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Exhibit 1.1
Fifth Third Bancorp
3,600,000 Shares
Common Stock
(no par value)
Underwriting Agreement
New York, New York
April __, 1998
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
The Ohio Company
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Fifth Third Bancorp, an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters"), for whom you (the "Representatives") are acting as
representatives, 3,600,000 shares of Common Stock, no par value ("Common
Stock"), of the Company (said shares to be issued and sold by the Company
being hereinafter called the "Securities"). To the extent there are no
additional Underwriters listed on Schedule I other than you, the term
Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters, and the terms
Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as
the context requires. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, a
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of
Form S-3 which were filed under the Exchange Act on or before the Effective
Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of such Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to
the terms "amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to
refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after
the Effective Date of the Registration Statement, or the issue date of any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined in
Section 17 hereof.
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1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES. The Company represents and
warrants to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this
Section 1.
(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3
under the Act and has prepared and filed with the Commission a
registration statement (file number 333-49993) on Form S-3, including a
related preliminary prospectus, for the registration under the Act of
the offering and sale of the Securities. The Company may have filed one
or more amendments thereto, including a related preliminary prospectus,
each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will
next file with the Commission one of the following: either (i) prior to
the Effective Date of such registration statement, a further amendment
to such registration statement, (including the form of final
prospectus), (ii) after the Effective Date of such registration
statement, a final prospectus in accordance with Rules 430A and 424(b),
or (iii) a final prospectus in accordance with Rules 415 and 424(b). In
the case of clause (ii), the Company has included in such registration
statement, as amended at the Effective Date, all information (other
than Rule 430A Information) required by the Act and the rules
thereunder to be included in such registration statement and the
Prospectus. As filed, such amendment and form of final prospectus, or
such final prospectus, shall contain all Rule 430A Information,
together with all other such required information, and, except to the
extent the Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification,
shall be in all substantive respects in the form furnished to you prior
to the Execution Time or, to the extent not completed at the Execution
Time, shall contain only such specific additional information and other
changes (beyond that contained in the latest Preliminary Prospectus) as
the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be
included or made therein. If the Registration Statement contains the
undertaking specified by Regulation S-K Item 512(a), the Registration
Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in
Rule 415(a)(1)(x).
(b) On the Effective Date, the Registration Statement did or
will, and when the Prospectus is first filed (if required) in
accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as defined
herein), the Prospectus (and any supplements thereto) will, comply in
all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act and
the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder; on the Effective
Date and at the Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not or
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in
order to make the statements therein not misleading; and, on the
Effective Date, the Prospectus, if not filed pursuant to Rule 424(b),
will not, and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on
the Closing Date, the Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto)
will not, include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company makes no
representations or warranties as to the information contained in or
omitted from the Registration Statement, or the Prospectus (or any
supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished herein or in writing to the
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Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives
specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus (or any supplement thereto).
(c) Each of the Company and each of its subsidiaries (as
defined below) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in
which it is chartered or organized, with full corporate power and
authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and
is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is in
good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such
qualification; the Company is duly registered as a bank holding company
under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as amended (the "BHC Act"),
and the current activities of the Company and its subsidiaries (as
defined in the rules and regulations of the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System thereunder (the "BHC Rules")) (individually a
"Subsidiary" and collectively the "Subsidiaries") would be activities
permissible for a bank holding company under the BHC Act and the BHC
Rules.
(d) All the outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are
fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the
Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the Subsidiaries
are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned
subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected security interest or any
other security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
(e) There is no franchise, contract or other document of a
character required to be described in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not
described or filed as required; and the statements in the Prospectus
under the heading "Regulation of Financial Institutions" fairly
summarize the matters therein described.
(f) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company and constitutes a valid and binding obligation
of the Company enforceable in accordance with its terms.
(g) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Securities and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment
company" as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(h) No consent, approval, authorization, filing with or order
of any court or governmental agency or body is required in connection
with the transactions contemplated herein, except such as have been
obtained under the Act and such as may be required under the blue sky
laws of any jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner
contemplated herein and in the Prospectus.
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(i) Neither the issue and sale of the Securities nor the
consummation of any other transactions herein contemplated nor the
fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict with, result in a breach
or violation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries pursuant
to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease,
mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other
agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the
Company or any of its Subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its
or their property is subject, or (iii) any statute, law, rule,
regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or any
of its Subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body, administrative
agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or any of its
or their properties.
