2,750,000 Shares CHANGING WORLD TECHNOLOGIES, INC. Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
2,750,000 Shares
Common Stock, $0.01 par value per share
FORM OF
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
February __, 0000
X.X. Xxxxxxxxx + Co., LLC
ThinkEquity LLC
as Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
ThinkEquity LLC
as Representatives of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto
x/x X.X. Xxxxxxxxx + Co., LLC
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Changing World Technologies, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”) proposes, subject to
the terms and conditions contained in this Underwriting Agreement (the “Agreement”), to sell to you
and the other underwriters named on Schedule I to this Agreement (the “Underwriters”), for whom you
are acting as Representatives (the “Representatives”), an aggregate of 2,750,000 shares (the “Firm
Shares”) of the Company’s common stock, $0.01 par value per share (the “Common Stock”). The
respective amounts of the Firm Shares to be purchased by each of the several Underwriters are set
forth opposite their names on Schedule I hereto. In addition, the Company proposes to grant to the
Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional 412,500 shares (the “Option Shares”) of
Common Stock from the Company for the purpose of covering over-allotments in connection with the
sale of the Firm Shares. The Firm Shares and the Option Shares are collectively called the
“Shares.”
The Company has prepared and filed in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), and the published rules and regulations thereunder (the
“Rules”) adopted by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) a Registration
Statement (as hereinafter defined) on Form S-1 (No. 333-152967), including a preliminary prospectus
relating to the Shares, and such amendments thereof as may have been required to the date of this
Agreement. Copies of such Registration Statement
(including all amendments thereof) and of the related Preliminary Prospectus (as hereinafter
defined) have heretofore been delivered by the Company to you. As used in this Agreement:
(a) “Applicable Time” means ___(New York City time) on the date of this Agreement;
(b) “Effective Date” means the date and time as of which such registration statement, or the
most recent post-effective amendment thereto, was declared effective by the Commission;
(c) “Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” means each “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule
405 of the Rules) prepared by or on behalf of the Company or used or referred to by the Company in
connection with the offering of the Shares;
(d) “Preliminary Prospectus” means any preliminary prospectus relating to the Shares included
in such registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the Rules.
(e) “Pricing Disclosure Package” means, as of the Applicable Time, the most recent Preliminary
Prospectus, together with each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus filed or used by the Company on or
before the Applicable Time, other than a road show that is an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus but is
not required to be filed under Rule 433 of the Rules;
(f) “Prospectus” means the prospectus in the form included in the Registration Statement at
the Effective Date, or, if Rule 430A of the Rules is relied on, the term Prospectus shall also
include the final prospectus relating to the Shares, as filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the Rules;
(g) “Registration Statement” means such registration statement (including all exhibits and
financial schedules), as amended at the Effective Date, including the information (if any)
contained in the Prospectus and deemed to be part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to
Rule 430A of the Rules.
The Company understands that the Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Shares,
as set forth in and pursuant to the Prospectus, as soon after the Effective Time and the date of
this Agreement as the Representatives deem advisable. The Company hereby confirms that the
Underwriters and dealers have been authorized to distribute or cause to be distributed each
Preliminary Prospectus and are authorized to distribute the Prospectus (as from time to time
amended or supplemented if the Company furnishes amendments or supplements thereto to the
Underwriters).
1. Sale, Purchase, Delivery and Payment for the Shares. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements contained in, and subject to the terms and conditions of, this Agreement:
(a) The Company agrees to issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price
of $___per share (the “Initial Price”), the number of Firm Shares set forth
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opposite the name of such Underwriter under the column “Number of Firm Shares to be Purchased
from the Company” on Schedule I to this Agreement, subject to adjustment in accordance with Section
9 hereof.
(b) The Company hereby grants to the several Underwriters an option to purchase, severally and
not jointly, all or any part of the Option Shares at the Initial Price. The number of Option
Shares to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage (adjusted by the
Representatives to eliminate fractions) of the total number of Option Shares to be purchased by the
Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Firm Shares. Such option may be exercised
only to cover over-allotments in the sales of the Firm Shares by the Underwriters and may be
exercised in whole or in part at any time on or before 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
business day before the Firm Shares Closing Date (as defined below), and from time to time
thereafter within 30 days after the date of this Agreement, in each case upon written, facsimile or
electronic notice, by the Representatives to the Company no later than 12:00 noon, New York City
time, on the business day before the Firm Shares Closing Date or at least two business days before
the Option Shares Closing Date (as defined below), as the case may be, setting forth the number of
Option Shares to be purchased and the time and date (if other than the Firm Shares Closing Date) of
such purchase.
(c) Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of, the Firm Shares shall be made at the
offices of Weil, Gotshal & Xxxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX, 00000 at 10:00 a.m., New York
time, on the third business day following the date of this Agreement or at such time on such other
date, not later than ten (10) business days after the date of this Agreement, as shall be agreed
upon by the Company and the Representatives (such time and date of delivery and payment are called
the “Firm Shares Closing Date”). In addition, in the event that any or all of the Option Shares
are purchased by the Underwriters, payment of the purchase price, and delivery of such Option
Shares shall be made at the above-mentioned offices, or at such other place as shall be agreed upon
by the Representatives and the Company, on each date of delivery as specified in the notice from
the Representatives to the Company (such time and date of delivery and payment are called the
“Option Shares Closing Date”). The Firm Shares Closing Date and any Option Shares Closing Date are
called, individually, a “Closing Date” and, together, the “Closing Dates.”
(d) Payment for the Shares shall be made to the Company by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to the order of the Company against delivery to the Representatives for the
respective accounts of the Underwriters of the Firm Shares and any Option Shares to be purchased by
them.
(e) The Shares shall be registered in such names and shall be in such denominations as the
Representatives shall request at least two full business days before the Firm Shares Closing Date
or, in the case of Option Shares, on the day of notice of exercise of the option as described in
Section 1(b) and shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the Representatives through
the facilities of the Depository Trust Company (“DTC”) for the account of such Underwriter. The
Company will cause the certificates representing the Shares, if any, to be made available for
checking and packaging, at such place as is designated by the Representatives, on the full business
day before the Firm Shares Closing Date (or the Option Shares Closing Date in the case of the
Option Shares).
