1
EXHIBIT 1
Draft of February 28, 1997
2,917,550 SHARES
RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
COMMON STOCK
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
DATED [___]
2
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...............................................................2
A. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES...............................................................2
Compliance With Registration Requirements..............................................2
Offering Materials Furnished To Underwriters...........................................2
Distribution Of Offering Material By The Company.......................................2
The Underwriting Agreement.............................................................2
Authorization Of The Common Shares.....................................................4
No Applicable Registration Or Other Similar Rights.....................................4
No Material Adverse Change.............................................................4
Independent Accountants................................................................4
Preparation Of The Financial Statements................................................4
Incorporation And Good Standing Of The Company And Its Subsidiaries....................4
Capitalization And Other Capital Stock Matters.........................................5
Stock Exchange Listing.................................................................5
Non-Contravention Of Existing Instruments;
No Further Authorizations Or Approvals Required........................................5
No Material Actions Or Proceedings.....................................................6
Intellectual Property Rights...........................................................6
All Necessary Permits, Etc. ...........................................................6
Compliance With Environmental Laws.....................................................6
Periodic Review Of Costs Of Environmental Compliance...................................7
Title To Properties....................................................................7
Tax Law Compliance.....................................................................8
Company Not An Investment Company......................................................8
Insurance..............................................................................8
No Price Stabilization Or Manipulation.................................................8
Related Party Transactions.............................................................8
B. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
The Underwriting Agreement.............................................................9
The Custody Agreement And Power Of Attorney............................................9
Title To Common Shares To Be Sold; All Authorizations Obtained.........................9
Delivery Of The Common Shares To Be Sold...............................................9
Non-Contravention; No Further Authorizations Or Approvals Required.....................9
No Registration Or Other Similar Rights...............................................10
No Further Consents, Etc. ............................................................10
Disclosure Made By Such Selling Shareholder In The Prospectus.........................10
No Price Stabilization Or Manipulation................................................10
ii
3
Confirmation Of Company Representations And Warranties....................................11
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF COMMON SHARES
The Firm Common Shares....................................................................11
The First Closing Date....................................................................11
The Optional Common Shares; The Second Closing Date.......................................11
Public Offering Of The Common Shares......................................................12
Payment For The Common Shares.............................................................12
Delivery Of The Common Shares.............................................................13
Delivery Of Prospectus To The Underwriters................................................13
SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
A. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY........................................................................13
Representatives' Review Of Proposed Amendments And Supplements............................14
Securities Act Compliance.................................................................14
Amendments And Supplements To The Prospectus And Other Securities Act
Matters...................................................................................14
Copies Of Any Amendments And Supplements To The Prospectus................................14
Blue Sky Compliance.......................................................................14
Use Of Proceeds...........................................................................15
Transfer Agent............................................................................15
Earnings Statement........................................................................15
Periodic Reporting Obligations............................................................15
Agreement Not To Offer Or Sell Additional Securities......................................15
Future Reports To The Representatives.....................................................16
B. COVENANTS OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS..........................................................16
Agreement Not To Offer Or Sell Additional Securities......................................16
Delivery Of Forms W-8 And W-9.............................................................16
SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.............................................................................16
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS
Accountants' Comfort Letter...............................................................18
Compliance With Registration Requirements; No Stop Order, No Objection From NASD..........18
No Material Adverse Change Or Ratings Agency Change.......................................18
Opinion Of Counsel For The Company........................................................19
Opinion Of Counsel For The Underwriters...................................................19
Officers' Certificate.....................................................................19
Bring-Down Comfort Letter.................................................................19
Opinion Of Counsel For The Selling Shareholders...........................................20
iii
4
Selling Shareholders' Certificate.........................................................20
Selling Shareholders' Documents...........................................................20
Lock-Up Agreement From Certain Shareholders Of The Company
Other Than Selling Shareholders...........................................................20
Additional Documents......................................................................20
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES.........................................................21
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AGREEMENT.................................................................21
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION
Indemnification Of The Underwriters.......................................................21
Indemnification Of The Company, Its Directors And Officers................................23
Notifications And Other Indemnification Procedures........................................23
Settlements...............................................................................24
SECTION 9. CONTRIBUTION....................................................................................25
SECTION 10. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS..............................................26
SECTION 11. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT...................................................................27
SECTION 12. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.............................................27
SECTION 13. NOTICES.........................................................................................28
SECTION 14. SUCCESSORS......................................................................................29
SECTION 15. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY........................................................................29
SECTION 16. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS........................................................................29
SECTION 17. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS TO SELL
AND DELIVER COMMON SHARES..............................................................30
SECTION 18. GENERAL PROVISIONS..............................................................................31
iv
5
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
___________, 1997
XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES
XXXXXXXXX & XXXXX LLC
XXXXXXXXXXX & CO., INC.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/x XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
INTRODUCTORY. RF Micro Devices, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 2,500,000 shares of its Common
Stock, no par value per share (the "Common Stock"); and the shareholders of the
Company named in Schedule B (collectively, the "Selling Shareholders") severally
propose to sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 37,000 shares of Common
Stock. The 2,500,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Company and the
37,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Selling Shareholders are
collectively called the "Firm Common Shares." In addition, the Company has
granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 380,550
shares (the "Optional Common Shares") of Common Stock, as provided in Section 2.
The Firm Common Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the
Optional Common Shares are collectively called the "Common Shares." Xxxxxxxxxx
Securities, Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC and Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co., Inc. have agreed to act
as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the
"Representatives") in connection with the offering and sale of the Common
Shares.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-[___]), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with
the public offering and sale of the Common Shares (the "Initial Registration
Statement"). Such registration statement, as amended, including the financial
statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in the form in which it was declared
effective by the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and
regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"),
including any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of
effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the Securities Act in
connection with the public offering and sale of the Common Shares is called the
"Registration Statement." Any registration statement filed by the Company
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the "Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement," and from and after the date and time of filing of the
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term "Registration Statement" shall
include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Any prospectus subject to
completion included in the Initial Registration Statement or filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and regulations promulgated
under the Securities Act is call a "preliminary
6
prospectus"). The prospectus, as first filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act or, if no filing pursuant to the Securities
Act is required, as included in the Registration Statement at the time it
becomes effective, is called the "Prospectus"; provided, however, if the Company
has, with the consent of Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, elected to rely upon Rule 434
under the Securities Act, the term "Prospectus" shall mean the Company's
preliminary prospectus included in the Registration Statement at the time it
becomes effective (such preliminary prospectus is called the "Rule 434
preliminary prospectus"), together with the applicable term sheet (the "Term
Sheet") prepared and filed by the Company with the Commission under Rules 434
and 424(b) under the Securities Act and all references in this Agreement to the
date of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet.
The Company and each of the Selling Shareholders hereby confirm their
respective agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES
A. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING
SHAREHOLDERS. Each of the Company and each of the Selling Shareholders hereby
represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The
Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have
been declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The
Company has complied to the Commission's satisfaction with all requests
of the Commission for additional or supplemental information. No stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for
such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best
knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the
Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed
complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed
by electronic transmission pursuant to the Commission's Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (except as may be permitted by
Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was in all substantive
respects in the form of the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters
for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Common Shares.
