2,000,000 Shares
ALPHANET SOLUTIONS, INC.
Common Stock
Underwriting Agreement
dated March __, 1997
Table of Contents
Section 1. Representations And Warranties ............................................................2
A. Representations And Warranties of the Company and the Selling Stockholders......................2
Compliance With Registration Requirements.......................................................2
Offering Materials Furnished To Underwriters....................................................3
Distribution Of Offering Materials By The Company...............................................3
The Underwriting Agreement......................................................................3
Authorization Of The Common Shares..............................................................3
No Applicable Registration Or Other Similar Rights..............................................3
No Material Adverse Change......................................................................4
Independent Accountants.........................................................................4
Preparation Of The Financial Statements.........................................................4
Incorporation And Good Standing Of The Company And Its Subsidiaries.............................5
Capitalization And Other Capital Stock Matters..................................................5
Stock Exchange Listing..........................................................................6
Non-Contravention Of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations Or
Approvals Required........................................................................6
No Material Actions Or Proceedings..............................................................6
Intellectual Property Rights....................................................................7
All Necessary Permits, Etc......................................................................7
Title To Properties.............................................................................7
Tax Law Compliance..............................................................................7
Company Not An Investment Company...............................................................8
Insurance.......................................................................................8
No Price Stabilization Or Manipulation..........................................................8
Related Party Transactions......................................................................8
No Unlawful Contributions Or Other Payments.....................................................8
Company's Accounting System.....................................................................9
Compliance With Environmental Laws..............................................................9
ERISA Compliance...............................................................................10
B. Representations And Warranties Of The Selling Stockholders.....................................10
The Underwriting Agreement.....................................................................10
The Custody Agreement And Power Of Attorney....................................................11
Title To Common Shares To Be Sold; All Authorizations Obtained.................................11
Delivery Of The Common Shares To Be Sold.......................................................11
Non-Contravention; No Further Authorizations Or Approvals Required.............................11
No Registration Or Other Similar Rights........................................................12
No Further Consents, Etc.......................................................................12
Disclosure Made By Such Selling Stockholder In The Prospectus..................................12
No Price Stabilization Or Manipulation.........................................................12
Confirmation Of Company Representations And Warranties.........................................12
Section 2. Purchase, Sale And Delivery Of Common Shares..............................................13
The Firm Common Shares.........................................................................13
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The First Closing Date.........................................................................13
The Optional Common Shares; The Second Closing Date............................................13
Public Offering Of The Common Shares...........................................................14
Payment For The Common Shares..................................................................14
Delivery Of The Common Shares..................................................................15
Delivery Of Prospectus To The Underwriters.....................................................15
Section 3. Additional Covenants......................................................................16
A. Covenants Of The Company.......................................................................16
Underwriters' Review Of Proposed Amendments And Supplements....................................16
Securities Act Compliance......................................................................16
Amendments And Supplements To The Prospectus And Other Securities Act
Matters..................................................................................16
Copies Of Any Amendments And Supplements To The Prospectus.....................................17
Blue Sky Compliance............................................................................17
Use Of Proceeds................................................................................17
Transfer Agent.................................................................................17
Earnings Statement.............................................................................17
Periodic Reporting Obligations.................................................................18
Agreement Not To Offer Or Sell Additional Securities...........................................18
Future Reports To The Underwriters.............................................................18
B. Covenants Of The Selling Stockholders..........................................................18
Agreement Not To Offer Or Sell Additional Securities...........................................19
Delivery Of Forms W-8 And W-9..................................................................19
Section 4. Payment Of Expenses.......................................................................19
Section 5. Conditions Of The Obligations Of The Underwriters.........................................20
Accountants' Comfort Letter....................................................................20
Compliance With Registration Requirements; No Stop Order, No Objection From
NASD.....................................................................................21
No Material Adverse Change Or Ratings Agency Change............................................21
Opinion Of Counsel For The Company.............................................................21
Opinion Of Counsel For The Underwriters........................................................22
Officers' Certificate..........................................................................22
Bring-Down Comfort Letter......................................................................22
Opinion Of Counsel For The Selling Stockholders................................................22
Selling Stockholders' Certificate..............................................................23
Selling Stockholders' Documents................................................................23
Lock-Up Agreement From Certain Shareholders Of The Company Other Than
Selling Stockholders.....................................................................23
Additional Documents...........................................................................23
Section 6. Reimbursement Of Underwriters' Expenses...................................................24
Section 7. Effectiveness Of This Agreement...........................................................24
Section 8. Indemnification...........................................................................24
Indemnification Of The Underwriters............................................................24
Indemnification Of The Company, Its Directors And Officers.....................................24
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Notifications And Other Indemnification Procedures..............................................27
Settlements.....................................................................................27
