10/25/96
[Form of Underwriting Agreement - Subject to Additional Review]
1,800,000 Shares of Common Stock
and 1,800,000 Redeemable Warrants
MULTIMEDIA ACCESS CORPORATION
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
----------------------
New York, New York
, 1996
NATIONAL SECURITIES CORPORATION
As Representative of the
Several Underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Multimedia Access Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
confirms its agreement with National Securities Corporation ("National") and
each of the underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the
"Underwriters," which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as
hereinafter provided in Section 11), for whom National is acting as
representative (in such capacity, National shall hereinafter be referred to as
"you" or the "Representative"), with respect to the sale by the Company and the
purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the
respective numbers of shares ("Shares") of the Company's common stock, $.0001
par value per share ("Common Stock"), and redeemable common stock purchase
warrants (the "Redeemable Warrants"), each to purchase one share of Common
Stock, set forth in Schedule A hereto. The aggregate 1,800,000 Shares and
1,800,000 Redeemable Warrants will be separately tradeable upon issuance and are
hereinafter referred to as the "Firm Securities." Each Redeemable Warrant is
exercisable
commencing on ____________, 1997 [6 months from the date of this Agreement]
until ____________, 2001 [60 months from the date of this Agreement], unless
previously redeemed by the Company, at an initial exercise price of $_______
[120% of the initial public offering price] per share of Common Stock. The
Redeemable Warrants may be redeemed by the Company at a redemption price of $.10
per Redeemable Warrant at any time after _____________, 1998 [18 months from the
date of this Agreement] on thirty (30) days' prior written notice, provided that
the average closing bid price of the Common Stock equals or exceeds
$_____________ [250% of the exercise price] per share, for any twenty (20)
trading days within a period of thirty (30) consecutive trading days ending on
the fifth trading day prior to the notice of redemption, all in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Warrant Agreement (herein defined).
Upon your request, as provided in Section 2(b) of this Agreement, the
Company shall also issue and sell to the Underwriters, acting severally and not
jointly, up to an additional 270,000 shares of Common Stock and/or 270,000
Redeemable Warrants for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any. Such
270,000 shares of Common Stock and 270,000 Redeemable Warrants are hereinafter
collectively to as the "Option Securities." The Company also proposes to issue
and sell to you warrants (the "Representative's Warrants") pursuant to the
Representative's Warrant Agreement (the "Representative's Warrant Agreement")
for the purchase of an additional 180,000 shares of Common Stock and/or 180,000
Redeemable Warrants. The shares of Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants issuable
upon exercise of the Representative's Warrants are hereinafter referred to as
the "Representative's Securities." The Firm Securities, the Option Securities,
the Representative's Warrants and the Representative's Securities (collectively,
hereinafter referred to as the "Securities") are more fully described in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus referred to below.
1. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters as of the date
hereof, and as of the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) and each Option
Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), if any, as follows:
a. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement, and an
amendment or amendments thereto, on Form SB-2 (No. 333-09935), including any
related preliminary prospectus ("Preliminary Prospectus"), for the registration
of the Firm Securities, the Option Securities and the Representative's
Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which
registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by the
Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and
regulations (the "Regulations") of the Commission under the Act. The Company
will promptly file a further amendment to said registration statement in the
form heretofore delivered to the Underwriters and will not file any other
amendment thereto to which the Underwriters shall have objected in writing after
having been furnished with a copy thereof. Except as the context may otherwise
require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at
the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus,
financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a
part thereof or incorporated therein (including, but not limited to those
documents or information incorporated by reference therein) and all information
deemed
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to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430(A) of
the Regulations), is hereinafter called the "Registration Statement", and the
form of prospectus in the form first filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Regulations, is hereinafter called the "Prospectus." For purposes
hereof, "Rules and Regulations" mean the rules and regulations adopted by the
Commission under either the Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), as applicable.
b. Neither the Commission nor any state regulatory authority has
issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any part of any thereof and no
proceedings for a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any of the Company's securities have been instituted or are pending
or threatened. Each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement
and Prospectus at the time of filing thereof conformed with the requirements of
the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and none of the Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus at the time of filing thereof 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, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except
that this representation and warranty does not apply to statements made in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company with respect to the Underwriters by or on behalf of the Underwriters
expressly for use in such Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
c. When the Registration Statement becomes effective and at all
times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date (as defined herein) and each
Option Closing Date (as defined herein), if any, and during such longer period
as the Prospectus may be required to be delivered in connection with sales by
the Underwriters or a dealer, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will
contain all statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance
with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will conform to the requirements
of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; neither the Registration Statement nor
the Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement thereto, will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, provided, however,
that this representation and warranty does not apply to statements made or
statements omitted in reliance upon and in strict conformity with information
furnished to the Company in writing by or on behalf of any Underwriter expressly
for use in the Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
d. Each of the Company and the Company's wholly-owned
subsidiaries, Viewpoint Systems Inc., Viewpoint Videoware Inc. and Osprey
Technologies Inc., all Delaware companies (such subsidiaries being the only
subsidiaries that are "significant subsidiaries" (as defined in the Rules and
Regulations) of the Company, is hereinafter referred to as the "Subsidiaries"),
has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the state of its incorporation. Except as set forth
in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries own an interest in
any corporation, partnership, trust, joint venture or other business entity.
Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified and licensed and
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in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its
ownership or leasing of any properties or the character of its operations
requires such qualification or licensing. The Company owns, directly or
indirectly, one hundred percent (100%) of the outstanding capital stock of the
Subsidiaries, and all of such shares have been validly issued, are fully paid
and non-assessable, were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, and,
except as set forth in the Prospectus, are owned free and clear of any liens,
charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects or other
restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever. Each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries has all requisite power and authority (corporate and other), and
has obtained any and all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses,
certificates, franchises and permits of and from all governmental or regulatory
officials and bodies (including, without limitation, those having jurisdiction
over environmental or similar matters), domestic or foreign, to own or lease its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; each of the
Company and the Subsidiaries is and has been doing business in compliance with
all such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises
and permits and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and
regulations; and neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries have received any
notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
authorization, approval, order, license, certificate, franchise, or permit
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, would materially and adversely affect the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings, position, prospects, value, operation,
properties, business or results of operations of the Company or the
Subsidiaries. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the
effects of federal, state, local, and foreign laws, rules and regulations on the
Company's and the Subsidiaries' businesses as currently conducted and as
contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
contained therein not misleading in light of the circumstances under which they
were made.
e. The Company has a duly authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus under "Capitalization" and
"Description of Securities" and will have the adjusted capitalization set forth
therein on the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, based upon the
assumptions set forth therein, and the Company is not a party to or bound by any
instrument, agreement or other arrangement providing for it to issue any capital
stock, rights, warrants, options or other securities, except for this Agreement,
the Warrant Agreement, the Representative's Warrant Agreement and as described
in the Prospectus. The Securities and all other securities issued or issuable by
the Company conform or, when issued and paid for, will conform, in all respects
to all statements with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have
been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable
and the holders thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and
are not subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none
of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any
holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by
the Company. The Securities are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or
other similar rights of any stockholder, have been duly authorized and, when
issued, paid for and delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and will conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus; the holders thereof will not be
subject to any liability solely as such holders; all corporate action required
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to be taken for the authorization, issue and sale of the Securities has been
duly and validly taken; and the certificates representing the Securities will be
in due and proper form. Upon the issuance and delivery pursuant to the terms
hereof of the Securities to be sold by the Company hereunder, the Underwriters
or the Representative, as the case may be, will acquire good and marketable
title to such Securities free and clear of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance,
pledge, security interest, defect or other restriction or equity of any kind
whatsoever.
f. The consolidated financial statements of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, together with the related notes and schedules thereto, included in
the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
fairly present the financial position, income, changes in cash flow, changes in
stockholders' equity and the results of operations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries at the respective dates and for the respective periods to which
they apply and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles and the Rules and Regulations,
consistently applied throughout the periods involved and such financial
statements as are audited have been examined by Ernst & Young LLP, who are
independent certified public accountants within the meaning of the Act and the
Rules and Regulations, as indicated in their report filed therewith. There has
been no adverse change or development involving a prospective adverse change in
the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, position, prospects,
value, operation, properties, business, or results of operations of the Company
and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary
course of business, since the date of the financial statements included in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and the outstanding debt, the
property, both tangible and intangible, and the business of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, conform in all material respects to the descriptions thereof
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Financial
information (including, without limitation, any pro forma financial information)
set forth in the Prospectus under the headings "Summary Consolidated Financial
Information", "Selected Consolidated Financial Data," "Capitalization," and
"Management's Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of
Operations," fairly present, on the basis stated in the Prospectus, the
information set forth therein, and have been derived from or compiled on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in the
Prospectus; and, in the case of pro forma financial information, if any, the
assumptions used in the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments
used therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
circumstances referred to therein. The amounts shown as accrued for current and
deferred income and other taxes in such financial statements are sufficient for
the payment of all accrued and unpaid federal, state, local and foreign income
taxes, interest, penalties, assessments or deficiencies applicable to the
Company and the Subsidiaries, whether disputed or not, for the applicable period
then ended and periods prior thereto; adequate allowance for doubtful accounts
has been provided for unindemnified losses due to the operations of the Company
and the Subsidiaries; and the statements of income do not contain any items of
special or nonrecurring income not earned in the ordinary course of business,
except as specified in the notes thereto.
g. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) has paid all
federal, state, local, and foreign taxes for which it is liable, including, but
not limited to, withholding taxes and amounts payable under Chapters 21 through
24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and has
furnished all information returns it is required to furnish pursuant to the
Code,
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(ii) has established adequate reserves for such taxes which are not due and
payable, and (iii) does not have any tax deficiency or claims outstanding,
proposed or assessed against it.
h. No transfer tax, stamp duty or other similar tax is payable by
or on behalf of the Underwriters in connection with (i) the issuance by the
Company of the Securities, (ii) the purchase by the Underwriters of the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities from the Company and the purchase by the
Representative of the Representative's Warrants from the Company, (iii) the
consummation by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, or
(iv) resales of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities in connection with
the distribution contemplated hereby.
i. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries maintains insurance
policies, including, but not limited to, general liability, product and property
insurance, which insures each of the Company, the Subsidiaries and their
respective employees, against such losses and risks generally insured against by
comparable businesses. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries (A) have failed
to give notice or present any insurance claim with respect to any matter,
including but not limited to the Company's business, property or employees,
under any insurance policy or surety bond in a due and timely manner, (B) have
any disputes or claims against any underwriter of such insurance policies or
surety bonds or has failed to pay any premiums due and payable thereunder, or
(C) have failed to comply with all conditions contained in such insurance
policies and surety bonds. There are no facts or circumstances under any such
insurance policy or surety bond which would relieve any insurer of its
obligation to satisfy in full any valid claim of the Company or the
Subsidiaries.
j. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration,
investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding (including, without
limitation, those having jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters),
domestic or foreign, pending or threatened against (or circumstances that may
give rise to the same), or involving the properties or business of, the Company
or the Subsidiaries which (i) questions the validity of the capital stock of the
Company, this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement or the Representative's Warrant
Agreement, or of any action taken or to be taken by the Company pursuant to or
in connection with this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement or the Representative's
Warrant Agreement, (ii) is required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement which is not so disclosed (and such proceedings as are summarized in
the Registration Statement are accurately summarized in all material respects),
or (iii) might materially and adversely affect the condition, financial or
otherwise, or the earnings, position, prospects, stockholders' equity, value,
operation, properties, business or results of operations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole.
k. The Company has full legal right, power and authority to
authorize, issue, deliver and sell the Securities, enter into this Agreement,
the Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement and to
consummate the transactions provided for in this Agreement, the Warrant
Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement; and this Agreement, the
Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement have each been duly
and properly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. Each of this
Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement
constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its
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terms, and none of the Company's issue and sale of the Securities, execution or
delivery of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement or the Representative's
Warrant Agreement, its performance hereunder and thereunder, its consummation of
the transactions contemplated herein and therein, or the conduct of its business
as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any amendments
or supplements thereto, conflicts with or will conflict with or results or will
result in any breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
constitutes or will constitute a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest,
defect or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever upon, any property
or assets (tangible or intangible) of either the Company or the Subsidiaries
pursuant to the terms of (i) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of
either the Company or the Subsidiaries, (ii) any license, contract, collective
bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, voting trust
agreement, stockholders agreement, note, loan or credit agreement or any other
agreement or instrument to which either the Company or the Subsidiaries are a
party or by which either the Company or the Subsidiaries are or may be bound or
to which any of their respective properties or assets (tangible or intangible)
is or may be subject, or any indebtedness, or (iii) any statute, judgment,
decree, order, rule or regulation applicable to either the Company or the
Subsidiaries of any arbitrator, court, regulatory body or administrative agency
or other governmental agency or body (including, without limitation, those
having jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), domestic or foreign,
having jurisdiction over either the Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their
respective activities or properties.
l. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no filing
with, any court, regulatory body, government agency or other body, domestic or
foreign, is required for the issuance of the Securities pursuant to the
Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the performance of this Agreement,
the Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including without limitation, any
waiver of any preemptive, first refusal or other rights that any entity or
person may have for the issue and/or sale of any of the Securities, except such
as have been or may be obtained under the Act or may be required under state
securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the Underwriters' purchase and
distribution of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, and the
Representative's Warrants to be sold by the Company hereunder.
m. All executed agreements, contracts or other documents or copies
of executed agreements, contracts or other documents filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement to which either the Company or the Subsidiaries are a
party or by which either of them may be bound or to which any of their
respective assets, properties or business may be subject have been duly and
validly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company or the Subsidiaries,
as the case may be, and constitute the legal, valid and binding agreements of
the Company or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be, enforceable against each of
them in accordance with their respective terms. The descriptions in the
Registration Statement of agreements, contracts and other documents are accurate
and fairly present the information required to be shown with respect thereto by
Form SB-2, and there are no contracts or other documents which are required by
the Act to be described in the Registration Statement or filed as exhibits to
the Registration Statement which are not described or filed as required, and the
exhibits which have been filed are complete and correct copies of the documents
of which they purport to be copies.
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n. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and except as may
otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, neither the Company
nor the Subsidiaries have (i) issued any securities or incurred any liability or
obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money, (ii) entered into any
transaction other than in the ordinary course of business, or (iii) declared or
paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect of its capital
stock of any class, and there has not been any change in the capital stock, or
any change in the debt (long or short term) or liabilities or material adverse
change in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial operations,
stockholders' equity or results of operations of either the Company or the
Subsidiaries.
o. No default exists in the due performance and observance of any
term, covenant or condition of any license, contract, collective bargaining
agreement, indenture, mortgage, installment sale agreement, lease, deed of
trust, voting trust agreement, stockholders agreement, partnership agreement,
note, loan or credit agreement, purchase order, or any other agreement or
instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed money, or any other material
agreement or instrument to which either the Company or the Subsidiaries are a
party or by which either the Company or the Subsidiaries may be bound or to
which the property or assets (tangible or intangible) of either the Company or
the Subsidiaries are subject or affected.
p. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has generally enjoyed
a satisfactory employer-employee relationship with its employees and is in
compliance with all federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations
respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of
employment and wages and hours. There are no pending investigations involving
either the Company or the Subsidiaries by the U.S. Department of Labor, or any
other governmental agency responsible for the enforcement of such federal,
state, local, or foreign laws and regulations. There is no unfair labor practice
charge or complaint against either the Company or the Subsidiaries pending
before the National Labor Relations Board, or any comparable foreign agency, or
any lockout, strike, picketing, boycott, dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending
or threatened against or involving either the Company or the Subsidiaries, or
any predecessor entity, and none has ever occurred. No representation question
exists respecting the employees of either the Company or the Subsidiaries, and
no collective bargaining agreement or modification thereof is currently being
negotiated by either the Company or the Subsidiaries. No grievance or
arbitration proceeding is pending under any expired or existing collective
bargaining agreements of either the Company or the Subsidiaries. No labor
dispute with the employees of either the Company or the Subsidiaries exists, or,
is imminent.
q. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries maintain, sponsor or
contribute to any program or arrangement that is an "employee pension benefit
plan," an "employee welfare benefit plan," or a "multiemployer plan" as such
terms are defined in Sections 3(2), 3(1) and 3(37), respectively, of the
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") ("ERISA
Plans"). Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries maintain or contribute, now or
at any time previously, to a defined benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(35)
of ERISA. No ERISA Plan (or any trust created thereunder) has engaged in a
"prohibited transaction" within the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section
4975 of the Code, which could subject the Company or the Subsidiaries to any tax
penalty on prohibited transactions and which has not
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adequately been corrected. Each ERISA Plan is in compliance with all reporting,
disclosure and other requirements of the Code and ERISA as they relate to any
such ERISA Plan. Determination letters have been received from the Internal
Revenue Service with respect to each ERISA Plan which is intended to comply with
Code Section 401(a), stating that such ERISA Plan and the attendant trust are
qualified thereunder. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries have ever
completely or partially withdrawn from a "multiemployer plan."
r. Neither the Company, the Subsidiaries, nor any of their
respective employees, directors, stockholders, partners, or affiliates (within
the meaning of the Rules and Regulations) of any of the foregoing have taken or
will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which has
constituted or which might be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange
Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of
the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or otherwise.
s. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, none of the
patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names and
copyrights, and licenses and rights to the foregoing presently owned or held by
either the Company or the Subsidiaries, are in dispute so far as known by the
Company or are in any conflict with the right of any other person or entity.
Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) owns or has the right to use, free
and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security
interests, defects or other restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever, all
patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights, technology and
licenses and rights with respect to the foregoing, used in the conduct of its
business as now conducted or proposed to be conducted without infringing upon or
otherwise acting adversely to the right or claimed right of any person,
corporation or other entity under or with respect to any of the foregoing and
(ii) is not obligated or under any liability whatsoever to make any payment by
way of royalties, fees or otherwise to any owner or licensee of, or other
claimant to, any patent, trademark, service xxxx, trade name, copyright,
know-how, technology or other intangible asset, with respect to the use thereof
or in connection with the conduct of its business or otherwise.
t. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries owns and has the
unrestricted right to use all trade secrets, know-how (including all other
unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems
or procedures), inventions, designs, processes, works of authorship, computer
programs and technical data and information (collectively herein "intellectual
property") that are material to the development, manufacture, operation and sale
of all products and services sold or proposed to be sold by either the Company
or the Subsidiaries, free and clear of and without violating any right, lien, or
claim of others, including without limitation, former employers of its
employees; provided, however, that the possibility exists that other persons or
entities, completely independently of either the Company or the Subsidiaries, or
any of their respective employees or agents, could have developed trade secrets
or items of technical information similar or identical to those of either the
Company or the Subsidiaries. Neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries are aware
of any such development of similar or identical trade secrets or technical
information by others.
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u. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has taken reasonable
security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of its
intellectual property in all material respects.
v. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and
marketable title to, or valid and enforceable leasehold estates in, all items of
real and personal property stated in the Prospectus to be owned or leased by it,
free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security
interests, defects, or other restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever,
other than those referred to in the Prospectus and liens for taxes not yet due
and payable.
x. Xxxxx & Young LLP, whose report is filed with the Commission as
a part of the Registration Statement, are independent certified public
accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
x. The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and
enforceable agreements ("Lock-up Agreements") pursuant to which each of the
officers and directors of the Company, all holders of more than 20,000 Shares of
Common Stock issued and outstanding on the effective date of the Registration
Statement, and all holders of options, warrants or other securities exchangeable
or exercisable for or convertible into more than 20,000 Shares of Common Stock
issued and outstanding on the effective date of the Registration Statement has
agreed (i) not to, directly or indirectly, issue, offer, offer to sell, sell,
grant any option for the sale or purchase of, assign, transfer, pledge,
hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or
securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or evidencing any
right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of Common Stock (either pursuant
to Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations or otherwise) or dispose of any
beneficial interest therein for a period of not less than twelve (12) months
following the effective date of the Registration Statement without the prior
written consent of National and Network 1 Financial Securities, Inc. ("Network
1") and 12 additional months without the consent of either National or Network 1
and (ii) to waive all rights to request or demand the registration pursuant to
the Act of any securities of the Company which are registered in the name of or
beneficially owned by any such holder. The Company has also used its best
efforts to cause all holders of 200,000 or less Shares of Common Stock issued
and outstanding on the effective date of the Registration Statement and all
holders of options, warrants or other securities convertible, exercisable or
exchangeable for 200,000 or less Shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding
on the effective date of the Registration Statement to enter into Lock-up
Agreements. During the twenty-four (24) month period commencing on the effective
date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall not, without the prior
written consent of the Representative, sell, contract or offer to sell, issue,
transfer, assign, pledge, distribute, or otherwise dispose of, directly or
indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or any options, rights or warrants with
respect to any shares of Common Stock, except pursuant to options, rights or
warrants existing on the effective date of the Registration Statement; provided,
however, that the Company and any subsidiaries or affiliates thereof may sell or
offer for sale any of their securities without the consent of the Representative
in connection with any merger or acquisition transaction, joint venture or other
"corporate partnering" transaction entered into by any of the Company and its
subsidiaries or affiliates. The Company will cause the Transfer Agent (as
hereinafter defined) to xxxx an
10
appropriate legend on the face of stock certificates representing all of such
securities and to place "stop transfer" orders on the Company's stock ledgers.
