Number of Shares] The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc. Common Stock UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit 1.1
[Number of Shares]
The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.
Common Stock
[ ], 2011
XXXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INC.
As Representative of the several Underwriters
c/o JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
As Representative of the several Underwriters
c/o JEFFERIES & COMPANY, INC.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Introductory. The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), proposes to
issue and sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule A (the “Underwriters”) an
aggregate of [___] shares of the common stock, par value $0.01 per share (“Common Stock”) of the
Company (the “Company Shares”); and the stockholders of the Company named in Schedule
B (collectively, the “Selling Stockholders”) severally propose to sell to the Underwriters an
aggregate of [___] shares of Common Stock of the Company (the “Selling Stockholders Firm Shares”).
In addition, the Selling Stockholders have
severally granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional [___] shares of
Common Stock (the “Optional Shares”), with each Selling Stockholder selling up
to the amount set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder’s name in Schedule B, all as
provided in Section 2. The Company Shares and the Selling Stockholders Firm Shares are
collectively called the “Firm Shares.” The
Selling Stockholders Firm Shares and the Optional Shares are collectively called the “Selling
Stockholders Shares.” The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the
Optional Shares are collectively called the “Offered Shares.” Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc.
(“Jefferies”), BMO Capital Markets Corp.
(“BMO”) and Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC
(“Xxxxx Fargo”) have agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity,
the “Representatives”) in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares.
The
Representatives agrees that up to ________ of the Company Shares (the “Directed
Shares”) shall be reserved for sale by the Underwriters and their affiliates to certain eligible
directors, officers and employees of the Company and persons having business relationships with the
Company (collectively, the “Participants”), as part of the distribution of the Offered Shares by
the Underwriters (the “Directed Share Program”) subject to the terms of this Agreement, the
applicable rules, regulations and interpretations of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority,
Inc. (“FINRA”) and all other applicable laws, rule and regulations. To the extent that such
Directed Shares are not orally confirmed for purchase by the Participants by the
end of the first business day after the date of this Agreement, such Directed Shares may be
offered to the public by the Underwriters as part of the public offering contemplated hereby.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
“Commission”) a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No. 333-173445), which contains a form of
prospectus to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the Offered Shares. Such
registration statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules
thereto, in the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (collectively, the “Securities Act”),
including any information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule
430A under the Securities Act, is called the “Registration Statement.” Any registration statement
filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act is called the “Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement,” and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement the term “Registration Statement” shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. The preliminary prospectus dated [ ], 2011 describing the Offered
Shares and the offering thereof as amended or supplemented prior to the Applicable Time (as defined
below), is called the “Preliminary Prospectus,” and the Preliminary Prospectus and any other
preliminary prospectus that describes the Offered Shares and the offering thereof and is used prior
to the filing of the Prospectus (as defined below), is called a “preliminary prospectus.” As used
herein, the term “Prospectus” shall mean the final prospectus that describes the Offered Shares and
the offering thereof, in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the Offered
Shares or in the form first made available to the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of
purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act. As used herein, “Applicable Time” is
__:___ _m (New York time) on [ ], 2011. As used herein, “free writing
prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, and “Time of Sale
Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus, as amended or supplemented immediately prior to the
Applicable Time, together with the free writing prospectuses, if any, identified in Schedule C
hereto (including any orally communicated pricing information). As used herein, each “Road Show”
means a “bona fide electronic road show” as defined in Rule 433(h)(5) under the Securities Act that
has been made without restriction to any person. As used herein, the terms “Registration
Statement,” “Rule 462(b) Registration Statement”, “Preliminary Prospectus,” “preliminary
prospectus,” “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus” shall include the documents incorporated
and deemed to be incorporated by reference therein. All references in this underwriting agreement
(this “Agreement”) to amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations promulgated
thereunder (collectively, the “Exchange Act”) which is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference
in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus,
any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be. All
references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the 462(b) Registration Statement, any
Preliminary Prospectus, a preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendments or
supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission
pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System (“XXXXX”) and (ii) the
Prospectus shall be deemed to include the “electronic Prospectus” provided for use in connection
with the offering of the Offered Shares as contemplated by Section 3.A.(n) of this Agreement.
