Exhibit 1(b)
SHARES
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
COMMON STOCK
FORM OF PURCHASE AGREEMENT
[Date]
[Name(s) of Co-Representative(s)]
As Representative(s) of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
c/o [Name]
[Address]
Ladies and Gentlemen:
UtiliCorp United Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes
to issue and sell an aggregate of ___________ shares (the "INITIAL SECURITIES")
of its common stock, par value $1 per share (the "COMMON STOCK"), to the several
Underwriters named in SCHEDULE I hereto (the "UNDERWRITERS"). The Company also
proposes to sell to the Underwriters, upon the terms and conditions set forth in
Section 2 hereof, up to an additional __________ shares (the "OPTION
SECURITIES") of Common Stock. The Initial Securities together with the Option
Securities shall be referred to as the "SECURITIES".
The Company wishes to confirm as follows its agreement with you (the
"REPRESENTATIVES") and the other several Underwriters on whose behalf you are
acting, in connection with the several purchases of the Securities by the
Underwriters.
1. REGISTRATION STATEMENT AND PROSPECTUS. The Company has prepared and
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") in
accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively, the
"ACT"), a registration statement on Form S-3 under the Act (the "REGISTRATION
STATEMENT"), including a prospectus subject to completion relating to the
Securities. The term "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" as used in this Agreement means
the registration statement (including all financial schedules and exhibits,
excluding Form T-1), as supplemented or amended prior to the execution of this
Agreement. The term "PROSPECTUS" as used in this Agreement means the prospectus
in the form included in the Registration Statement, as amended and supplemented
by the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities (the "PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT") in the form filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b). The
term "PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS" as used in this Agreement means any preliminary
prospectus included in the Registration Statement or filed with the Commission
under Rule 424(a) or any preliminary
prospectus supplement to the prospectus included in the Registration
Statement and filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b) and as such
prospectus or prospectus supplement shall have been amended from time to time
prior to the date of the Prospectus. Any reference in this Agreement to, the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement
or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents
incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the
Act, as of the date of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the Prospectus, as the case may be,
and any reference to any amendment or supplement to the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement or the
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include any documents filed after
such date under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"EXCHANGE ACT") which, upon filing, are incorporated by reference therein, as
required by paragraph (b) of Item 12 of Form S-3. As used herein, the term
"INCORPORATED DOCUMENTS" means the documents which at the time are
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Prospectus Supplement, the Prospectus, or any amendment or
supplement thereto.
2. AGREEMENTS TO SELL AND PURCHASE. The Company hereby agrees, subject
to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, to issue and sell to each
Underwriter and, upon the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements of the Company herein contained and subject to all the terms and
conditions set forth herein, each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly,
to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $______ per Share (the
"PURCHASE PRICE PER SHARE"), the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite
the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such number of Initial
Securities increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof).
The Company also agrees, subject to all the terms and conditions set
forth herein, to sell to the Underwriters, and, upon the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements of the Company herein contained and
subject to all the terms and conditions set forth herein, the Underwriters shall
have the right to purchase from the Company, at the purchase price per share,
pursuant to an option (the "OVER-ALLOTMENT OPTION") which may be exercised one
time prior to 9:00 P.M., New York City time, on the 30th day after the date of
the Prospectus (or, if such 30th day shall be a Saturday or Sunday or a holiday,
on the next business day thereafter when the New York Stock Exchange is open for
trading), up to an aggregate of Option Securities. The Option Securities may be
purchased only for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection
with the offering of the Initial Securities. Upon any exercise of the
over-allotment option, each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to
purchase from the Company the number of Option Securities (subject to such
adjustments as you may determine in order to avoid fractional shares) which
bears the same proportion to the number of Option Securities to be purchased by
the Underwriters as the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite the name
of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto (or such number of Initial Securities
increased as set forth in Section 10 hereof) bears to the aggregate number of
Initial Securities.
3. TERMS OF PUBLIC OFFERING. The Company has been advised by you that
the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions
of the applicable Securities and initially to offer the Securities upon the
terms set forth in the Prospectus.
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4. DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES AND PAYMENT THEREFOR. Delivery to the
Underwriters of and payment for the Initial Securities shall be made at the
office of Milbank, Tweed, Xxxxxx & XxXxxx LLP, Xxx Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, XX 00000, at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on ________ (the "CLOSING
DATE"). The place of closing for the Initial Securities and the Closing Date may
be varied by agreement between you and the Company.