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2. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company represents and warrants to each
Underwriter as of the date hereof, as of the Firm Shares Closing Date and as of each Option Shares
Closing Date (if any), and further covenants, as follows:
(a) (i) As of the Effective Date, the Registration Statement complied, and on the date of any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective and each Closing Date, the
Registration Statement will comply, and any amendment thereof or supplement thereto filed after the
date hereof will comply, in all material respects, with the requirements of the Securities Act and
the Rules and did not and will not 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 not
misleading, (ii) on its date, at the time of filing the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b), and on
each Closing Date, the Prospectus will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the
Securities Act and the Rules and 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, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and
(iii) as of the Applicable Time, the Pricing Disclosure Package did not contain any untrue
statement of material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading; and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule III
hereto does not conflict with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the Pricing
Disclosure Package or the Prospectus. If applicable, each Preliminary Prospectus and the
Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for use in connection with this offering was identical to
the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to XXXXX, except
to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T. Notwithstanding the foregoing, none of the
representations and warranties in this paragraph 2(a) shall apply to statements in, or omissions
from, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package made in reliance
upon, and in conformity with, information herein or otherwise furnished in writing by the
Representatives on behalf of the several Underwriters for use in the Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package. With respect to the preceding sentence, the Company
acknowledges that the only information furnished in writing by the Representatives on behalf of the
several Underwriters for use in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing
Disclosure Package is the information set forth in the paragraph describing the “OpenIPO” process
on the front cover page and contained under the captions “Prospectus Summary — The Offering — Open
IPO Process” and “Plan of Distribution” therein.
(b) The Registration Statement is effective under the Securities Act and no stop order
preventing or suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or suspending or
preventing the use of the Prospectus has been issued by the Commission and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are threatened under the Securities Act. Any required filing of
the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules has been or will be
made in the manner and within the time period required by such Rule 424(b).
(c) The consolidated financial statements of the Company (including all notes and schedules
thereto) included in the Registration Statement and Prospectus present fairly, in all material
respects, the financial position of the Company and its consolidated
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subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and
cash flows of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; and such
consolidated financial statements and related schedules and notes thereto, and the unaudited
financial information filed with the Commission as part of the Registration Statement, have been
prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied
throughout the periods involved. The summary and selected consolidated financial data included in
the Prospectus present fairly, in all material respects, the information shown therein as at the
respective dates and for the respective periods specified and have been presented on a basis
consistent with the consolidated financial statements set forth in the Prospectus and other
financial information.
(d) Ernst & Young LLP, whose reports are filed with the Commission as a part of the
Registration Statement, are and, during the periods covered by their reports, were independent
public accountants as required by the Securities Act and the Rules and are registered with the
Public Company Accounting Oversight Board.
(e) In reliance on the exemptions contained in Section 809 of the NYSE Alternext U.S. Company
Guide (the “Company Guide”) and consistent with the exemptions afforded in Rule 10A-3 under the
Exchange Act, (i) the Company maintains an audit committee that meets the listing standards imposed
by NYSE Alternext for companies whose stock is listed on that exchange, the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and the Rules, and (ii) the members of the Company’s audit committee are independent
of the Company to the extent required by such listing standards, the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act and the Rules.
(f) The Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting (as such term
is defined in Rule 13a-15(f) of the Exchange Act) that has been designed by the Company’s principal
executive officer and principal financial officer, or under their supervision, to provide
reasonable assurance regarding the reliability of financial reporting and the preparation of
financial statements for external purposes in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles. The Company’s internal control over financial reporting is effective and, except as
described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any material
weaknesses in its internal control over financial reporting. Since the date of the latest audited
financial statements included in the Prospectus, there has been no change in the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to
materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
(g) The Company maintains disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule
13a-15(e) of the Exchange Act) that are consistent with the requirements of the Exchange Act
immediately following the Effective Time; such disclosure controls and procedures have been
designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company and its subsidiaries is made
known to the Company’s principal executive officer and principal financial officer by others within
those entities; such disclosure controls and procedures are effective.
(h) The Company (i) has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and corporate authority to own or
lease its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
5
Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and (ii) is duly qualified to do business as a
foreign corporation and is in good standing in all jurisdictions in which the character of the
property owned or leased or the nature of the business transacted by it makes qualification
necessary except for such jurisdictions where the failure to so qualify individually or in the
aggregate would not reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the assets,
properties, condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole (a “Material Adverse
Effect”). The Company has employees located solely in Missouri, New York, North Carolina and
Pennsylvania, and in no other jurisdiction in the United States, and is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in Delaware
and New York, which are the only jurisdictions where the Company is required to be so qualified.
To the Company’s knowledge, no proceeding has been instituted in any such jurisdiction revoking,
limiting or curtailing, or seeking to revoke, limit or curtail, such power and authority or
qualification. The Company does not own, lease or license any asset or property outside the United
States of America. The Company has three subsidiaries, Renewable Environmental Solutions, LLC, a
Delaware limited liability company (“RES”), Resource Recovery Corporation, a Delaware corporation
(“RRC”) and Thermo-Depolymerization Process, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company (“TPD”).
Each of the subsidiaries is validly existing as a limited liability company, corporation or other
legal entity. RES is duly qualified to do business as a foreign limited liability company and is
in good standing in Missouri and Colorado and TPD is duly qualified to do business as
a foreign limited liability company and is in good standing in Pennsylvania, which are the only
jurisdictions where the subsidiaries are required to be so qualified, except where the failure to
obtain such qualification or be in good standing individually or in the aggregate would not
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company does not own any capital
stock or other equity securities in any other entity.
(i) The Company and its subsidiaries have all requisite corporate power and authority, and,
except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, all necessary authorizations,
qualifications, determinations of suitability, accreditations, approvals, consents, orders,
licenses, certificates and permits of and from all governmental or other regulatory bodies or any
other person or entity (collectively, the “Permits,” which do not include “Environmental Permits,”
as defined in Section 2(cc) hereof) and have made all necessary filings required under any
applicable governmental or other regulatory law, regulation or rule (“Applicable Law”), to own,
lease and license its assets and properties and conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, all of which have been validly obtained, are valid and
in full force and effect and will be, after the consummation of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement, in full force and effect. The Company and its subsidiaries have fulfilled and
performed in all material respects all of its material obligations with respect to such Permits and
no event has occurred that allows, or after notice or lapse of time would allow, revocation or
termination thereof or results in any other material impairment of the rights of the Company
thereunder. Except as may be required under the Securities Act and state and foreign Blue Sky
laws, no other Permits are required to enter into, deliver and perform this Agreement and to issue
and sell the Shares. Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is required by any Applicable Law to obtain accreditation, certification,
qualification or a determination of suitability from any government or
6
other regulatory body or authority in order to provide the products and services that it
currently provides or that it proposes to provide as set forth in the Prospectus. Except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor its
subsidiaries is in violation of, in default under, or has received any notice regarding a possible
violation, default or revocation of any Permit or Applicable Law or any decree, order or judgment
applicable to it, him or her, or of any pending or threatened action, claim, suit or proceeding,
the effect of which, individually or in the aggregate, could result in a Material Adverse Effect,
or result in the invalidation, revocation or impairment of any Permit, or otherwise restrict its
ability to conduct its business in any jurisdiction to which any Permit pertains. Except as
disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company and each of its
subsidiaries has posted and maintained in full force all bonds, and paid all applicable fines, dues
and/or fees required by the Permits. Except as has been disclosed in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has entered into any agreement
with, or is subject to any order, writ, decree or other judgment by, any state or federal
government or other regulatory body or authority which, individually or in the aggregate, does or
may materially restrict or alter the products or services that may be offered by it in the conduct
of its business or otherwise materially restrict its ability to fully exploit any Permit issued to
or obtained by it. No Permit contains a materially burdensome restriction that is not adequately
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(j) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to use the
patents and patent applications, copyrights, trademarks, service marks, trade names, technology,
know-how (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary rights),
customer lists, plans, processes, supplier lists, business plans, business methods, prototypes,
inventions, discoveries, internet domain names, software and other intellectual property rights
necessary to conduct their respective businesses in the manner in which they are being conducted
and in the manner in which they are contemplated to be conducted as set forth in the Prospectus
(collectively, the “Company Intellectual Property”) and neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries expect the termination or loss of such Company Intellectual Property Rights; none of
the patents owned or licensed by the Company is unenforceable or invalid, and, to the Company’s
knowledge, none of the patent applications owned or licensed by the Company would be unenforceable
or invalid if issued as patents; the Company is not obligated to pay a royalty, grant a license, or
provide other consideration to any third party in connection with the Company Intellectual Property
other than as disclosed in the Prospectus; the Company has not received any notice of violation or
any conflict with rights of others with respect to the Company Intellectual Property other than as
disclosed in the Prospectus or that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; there are no pending or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened actions, suits, proceedings
or claims by others that the Company is infringing any patent, trade secret, trade xxxx, service
xxxx, copyright or other intellectual property or proprietary right other than as disclosed in the
Prospectus or that would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; and the
products or processes of the Company referenced in the Prospectus do not, to the knowledge of the
Company, violate or conflict with any intellectual property or proprietary right of any third
person, or any discovery, invention, product or process that is the subject of a patent application
filed by any third person. Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, to the Company’s and
its subsidiaries’ knowledge, no third party is infringing upon any Company Intellectual Property
rights.
