
registration statement was effective upon filing on _____________. Such
registration statement, including the information, if any, deemed pursuant to
Rule 430A, 430B or 430C of the rules and regulations of the Commission
under the 1933 Act (the “1933
Act Regulations”) to be part of the registration statement at the time of
its effectiveness (“Rule
430
Information”) are collectively referred to herein as the “Registration Statement.” As
used herein, the term “Preliminary Prospectus”
means the preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Shares dated
_____________, including the accompanying prospectus of the Company dated
____________, and the term “Prospectus” means the
prospectus in the form provided by the Company for use (or made available upon
request of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the 0000 Xxx) in
connection with confirmation of sales of the Shares. Any registration statement
filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein
referred to as the “Rule
462(b) Registration
Statement,” and after such filing the term “Registration Statement”
shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Any reference in this
Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to
and
include all amendments made by the Company prior to the Time of Sale (defined
below) and all documents filed by the Company with the Commission and
incorporated by reference therein. For purposes of this Agreement, all
references to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be
deemed to include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“XXXXX”).
All
references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other
information which is “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or other references of
like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such financial statements
and schedules and other information which is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the
case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “1934 Act”) which is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.
At or
prior to ____:____ [a.m./p.m.] on _____________, the time when sales of the
Shares were first made on the date of this Agreement (the “Time of Sale”), the Company
had prepared the following information (collectively, the “Time of Sale Information”):
the Preliminary Prospectus, the pricing information set forth on Schedule C
hereto and each “free-writing prospectus” (as defined pursuant to Rule 405
under the 1933 Act Regulations) listed on Schedule C hereto.
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS
AND WARRANTIES.
(a) Representations and Warranties by
the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter as
of the date hereof and as of each Closing Time (as defined in Section 2(b)
hereof), and agrees with each Underwriter, as follows:
(i) Compliance with Registration
Requirements. With respect to the Registration Statement, (A) the
Registration Statement is an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as
defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act), (B) the Company has not received
from the Commission any notice pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) of the 1933 Act
objecting to the use of the automatic shelf registration statement and
(C) the conditions for use of Form S-3, as set forth in the General
Instructions thereof, have been satisfied.
At the
respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became effective (and, if
later, at the time of filing of the Company’s annual report on Form 10-K)
and at the Closing Time, the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto complied and
will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and
the 1933 Act Regulations and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the
“1939 Act”), and the
rules and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the “1939 Act Regulations”), and
did not and will not contain an
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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.
Neither the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time
the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing
Time, included or will include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
or will 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. The Preliminary Prospectus, as of its date, did not contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to
(A) that part of the Registration Statement which constitutes the Statement
of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the 1939 Act of the
Trustee, (B) information contained in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus relating to The Depository Trust
Company and its book-entry system, or (C) statements in or omissions from
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus made in
reliance upon and in conformity with the information furnished to the Company in
writing by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Preliminary Prospectus, which
information is set forth on Schedule D hereto.
The
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus filed as part of the Registration
Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
pursuant to Rule 424 of the 1933 Act Regulations (“Rule 424”), complied when so filed
in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations, and the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in
connection with this offering were identical to the electronically transmitted
copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except to the extent
permitted by Regulation S-T.
(ii) Time of Sale Information. The
Time of Sale Information, at the Time of Sale did not, and at the Closing Time
will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to
(A) information contained in the Time of Sale Information relating to The
Depository Trust Company and its book-entry system or (B) statements in or
omissions from the Time of Sale Information made in reliance upon and in
conformity with the information furnished to the Company in writing by any
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Time of Sale
Information, which information is set forth on Schedule D
hereto.
(iii) Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus. Other than the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus, the
Company (including its agents and representatives, other than the Underwriters
in their capacity as such) has not made, used, prepared, authorized, approved or
referred to and will not prepare, make, use, authorize, approve or refer to any
“written communication” (as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act
Regulations) that constitutes an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to
buy the Shares (each such
-3-
communication
by the Company or its agents and representatives (other than a communication
referred to in clause (i) below) an “Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus”) other than (i) any document not constituting a
prospectus pursuant to Section 2(a)(10)(a) of the 1933 Act or Rule 134
of the 1933 Act Regulations or (ii) the Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, if any, listed on Schedule C hereto or communications
(including electronic communications) containing substantially similar
information and other written communications approved in writing in advance by
the Representatives. Each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus complied in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the 1933 Act, has
been or will be filed in accordance with the 1933 Act Regulations (to the
extent required thereby) and, when taken together with the Preliminary
Prospectus filed prior to the first use of such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus,
did not, and at the Closing Time will not, contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided that the Company
makes no representation and warranty with respect to any statements or omissions
made in each such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in
conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company
in writing by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus.
(iv) Incorporated Documents. The
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, at the
time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied and will
comply in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the
1933 Act Regulations or the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder (the “1934 Act Regulations”), as
applicable, and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus
or the Time of Sale Information, at the time the Registration Statement became
effective (and, if later, at the time of filing of the Company’s annual report
on Form 10-K), at the time the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information
was issued and at each Closing Time, did not and will not contain an untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading.
(v) Independent Accountants.
Ernst & Young LLP, the accountants who examined and audited the
financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration
Statement, is an independent registered public accounting firm as required by
the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the Public Company Accounting
Oversight Board (United States).
(vi) Financial Statements. The
financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, together with the
related schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of the
Company and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the results
of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
(“GAAP”)
applied
-4-
on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as otherwise stated in
the notes thereto. The supporting schedules, if any, included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement present fairly in accordance with GAAP
the information required to be stated therein. The summary or selected financial
information included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the Time
of Sale Information presents fairly the information shown therein and has been
compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement. The Company
has no material contingent obligation which is not disclosed in the Prospectus
and the Time of Sale Information.