The
Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby confirm their engagement
of Xxxxx
Fargo Securities, LLC
(the “Independent Underwriter”) as, and the Independent Underwriter
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hereby confirms its agreement with the Company and the Selling Stockholders to render services
as, a “qualified independent underwriter,” within the meaning of Section (f)(12) of FINRA Rule 5121
with respect to the offering and sale of the Shares. Independent
Underwriter agrees to undertake the legal responsibilities and
liabilities of an underwriter under the Securities Act, specifically
including those inherent in Section 11 thereof. Independent Underwriter, solely in its
capacity as the qualified independent underwriter and not otherwise, is referred to herein as the
“QIU.”
All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and other information
that are “contained,” “included” or “stated” in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement , the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale
Prospectus or the Prospectus (and all other references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and
include all such financial statements and schedules and other information that is or is deemed to
be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or supplements
to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus,
any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean
and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act that is or is deemed to be
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement,
the Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be.
The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders hereby confirm their respective agreements
with the Underwriters and the QIU as follows:
Section 1. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
A. Representations and Warranties of the Company. The Company hereby represents and
warrants to each Underwriter and the QIU, as of the date of this Agreement, as of the First
Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) and as of each Option Closing Date (as hereafter
defined), if any, with each Underwriter, as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement has been
declared effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied, to
the Commission’s satisfaction, with all requests of the Commission for additional or
supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such
purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, are contemplated or
threatened by the Commission.
The Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus at the time of filing with the
Commission complied in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by
electronic transmission pursuant to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T under
the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the Underwriters for use in
connection with the offer and sale of the Offered Shares. Each of the Registration Statement,
any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment
thereto, as of the applicable effective date, complied and, until such time as the
Underwriters are no longer required to deliver a Prospectus in order to confirm sales of the
Offered Shares will comply in all material respects with the Securities Act and did not and
will not contain any
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untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. As
of the Applicable Time, the Time of Sale Prospectus, together with each Road Show, if any, did
not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading. The Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as of its applicable filing date
and until such time as the Underwriters are no longer required to deliver a Prospectus to
confirm sales of the Offered Shares, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representations and warranties set forth in the three immediately preceding sentences do not
apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment thereto, the Time of Sale Prospectus,
the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto or any free writing prospectus, made in
reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the
Company in writing by the Representatives expressly for use therein, it being understood and
agreed that the only such information furnished by the Representatives to the Company consists
of the information described in Section 9(c) below. There are no contracts or other documents
required to be described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to be filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” (as such term is defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) as of the eligibility determination date for purposes of Rules 164 and 433
under the Securities Act with respect to the offering of the Offered Shares. Any free writing
prospectus that the Company is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities
Act has been, or will be, filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of Rule
433(d) under the Securities Act. Each free writing prospectus that the Company has filed, or
is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or that was prepared by
or behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies or will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of Rule 433 under the Securities Act including timely filing
with the Commission or retention where required and legending, and each such free writing
prospectus, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the
public offer and sale of the Offered Shares did not, does not and will not include any
information that conflicted, conflicts with or will conflict with the information contained in
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, including any
document incorporated by reference therein. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if any,
identified in Schedule C hereto, and any Road Show, if any, furnished to the
Representatives before first use, the Company has not prepared, used or referred to, and will
not, without the Representatives’ prior consent, prepare, use or refer to, any free writing
prospectus.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has delivered to the
Representatives one complete copy of the Registration Statement, each amendment thereto and any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a
part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement, each amendment thereto and
any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (without exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses, the
Time of Sale
Prospectus, the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, and any free writing prospectus
reviewed and consented to by the Representatives, in such quantities and at such places as the
Representatives has reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not distributed and
will not distribute, prior to the later of (i) the expiration or termination of the option
granted to the several Underwriters in Section 2; (ii) the completion of the
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Underwriters’
distribution of the Offered Shares; and (iii) the expiration of 25 days after the date of the
Prospectus, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered
Shares other than the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus or
the Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered to the Representatives by the Company.