Delivery to the Underwriters of and payment for any Option Securities
to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at the aforementioned office
of Milbank, Tweed, Xxxxxx & XxXxxx LLP at such time on such date (the "OPTION
CLOSING DATE"), which may be the same as the Closing Date but shall in no event
be earlier than the Closing Date nor earlier than two nor later than ten
business days after the giving of the notice hereinafter referred to, as shall
be specified in a written notice from you on behalf of the Underwriters to the
Company of the Underwriters' determination to purchase a number, specified in
such notice, of Option Securities. The place of closing for any Option
Securities and the Option Closing Date for such Option Securities may be varied
by agreement between you and the Company.
Certificates for the Initial Securities and for any Option Securities
to be purchased hereunder shall be registered in such names and in such
denominations as you shall request prior to 9:30 A.M., New York City time, on
the second business day preceding the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date,
as the case may be. The certificates evidencing the Initial Securities and any
Option Securities to be purchased hereunder shall be delivered to you on the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, against payment of
the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of immediately available funds.
5. AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company agrees with the several
Underwriters as follows:
(a) To prepare the Prospectus in relation to the Securities in
a form approved by the Representatives and to file the Prospectus Supplement as
required pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act not later than the Commission's
close of business on the second business day following the delivery of the
Prospectus relating to the applicable Securities or, if applicable, such earlier
time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further amendment or any
supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus after the date of this
Agreement and prior to the Closing Date for such Securities which shall be
disapproved by the Representatives for such Securities promptly after reasonable
notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of any such amendment or
supplement after such Closing Date and furnish the Representatives with copies
thereof; to file promptly all reports and any definitive proxy or information
statements required to be filed by the Company with the Commission pursuant to
Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act for so long as the
delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the offering or sale of
such Securities, and during such same period to advise the Representatives,
promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment to the
Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to
the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or
suspending the use of any prospectus or registration statement relating to the
Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of such Securities for
offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening by the
Commission of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the
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Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance
of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of
any prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such qualification,
to use promptly its reasonable efforts to obtain its withdrawal;
(b) The Company will furnish to each of you, and to counsel to
the Underwriters such number of copies as you may reasonably request of the
Registration Statement as originally filed with the Commission and of each
amendment and supplement thereto, including consents, financial statements and
all exhibits thereto;
(c) Prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, the
Company has delivered to you, without charge, in such quantities as you have
requested, copies of each Preliminary Prospectus. The Company consents to the
use, in accordance with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or
Blue Sky laws of the jurisdictions in which the Securities are offered by the
several Underwriters and by dealers, prior to the date of the Prospectus, of
each Preliminary Prospectus so furnished by the Company.
(d) As soon after the execution and delivery of this Agreement
as possible and thereafter from time to time for such period as in the opinion
of counsel for the Underwriters a prospectus is required by the Act to be
delivered in connection with sales by any Underwriter or dealer, the Company
will expeditiously deliver to each Underwriter and each dealer, without charge,
as many copies of the Prospectus (and of any amendment or supplement thereto) as
you may request. The Company consents to the use of the Prospectus in accordance
with the provisions of the Act and with the securities or Blue Sky laws of the
jurisdictions in which the Securities are offered by the several Underwriters
and by all dealers to whom Securities may be sold, both in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities and for such period of time thereafter as
the Prospectus is required by the Act to be delivered in connection with sales
by any Underwriter or dealer. If during such period of time any event shall
occur that in the judgment of the Company or in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters is required to be set forth in the Prospectus or should be set
forth therein in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if it is necessary
to supplement or amend the Prospectus (or to file under the Exchange Act any
document which, upon filing, becomes an Incorporated Document) in order to
comply with the Act or any other law, the Company will forthwith prepare and,
subject to the provisions of paragraph (c) above, file with the Commission an
appropriate supplement or amendment thereto (or to such document), and will
expeditiously furnish to the Underwriters and dealers a reasonable number of
copies thereof. In the event that the Company and you, as Representatives of the
several Underwriters, agree that the Prospectus should be amended or
supplemented, the Company, if requested by you, will promptly issue a press
release announcing or disclosing the matters to be covered by the proposed
amendment or supplement.
(e) The Company will cooperate with you and with counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with the registration or qualification of the
Securities for offering and sale by the several Underwriters and by dealers
under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you may designate
and will file such consents to service of process or other documents necessary
or appropriate in order to effect such registration or qualification; provided
that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any
jurisdiction
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where it is not now so qualified or to take any action which would subject it
to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering
or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(f) The Company will make generally available to its security
holders a consolidated earnings statement, which need not be audited, covering a
twelve-month period commencing after the effective date of the Registration
Statement and ending not later than 15 months thereafter, as soon as practicable
after the end of such period, which consolidated earnings statement shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder (including, at the option of the Company, Rule
158).