(vii) No Material Adverse Change.
Since the respective dates as of which information is given or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the
Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, results of operations, properties, business affairs or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”),
(B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Company, other than
those in the ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the
Company and its subsidiaries taken as a whole, and (C) except for regular
quarterly dividends on the Common Stock, par value $0.01 per share, of the
Company in amounts consistent with past practice, there has been no dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of
its capital stock.
(viii) Good Standing of the Company.
The Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of the State of Oklahoma and has corporate power
and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its
obligations under this Agreement; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each other
jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of the
ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where the
failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(ix) Good Standing of the Company’s
Subsidiaries. Each subsidiary of the Company named in Exhibit 21.01
to the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K (each “Significant Subsidiary”) has
been duly organized and is validly existing and in good standing under the laws
of the jurisdiction of its organization and is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases
substantial properties or in which the conduct of its business requires such
qualification, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The equity interests of each
subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, are owned
free and clear of any pledge, lien, encumbrance, or claim, except as disclosed
in the Registration Statement.
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(x) Capitalization. The
authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as stated in
the Registration Statement, Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information. The
shares of issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company have been duly and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.
(xi) Authorization of Agreement.
This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company.
(xii) Authorization of the Shares.
The Shares have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this
Agreement and, when issued and delivered against payment of the purchase price
therefor as provided in this Agreement, will be duly authorized, validly issued
and fully paid and nonassessable. Shareholders of the Company will
have no preemptive rights with respect to the issuance of the
Shares.
(xiii) Description of the Common
Stock. The Common Stock will conform in all material respects to the
description contained in the Prospectus and the Time of Sale
Information.
(xv) Absence of Defaults and
Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary is
(i) in violation of its charter or by-laws or similar organizational
documents, (ii) in default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or
other agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it may be
bound, or to which any of its property or assets is subject (collectively, “Agreements and Instruments”)
or (iii) except as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
and the Time of Sale Information, in violation of any law, ordinance,
governmental rule, regulation or court decree to which it or its property or
assets may be subject except in the case of (ii) and (iii) for such defaults or
violations that would not reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect; and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
issuance and delivery of the Shares, and the consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the
Time of Sale Information (including the issuance and sale of the Shares and the
use of the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as described in the Prospectus
under the caption “Use of
Proceeds”) and compliance by the Company with its obligations hereunder
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and do not and will
not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default or Repayment Event (as
defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and Instruments (except for
such conflicts, breaches, defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would
not result in a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any
violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws or similar organizational
documents of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any applicable law,
statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any government,
government instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction
over the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or any of their assets,
properties or operations. As used herein, a “Repayment Event” means any
event or
-6-
condition
which gives 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 Significant Subsidiary, other than such events or conditions
that are contemplated by the terms of this Agreement.
(xvi) Absence of Proceedings. Other
than as disclosed in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of
Sale Information, there is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation
before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or
foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, against
or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries, which is required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement or which might reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to
materially and adversely affect the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the Company of its
obligations hereunder. The aggregate of all pending legal or governmental
proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of
which any of its property or assets is the subject which are not described in
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information
including ordinary routine litigation incidental to its business, could not
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xvii) Accuracy of Exhibits. There
are no contracts or documents which are required to be described in the
Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information, the Prospectus or the
documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as exhibits thereto
which have not been so described or filed as required.
(xviii) Absence of Further
Requirements. No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent,
license, order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or
governmental authority or agency is necessary or required for the performance by
the Company of its obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering,
issuance or sale of the Shares hereunder or the consummation of the transactions
contemplated by this Agreement and the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
and the Time of Sale Information, except such as have been already
obtained.
(xix) Possession of Licenses and
Permits. The Company and its subsidiaries possess such permits, licenses,
approvals, consents, franchises and other authorizations issued by the
appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct in all material respects the business now operated by them
and as described in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and
Prospectus, except where the failure so to possess such permit, license,
approval, consent or authorization would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”); the
Company and each subsidiary is in compliance with the terms and conditions of
all such Governmental Licenses, except where the failure so to comply would not,
singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect; all of the
Governmental Licenses are in full force and effect, except where the invalidity
of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such
Governmental
-7-
Licenses
to be in full force and effect would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and
neither the Company nor any subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings
relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental Licenses
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(xx) Title to Property. The
Company and its subsidiaries have good and sufficient title to all real
property, principal plants and all other property owned by them and which is
material to the Company’s and its subsidiaries’ operations taken as a whole, in
each case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests,
claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (a) are
described in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Time of Sale Information
or (b) do not, singly or in the aggregate, materially affect the value of
such property and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of
such property by the Company or its subsidiaries; and all of the leases and
subleases material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries taken as
a whole, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds properties
described in the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and neither the
Company nor any subsidiary has notice of any material claim of any sort that has
been asserted by anyone adverse to the rights of the Company or any subsidiary
under any of the leases or subleases mentioned above, or affecting or
questioning the rights of the Company or any subsidiary to the continued
possession of the leased or subleased premises under any such lease or
sublease.
(xxi) Taxes. The Company and its
subsidiaries have filed all federal, state and local income and franchise tax
returns required to be filed through the date hereof (other than those filings
being contested in good faith) and have paid all taxes of which they have notice
are due thereon (other than those being contested in good faith and for which
adequate reserves have been provided without penalty or interest), and no tax
deficiency has been determined adversely to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries which has had (nor does the Company nor any subsidiary have any
knowledge of any tax deficiency which, if determined adversely to the Company or
any of its subsidiaries, might have) a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxii) No Stabilization. The Company
has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could
reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation
of the price of the Common Stock; provided, however, that this
paragraph shall not apply to, and the Company does not accept any responsibility
for, any stabilization activities conducted by the Underwriters, who shall
remain solely responsible for such activities.