y. There are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or
understandings, whether oral or written, for services in the nature of a
finder's or origination fee with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder
or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuance with
respect to the Company, the Subsidiaries, or any of their respective officers,
directors, stockholders, partners, employees or affiliates, that may affect the
Underwriters' compensation, as determined by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").
z. The Common Stock has been approved for quotation on the Nasdaq
National Market ("Nasdaq").
aa. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries, nor any of their
respective officers, employees, agents or any other person acting on behalf of
either the Company or the Subsidiaries have, directly or indirectly, given or
agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price
concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer,
supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee
of any governmental agency (domestic or foreign) or instrumentality of any
government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office
(domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to
help or hinder the business of either the Company or the Subsidiaries (or assist
either the Company or the Subsidiaries in connection with any actual or proposed
transaction) which (a) might subject either the Company or the Subsidiaries, or
any other such person to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or
governmental litigation or proceeding (domestic or foreign), (b) if not given in
the past, might have had a material adverse effect on the assets, business or
operations of either the Company or the Subsidiaries, or (c) if not continued in
the future, might adversely affect the assets, business, condition, financial or
otherwise, earnings, position, properties, value, operations or prospects of
either the Company or the Subsidiaries. The Company's and the Subsidiaries'
internal accounting controls are sufficient to cause each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as
amended.
bb. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, no officer, director,
stockholder or partner of the Company or of the Subsidiaries, or any "affiliate"
or "associate" (as these terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the
Rules and Regulations) of any of the foregoing persons or entities has or has
had, either directly or indirectly, (i) an interest in any person or entity
which (A) furnishes or sells services or products which are furnished or sold or
are proposed to be furnished or sold by either the Company or the Subsidiaries,
or (B) purchases from or sells or furnishes to either the Company or the
Subsidiaries any goods or services, or (ii) a beneficiary interest in any
contract or agreement to which the Company or the Subsidiaries are a party or by
which it may be bound or affected. Except as set forth in the Prospectus under
"Certain Transactions," there are no existing agreements, arrangements,
understandings or transactions, or proposed agreements, arrangements,
understandings or transactions, between or among the Company or the
Subsidiaries, and any officer, director, or 5% or greater
11
securityholder of the Company or the Subsidiaries, or any partner, affiliate or
associate of any of the foregoing persons or entities.
cc. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or the
Subsidiaries, and delivered to the Underwriters or to Underwriters' Counsel (as
defined herein) shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to
the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
dd. The minute books of each of the Company and the Subsidiaries
have been made available to the Underwriters and contain a complete summary of
all meetings and actions of the directors (including committees thereof) and
stockholders of each of the Company and the Subsidiaries, since [___________,
19__], and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in
all material respects.
ee. Except and to the extent described in the Prospectus, no
holders of any securities of the Company or of any options, warrants or other
convertible or exchangeable securities of the Company have the right to include
any securities issued by the Company in the Registration Statement or any
registration statement to be filed by the Company or to require the Company to
file a registration statement under the Act and no person or entity holds any
anti-dilution rights with respect to any securities of the Company.
ff. (A) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance
with all federal, state, local or foreign laws, common law, rules, codes,
administrative orders or regulations relating to pollution or protection of
human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air,
surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife,
including without limitation, all laws, common law, rules, codes, administrative
orders and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of
chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous
substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, "Hazardous
Materials") or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively,
"Environmental Laws") and (B) to the best of the Company's knowledge, there are
no events or circumstances that could form the basis of an order for clean-up or
remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or
governmental body or agency, against or affecting either the Company or the
Subsidiaries relating to any Hazardous Materials or the violation of any
Environmental Laws. The Company has no reason to believe that it will not
receive all necessary and required approvals, authorizations, validations and
certifications from the EPA and other applicable regulatory authorities to
enable the Company to commence full operations as contemplated in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
gg. In the ordinary course of its business, each of the Company
and the Subsidiaries conducts a periodic review of the effect of Environmental
Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates associated
costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or operating
expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with
Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints
on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On the
basis of such review, each of the Company and the
12
Subsidiaries has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities
would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the
Company or the Subsidiaries.
hh. The Company has as of the effective date of the Registration
Statement (i) entered into an employment agreement with Xxxxx X. Xxxxx in the
form filed as Exhibit ___ to the Registration Statement and (ii) purchased term
key person life insurance on the life of Xx. Xxxxx in the amount of one million
($1,000,000), which policy names the Company as the sole beneficiary thereof.
ii. As of the date hereof, the Company does not have more than
________________ shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding (including
securities with equivalent rights as the Common Stock and shares of Common
Stock, or such equivalent securities, issuable upon exercise of any and all
options, warrants and other contract rights and securities convertible directly
or indirectly into shares of Common Stock or such equivalent securities, but
excluding up to _____________ shares of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise
of options granted under the Company's 1993 Stock Option Plan, 1994 Stock Option
Plan, 1995 Employee Stock Purchase Plan and Director Stock Option Plan at prices
not less than the higher of the market value of the shares at the date of the
grant or the offering price per share).
jj. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries confirms as of the
date hereof that it is in compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of
Florida, Chapter 92-198, An Act Relating to Disclosure of Doing Business with
Cuba, and each of the Company and the Subsidiaries further agrees that if it or
any affiliate commences engaging in business with the government of Cuba or with
any person or affiliate located in Cuba after the date the Registration
Statement becomes or has become effective with the Commission or with the
Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the "Department"), whichever date is
later, or if the information reported or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, if any, concerning the Company's, the Subsidiaries' or any
affiliate's, business with Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba
changes in any material way, the Company will provide the Department notice of
such business or change, as appropriate, in a form acceptable to the Department.
kk. The Company is not, and upon the issuance and sale of the
Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds
therefrom as described in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds"
will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment
company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act").
ll. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries maintains a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or specific
authorizations; (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
authorizations; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.
13
mm. The Company has entered into a warrant agreement substantially
in the form filed as Exhibit ____ to the Registration Statement (the "Warrant
Agreement") with the Representative and Continental Stock Transfer & Trust
Company, as Warrant Agent, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Representative, with respect to the Redeemable Warrants.
2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Securities.
a. On the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company at a price of
$_______ [90% of the public offering price] per Share and $_______ [90% of the
public offering price] per Redeemable Warrant, that number of Firm Securities
set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, subject to such
adjustment as the Representative in its sole discretion shall make to eliminate
any sales or purchases of fractional shares, plus any additional number of Firm
Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to
the provisions of Section 11 hereof.
b. In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase all or any part of an
additional 270,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $ ____ [90% of the
public offering price] per share of Common Stock and/or an additional 270,000
Redeemable Warrants at a price of $______ [90% of the public offering price] per
Redeemable Warrant. The option granted hereby will expire forty-five (45) days
after (i) the date the Registration Statement becomes effective, if the Company
has elected not to rely on Rule 430A under the Rules and Regulations, or (ii)
the date of this Agreement if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 430A
under the Rules and Regulations, and may be exercised in whole or in part from
time to time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made
in connection with the offering and distribution of the Firm Securities upon
notice by the Representative to the Company setting forth the number of Option
Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option
and the time and date of payment and delivery for any such Option Securities.
Any such time and date of delivery (an "Option Closing Date") shall be
determined by the Representative, but shall not be later than three (3) full
business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the
Closing Date, as hereinafter defined, unless otherwise agreed upon by the
Representative and the Company. Nothing herein contained shall obligate the
Underwriters to make any over-allotments. No Option Securities shall be
delivered unless the Firm Securities shall be simultaneously delivered or shall
theretofore have been delivered as herein provided.
c. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates
for, the Firm Securities shall be made at the offices of the Representative at
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, or at such other
place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the Company. Such
delivery and payment shall be made at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on , 1996
or at such other time and date as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and
the Company, but not less than three (3) nor more than five (5) full business
days after the effective date of the Registration Statement (such time and date
of payment and
14
delivery being herein called the "Closing Date"). In addition, in the event that
any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment
of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, such Option
Securities shall be made at the above-mentioned office of the Representative or
at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representative and the
Company on each Option Closing Date as specified in the notice from the
Representative to the Company. Delivery of the certificates for the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be made to the Underwriters
against payment by the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, of the purchase
price for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if any, to the order of
the Company for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if any, by New
York Clearing House funds. In the event such option is exercised, each of the
Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, shall purchase that proportion
of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number
of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule A hereto opposite the name of such
Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Securities, subject in each case
to such adjustments as the Representative in its discretion shall make to
eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares. Certificates for the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in definitive, fully
registered form, shall bear no restrictive legends and shall be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriters may request in
writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date or the relevant
Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates for the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be made available to the
Representative at such office or such other place as the Representative may
designate for inspection, checking and packaging no later than 9:30 a.m. on the
last business day prior to the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date,
as the case may be.
d. The Underwriters shall act as the Company's exclusive agent
with respect to the solicitation of the Redeemable Warrants, and receive from
the Company a commission of five percent (5%) of the exercise price of the
Redeemable Warrants commencing twelve (12) months after the effective date,
payable upon exercise.
e. On the Closing Date, the Company shall issue and sell to the
Representative Representative's Warrants at a purchase price of $.0001 per
warrant, which Representative's Warrants shall entitle the holders thereof to
purchase an aggregate of 180,000 shares of Common Stock and/or 180,000
Redeemable Warrants. The Representative's Warrants shall be exercisable for a
period of four (4) years commencing one (1) year from the effective date of the
Registration Statement at a price equaling one hundred twenty percent (120%) of
the respective initial public offering price of the Shares and the Redeemable
Warrants. The Representative's Warrant Agreement and form of Warrant Certificate
shall be substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration
Statement. Payment for the Representative's Warrants shall be made on the
Closing Date.
3. Public Offering of the Shares and Redeemable Warrants. As soon after
the Registration Statement becomes effective as the Representative deems
advisable, the Underwriters shall make a public offering of the Shares and
Redeemable Warrants (other than to residents of or in any jurisdiction in which
qualification of the Shares and Redeemable Warrants is required and has not
become effective) at the price and upon the other terms set forth in the
Prospectus. The Representative may from time to time increase or decrease the
15
respective public offering price after distribution of the Shares and Redeemable
Warrants has been completed to such extent as the Representative, in its sole
discretion deems advisable. The Underwriters may enter into one of more
agreements as the Underwriters, in each of their sole discretion, deem advisable
with one or more broker-dealers who shall act as dealers in connection with such
public offering.