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(k) The Company and its subsidiaries have good and marketable title to all property owned by
them, in each case free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims, security interests and
defects, except such as do not materially affect the value of such property and do not materially
interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its
subsidiaries. All property held under lease by the Company and its subsidiaries is held by them
under valid, existing and enforceable leases, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, claims,
security interests and defects, except such as are not material and do not materially interfere
with the use made or proposed to be made of such property by the Company and its subsidiaries.
Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, (i) there has not been any Material Adverse Effect; (ii) neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained any loss or interference with its assets, businesses or
properties (whether owned or leased) from fire, explosion, earthquake, flood or other calamity,
whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or any court or legislative or other
governmental action, order or decree which would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect; and (iii) since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, neither the
Company nor any of its subsidiaries has (A) issued any securities or incurred any liability or
obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money, except such liabilities or obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of business, (B) entered into any transaction not in the ordinary
course of business or (C) declared or paid any dividend or made any distribution on any shares of
its stock or redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired or agreed to redeem, purchase or otherwise
acquire any shares of its capital stock.
(l) There is no document, contract or other agreement required to be described in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
which is not described or filed as required by the Securities Act or Rules. Each description of a
contract, document or other agreement in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus accurately
reflects in all respects the terms of the underlying contract, document or other agreement. Each
contract, document or other agreement described in the Registration Statement and Prospectus or
listed in the Exhibits to the Registration Statement is in full force and effect and is valid and
enforceable by and against the Company or its subsidiaries, as the case may be, in accordance with
its terms. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries, if such subsidiary is a party, nor to
the Company’s knowledge, any other party is in default in the observance or performance of any term
or obligation to be performed by it under any such agreement, and no event has occurred which with
notice or lapse of time or both would constitute such a default, in any such case which default or
event, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect. No default exists, and no event has occurred which with notice or lapse of time or both
would constitute a default, in the due performance and observance of any term, covenant or
condition, by the Company or any of its subsidiaries if such subsidiary is a party thereto, of any
other agreement or instrument to which the Company or its subsidiaries is a party or by which the
Company or its properties or business or any of its subsidiaries or its properties or business may
be bound or affected which default or event, individually or in the aggregate, would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(m) The statistical, industry-related and market-related data included in the Registration
Statement are based on or derived from sources that the Company reasonably
8
and in good faith believes to be reliable and accurate, such data agree with the sources from
which they are derived, and the Company has received any consents required from such sources in
connection with the inclusion of their data in the Registration Statement.
(n) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any term or provision
of its charter or by-laws or of any franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree, order, statute,
rule or regulation, where the consequences of such violation, individually or in the aggregate,
would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(o) This Agreement has been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company.
(p) Neither the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement by the Company nor the
consummation of any of the transactions contemplated hereby (including, without limitation, the
issuance and sale by the Company of the Shares) will give rise to a right to terminate or
accelerate the due date of any payment due under, or conflict with or result in the breach of any
term or provision of, or constitute a default (or an event which with notice or lapse of time or
both would constitute a default) under, or require any consent or waiver under, or result in the
execution or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any properties or assets of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust
or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by
which either the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of their properties or businesses is
bound, or any franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule or regulation
applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or violate any provision of the charter or
by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, except for such consents or waivers which have
already been obtained and are in full force and effect.
(q) The Company has the duly authorized and validly issued outstanding capitalization as of
September 30, 2008 as set forth under the caption “Capitalization” in the Prospectus and will have
the adjusted capitalization as of September 30, 2008 (giving effect to the closing of the offering
contemplated by this Agreement) set forth therein on each Closing Date, based on the assumptions
set forth therein. The certificates, if any, evidencing the Shares are in due and proper legal
form and have been duly authorized for issuance by the Company. All of the issued and outstanding
shares of Common Stock have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable. All
of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company were issued in transactions
that were exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, without violation of
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar rights. There are no statutory preemptive or
other similar rights to subscribe for or to purchase or acquire any shares of Common Stock of the
Company or any membership interest in any of the Company’s subsidiaries or any such rights pursuant
to its respective Certificate of Incorporation, operating agreement or by-laws or any agreement or
instrument to or by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or bound. The Shares,
when issued and sold pursuant to this Agreement will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable and none of them will be issued in violation of any preemptive or other similar
right. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no
outstanding option, warrant or other right calling for the issuance of, and there is no commitment,
plan or arrangement to issue, any share of stock of the Company or membership
9
interest in any of its subsidiaries or any security convertible into, or exercisable or
exchangeable for, such stock or membership interest. The securities of the Company conform to the
descriptions thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All outstanding
membership units of the Company’s aforementioned subsidiaries have been duly authorized and validly
issued, and are fully paid and nonassessable and all the membership interest in the Company’s
aforementioned subsidiaries is owned directly by the Company free and clear of any security
interests, liens, encumbrances, equities or claims, other than those described in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus.
(r) No holder of any security of the Company has any right, which has not been waived, to have
any security owned by such holder included in the Registration Statement or to demand registration
of any security owned by such holder for a period of 180 days after the date of this Agreement.