(xxiii) Status under the 1933 Act.
The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” as defined under the 1933 Act at the
times specified in the 1933 Act in connection with the offering of the
Shares.
-8-
(b)
Officer’s
Certificates. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to any Underwriter or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed
a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the
matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. SALE
AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING.
(a)
Agreements to Sell
and Purchase. On the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, (i) the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter listed on
Schedule A, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter listed on
Schedule A, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company,
at a purchase price of $_____ per share, the total number of Firm Shares set
forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any
additional number of Shares which such Underwriter may become obligated to
purchase pursuant to the provisions of Section 12 hereof, and (ii) in
the event and to the extent that the Underwriters shall exercise the election to
purchase Option Shares as hereinafter provided in this Section 2, the
Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter listed on Schedule A, severally
and not jointly, and each Underwriter listed on Schedule A, severally and
not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per
share set forth in clause (i) of this sentence, the number of Option Shares
(adjusted by the Representatives so as to eliminate fractional shares)
determined by multiplying the total number of Option Shares to be purchased by
the Underwriters as set forth in the notice referred to below by a fraction, the
numerator of which is the number of Firm Shares to be purchased by such
Underwriter as set forth set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such
Underwriter and the denominator of which is the total number of Firm Shares. The
Underwriters agree to offer the Shares to the public as set forth in the
Prospectus.
The
Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the option to purchase, at their
election, up to ______________ of the Option Shares, at the purchase price per
share specified in the first paragraph of this Section 2, for the sole
purpose of covering over-allotments in the sale of the Firm Shares. Such
election may be exercised only by written notice from the Representatives to the
Company given within the period of 30 calendar days after the date of this
Agreement, which notice shall set forth the aggregate number of Option Shares to
be purchased and the date on which such Option Shares are to be delivered, as
determined by the Representatives (but in no event earlier than the First
Closing Time, as defined in paragraph (b) or, unless the Representatives
and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than 10
business days after the date of such notice).
(b)
Payment. Payment of the
purchase price for, and delivery of, the Firm Shares shall be made at the
offices of _________________________, or at such other place as shall be agreed
upon by the Representatives and the Company, at 9:00 a.m. (________ time)
on the third business day after the date hereof (unless postponed in accordance
with the provisions of Section 12), or such other time not later than ten
business days after such date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and
the Company. The payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of,
Option Shares shall be made at the place, date and time specified by the
Representatives in the written notice of election given by the Representatives
pursuant to Section 2(a) or such other time as shall be agreed upon by the
Representatives and the Company. Such time and date of payment for
and delivery of the Firm Shares is hereinafter called the
-9-
“First Closing Time”; such
time and date of payment for and delivery of Option Shares, if not the First
Closing Time, is hereinafter called an “Option Closing Time”; and
each such time and date is hereinafter called a “Closing Time.”
Payment
shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately available funds to
a bank account designated by the Company, against delivery to the
Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of the
Shares. It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the
Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make
payment of the purchase price for, the Shares which it has agreed to purchase.
The Representatives, individually and not as representatives of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase
price for the Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not
been received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall not relieve such
Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.
(c) Delivery; Registration. The
Shares will be registered in the names of the Underwriters and in the amounts
set forth in Schedule A hereto, except that if the Company receives a
written request from the Representatives prior to noon on the second business
day preceding the Closing Time giving the names in which the Shares are to be
registered and the denominations thereof, the Company will deliver the Shares so
registered.
(d) No Fiduciary Duty. The
Company acknowledges and agrees that the Underwriters are acting solely in the
capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect
to the offering of the Shares contemplated hereby (including in connection with
determining the terms of the offering) and not as a financial advisor or a
fiduciary to, or an agent of, the Company or any other person. Additionally,
neither the Representatives nor any other Underwriter is advising the Company or
any other person as to any legal, tax, accounting or regulatory matters in any
jurisdiction. The Company shall consult with its own advisors concerning such
matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent investigation
and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and, except as otherwise
contemplated in this Agreement, the Underwriters shall have no responsibility or
liability to the Company with respect thereto. Any review by the Underwriters of
the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to
such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters
and shall not be on behalf of the Company.
SECTION 3. COVENANTS
OF THE COMPANY.
The
Company covenants with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Securities
Regulations and Commission Requests. The Company, subject to
Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of Rule 424 and will
notify the Underwriters promptly, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) of
the effectiveness of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement,
or of the filing of any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus,
or of any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, (ii) of the receipt of any
comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request by the Commission for
any amendment to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to
the Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or for additional
information, (iv) of the issuance by the
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Commission
of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, or
of receipt from the Commission of any notice of objection to the use of the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to
Rule 401(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, or of the suspension of the
qualification of the Shares for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or of the
initiation or threatening of any proceedings for any of such purposes or
pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act, and (v) of the occurrence
of any event within the Prospectus Delivery Period (as defined in
Section 3(d) below) as a result of which the Prospectus, the Time of Sale
Information or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus as then amended or
supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the
Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information or any such Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading. The Company will file
the final Prospectus with the Commission within the time periods specified by
Rule 424(b) and Rule 403A, 430B or 430C under the 1933 Act, will file
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to the extent required by Rule 433 under
the 1933 Act and will take such steps as it deems necessary to ascertain
promptly whether the form of prospectus or Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) or Rule 433, as applicable,
was received for filing by the Commission and, in the event that it was not, it
will promptly file such prospectus. The Company will make every reasonable
effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is
issued, or notice of objection is received, to obtain the lifting or removal
thereof at the earliest possible moment.