4. Covenants and Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and
agrees with each of the Underwriters as follows:
a. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto to become effective as
promptly as practicable and will not at any time, whether before or after the
effective date of the Registration Statement, file any amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or file any document
under the Act or Exchange Act before termination of the offering of the Shares
and Redeemable Warrants by the Underwriters of which the Representative shall
not previously have been advised and furnished with a copy, or to which the
Representative shall have objected or which is not in compliance with the Act,
the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations.
b. As soon as the Company is advised or obtains knowledge thereof,
the Company will advise the Representative and confirm the notice in writing (i)
when the Registration Statement, as amended, becomes effective, if the
provisions of Rule 430A promulgated under the Act will be relied upon, when the
Prospectus has been filed in accordance with said Rule 430A and when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective; (ii)
of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the
threatening, of any proceeding suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the
institution of proceedings for that purpose; (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission or by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the
suspension of the qualification of any of the Securities for offering or sale in
any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for
that purpose; (iv) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission; and (v)
of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement
or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information.
If the Commission or any state securities commission shall enter a stop order or
suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every effort to
obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
c. The Company shall file the Prospectus (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representative) or transmit the Prospectus by a means
reasonably calculated to result in filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b)(1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by the Representative, pursuant
to Rule 424(b)(4)) not later than the Commission's close of business on the
earlier of (i) the second business day following the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and (ii) the fifth business day after the effective date of the
Registration Statement.
d. The Company will give the Representative notice of its
intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement
(including any post-effective amendment) or any amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus (including any revised prospectus which the
16
Company proposes for use by the Underwriters in connection with the offering of
the Securities which differs from the corresponding prospectus on file at the
Commission at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, whether or
not such revised prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of
the Rules and Regulations), and will furnish the Representative with copies of
any such amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such
proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file any such
prospectus to which the Representative or Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP
("Underwriters' Counsel") shall object.
e. The Company shall endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with
the Representative, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes
effective, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities
laws of such jurisdictions as the Representative may designate to permit the
continuance of sales and dealings therein for as long as may be necessary to
complete the distribution, and shall make such applications, file such documents
and furnish such information as may be required for such purpose; provided,
however, the Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation
or file a general or limited consent to service of process in any such
jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected,
the Company will, unless the Representative agrees that such action is not at
the time necessary or advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and make
such statements or reports at such times as are or may reasonably be required by
the laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification.
f. During the time when a prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Act, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the Exchange Act, as now and
hereafter amended and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in
force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in
the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus, or
any amendments or supplements thereto. If at any time when a prospectus relating
to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall
have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or
Underwriters' Counsel, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if
it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the
Company will notify the Representative promptly and prepare and file with the
Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10
of the Act, each such amendment or supplement to be satisfactory to
Underwriters' Counsel, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters copies
of such amendment or supplement as soon as available and in such quantities as
the Underwriters may request.
g. As soon as practicable, but in any event not later than
forty-five (45) days after the end of the 12-month period beginning on the day
after the end of the fiscal quarter of the Company during which the effective
date of the Registration Statement occurs (ninety (90) days in the event that
the end of such fiscal quarter is the end of the Company's fiscal year), the
Company shall make generally available to its security holders, in the manner
specified in Rule 158(b) of the Rules and Regulations, and to the
Representative, an earnings statement which will
17
be in the detail required by, and will otherwise comply with, the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158(a) of the Rules and Regulations, which
statement need not be audited unless required by the Act, covering a period of
at least twelve (12) consecutive months after the effective date of the
Registration Statement.
h. During a period of seven (7) years after the date hereof, the
Company will furnish to its stockholders, as soon as practicable, annual reports
(including financial statements audited by independent public accountants) and
unaudited quarterly reports of earnings, and will deliver to the Representative:
i. concurrently with furnishing such quarterly reports to its
stockholders, statements of income of the Company for each quarter in
the form furnished to the Company's stockholders and certified by the
Company's principal financial or accounting officer;
ii. concurrently with furnishing such annual reports to its
stockholders, a balance sheet of the Company as at the end of the
preceding fiscal year, together with statements of operations,
stockholders' equity, and cash flows of the Company for such fiscal
year, accompanied by a copy of the certificate thereon of independent
certified public accountants;
iii. as soon as they are available, copies of all reports
(financial or other) mailed to stockholders;
iv. as soon as they are available, copies of all reports and
financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission, the NASD
or any securities exchange;
v. every press release and every material news item or article of
interest to the financial community in respect of the Company, or its
affairs, which was released or prepared by or on behalf of the Company;
and
vi. any additional information of a public nature concerning the
Company (and any future subsidiary) or its businesses which the
Representative may request.
During such seven-year period, if the Company has an active subsidiary,
the foregoing financial statements will be on a consolidated basis to the extent
that the accounts of the Company and its subsidiary(ies) are consolidated, and
will be accompanied by similar financial statements for any significant
subsidiary which is not so consolidated.
i. The Company will maintain a transfer agent and warrant agent
("Transfer Agent") and, if necessary under the jurisdiction of incorporation of
the Company, a Registrar (which may be the same entity as the Transfer Agent)
for its Common Stock and Redeemable Warrants.
j. The Company will furnish to the Representative or on the
Representative's order, without charge, at such place as the Representative may
designate, copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement and
any pre-effective or post-effective amendments thereto (two of which copies will
be signed and will include all financial statements and
18
exhibits), the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, including
any prospectus prepared after the effective date of the Registration Statement,
in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as the Representative
may request.
k. On or before the effective date of the Registration Statement,
the Company shall provide the Representative with true original copies of duly
executed, legally binding and enforceable Lock-up Agreements pursuant to which,
for a period of twelve (12) months from the effective date of the Registration
Statement, each of the Company's officers and directors, all holders of more
than 20,000 Shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the effective date
of the Registration Statement, and all holders of options, warrants or other
securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into more of the
Common Stock issued and outstanding on the effective date of the Registration
Statement agrees that it or he or she (i) will not, directly or indirectly,
issue, offer to sell, sell, grant an option for the sale or purchase of, assign,
transfer, pledge, hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of
Common Stock or securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or
evidencing any right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of Common Stock
(either pursuant to Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations or otherwise) or
dispose of any beneficial interest therein without the prior consent of National
and Network 1 and for twelve (12) additional months without the consent of
either National or Network 1 and (ii) waives any and all rights to request or
demand the registration pursuant to the Act, of any securities of the Company
which are registered in the name of or beneficially owned by it or he or she,
respectively. The Company will also use its best efforts to cause all holders of
20,000 or less Shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the effective
date of the Registration Statement and all holders of options, warrants or other
securities convertible, exercisable or exchangeable for less than 20,000 or less
Shares of Common Stock issued and outstanding on the effective date of the
Registration Statement to enter into Lock-up Agreements. During the twenty-four
(24) month period commencing on the effective date of the Registration
Statement, the Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the
Representative, sell, contract or offer to sell, issue, transfer, assign,
pledge, distribute, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares
of Common Stock or any options, rights or warrants with respect to any shares of
Common Stock, except pursuant to options, rights or warrants existing on the
effective date of the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the
Company and any subsidiaries or affiliates thereof may sell or offer for sale
any of their securities without the consent of the Representative in connection
with any merger or acquisition transaction, joint venture or other "corporate
partnering" transaction entered into by any of the Company and its subsidiaries
or affiliates. On or before the Closing Date, the Company shall deliver
instructions to the Transfer Agent authorizing it to place appropriate legends
on the certificates representing the securities subject to the Lock-up
Agreements and to place appropriate stop transfer orders on the Company's
ledgers.
l. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries, nor any of their
respective officers, directors, stockholders, nor any of their respective
affiliates (within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations) will take, directly
or indirectly, any action designed to, or which might in the future reasonably
be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of
any securities of the Company.
19
m. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Securities in the manner, and subject to the conditions, set forth under "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus. No portion of the net proceeds will be used,
directly or indirectly, to acquire any securities issued by the Company.
n. The Company shall timely file all such reports, forms or other
documents as may be required (including, but not limited to, a Form SR as may be
required pursuant to Rule 463 under the Act) from time to time, under the Act,
the Exchange Act, and the Rules and Regulations, and all such reports, forms and
documents filed will comply as to form and substance with the applicable
requirements under the Act, the Exchange Act, and the Rules and Regulations.
o. The Company shall furnish to the Representative as early as
practicable prior to each of the date hereof, the Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, if any, but no later than two (2) full business days prior
thereto, a copy of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements
of the Company (which in no event shall be as of a date more than thirty (30)
days prior to the date of the Registration Statement) which have been read by
the Company's independent public accountants, as stated in their letters to be
furnished pursuant to Sections 6(l) and 6(m) hereof.
p. The Company shall cause the Common Stock and Redeemable
Warrants to be quoted on Nasdaq and, for a period of seven (7) years from the
date hereof, use its best efforts to maintain the Nasdaq quotation of the Common
Stock and the Redeemable Warrants to the extent outstanding.
q. For a period of five (5) years from the Closing Date, the
Company shall furnish to the Representative at the Company's sole expense, (i)
daily consolidated transfer sheets relating to the Common Stock and Redeemable
Warrants (ii) the list of holders of all of the Company's securities and (iii) a
Blue Sky "Trading Survey" for secondary sales of the Company's securities
prepared by counsel to the Company.
r. As soon as practicable, (i) but in no event more than five (5)
business days before the effective date of the Registration Statement, file a
Form 8-A with the Commission providing for the registration under the Exchange
Act of the Securities and (ii) but in no event more than thirty (30) days after
the effective date of the Registration Statement, take all necessary and
appropriate actions to be included in Standard and Poor's Corporation
Descriptions and Xxxxx'x OTC Manual and to continue such inclusion for a period
of not less than seven (7) years.
s. The Company hereby agrees that it will not, for a period of
twelve (12) months from the effective date of the Registration Statement, adopt,
propose to adopt or otherwise permit to exist any employee, officer, director,
consultant or compensation plan or similar arrangement permitting (i) the grant,
issue, sale or entry into any agreement to grant, issue or sell any option,
warrant or other contract right (x) at an exercise price that is less than the
greater of the public offering price of the Shares set forth herein and the fair
market value on the date of grant or sale or (y) to any of its executive
officers or directors or to any holder of 5% or more of the Common Stock, except
as provided in subsection (ii) of this subparagraph;
20
(ii) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock or other securities of the
Company purchasable at any time pursuant to options or warrants issued by the
Company to exceed those _____ shares reserved for future issuance under the
Company's 1995 Option Plan, 1994 Option Plan, 1993 Option Plan, 1995 Directors
Stock Option Plan and the Employee Stock Purchase Plan as described in footnote
one (1) to the "Prospectus Summary - The Offering" section of the Prospectus;
(iii) the payment for such securities with any form of consideration other than
cash; or (iv) the existence of stock appreciation rights, phantom options or
similar arrangements.