Each of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it
became effective and at all subsequent times up to and including each
Closing Date referred to in Section 2 below, complied and will comply
in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and will
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times up to and
including each Closing Date referred to in Section 2 below, did not and
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
2
7
and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding sentences do
not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any
post-effective amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments
or supplements thereto, made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in
writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein. There are no
contracts or other documents required to be described in the Prospectus
or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not
been described or filed as required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company
has delivered to each Representative a complete manually signed copy of
the Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of
experts filed as a part thereof, and conformed copies of the
Registration Statement (without exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses
and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and
at such places as the Representatives have reasonably requested for
each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The
Company has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later
of the Second Closing Date (as defined below) [thirty days after the
First Closing Date], 1997, any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Common Shares other than a preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding
agreement of, the Company, enforceable against it in accordance with
its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited
by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited
by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar
laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or
by general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Common Shares. The Common Shares to
be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly
authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when
issued and delivered by the Company pursuant to this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There
are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any
equity or debt securities registered for sale under the Registration
Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement,
other than the Selling Shareholders with respect to the Common Shares
included in the Registration Statement, except for such rights as have
been duly waived.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed
in the Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material
adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to
result in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business, operations or prospects,
whether
3
8
or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, of
the Company considered as one entity (any such change is called a
"Material Adverse Change"); (ii) the Company has not incurred any
material liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not
in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any material
transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and
(iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared,
paid or made by the Company on any class of capital stock or repurchase
or redemption by the Company of any class of capital stock.
(h) Independent Accountants. Ernst & Young LLP, who have
expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which
term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and
supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the
Registration Statement and (except for supporting schedules) included
in the Prospectus, are independent public or certified public
accountants as required by the Securities Act.
(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial
statements filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration
Statement and included in the Prospectus present fairly the financial
position of the Company as of and at the dates indicated and the
results of its operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The
supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement, if any,
present fairly the information required to be stated therein. Such
financial statements and supporting schedules have been prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be
expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial
statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the
Registration Statement. The financial data set forth in the Prospectus
under the captions "Prospectus Summary--Summary Financial Data,"
"Selected Financial Data" and "Capitalization" fairly present, in all
material respects, the information set forth therein on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in
the Registration Statement.
(j) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company. The
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of North Carolina and has
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and of the
Company, to enter into and perform its obligations under this
Agreement. 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 for
such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify or to be in good
standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Change. The Company does not own or control, directly
or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity.
(k) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. Subject to
the assumptions set forth in the Prospectus, the authorized, issued and
outstanding capital stock of the
4
9
Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"Capitalization" (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant
to employee benefit plans described in the Prospectus or upon exercise
of outstanding options or warrants described in the Prospectus). The
Common Stock (including the Common Shares) conforms in all material
respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of
the issued and outstanding shares of Common Stock (including the shares
of Common Stock owned by Selling Shareholders) have been duly
authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and
have been issued in compliance with federal and state securities laws.
None of the outstanding shares of Common Stock were issued in violation
of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar
rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There
are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights,
rights of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any
capital stock of the Company than those accurately described in the
Prospectus. The description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus
and other stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights
granted thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus, except (i) such
options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other
rights which expire on the First Closing Date and (ii) such options
granted pursuant to stock option plans described in the Prospectus. The
description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock
plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted
thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents
in all material respects the information required to be shown with
respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.
(l) Stock Exchange Listing. The Common Shares have been
approved for inclusion on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to
official notice of issuance.
(m) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further
Authorizations or Approvals Required. The Company is not in violation
of its articles of incorporation or bylaws nor is it in default (or,
with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would it be in default)
("Default") under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement,
note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which the
Company is a party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of the
property or assets of the Company is subject (each, an "Existing
Instrument"), except for such Defaults as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company's
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation
of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (i) have
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not
result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the Company, (ii) will not conflict with or
constitute a breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
assets of the Company pursuant to, or require the consent of any other
part to, any Existing Instrument, except for such conflicts, breaches,
Defaults, liens, charges or encumbrances as would not, individually or
in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change and (iii) will
not result in any violation of any law, administrative regulation or
administrative or court decree applicable to the Company. No consent,
approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing
with, any court or
5
10
other governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for
the Company's execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and
consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the Company
and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, and such as
may be required under applicable securities or blue sky laws of any
state or other jurisdiction and from the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD").
(n) No Material Actions or Proceedings. There are no legal or
governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the best of
the Company's knowledge, threatened (i) against or affecting the
Company, (ii) which have as the subject thereof any officer or director
of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or (iii) relating to
environmental or discrimination matters, where in any such case (A)
there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or proceeding
might be determined adversely to the Company and (B) any such action,
suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, would reasonably be
expected to result in a Material Adverse Change or adversely affect the
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement. No
material labor dispute with the employees of the Company, or to the
best of the Company's knowledge with the employees of any principal
supplier of the Company, exists or, to the best of the Company's
knowledge, is threatened or imminent.
(o) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company owns or
possesses sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights,
copyrights, licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights
(collectively, "Intellectual Property Rights") reasonably necessary to
conduct its business as now conducted; and the expected expiration of
any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material
Adverse Change. The Company has not received any notice of infringement
or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which
infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
would result in a Material Adverse Change.
(p) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company possesses such
valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the
appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct its business, and the Company has not received any
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of, or
non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or permit
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(q) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as otherwise
disclosed in the Prospectus or as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change (i) the Company is not
in violation of any federal, state, local or foreign law or regulation
relating to pollution or protection of human health or the environment
(including, without limitation, ambient air, surface water,
groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including
without limitation, laws and regulations relating to emissions,
discharges, releases or threatened releases of chemicals, pollutants,
contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances,
6
11
petroleum and petroleum products (collectively, "Materials of
Environmental Concern"), or otherwise relating to the manufacture,
processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport
or handling of Materials of Environment Concern (collectively,
"Environmental Laws"), which violation includes, but is not limited to,
noncompliance with any permits or other governmental authorizations
required for the operation of the business of the Company under
applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and
conditions thereof, and the Company has not received any written
communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group,
employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company is in violation of
any Environmental Law; (ii) there is no claim, action or cause of
action filed with a court or governmental authority, no investigation
with respect to which the Company has received written notice, and no
written notice by any person or entity alleging potential liability for
investigatory costs, cleanup costs, governmental responses costs,
natural resources damages, property damages, personal injuries,
attorneys' fees or penalties arising out of, based on or resulting from
the presence, or release into the environment, of any Material of
Environmental Concern at any location owned, leased or operated by the
Company, now or in the past (collectively, "Environmental Claims"),
pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge, threatened against
the Company or any person or entity whose liability for any
Environmental Claim the Company has retained or assumed either
contractually or by operation of law; and (iii) to the best of the
Company's knowledge, there are no past or present actions, activities,
circumstances, conditions, events or incidents, including, without
limitation, the release, emission, discharge, presence or disposal of
any Material of Environmental Concern, that reasonably could result in
a violation of any Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential
Environmental Claim against the Company or against any person or entity
whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company has retained or
assumed either contractually or by operation of law.
(r) Periodic Review of Costs of Environmental Compliance. In
the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a periodic
review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations
and properties of the Company, in the course of which it identifies and
evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for
clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws
or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on
operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties).
On the basis of such review and the amount of its established reserves,
the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and
liabilities would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Change.