Each director and executive officer of the Company and each stockholder of the Company listed on
Schedule II hereto has delivered to the Representatives a written lock-up agreement.
(s) All necessary corporate action has been duly and validly taken by the Company and to
authorize the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the issuance and sale of
the Shares by the Company.
(t) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is involved in any labor dispute nor, to
the knowledge of the Company, is any such dispute threatened, which dispute would reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. The Company is not aware of any existing or imminent
labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers or contractors which would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. Except as disclosed in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus, the Company is not aware of any threatened or pending litigation between
the Company or any of its subsidiaries and any of its executive officers which, if adversely
determined, could have a Material Adverse Effect and has no reason to believe that such officers
will not remain in the employment of the Company.
(u) No relationship, direct or indirect, exists between or among the Company, on the one hand,
and the current or prior directors, officers, stockholders, customers or suppliers of the Company,
on the other hand, which is required to be described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus that is not so described.
(v) The Company has not taken, nor will it take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in, or which has constituted or which
might reasonably be expected to constitute, the stabilization or manipulation of the price of the
Common Stock or any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of any of the Shares.
(w) The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all Federal, state, local and foreign tax
returns which are required to be filed through the date hereof, which returns are true and correct
in all material respects or has received timely extensions thereof, and has paid all taxes shown on
such returns and all assessments received by it to the extent that the same are material and have
become due. There are no tax audits or investigations pending, which if
10
adversely determined would have a Material Adverse Effect; nor are there any material proposed
additional tax assessments against the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(x) The Shares have been approved for listing on NYSE Alternext, subject to notice of
issuance. A registration statement has been filed on Form 8-A pursuant to Section 12 of the
Exchange Act, which registration statement complies in all material respects with the Exchange Act.
(y) The Company has taken no action designed to, or likely to have the effect of, terminating
the registration of the Common Stock under the Exchange Act or the listing of the Common Stock on
NYSE Alternext, nor has the Company received any notification that the Commission or NYSE Alternext
is contemplating terminating such registration or listing.
(z) The Company and its subsidiaries are insured by insurers of recognized financial
responsibility against such losses and risks and in such amounts as are customary in the businesses
in which they are engaged or propose to engage after giving effect to the transactions described in
the Prospectus, all of which insurance is in full force and effect. The Company and its
subsidiaries are in compliance with the terms of such policies and instruments in all material
respects; and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any reason to believe that it
will not be able to renew its existing insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to
obtain similar coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business at a
cost that is not materially greater than the current cost. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries has been denied any insurance coverage which it has sought or for which it has
applied.
(aa) Each approval, consent, order, authorization, designation, declaration or filing of, by
or with any regulatory, administrative or other governmental body necessary in connection with the
execution and delivery by the Company of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
herein contemplated required to be obtained or performed by the Company (except such additional
steps as may be required by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (“FINRA”) or may be
necessary to qualify the Shares for public offering by the Underwriters under the state securities
or Blue Sky laws) has been obtained or made and is in full force and effect.
(bb) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there is no action,
suit, claim, proceeding or investigation pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened against
the Company before or by any court, regulatory body or administrative agency or any other
governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, that (i) questions the validity of the capital
stock of the Company or this Agreement or any action taken or to be taken by the Company pursuant
to or in connection with this Agreement, (ii) is required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and is not so disclosed (and such proceedings, if any, as are
summarized in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus are accurately summarized in all
material respects); or (iii) may have a Material Adverse Effect.
(cc) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and
each of its subsidiaries is in compliance in all material respects with all rules, laws and
regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal of
11
hazardous or toxic substances and protection of public and worker health or the environment
(“Environmental Laws”) which are applicable to its business; (ii) neither the Company nor any of
its subsidiaries has received any notice from any governmental authority or third party of an
asserted claim under Environmental Laws; (iii) the Company and each of its subsidiaries has
received all permits, licenses or other approvals required of it under applicable Environmental
Laws (collectively the “Environmental Permits”) to conduct its business and is in compliance with
all terms and conditions of any such Environmental Permits, except where failure to do so would not
be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iv) to the Company’s knowledge, no facts currently
exist that will require the Company or any of its subsidiaries to make future material capital
expenditures to comply with Environmental Laws; and (v) to the Company’s knowledge, no property
which is or has been owned, leased or occupied by the Company or any of its subsidiaries has been
designated as a Superfund site pursuant to the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation
of Liability Act of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601, et. seq.) (“CERCLA”) or otherwise
designated as a contaminated site under applicable state or local law. Neither the Company nor any
of its subsidiaries has been named as a “potentially responsible party” under CERCLA.
(dd) In the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect of
Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company and its subsidiaries,
in the course of which the Company 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 Environmental Permit, any
related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to third parties). On
the basis of such review, the Company has reasonably concluded that such associated costs and
liabilities would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the Shares and
the application of proceeds thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an “investment
company” within the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment
Company Act”).
(ff) At the time of filing of the Registration Statement and at the date hereof, the Company
was not and is not an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405 of the Rules.
(gg) The Company does not, directly or indirectly, including through any subsidiary, have any
outstanding personal loans or other credit extended to or for any director or executive officer.
(hh) The Company or any other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company
including, without limitation, any director, officer, agent or employee of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, has not, directly or indirectly, while acting on behalf of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries (i) used any corporate funds for unlawful contributions, gifts, entertainment or
other unlawful expenses relating to political activity; (ii) made any unlawful payment to foreign
or domestic government officials or employees or to foreign or
12
domestic political parties or campaigns from corporate funds; (iii) violated any provision of
the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended; or (iv) made any other unlawful payment.
(ii) The operations of the Company and each of its subsidiaries are and have been conducted at
all times in compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the
Currency and Foreign Transactions Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the USA Patriot Act, the money
laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or
similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any governmental
agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no 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 with respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending, or to the knowledge of
the Company, threatened.
(jj) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any
director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the
U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”); and the Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds
of the offering, or lend, contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary,
joint venture partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any
person currently subject to any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
(kk) Except as described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not
sold or issued any securities during the six-month period preceding the date of the Prospectus,
including any sales pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulations D or S of, the Securities Act.
(ll) The Company has fulfilled its obligations, if any, under the minimum funding standards of
Section 302 of the U.S. Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 (“ERISA”) and the
regulations and published interpretations thereunder with respect to each “pension plan” as defined
in Section 3(2) of ERISA, and each “plan” as defined in Section 3(3) of ERISA is in compliance in
all material respects with the presently applicable provisions of ERISA and the regulations
promulgated thereunder. No “Reportable Event” (as defined in ERISA) has occurred with respect to
any “pension plan” (as defined in Section 3(2) of ERISA) for which the Company could have any
liability.