Section 9. Contribution...............................................................................28
Section 10. Default Of One Or More Of The Several Underwriters.........................................29
Section 11. Termination Of This Agreement..............................................................30
Section 12. Representations And Indemnities To Survive Delivery........................................31
Section 13. Notices....................................................................................31
Section 14. Successors.................................................................................32
Section 15. Partial Unenforceability...................................................................32
Section 16. Governing Law Provisions...................................................................32
Section 17. Failure Of One Or More Of The Selling Stockholders To Sell And
Deliver Common Shares....................................................................32
Section 18. General Provisions.........................................................................33
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Underwriting Agreement
March __, 1997
XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES
CRUTTENDEN XXXX INCORPORATED
XXXXXX/HUNTER INCORPORATED
c/x XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. AlphaNet Solutions, Inc., a New Jersey
corporation (the "Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several
underwriters named in Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 1,150,000
shares of its Common Stock, par value $.01 per share (the "Common Stock"); and
the shareholders of the Company named in Schedule B (collectively, the "Selling
Stockholders") severally propose to sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of
850,000 shares of Common Stock. The 1,150,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold
by the Company and the 850,000 shares of Common Stock to be sold by the Selling
Stockholders are collectively called the "Firm Common Shares". In addition, the
Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an
additional 172,500 shares of Common Stock and the Selling Stockholders have
severally granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional
127,500 shares of Common Stock, each Selling Stockholder selling up to the
amount set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder's name in Schedule B, all as
provided in Section 2. The additional 172,500 shares to be sold by the Company
and the additional 127,500 shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders
pursuant to such option are collectively called the "Optional Common Shares".
The Firm Common Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the
Optional Common Shares are collectively called 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. 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, 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
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date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term
"Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.
Such prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of
the Common Shares, 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
prospectus subject to completion (each, a "preliminary prospectus") dated [___]
(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. All references in this Agreement to the
Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or the Term Sheet, or any amendments or supplements
to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the
Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
System ("XXXXX").
The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders 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
Stockholders . Each of the Company and each of the Selling Stockholders
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 XXXXX (except as may be permitted by
Regulation S-T under the Securities Act), was identical to 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, 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
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Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent
times, 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 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 Underwriter 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 the Underwriters three complete manually signed copies 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 Underwriters have
reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Materials By the Company. The Company
has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second
Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters'
distribution of the Common Shares, 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 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
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registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, 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 or not arising from transactions in the
ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as
one entity (any such change is called a "Material Adverse Change"); (ii) the
Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have 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 or,
except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its
subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(h) Independent Accountants. Price Waterhouse 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
included in the Prospectus, are independent public or certified public
accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder (collectively, the
"Exchange 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 consolidated financial position of
the Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the
results of their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The
supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement present
fairly the information required to be stated therein. Such financial statements
and supporting schedules, if any, 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
Consolidated Financial Data", "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and
"Capitalization" fairly present the information set forth therein on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements contained in the
Registration Statement.
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(j) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its
Subsidiaries. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation and has corporate power and
authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business
as described in the Prospectus and, in the case of the Company, to enter into
and perform its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and each
subsidiary 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. All of the issued and outstanding capital
stock of each subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully
paid and nonassessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through
subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
encumbrance or claim, except for such security interest granted to First Union
National Bank pursuant to that certain Revolving Credit Agreement and Term Loan
dated August 5, 1987 by and between the Company and First Union National Bank,
as amended or modified to date. The Company does not own or control, directly or
indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than the
subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(k) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized,
issued and outstanding capital stock of the 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 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 Stockholders) 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 or any
of its subsidiaries other 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 accurately and fairly presents the information required to be
shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and rights.
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(l) Stock Exchange Listing. The Common Stock, including the Common
Shares, is registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is
listed on the Nasdaq National Market, and the Company has taken no action
designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating the registration of
the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or delisting the Common Stock from the
Nasdaq National Market, nor has the Company received any notification that the
Commission or the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD")
is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.