(g) During the period of five years hereafter, the Company
will furnish to you (i) as soon as available, a copy of each report of the
Company mailed to stockholders or filed with the Commission, and (ii) from time
to time such other information concerning the Company as you may reasonably
request.
(h) If this Agreement shall terminate or shall be terminated
after execution pursuant to any provisions hereof (otherwise than pursuant to
paragraph (c) of Section 10 hereof or by notice given by you terminating this
Agreement pursuant to Section 10 hereof) or if this Agreement shall be
terminated by the Underwriters because of any failure or refusal on the part of
the Company to comply with the terms or fulfill any of the conditions of this
Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including fees and expenses of counsel for the
Underwriters) incurred by you in connection herewith.
(i) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the sale of
the Securities substantially in accordance with the description set forth in the
Prospectus.
(j) Except as provided in this Agreement, the Company will
not, directly or indirectly, (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of any Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with Common Stock,
(2) sell or grant any option or contract to purchase, or purchase any option or
contract to sell, Common Stock or any securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with Common Stock, (3) grant any
option, right or warrant for the sale of Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable
with Common Stock, (4) lend or otherwise dispose of or transfer Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable or exercisable
for or repayable with Common Stock, (5) request or demand that the Company file
any registration statement related to the Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable
with Common Stock, or (6) enter into any swap or any other agreement or any
transaction that transfers, in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, the
economic consequence of ownership of the Common Stock or any securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable
with Common Stock (whether such swap, agreement or transaction is to be settled
by delivery of shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise), for a period
of 90 days after the date of the Prospectus Supplement, without first obtaining
written consent of the Representatives, other than any shares or options issued
pursuant to Company employee and director plans and any Company dividend, and
interest reinvestment and stock purchase plans.
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(k) Except as stated in this Agreement and in the Preliminary
Prospectus and Prospectus, the Company has not taken, nor will it take, directly
or indirectly, any action designed to or that might reasonably be expected to
cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Common
Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
(l) The Company will cause the shares of Common Stock which it
agrees to sell under this Agreement to be listed on the New York Stock Exchange
on or before the Closing Date and will use its best efforts to maintain such
listings on such exchange.
6. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:
(a) Each Preliminary Prospectus included as part of the
Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment or
supplement thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, complied when
so filed in all material respects with the provisions of the Act except that
this representation and warranty does not apply to statements in or omissions
from such Preliminary Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by
or on behalf of any Underwriter through you expressly for use therein. The
Commission has not issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any
Preliminary Prospectus.
(b) The Company and the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement meet the requirements for using Form S-3 under the Act. The
Registration Statement in the form in which it became effective and also in such
form as it may be when any amendment thereto shall become effective and the
Prospectus when filed with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under the Act,
complied or will comply in all material respects with the provisions of the Act
and will not at any such times contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, except that this
representation and warranty does not apply to statements in or omissions from
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company
in writing by or on behalf of any Underwriter through you expressly for use
therein. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration
statements has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated
or threatened by the Commission.