(mm) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, the Company has not
incurred any liability for a fee, commission, or other compensation on account of the employment of
a broker or finder in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement other than as
contemplated hereby, or any arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments of issuance with
respect to the Company, any of its subsidiaries or their respective officers, directors,
stockholders, employees or affiliates that may affect the Underwriters’ compensation as determined
by FINRA.
(nn) Each of the Company, its directors and officers has not distributed and will not
distribute prior to the later of (i) the Firm Shares Closing Date, or the Option Shares Closing
Date, and (ii) completion of the distribution of the Shares, any offering material in
13
connection with the offering and sale of the Shares other than any Preliminary Prospectus, the
Prospectus, the Registration Statement, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus listed on Schedule III
hereto and other materials, if any, permitted by the Securities Act.
3. Conditions of the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters under
this Agreement are several and not joint. The respective obligations of the Underwriters to
purchase the Shares are subject to each of the following terms and conditions:
(a) Notification that the Registration Statement has become effective shall have been received
by the Representatives and the Prospectus shall have been timely filed with the Commission in
accordance with Section 4(a) of this Agreement.
(b) No order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus
shall have been or shall be in effect and no order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall be pending before or
threatened by the Commission, and any requests for additional information on the part of the
Commission (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise) shall have
been complied with to the satisfaction of the Commission and the Representatives. If the Company
has elected to rely upon Rule 430A of the Rules, Rule 430A information previously omitted from the
effective Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A of the Rules shall have been transmitted to
the Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules within the prescribed time period
and the Company shall have provided evidence satisfactory to the Underwriters 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. If the Company has elected to
rely upon Rule 434 of the Rules, a term sheet shall have been transmitted to the Commission for
filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules within the prescribed time period.
(c) The Representatives shall be satisfied that (i) the representations and warranties of the
Company contained in this Agreement and in the certificates delivered pursuant to Section 3(d)
shall be true and correct when made and on and as of each Closing Date as if made on such date; and
(ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement in
the form in which it originally became effective and the Prospectus contained therein, there has
not been any material adverse change or any development involving a prospective material adverse
change in the business, properties, financial condition or results of operations of the Company.
The Company shall have performed all covenants and agreements and satisfied all the conditions
contained in this Agreement required to be performed or satisfied by them at or before such Closing
Date.
(d) The Representatives shall have received on each Closing Date a certificate, addressed to
the Representatives and dated such Closing Date, of the chief executive or chief operating officer
and the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company to the effect that: (i)
the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement were true and correct when made
and are true and correct as of such Closing Date; (ii) the Company has performed all covenants and
agreements contained herein; (iii) there has not been any material adverse change or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change in the business, properties, financial
condition or results of operations of the
14
Company; and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus or any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus has been issued and, to their knowledge, no proceedings for that purpose have
been instituted or are pending under the Securities Act.
(e) The Representatives shall have received a certificate on each Closing Date signed by the
Secretary of the Company to the effect that, as of the Closing Date the Secretary certifies as to
the accuracy of the Company’s charter and bylaws, the resolutions of the Board of Directors
relating to the offering contemplated hereby, the form of stock certificate representing the
Shares, and copies of all communications with the Commission; as to the incumbency and signature of
persons signing this Agreement, the Registration Statement and other related documents; as to the
approval of the Shares for listing on NYSE Alternext; as to the Company’s compliance with all
agreements and performance or satisfaction of all conditions required hereunder; as to the
consideration received for all outstanding shares of the Company’s Common Stock; and as to such
other matters as Underwriters’ counsel may reasonably request.
(f) The Representatives shall have been furnished evidence in the usual written or electronic
form from the appropriate authorities of the several jurisdictions, or other evidence satisfactory
to the Representatives, of the good standing and qualifications of the Company.
(g) The Representatives shall have received, at the time this Agreement is executed and on
each Closing Date a signed letter from Ernst & Young LLP addressed to the Representatives and
dated, respectively, the date of this Agreement and each such Closing Date, in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives containing statements and information of the type
ordinarily included in accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.
(h) The Representatives shall have received on each Closing Date from Xxxx Xxxxxxx & Xxxxxx
LLP, counsel for the Company, an opinion, addressed to the Representatives and dated such Closing
Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect set forth
in Annex A hereto.
(i) The Representatives shall have received on each Closing Date from Downs Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
PLLC, as special intellectual property counsel to the Company, an opinion, addressed to the
Representatives and dated as of such Closing Date, with respect to patents and proprietary rights
in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives.
(j) The legality and sufficiency of the sale of the Shares hereunder and the validity and form
of the certificates representing the Shares, if any, all corporate proceedings and other legal
matters incident to the foregoing, and the form of the Registration Statement and of the Prospectus
(except as to the financial statements and financial information contained therein) shall have been
approved at or prior to the Closing Date by Xxxxxxx Procter LLP, counsel for the Underwriters. The
Representatives shall have received on each Closing Date from Xxxxxxx Procter LLP an opinion,
addressed to the Representatives and dated as of such
15
Closing Date, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Shares, the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus and such other related matters as the Underwriters reasonably may request and
such counsel shall have received such documents and other information as they request to enable
them to pass upon such matters.
(k) The Representatives shall have received copies of the lock up agreements executed by each
of the directors and executive officers of the Company and each stockholder of the Company’s listed
on Schedule II hereto.
(l) The Shares shall have been approved for listing on NYSE Alternext, subject only to
official notice of issuance.
(m) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the Representatives such
further certificates or documents as the Representatives shall have reasonably requested.
4. Covenants of the Company.
(a) The Company covenants and agrees as follows:
(i) The Company will (A) prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) of the
Rules a Prospectus containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Rules; and (B) not file with the Commission
any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus of which the
Underwriters shall not previously have been advised and furnished with a copy a reasonable period
of time prior to the proposed filing and as to which the Underwriters shall not have given their
consent or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act or the Rules.
(ii) The Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing (A) when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement shall have become effective or any
supplement to the Prospectus shall have been filed, (B) of any request by the Commission for any
amendment of the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or for any additional information, (C) of
the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the institution or threatening of any
proceeding for that purpose and (D) of the receipt by the Company of any notification with respect
to the suspension of the qualification of the Shares for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation
or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company shall use its best efforts to
prevent the issuance of any such stop order and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the
withdrawal thereof.
(iii) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Shares is required to be delivered
under the Securities Act and the Rules, any event occurs as a result of which the Prospectus as
then amended or 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 or supplement the
Prospectus to comply with the Securities Act or the Rules, the
16
Company promptly shall prepare and file with the Commission, subject to paragraph (i) of this
Section 4(a), an amendment or supplement which shall correct such statement or omission or an
amendment which shall effect such compliance.
(iv) The Company shall make generally available to its security holders and to the
Representatives as soon as practicable, but not later than 45 days after the end of the 12-month
period beginning at the end of the fiscal quarter of the Company during which the Effective Time
occurs (or 90 days if such 12-month period coincides with the Company’s fiscal year), an earnings
statement (which need not be audited) of the Company, covering such 12-month period, which shall
satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act or Rule 158 of the Rules.