(b) Filing of Amendments; Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus. Prior to the later of the final Closing Time or the
termination of the Prospectus Delivery Period, before preparing, using,
authorizing, approving, referring to or filing any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, and before filing any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus, the Company will furnish to the Representatives and
counsel for the Underwriters a copy of the proposed Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, amendment or supplement for review and prior to the later of the
final Closing Time or the termination of the Prospectus Delivery Period, will
not prepare, use, authorize, approve, refer to or file any such Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or file any such proposed amendment or supplement to which
the Representatives reasonably object.
(c) Delivery of Registration
Statements. The Company has furnished or will deliver to the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, signed copies
of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto
(including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by reference therein and
documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) and
signed copies of all consents and certificates of experts, in such number as the
Representatives reasonably request, and will also deliver to the
Representatives, without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement
as originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each of
the Underwriters. The copies of the Registration Statement and each amendment
thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except
to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
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(d) Delivery of Prospectuses. The
Company has delivered to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of the
Preliminary Prospectus and documents incorporated by reference therein as such
Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Company hereby consents to the use of
such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act. During the Prospectus
Delivery Period, the Company will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge,
such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) and
documents incorporated by reference therein and each Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus as such Underwriter may reasonably request. The Prospectus, each
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto
furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the electronically
transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except
to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. As used herein, the term “Prospectus Delivery Period”
means such period of time after the first date of the public offering of the
Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus relating
to the Shares is required by law to be delivered (or required to be delivered
but for Rule 172 under the 0000 Xxx) in connection with sales of the Shares
by any Underwriter or dealer. The Representatives, on behalf of the
Underwriters, shall promptly notify the Company after the Prospectus Delivery
Period has been terminated.
(e) Continued Compliance with Securities
Laws. The Company will comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
Regulations, the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the
1939 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution of the
Shares as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus. If at any time
during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any event occurs or condition exists as a
result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters
or for the Company, to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement
the Prospectus or Time of Sale Information in order that the Registration
Statement, Prospectus or Time of Sale Information, as applicable, will not
include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it
is delivered to a purchaser, or if it is necessary, in the opinion of such
counsel, at any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or
supplement the Prospectus or Time of Sale Information in order to comply with
the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, the Company will
promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to Section 3(b),
such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct such statement or
omission or to make the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or Time of Sale
Information comply with such requirements, and the Company will furnish to the
Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as the
Underwriters may reasonably request.
(f) Rule 158. The Company will timely
file such reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make
generally available to its securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings
statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the
last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.
(g) Use of Proceeds. The Company
will use the net proceeds received by it from the sale of the Shares in the
manner specified in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Time of
Sale Information under “Use of Proceeds.”
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(h) Restriction on Sale of
Securities. During the period beginning on the date of this Agreement and
continuing until ________________, the Company will not, without the prior
written consent of the Representatives, in their sole discretion, directly or
indirectly, issue, sell, offer or contract to sell, grant any option for the
sale of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any Common Stock of the Company
(except pursuant to its dividend reinvestment plan, its employee benefit plans
or pursuant to prior contractual commitments that have been disclosed to the
Representatives).
(i) Listing of Shares. The
Company will use its best efforts to list, subject to notice of issuance, the
Shares on the New York Stock Exchange.
(j) Blue Sky Qualifications. The
Company will furnish such information, execute such instruments and take such
action as may be required to qualify the Shares for sale under the laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and will maintain such
qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of the Shares;
provided that the
Company shall not be required to qualify to do business in any jurisdiction
where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to
general or unlimited service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now
so subject.
(k) Record Retention. The Company
will, pursuant to reasonable procedures developed in good faith, retain, as and
to the extent required under Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations, copies
of each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus that is not filed with the Commission in
accordance with Rule 433 of the 1933 Act Regulations.
(l) No Stabilization. The Company
will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that could
reasonably be expected to cause or result in any stabilization or manipulation
of the price of the Shares; provided, however, that this
paragraph shall not apply to, and the Company does not accept any responsibility
for, any stabilization activities conducted by the Underwriters, who shall
remain solely responsible for such activities.
SECTION 4. PAYMENT
OF EXPENSES.
(a) Expenses. Whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereunder are consummated or this Agreement is
terminated, the Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing
and filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and
exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any
Agreement among Underwriters, and such other documents as may be reasonably
required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery
of the Shares, (iii) all costs, taxes and expenses incident to the
preparation, issuance and delivery of the Shares to the Underwriters,
(iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company’s counsel
and accountants, (v) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vi) all
costs and expenses (including reasonable fees and expenses of counsel) incurred
in connection with “blue sky” qualifications, and (vii) all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the listing of the Shares on the New York
Stock Exchange.
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(b) Termination of Agreement. If
this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in accordance with the
provisions of Section 6 or Section 11(a)(i) hereof or in accordance
with Section 7 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all
of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters. If this Agreement is terminated
by the Underwriters in accordance with the provisions of Section 11(a)(ii)
through (v) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for one half of
all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
SECTION 5. CERTAIN
AGREEMENTS OF THE UNDERWRITERS.
Each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, hereby represents and agrees as
follows:
(a) Without
the prior consent of the Company and the Representatives, other than
(i) any free writing prospectus that contains only information describing
the preliminary terms of the Shares or their offering or (ii) any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule C or prepared pursuant to
Section 1(a)(iii) or Section 3(b) above, it has not made and will not
make any offer relating to the Shares that would constitute a “free writing
prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the 1933 Act, required to be filed
with the SEC.
(b) It
is not subject to any pending proceeding under Section 8A of the 1933 Act
Regulations with respect to the offering (and will promptly notify the Company
if any such proceeding against it is initiated).
SECTION 6. CONDITIONS
OF UNDERWRITERS’ OBLIGATIONS.