(j) No holders of securities of the Company have rights to the
registration of such securities under the Registration Statement.
(k) The Company and its Subsidiaries possess all licenses,
certificates, permits and other authorizations issued by the
appropriate federal, state or foreign regulatory authorities necessary
to conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any
such Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of any such certificate, authorization or
permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would have a material adverse
effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects, earnings,
business or properties of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course
of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus
(exclusive of any supplement thereto).
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and
delivered to the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters in connection
with the offering of the Securities shall be deemed a representation and
warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. PURCHASE AND SALE. Subject to the terms and conditions and
in reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the
Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of
$___ per share, the amount of the Securities set forth opposite such
Underwriter's name in Schedule I hereto.
3. DELIVERY AND PAYMENT. Delivery of and payment for the
Securities shall be made at 10:00 AM, New York City time, on April __, 1998, or
at such time on such later date not more than three Business Days after the
foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and time may
be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as
provided in Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the
Securities being herein called the "Closing Date"). Delivery of the Securities
shall be made to the Representatives for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters against payment by
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the several Underwriters through the Representatives of the purchase price
thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire transfer payable in same-day
funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the Securities shall
be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the
Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
4. OFFERING BY UNDERWRITERS. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth
in the Prospectus.
5. AGREEMENTS. The Company agrees with the several
Underwriters that:
(a) The Company will use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, and any
amendment thereof, to become effective. Prior to the termination of the
offering of the Securities, the Company will not file any amendment of
the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement unless the Company has furnished you a
copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such
proposed amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object.
Subject to the foregoing sentence, if the Registration Statement has
become or becomes effective pursuant to Rule 430A, or filing of the
Prospectus is otherwise required under Rule 424(b), the Company will
cause the Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to
be filed with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of
Rule 424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence
satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely filing. The Company
will promptly advise the Representatives (i) when the Registration
Statement, if not effective at the Execution Time, shall have become
effective, (ii) when the Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall
have been filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) or when any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have been
filed with the Commission, (iii) when, prior to termination of the
offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement
shall have been filed or become effective, (iv) of any request by the
Commission or its staff for any amendment of the Registration
Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or for any
supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (v) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the institution or
threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (vi) of the receipt
by the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of
the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the
institution or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The
Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such
stop order or the suspension of any such qualification and, if issued,
to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.
(b) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the
Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs
as a result of which the Prospectus as then supplemented would include
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or if it shall
be necessary to amend the Registration Statement or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with the Act or the
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Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder, the Company promptly
will (i) notify the Representatives of such event, (ii) prepare and
file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph
(a) of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement which will correct
such statement or omission or effect such compliance and (iii) supply
any supplemented Prospectus to you in such quantities as you may
reasonably request.
(c) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally
available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement or statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule
158 under the Act.
(d) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and
counsel for the Underwriters, without charge, copies of executed
Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and to each other
Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits
thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or
dealer may be required by the Act, as many copies of each Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the
Representatives may reasonably request. The Company will pay the
expenses of printing or other production of all documents relating to
the offering.
(e) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the
qualification of the Securities for sale under the laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate, will maintain such
qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of
the Securities and will pay any fee of the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc., in connection with its review of the
offering; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to
qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or to take any action that would subject it to service of
process in suits, other than those arising out of the offering or sale
of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(f) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, for a period of 90 days following the Execution
Time, offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of (or
enter into any transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be
expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual disposition
or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or otherwise)
by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity
with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or
indirectly, or announce the offering of, any other shares of Common
Stock or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, shares
of Common Stock; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company (i) may issue and
sell Common Stock pursuant to any stock option, purchase and
compensation plans of the Company in effect at the Execution Time, (ii)
the Company may issue Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of
securities or the exercise of warrants outstanding at the Execution
Time, and (iii) the Company may issue Common Stock as consideration for
the acquisition of one or more businesses including the acquisitions of
The Ohio Company, State Savings Company and CitFed Bancorp, Inc.
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(g) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any
action designed to or which has constituted or which might reasonably
be expected to cause or result, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, in
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of the
Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities.