(v) The Company shall furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters, without
charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including all exhibits thereto and amendments
thereof) and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits
thereto) and all amendments thereof and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or
dealer may be required by the Securities Act or the Rules, as many copies of any preliminary
prospectus and the Prospectus and any amendments thereof and supplements thereto as the
Representatives may reasonably request. If applicable, the copies of the Registration Statement
and Prospectus and each amendment and supplement thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be
identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
XXXXX, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.
(vi) The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and their counsel in endeavoring to
qualify the Shares for offer and sale in connection with the offering under the laws of such
jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and shall maintain such qualifications in effect
so long as required for the distribution of the Shares; provided, however, that the Company shall
not be required in connection therewith, as a condition thereof, to qualify as a foreign
corporation or to execute a general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction or subject
itself to taxation as doing business in any jurisdiction.
(vii) The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the
Securities Act and the Rules or the Exchange Act, will file all reports and other documents
required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act
within the time periods required by the Exchange Act and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
(viii) Without the prior written consent of X.X. Xxxxxxxxx + Co, LLC, for a period of 360 days
after the date of this Agreement, the Company and each of its individual directors and executive
officers shall not issue, sell or register with the Commission (other than on Form S-8 or on any
successor form), or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any equity securities of the
Company (or any securities convertible into, exercisable for or exchangeable for equity securities
of the Company), except for the issuance of the Shares pursuant to the Registration Statement and
the issuance of shares pursuant to the Company’s existing stock option plan or bonus plan as
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. In the event that during this period,
(A) any shares are issued pursuant to the
17
Company’s existing stock option plan or bonus plan that are exercisable during such 360 day
period or (B) any registration is effected on Form S-8 or on any successor form relating to shares
that are exercisable during such 360 period, the Company shall obtain the written agreement of such
grantee or purchaser or holder of such registered securities that, for a period of 360 days after
the date of this Agreement, such person will not, without the prior written consent of X.X.
Xxxxxxxxx + Co, LLC, offer for sale, sell, distribute, grant any option for the sale of, or
otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or exercise any registration rights with respect to,
any shares of Common Stock (or any securities convertible into, exercisable for, or exchangeable
for any shares of Common Stock) owned by such person.
(ix) On or before completion of this offering, the Company shall make all filings required
under applicable securities laws and by the Nasdaq Global Market or NYSE Alternext (including any
required registration under the Exchange Act).
(x) Prior to the Firm Shares Closing Date, the Company will issue no press release or other
communications directly or indirectly and hold no press conference with respect to the Company, the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of any
of them, or the offering of the Shares without the prior written consent of the Representatives
unless in the judgment of the Company and its counsel, and after notification to the
Representatives, such press release or communication is required by law.
(xi) The Company will apply the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares in the manner set
forth under “Use of Proceeds” in the Prospectus.
(xii) The Company will maintain a 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.
(xiii) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, and will use its best efforts to
cause its officers, directors or affiliates not to take, directly or indirectly, any action
designed to, or that might in the future be expected to cause or result in, stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company.
(xiv) Upon the request of any Underwriters, the Company shall furnish to such Underwriter an
electronic version of the Company’s trademarks, servicemarks and corporate logo for use on the
website, if any, operated by such Underwriters for the purpose of facilitating the on-line offering
of the Shares (the “License”); provided, however, that the License shall be used solely for the
purpose described above and is granted without any fee and may not be assigned or transferred.
(xv) (A) In accordance with the requirements of Sections 802 and 803 of the Company Guide,
subject to the exemptions contained in Section 809 of the Company Guide and consistent with the
exemptions afforded in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, the Company will comply with the board
independence composition requirement imposed by NYSE Alternext;
(B) Subject to the exemptions contained in Section 809
18
of the Company Guide and consistent with the exemptions afforded in Rule 10A-3 under the
Exchange Act, the Company will maintain an audit committee that satisfies the audit committee
requirements set forth in Section 803 of the Company Guide; and
(C) Subject to the exemptions contained in Sections 805 and 809 of the Company Guide and
consistent with the exemptions afforded in Rule 10A-3 under the Exchange Act, the Company will
maintain a compensation committee comprised of at least three members, all of whom are independent
as defined in Section 803A of the Company Guide.
(b) The Company agrees to pay, or reimburse if paid by the Representatives, whether or not the
transactions contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, all costs and
expenses incident to the public offering of the Shares and the performance of the obligations of
the Company under this Agreement as listed below: (i) the preparation, printing, filing and
distribution of the Registration Statement including all exhibits thereto, each preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus, all amendments and supplements to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, and the printing, filing and distribution of this Agreement; (ii) the preparation and
delivery of certificates for the Shares to the Underwriters; (iii) the registration or
qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
jurisdictions referred to in Section 4(a)(vi), including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such registration and qualification and the
preparation, printing, distribution and shipment of preliminary and supplementary Blue Sky
memoranda; (iv) the furnishing (including costs of shipping and mailing) to the Representatives and
to the Underwriters of copies of each preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and all amendments or
supplements to the Prospectus, and of the several documents required by this Section to be so
furnished, as may be reasonably requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the
Shares by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom Shares may be sold; (v) the filing fees of FINRA
in connection with its review of the terms of the public offering and reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such review; (vi) inclusion of the
Shares for quotation on the Nasdaq Global Market or NYSE Alternext; (vii) all transfer taxes, if
any, with respect to the sale and delivery of the Shares by the Company to the Underwriters; and
(viii) the performance of the Company’s obligations under Sections 4(a), 6(a) and 7. Subject to
the provisions of Section 7, the Underwriters agree to pay, whether or not the transactions
contemplated hereby are consummated or this Agreement is terminated, all costs and expenses
incident to the performance of the obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement not payable
by the Company pursuant to the preceding sentence, including, without limitation, the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.