(c) The Incorporated Documents heretofore filed, when they
became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the
Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, and none of such documents 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; and any further
Incorporated Documents or any further amendment or supplement thereto, when such
documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the
Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit
to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading;
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provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to
any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter of
Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus
relating to such Securities;
(d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries (each, a
"SUBSIDIARY" and, collectively, the "SUBSIDIARIES") has since the date of the
latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus incurred any liability or obligation, direct or contingent, or
entered into any transaction, not in the ordinary course of business, that is
material to the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, or sustained any
material loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or
other calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute
or court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or
contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus; and, since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Preliminary Prospectus
and the Prospectus, there has not been any material change in the capital stock,
or material increase in the short-term debt or long-term debt, of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or any development
involving, or which may reasonably be expected to involve, a prospective
material adverse change in or affecting the condition (financial or other),
business, prospects, properties, net worth, assets or results of operations of
the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise than as set forth
or contemplated in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(e) This Agreement has been duly authorized by the Company
and conforms in all material respects to the descriptions thereof in the
Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus;
(f) The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company
and, upon issuance and delivery and payment therefor in the manner described
herein, will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable. The Securities
conform to the descriptions thereof in the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus. There are no preemptive or other rights to subscribe for or to
purchase, or any restriction upon the transfer of, any shares of the Company's
capital stock, including the Securities when issued, pursuant to the Company's
certificate of incorporation, bylaws or other governing documents or any
agreement or other instrument to which the Company or any of its Subsidiaries is
a party or by which it may be bound. Neither the filing of the Registration
Statement nor the offering or sale of the Securities as contemplated by this
Agreement gives rise to any rights, other than those which have been waived or
satisfied, for or relating to the registration of any shares of the Company's
capital stock;
(g) Each of the Company and each of its Subsidiaries that is
significant to the Company as determined by reference to item 1-02 of Regulation
S-X under the Act (the "SIGNIFICANT SUBSIDIARIES") has been duly incorporated
and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, with full power and authority (corporate and
other) to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as described in
the Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business and is in good standing in
each jurisdiction in which the character of the business conducted by it or the
location of the properties owned or leased by it makes such qualification
necessary (except where failure to be so qualified and in good standing could
not be reasonably expected to have a material adverse
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effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole). All of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company, and all of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary, have been
duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable. All of
the outstanding shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary that
are owned directly or indirectly by the Company are owned free and clear of
any claim, lien, encumbrance or security interest except as otherwise
disclosed in writing to the Representatives;
(h) Neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries is, nor
with the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would be, in violation of or
in default under, nor will the execution or delivery of this Agreement or
consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement result in a
violation of, or constitute a default under, the certificate of incorporation,
bylaws or other governing documents of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries,
or any agreement, indenture or other instrument to which the Company or any of
its Subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them is bound, or to which any of
their properties is subject, nor will the performance by the Company of its
obligations under this Agreement violate any law, rule, administrative
regulation or decree of any court or any governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company, its Subsidiaries or any of their properties, or
result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge, claim or encumbrance
upon any property or asset of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries. which, in
any case described above, would be material to the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole. Except for permits and similar authorizations required under
the Act, the Federal Power Act and the securities or Blue Sky laws of certain
jurisdictions, and except for such permits and authorizations as have been
obtained, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court,
governmental agency or body or financial institution is required in connection
with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement;
(j) Except as described in the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus, there is no litigation or governmental proceeding to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or to which any property of the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is subject or which is pending or, to the
knowledge of the Company, contemplated against the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries which could reasonably be expected to result in any material
adverse change in the condition (financial or other), results of operations,
business, prospects, net worth or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole;
(k) Neither the Company nor any Subsidiary is in violation of
any law, ordinance, governmental rule or regulation or court decree to which it
is subject which violation could reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the condition (financial or other), results of operations,
business, prospects, net worth or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole;
(l) To the knowledge of the Company, the accountants who have
audited and reported upon the financial statements filed with the Commission as
part of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or incorporated by
reference thereto are independent accountants as required by the Act and the
regulations thereunder. The consolidated financial statements and schedules
(including the related notes) included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration
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Statement or the Prospectus, fairly present the consolidated financial
position, the results of operations and changes in financial condition of the
entity or entities to which such statements relate at the respective dates
and for the respective periods to which they apply. Such financial statements
have been prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus. The other financial and statistical information and
data set forth in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, are fairly
presented and have been prepared on a basis consistent with such financial
statements and the books and records of the entities purported to be shown
thereby;
(m) Except as set forth in or contemplated by the Prospectus,
the Company and each of its Subsidiaries hold all patents, licenses,
certificates and permits from governmental authorities necessary for the conduct
of its present operations (except where failure to hold such patents, licenses,
certificates and permits could not be reasonably expected to have a material
adverse effect on the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole);
(o) The Company has not distributed and, prior to the later to
occur of (i) the Closing Date and (ii) completion of the distribution of the
Securities, will not distribute any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities other than the Registration Statement, the
Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or other materials, if any, permitted by
the Act; and
(p) The Company maintains a system of internal accounting
controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management's general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
statements in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION. (a) The Company will indemnify and
hold harmless each of you and each other Underwriter against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such Underwriter may become
subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any
other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any
Prospectus Supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and any other
prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter of Securities
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through the Representatives expressly for use in the Prospectus relating to
such Securities, and provided, further, that with respect to any such untrue
statement in or omission from the Preliminary Prospectus, the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 7(a) shall not inure to the benefit of an
Underwriter to the extent that the sale to the person asserting any such
loss, claim, damage, liability or action was an initial resale by such
Underwriter and any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action of or with
respect to such Underwriter results from the fact that both (A) to the extent
required by applicable law, a copy of the Prospectus was not sent or given to
such person at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such
Securities to such person and (B) the untrue statement in or omission from
the Preliminary Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus unless, in either
case, such failure to deliver the Prospectus was a result of non-compliance
by the Company.