(s) Title to Properties. Except as otherwise disclosed in the
Prospectus, the Company has good and marketable title to all the
properties and assets reflected as owned in the financial statements
referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above (or elsewhere in the Prospectus),
in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages,
liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such as
do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and
do not materially interfere with the
7
12
use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company. The
real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held under
lease by the Company are held under valid and enforceable leases, with
such exceptions as are not material and do not materially interfere
with the use made or proposed to be made of such real property,
improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company.
(t) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have
filed all necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax
returns and have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and,
if due and payable, any related or similar assessment, fine or penalty
levied against any of them except as may be being contested in good
faith and by appropriate proceedings. The Company has made adequate
charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable financial statements
referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above in respect of all federal, state
and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the
tax liability of the Company has not been finally determined.
(u) Company Not an "Investment Company." The Company has been
advised of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act
of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not,
and after receipt of payment for the Common Shares will not be, an
"investment company" within the meaning of Investment Company Act and
will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become
subject to the Investment Company Act.
(v) Insurance. The Company is insured by recognized,
financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such
amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are
generally deemed adequate and customary for its business including, but
not limited to, policies covering real and personal property owned or
leased by the Company against theft, damage, destruction, acts of
vandalism and earthquakes. The Company has no reason to believe that it
will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance coverage as and
when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from
similar institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its
business as now conducted and at a cost that would not result in a
Material Adverse Change. The Company has not been denied any insurance
coverage which it has sought or for which it has applied.
(w) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has
not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to or that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in
stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Common Shares.
(x) Related Party Transactions. There are no business
relationships or related-party transactions involving the Company or
any subsidiary or any other person required to be described in the
Prospectus which have not been described as required.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and
delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as
to the matters set forth therein.
8
13
B. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. In
addition to the representations, warranties and covenants set forth in Section
1(A), each Selling Shareholder, severally and not jointly, represents, warrants
and covenants to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling
Shareholder and is a valid and binding agreement of such Selling
Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights
to indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and
except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating
to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles.
(b) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney. Each of the
(i) Custody Agreement signed by or on behalf of such Selling
Shareholder and [___], as custodian (the "Custodian"), relating to the
deposit of the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholder
(the "Custody Agreement") and (ii) Power of Attorney appointing certain
individuals named therein as such Selling Shareholder's
attorneys-in-fact (each, an "Attorney-in-Fact") to the extent set forth
therein relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the
Prospectus (the "Power of Attorney"), of such Selling Shareholder has
been duly authorized, executed and delivered by or on behalf of such
Selling Shareholder and is a valid and binding agreement of such
Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except
as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable
law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating
to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles.
(c) Title to Common Shares to be Sold; All Authorizations
Obtained. Such Selling Shareholder has, and on the First Closing Date
(as defined below) will have, good and valid title to all of the Common
Shares which may be sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this
Agreement on such date and the legal right and power, and all
authorizations and approvals required by law and under its articles of
incorporation or bylaws or other organizational documents, to enter
into this Agreement and the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, to
sell, transfer and deliver all of the Common Shares which may be sold
by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to this Agreement and to comply
with his other obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(d) Delivery of the Common Shares to be Sold. Delivery of the
Common Shares which are sold by such Selling Shareholder pursuant to
this Agreement will pass good and valid title to such Common Shares,
free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
encumbrance or other claim.
(e) Non-Contravention; No Further Authorizations or Approvals
Required. The execution and delivery by such Selling Shareholder of,
and the performance by such Selling Shareholder of his obligations
under, this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney
will not contravene or conflict with, result in a breach of,
9
14
or constitute a Default under, or require the consent of any other
party to, the charter or by-laws or other organizational documents of
such Selling Shareholder or any other agreement or instrument to which
such Selling Shareholder is a party or by which he is bound or under
which he is entitled to any right or benefit, any provision of
applicable law or any judgment, order, decree or regulation applicable
to such Selling Shareholder of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder. No consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any
court or other governmental authority or agency, is required for the
consummation by such Selling Shareholder of the transactions
contemplated in this Agreement, except such as have been obtained or
made and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, or have
been obtained or made under applicable securities or blue sky laws of
any state or other jurisdiction and from the NASD.
(f) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling
Shareholder does not have any registration or other similar rights to
have any equity or debt securities registered for sale by the Company
under the Registration Statement or included in the offering
contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as are described
in the Prospectus under _________________________________.
(g) No Further Consents, etc. Except for the (i) exercise by
such Selling Shareholder of certain registration rights pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement dated as of [___] (which registration
rights have been duly exercised pursuant thereto), (ii) consent of such
Selling Shareholder to the respective number of Common Shares to be
sold by all of the Selling Shareholders pursuant to this Agreement and
(iii) waiver by certain other holders of Common Stock of certain
registration rights pursuant to such Registration Rights Agreement, no
consent, approval or waiver is required under any instrument or
agreement to which such Selling Shareholder is a party or by which he
is bound or under which he is entitled to any right or benefit, in
connection with the offering, sale or purchase by the Underwriters of
any of the Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Shareholder
under this Agreement or the consummation by such Selling Shareholder of
any of the other transactions contemplated hereby.
(h) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Shareholder in the
Prospectus. All information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling
Shareholder in writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus is, and on the First Closing Date will be, true, correct
and complete in all material respects, and does not, and on the First
Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact
or omit to state any material fact necessary to make such information
not misleading. Such Selling Shareholder confirms as accurate the
number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such Selling
Shareholder's name in the Prospectus under the caption "Principal and
Selling Shareholders" (both prior to and after giving effect to the
sale of the Common Shares).
(i) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Such Selling
Shareholder has not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly,
any action designed to or that might be
10
15
reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation
of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of
the Common Shares.
(j) Confirmation of Company Representations and Warranties.
Such Selling Shareholder has no reason to believe that the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1(A)
hereof are not true and correct, is familiar with the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and has no knowledge of any material fact,
condition or information not disclosed in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus which has had or may have a Material Adverse Effect and
is not prompted to sell shares of Common Stock by any information
concerning the Company which is not set forth in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus.
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of any Selling
Shareholder and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty by
such Selling Shareholder to each Underwriter as to the matters covered
thereby.
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE COMMON SHARES.
The Firm Common Shares. Upon the terms herein set forth, (i)
the Company agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of
2,500,000 Firm Common Shares and (ii) the Selling Shareholders agree to sell to
the several Underwriters an aggregate of 37,000 Firm Common Shares, each Selling
Shareholder selling the number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite such
Selling Shareholder's name on Schedule B. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to
the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Company and the Selling Shareholders the
respective number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite their names on
Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Common Share to be paid by the several
Underwriters to the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall be $[___] per
share.
The First Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Firm
Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be
made at the offices of Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx (or such other place as may be agreed to by the Company
and the Representatives) at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, on ___________, 1997,
or such other time and date not later than 10:30 a.m. San Francisco time, on
[seven days later] , 1997 as the Representatives shall designate by notice to
the Company (the time and date of such closing are called the "First Closing
Date"). The Company and the Selling Shareholders hereby acknowledge that
circumstances under which the Representatives may provide notice to postpone the
First Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited
to, any determination by the Company, the Selling Shareholders or the
Representatives to recirculate to the public copies of an amended or
supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of Section
10.