5. (a) (i) The Company represents and agrees that, without the prior consent of the
Representatives, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to the Shares that would
constitute a “free writing prospectus” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act; any such
free writing prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company and the
Representatives is listed on Schedule III hereto;
(ii) The Company has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under the
Securities Act applicable to any Issuer Free Writing
19
Prospectus, including timely filing with the Commission or retention where required and
legending; and the Company represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the
conditions under Rule 433 under the Securities Act to avoid a requirement to file with the
Commission any electronic road show;
(iii) The Company agrees that if at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus any event occurred or occurs as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus
would conflict with the information in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing
Disclosure Package or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
then prevailing, not misleading, the Company will give prompt notice thereof to the Representatives
and, if requested by the Representatives, will prepare and furnish without charge to each
Underwriter an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict,
statement or omission; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to
any statements or omissions in an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and
(b) (i) Each Underwriter severally represents and agrees that such Underwriter has not and
shall not include any “issuer information” (as defined in Rule 433 under the Securities Act) in any
“free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) used or referred to by
such Underwriter (“Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus”) without the prior consent of the Company;
any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus the use of which has been consented to by the Company is
listed on Schedule IV hereto;
(ii) Each Underwriter has complied and will comply with the requirements of Rule 433 under
the Securities Act applicable to any Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus, including timely filing
with the Commission, if required, or retention where required and legending; and such Underwriter
represents that it has satisfied and agrees that it will satisfy the conditions under Rule 433
under the Securities Act to avoid a requirement to file with the Commission any electronic road
show; and
(iii) Each Underwriter agrees that if, at any time following the use of, or reference to, an
Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus by any Underwriter, such Underwriter becomes aware of any event
or occurrence as a result of which such Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus would conflict with the
information in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or the Pricing Disclosure Package or
would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances then prevailing, not
misleading, such Underwriter will give prompt notice thereof to the Company and, if requested in
writing by the Company, will prepare and furnish without charge to the Company an Underwriter Free
Writing Prospectus or other document which will correct such conflict, statement or omission;
provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall not apply to any statements or
omissions in an Underwriter Free Writing Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished in writing to such Underwriter by the Company expressly for use therein.
6. Indemnification.
20
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if
any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section
20 of the Exchange Act against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities, joint or
several (including any reasonable investigation, legal and other expenses incurred in connection
with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or proceeding or any claim asserted),
to which they, or any of them, may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or
other Federal or state law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses,
claims, damages or liabilities arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto, or any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus or arise out of or are based upon any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
(in the case of any prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading; provided, however, that such indemnity shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter (or any person controlling such Underwriter) on account of any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities arising from the sale of the Shares to any person by such Underwriter if such untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or such amendment or supplement thereto,
or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with information about the
Underwriter which has been furnished in writing to the Company by the Representatives on behalf of
such Underwriter specifically for use therein. The information set forth in the paragraph
describing the “OpenIPO” process on the front cover page and under the caption “Plan of
Distribution” in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus (insofar
as such information relates to the Underwriters or related persons) constitutes the only
information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriters to the Company for inclusion in the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the
Prospectus. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Company and each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act, each director of the Company, and each officer of the Company who signs the
Registration Statement, against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such party may
become subject, under the Securities Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary prospectus, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or any Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus, 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 (in the case of any prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made) not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in any preliminary
prospectus, the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement or any
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus in reliance upon and in conformity with written information about
any Underwriter furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the Representatives expressly
for use therein.
21
(c) Any party that proposes to assert the right to be indemnified under this Section will,
promptly after receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such
party in respect of which a claim is to be made against an indemnifying party or parties under this
Section, notify each such indemnifying party of the commencement of such action, suit or
proceeding, enclosing a copy of all papers served. No indemnification provided for in Section 6(a)
or 6(b) shall be available to any party who shall fail to give notice as provided in this Section
6(c) if the party to whom notice was not given was unaware of the proceeding to which such notice
would have related and was prejudiced by the failure to give such notice but the omission so to
notify such indemnifying party of any such action, suit or proceeding shall not relieve it from any
liability that it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under this
Section. In case any such action, suit or proceeding shall be brought against any indemnified
party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any
other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably
satisfactory to such indemnified party, and after notice from the indemnifying party to such
indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof and the approval by the
indemnified party of such counsel, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified
party for any legal or other expenses, except as provided below and except for the reasonable costs
of investigation subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof. The indemnified party shall have the right to employ its counsel in any such action, but
the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i)
the employment of counsel by such indemnified party has been authorized in writing by the
indemnifying parties, (ii) the indemnified party shall have been advised by counsel that there may
be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or in addition to those
available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying parties shall not have the
right to direct the defense of such action on behalf of the indemnified party) or (iii) the
indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel to assume the defense of such action within a
reasonable time after notice of the commencement thereof, in each of which cases the fees and
expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the indemnifying parties.
(d) An indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any action, suit, and
proceeding or claim effected without its written consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld or delayed.
7. Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. The Company hereby agrees to reimburse the Underwriters
pursuant to Section 6 of this Agreement on a monthly basis for all legal and other expenses
incurred in connection with investigating or defending any claim, action, investigation, inquiry or
other proceeding arising out of or based upon any statement or omission, or any alleged statement
or omission described in paragraph (a) of Section 6 of this Agreement, notwithstanding the absence
of a judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the obligations under this
Section 7 and the possibility that such payments might later be held to be improper,
provided, however that to the extent that such payment is ultimately held to be
improper, the Underwriters shall promptly refund such payment.
8. Contribution. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in circumstances in
which the indemnification provided for in Section 6(a) or 6(b) is due in
22
accordance with its terms but for any reason is unavailable to or insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party in respect to any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses
referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate losses,
liabilities, claims, damages and expenses (including any investigation, legal and other expenses
reasonably incurred in connection with, and any amount paid in settlement of, any action, suit or
proceeding or any claims asserted, but after deducting any contribution received by any person
entitled hereunder to contribution from any person who may be liable for contribution) incurred by
such indemnified party, as incurred, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the
offering of the Shares pursuant to this Agreement or, if such allocation is not permitted by
applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.
The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take
account of the equitable considerations referred to above. The aggregate amount of losses,
liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to above
shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no Underwriter (except as may be provided in the
Agreement Among Underwriters) shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the
underwriting discount applicable to the Shares purchased by the Underwriter hereunder. No person
guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the
Company including any person who, with his or her consent, is named in the Registration Statement
as about to become a director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company. Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of
notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect of which a
claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties under this Section 8, notify
such party or parties from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission so to notify such
party or parties from whom contribution may be sought shall not relieve the party or parties from
whom contribution may be sought from any other obligation it or they may have hereunder or
otherwise than under this Section 8. No party shall be liable for contribution with respect to any
action, suit, proceeding or claim settled without its written consent. The Underwriter’s
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 8 are several in proportion to their respective
underwriting commitments and not joint.
9. Termination.
23
(a) This Agreement may be terminated with respect to the Shares to be purchased on a Closing
Date by the Representatives by notifying the Company at any time at or before a Closing Date in the
absolute discretion of the Representatives if: (i) there has occurred any material adverse change
in the securities markets or any event, act or occurrence that has materially disrupted, or in the
opinion of the Representatives, will in the future materially disrupt, the securities markets or
there shall be such a material adverse change in general financial, political or economic
conditions or the effect of international conditions on the financial markets in the United States
is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Representatives, inadvisable or impracticable to
market the Shares or enforce contracts for the sale of the Shares; (ii) there has occurred any
outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on
the financial markets of the United States is such as to make it, in the judgment of the
Representatives, inadvisable or impracticable to market the Shares or enforce contracts for the
sale of the Shares; (iii) trading in the Shares or any securities of the Company has been suspended
or materially limited by the Commission or trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc.,
NYSE Alternext or the Nasdaq Stock Market LLC has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum
or maximum ranges for prices for securities shall have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for
securities have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system or by order of the
Commission, FINRA, or any other governmental or regulatory authority; or (iv) a banking moratorium
has been declared by any state or Federal authority; or (v) in the judgment of the Representatives,
there has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the assets,
properties, condition, financial or otherwise, or in the results of operations, business affairs or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a whole, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business.