(e) Authorization of the Company Shares. The Company Shares have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by the Company
against payment therefor pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and nonassessable, and the issuance and sale of the Company Shares is not subject to any
preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase
the Company Shares.
(f) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. Except as described in the Time
of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and except for such rights as have already been waived,
there are no persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities of the Company registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, other than the Selling Stockholders with respect
to the Selling Stockholders Shares which have been registered for sale under the Registration
Statement.
(g) No Material Adverse Change. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Time of Sale
Prospectus, subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given in the Time of
Sale Prospectus: (i) there has been no material adverse change in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business, results of operations or
prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries,
considered as one entity (any such change is called a “Material Adverse Change”); (ii) the
Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one entity, have not incurred any material
liability or obligation, indirect, direct or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business
nor entered into any material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business;
and (iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the
Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other subsidiaries, any of its
subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of
its subsidiaries of any class of capital stock.
(h) Independent Accountants. BDO USA, LLP, which has expressed its opinion with respect
to the financial statements (which term as used in this Agreement includes the related notes
thereto) and supporting schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration
Statement and included in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (each, an “Applicable
Prospectus” and collectively, the “Applicable Prospectuses”), are, to the Company’s knowledge,
(i) independent public or certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act and
(ii) a registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and by the rules and
regulation of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (the “PCAOB”).
(i) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements filed with the
Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included in each Applicable Prospectus
present fairly in all material respects the consolidated financial position of the Company and
its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of their
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operations and cash
flows for the periods specified. The supporting schedules included in the Registration
Statement present fairly in all material respects the information required to be stated
therein. Such financial statements and supporting schedules have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States (“GAAP”) applied on a
consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the
related notes thereto and except for normal year end adjustments that have not been made in the
case of interim financial statements. No other financial statements or supporting schedules
are required to be included in the Registration Statement or any Applicable Prospectus. The
financial data set forth in each Applicable Prospectus under the captions “Prospectus Summary -
Consolidated Financial Data,” “Selected Consolidated Financial Data” and “Capitalization”
fairly present in all material respects the information set forth therein on a basis consistent
with that of the audited financial statements contained in the Registration Statement and each
Applicable Prospectus. To the Company’s knowledge, no person who has been suspended or barred
from being associated with a registered public accounting firm, or who has failed to comply
with any sanction pursuant to Rule 5300 promulgated by the PCAOB, has participated in or
otherwise aided the preparation of, or audited, the financial statements, supporting schedules
or other financial data filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and
included in any Applicable Prospectus.
(j) Company’s Accounting System. The Company and each of its subsidiaries make and keep
books and records that are accurate in all material respects and maintain a system of internal
accounting controls that are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions
are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with GAAP and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is
permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and
appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. Except as described in each
Applicable Prospectus, since December 31, 2010, there has been no material weakness in the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting (as defined in Rule 13a-15(f) under the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the
“Exchange Act”)) (whether
or not remediated), and 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.
(k) Incorporation or Organization and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly incorporated or organized, as the case
may be, and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as
applicable, in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation or
organization and has the power and authority (corporate or other) to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in each Applicable Prospectus, except to
the extent that the failure to be in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate,
result in a Material Adverse Change, and, in the case of the Company, to enter into and perform
its obligations under this Agreement. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as applicable, to
transact business and is in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except to the extent that the failure to be so qualified would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. All of the issued and
outstanding capital stock or other equity or ownership interests of each subsidiary
6
of the
Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and,
except as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus, are owned by the Company, directly or
indirectly through its subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance or adverse claim, except to the extent that any such security interest,
mortgage, pledge, lien encumbrance or adverse claim would not, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company does not own or control, directly
or indirectly, any corporation, partnership, limited liability company or other entity other
than (i) the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21.1 to the Registration Statement and (ii) such
other entities omitted from Exhibit 21.1 which, when such omitted entities are considered in
the aggregate as a single subsidiary, would not constitute a “significant subsidiary” within
the meaning of Rule 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X.