(b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the
Company against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company
may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, 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 any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any other prospectus
relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use therein; and will
reimburse the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the
Company in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim
as such expenses are incurred.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in
writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such
action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be
entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly
with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense
thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not,
except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying
party), and, after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party
of its election so to assume the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall
not be liable to such indemnified party under such subsection for any legal
expenses of other counsel or any other expenses, in each case subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with the defense thereof other
than reasonable costs of investigation.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is
unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of
10
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on the other
from the offering of the Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or
liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however, the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable
law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required under
subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities
on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof),
as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the other
shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from
such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the
total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this subsection (d) 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 above in this subsection (d). The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating any claim or defending any such action, suit, proceeding or
claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the applicable Securities underwritten by it and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of
any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by
reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The
obligations of the Underwriters of Securities to contribute pursuant to this
Section 7 are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations with respect to such Securities and not joint.
(e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 7 shall
be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls
any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section 7 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.
11
8. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The several obligations of
the Underwriters to purchase the Initial Securities hereunder are subject to the
following conditions:
(a) All filings, if any, required by Rule 424 under the Act
shall have been timely made; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of a
registration statement relating to the Securities shall have been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of
the Company or any Underwriter threatened by the Commission; and any request of
the Commission for additional information (to be included in a registration
statement or prospectus or otherwise) shall have been complied with to your
satisfaction.
(b) Subsequent to the effective date of this Agreement, there
shall not have occurred (i) any change, or any development involving a
prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or other),
business, prospects, properties, net worth or results of operations of the
Company or the Subsidiaries not contemplated by the Prospectus, which in your
reasonable opinion, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, would
materially adversely affect the market for the Securities, or (ii) any event or
development relating to or involving the Company or any officer or director of
the Company which makes any statement made in the Prospectus untrue or which, in
the opinion of the Company and its counsel or the Underwriters and their
counsel, requires the making of any addition to or change in the Prospectus in
order to state a material fact required by the Act or any other law to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading, if
amending or supplementing the Prospectus to reflect such event or development
would, in your reasonable opinion, as Representatives of the several
Underwriters, materially adversely affect the market for the Securities.
(c) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
Milbank, Tweed, Xxxxxx & XxXxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the
Closing Date, with respect to the validity of the Securities, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, and other related matters as you reasonably may
request, such counsel being able to rely on the opinion, dated the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be given pursuant to Section 8(d)
and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such papers and information
as they request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(d) You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion of
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Company or the General
Counsel or Senior Counsel of the Company, in either case dated the Closing Date
and addressed to you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, in form
and substance satisfactory to you and your counsel, to the effect that:
(i) The Company has been duly incorporated, is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the State of Delaware, is duly qualified to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which
the conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of
property requires such qualification (except where the failure
to be so qualified and in good standing could not reasonably
be expected to have a material adverse effect on UtiliCorp and
its Subsidiaries taken as a whole), has duly obtained or has
succeeded to and holds all material franchises and other
governmental and corporate authority necessary to carry on the
public utility business in which it is engaged and to own,
lease and
12
operate the properties in use in such business and the
maintenance of such franchises and other authority is not
subject to any burdensome restriction or condition of an
unusual character (except as described in the Registration
Statement);
(ii) Each Significant Subsidiary of the Company
(other than foreign subsidiaries) has been duly incorporated,
is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation;
(iii) The Company has full corporate power and
corporate authority to enter into and perform its obligations
under this Agreement with respect to the Securities and to
issue, sell and deliver the Securities;
(iv) This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company;
(v) There are no preemptive or other rights to
subscribe for or to purchase, or any restriction upon the
transfer of, any shares of the Company's Common Stock,
including the Securities when issued, pursuant to the
Company's certificate of incorporation, bylaws, or any
agreement or other instrument and neither the filing of the
Registration Statement nor the offering or sale of the
Securities as contemplated by this Agreement gives rise to any
rights, other than those which have been waived or satisfied,
for or relating to the registration of any shares of the
Company's Common Stock under the Company's certificate of
incorporation, bylaws or any agreement or other instrument
binding on the Company known to such counsel;
(vi) The Securities have been duly authorized, and,
when delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement
will be validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable;
(vii) The order of the Federal Energy Regulatory
Commission authorizing the issuance and sale of the Securities
is in effect on the Closing Date and no other approval,
authorization, consent or order of any federal, state or local
commission or governmental authority (other than under state
securities or Blue Sky laws, as to which such counsel need