The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the Shares to be delivered
at each Closing Time are subject to the accuracy of the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 hereof and in certificates
of any officer of the Company delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to
the performance by the Company of its covenants and other obligations hereunder
and to the following further conditions:
(a) Effectiveness of Registration
Statement; Filing of Prospectus. At each Closing Time, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been
issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor or pursuant to Section 8A
of the 1933 Act initiated or threatened by the Commission, no notice of
objection by the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the 1933
Act shall have been received by the Company and not removed by such date, and
any request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the
Underwriters. The Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus shall have
been timely filed with the Commission under the 1933 Act (in the case of a
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, to the extent required by Rule 433 under
the 0000 Xxx) and in accordance with Section 3(b) hereof; and all requests
by the Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to
the reasonable satisfaction of the Representatives.
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(b) Opinions of Counsel for
Company. At each Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received
the favorable opinions, dated as of such Closing Time, of The Xxxxxx Law
Firm, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Xxxxx Day, Chicago, Illinois, each
counsel for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
Underwriters, together with signed original or reproduced copies of such
opinions for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth below and to
such further effect as counsel to the Underwriters may reasonably
request.
(i) Opinion of Oklahoma
Counsel.
(A) the
Company is a legally existing corporation and is in good standing under the laws
of the State of Oklahoma and has corporate power, right and authority to do
business and to own property in the State of Oklahoma in the manner and as set
forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Time of Sale
Information;
(B) each
Significant Subsidiary is legally existing and is in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its organization and has the power, right and
authority to do business and to own property in its respective jurisdictions in
the manner and as set forth in the Registration Statement, Prospectus and Time
of Sale Information;
(C) The
issue and sale of the Shares by the Company in accordance with the terms of this
Agreement have been duly and validly authorized by all necessary corporate
action; the Shares, when registered and delivered to and paid for by the
Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, will constitute Common Stock
which has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and
non-assessable and has not been issued in violation of the preemptive
rights of any shareholder of the Company; and the Common Stock conforms as to
legal matters with the statements concerning it made in the Prospectus, and such
statements accurately set forth the matters respecting the Common Stock required
to be set forth in the Prospectus;
(D) while,
except as otherwise stated in said opinion, such counsel are not passing upon
and do not assume responsibility for and shall not be deemed to have
independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Information, nothing
has come to the attention of such counsel that would lead them to believe that
the Registration Statement at the time it became effective contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or
that the Time of Sale Information, at the Time of Sale (which such counsel may
assume to be the date of this Agreement or as otherwise agreed by such counsel
and the Underwriters) contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or
that the Prospectus
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at the
time it was filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act or at such
Closing Time contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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;
(E) this
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company;
(F) such
counsel does not know of any legal or governmental proceedings required to be
described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and Time of Sale
Information which are not described as required, nor of any contracts or
documents of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and Time of Sale Information or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement which are not described and filed as
required;
(G) the
Shares conform in all material respects to the statements concerning them in the
Registration Statement, Prospectus and Time of Sale Information;
(H) all
statements contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information
and Prospectus purporting to set forth the advice or the opinion of such counsel
or to be based upon the opinion of such counsel correctly set forth the opinion
of such counsel on such respective matters; and
(I) the
execution and delivery of this Agreement and the issuance of the Shares, under
the circumstances contemplated hereby and thereby, do not and will not violate
the charter or by-laws or similar organizational documents of the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary, or in any material respect conflict with or constitute
on the part of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary a breach of or default
under any indenture, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note, agreement or other
instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or such Significant
Subsidiary is a party or any law, regulation, consent decree or administrative,
arbitration or court order known to such counsel to which the Company or such
Significant Subsidiary is subject;
(ii) Opinion of Xxxxx Day. Such
opinion shall cover the matters set forth in the form attached hereto as
Schedule E.
(c) Opinion of Counsel for
Underwriters. At each Closing Time, the Representatives shall have
received the favorable opinion, dated as of such Closing Time, of Xxxxxxx and
Xxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed original or
reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters with respect
to such matters related to the issuance and sale of the Shares as the
Underwriters may reasonably require, and the Company shall have furnished to
such counsel such documents as they request for the purpose of enabling them to
pass upon such matters. In giving such opinion such counsel may rely, as to all
matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the law of the State of
Illinois and the federal law of the
-00-
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx, upon the opinions of Oklahoma counsel or other counsel satisfactory to
the Underwriters.
(d) Officers’ Certificate. At
each Closing Time, the Underwriters shall have received a certificate of the
chief executive officer or a vice president of the Company and of the chief
financial or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing
Time, to the effect that (i) there shall not have been, since the date
hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus and the Time of Sale Information, any material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, results of operations,
properties, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, (ii) the representations and warranties in this Agreement are
true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and
as of such Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements
and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to such Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued, no proceedings for
that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the 1933 Act have been instituted
or are pending or, to their knowledge, are contemplated by the Commission and no
notice of objection by the Commission to the use of the Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule 401(g)(2) under the
1933 Act shall have been received by the Company and not removed by such
date.
(e) Accountants’ Comfort Letter.
At the time of the execution of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have
received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, dated such date, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, together with signed
original or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters,
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 or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the
Prospectus.
(f) Bring-down Comfort Letter. At
each Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received from Ernst &
Young LLP a letter, dated as of such Closing Time, together with signed original
or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters, to the
effect that Ernst & Young LLP reaffirms the statements made in the
letter furnished pursuant to subsection (e) of this Section, except that
the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business days
prior to such Closing Time.
(g) Material Adverse Change.
(i) Since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus, the
Company shall not have sustained any loss or interference with its business from
fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance,
or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree,
otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Time of Sale Information and
the Prospectus or (ii) since the date hereof or since the respective dates
as of which information is given in the Time of Sale Information and the
Prospectus there shall not have been any material change in the capital stock or
long-term debt of the Company or any change, or any development involving a
prospective change, in or affecting the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, results of operations, properties, management,
business
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affairs
or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the ordinary
course of business, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Time of
Sale Information and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case
described in clause (i) or (ii), is, in the judgment of the
Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the Shares
being delivered at each Closing Time on the terms and in the manner contemplated
in the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus.