(m) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further
Authorizations or Approvals Required. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws or is in default (or,
with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) ("Default")
under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract,
franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound (including,
without limitation, the Company's Revolving Credit Agreement and Term Loan with
First Union National Bank, as lender), or to which any of the property or assets
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries 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 charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary, (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 or any of its subsidiaries 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 or any subsidiary. No
consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or filing
with, any court or 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, applicable state securities or blue sky
laws and from 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 or any of
its subsidiaries, (ii) which has as the subject thereof any officer or director
of, or property owned or leased by, the Company or any of its subsidiaries or
(iii) relating to environmental or
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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 or such subsidiary 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 any of its subsidiaries, or 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 and its subsidiaries
own or possess sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights,
licenses, approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively,
"Intellectual Property Rights") reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses
as now conducted; and the expected expiration of any of such Intellectual
Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has 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 and each subsidiary
possess such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by
the appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies
necessary to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor
any subsidiary has 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) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries 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 use made or proposed to be made of such property
by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment
and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary 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 or
such subsidiary.
(r) 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
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or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them. 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 or any of its subsidiaries has not been finally
determined.
(s) 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.
(t) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are 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 their businesses including, but not limited
to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company
and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and
earthquakes. The Company has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary 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. Neither of the
Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has
sought or for which it has applied.
(u) 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.
(v) 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.
(w) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any
employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or
other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or
foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be
disclosed in the Prospectus.
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(x) Company's Accounting System. The Company maintains a system of
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurances that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation
of financial statements in 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.
(y) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change (i)
neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is 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, 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 Environmental 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 or its subsidiaries
under applicable Environmental Laws, or noncompliance with the terms and
conditions thereof, nor has the Company or any of its subsidiaries received any
written communication, whether from a governmental authority, citizens group,
employee or otherwise, that alleges that the Company or any of its subsidiaries
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 or any of its subsidiaries, now or in the past (collectively,
"Environmental Claims"), pending or, to the best of the Company's knowledge,
threatened against the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any person or
entity whose liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its
subsidiaries 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
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Environmental Law or form the basis of a potential Environmental Claim against
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or against any person or entity whose
liability for any Environmental Claim the Company or any of its subsidiaries
has retained or assumed either contractually or by operation of law.
(z) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any
"employee benefit plan" (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (collectively, "ERISA")) established or maintained
by the Company, its subsidiaries or their "ERISA Affiliates" (as defined
below) are in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. "ERISA
Affiliate" means, with respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of
any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (the "Code") of which the Company or such
subsidiary is a member. No "reportable event" (as defined under ERISA) has
occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any "employee
benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or
any of their ERISA Affiliates. No "employee benefit plan" established or
maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates,
if such "employee benefit plan" were terminated, would have any "amount of
unfunded benefit liabilities" (as defined under ERISA). Neither the Company,
its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or reasonably
expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to
termination of, or withdrawal from, any "employee benefit plan" or (ii)
Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each "employee benefit plan"
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the
Code is so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to
act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and
delivered to the Underwriters 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.
B. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholders. In
addition to the representations, warranties and covenants set forth in Section
1(A), each Selling Stockholder 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 Stockholder
and is a valid and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, 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.
- 10 -
(b) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney. Each of the (i)
Custody Agreement signed by such Selling Stockholder and Xxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, as custodian (the "Custodian"), relating to the deposit of the
Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder (the "Custody
Agreement") and (ii) Power of Attorney appointing certain individuals named
therein as such Selling Stockholder'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 Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding
agreement of such Selling Stockholder, 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 Stockholder has, and on the First Closing Date and the Second
Closing Date (as defined below) will have, good and valid title to all of
the Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to
this Agreement on such date and the legal right and power, and all
authorizations and approvals required by law and under its trust agreement
or other organizational documents to enter into this Agreement and its
Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all
of the Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant
to this Agreement and to comply with its 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 Stockholder 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 Stockholder of, and the
performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, this
Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney will not
contravene or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a Default
under, or require the consent of any other party to, the trust agreement or
other organizational documents of such Selling Stockholder or any other
agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by
which it is bound or under which it is entitled to any right or benefit,
any provision of applicable law or any judgment, order, decree or
regulation applicable to such Selling Stockholder of any court, regulatory
body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder. No consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or registration or
- 11 -
filing with, any court or other governmental authority or agency, is
required for the consummation by such Selling Stockholder 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,
applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD.