The Optional Common Shares; the Second Closing Date. In
addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein
contained, and upon the terms but
11
16
subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option
to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an
aggregate of [___] Optional Common Shares from the Company at the purchase price
per share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Common Shares. The option
granted hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any
over-allotments in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Common
Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time (but not more
than once) upon notice by the Representatives to the Company which notice may be
given at any time within 30 days from the date of this Agreement. Such notice
shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of Optional Common Shares as to which
the Underwriters are exercising the option, (ii) the names and denominations in
which the certificates for the Optional Common Shares are to be registered and
(iii) the time, date and place at which such certificates will be delivered
(which time and date may be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the First
Closing Date; and in such case the term "First Closing Date" shall refer to the
time and date of delivery of certificates for the Firm Common Shares and the
Optional Common Shares). Such time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the
First Closing Date, is called the "Second Closing Date" and shall be determined
by the Representatives and shall not be earlier than three nor later than five
full business days after delivery of such notice of exercise. If any Optional
Common Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase the number of Optional Common Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine)
that bears the same proportion to the total number of Optional Common Shares to
be purchased as the number of Firm Common Shares set forth on Schedule A
opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Common
Shares. The Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to its
exercise or expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the
Company.
Public Offering of the Common Shares. The Representatives
hereby advise the Company that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the
public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of the Common
Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed and the Registration
Statement has been declared effective as the Representatives, in their sole
judgment, have determined is advisable and practicable.
Payment for the Common Shares. Payment for the Common Shares
to be sold by the Company shall be made at the First Closing Date by wire
transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company. Payment for
the Common Shares to be sold by the Selling Shareholders shall be made at the
First Closing Date by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order
of the Custodian.
It is understood that the Representatives have been
authorized, for their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters,
to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price
for, the Firm Common Shares and any Optional Common Shares the Underwriters have
agreed to purchase. Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, individually and not as the
Representatives of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make
payment for any Common Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds
shall not have been received by the Representatives by the First Closing Date or
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, for the account of such
Underwriter, but any
12
17
such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations
under this Agreement.
Each Selling Shareholder hereby agrees that (i) it will pay
all stock transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable
upon the sale or delivery of the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling
Shareholder to the several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the
performance of such Selling Shareholder's obligations hereunder and (ii) the
Custodian is authorized to deduct for such payment any such amounts from the
proceeds to such Selling Shareholder hereunder and to hold such amounts for the
account of such Selling Shareholder with the Custodian under the Custody
Agreement.
Delivery of the Common Shares. The Company and the Selling
Shareholders shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for
the accounts of the several Underwriters certificates for the Firm Common Shares
to be sold by them at the First Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of
a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase
price therefor. The Company shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the
Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, certificates for
the Optional Common Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase at the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, against the
irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the
amount of the purchase price therefor. The certificates for the Common Shares
shall be in definitive form and registered in such names and denominations as
the Representatives shall have requested at least two full business days prior
to the First Closing Date (or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be) and
shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the First
Closing Date (or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be) at a location in
New York City as the Representatives may designate. Time shall be of the
essence, and delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a
further condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.
Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than
12:00 p.m. on the second business day following the date the Common Shares are
released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver
or cause to be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such
places as the Representatives shall request.
SECTION 3. ADDITIONAL COVENANTS
A. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company further covenants and agrees
with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Representatives' Review of Proposed Amendments and
Supplements. During such period beginning on the date hereof and ending
on the later of the First Closing Date or such date, as in the opinion
of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus is no longer required
by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or
dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery Period"), prior to amending or
supplementing the Registration Statement (including any registration
statement filed under Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act) or the
Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the
13
18
Representatives for review a copy of each such proposed amendment or
supplement, and the Company shall not file any such proposed amendment
or supplement to which the Representatives reasonably object.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this
Agreement, the Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in
writing (i) of the receipt of any comments of, or requests for
additional or supplemental information from, the Commission with
respect to the Registration Statement, (ii) of the time and date of any
filing of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or
any amendment or supplement to any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective
amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any post-effective
amendment thereto or of any order preventing or suspending the use of
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings to
remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Common Stock
from any securities exchange upon which it is listed for trading or
included or designated for quotation, or of the threatening or
initiation of any proceedings for any of such purposes. If the
Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company
will use its best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at the
earliest possible moment. Additionally, the Company agrees that it
shall comply with the provisions of Rules 424(b), 430A and 434, as
applicable, under the Securities Act and will use its reasonable
efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such Rule
424(b) were received in a timely manner by the Commission.
(c) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other
Securities Act Matters. If, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, any
event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the
Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if in the
opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters it is
otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply
with law, the Company agrees to promptly prepare (subject to Section
3(A)(a) hereof), file with the Commission and furnish at its own
expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements
to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so
amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances
when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading or so
that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with law.
(d) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the
Prospectus. The Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without
charge, during the Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto as the
Representatives may request.
(e) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters to qualify or register
the Common Shares for sale under (or obtain exemptions from the
application of) the Blue Sky or
14
19
state securities laws or the Canadian provincial securities laws of
those jurisdictions designated by the Representatives, shall comply
with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations
and exemptions in effect so long as required for the distribution of
the Common Shares. The Company shall not be required to qualify as a
foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not
presently qualified or where it would be subject to taxation as a
foreign corporation. The Company will advise the Representatives
promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or
any such exemption relating to) the Common Shares for offering, sale or
trading in any jurisdiction or any initiation or threat of any
proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the issuance of
any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the
Company shall use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at
the earliest possible moment.
(f) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds
from the sale of the Common Shares sold by it substantially in
accordance with its statements under the caption "Use of Proceeds" in
the Prospectus.
(g) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at
its expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Common Stock.
(h) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company
will make generally available to its security holders and to the
Representatives an earnings statement (which need not be audited)
covering the twelve-month period ending [__________] that satisfies
the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
(i) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus
Delivery Period the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the
Commission and the Nasdaq National Market all reports and documents
required to be filed under the Exchange Act. Additionally, the Company
shall file with the Commission all reports on Form SR as may be
required under Rule 463 under the Securities Act.
(j) Agreement Not To Offer or Sell Additional Securities.
During the period of 180 days following the date of the Prospectus, the
Company will not, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxxx
Securities (which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract
or grant any option to sell, pledge, transfer or establish an open "put
equivalent position" within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the
Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the
offering of, or file any registration statement under the Securities
Act in respect of, any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to
acquire shares of the Common Stock or securities exchangeable or
exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock (other than
as contemplated by this Agreement with respect to the Common Shares);
provided, however, that the Company may issue shares of its Common
Stock or options to purchase its Common Stock, or Common Stock upon
exercise of options, pursuant to, and may file a registration statement
on Form S-8 with respect to any stock option, stock bonus or other
stock plan or arrangement described in the Prospectus, but only
15
20
if the holders of such shares, options, or shares issued upon exercise
of such options, agree in writing not to sell, offer, dispose of or
otherwise transfer any such shares or options during such 180 day
period without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxxx Securities
(which consent may be withheld at the sole discretion of the Xxxxxxxxxx
Securities).
(k) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period
of five years hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives
at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000: (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual
Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of
the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, shareholders'
equity and cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon
of the Company's independent public or certified public accountants;
(ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies of each
proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form
10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the Company
with the Commission, the NASD or any securities exchange; and (iii) as
soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company
mailed generally to holders of its capital stock.
B. COVENANTS OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS. Each Selling Shareholder
further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:
(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such
Selling Shareholder will not, without the prior written consent of
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities (which consent may be withheld in its sole
discretion), directly or indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any
option to sell (including without limitation any short sale), pledge,
transfer, establish an open "put equivalent position" within the
meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose
of any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants to acquire shares of
Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for or
convertible into shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned
either of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) by the undersigned, or
publicly announce the undersigned's intention to do any of the
foregoing, for a period commencing on the date hereof and continuing
through the close of trading on the date 180 days after the date of the
Prospectus.