(h) Listing of Shares. The Shares
to be delivered at such Closing Time shall have been duly approved for listing
on the New York Stock Exchange subject to official notice of
issuance.
(i) Additional Documents. At each
Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such
documents and opinions as they may require for the purpose of enabling them to
pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as herein contemplated, or in
order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or
the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings
taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares as
herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the
Underwriters and counsel for the Underwriters.
(j) Termination of Agreement. If
any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled when and
as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Underwriters by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to each Closing
Time, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other
party except as provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 8, 9
and 10 shall survive any such termination and remain in full force and
effect.
In giving
the opinions contemplated by paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 6,
counsel may rely upon certificates of state officials as to the Company’s and
its Significant Subsidiaries’ good standing and upon certificates of officers of
the Company as to matters of fact relevant to such opinions. In giving such
opinions, counsel may assume (i) that the Shares have been registered by an
authorized official of the Transfer Agent and Registrar, (ii) that the
signatures on all documents examined by them are genuine, and (iii) that
the written information supplied by the Underwriters expressly for use in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus is adequate.
SECTION 7. CONDITIONS
OF COMPANY’S OBLIGATIONS.
The
obligation of the Company to deliver the Shares at each Closing Time upon
payment therefor shall be subject to the following conditions:
At such
Closing Time, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall be in effect, no proceedings for that purpose or pursuant to
Section 8A of the 1933 Act shall then be pending before, or threatened by,
the Commission and no notice of objection by the Commission to the use of the
Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to
Rule 401(g)(2) under the 1933 Act shall have been received by the Company
and not removed by such date.
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In case
any of the conditions specified above in this Section 7 shall not have been
fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company by delivering written
notice of termination to the Underwriters. Any such termination shall be without
liability of any party to any other party except to the extent provided in
Section 4 hereof and except that Sections 1, 8, 9 and 10 shall survive
any such termination and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) The
Company shall indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its affiliates,
directors and officers and each person who controls such Underwriter within the
meaning of the 1933 Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability,
joint or several, or any action in respect thereof (including, but not limited
to, any loss, claim, damage, liability or action relating to purchases and sales
of Shares), to which that Underwriter or controlling person may become subject,
under the 1933 Act or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action arises out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information or the
Registration Statement or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or
(ii) the omission or alleged omission to state in the Prospectus, any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information or the
Registration Statement, or in any amendment or supplement thereto, any material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, and shall reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling
person promptly upon demand for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by that Underwriter or controlling person in connection with investigating or
defending or preparing to defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability
or action as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage, liability or action arises out of, or is based upon, any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in
the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale
Information or the Registration Statement, or in any such amendment or
supplement, in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
concerning such Underwriter furnished to the Company through the Representatives
by or on behalf of any Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein which
information consists solely of the information specified in Schedule D. The
foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which the Company
may otherwise have to any Underwriter or to any officer, employee or controlling
person of that Underwriter.
(b) Each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, each of its
directors and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of the 1933 Act, from and against any loss, claim, damage or liability, joint or
several, or any action in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such
director, officer or controlling person may become subject, under the 1933 Act
or otherwise, insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or action arises
out of, or is based upon, (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Prospectus, any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or any Time of Sale Information or the Registration Statement
or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) the omission or alleged
omission to state in the Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or any
Time of Sale Information or the Registration Statement, or in any amendment or
supplement thereto, any
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material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information concerning such Underwriter
furnished to the Company through the Representatives by or on behalf of that
Underwriter specifically for inclusion therein, and shall reimburse the Company
and any such director, officer or controlling person for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with investigating or defending or preparing to
defend against any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action as such
expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such
information consists of the information set forth on Schedule D. The
foregoing indemnity agreement is in addition to any liability which any
Underwriter may otherwise have to the Company or any such director, officer or
controlling person.
(c) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of any
claim or the commencement of any action, the indemnified party shall, if a claim
in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this
Section 8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the claim or the
commencement of that action; provided, however, that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have under this Section 8 except to the extent it has been
materially prejudiced by such failure and, provided, further, that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
which it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under this
Section 8. If any such claim or action shall be brought against an
indemnified party, and it shall notify the indemnifying party thereof, the
indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent
that it wishes, jointly with any other similarly notified indemnifying party, to
assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party. After notice from the indemnifying party to the indemnified
party of its election to assume the defense of such claim or action, the
indemnifying party shall not be liable to the indemnified party under this
Section 8 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by the
indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable
costs of investigation; provided, however, that the
Representatives shall have the right to employ counsel to represent jointly the
Representatives and those other Underwriters and their respective controlling
persons who may be subject to liability arising out of any claim in respect of
which indemnity may be sought by the Underwriters against the Company under this
Section 8 if, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, the
Representatives shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses
available to them and the other Underwriters that are different from or in
addition to those available to the indemnifying party, and in that event the
fees and expenses of such separate counsel shall be paid by the Company (provided that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the fees and expenses of more than
one separate counsel and one local counsel). No indemnifying party shall
(i) without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties (which
consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), settle or compromise or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim,
action, suit or proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution
may be sought hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or
potential parties to such claim or action) unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not
include any statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure
to act, by or on
-20-
behalf of
any indemnified party, or (ii) be liable for any settlement of any such
action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld), but if settled with the consent of the indemnifying
party or if there be a final judgment of the plaintiff in any such action, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or
judgment.
SECTION 9. CONTRIBUTION.