(b) If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to any of its provisions, the Company shall not
have any liability to any Underwriter, and no Underwriter shall have any liability to the Company;
provided, however, that in the event of any such termination, the Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless the Underwriters from the expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of
the Company under this Agreement as provided in Section 4(b); and, provided further, if this
Agreement is terminated by the Representatives or the Underwriters because of any failure, refusal
or inability on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the
conditions of this Agreement, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of-pocket
expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by them in
connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Shares or in contemplation of performing
their obligations hereunder. Notwithstanding anything in this Section 9(b) to the contrary, no
Underwriter who shall have failed or refused to purchase the Shares agreed to be purchased by it
under this Agreement shall be relieved of liability to the Company or the other Underwriters for
damages occasioned by its failure or refusal.
10. Substitution of Underwriters. If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to
purchase on any Closing Date the Shares agreed to be purchased hereunder on such Closing Date, the
Representatives shall have the right, within 36 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or
more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase such Shares on the
terms contained herein. If, however, the Representatives shall not have completed such
arrangements within such 36-hour period, then the Company shall be
24
entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or
other parties satisfactory to the Underwriters to purchase such Shares on such terms. If, after
giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided above, the aggregate number of
Shares which remains unpurchased on such Closing Date does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number
of all the Shares that all the Underwriters are obligated to purchase on such date, then the
Company shall have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the number of
Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder at such date and, in addition, to
require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of
Shares which such Underwriter agreed to purchase hereunder) of the Shares of such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters for which such arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein
shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default. In any such case, either
the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the applicable Closing Date for
a period of not more than seven days in order to effect any necessary changes and arrangements
(including any necessary amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any other documents), and the Company agrees to file promptly any amendments to the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Company and the Underwriters and their
counsel may thereby be made necessary.
If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the Shares of a defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters by the Representatives and the Company as provided above, the aggregate
number of such Shares which remains unpurchased exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of all the
Shares to be purchased at such date, then this Agreement, or, with respect to a Closing Date which
occurs after the Firm Shares Closing Date, the obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and of
the Company to sell the Option Shares to be purchased and sold on the Option Shares Closing Date,
shall terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter to the Company,
and without liability on the part of the Company, except as provided in Sections 4(b), 6, 7 and 8.
The provisions of this Section 10 shall not in any way affect the liability of any defaulting
Underwriter to the Company or the nondefaulting Underwriters arising out of such default. The term
“Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall include any person substituted under this Section 10
with like effect as if such person had originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to
such Shares.
11. Miscellaneous. The respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and
other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or
made by or on behalf of them pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or the Company or any of their respective officers, directors or controlling
persons referred to in Sections 6 and 7 hereof, and shall survive delivery of and payment for the
Shares. In addition, the provisions of Sections 4(b), 6, 7 and 8 shall survive the termination or
cancellation of this Agreement.
This Agreement has been and is made for the benefit of the Underwriters, the Company and their
respective successors and assigns, and, to the extent expressed herein, for the benefit of persons
controlling any of the Underwriters, or the Company, and directors and officers of the Company, and
their respective successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under
or by virtue of this Agreement. The term “successors and
25
assigns” shall not include any purchaser of Shares from any Underwriter merely because of such
purchase.
The Company acknowledges and agrees that each of the Underwriters is acting solely in the
capacity of an arm’s length contractual counterparty to the Company with respect to the offering of
Shares contemplated hereby. Additionally, neither the Representatives nor any of the other
Underwriters is advising the Company or any other person as to any legal, tax, investment,
accounting or regulatory matters in any jurisdiction with respect to the offering contemplated
hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Representative or Underwriter
has advised or is advising the Company on other matters). The Company has consulted with its own
advisors concerning such matters and shall be responsible for making its own independent
investigation and appraisal of the transactions contemplated hereby, and the Underwriters shall
have no responsibility or liability to the Company or any other person with respect thereto. The
Underwriters advise that the Underwriters and their affiliates are engaged in a broad range of
securities and financial services and that they or their affiliates may enter into contractual
relationships with purchasers or potential purchasers of the Company’s securities. Any review by
the Underwriters of the Company, the transactions contemplated hereby or other matters relating to
such transactions will be performed solely for the benefit of the Underwriters and shall not be on
behalf of the Company.
All notices and communications hereunder shall be in writing and mailed or delivered or by
telephone or telegraph if subsequently confirmed in writing, (a) if to the Representatives, x/x
X.X. Xxxxxxxxx + Co., LLC, Xxxx 0, Xxx 0, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Chief
Operating Officer, with a copy to Xxxxxxx Procter LLP, 00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx, XX 00000 Attention:
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx, Esq., and (b) if to the Company, to its agent for service as such agent’s address
appears on the cover page of the Registration Statement with a copy to Xxxx Xxxxxxx and Xxxxxx LLP,
000 0xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000 Attention: Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York, without regard to conflicts of law principles thereof. The Company and the Underwriters
agree to waive trial by jury in any action, proceeding or counterclaim brought by or on behalf of
either party with respect to any matter whatsoever relating to or arising out of this Agreement or
the purchase of the Shares hereunder. The Company also hereby submits to the jurisdiction of the
courts of the State of New York located in the City and County of New York or in the United States
District Court for the Southern District of New York, and each of the parties hereto submits to the
jurisdiction of such courts in any proceeding arising out of or relating to this agreement, and
agrees not to commence any suit, action or proceeding relating thereto except in such courts, and
waives, to the fullest extent permitted by law, the right to move to dismiss or transfer any action
brought in such court on the basis of any objection to personal jurisdiction, venue or inconvenient
forum.
This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an
original, with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same
instrument.
[Remainder of page intentionally left blank]
26
Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement among us.
Very truly yours, Changing World Technologies, Inc. |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Confirmed: | ||||
X.X. XXXXXXXXX + CO, LLC | ||||
By: |
||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
THINKEQUITY LLC | ||||
By: |
||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
Severally and as Representatives of the several Underwriters named in Schedule I annexed hereto. |
SCHEDULE I
Number of | ||||
Firm Shares to | ||||
Be Purchased | ||||
Name | from the Company | |||
X.X. Xxxxxxxxx + Co., LLC |
||||
ThinkEquity LLC |
||||
Total |
2,750,000 |
Schedule II
Lock Up Agreements
Schedule III
Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses
Schedule IV
Underwriter Free Writing Prospectuses
Used With Company Consent
Underwriter Free Writing Prospectuses
Used With Company Consent
Annex A
Form of Opinion of Counsel for the Company