express no opinion) is required for the issuance and sale of
the Securities or the performance by the Company of its other
obligations under this Agreement, except such as are
specified, obtained and in effect, and the issuance and sale
of the Securities hereunder are in conformity with such
approval, authorization, consent and order;
(viii) After due inquiry, such counsel does not know
of any legal or governmental proceeding pending or threatened
to which the Company or its Significant Subsidiaries is a
party or to which any of the properties of the Company is
subject that is required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus and is not so described ;
13
(ix) The statements made (A) in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus under the captions "Description
of Common Stock" and "_____" and (B) in the Company's most
recent Annual Report on Form 10-K or Quarterly Report on form
10-Q under the caption "Legal Proceedings"; insofar as such
statements constitute a summary of the legal matters,
documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present
the information called for with respect to such legal matters,
documents and proceedings;
(x) The execution, delivery and performance by the
Company of this Agreement will not violate any provision of
applicable law that would be material to the Company and its
Subsidiaries taken as a whole or the certificate of
incorporation or the bylaws of the Company or breach, or
result in a default under, any agreement filed by the Company
as an exhibit with the Commission;
(xi) The authorized capital stock of the Company
conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof
contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, and the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly
authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable;
(xii) The Incorporated Documents incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus (other than the financial
statements and related schedules and the other financial
information and data therein, as to which such counsel need
express no opinion), when they became effective or were filed
with the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form
in all material respects with the requirements of the Act or
the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder, and they have no reason to
believe that any of such documents (other than the financial
statements and related schedules and the other financial
information and data therein, as to which such counsel need
express no opinion), when they became effective or were so
filed, as the case may be, contained, in the case of a
registration statement which became effective under the Act,
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances under which they were made when
such registration statement became effective, not misleading,
or, in the case of other documents which were filed under the
Act or the Exchange Act with the Commission, 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 when
such documents were so filed, not misleading; and
(xiii) The Registration Statement is effective under
the Act and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and, to the best of
such counsel's knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted or are pending before or contemplated by the
Commission and all filings required by Rule 424 under the Act
have been made; the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(other than the financial statements and related schedules and
the other financial information and data therein, as to which
such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
material respects with the
14
requirements of the Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder; they have no reason to believe that, as of its
effective date, the Registration Statement (other than the
financial statements and related schedules and the other
financial information and data therein, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion) 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, as of its date,
the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, ,(other than
the financial statements and related schedules and the other
financial information and data therein, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances in which they were made, not misleading or that,
as of the Closing Date for the Securities, neither the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus (other than the
financial statements and related schedules and the other
financial information and data therein, as to which such
counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement
of a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
in which they were made, not misleading; and they do not know
of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be
filed or any contracts or other documents of a character
required to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the
Prospectus or required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus which are not filed or
incorporated by reference or described as required.
In giving the foregoing opinions, such counsel may rely on (1)
the opinions of local counsel, with respect to the opinion set forth in
paragraph (i) above, (2) the opinions heretofore rendered by counsel to the
Company, Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxxx, Esq. and Messrs. Gage & Xxxxxx with respect to the
opinion set forth in paragraph (v) above and (3) the opinions of local counsel
and the opinion of Xxxxx & Xxxxxxx L.L.P., with respect to the opinion set forth
in paragraph (xi) above. Such counsel shall state that you and they are
justified in relying on such opinions.
(e) On or prior to the Closing Date (i) no downgrading shall
have occurred in the rating accorded the Company's debt securities or preference
stock by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization," as that
term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act
and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under
surveillance or review, with possible negative implication, its rating of any of
the Company's debt securities or preference stock;
(f) On the date hereof and the Closing Date for the
Securities, Xxxxxxxx LLP and any of the other independent accountants of the
Company or the Subsidiaries who have certified the financial statements of the
Company and/or the Subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall have furnished to the Representatives such letters,
the first letter dated the date hereof, and, second, a letter dated the Closing
Date, both to the effect set forth in ANNEX I hereto, and with respect to such
letter dated such Closing Date, as to such other matters as the Representatives
may reasonably request and in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representatives;
15
(g) (i) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries shall
have sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any loss or interference
with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not
covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action,
order or decree, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus,
and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Prospectus there shall not have been any material change in the capital stock,
or material increase in the short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries or any change, or any development involving or which may
reasonably be expected to involve, a prospective change in or affecting the
condition (financial or other), results of operations, business, prospects, net
worth or assets of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as a whole, otherwise
than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any
such case described in Clause (i) or (ii) is, in the reasonable judgment of the
Representatives so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery of the
Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;
(h) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished
to the Representatives at the Closing Date for the Securities a certificate or
certificates of the Chief Executive Officer, President or the Chief Financial
Officer of the Company (or such other officer as is acceptable to you)
satisfactory to the Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Closing Date, as to the
performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed
at or prior to such Closing Date, as to the matters set forth in subsections
(a), (g) and (i) of this Section 8 and as to such other matters as the
Representatives may reasonably request.