t. Until the completion of the distribution of the Securities, the
Company shall not, without the prior written consent of the Representative and
Underwriters' Counsel, issue, directly or indirectly, any press release or other
communication or hold any press conference with respect to the Company or its
activities or the offering contemplated hereby, other than trade releases issued
in the ordinary course of the Company's business consistent with past practices
with respect to the Company's operations.
u. For a period equal to the lesser of (i) seven (7) years from
the date hereof, and (ii) the sale to the public of the Representative's
Securities, the Company will not take any action or actions which may prevent or
disqualify the Company's use of Form SB-2 (or other appropriate form) for the
registration under the Act of the Representative's Securities. The Company
further agrees to use its best efforts to file such post-effective amendments to
the Registration Statement, as may be necessary, in order to maintain its
effectiveness and to keep such Registration Statement effective while any of the
Redeemable Warrants or Representative's Warrants remain outstanding.
v. At the effective date of the Registration Statement and on each
of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the Company shall have
obtained all necessary and required approvals, authorizations, franchises,
licenses, orders, permits, validations and certifications from all domestic and
foreign regulatory authorities required to conduct its business as presently
conducted and described in the Prospectus, and none of such approvals,
authorizations, franchises, licenses, orders, permits, validations and
certifications shall have been revoked, restricted or limited in any manner and
all of such approvals, authorizations, franchises, licenses, orders, permits,
validations and certifications shall be in full force and effect on each of the
effective date of the Registration Statement, the Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, if any.
w. The Company hereby agrees that the Underwriters may nominate
for election one person to the Company's Board of Directors (which person shall
be reasonably acceptable to the Company) for a period of three (3) years from
the Effective Date and that certain of the Company's officers, directors and
stockholders have agreed to vote their shares of common stock in favor of such
designee. In the event the Underwriters elects not to exercise the right as set
forth in this paragraph, then the Underwriters may designate one person (which
person shall be reasonably acceptable to the Company) to attend meetings of the
Company's Board of Directors and a non-voting advisor. Such designee shall be
entitled to attend all such meetings of the Company's Board of Directors and to
receive all notices and other correspondence and communications sent by the
Company to members of its Board of Directors. The Company shall
21
reimburse designees of the Representative for their out-of-pocket expenses
incurred in connection with their attendance of meetings of the Company's Board
of Directors.
5. Payment of Expenses.
a. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date
and the Option Closing Date (to the extent not paid at the Closing Date) all
expenses and fees (other than fees of Underwriters' Counsel, except as provided
in (iv) below) incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company
under this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant
Agreement, including, without limitation, (i) the fees and expenses of
accountants and counsel for the Company, (ii) all costs and expenses incurred in
connection with the preparation, duplication, printing (including mailing and
handling charges), filing, delivery and mailing (including the payment of
postage with respect thereto) of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
and any amendments and supplements thereto and the printing, mailing (including
the payment of postage with respect thereto) and delivery of this Agreement, the
Warrant Agreement, the Representative's Warrant Agreement, the Agreement Among
Underwriters, the Selected Dealer Agreements, and related documents, including
the cost of all copies thereof and of the Preliminary Prospectuses and of the
Prospectus and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the
Underwriters and such dealers as the Underwriters may request, in quantities as
hereinabove stated, (iii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the
Securities including, but not limited to, (x) the purchase by the Underwriters
of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities and the purchase by the
Representative of the Representative's Warrants from the Company, (y) the
consummation by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement, and (z) resale of
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities by the Underwriters in connection
with the distribution contemplated hereby, (iv) the qualification of the
Securities under state or foreign securities or "Blue Sky" laws and
determination of the status of such securities under legal investment laws,
including the costs of printing and mailing the "Preliminary Blue Sky
Memorandum", the "Supplemental Blue Sky Memorandum" and "Legal Investments
Survey," if any, and disbursements and fees of counsel in connection therewith,
(v) advertising costs and expenses, including but not limited to costs and
expenses in connection with the "road show", information meetings and
presentations, bound volumes and prospectus memorabilia and "tomb-stone"
advertisement expenses; (vi) costs and expenses in connection with due diligence
investigations, including but not limited to the fees of any independent
counsel, expert or consultant retained, (vii) fees and expenses of the Transfer
Agent and registrar and all issue and transfer taxes, if any, (viii)
applications for assignment of a rating of the Securities by qualified rating
agencies, (ix) the fees payable to the Commission and the NASD, and (x) the fees
and expenses incurred in connection with the quotation of the Securities on
Nasdaq and any other exchange. It is agreed that the services to be provided
under clause (iv) of the foregoing sentence shall be performed by Underwriters'
Counsel.
b. If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6 or Section 12, the Company shall
reimburse and indemnify the Underwriters for all of their actual out-of-pocket
expenses, including the fees and disbursements of Underwriters' Counsel, less
any amounts already paid pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof; provided, however,
that the Representative will refund to the Company any unaccounted-for
22
portion of any amounts already advanced by the Company to the Representative
pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof. In addition, the Company shall remain liable
for all Blue Sky counsel fees and disbursements, expenses and filing fees.
c. The Company further agrees that, in addition to the expenses
payable pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 5, it will pay to the
Representative on the Closing Date by certified or bank cashier's check or, at
the election of the Representative, by deduction from the proceeds of the
offering contemplated herein, a non-accountable expense allowance equal to three
percent (3%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the
Firm Securities, $25,000 of which has been paid to date. In the event the
Representative elects to exercise the over-allotment option described in Section
2(b) hereof, the Company agrees to pay to the Representative on the Option
Closing Date (by certified or bank cashier's check or, at the Representative's
election, by deduction from the proceeds of the offering) a non-accountable
expense allowance equal to three percent (3%) of the gross proceeds received by
the Company from the sale of the Option Securities.
6. Conditions of the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company herein as of the date hereof and
as of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, as if they had been
made on and as of the Closing Date or each Option Closing Date, as the case may
be; the accuracy on and as of the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, if any,
of the statements of the officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions
hereof; and the performance by the Company on and as of the Closing Date and
each Option Closing Date, if any, of its covenants and obligations hereunder and
to the following further conditions:
a. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not
later than 12:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such
later date and time as shall be consented to in writing by the Representative,
and, at the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or shall
be pending or contemplated by the Commission and any request on the part of the
Commission for additional information shall have been complied with to the
reasonable satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel. If the Company has elected to
rely upon Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, the price of the Shares and
Redeemable Warrants and any price-related information previously omitted from
the effective Registration Statement pursuant to such Rule 430A shall have been
transmitted to the Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules
and Regulations within the prescribed time period and, prior to the Closing
Date, the Company shall have provided evidence satisfactory to the
Representative of such timely filing, or a post-effective amendment providing
such information shall have been promptly filed and declared effective in
accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations.
b. The Representative shall not have advised the Company that the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, contains an untrue statement
of fact which, in the Representative's opinion, is material, or omits to state a
fact which, in the Representative's opinion, is material and is required to be
stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or that the
23
Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact
which, in the Representative's opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact
which, in the Representative's opinion, is material and is required to be stated
therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
c. On or prior to each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing
Date, if any, the Representative shall have received from Underwriters' Counsel,
such opinion or opinions with respect to the organization of the Company, the
validity of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other
related matters as the Representative may request and Underwriters' Counsel
shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them
to pass upon such matters.
d. At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the
favorable opinion of the Xxxxxxxxxx Law Firm, P.C., counsel to the Company and
the Subsidiaries, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and in
form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel, to the effect that:
i. each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (A) has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction, (B) is duly qualified and licensed
and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in
which its ownership or leasing of any properties or the character of its
operations requires such qualification or licensing, and (C) has all
requisite corporate power and authority, and has obtained any and all
necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates,
franchises and permits of and from all governmental or regulatory
officials and bodies (including, without limitation, those having
jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), to own or lease its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; each
of the Company and the Subsidiaries is and has been doing business in
compliance with all such authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses,
certificates, franchises and permits and all federal, state, local and
foreign laws, rules and regulations; and, neither the Company nor the
Subsidiaries has received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such authorization, approval, order,
license, certificate, franchise, or permit which, singly or in the
aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding,
would materially adversely affect the business, operations, condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs, position,
prospects, value, operation, properties, business or results of
operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as whole. The
disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the effects of
federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and regulations on each of
the Company's and the Subsidiaries' businesses as currently conducted
and as contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit
to state a fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements contained therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made.
ii. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent
(100%) of the outstanding capital stock of the Subsidiaries, and all
such shares have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable,
were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights
24
and are owned free and clear of any liens, charges, claims,
encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects or other restrictions
or equities of any kind whatsoever;
iii. except as described in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor
the Subsidiaries own an interest in any other corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other business entity;
iv. the Company has a duly authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto, under "CAPITALIZATION", and the Company is not a
party to or bound by any instrument, agreement or other arrangement
providing for it to issue, sell, transfer, purchase or redeem any
capital stock, rights, warrants, options or other securities, except for
this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant
Agreement and as described in the Prospectus. The Securities and all
other securities issued or issuable by the Company conform in all
material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All issued and
outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders
thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not
subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none
of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of
any holders of any security of the Company or any similar rights granted
by the Company. The Securities to be sold by the Company hereunder and
under the Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement
are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar
rights of any stockholder, have been duly authorized and, when issued,
paid for and delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus; the holders thereof
will not be subject to any liability solely as such holders; all
corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issue and
sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken; and the
certificates representing the Securities are in due and proper form. The
Representative's Warrants and the Redeemable Warrants constitute valid
and binding obligations of the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise
thereof and payment therefor, the number and type of securities of the
Company called for thereby. Upon the issuance and delivery pursuant to
this Agreement of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities and the
Representative's Warrants to be sold by the Company, the Underwriters
and the Representative, respectively, will acquire good and marketable
title to the Firm Securities and the Option Securities and the
Representative's Warrants free and clear of any pledge, lien, charge,
claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest, or other restriction or
equity of any kind whatsoever. No transfer tax is payable by or on
behalf of the Underwriters in connection with (A) the issuance by the
Company of the Securities, (B) the purchase by the Underwriters and the
Representative of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities and the
Representative's Warrants, respectively, from the Company, (C) the
consummation by the Company of any of its obligations under this
Agreement, the Warrant Agreement or the Representative's Warrant
Agreement, or (D) resales of the Firm Securities and the Option
Securities in connection with the distribution contemplated hereby.