(f) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling Stockholder
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
"Shares Eligible for Future Sale".
(g) No Further Consents, etc. No consent, approval or waiver is
required under any instrument or agreement to which such Selling
Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound or under which it 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 Stockholder under this Agreement or the consummation by
such Selling Stockholder of any of the other transactions contemplated
hereby.
(h) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Stockholder in the Prospectus. All
information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in
writing expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is,
and on the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date will be, true,
correct, and complete in all material respects, and does not, and on the
First Closing Date and the Second 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 Stockholder confirms
as accurate the number of shares of Common Stock set forth opposite such
Selling Stockholder's name in the Prospectus under the caption "Principal
and Selling Stockholders" (both prior to and after giving effect to the
sale of the Common Shares).
(i) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Such Selling Stockholder
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.
(j) Confirmation of Company Representations and Warranties. Such
Selling Stockholder 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
- 12 -
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 Stockholder and
delivered to the Underwriters or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed
to be a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder 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
1,150,000 Firm Common Shares and (ii) the Selling Stockholders agree to sell to
the several Underwriters an aggregate of 850,000 Firm Common Shares, each
Selling Stockholder selling the number of Firm Common Shares set forth opposite
such Selling Stockholder'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
Stockholders 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 Stockholders 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 Representative) at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, on March __, 1997, or
such other time and date not later than 10:30 a.m. San Francisco time, on March
__, 1997 as the Representative 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 Stockholders hereby acknowledge that circumstances under which
the Underwriters 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 Stockholders or the Underwriters 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 subject to the conditions herein set forth,
the Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby grant an option to the several
Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of
300,000 Optional Common Shares from the Company and the Selling Stockholders 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
- 13 -
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
Underwriters to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, 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 Underwriters 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, (a) 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 Underwriters 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 and (b) the Company and each Selling Stockholder agree, severally and not
jointly, to sell the number of Optional Common Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representative may determine)
that bears the same proportion to the total number of Optional Common Shares to
be sold as the number of Optional Common Shares set forth in Schedule B opposite
----------
the name of such Selling Stockholder (or, in the case of the Company, as the
number of Optional Common Shares to be sold by the Company as set forth in the
paragraph "Introductory" of this Agreement) bears to the total number of
Optional Common Shares. The Underwriters may cancel the option at any time prior
to its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company
and the Selling Stockholders.
Public Offering of the Common Shares. The Underwriters hereby
advise the Company and the Selling Stockholders 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 Underwriters, 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 (and, if
applicable, at the Second 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 Stockholders shall be made at the First Closing Date (and,
if applicable, at the Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the order of each of the Selling Stockholders.
- 14 -
It is understood that the Underwriters 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 Representative
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 First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve
such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
Each Selling Stockholder 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
Stockholder to the several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the
performance of such Selling Stockholder's obligations hereunder and (ii) the
Custodian is authorized to deduct for such payment any such amounts from the
proceeds to such Selling Stockholder hereunder and to hold such amounts for the
account of such Selling Stockholder with the Custodian under the Custody
Agreement.
Delivery of the Common Shares. The Company and the Selling
Stockholders shall deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the 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 and
the Selling Stockholders shall also deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the
Underwriters, certificates for the Optional Common Shares the Underwriters have
agreed to purchase from them 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 Underwriters 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 Underwriters 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 of
released by the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall delivery
or cause to be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such
places as the Underwriters shall request.
- 15 -
Section 3. Additional Covenants.
A. Covenants of the Company. The Company further covenants
and agrees with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Underwriters' 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 (including any amendment or
supplement through incorporation by reference of any report filed under the
Exchange Act, the Company shall furnish to the Underwriters 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
Underwriters reasonably object.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement, the
Company shall promptly advise the Underwriters in writing (i) of the
receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental
information from, the Commission, (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
- 16 -
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 Underwriters 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 Underwriters, without charge, during the
Prospectus Delivery Period, as many copies of the Prospectus and any
amendments and supplements thereto as the Underwriters may request.
(e) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the
Underwriters 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 state securities laws of those jurisdictions designated by
the Underwriters, 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 Underwriters
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 in the manner described 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 Underwriters an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month
period ending March 31, 1998 that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a)
of the Securities Act.
- 17 -
(j) 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.