6. CONDITIONS TO THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities shall be subject to
the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
contained herein as of the Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the accuracy
of the statements of the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the
provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company of its obligations
hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) If the Registration Statement has not become effective
prior to the Execution Time, unless the Representatives agree in
writing to a later time, the Registration Statement will become
effective not later than (i) 6:00 PM New York City time on the date of
determination of the public offering price, if such determination
occurred at or prior to 3:00 PM New York City time on such date or (ii)
9:30 AM on the Business Day following the day on which the public
offering price was determined, if such determination occurred after
3:00 PM New York City time on such date; if filing of the Prospectus,
or any supplement thereto, is required pursuant to Rule 424(b), the
Prospectus, and any such supplement, will be filed in the manner and
within the time period required by Rule 424(b); and 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 threatened.
(b) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives
the opinion of Xxxxxxx, Head & Xxxxxxx, special counsel for the
Company, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives,
to the effect that:
(i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the jurisdiction in which it is chartered or
organized, with full corporate power and authority to own or
lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, and is
duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is
in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which
requires such qualification;
(ii) the Company's authorized equity capitalization
is as set forth in the Prospectus; the capital stock of the
Company conforms in all material respects to the description
thereof contained in the Prospectus; the outstanding shares of
Common Stock have been duly and validly authorized and issued
and are fully paid and nonassessable; the Securities have been
duly and validly authorized, and, when issued and delivered to
and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement,
will be fully paid and nonassessable; the Securities are duly
listed and admitted and authorized for trading, subject to
official notice of issuance, on the
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Nasdaq National Market; the certificates for the Securities
are in valid and sufficient form; and the holders of
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company are not
entitled to preemptive or other rights to subscribe for the
Securities; and, except as set forth in the Prospectus, to the
knowledge of such counsel, no options, warrants or other
rights to purchase, agreements or other obligations to issue,
or rights to convert any obligations into or exchange any
securities for, shares of capital stock of or ownership
interests in the Company are outstanding;
(iii) to the knowledge of such counsel, there is no
pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding by or before
any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any
arbitrator involving the Company or any of its Subsidiaries or
its or their property of a character required to be disclosed
in the Registration Statement which is not adequately
disclosed in the Prospectus, and there is no franchise,
contract or other document of a character required to be
described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to
be filed as an exhibit thereto, which is not described or
filed as required;
(iv) the Registration Statement has become effective
under the Act; any required filing of the Prospectus, and any
supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in
the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b);
to the knowledge of such counsel, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued,
no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
threatened and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
(other than the financial statements and other financial
information contained therein, as to which such counsel need
express no opinion) comply as to form in all material respects
with the applicable requirements of the Act and the Exchange
Act and the respective rules thereunder;
(v) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered by the Company;
(vi) the Company is not and, after giving effect to
the offering and sale of the Securities and the application of
the proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not
be an "investment company" as defined in the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
(vii) no consent, approval, authorization, filing
with or order of any court or governmental agency or body is
required in connection with the transactions contemplated
herein, except such as have been obtained under the Act and
such as may be required under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution
of the Securities by the Underwriters in the manner
contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus and such
other approvals (specified in such opinion) as have been
obtained.
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In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the
State of Ohio or the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent
they deem proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of
other counsel of good standing whom they believe to be reliable and who
are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (B) as to matters
of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials. References to the
Prospectus in this paragraph (b) include any supplements thereto at the
Closing Date. The opinion of such counsel shall be rendered to the
Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.
Such counsel shall additionally state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of
the Company, representatives of the Underwriters and counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with the preparation of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and has considered the matters and
statements contained therein, although such counsel has not
independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such
matters and statements (except as indicated above), and on the basis of
the foregoing, such counsel advises that such counsel has no reason to
believe that on the Effective Date or at the Execution Time the
Registration Statement contains or contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or that the Prospectus as of its date and on the Closing
Date includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading (in each case, other than the financial statements and
other financial information contained therein, as to which such counsel
need express no opinion).