25
v. the Registration Statement is effective under the Act, and, if
applicable, filing of all pricing information has been timely made in
the appropriate form under Rule 430A, and no stop order suspending the
use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any part of any thereof or suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, threatened or contemplated under the Act;
vi. each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto
(other than the financial statements and other financial and statistical
data included therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) comply
as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and
the Rules and Regulations.
vii. to the best of such counsel's knowledge, (A) there are no
agreements, contracts or other documents required by the Act to be
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement other than those described in the
Registration Statement (or required to be filed under the Exchange Act
if upon such filing they would be incorporated, in whole or in part, by
reference therein) and the Prospectus and filed as exhibits thereto, and
the exhibits which have been filed are correct copies of the documents
of which they purport to be copies; (B) the descriptions in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplement or
amendment thereto of contracts and other documents to which the Company
or the Subsidiaries are a party or by which it is bound, including any
document to which the Company or the Subsidiaries are a party or by
which it is bound, incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and any
supplement or amendment thereto, are accurate and fairly represent the
information required to be shown by Form SB-2; (C) there is no action,
arbitration, suit, proceeding, inquiry, investigation, litigation,
governmental or other proceeding (including, without limitation, those
having jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), domestic or
foreign, pending or threatened against (or circumstances that may give
rise to the same), or involving the properties or business of either the
Company or the Subsidiaries which (x) is required to be disclosed in the
Registration Statement which is not so disclosed (and such proceedings
as are summarized in the Registration Statement are accurately
summarized in all respects), (y) questions the validity of the capital
stock of the Company or this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement or the
Representative's Warrant Agreement, or of any action taken or to be
taken by the Company pursuant to or in connection with any of the
foregoing; (D) no statute or regulation or legal or governmental
proceeding required to be described in the Prospectus is not described
as required; and (E) there is no action, suit or proceeding pending, or
threatened, against or affecting either the Company or the Subsidiaries
before any court or arbitrator or governmental body, agency or official
(or any basis thereof known to such counsel) in which there is a
reasonable possibility of a decision which may result in a material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or the
earnings, position, prospects, stockholders' equity, value, operation,
properties, business or results of operations of either the Company or
the Subsidiaries, which could adversely affect the present or
prospective ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this
Agreement, the Warrant Agreement or the
26
Representative's Warrant Agreement or which in any manner draws into
question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the Warrant
Agreement or the Representative's Warrant Agreement;
viii. the Company has full legal right, power and authority to
enter into each of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and the
Representative's Warrant Agreement, and to consummate the transactions
provided for therein; and each of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement
and the Representative's Warrant Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company. Each of this Agreement, the
Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement, assuming
due authorization, execution and delivery by each other party thereto
constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as
such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general application relating
to or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights and the application of
equitable principles in any action, legal or equitable, and except as
rights to indemnity or contribution may be limited by applicable law),
and none of the Company's execution or delivery of this Agreement, the
Warrant Agreement and the Representative's Warrant Agreement, its
performance hereunder or thereunder, its consummation of the
transactions contemplated herein or therein, or the conduct of its
business as described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and
any amendments or supplements thereto, conflicts with or will conflict
with or results or will result in any breach or violation of any of the
terms or provisions of, or constitutes or will constitute a default
under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge,
claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest, defect or other
restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever upon, any property or
assets (tangible or intangible) of either the Company or the
Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of, (A) the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of either the Company or the Subsidiaries, (B)
any license, contract, collective bargaining agreement, indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, lease, voting trust agreement, stockholders
agreement, note, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or
instrument to which either the Company or the Subsidiaries are a party
or by which either of them is or may be bound or to which any of their
respective properties or assets (tangible or intangible) is or may be
subject, or any indebtedness, or (C) any statute, judgment, decree,
order, rule or regulation applicable to either the Company or the
Subsidiaries of any arbitrator, court, regulatory body or administrative
agency or other governmental agency or body (including, without
limitation, those having jurisdiction over environmental or similar
matters), domestic or foreign, having jurisdiction over either the
Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their respective activities or
properties.
ix. no consent, approval, authorization or order, and no filing
with, any court, regulatory body, government agency or other body (other
than such as may be required under Blue Sky laws, as to which no opinion
need be rendered) is required in connection with the issuance of the
Firm Securities and the Option Securities pursuant to the Prospectus and
the Registration Statement, the issuance of the Representative's
Warrants, the performance of this Agreement, the Warrant Agreement and
the Representative's Warrant Agreement, and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby;
27
x. the properties and business of each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries conform in all material respects to the description thereof
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and each of
the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or
valid and enforceable leasehold estates in, all items of real and
personal property stated in the Prospectus to be owned or leased by it,
in each case free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances,
pledges, security interests, defects or other restrictions or equities
of any kind whatsoever, other than those referred to in the Prospectus
and liens for taxes not yet due and payable;
xi. neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries are in breach of, or
in default under, any term or provision of any license, contract,
collective bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage, installment sale
agreement, deed of trust, lease, voting trust agreement, stockholders'
agreement, partnership agreement, note, loan or credit agreement or any
other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed
money, or any other agreement or instrument to which either the Company
or the Subsidiaries are a party or by which either the Company or the
Subsidiaries may be bound or to which the respective properties or
assets (tangible or intangible) of either the Company or the
Subsidiaries are subject or affected; and neither the Company nor the
Subsidiaries are in violation of any term or provision of its Articles
of Incorporation or By-Laws or in violation of any franchise, license,
permit, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation, domestic
or foreign;
xii. the statements in the Prospectus under "THE COMPANY,"
"BUSINESS," "MANAGEMENT," "PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS," "CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS," "DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES," and "SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR
FUTURE SALE" have been reviewed by such counsel, and insofar as they
refer to statements of law, descriptions of statutes, licenses, rules or
regulations or legal conclusions, are correct in all material respects;
xiii. the Securities have been accepted for quotation on Nasdaq;
xiv. the persons listed under the caption "PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS"
in the Prospectus are the respective "beneficial owners" (as such phrase
is defined in regulation 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) of the securities
set forth opposite their respective names thereunder as and to the
extent set forth therein;
xv. none of the Company, the Subsidiaries nor any of their
respective officers, stockholders, employees or agents, nor any other
person acting on behalf of either the Company or the Subsidiaries have,
directly or indirectly, given or agreed to give any money, gift or
similar benefit (other than legal price concessions to customers in the
ordinary course of business) to any customer, supplier, employee or
agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee of any
governmental agency or instrumentality of any government (domestic or
foreign) or any political party or candidate for office (domestic or
foreign) or other person who is or may be in a position to help or
hinder the business of either the Company or the Subsidiaries (or assist
it in connection with any actual or proposed transaction) which (A)
might subject either the Company or the Subsidiaries to
28
any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or governmental litigation
or proceeding, (B) if not given in the past, might have had an adverse
effect on the assets, business or operations of the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole, as reflected in any of the financial
statements contained in the Registration Statement, or (C) if not
continued in the future, might adversely affect the assets, business,
operations or prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a
whole;
xvi. no person, corporation, trust, partnership, association or
other entity has the right to include and/or register any securities of
the Company in the Registration Statement, require the Company to file
any registration statement or, if filed, to include any security in such
registration statement;
xvii. except as described in the Prospectus, there are no claims,
payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services in the
nature of a finder's or origination fee with respect to the sale of the
Securities hereunder or financial consulting arrangements or any other
arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuances that may
affect the Underwriters' compensation, as determined by the NASD;
xviii. assuming due execution by the parties thereto other than
the Company, the Lock-up Agreements are legal, valid and binding
obligations of the parties thereto, enforceable against the party and
any subsequent holder of the securities subject thereto in accordance
with its terms (except as such enforceability may be limited by
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
laws of general application relating to or affecting enforcement of
creditors' rights and the application of equitable principles in any
action, legal or equitable, and except as rights to indemnity or
contribution may be limited by applicable law);
xix. except as described in the Prospectus, neither the Company
nor the Subsidiaries (A) maintains, sponsors or contributes to any ERISA
Plans, (B) maintains or contributes, now or at any time previously, to a
defined benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA, and (C) has
ever completely or partially withdrawn from a "multiemployer plan";
xx. the minute books of each of the Company and the Subsidiaries
have been made available to the Underwriters and contain a complete
summary of all meetings and actions of the directors and stockholders of
the Company since [19__] and reflect all transactions referred to in
such minutes accurately in all material respects;
xxi. except as set forth in the Prospectus and to the best
knowledge of such counsel, no officer, director or stockholder of either
the Company or the Subsidiaries, or any "affiliate" or "associate" (as
these terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Rules and
Regulations) of any of the foregoing persons or entities has or has had,
either directly or indirectly, (A) an interest in any person or entity
which (x) furnishes or sells services or products which are furnished or
sold or are proposed to be furnished or sold by either the Company or
the Subsidiaries, or (y) purchases from or sells or furnishes to either
the Company or the Subsidiaries any goods or services, or (B) a
beneficial interest in any contract or agreement to which either the
Company or the Subsidiaries are a party
29
or by which either of them may be bound or affected. Except as set forth
in the Prospectus under "CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS," there are no existing
agreements, arrangements, understandings or transactions, or proposed
agreements, arrangements, understandings or transactions, between or
among any of the Company or the Subsidiaries, and any officer, director,
or 5% or greater securityholder of any of the Company or the
Subsidiaries, or any affiliate or associate of any such person or
entity;
xxii. each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance
with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198, An
Act Relating to Disclosure of Doing Business with Cuba;
xxiii. none of the Company, the Subsidiaries or any of their
respective affiliates shall be subject to the requirements of or shall
be deemed an "Investment Company," pursuant to and as defined under,
respectively, the Investment Company Act.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, and representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company and the Subsidiaries, at which conferences such counsel made inquiries
of such officers, representatives and accountants and discussed the contents of
the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and
related matters 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 Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to the
attention of such counsel which lead them to believe that either the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, at the time such Registration
Statement or amendment became effective or the Preliminary Prospectus or
Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto as of the date of such opinion
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading (it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion
with respect to the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
statistical data included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus). Such counsel shall further state that its opinion
may be relied upon by Underwriters' Counsel in rendering its opinion to the
Underwriters.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and
jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems
proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion
or opinions (in form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel) of
other counsel acceptable to Underwriters' Counsel, familiar with the applicable
laws; (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates
and written statements of responsible officers of each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries and certificates or other written statements of officers of
departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the
corporate existence or good standing of each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall
be delivered to Underwriters' Counsel if requested. The opinion of such counsel
for the Company and the Subsidiaries shall state that the opinion of any such
other counsel is in form satisfactory to such
30
counsel and that the Representative, Underwriters' Counsel and they are each
justified in relying thereon. Any opinion of counsel for the Company and the
Subsidiaries shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or that
it is otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document
relating to legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion
Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991) or any comparable state accord.