(l) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized, issued and
outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in each Applicable Prospectus under
the caption “Capitalization” (other than for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to employee
benefit plans upon the exercise of outstanding options described in each Applicable
Prospectus). The capital stock of the Company conforms in all material respects to the
description thereof contained in the Time of Sale Prospectus. All of the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with federal and
state securities laws or applicable exemptions from the requirements thereof. None of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company was issued in violation of any preemptive rights,
rights of first refusal or other similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the
Company. There are no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights
of first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities convertible into or
exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
other than those accurately described in all material respects in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
The description of the Company’s stock option, stock bonus and other stock plans or
arrangements, and the options or other rights granted
thereunder, set forth in each Applicable Prospectus accurately and fairly presents in all
material respects the information required to be shown with respect to such plans,
arrangements, options and rights.
(m) Stock Exchange Listing. The Offered Shares have been approved for listing on The
NASDAQ Global Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(n) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments; No Further Authorizations or Approvals
Required. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or
by-laws, partnership agreement or operating agreement or similar organizational document, as
applicable, or is in default (or, with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in
default) (“Default”) under any indenture, mortgage, loan or credit agreement, note, contract,
franchise, lease or other instrument to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party
or by which it or any of them may be bound (including, without limitation, any credit
agreement, indenture, pledge agreement, security agreement or other instrument or agreement
evidencing, guaranteeing, securing or relating to indebtedness of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries ), or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is subject (each, an “Existing Instrument”), except for such Defaults as would
not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. The Company’s
execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, consummation of the transactions
contemplated hereby and by each Applicable Prospectus and the issuance and sale of the Company
Shares (i) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not result in
any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-laws, partnership agreement or
7
operating
agreement or other similar organizational document of the Company or any subsidiary, as
applicable, (ii) will not conflict with or constitute a breach of or Default or a Debt
Repayment Triggering Event (as defined below) under, or result in the creation or imposition of
any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, or require the consent of any other party to (except for any such
consent that has already been obtained), any Existing Instrument and (iii) will not result in
any violation of any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree
applicable to the Company or any subsidiary, except for such conflicts, breaches, Defaults or
violations specified in subsections (ii) and (iii) immediately above that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. No consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any court or other
governmental or regulatory authority or agency, is required for the Company’s execution,
delivery and performance of this Agreement and consummation of the transactions contemplated
hereby and by each Applicable Prospectus, except such as have been obtained or made by the
Company and are in full force and effect under the Securities Act, applicable state securities
or blue sky laws and from FINRA. As used herein, a “Debt Repayment Triggering Event” means any
event or condition which gives, or with the giving of notice or lapse of time would give, the
holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such
holder’s behalf) the right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a
portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any of its subsidiaries.
(o) No Material Actions or Proceedings. Except as otherwise disclosed in each Applicable Prospectus, there are no legal or
governmental actions, suits or proceedings pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened
(i) against the Company or any of its subsidiaries, (ii) which name as party thereto any
officer or director of, or which have as the subject thereof any property owned or leased by,
the Company or any of its subsidiaries or (iii) relating to environmental or discrimination
matters, where in any such case (A) there is a reasonable possibility that such action, suit or
proceeding would be determined adversely to the Company, such subsidiary or such officer or
director, (B) any such action, suit or proceeding, if so determined adversely, which would
result in a Material Adverse Change or materially and adversely affect the consummation of the
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or (C) any such action, suit or proceeding is or
would be material in the context of the sale of the Offered Shares. No material labor dispute
with the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s
knowledge, is threatened or imminent.