(c) Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, General Counsel to the Company, shall
have furnished to the Representatives his opinion, dated the Closing
Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) each of the Company's Subsidiaries has been duly
incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
chartered or organized, with full corporate power and
authority to own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate
its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction which requires such qualification; the Company is
duly registered as a bank holding company under the BHC Act
and the current activities of the Company and its Subsidiaries
would be activities permissible for a bank holding company
under the BHC Act and the BHC Rules;
(ii) except as set forth in the Prospectus, no
options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or
other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any
obligations into or exchange any securities for, shares of
capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company are
outstanding;
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(iii) all the outstanding shares of capital stock of
each Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as
otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, all outstanding shares
of capital stock of the Subsidiaries are owned by the Company
either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and
clear of any perfected security interest and, to the knowledge
of such counsel, after due inquiry, any other security
interest, claim, lien or encumbrance;
(iv) the statements in the Prospectus under the
heading "Regulation of Financial Institutions" fairly
summarize the matters therein described;
(v) neither the issue and sale of the Securities, nor
the consummation of any other of the transactions herein
contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation of or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Company or its Subsidiaries pursuant
to, (A) the charter or by-laws of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, (B) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease,
mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or
other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or instrument
to which the Company or its Subsidiaries is a party or bound
or to which its or their property is subject, or (C) any
statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree
applicable to the Company or its Subsidiaries of any court,
regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body,
arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the
Company or its Subsidiaries or any of its or their properties;
and
(vi) no holders of securities of the Company have
rights to the registration of such securities under the
Registration Statement.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the
State of Ohio or the Federal laws of the United States, to the extent
he deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of
other counsel of good standing whom he believes to be reliable and who
are satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters and (B) as to matters
of fact, to the extent he deems proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials. References to the
Prospectus in this paragraph (c) include any supplements thereto at the
Closing Date. The opinion of such counsel shall be rendered to the
Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so state therein.
Such counsel shall additionally state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of
the Company, representatives of the Underwriters and counsel for the
Underwriters in connection with the preparation of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and has considered the matters and
statements contained therein, although such counsel has not
independently verified the accuracy, completeness or fairness of such
matters and statements (except as indicated above), and on the basis of
the foregoing, such counsel advises that such counsel has no reason to
believe that on the Effective Date or at the Execution Time the
Registration Statement contains or contained any untrue statement of
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a material fact or omitted or omits to state any material fact required
to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading or that the Prospectus as of its date and on the Closing
Date includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading (in each case, other than the financial statements and
other financial information contained therein, as to which such counsel
need express no opinion).
(d) The Representatives shall have received from Cleary,
Gottlieb, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel for the Underwriters, such opinion
or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the
Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the
Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus (together with
any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the
Representatives may reasonably require, and the Company shall have
furnished to such counsel such documents as they request for the
purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters. The opinion or
opinions of such counsel shall be rendered to the Underwriters at the
request of the Company and shall so state therein.
(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a
certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board or the
President and the principal financial or accounting officer of the
Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such
certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus, any supplements to the Prospectus and this Agreement and
that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company
in this Agreement are true and correct in all material
respects on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as
if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with
all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing
Date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company's
knowledge, threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial
statements included in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse effect
on the condition (financial or otherwise), prospects,
earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set
forth in or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any
supplement thereto).
(f) At the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, Deloitte &
Touche LLP shall have furnished to the Representatives letters, dated
respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that
they are independent accountants within the meaning of
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the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective applicable published
rules and regulations thereunder and stating in effect that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements
and financial statement schedules and pro forma financial
statements included or incorporated in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and reported on by them comply as
to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and
the related published rules and regulations;
(ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest
unaudited financial statements made available by the Company
and its subsidiaries; carrying out certain specified
procedures (but not an examination in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards) which would not
necessarily reveal matters of significance with respect to the
comments set forth in such letter; a reading of the minutes of
the meetings of the stockholders and directors and executive,
audit and compensation and stock option committees of the
Company and the Subsidiaries; and inquiries of certain
officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial
and accounting matters of the Company and its subsidiaries as
to transactions and events subsequent to December 31, 1997,
nothing came to their attention which caused them to believe
that:
(1) any unaudited financial statements
included or incorporated in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus do not comply as to form
in all material respects with applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and with the published rules
and regulations of the Commission with respect to
financial statements included or incorporated in
quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the Exchange
Act; and said unaudited financial statements are not
in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a basis substantially
consistent with that of the audited financial
statements included or incorporated in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus;
(2) with respect to the period subsequent to
December 31, 1997, there were any changes, at a
specified date not more than five days prior to the
date of the letter, in the long-term debt of the
Company and its subsidiaries or capital stock of the
Company or decreases in the stockholders' equity of
the Company as compared with the amounts shown on the
December 31, 1997 consolidated balance sheet included
or incorporated in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, or for the period from January 1, 1998 to
such specified date there were any decreases, as
compared with the corresponding period in the
preceding year in net revenues or income before
income taxes or in total or per share amounts of net
income of the Company and its subsidiaries, except in
all instances for changes or decreases set forth in
such letter, in which case the letter shall be
accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to
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the significance thereof unless said explanation is
not deemed necessary by the Representatives;
(3) the information included in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus in response to
Regulation S-K, Item 301 (Selected Financial Data),
Item 302 (Supplementary Financial Information), Item
402 (Executive Compensation) and Item 503(d) (Ratio
of Earnings to Fixed Charges) is not in conformity
with the applicable disclosure requirements of
Regulation S-K; and
(iii) they have performed certain other specified
procedures as a result of which they determined that certain
information of an accounting, financial or statistical nature
(which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
information derived from the general accounting records of the
Company and its subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, including the information set
forth under the captions "Selected Historical Financial Data"
in the Prospectus and the information included or incorporated
in Items 1, 2, 6, 7 and 11 of the Company's Annual Report on
Form 10-K, incorporated in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of the Company
and its subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal
interpretation.