(k) 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 any stock option, stock bonus or other
stock plan or arrangement described in the Prospectus, but only 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 the longer of (i) 90 days
following the date of the Prospectus or (ii) the lockup period pursuant to
its lockup agreement entered into with the Underwriters, without the prior
written consent of Xxxxxxxxxx Securities (which consent may be withheld at
the sole discretion of the Xxxxxxxxxx Securities).
(m) Future Reports to the Underwriters. During the period of five years
hereafter the Company will furnish to the Underwriters at 000 Xxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxx XxXxxx: (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, stockholders' 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 Stockholders. Each Selling Stockholder
further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:
- 18 -
(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such
Selling Stockholder 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 the Exchange Act) 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 one (1) year after the date of the Prospectus in
the case of Xxxx Gang and through the close of trading on the date 90 days after
the date of the Prospectus in the case of The Gang Annuity Trust.
(b) Delivery of Forms W-8 and W-9. To deliver to the
Underwriters prior to the First Closing Date a properly completed and executed
United States Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Stockholder is a non-
United States person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling Stockholder 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 Stockholder of any one or more of the foregoing covenants.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company and the Selling
Stockholders, jointly and severally, agree to pay in such proportions as they
may agree upon among themselves 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 public 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 laws, and, if requested by the Underwriters, 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
- 19 -
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 14 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 Stockholders 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 Stockholders (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 Stockholders 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 Stockholders, 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 Stockholders 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 performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholders
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
Underwriters shall have received from Price Waterhouse 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 Underwriters, containing statements and information of
the type ordinarily included in accountant's "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 Underwriters shall have
received an additional three conformed copies of such accountants' letter
for each of the several Underwriters).
- 20 -
(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 Underwriters' 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 Change. 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 Underwriters there shall not have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; and
(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 Underwriters shall have received the
favorable opinion of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, counsel for the Company, dated as of
such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit A (and the
---------
Underwriters shall
- 21 -
have received an additional three 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 Underwriters shall have received the
favorable opinion of Piper & Marbury L.L.P., counsel for the Underwriters, dated
as of such Closing Date, with respect to the matters set forth in paragraphs
(i), (v), (vi), (vii), (ix), (x), and the next-to-last paragraph of Exhibit A
---------
(and the Underwriters shall have received an additional three 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 Underwriters 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 Underwriters shall have received from Price Waterhouse
LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company, a
letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters,
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 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 Underwriters shall have received an additional three
conformed copies of such accountants' letter for each of the several
Underwriters).
(h) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. On each of the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date the Underwriters shall have received
the favorable opinion of Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, counsel for the Selling
Stockholders,
- 22 -
dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is attached as Exhibit B (and
---------
the Underwriters shall have received an additional three conformed copies of
such counsel's legal opinion for each of the several Underwriters).
(i) Selling Stockholders' Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date the Underwriters shall have received a written
certificate executed by each Selling Stockholder, dated as of such Closing Date,
to the effect that:
(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of such
Selling Stockholder 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 Stockholder on and as of such Closing Date; and
(ii) such Selling Stockholder 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 Stockholders' Documents. On the date hereof, the Company and
the Selling Stockholders shall have furnished for review by the Underwriters
copies of the Powers of Attorney and Custody Agreements executed by each of the
Selling Stockholders and such further information, certificates and documents as
the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(k) Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Shareholders of the Company Other Than
Selling Stockholders. On the date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to
the Underwriters an agreement in the form of Exhibit C hereto from each director
---------
and each officer of the Company, 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 Underwriters 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 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
Underwriters by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders 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
- 23 -
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 Underwriters pursuant to Section 5, Section 7,
Section 10 or 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
Stockholders to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision
hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse the 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 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 Underwriters 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 Stockholders to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling
Stockholders shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Underwriters
pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) of any Underwriter to the Company or
the Selling Stockholders, 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 Stockholders, 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 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
- 24 -
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 Stockholders contained herein; or
(iv) in whole or in part upon any failure of the Company or the Selling
Stockholders 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 Stockholders by the Underwriters 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.
Notwithstanding any provision herein to the contrary, the liability of The
Gang
- 25 -
Annuity Trust under this Agreement shall not exceed the net proceeds (before
deducting offering expenses) received by such shareholder from the sale of
Common Shares in this offering. The indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 8(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company and the
Selling Stockholders 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 Stockholders and each person, if any, who
controls the Company or any Selling Stockholder 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 Stockholder 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 Stockholders by the Underwriters
expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director,
officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person for any legal and other
expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer,
Selling Stockholder 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
Stockholders, hereby acknowledges that the only information that the
Underwriters have furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholders
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 two paragraphs on the inside front cover page of the
Prospectus concerning stabilization and passive market making by the
Underwriters and (B) in the table in the first paragraph and as the second and
seventh paragraphs 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.