(i) The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission and any other
commission or governmental authority having jurisdiction over any of the
Company's public utility businesses shall have issued all approvals,
authorizations, consents and orders (the "REGULATORY ACTIONS") required thereby
for the issuance and sale of the Securities and the performance by the Company
of its other obligations under this Agreement, each Regulatory Action shall be
in effect, no proceedings to suspend the effectiveness of any Regulatory Actions
shall be pending or threatened, no Regulatory Action shall contain any provision
or condition that is unacceptable to the Underwriters, and the issuance and sale
of the Securities to the Underwriters shall be in conformity with each
Regulatory Action;
(j) The Company shall not have failed at or prior to the
Closing Date to have performed or complied with any of its agreements contained
in this Agreement and which are required to be performed or complied with by it
hereunder and thereunder at or prior to the Closing Date.
(k) The Securities shall have been approved for listing, and
the Company will use its best efforts to maintain its listing, on the New York
Stock Exchange.
(l) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished
to you such further certificates and documents as you shall have reasonably
requested.
16
All such opinions, certificates, letters and other documents
will be in compliance with the provisions hereof only if they are reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to you and your counsel.
Any certificate or document signed by any officer of the
Company and delivered to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, or to
counsel for the Underwriters, shall be deemed a representation and warranty by
the Company to each Underwriter as to the statements made therein.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Option
Securities hereunder are subject to the satisfaction on and as of any Option
Closing Date of the conditions set forth in this Section 8, except that, if any
Option Closing Date is other than the Closing Date, the certificates, opinions
and letters referred to in paragraphs (c), (d) and (f) shall be dated the Option
Closing Date in question and revised to reflect the sale of Option Securities.
9. EXPENSES. The Company covenants and agrees with the several
Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i)
the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Securities under the Act and all other
expenses in connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and the
mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the Underwriters and dealers; (ii)
the cost of printing or producing any Agreement among Underwriters, this
Agreement, any Blue Sky Memoranda and any other documents in connection with the
offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in
connection with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under
state securities laws as provided in Section 5(e) hereof, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky surveys; (iv) any filing fees
incident to any required review by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the Securities; (v) the cost of
preparing, issuing and delivering the Securities; (vi) the fees and expenses of
any transfer agent and registrant for the Securities; and (vii) all other costs
and expenses incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are
not otherwise specifically provided for in this Section. It is understood,
however, that, except as provided in this Section, Section 7 and Section 5(h)
hereof, the Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including
the fees of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by
them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
10. UNDERWRITING Default.
(a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to
purchase the Securities which it has agreed to purchase, the Representatives may
in their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Securities on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six
hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do not arrange
for the purchase of such Securities, then the Company shall be entitled to a
further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or
other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to purchase such Securities on
such terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed period, the
Representatives notify the Company that they have so arranged for the purchase
of such Securities, or the Company notifies the Representatives that it has so
17
arranged for the purchase of such Securities, the Representatives or the Company
shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for such Securities for a
period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may
thereby be made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or in
any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to file promptly any
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which
in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made necessary. The term
"Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted
under this Section with like effect as if such person had originally been a
party to this Agreement with respect to such Securities.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the
purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not
exceed one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities, then the
Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to
purchase the principal amount of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under this Agreement and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting
Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the principal amount of
Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under this Agreement) of
the Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such
arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.
(c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the
purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds
one-tenth of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities, as referred to in
subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not exercise the right described
in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase
Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then this Agreement
shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Company.
Any notice under this Section 10 may be given by telegram,
telecopy or telephone but shall be subsequently confirmed by letter.
11. TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT. This Agreement shall be subject to
termination in your absolute discretion, without liability on the part of any
Underwriter of the Securities by notice to the Company, if prior to the Closing
Date or any Option Closing Date (if different from the Closing Date and then
only as to the Option Securities), as the case may be, there shall have occurred
any of the following: (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange; (ii) a general moratorium
on commercial banking activities in New York or Missouri declared by either
federal or state authorities; or (iii) the outbreak or escalation of hostilities
involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a
national emergency or war if the effect of any such event specified in this
clause (iii) in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives makes it
impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the delivery
of the Securities on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
18
12. INFORMATION FURNISHED BY THE UNDERWRITERS. The following statements
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement under the heading "Underwriting"
constitutes the only information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters
through you as such information is referred to in Sections 6(b), 6(d) and 7
hereof: ___________.
13. MISCELLANEOUS. Except as otherwise provided herein, notice given
pursuant to any provision of this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be
delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission (i) if to the
Company, at the office of the Company at 00 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: General Counsel (Facsimile: (000) 000-0000) or (ii)
if to you, as Representatives of the several Underwriters, care of
_____________, Attention: (Facsimile: (___) ________) . Any such statements,
requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit
of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent provided in Section 7
hereof, the officers and directors of the Company and each person who controls
the Company or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors,
administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or
have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the
Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason
merely of such purchase.
14. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
15. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of
the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.
19
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us counterparts hereof.
Very truly yours,
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
By: ____________________________________
Name:
Title:
Confirmed as of the date first
above mentioned on behalf of
themselves and the other several
Underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto.
[Lead Underwriter]
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
By: [Lead Underwriter]
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
20
SCHEDULE I
UTILICORP UNITED INC.
NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITERS INITIAL SECURITIES
----------------------------
Total ============================
21
ANNEX I
Pursuant to Section 8(f) of the Purchase Agreement, each of the
independent accountants shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect
that, severally:
(i) They are independent certified public accountants with
respect to the Company and/or its Subsidiaries within the meaning of
the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;
(ii) In their opinion, the consolidated financial statements
audited and reported upon by such accountants and incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
Act and the regulations thereunder with respect to registration
statements on Form S-3 and the Exchange Act and the regulations
thereunder. The Form 10-K for the most recent year ended and
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, included the
required financial statement schedules which comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
Act and the regulations thereunder with respect to registration
statements on Form S-3 and the Exchange Act and the regulations
thereunder;
(iii) With respect to the entity or entities for which such
accountants have certified the financial statements of the Company
and/or the Subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement (hereinafter, with respect to each of such
accountants, referred to as an "AUDITED ENTITY"), they have performed
specified procedures, not constituting an audit, including a reading of
all of the available interim consolidated financial statements of the
Audited Entity since the end of the most recent fiscal year with
respect to which an audit report has been issued, inquiries of and
discussions with certain officials of the Audited Entity and certain of
its subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters with
respect to the unaudited consolidated financial statements incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and all of
the available interim unaudited consolidated financial statements of
the Audited Entity since the end of the most recent fiscal year, and
such other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter,
and on the basis of such inquiries and procedures nothing came to such
accountant's attention that caused them to believe that: (A) the
unaudited consolidated financial statements of the Audited Entity
incorporated by reference in Registration Statement or the Prospectus
do not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations thereunder or were not fairly presented on a basis
substantially consistent with that of the corresponding audited
financial statements incorporated by reference therein, or (B) at a
specified date not more than five days prior to the date of such
letter, there was any change in the outstanding capital stock (in the
case of a corporation) of the Audited Entity or consolidated long-term
debt of the Audited Entity, or any increase in preferred stock of the
Audited Entity, in each case as compared with the amounts shown on the
most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Audited Entity
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, except
22
in each such case as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or except for such exceptions enumerated in
such letter as shall have been agreed to by the Underwriters and the
Company; and
(iv) In addition to the examination referred to in their
report included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus and the limited procedures referred to in
clause (iii) above, such accountants have carried out certain other
specified procedures, not constituting an audit, with respect to
certain financial information which is included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus which are
specified by the Underwriters or their counsel, and have found such
financial information to be in agreement with the relevant accounting,
financial and other records of the Audited Entity identified in such
letter.
All references in this Annex I to the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) as defined in the Purchase Agreement as of the date thereof for
purposes of such letter and to the Prospectus (including the documents
incorporated by reference therein) in relation to the applicable Securities for
purposes of the letter delivered at the Closing Date for such Securities.
All terms used in this Annex I shall have the meanings given them in
the Purchase Agreement unless otherwise defined in this Annex I.
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