(b) Delivery of Forms W-8 and W-9. To deliver to the
Representatives prior to the First Closing Date a properly completed
and executed United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling
Shareholder is a non-United States person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling
Shareholder is a United States Person).
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in
its sole discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company or any
Selling Shareholder of any one or more of the foregoing covenants.
SECTION 4. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company and the Selling
Shareholders, jointly and severally, agree to pay in such proportions as they
may agree upon among themselves
16
21
all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of
their obligations hereunder and in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses incident to the issuance
and delivery of the Common Shares (including all printing and engraving costs),
(ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent of the Common
Stock, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Common Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all
fees and expenses of the Company's counsel, independent public or certified
pubic accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping and distribution of
the Registration Statement (including financial statements, exhibits, schedules,
consents and certificates of experts), each preliminary prospectus and the
Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi)
all filing fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the
Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining
exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the
Common Shares for offer and sale under the Blue Sky or state securities laws or
the Canadian provincial securities laws, and, if requested by the
Representatives, preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey" or memorandum, and
any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications,
registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with,
the NASD's review and approval of the Underwriters' participation in the
offering and distribution of the Common Shares, (viii) the fees and expenses
associated with including the Common Shares on the Nasdaq National Market and
(ix) all other fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the
Registration Statement. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 6, Section
8 and Section 9 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including
the fees and disbursements of their counsel.
The Selling Shareholders further agree with each Underwriter to pay
(directly or by reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the performance
of their obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise specifically
provided for herein, including but not limited to (i) fees and expenses of
counsel and other advisors for such Selling Shareholders, (ii) fees and expenses
of the Custodian and (iii) expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery
of the Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Shareholders to the Underwriters
hereunder (which taxes, if any, may be deducted by the Custodian under the
provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement).
This Section 4 shall not affect or modify any separate, valid agreement
relating to the allocation of payment of expenses between the Company, on the
one hand, and the Selling Shareholders, on the other hand.
SECTION 5. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Common
Shares as provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the
Optional Common Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the
accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and
the Selling Shareholders set forth in Sections 1(A) and 1(B) hereof as of the
date hereof and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with
respect to the Optional Common Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as though
then made, to the timely
17
22
performance by the Company and the Selling Shareholders of their respective
covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Accountants' Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the
Representatives shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP, independent
public or certified public accountants for the Company, a letter dated
the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort
letters" to underwriters, delivered according to Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the
audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(and the Representatives shall have received an additional [___]
conformed copies of such accountants' letter for each of the several
Underwriters).
(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order;
No Objection from NASD. For the period from and after effectiveness of
this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to
the Optional Common Shares, the Second Closing Date:
(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with
the Commission (including the information required by Rule
430A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the
time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act;
or the Company shall have filed a post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement containing the information required
by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment shall
have become effective; or, if the Company elected to rely upon
Rule 434 under the Securities Act and obtained the
Representatives' consent thereto, the Company shall have filed
a Term Sheet with the Commission in the manner and within the
time period required by such Rule 424(b);
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such
purpose shall have been instituted or threatened by the
Commission; and
(iii) the NASD shall have raised no objection to the
fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms and
arrangements.
(c) No Material Adverse Change or Ratings Agency. For the
period from and after the date of this Agreement and prior to the First
Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Common Shares, the
Second Closing Date:
(i) in the judgment of the Representatives there
shall not have occurred any Material Adverse Change; and
18
23
(ii) there shall not have occurred any downgrading,
nor shall any notice have been given of any intended or
potential downgrading or of any review for a possible change
that does not indicate the direction of the possible change,
in the rating accorded any securities of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries by any "nationally recognized statistical
rating organization" as such term is defined for purposes of
Rule 436(g)(2) under the Securities Act.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have
received the favorable opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxx,
PLLC, counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form
of which is attached as Exhibit A (and the Representatives shall have
received an additional [___] conformed copies of such counsel's legal
opinion for each of the several Underwriters).
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On each of the
First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date the Representatives
shall have received the favorable opinion of Xxxx and Xxxx LLP, counsel
for the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to
the matters set forth in paragraphs (i), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x),
(xi), (xii) and the next-to-last paragraph of Exhibit A (and the
Representatives shall have received an additional [___] conformed
copies of such counsel's legal opinion for each of the several
Underwriters).
(f) Officers' Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have received a
written certificate executed by the Chairman of the Board, Chief
Executive Officer or President of the Company and the Chief Financial
Officer or Chief Accounting Officer of the Company, dated as of such
Closing Date, to the effect set forth in subsections (b)(ii) and
(c)(ii) of this Section 5, and further to the effect that:
(i) for the period from and after the date of this
Agreement and prior to such Closing Date, there has not
occurred any Material Adverse Change;
(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of
the Company set forth in Section 1(A) of this Agreement are
true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and
(iii) the Company has complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date.
(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On each of the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall have
received from Ernst & Young LLP, independent public or certified public
accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that they
reaffirm the statements made in the letter furnished by them pursuant
to subsection (a) of this Section 5, except that the specified date
referred to therein for
19
24
the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than three business
days prior to the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date, as the
case may be (and the Representatives shall have received an additional
[___] conformed copies of such accountants' letter for each of the
several Underwriters).
(h) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Shareholders. On each
of the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date the
Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion of Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx & Rice, PLLC, counsel for the Selling Shareholders,
dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit
B (and the Representatives shall have received an additional [___]
conformed copies of such counsel's legal opinion for each of the
several Underwriters).
(i) Selling Shareholders' Certificate. On each of the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date the Representatives shall
received a written certificate executed by the Attorney-in-Fact of each
Selling Shareholder, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of
such Selling Shareholder set forth in Section 1(B) of this
Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect
as though expressly made by such Selling Shareholder on and as
of such Closing Date; and
(ii) such Selling Shareholder has complied with all
the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to
be performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date.
(j) Selling Shareholders' Documents. On the date hereof, the
Company and the Selling Shareholders shall have furnished for review by
the Representatives copies of the Powers of Attorney and Custody
Agreements executed by each of the Selling Shareholders and such
further information, certificates and documents as the Representatives
may reasonably request.
(k) Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Shareholders of the Company
Other Than Selling Shareholders. On the date hereof, the Company shall
have furnished to the Representatives an agreement in the form of
Exhibit C hereto from each director, officer and each beneficial owner
of Common Stock (as defined and determined according to Rule 13d-3
under the Exchange Act, except that a one hundred eighty-day period
shall be used rather than the sixty-day period set forth therein), and
such agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date.
(l) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, the Representatives and
counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such information,
documents and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes
of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Common
Shares as contemplated herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of
any of the
20
25
representations and warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the
conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 5 is not satisfied
when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Shareholders at any
time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional
Common Shares, at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, which termination
shall be without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except
that Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If this
Agreement is terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 5, Section 7,
Section 10, Section 11 or Section 17, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the
Common Shares on the First Closing Date is not consummated because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or the Selling
Shareholders to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision
hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other
Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have terminated this Agreement with
respect to themselves), severally, upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses
that shall have been reasonably incurred by the Representatives and the
Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering and sale
of the Common Shares, including but not limited to fees and disbursements of
counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone
charges.
SECTION 7. EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement
shall not become effective until the later of (i) the execution of this
Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii) notification by the Commission to the
Company and the Representatives of the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement under the Securities Act.