e. At each Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriters shall
have received the favorable opinion of the Xxxxxxxxxx Law Firm, P.C., counsel to
the Company and the Subsidiaries, dated such Option Closing Date, addressed to
the Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel
confirming as of such Option Closing Date the statements made by the Xxxxxxxxxx
Law Firm, P.C. in its opinion delivered on the Closing Date.
f. On or prior to each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing
Date, if any, Underwriters' Counsel shall have been furnished such documents,
certificates and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of
enabling them to review or pass upon the matters referred to in subsection (c)
of this Section 6, or in order to evidence the accuracy, completeness or
satisfaction of any of the representations, warranties or conditions of the
Company, or herein contained.
g. Prior to each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date,
if any, (i) there shall have been no adverse change nor development involving a
prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise, earnings, position,
value, properties, results of operations, prospects, stockholders' equity or the
business activities of either the Company or the Subsidiaries, whether or not in
the ordinary course of business, from the latest dates as of which such
condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (ii) there
shall have been no transaction, not in the ordinary course of business, entered
into by either the Company or the Subsidiaries, from the latest date as of which
the financial condition of the Company and the Subsidiaries are set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus which is adverse to the Company and the
Subsidiaries taken as a whole; (iii) neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries
shall be in default under any provision of any instrument relating to any
outstanding indebtedness; (iv) neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries shall
have issued any securities (other than the Securities) or declared or paid any
dividend or made any distribution in respect of its capital stock of any class
and there has not been any change in the capital stock or any change in the debt
(long or short term) or liabilities or obligations of either the Company or the
Subsidiaries (contingent or otherwise); (v) no material amount of the assets of
either the Company or the Subsidiaries shall have been pledged or mortgaged,
except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus; (vi) no
action, suit or proceeding, at law or in equity, shall have been pending or
threatened (or circumstances giving rise to same) against either the Company or
the Subsidiaries, or affecting any of their respective properties or businesses
before or by any court or federal, state or foreign commission, board or other
administrative agency wherein an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding may
adversely affect the business, operations, earnings, position, value,
properties, results of operations, prospects or financial condition or income of
the Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole; and (vii) no stop order shall
have been issued under the Act and no proceedings therefor shall have been
initiated, threatened or contemplated by the Commission.
31
h. At each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if
any, the Underwriters shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by
the principal executive officer and by the chief financial or chief accounting
officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, to the effect that each of such persons has carefully examined the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement, and that:
i. The representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has
complied with all agreements and covenants and satisfied all conditions
contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or satisfied at
or prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may
be;
ii. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof has been issued, and no proceedings for
that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best of each
of such person's knowledge, after due inquiry, are contemplated or
threatened under the Act;
iii. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, if any,
each amendment and each supplement thereto, contain all statements and
information required to be included therein, and none of the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement
thereto includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading and neither the Preliminary
Prospectus or any supplement thereto included any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and
iv. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a) neither the
Company nor the Subsidiaries have incurred up to and including the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, other than
in the ordinary course of its business, any material liabilities or
obligations, direct or contingent; (b) neither the Company nor the
Subsidiaries have paid or declared any dividends or other distributions
on its capital stock; (c) neither the Company nor the Subsidiaries have
entered into any transactions not in the ordinary course of business;
(d) there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term debt
or any increase in the short-term borrowings (other than any increase in
the short-term borrowings in the ordinary course of business) of either
the Company or the Subsidiaries; (e) neither the Company nor the
Subsidiaries have sustained any loss or damage to any of their
respective properties or assets, whether or not insured; (f) there is no
litigation which is pending or threatened (or circumstances giving rise
to same) against any of the Company or the Subsidiaries or any
affiliated party of any of the foregoing which is required to be set
forth in an amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been set
forth; and (g) there has occurred no event required to be set forth in
an amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been set forth.
32
References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this subsection
(j) are to such documents as amended and supplemented at the date of such
certificate.
i. By the Closing Date, the Underwriters will have received
clearance from the NASD as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to
the Underwriters, as described in the Registration Statement.
j. At the time this Agreement is executed, the Underwriters shall
have received a letter, dated such date, addressed to the Underwriters in form
and substance satisfactory (including the non-material nature of the changes or
decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) in all respects to the
Underwriters and Underwriters' Counsel, from Ernst & Young LLP:
i. confirming that they are independent certified public
accountants with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations;
ii. stating that it is their opinion that the consolidated
financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company and the
Subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement comply as to form in
all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the
Act and the Rules and Regulations thereunder and that the Representative
may rely upon the opinion of Ernst & Young LLP with respect to the
consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules included in
the Registration Statement;
iii. stating that, on the basis of a limited review which included
a reading of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements
of each of the Company and the Subsidiaries, a reading of the latest
available minutes of the stockholders and board of directors and the
various committees of the boards of directors of each of the Company and
the Subsidiaries, consultations with officers and other employees of
each of the Company and the Subsidiaries responsible for financial and
accounting matters and other specified procedures and inquiries, nothing
has come to their attention which would lead them to believe that (A)
the unaudited consolidated financial statements and supporting schedules
of the Company and the Subsidiaries included in the Registration
Statement do not comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Rules and
Regulations or are not fairly presented in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles applied on a basis substantially
consistent with that of the audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company and the Subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement,
or (B) at a specified date not more than five (5) days prior to the
effective date of the Registration Statement, there has been any change
in the capital stock or long-term debt of either the Company or the
Subsidiaries, or any decrease in the stockholders' equity or net current
assets or net assets of either the Company or the Subsidiaries as
compared with amounts shown in the June 30, 1996 balance sheet included
in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth in or
contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any change
or decrease, setting forth the amount of such change or decrease, and
(C) during the period from July
33
1, 1996 to a specified date not more than five (5) days prior to the
effective date of the Registration Statement, there was any decrease in
net revenues, net earnings or increase in net earnings per common share
of either the Company or the Subsidiaries, in each case as compared with
the corresponding period beginning July 1, 1995, other than as set forth
in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any
such decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease;
iv. setting forth, at a date not later than five (5) days prior to
the date of the Registration Statement, the amount of liabilities of the
Company and the Subsidiaries taken as a whole (including a break-down of
commercial paper and notes payable to banks);
v. stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts,
numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and
other financial information pertaining to the Company and the
Subsidiaries set forth in the Prospectus in each case to the extent that
such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be
derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of
the Company and the Subsidiaries and excluding any questions requiring
an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the
application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate
procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the
letter and found them to be in agreement;
vi. statements as to such other matters incident to the
transaction contemplated hereby as the Representative may request.
k. At the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the
Underwriters shall have received from Ernst & Young LLP a letter, dated as of
the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, to the effect
that they reaffirm that statements made in the letter furnished pursuant to
subsection (l) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to shall
be a date not more than five (5) days prior to the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, and, if the Company has elected to rely on
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, to the further effect that they have
carried out procedures as specified in clause (v) of subsection (l) of this
Section with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information
as specified by the Representative and deemed to be a part of the Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b) and have found such amounts, percentages and
financial information to be in agreement with the records specified in such
clause (v).
l. On each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if
any, there shall have been duly tendered to the Representative for the several
Underwriters' accounts the appropriate number of Securities.
m. No order suspending the sale of the Securities in any
jurisdiction designated by the Representative pursuant to subsection (e) of
Section 4 hereof shall have been issued on either the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, if any, and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been
instituted or shall be contemplated.
34
n. On or before the Closing Date, the Company shall have executed
and delivered to the Representative, (i) the Representative's Warrant Agreement
substantially in the form filed as Exhibit 4.2 to the Registration Statement, in
final form and substance satisfactory to the Representative, and (ii) the
Representative's Warrants in such denominations and to such designees as shall
have been provided to the Company.
o. On or before the Closing Date, the Firm Securities and Option
Securities shall have been duly approved for quotation on Nasdaq, subject to
official notice of issuance.
p. On or before the Closing Date, there shall have been delivered
to the Representative all of the Lock-up Agreements, in form and substance
satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel.
q. On or before the Closing Date, the Company shall have executed
and delivered to the Representative and the Transfer Agent the Warrant Agreement
substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [____] to the Registration Statement,
in final form and substance satisfactory to the Representative.
If any condition to the Underwriters' obligations hereunder to be
fulfilled prior to or at the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, is not so fulfilled, the Representative may terminate this
Agreement or, if the Representative so elects, it may waive any such conditions
which have not been fulfilled or extend the time for their fulfillment.
7. Indemnification.
a. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Underwriter (for purposes of this Section 7, "Underwriter" shall include the
officers, directors, partners, employees, agents and counsel of the
Underwriter), and each person, if any, who controls the Underwriter
("controlling person") within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section
20(a) of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages,
expenses or liabilities, joint or several (and actions in respect thereof),
whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all expenses whatsoever
reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any
litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever), as such are
incurred, to which the Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or
otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon
(A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained (i) in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus (as from time to time amended and supplemented); (ii) in any
post-effective amendment or amendments or any new registration statement and
prospectus in which is included securities of the Company issued or issuable
upon exercise of the Securities; or (iii) in any application or other document
or written communication (in this Section 7, collectively referred to as
"applications") executed by the Company or based upon written information
furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in order to qualify the Securities
under the securities laws thereof or filed with the Commission, any state
securities commission or agency, the NASD, Nasdaq or any securities exchange;
(B) the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading (in
the
35
case of the Prospectus, in light of the circumstances in which they were made);
or (C) any breach of any representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the
Company contained herein or in any certificate by or on behalf of the Company or
any of its officers delivered pursuant hereto, unless, in the case of clause (A)
or (B) above, such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect to the
Underwriter by or on behalf of the Underwriter expressly for use in any
Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any
amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or in any application, as the case may
be. The indemnity agreement in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to any
liability which the Company may have at common law or otherwise.
The indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) shall be in addition to
any liability which the Company may have at common law or otherwise.
b. Each of the Underwriters agrees severally, but not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who has signed the Registration Statement, and each other person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, to the same extent
as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriters but only with
respect to statements or omissions, if any, made in any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto or in any application made in reliance upon, and in strict conformity
with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to any
Underwriter by such Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or in any such application, provided that such written
information or omissions only pertain to disclosures in the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus directly relating to the
transactions effected by the Underwriters in connection with this Offering. The
Company acknowledges that the statements with respect to the public offering of
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities set forth under the heading
"Underwriting" and the stabilization legend in the Prospectus have been
furnished by the Underwriters expressly for use therein and constitute the only
information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters for
inclusion in the Prospectus.
c. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 7 of notice of the commencement of any claim, action, suit,
investigation, inquiry, proceeding or litigation, such indemnified party shall,
if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against one or more indemnifying
parties under this Section 7, notify each party against whom indemnification is
to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but the failure so to
notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have under this Section 7 except to the extent that it has been prejudiced
in any material respect by such failure or from any liability which it may have
otherwise). In case any such claim, action, suit, investigation, inquiry,
proceeding or litigation is brought against any indemnified party, and it
notifies an indemnifying party or parties of the commencement thereof, the
indemnifying party or parties will be entitled to participate therein, and to
the extent it may elect 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. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or
parties shall have the right to employ
36
its or their own counsel in any such case but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party or parties unless (i)
the employment of such counsel shall have been authorized in writing by the
indemnifying parties in connection with the defense thereof at the expense of
the indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying parties shall not have employed
counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party to have charge of the
defense thereof within a reasonable time after notice of commencement thereof,
or (iii) such indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be defenses available to it or them which are different from or
additional to those available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in
which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the
defense thereof on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which
events such fees and expenses of one additional counsel shall be borne by the
indemnifying parties. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for
fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with
any one claim, action, suit, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or litigation or
separate but similar or related claims, actions, suits, investigations,
inquiries, proceedings or litigation in the same jurisdiction arising out of the
same general allegations or circumstances. Anything in this Section 7 to the
contrary notwithstanding, an indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any claim, action, suit, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or
litigation effected without its written consent; provided, however, that such
consent was not unreasonably withheld. An indemnifying party will not, without
the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle, compromise or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened
claim, action, suit, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or litigation in respect
of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not
the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim, action,
suit, investigation, inquiry, proceeding or litigation), unless such settlement,
compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified
party from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit, investigation,
inquiry, proceeding or litigation and (ii) does not include a statement as to or
an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.
d. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in any
case in which (i) an indemnified party makes claim for indemnification pursuant
to this Section 7, but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final
judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of
time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such
indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that
the express provisions of this Section 7 provide for indemnification in such
case, or (ii) contribution under the Act may be required on the part of any
indemnified party, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid as a result of such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) (A) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by each of the contributing parties, on the one
hand, and the party to be indemnified on the other hand, from the offering of
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities or (B) if the allocation provided
by clause (A) 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 each of the contributing parties, on the
one hand, and the party to be indemnified, on the other hand, in connection with
the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
expenses or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
In any case where the Company is the contributing party and the Underwriters
37
are the indemnified party, the relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Firm Securities
and the Option Securities (before deducting expenses) bear to the total
underwriting discounts received by the Underwriters hereunder, in each case as
set forth in the table on the Cover Page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall
be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state
a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company, or by the
Underwriters, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection (d), the Underwriters shall not be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the
Firm Securities and the Option Securities purchased by the Underwriters
hereunder. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning
of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this
Section 7, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of
the Act, each officer of the Company who has signed the Registration Statement,
and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as
the Company, subject in each case to this subsection (d). Any party entitled to
contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any
action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect to which a claim for
contribution may be made against another party or parties under this subsection
(d), notify such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the
omission so to notify such party or parties shall not relieve the party or
parties from whom contribution may be sought from any obligation it or they may
have hereunder or otherwise than under this subsection (d), or to the extent
that such party or parties were not adversely affected by such omission. The
contribution agreement set forth above shall be in addition to any liabilities
which any indemnifying party may have at common law or otherwise.
8. Representations and Agreements to Survive Delivery. All
representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or
contained in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto,
shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements at the Closing
Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and such representations,
warranties and agreements of the Company and the indemnity agreements contained
in Section 7 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the
Company, any controlling person of any Underwriter or the Company, and shall
survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the
Securities to the Underwriters and the Representative, as the case may be.
9. Effective Date. This Agreement shall become effective at 10:00 a.m.,
New York City time, on the next full business day following the date hereof, or
at such earlier time after the Registration Statement becomes effective as the
Representative, in its discretion, shall release the Securities for sale to the
public; provided, however, that the provisions of Sections 5, 7 and
38
10 of this Agreement shall at all times be effective. For purposes of this
Section 9, the Securities to be purchased hereunder shall be deemed to have been
so released upon the earlier of dispatch by the Representative of telegrams to
securities dealers releasing such securities for offering or the release by the
Representative for publication of the first newspaper advertisement which is
subsequently published relating to the Securities.
10. Termination.
a. Subject to Section 10(b) hereof, the Underwriter shall have the
right to terminate this Agreement: (i) if any domestic or international event or
act or occurrence has materially adversely disrupted, or in the Underwriter's
opinion will in the immediate future materially adversely disrupt, the financial
markets; or (ii) if any material adverse change in the financial markets shall
have occurred; or (iii) if trading generally shall have been suspended or
materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the New York Stock
Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the NASD, the Boston Stock Exchange, the
Commission or any governmental authority having jurisdiction over such matters;
or (iv) if trading of any of the securities of the Company shall have been
suspended, or if any of the securities of the Company shall have been delisted,
on any exchange or in any over-the-counter market; or (v) if the United States
shall have become involved in a war or major hostilities, or if there shall have
been an escalation in an existing war or major hostilities, or a national
emergency shall have been declared in the United States; or (vi) if a banking
moratorium shall have been declared by any state or federal authority; or (vii)
if a moratorium in foreign exchange trading shall have been declared; or (viii)
if the Company shall have sustained a material or substantial loss by fire,
flood, accident, hurricane, earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or
malicious act which, whether or not such loss shall have been insured, will, in
the Underwriter's opinion, make it inadvisable to proceed with the delivery of
the Securities; or (ix) if there shall have been such a material adverse change
in the conditions or prospects of the Company, or if there shall have been such
a material adverse change in the general market, political or economic
conditions, in the United States or elsewhere, as in the Underwriter's judgment
would make it inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of
the Securities; or (x) if Xxxxx X. Xxxxx shall no longer serve the Company in
his present capacities.
b. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representative in
accordance with the provisions of Section 10(a) the Company shall promptly
reimburse and indemnify the Representative for all of its actual out-of-pocket
expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters
(less amounts previously paid pursuant to Section 5(c) above); provided,
however, that the Representative will refund to the Company any unaccounted-for
portion of any amounts already advanced by the Company to the Representative
pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof. Notwithstanding any contrary provision
contained in this Agreement, if this Agreement shall not be carried out within
the time specified herein, or any extension thereof granted by the
Representative, by reason of any failure on the part of the Company to perform
any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement by it to be performed
or satisfied (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 6 or Section
12) then, the Company shall promptly reimburse and indemnify the Representative
for all of its actual out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters (less amounts previously paid
pursuant to Section 5(c) above); provided, however, that the Representative will
refund to
39
the Company any unaccounted-for portion of any amounts already advanced by the
Company to the Representative pursuant to Section 5(c) hereof. In addition, the
Company shall remain liable for all Blue Sky counsel fees and disbursements,
expenses and filing fees. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in
this Agreement, any election hereunder or any termination of this Agreement
(including, without limitation, pursuant to Sections 6, 10, 11 and 12 hereof),
and whether or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of
Section 5 and Section 7 shall not be in any way affected by such election or
termination or failure to carry out the terms of this Agreement or any part
hereof.
11. Substitution of the Underwriters. If one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail (otherwise than for a reason sufficient to justify the termination of
this Agreement under the provisions of Section 6, Section 10 or Section 12
hereof) to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase on
such date under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representative
shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangement for one or
more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase
all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may
be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the
Representative shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of
the total number of Firm Securities to be purchased on such date, the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase the full
amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting
obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all
non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the total
number of Firm Securities, this Agreement shall terminate without
liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriters (or, if such
default shall occur with respect to any Option Securities to be
purchased on an Option Closing Date, the Underwriters may at the
Representative's option, by notice from the Representative to the
Company, terminate the Underwriters' obligation to purchase Option
Securities from the Company on such date).
No action taken pursuant to this Section 11 shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default by such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement, the Representative shall have the right to postpone the
Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven (7) days in order to effect any
required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements.
12. Default by the Company. If the Company shall fail at the Closing
Date or at any Option Closing Date, as applicable, to sell and deliver the
number of Securities which it is obligated to sell hereunder on such date, then
this Agreement shall terminate (or, if such default shall occur with respect to
any Option Securities to be purchased on an Option Closing Date, the
Underwriters may at the Representative's option, by notice from the
Representative to the Company, terminate the Underwriters' obligation to
purchase Option Securities from the
40
Company on such date) without any liability on the part of any non-defaulting
party other than pursuant to Section 5, Section 7 and Section 10 hereof. No
action taken pursuant to this Section 12 shall relieve the Company from
liability, if any, in respect of such default.
13. Notices. All notices and communications hereunder, except as herein
otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be deemed to have
been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of
telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the
Representative at National Securities Corporation, 0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
0000, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx, Chairman, with
a copy to Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx
Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Esq. Notices to the Company shall be
directed to the Company at 0000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxx 000, Xxxxxx, Xxxxx
00000, Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to the
Xxxxxxxxxx Law Firm, P.C., 0000 Xxx Xxxxxx Xxxx, Xxxxx 000, XxXxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000, Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxxxx, Esq.
14. Parties. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and
shall be binding upon, the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling
persons, directors and officers referred to in Section 7 hereof, and their
respective successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person
shall have or be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim
under or in respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein
contained. No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be
a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
15. Construction. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed and
enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to the choice of law or conflict of laws principles.
16. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which
taken together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
17. Entire Agreement; Amendments. This Agreement, the Warrant Agreement
and the Representative's Warrant Agreement constitute the entire agreement of
the parties hereto and supersede all prior written or oral agreements,
understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement may not be amended except in a writing, signed by the Representative
and the Company.
41
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the
Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for
that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among
us.
Very truly yours,
MULTIMEDIA ACCESS CORPORATION
By:
---------------------------
Xxxxx X. Xxxxx
Chief Executive Officer
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written.
NATIONAL SECURITIES CORPORATION
For itself and as Representative
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule A hereto.
By:
---------------------------
Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Chairman
SCHEDULE A
----------
Number of
Redeemable
Number of Shares Warrants to be
Name of Underwriters to be Purchased Purchased
-------------------- --------------- ---------------
National Securities Corporation..............
Network 1 Financial Securitie, Inc...........
Total........................................ 1,800,000 1,800,000
========= =========
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