If the
indemnification provided for in Section 8 shall for any reason be
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 8(a) or 8(b) in respect of any loss, claim, damage or liability, or
any action in respect thereof, referred to therein, then each indemnifying party
shall, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, contribute to the amount
paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such loss, claim,
damage or liability, or action in respect thereof, (i) in such proportion
as shall be appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company
on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the
Shares to which such liability relates 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 Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other with respect to the statements or omissions
which resulted in such loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other with respect to such offering shall be deemed to be in the same proportion
as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Shares to which such
liability relates purchased under this Agreement (before deducting expenses)
received by the Company, on the one hand, and the total underwriting discount
received by the Underwriters with respect to the Shares to which such liability
relates purchased under this Agreement, on the other hand, bear to the total
gross proceeds from the offering of such Shares under this Agreement, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative
fault shall be determined by reference to whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material
fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters, the
intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this Section were to be 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 into account the equitable
considerations referred to herein. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the loss, claim, damage or liability, or action in respect
thereof, referred to above in this Section shall be deemed to include, for
purposes of this Section, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section with respect to
Shares to which liability relates, no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
such Shares to which such liability relates underwritten by it and distributed
to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which
such Underwriter has otherwise paid or become liable to pay with respect to
Shares by reason of any untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
-21-
misrepresentation
(within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 0000 Xxx) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute as provided in
this Section 9 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations with respect to Shares and not joint.
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SECTION 10.
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REPRESENTATIONS,
WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE
DELIVERY.
|
All
representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in
certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto shall remain
operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by
or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the
Company, and shall survive delivery of the Shares to the
Underwriters.
SECTION 11. TERMINATION
OF AGREEMENT.
(a) Termination; General. This
Agreement may be terminated in the absolute discretion of the Representatives,
by notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Time if:
(i) there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any
loss sustained by the Company by strike, fire, flood, accident or other calamity
of such character as to interfere materially with the conduct of the business
and operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have
been insured, or any material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, results of operations, properties, business
affairs or business prospects of the Company, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business, (ii) trading in securities generally on the
New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market or in the
over-the-counter market, or trading in any securities of the Company or any
subsidiary on any exchange or in the over-the-counter market, shall have been
suspended or minimum prices shall have been established on any such exchange or
such market by the Commission, by such exchange or by any other regulatory body
or governmental authority having jurisdiction, (iii) a banking moratorium
shall have been declared by federal or state authorities or there is a material
disruption in securities settlement or clearance services in the United States,
(iv) since the time of the execution of this Agreement, the United States
shall have become engaged in hostilities, there shall have been an escalation in
hostilities involving the United States or there shall have been a declaration
of a national emergency or war by the United States, (v) there shall have
occurred any calamity or crisis or such a material adverse change in general
economic, political or financial conditions (or the effect of international
conditions on the financial markets in the United States shall be such) as to
make it, in the judgment of the Representatives impracticable or inadvisable to
proceed with the public offering, sale or delivery of the Shares being delivered
at such Closing Time on the terms and in the manner contemplated by this
Agreement, the Time of Sale Information and in the Prospectus or (vi) the
representations in Section 1(a)(ii) are incorrect in any
respect.
(b) Liabilities. If this
Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such termination shall be
without liability of any party to any other party except as provided
in
-22-
Section 4
hereof, and provided,
further, that Sections 1, 8, 9 and 10 shall survive such termination
and remain in full force and effect.
SECTION 12. DEFAULT
BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS.
(a) If
one or more of the Underwriters set forth in Schedule A fails at any
Closing Time to purchase the Shares which it or they are obligated to purchase
under this Agreement at such Closing Time (the “Defaulted Shares”), the
remaining Underwriter or Underwriters set forth in Schedule A (the “Non-Defaulting
Underwriters”) will have the right, within 36 hours thereafter, to make
arrangements for one or more of the Non-Defaulting Underwriters, or any other
underwriter or underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the
Defaulted Shares in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein
set forth; if, however, the Non-Defaulting Underwriters do not complete such
arrangements within such 36-hour period, then:
(i) if
the number of Defaulted Shares does not exceed one-eleventh of the aggregate
number of Shares to be purchased hereunder at such Closing Time, each of the
Non-Defaulting Underwriters will be obligated, severally and not jointly, to
purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that their respective
underwriting obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all
Non-Defaulting Underwriters; or
(ii) if
the number of Defaulted Shares exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number of
Shares to be purchased hereunder at such Closing Time, this Agreement will
terminate with respect to the Shares without liability on the part of any
Non-Defaulting Underwriters (provided that if such default
occurs with respect to Option Shares after the First Closing Time, this
Agreement will not terminate as to the Firm Shares or any Option Shares
purchased prior to such termination).
No action
taken pursuant to this Section 12(a) will relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.
In the
event of any such default which does not result in a termination of this
Agreement with respect to the Shares, either the Non-Defaulting Underwriters or
the Company will have the right to postpone such Closing Time for the Shares for
a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any required changes in the
Registration Statement, Time of Sale Information or Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements.
(b) As
used herein, the term “Underwriter” includes any
person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 12.
SECTION 13. NOTICES.
All
notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of
telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to
__________________________________, Fax: __________, Attention:
_______________________ ___________________________; each with a copy to Xxxxxxx
and Xxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000,
-23-
Attention:
___________________. Notices to the Company shall be directed to it at OGE
Energy Corp., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X. Xxx 000, Xxxxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxx,
00000-0000, Attention: Treasurer, with a copy to Xxxxx Day, 00 Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: ___________________.
SECTION 14. PARTIES.
This
Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and
the Company and their respective successors. Nothing expressed or mentioned in
this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or
corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Company and their respective
successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in
Sections 8 and 9 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision herein contained. This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters
and the Company and their respective successors, and said controlling persons
and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives, and for
the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Shares from
any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such
purchase.
SECTION 15. GOVERNING
LAW AND TIME.