Prior to such effectiveness, this Agreement may be terminated
by any party by notice to each of the other parties hereto, and any such
termination shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the
Selling Shareholders to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling
Shareholders shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives
and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) of any Underwriter
to the Company or the Selling Shareholders, or (c) of any party hereto to any
other party except that the provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all
times be effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 8. INDEMNIFICATION.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. Each of the Company
and each of the Selling Shareholders, jointly and severally, agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers and
employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within
the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act against any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such
Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory
law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is
21
26
effected with the written consent of the Company), insofar as such
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto,
including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule
430A or Rule 434 under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged
omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), or the omission or alleged omission
therefrom of 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 (iii) in whole or in part upon any inaccuracy in the
representations and warranties of the Company or the Selling
Shareholders contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon any
failure of the Company or the Selling Shareholders to perform their
respective obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any act or
failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter
in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Common Stock or
the offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or
referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out
of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i) or (ii) above,
provided that the Company shall not be liable under this clause (v) to
the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined
by a final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action
resulted directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or
omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its gross negligence or
willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such
controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by Xxxxxxxxxx Securities) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending,
settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing
indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out
of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company and the Selling
Shareholders by the Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto); and provided, further, that
with respect to any preliminary prospectus, the foregoing indemnity
agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom
the person asserting any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense
purchased Common Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if
copies of the Prospectus were timely delivered to the Underwriter
pursuant to Section 2 and a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such
Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have been
delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the
Common Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or
supplemented) would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense; and provided, further, that the
liability of each Selling
22
27
Shareholder under the foregoing indemnity agreement shall be limited to
an amount equal to the initial public offering price of the Common
Shares sold by such Selling Shareholders, less the underwriting
discount, as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus. The
indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(a) shall be in addition
to any liabilities that the Company and the Selling Shareholders may
otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and
Officers. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signed the Registration Statement, the Selling
Shareholders and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any
Selling Shareholder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as
incurred, to which the Company, or any such director, officer, Selling
Shareholder or controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory
law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in
settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is effected with the
written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus
(or any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based
upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the
extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company and the Selling Shareholders by
the Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the
Company, or any such director, officer, Selling Shareholder or
controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred
by the Company, or any such director, officer, Selling Shareholder or
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending,
settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage,
liability, expense or action. Each of the Company and each of the
Selling Shareholders, hereby acknowledges that the only information
that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company and the Selling
Shareholders expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or
supplement thereto) are the statements set forth (A) as the last
paragraph on the inside front cover page of the Prospectus concerning
stabilization by the Underwriters and (B) in the table in the first
paragraph and the second paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" in
the Prospectus; and the Underwriters confirm that such statements are
correct. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 8(b) shall
be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise
have.
(c) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures.
Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of
notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against
23
28
an indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to
notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability
which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or
otherwise than under the indemnity agreement contained in this Section
8 or to the extent it is not prejudiced as a proximate result of such
failure. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified
party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity
from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to
participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect, jointly with
all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written notice
delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the
aforesaid notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense
thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party;
provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified
party shall have reasonably concluded that a conflict may arise between
the positions of the indemnifying party and the indemnified party in
conducting the defense of any such action or that there may be legal
defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying
party, the indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select
separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise
participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified
party or parties. Upon receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to
such indemnified party of such indemnifying party's election so to
assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party
of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 8 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the
defense thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed
separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the next preceding
sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party
shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel
(together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying party
(Xxxxxxxxxx Securities in the case of Section 8(b) and Section 9,
representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action) or
(ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the
action, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall
be at the expense of the indemnifying party.
(d) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 8
shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected
without its written consent, but if settled with such consent or if
there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party
agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment.
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified
party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by
Section 8(c) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30
days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request
and (ii) such indemnifying party
24
29
shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such
request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party,
effect any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment
in any pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of
which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity
was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party,
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional
release of such indemnified party from all liability on claims that are
the subject matter of such action, suit or proceeding.
SECTION 9. CONTRIBUTION. If the indemnification provided for
in Section 8 is for any reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand,
from the offering of the Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement 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 and
the Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other
hand, in connection with the statements or omissions or inaccuracies in the
representations and warranties herein which resulted in such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the Selling
Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in
connection with the offering of the Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement
shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the total net
proceeds from the offering of the Common Shares pursuant to this Agreement
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the Selling
Shareholders, and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters,
in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus (or, if Rule
434 under the Securities Act is used, the corresponding location on the Term
Sheet) bear to the aggregate initial public offering price of the Common Shares
as set forth on such cover. The relative fault of the Company and the Selling
Shareholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to
state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate
representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company or the
Selling Shareholders, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other hand,
and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the
losses, claims, damages, liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be
deemed to include, subject to the limitations set forth in Section 8(c), any
legal or other fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection
with investigating or defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in
Section 8(c) with respect to notice of commencement of any action shall apply if
a
25
30
claim for contribution is to be made under this Section 9; provided, however,
that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any action for which
notice has been given under Section 8(c) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company, the Selling Shareholders and the Underwriters
agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this
Section 9 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to in this
Section 9.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 9, no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
underwriting commissions received by such Underwriter in connection with the
Common Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the public. No person guilty
of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the
Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Section 9 are several, and not joint, in proportion
to their respective underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their names
in Schedule A. For purposes of this Section 9, each officer and employee of an
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer
of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any,
who controls the Company or a Selling Shareholder within the meaning of the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution
as the Company.
SECTION 10. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL
UNDERWRITERS. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the
case may be, any one or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Common Shares that it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such
date, and the aggregate number of Common Shares which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not
exceed 10% of the aggregate number of the Common Shares to be purchased on such
date, the other Underwriters shall be obligated, severally, in the proportions
that the number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite their respective names
on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of Firm Common Shares set forth
opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or in such other
proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Common Shares which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such
date. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Common
Shares and the aggregate number of Common Shares with respect to which such
default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Common Shares to be
purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and
the Company for the purchase of such Common Shares are not made within 48 hours
after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any
party to any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 6,
Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such
termination. In any such case either the Representatives or the Company
26
31
shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days in order
that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be
deemed to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this
Section 10. Any action taken under this Section 10 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
SECTION 11. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. Prior to the First
Closing Date this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice
given to the Company and the Selling Shareholders if at any time (i) trading or
quotation in any of the Company's securities shall have been suspended or
limited by the Commission or by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading in
securities generally on either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock
Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices
shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges by the
Commission or the NASD; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been
declared by any of federal, New York, North Carolina or California authorities;
(iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or
international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United
States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or
development involving a prospective substantial change in United States' or
international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of
the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market
the Common Shares in the manner and on the terms described in the Prospectus or
to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in the judgment of the
Representatives there shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v)
the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake,
accident or other calamity of such character as in the judgment of the
Representatives may interfere materially with the conduct of the business and
operations of the Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall have been
insured. Any termination pursuant to this Section 11 shall be without liability
on the part of (a) the Company or the Selling Shareholders to any Underwriter,
except that the Company and the Selling Shareholders shall be obligated to
reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to
Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company or the Selling
Shareholders, or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the
provisions of Section 8 and Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall
survive such termination.
SECTION 12. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE
DELIVERY. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties
and other statements of the Company, of its officers, of the Selling
Shareholders and of the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of
its or their partners, officers or directors or any controlling person, or the
Selling Shareholders, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and
payment for the Common Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this
Agreement.