- 26 -
(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 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 prior
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.
- 27 -
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 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 Stockholders, 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 Stockholders, 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 Stockholders, 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
Stockholders, 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
Stockholders, 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
- 28 -
state a material fact or any such inaccurate or alleged inaccurate
representation or warranty relates to information supplied by the Company or the
Selling Stockholders, 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 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 Stockholders 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 with 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
- 29 -
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 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 non-defaulting Underwriters 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 Underwriters or the Company 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 maybe terminated by the Underwriters by notice given
to the Company and the Selling Stockholders 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, New Jersey 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 Underwriters 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
Underwriters 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 Underwriters may
interfere materially with the conduct of the business and operations of the
Company regardless of
- 30 -
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 Stockholders to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling
Stockholders shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Underwriters
pursuant to Sections 4 and 6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company or the
Selling Stockholders, 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
Stockholders 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 Stockholders, as the case may be, and will survive delivery of and
payment for the Common Shares sold hereunder and any termination of this
Agreement.
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 Underwriters:
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.
- 31 -
If to the Company:
AlphaNet Solutions, Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx Gang
If to the Selling Stockholders:
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
College Centre
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esquire
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. 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.
Section 17. Failure of One or More of the Selling Stockholders
to Sell and Deliver Common Shares. If one or more of the Selling Stockholders
shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Common Shares to be sold
and delivered by such
- 32 -
Selling Stockholders at the First Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement, then
the Underwriters may at their option, by written notice from the Underwriters to
the Company and the Selling Stockholders, 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 Stockholders, or (ii)
purchase the shares which the Company and other Selling Stockholders have agreed
to sell and deliver in accordance with the terms hereof. If one or more of the
Selling Stockholders shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the
Common Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling Stockholders pursuant to
this Agreement at the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, then the
Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice from the Underwriters to
the Company and the Selling Stockholders, 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.
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
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.
- 33 -
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,
ALPHANET SOLUTIONS, INC.
By:__________________________
Xxxx Gang
President and Chief Executive
Officer
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
By:__________________________
(Attorney-in-fact)
By:__________________________
(Attorney-in-fact)
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted
by the Underwriters in San Francisco, California as of the date first above
written.
XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES
CRUTTENDEN XXXX INCORPORATED
XXXXXX/HUNTER INCORPORATED
By XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES
By:___________________________
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxx
Authorized Signatory
- 34 -
SCHEDULE A
Number of
Firm Common Shares
Underwriters to be Purchased
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities .................................... [___]
Cruttenden Xxxx Incorporated ............................. [___]
Xxxxxx/Hunter Incorporated ............................... [___]
Total............................................. 2,000,000
- 1 -
SCHEDULE B
Number of Maximum
Selling Stockholder Firm Number of
Common Optional Common
Shares Shares
to be Sold to be Sold
Xxxx Gang
c/o AlphaNet Solutions, Inc.
0 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx 635,000 95,250
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxx 00000
The Gang Annuity Trust
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 00000
Attention: Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Esq. 215,000 32,250
------- -------
Total: 850,000 127,500
- 2 -
EXHIBIT A
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 New Jersey.
(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 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.
(iv) 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 Stockholders) 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 evidence the Common Stock is in due and
proper form and complies with all applicable requirements of the charter and by-
laws of the Company and the Business Corporation Act of the State of New Jersey.
The description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans
or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted and exercised
thereunder, set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the
information required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements,
options and rights.
(v) No stockholder 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 charter or
by-laws
- 1 -
of the Company or the Business Corporation Act of the State of New Jersey or
(ii) to the best knowledge of such counsel, otherwise.
(vi) 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 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 creditors' rights generally or by
general equitable principles.
(vii) The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the
Company have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to the
Underwriting Agreement 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.
(viii) 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 the best knowledge of such counsel, 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).
(ix) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and each amendment or supplement to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, 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.
(x) The Common Shares have been approved for listing on the Nasdaq
National Market.