References to the Prospectus in this paragraph (f) include any
supplement thereto at the date of the letter.
(g) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates
as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
(exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the Prospectus (exclusive of
any supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or
decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph
(f) of this Section 6 or (ii) any change, or any development involving
a prospective change, in or affecting the condition (financial or
otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and its
subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in
or contemplated in the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto)
the effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii)
above, is, in the sole judgment of the Representatives, so material and
adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the
offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by the
Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof) and the
Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
(h) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have
been any decrease in the rating of any of the Company's debt securities
by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as
defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act) or any notice given
of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a
possible change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction
of the possible change.
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(i) The Securities shall have been listed and admitted and
authorized for trading on the Nasdaq National Market, and satisfactory
evidence of such actions shall have been provided to the
Representatives.
(j) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have
furnished to the Representatives such further information, certificates
and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not
have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this
Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall not be in all material respects reasonably
satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the
Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder
may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the
Representatives. Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the Company in
writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed in writing.
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall
be delivered at the office of Cleary, Gottlieb, Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxx, counsel for
the Underwriters, at Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx, xx the Closing Date.
7. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If the sale of the
Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 6 hereof is not satisfied,
because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally through Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Barney on demand for all out-of-pocket expenses
(including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been
incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the
Securities.
8. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees
and agents of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any
of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or
state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of
the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse
each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the
Company will not be liable in any such
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case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of
or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity
with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion therein. This
indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of
its officers who signs the Registration Statement, and each person who
controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act or the
Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
Company to each Underwriter, but only with reference to written
information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the Company by or
on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representatives specifically
for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing indemnity.
This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which any
Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that (i) the
statements set forth in the last paragraph of the cover page regarding
delivery of the Securities, (ii) the legends in block capital letters
on page 2 related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and
penalty bids, and (iii) under the heading "Underwriting," (A) the
sentences related to concessions and reallowances and (B) the paragraph
related to stabilization, syndicate covering transactions and penalty
bids in any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus constitute the
only information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several
Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus or the
Prospectus.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying party
in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify
the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under
paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the
forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses
and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from
any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification
obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b) above. The indemnifying
party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying party's
choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the indemnified
party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case
the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees
and expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party
or parties except as set forth below); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such
counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding
the indemnifying party's election to appoint counsel to represent the
indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party shall have the
right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and the
indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses
of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the
indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present
such counsel with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential
defendants in, or targets of,
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any such action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying
party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that
there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to
the indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the
institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall
authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the
expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding 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 or action) unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes
an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability
arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a)
or (b) of this Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company and the
Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate losses,
claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending same)
(collectively "Losses") to which the Company and one or more of the
Underwriters may be subject in such proportion as is appropriate to
reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the
Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no case shall any Underwriter
(except as may be provided in any agreement among underwriters relating
to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any amount in
excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the
Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any
reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally shall contribute in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative
benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and
of the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be
deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before
deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits received by the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting
discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the cover page
of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information provided by the Company on the one
hand or the Underwriters on the other, the intent of the parties and
their relative knowledge, access to information and opportunity to
correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and
the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method
of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this paragraph (d), no person guilty of
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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 8, each person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning
of either the Act or the Exchange Act and each director, officer,
employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same rights to
contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the
Company within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each
officer of the Company who shall have 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 the applicable
terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
9. DEFAULT BY AN UNDERWRITER. If any one or more Underwriters
shall fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased
by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up
and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set
forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of
Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the
Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in the event that the aggregate amount of
Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in
Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase
all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities,
and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities and
arrangements satisfactory to such nondefaulting Underwriters and the Company are
not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement will terminate
without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event
of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 9 that does not
result in the termination of this Agreement, the Closing Date shall be postponed
for such period, not exceeding five Business Days, as the Representatives shall
determine in order that the required changes in the Registration Statement and
the Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of
its liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for
damages occasioned by its default hereunder.