27
32
SECTION 13. NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in
writing and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the
parties hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: 000-000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
with a copy to:
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Company:
RF Micro Devices, Inc.
0000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000-0000
Facsimile: (000)000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, President and Chief Financial Officer
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxx, PLLC
1600 BB&T Financial Center
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
If to the Selling Shareholders:
------------------------------------
------------------------------------
------------------------------------
Facsimile:
-------------------------
Attention:
-------------------------
28
33
with a copy to:
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxx, PLLC
1600 BB&T Financial Center
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx-Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, Esq.
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
SECTION 14. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute
Underwriters pursuant to Section 10 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees,
officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 and
Section 9, and in each case their respective successors, and personal
representatives, and no other person will have any right or obligation
hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include any purchaser of the Common
Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
SECTION 15. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or
unenforceability of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall
not affect the validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or
provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is
for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed
to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to
make it valid and enforceable.
SECTION 16. (a) GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK APPLICABLE TO AGREEMENTS MADE AND TO BE PERFORMED IN SUCH STATE.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or
proceeding arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the
transactions contemplated hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be
instituted in the federal courts of the United States of America
located in the City and County of San Francisco or the courts of the
State of California in each case located in the City and County of San
Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party
irrevocably submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for
proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement of a judgment of
any such court (a "Related Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is
non-exclusive) of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding.
Service of any process, summons, notice or document by mail to such
party's address set forth above shall be effective service of process
for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The
parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the
Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree
not to plead or claim in any such court that any
29
34
such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court has
been brought in an inconvenient forum.
(c) Waiver of Immunity. With respect to any Related
Proceeding, each party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, all immunity (whether on the basis of
sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction, service of process,
attachment (both before and after judgment) and execution to which it
might otherwise be entitled in the Specified Courts, and with respect
to any Related Judgment, each party waives any such immunity in the
Specified Courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction, and will
not raise or claim or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in
respect of any such Related Proceeding or Related Judgment, including,
without limitation, any immunity pursuant to the United States Foreign
Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as amended.
SECTION 17. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
TO SELL AND DELIVER COMMON SHARES. If one or more of the Selling Shareholders
shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Common Shares to be sold
and delivered by such Selling Shareholders at the First Closing Date pursuant to
this Agreement, then the Underwriters may at their option, by written notice
from the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Shareholders, either (i)
terminate this Agreement without any liability on the part of any Underwriter
or, except as provided in Sections 4, 6, 8 and 9 hereof, the Company or the
Selling Shareholders, or (ii) purchase the shares which the Company and other
Selling Shareholders have agreed to sell and deliver in accordance with the
terms hereof. In addition, if one or more of the Selling Shareholders shall fail
to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Common Shares to be sold and
delivered by such Selling Shareholders pursuant to this Agreement at the First
Closing Date, then the Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice from
the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Shareholders, to postpone the
First Closing Date, but in no event for longer than seven days in order that the
required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or
any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
SECTION 18. GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Agreement constitutes the
entire agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior
written or oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and
negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be
executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original,
with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument. This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by
all of the parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be
waived unless waived in writing by each party whom the condition is meant to
benefit. The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the
convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a
sophisticated business person who was adequately represented by counsel during
negotiations regarding the provisions hereof, including, without limitation, the
indemnification provisions of Section 8 and the contribution provisions of
Section 9, and is fully informed regarding said provisions. Each of the parties
hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 8 and 9 hereto
30
35
fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate
the Company, its affairs and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure has been made in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as
required by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, kindly sign and return to the Company and the Custodian the
enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts
hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
RF MICRO DEVICES, INC.
By:__________________________
[Title]
SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx
By:__________________________
(Attorney-in-fact)
31
36
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted by the Representatives in San Francisco, California as of the date
first above written.
XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES
XXXXXXXXX & XXXXX LLC
XXXXXXXXXXX & CO., INC.
Acting as Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
By: XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES
By: ____________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Authorized Signatory
32
37
SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF
FIRM COMMON SHARES
UNDERWRITERS TO BE PURCHASED
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co., Inc.
-----------
TOTAL 2,537,000
38
SCHEDULE B
NUMBER OF FIRM
COMMON SHARES
SELLING SHAREHOLDER TO BE SOLD
Xxxxx X. Xxxx 10,000
------------------------
------------------------
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx 20,000
------------------------
------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx 7,000
------------------------
------------------------
TOTAL 37,000
39
EXHIBIT A
The final opinion in draft form should be attached as Exhibit A at the time this
Agreement is executed.
Opinion of counsel for the Company to be delivered pursuant to
Section 5(d) of the Underwriting Agreement.
References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit A include any
supplements thereto at the Closing Date.
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
of North Carolina.
(ii) The Company 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 the Underwriting Agreement.
(iii) The Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation
to transact business and is in good standing in ____________________
and 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 for such jurisdictions (other than the
State of ________________) where the failure to so qualify or to be in
good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Change.
(iv) Each significant subsidiary (as defined in Rule 405 under
the Securities Act) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
its incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and, to the best knowledge of such counsel, is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required,
whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except for such jurisdictions where the failure to
so qualify or to be in good standing would not, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(v) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
such significant subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly
issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company,
directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or, to the best knowledge
of such counsel, any pending or threatened claim.
(vi) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of
the Company (including the Common Stock) conform to the descriptions
thereof set forth in the Prospectus. All of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock (including the shares of Common Stock owned by Selling
Shareholders) have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully
paid and nonassessable and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge,
have been issued in compliance with the registration and qualification
requirements of federal and state securities laws. The form of
certificate used to
40
evidence the Common Stock is in due and proper form and complies with
all applicable requirements of the articles of incorporation and bylaws
of the Company and the North Carolina Business Corporation Act.
(vii) No shareholder of the Company or any other person has
any preemptive right, right of first refusal or other similar right to
subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company arising (i) by
operation of the articles of incorporation or bylaws of the Company or
the North Carolina Business Corporation Actor (ii) to such counsel's
knowledge, otherwise.
(viii) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the
Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as to those
provisions relating to indemnification and contribution, as to which no
opinion is expressed and except as the enforcement thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable principles.
(ix) The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters
from the Company have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered by the Company pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement against
payment of the consideration set forth therein, will be validly issued,
fully paid and nonassessable.
(x) Each of the Registration Statement and the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, if any, has been declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act. To such counsel's knowledge, no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of either of the Registration
Statement or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has been
issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings for such purpose
have been instituted or are pending or are contemplated or threatened
by the Commission. Any required filing of the Prospectus and any
supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act has
been made in the manner and within the time period required by such
Rule 424(b).
(xi) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and each amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
incorporated by reference therein, as of their respective effective or
issue dates (other than the financial statements and supporting
schedules included therein or in exhibits to or excluded from the
Registration Statement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) comply
as to form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of
the Securities Act.
(xii) The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the
Nasdaq National Market.
(xiii) The statements (i) in the Prospectus under the captions
"Description of Capital Stock," "Certain Relationships and Related
Transactions," and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale," and (ii) in Item
14 and Item 15 of the Registration Statement, insofar
2
41
as such statements constitute matters of law, summaries of legal
matters, the Company's articles of incorporation or bylaw provisions,
documents or legal proceedings, or legal conclusions, has been reviewed
by such counsel and fairly present and summarize, in all material
respects, the matters referred to therein.