(xi) The statements (i) in the Prospectus under the captions "Risk
Factors--Control by Existing Shareholder; Anti-takeover Considerations" and "-
Shares Eligible for Future Sale", "Management's Discussion and Analysis of
Results of Operations and Financial Condition--Liquidity and Capital Resources",
"Business--Legal Proceedings", "Management--1995 Non-Employee Director Stock
Option Plan, -1995 Stock Plan, -401(k) Plan, -Employment Agreements, -
Compensation
- 2 -
Committee Interlocks and Insider Participation", "Certain Transactions",
"Description of Capital Stock", and "Shares Eligible for Future Sale" and (ii)
in Item 14 and Item 15 of the Registration Statement, insofar as such statements
constitute matters of law, summaries of legal matters, the Company's charter or
by-law 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.
(xii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, 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.
(xiii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, 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;
and the descriptions thereof and references thereto are correct in all material
respects.
(xiv) 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
state securities or blue sky laws and from the NASD.
(xv) 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 section of the Underwriting Agreement, as to which no opinion
need be rendered), assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each
other party thereto, (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the part of the Company; (ii) will not result in any violation of the
provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any subsidiary; (iii)
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, (A) the Company's Revolving
Credit Agreement and Term Loan with First Union National Bank, as lender, or (B)
to the best knowledge of such counsel, any other material Existing Instrument;
or (iv) to the best knowledge of such counsel, will not result in any violation
of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree
applicable to the Company or any subsidiary.
(xvi) 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.
- 3 -
(xvii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, 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, except for such rights as have been
duly waived.
(xviii) To the best knowledge of such counsel, neither the Company nor
any subsidiary is in violation of its charter or by-laws or any law,
administrative regulation or administrative or court decree applicable to the
Company or any subsidiary or is in Default in the performance or observance of
any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any material
Existing Instrument, except in each such case for such violations or Defaults as
would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Change.
(xix) The Company owns, or is licensed or otherwise has sufficient
rights to use the Intellectual Property Rights used in, or necessary for, the
conduct of its business as described in the Prospectus. To the best knowledge of
such counsel, except as described in the Prospectus, no claims have been
asserted against the Company by any person to the use of any such rights or
challenging or questioning the validity or effectiveness of any such rights. The
use, in connection with the business and operations of the Company of such
rights does not, to the best knowledge of such counsel, infringe on the rights
of any person.
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
- 4-
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 the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Business Corporation Act
of the State of New Jersey 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 Underwriters) 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.
- 5 -
EXHIBIT B
The opinion of such counsel pursuant to Section 5(h) shall be rendered
to the Underwriters 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, assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery by each other party thereto, is a valid and binding
agreement of Stockholder, 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 creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.
(ii) The execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of, and
the performance by such Selling Stockholder 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 charter or by-laws, partnership agreement, trust
agreement or other organizational documents, as the case may be, of such
Selling Stockholder, or, to the best of 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 Stockholder is a party or by
which it is bound, or any judgment, order or decree applicable to such
Selling Stockholder of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency,
governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling
Stockholder.
(iii) To the best of our knowledge, such Selling Stockholder has good
and valid title to all of the Common Shares which may be sold by such
Selling Stockholder under the Underwriting Agreement and has the legal
right and power, and all authorizations and approvals required by the trust
agreement or other organizational documents, as the case may be, 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 Stockholder 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 Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
such Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding agreement of such
Selling Stockholder,
- 1 -
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
creditors' rights generally or by general equitable principles.
(v) Assuming that the Underwriters purchase the Common Shares
which are sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to the Underwriting
Agreement for value, in good faith and without notice of any adverse claim,
the delivery of such Common Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement
will pass good and valid title to such Common Shares, free and clear of
either any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lieu encumbrance or other
claim.
(vi) To the best of 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 Stockholder of the transactions contemplated
in the Underwriting Agreement, except as required under the Securities Act,
applicable state securities or blue sky laws, 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 the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, the Business Corporation Act
of the State of New Jersey 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 Underwriters) 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 Stockholders and public
officials.
- 2 -
EXHIBIT C
[Date]
Xxxxxxxxxx Securities
Cruttenden Xxxx Incorporated
Xxxxxx/Hunter Incorporated
c/x Xxxxxxxxxx Securities
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
RE: AlphaNet Solutions, Inc. (the "Company")
Ladies & 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 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 90 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
- 1 -
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.
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 -