10. TERMINATION. This Agreement shall be subject to
termination in the absolute discretion of the Representatives, by notice given
to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the Securities, if at any
time prior to such time (a) trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have
been suspended by the Commission or the Nasdaq National Market or trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the Nasdaq National
Market shall have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall have been
established on either of such Exchange or National Market, (b) a banking
moratorium shall have been declared either by Federal, New York State or Ohio
authorities or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve or (c) there shall
have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration by the
United States of a national emergency or war or other calamity or crisis the
effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment
of the Representatives, impractical or
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inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as
contemplated by the Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
11. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE. The respective
agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other statements of the
Company or its officers and of the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to
this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of
the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof,
and will survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of
Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of this
Agreement.
12. NOTICES. All communications hereunder will be in writing
and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Representatives, will be
mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx General Counsel (fax
no.: (000) 000-0000 and confirmed to the General Counsel, Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Barney
Inc., at 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: General
Counsel; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to
___________ and confirmed to it at _______, Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, Esq.
13. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the
officers and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof,
and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.
14. APPLICABLE LAW. This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York applicable to
contracts made and to be performed within the State of New York.
15. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be signed in one or more
counterparts, each of which shall constitute an original and all of which
together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
16. HEADINGS. The section headings used herein are for
convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.
17. DEFINITIONS. The terms which follow, when used in this
Agreement, shall have the meanings indicated.
"Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
"Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a
Sunday or a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions or
trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New York
City or Ohio.
"Commission" shall mean the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
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"Effective Date" shall mean each date and time that the
Registration Statement, any post-effective amendment or amendments
thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement became or become
effective.
"Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended, and the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder.
"Execution Time" shall mean the date and time that this
Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto.
"Preliminary Prospectus" shall mean any preliminary prospectus
referred to in paragraph 1(a) above and any preliminary prospectus
included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date that omits
Rule 430A Information.
"Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus relating to the
Securities that is first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the
Execution Time or, if no filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is required,
shall mean the form of final prospectus relating to the Securities
included in the Registration Statement at the Effective Date.
"Registration Statement" shall mean the registration statement
referred to in paragraph 1(a) above, including exhibits and financial
statements, as amended at the Execution Time (or, if not effective at
the Execution Time, in the form in which it shall become effective)
and, in the event any post-effective amendment thereto or any Rule
462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective prior to the Closing
Date, shall also mean such registration statement as so amended or such
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, as the case may be. Such term shall
include any Rule 430A Information deemed to be included therein at the
Effective Date as provided by Rule 430A.
"Rule 424", "Rule 430A" and "Rule 462" refer to such rules
under the Act.
"Rule 430A Information" shall mean information with respect to
the Securities and the offering thereof permitted to be omitted from
the Registration Statement when it becomes effective pursuant to Rule
430A.
"Rule 462(b) Registration Statement" shall mean a registration
statement and any amendments thereto filed pursuant to Rule 462(b)
relating to the offering covered by the initial registration statement.
"Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Barney" shall mean Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc. or Salomon
Brothers Inc, to the extent that either such party is a signatory to
this Agreement.
For purposes of this Agreement, all references to the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, or
any amendment or supplement to any of the foregoing shall be deemed to
include the copy filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic
Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system ("XXXXX").
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If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of
our agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof,
whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement
among the Company and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
Fifth Third Bancorp
By:
--------------------------------
Name:
Title:
The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first
above written.
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co.
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
Xxxxxxxxx, Lufkin & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
The Ohio Company
By: Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.
By:
---------------------------------
Name:
Title:
For themselves and the other
several Underwriters named in
Schedule I to the foregoing
Agreement.
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SCHEDULE I
NUMBER OF UNDERWRITTEN
UNDERWRITERS SECURITIES TO BE PURCHASED
------------ --------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxx Inc.........................................................
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxx & Co......................................................
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc...............................................
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxx Securities Corporation......................
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx & Co., Xxxxxxx Lynch, Pierce, Xxxxxx & Xxxxx
Incorporated.............................................
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC....................................
The Ohio Company.........................................................
-----------------------
Total..................................................
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