(xiv) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or
governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or threatened which
are required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than
those disclosed therein.
(xv) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no Existing
Instruments required to be described or referred to in the Registration
Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other than those described
or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by reference as
exhibits thereto.
(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or other order of,
or registration or filing with, any court or other governmental
authority or agency, is required for the Company's execution, delivery
and performance of the Underwriting Agreement and consummation of the
transactions contemplated thereby and by the Prospectus, except as
required under the Securities Act, applicable securities or blue sky
laws of any state or other jurisdiction and from the NASD.
(xvii) The execution and delivery of the Underwriting
Agreement by the Company and the performance by the Company of its
obligations thereunder (other than performance by the Company of its
obligations under the indemnification and contribution sections of the
Underwriting Agreement, as to which no opinion need be rendered) (i)
will not result in any violation of the provisions of the articles of
incorporation or bylaws of the Company; (ii) will not constitute a
breach of, or Default under, or result in the creation or imposition of
any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to any material Existing
Instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement; or (iii)
to such counsel's knowledge, will not result in any violation of any
law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree
applicable to the Company or any subsidiary.
(xviii) The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for
the Common Shares will not be, an "investment company" within the
meaning of Investment Company Act.
(xix) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus under the caption
_________________________, to such counsel's knowledge, there are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or
included in the offering contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement,
other than the Selling Shareholders, except for such rights as have
been duly waived.
3
42
(xx) To such counsel's knowledge, the Company is not in
violation of its articles of incorporation or bylaws or any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable
to the Company nor is it in Default in the performance or observance of
any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
material Existing Instrument filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement, except in each such case for such violations or Defaults as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change.
In addition, such counsel shall state that they have
participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of
the Company, representatives of the independent public or certified
public accountants for the Company and with representatives of the
Underwriters at which the contents of the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus, and any supplements or amendments thereto, and related
matters were discussed and, although such counsel is not passing upon
and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness
or fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus (other than as specified above), and any supplements
or amendments thereto, on the basis of the foregoing, nothing has come
to their attention which would lead them to believe that either the
Registration Statement or any amendments thereto, at the time the
Registration Statement or such amendments 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 Prospectus, as of its date or at the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be,
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
(it being understood that such counsel need express no belief as to the
financial statements or schedules or other financial or statistical
data derived therefrom, included in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto).
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than North Carolina
or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper and
specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, shall be
satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters, shall expressly state
that the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it were addressed to them
and shall be furnished to the Representatives) of other counsel of good standing
whom they believe to be reliable and who are satisfactory to counsel for the
Underwriters; provided, however, that such counsel shall further state that they
believe that they and the Underwriters are justified in relying upon such
opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem
proper, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public
officials.
4
43
EXHIBIT B
The final opinion in draft form should be attached as Exhibit B at the time this
Agreement is executed.
The opinion of such counsel pursuant to Section 5(h) shall be
rendered to the Representatives at the request of the Company and shall so state
therein. References to the Prospectus in this Exhibit B include any supplements
thereto at the Closing Date.
(i) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by or on behalf of, and is a valid and binding
agreement of, such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, except indemnification and contribution, as to which no
opinion is expressed, and except as the enforcement thereof may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable principles.
(ii) To such counsel's knowledge, the execution and delivery
by such Selling Shareholder of, and the performance by such Selling
Shareholder of its obligations under, the Underwriting Agreement and
its Custody Agreement and its Power of Attorney will not contravene or
conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a default under,
the articles of incorporation or bylaws, partnership agreement, trust
agreement or other organizational documents, as the case may be, of
such Selling Shareholder, or, to such counsel's knowledge, violate or
contravene any provision of applicable law or regulation, or violate,
result in a breach of or constitute a default under the terms of any
other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Shareholder is a
party or by which it is bound, or any judgment, order or decree
applicable to such Selling Shareholder of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
jurisdiction over such Selling Shareholder.
(iii) To such counsel's knowledge, such Selling Shareholder
has good and valid title to all of the Common Shares which may be sold
by such Selling Shareholder under the Underwriting Agreement and has
the legal right and power, and all authorizations and approvals
required under its articles of incorporation and bylaws, to enter into
the Underwriting Agreement and its Custody Agreement and its Power of
Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all of the Common Shares which
may sold by such Selling Shareholder under the Underwriting Agreement
and to comply with its other obligations under the Underwriting
Agreement, its Custody Agreement and its Power of Attorney.
(iv) Each of the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of
such Selling Shareholder has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by such Selling Shareholder and is a valid and binding
agreement of such Selling Shareholder, enforceable in accordance with
its terms, except as to those provisions relating to indemnification
and contribution, as to which no opinion is expressed, and except as
the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or
affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable
principles.
44
(v) Assuming that the Underwriters are bona fide purchasers
within the meaning of the Uniform Commercial Code as in effect in the
governing jurisdictions, the Underwriters, upon payment therefor in
accordance with the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will acquire
good and valid title to the Common Shares sold by each Selling
Shareholder free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance or other claim.
(vi) To such counsel's knowledge, no consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any
court or governmental authority or agency, is required for the
consummation by such Selling Shareholder of the transactions
contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement, except as required under
the Securities Act, applicable securities or blue sky laws of any state
or other jurisdiction, and from the NASD.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to
matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than North
Carolina or the federal law of the United States, to the extent they deem proper
and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion (which shall be dated the First
Closing Date shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters,
shall expressly state that the Underwriters may rely on such opinion as if it
were addressed to them and shall be furnished to the Representatives) of other
counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who are
satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters; provided, however, that such
counsel shall further state that they believe that they and the Underwriters are
justified in relying upon such opinion of other counsel, and (B) as to matters
of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of the Selling
Shareholders and public officials.
2
45
EXHIBIT C
, 1997
--------------------------
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities
Xxxxxxxxxxx & Co., Inc.
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
c/x Xxxxxxxxxx Securities
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
RE: RF Micro Devices, Inc. (the "Company")
Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares
of Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry
out a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for which you will act as
the representatives of the underwriters. The undersigned recognizes that the
Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will benefit the Company by,
among other things, raising additional capital for its operations. The
undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are relying on the
representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in this letter in
carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting arrangements with
the Company with respect to the Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that
the undersigned will not, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxxx
Securities (which consent may be withheld in its sole discretion), directly or
indirectly, sell, offer, contract or grant any option to sell (including without
limitation any short sale), pledge, transfer, establish an open "put equivalent
position" within the meaning of Rule 16a-1(h) under the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, or otherwise dispose of any shares of Common Stock, options or warrants
to acquire shares of Common Stock, or securities exchangeable or exercisable for
or convertible into shares of Common Stock currently or hereafter owned either
of record or beneficially (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) by the undersigned, or publicly announce the
undersigned's intention to do any of the foregoing, for a period commencing on
the date hereof and continuing through the close of trading on the date 180 days
after the date of the Prospectus. The undersigned also agrees and consents to
the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent and
registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock held by the
undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
With respect to the Offering only, the undersigned waives any
registration rights relating to registration under the Securities Act of any
Common Stock owned either of record or beneficially by the undersigned,
including any rights to receive notice of the Offering.
46
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned
and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of
the undersigned.
-----------------------------------
Printed Name of Holder
By:
------------------------------
Signature
-----------------------------------
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person
signing if signing as custodian,
trustee, or on behalf of an entity)
2