This
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York. Except as otherwise set forth herein, specified times of day
refer to New York City time.
SECTION 16. EFFECT
OF HEADINGS.
The
Article and Section headings herein and the Table of Contents are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
-24-
If the
foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign
and return to the Company a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along
with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between the Underwriters
and the Company in accordance with its terms.
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Very
truly yours,
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By:
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CONFIRMED
AND ACCEPTED, as of the date
first
above written:
[Names of
Representatives]
Acting
severally on behalf of themselves and the several
Underwriters
named on Schedule A hereto
By: __________________,
as Representative
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By:
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-25-
SCHEDULE
A
LIST
OF UNDERWRITERS
NAME
OF UNDERWRITER
|
NUMBER
OF
FIRM
SHARES
|
TOTAL
|
A-1
SCHEDULE
B
$__________
COMMON STOCK, PAR VALUE $0.01 PER SHARE
PRICING
INFORMATION
Price
Per Share to the Public
|
|
Number
of Firm Shares
|
|
Number
of Option Shares
|
|
Underwriters’
Discount
|
ISSUER
FREE WRITING PROSPECTUS
B-1
SCHEDULE
C
TIME
OF SALE INFORMATION
Preliminary
Prospectus dated ________________.
Pricing
Information for the Shares as set forth in Schedule B hereto.
C-1
SCHEDULE
D
INFORMATION
PROVIDED BY UNDERWRITERS
The
information set forth below constitutes the only information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or
any amendment thereto) or Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto): statements with respect to the public offering
price of the Shares by the Underwriters set forth on the cover page of, and the
statements in the ________________ paragraphs appearing under, the caption
“Underwriting” in the Prospectus.
D-1
SCHEDULE
E
FORM
OF OPINION OF XXXXX DAY
1. Except
as disclosed in the Prospectus, to such counsel’s Actual Knowledge, there is no
litigation or any governmental proceedings, pending or threatened, that would be
required to be described in the Prospectus that are not described as
required.
2. The
execution, delivery and performance of the Underwriting Agreement by the
Company, issuance and sale of the Shares by the Company and the compliance with
the terms and provisions thereof by the Company will not violate any law or
regulation known to such counsel generally to be applicable to transactions of
this type, or any order or decree known to such counsel of any court, arbitrator
or governmental agency that is binding upon the Company or its respective
properties or violate or result in a default under any of the terms and
provisions of any agreement to which the Company is a party or bound (this
opinion being limited (A) to those orders, decrees and agreements
identified on Exhibit A attached hereto and (B) in that such counsel
expresses no opinion with respect to any violation (1) not readily
ascertainable from the face of any such order, decree or agreement,
(2) arising under or based upon any cross default provision insofar as it
relates to a default under an agreement not so identified on Exhibit A
attached hereto or (3) arising as a result of any violation of any
agreement or covenant by failure to comply with any financial or numerical
requirement requiring computation).
3. No
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or filing with, any governmental
agency or body or any court is required in connection with the issuance or sale
of the Shares by the Company, except (i) for the registration of the Shares
under the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) periodic
and other reporting requirements under the 1934 Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder or (iii) as may be required under state securities
or “blue sky” laws.
Such
counsel has participated in the preparation of the Company’s registration
statement on Form S-3 (Registration No.
333- )
(the “Registration Statement”), the prospectus, dated
,
2010 (the “Base Prospectus”), the preliminary prospectus supplement, dated
,
(together with the Base
Prospectus, the “Preliminary Prospectus”), the information set forth in
Schedule B to the Underwriting Agreement (together with the Preliminary
Prospectus, the “Time of Sale Information”) and the prospectus supplement, dated
,
(together with the Base
Prospectus, the “Prospectus”). From time to time, such counsel has
had discussions with certain officers, directors and employees of the Company,
with representatives of Ernst & Young LLP, the independent registered public
accounting firm who examined the financial statements of the Company included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Information and the Prospectus, with the Underwriters and with counsel to the
Underwriters, concerning the information contained in or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Information and the
Prospectus and the proposed responses to various items in
Form S-3. Based solely upon such counsel’s participation and
discussions described above, such counsel is of the view that the Registration
Statement (including all information deemed to be part of and included therein
pursuant to Rule 430B under the 1933 Act, as of
,
, which is the date the
E-1
Underwriters
have identified as the earlier of the date the Prospectus was first used or the
date of the first contract of sale of the Shares (such date, the “Effective
Date”), and the Prospectus, as of its date, complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the rules and regulations of
the Commission thereunder, and that the documents incorporated by reference or
deemed to be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information and the Prospectus that
were filed prior to the date hereof at the time they were filed complied as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, except that such counsel
expresses no view with respect to (i) the financial statements, financial
schedules and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by
reference therein or (ii) the information referred to under the caption
“Experts” as having been included or incorporated by reference therein on the
authority of Ernst & Young LLP as experts.
Such
counsel has not independently verified and is not passing upon, and does not
assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
information included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement,
the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Information and the
Prospectus. Based on the participation and discussions set forth
above, however, no facts have come to such counsel’s attention that cause such
counsel to believe that the Registration Statement (including all information
deemed to be part of and included therein pursuant to Rule 430B under the
1933 Act), as of the Effective Date, contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, that the Time of
Sale Information, as of
[a.m./p.m.], Eastern Standard Time, on
,
(which is the time that the Underwriters have informed
such counsel was prior to the first contract of sale of any Shares by the
Underwriters) included any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted 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, or that
the Prospectus, as of its date or on the date hereof, included or includes any
untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that we express
no view with respect to (i) the financial statements, financial schedules
and other financial and statistical data included or incorporated by reference
therein or (ii) the information referred to under the caption “Experts” as
having been included or incorporated by reference therein on the authority of
Ernst & Young LLP as experts.