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EXHIBIT 2(h)(3)
[LOGO]
XXXXXXX XXXXX & CO.
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX INCORPORATED
XXXXXXX XXXXX WORLD HEADQUARTERS
NORTH TOWER
WORLD FINANCIAL CENTER
NEW YORK, N.Y. 10281-1305
STANDARD DEALER AGREEMENT
Dear Sirs:
In connection with public offerings of securities underwritten by us,
or by a group of underwriters (the "Underwriters") represented by us, you may be
offered the opportunity to purchase a portion of such securities, as principal,
at a discount from the offering price representing a selling concession or
reallowance granted as consideration for services rendered by you in the sale of
such securities. We request that you agree to the following terms and
provisions, and make the following representations, which, together with any
additional terms and provisions set forth in any wire or letter sent to you in
connection with a particular offering, will govern all such purchases of
securities and the reoffering thereof by you.
Your subscription to, or purchase of, such securities will constitute
your reaffirmation of this Agreement.
1. When we are acting as representative (the "Representative") of the
Underwriters in offering securities to you, it should be understood that all
offers are made subject to prior sale of the subject securities, when, as and if
such securities are delivered to and accepted by the Underwriters and subject to
the approval of legal matters by their counsel. In such cases, any order from
you for securities will be strictly subject to confirmation and we reserve the
right in our uncontrolled discretion to reject any order in whole or in part.
Upon release by us, you may reoffer such securities at the offering price fixed
by us. With our consent, you may allow a discount, not in excess of the
reallowance fixed by us, in selling such securities to other dealers, provided
that in doing so you comply with the Rules of Fair Practice of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD"). Upon our request, you will
advise us of the identity of any dealer to whom you allow such a discount and
any Underwriter or dealer from whom you receive such a discount. After the
securities are released for sale to the public, we may vary the offering price
and other selling terms.
2. You represent that you are a dealer actually engaged in the
investment banking or securities business and that you are either (i) a member
in good standing of the NASD or (ii) a dealer with its
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principal place of business located outside the United States, its territories
or possessions and not registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (a
"non-member foreign dealer") or (iii) a bank not eligible for membership in the
NASD. If you are a non-member foreign dealer, you agree to make no sales of
securities within the United States, its territories or its possessions or to
persons who are nationals thereof or residents therein. Non-member foreign
dealers and banks agree, in making any sales, to comply with the NASD's
interpretation with respect to free-riding and withholding. In accepting a
selling concession where we are acting as Representative of the Underwriters, in
accepting a reallowance from us whether or not we are acting as such
Representative, and in allowing a discount to any other person, you agree to
comply with the provisions of Section 24 of Article III of the Rules of Fair
Practice of the NASD, and, in addition, if you are a non-member foreign dealer
or bank, you agree to comply, as though you were a member of the NASD, with the
provisions of Sections 8 and 36 of Article III of such Rules of Fair Practice
and to comply with Section 25 of Article III thereof as that Section applies to
a non-member foreign dealer or bank. You represent that you are fully familiar
with the above provisions of the Rules of Fair Practice of the NASD.
3. If the securities have been registered under the Securities Act of
1933 (the "1933 Act"), in offering and selling such securities, you are not
authorized to give any information or make any representation not contained in
the prospectus relating thereto. You confirm that you are familiar with the
rules and policies of the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the
distribution of preliminary and final prospectuses, and you agree that you will
comply therewith in any offering covered by this Agreement. If we are acting as
Representative of the Underwriters, we will make available to you, to the extent
made available to us by the issuer of the securities, such number of copies of
the prospectus or offering documents, for securities not registered under the
1933 Act, as you may reasonably request.
4. If we are acting as Representative of the Underwriters of securities
of an issuer that is not required to file reports under the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), you agree that you will not sell any of the
securities to any account over which you have discretionary authority.
5. Payment for securities purchased by you is to be made at our office,
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, 000 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, X.X. 00000 (or at such other place as
we may advise), at the offering price less the concession allowed to you, on
such date as we may advise, by certified or official bank check in New York
Clearing House funds (or such other funds as we may advise), payable to our
order, against delivery of the securities to be purchased by you. We shall have
authority to make appropriate arrangements for payment for and/or delivery
through the facility of The Depository Trust Company or any such other
depository or similar facility for the securities.
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6. In the event that, prior to the completion of the distribution of
securities covered by this Agreement, we purchase in the open market or
otherwise any securities delivered to you, if we are acting as Representative of
the Underwriters, you agree to repay to us for the accounts of the Underwriters
the amount of the concession allowed to you plus brokerage commissions and any
transfer taxes paid in connection with such purchase.
7. At any time prior to the completion of the distribution of
securities covered by this Agreement you will, upon our request as
Representative of the Underwriters, report to us the amount of securities
purchased by you which then remains unsold and will, upon our request, sell to
us for the account of one or more of the Underwriters such amount of such unsold
securities as we may designate, at the offering price less an amount to be
determined by us not in excess of the concession allowed to you.
8. If we are acting as Representative of the Underwriters, upon
application to us, we will inform you of the states and other jurisdictions of
the United States in which it is believed that the securities being offered are
qualified for sale under, or are exempt from the requirements of, their
respective securities laws, but we assume no responsibility with respect to your
right to sell securities in any jurisdiction. We shall have authority to file
with the Department of State of the State of New York a Further State Notice
with respect to the securities, if necessary.
9. You agree that in connection with any offering of securities covered
by this Agreement you will comply with the applicable provisions of the 1933 Act
and the 1934 Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Securities and
Exchange Commission thereunder, the applicable rules and regulations of the
NASD, and the applicable rules of any securities exchange having jurisdiction
over the offering.
10. We shall have full authority to take such action as we may deem
advisable in respect of all matters pertaining to any offering covered by this
Agreement. We shall be under no liability to you except for our lack of good
faith and for obligations assumed by us in this Agreement, except that you do
not waive any rights that you may have under the 1933 Act or the rules and
regulations thereunder.
11. Any notice from us shall be deemed to have been duly given if
mailed or transmitted by any standard form of written telecommunications to you
at the above address or at such other address as you shall specify to us in
writing.
12. With respect to any offering of securities covered by this
Agreement, the price restrictions contained in Paragraph 1 hereof and the
provisions of Paragraphs 6 and 7 hereof shall terminate as to such offering at
the close of business on the 45th day after the securities are released for sale
or, as to any or all such provisions, at such earlier time as we may advise. All
other
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provisions of this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect
with respect to such offering.
13. This Agreement shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York.
Please confirm your agreement hereto by signing the enclosed duplicate
copy hereof in the place provided below and returning such signed duplicate copy
to us at World Headquarters, North Tower, World Financial Center, New York, N.Y.
10281-1305, Attention: Corporate Syndicate. Upon receipt thereof, this
instrument and such signed duplicate copy will evidence the agreement between
us.
Very truly yours,
XXXXXXX LYNCH, PIERCE, XXXXXX & XXXXX
INCORPORATED
By: /s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
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Name: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Confirmed and accepted as of the
day of , 19
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Name of Dealer
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Authorized Officer or Partner
(if not Officer of Partner, attach copy of
Instrument of Authorization)