(p) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and each of its subsidiaries own or possess
sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, domain names, licenses,
approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively, “Intellectual Property
Rights”) reasonably necessary to conduct their businesses as now conducted; and the expected
expiration of any of such Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse
Change. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any written notice of
infringement or conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others. The Company is
not a party to or bound by any options, licenses or agreements with respect to the Intellectual
Property Rights of any other person or entity that are required to be set forth in the
Prospectus and are not described therein. None of the Intellectual Property Rights employed by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries has been obtained or is being used by the Company or any
of its subsidiaries in violation of any contractual obligation binding on the Company or any of
its subsidiaries or, to the Company’s knowledge, any of its or its subsidiaries’ officers,
directors or employees or otherwise in violation of the rights of any persons, except for such
violations that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse
Change.
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(q) All Necessary Permits, etc. The Company and each of its subsidiaries possess such
valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the appropriate state,
federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary for and material to the conduct of
their respective businesses as described in each Applicable Prospectus, and neither the Company
nor any subsidiary has received, or any written notice of proceedings relating to the
revocation or modification of, or material non-compliance with, any such certificate,
authorization or permit which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse Change.
(r) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries have good and marketable
title to all of the real and personal property and other assets reflected as owned in the
financial statements referred to in Section 1.A.(i) above (or elsewhere in each Applicable
Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests, mortgages, liens,
encumbrances, equities, adverse claims and other defects, except for such security interests,
mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, adverse claims and other defects described in the
Applicable Prospectuses or that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change. The real property, improvements, equipment and personal property held
under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held under valid and enforceable leases,
subject to (1) applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium, fraudulent transfer
or other laws affecting creditors’ rights generally from time to time in effect and (2) to general
principles of equity and public policy and the discretion of the court or other body before which
any proceeding may be brought, including without limitation, concepts of materiality,
reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, in each case, regardless of whether considered in a
proceeding in equity or at law (clauses (1) and (2), collectively, the “Enforceability
Exceptions”) and except for such invalid and unenforceable leases that would not, individually or
in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change.
(s) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its consolidated subsidiaries have filed all
material federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns required to be filed by
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries or have properly requested extensions thereof and
have paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or
similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them except as may be contested in
good faith and by appropriate proceedings and except for such taxes, assessments, fines or
penalties, the non-payment of which would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Change. The Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the
applicable financial statements referred to in Section 1.A.(i) above in respect of all material
federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to which the tax
liability of the Company or any of its consolidated subsidiaries has not been finally
determined.
(t) Company Not an “Investment Company”. The Company is not, and will not be, either
after receipt of payment for the Company Shares or after the application of the proceeds
therefrom as described under “Use of Proceeds” in each Applicable Prospectus, an “investment
company” required to register under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“Investment Company Act”).
(u) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries is insured by recognized
institutions with policies in such amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks
that the Company deems to be commercially reasonable. The Company has no reason to believe
that it or any of its subsidiaries will not be able (i) to renew its existing insurance
9
coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to obtain comparable coverage from similar
institutions as may be necessary or appropriate to conduct its business.
(v) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. The Company has
not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected
to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Shares or any other
“reference security” (as defined in Rule 100 of Regulation M under the 1934 Act (“Regulation
M”)) whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or otherwise, and has taken
no action which would directly or indirectly violate Regulation M.
(w) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or related-party
transactions involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any other person which are
required to be described in each Applicable Prospectus and which have not been described as
required.
(x) FINRA Matters. All of the information provided to the Underwriters or to counsel for
the Underwriters by the Company, and to the Company’s knowledge, its officers and directors and
the holders of any securities (debt or equity) or options to acquire any securities of the
Company in connection with letters, filings or other supplemental information provided to FINRA
pursuant to FINRA Rule 5110 is true, complete and correct in all material respects.
(y) Parties to Lock-Up Agreements. Each of the Company’s directors and executive officers
and each of the other persons and entities listed in Exhibit C has executed and
delivered to Jefferies a lock-up agreement in the form of Exhibit D hereto.
Exhibit C hereto contains a true, complete and correct list of all directors and executive
officers of the Company. If any additional persons shall become directors or executive
officers of the Company prior to the end of the Company Lock-up Period (as defined below), the
Company shall cause each such person, prior to, contemporaneously with their election and/or
appointment as a director or executive officer of the Company, or reasonably thereafter, to
execute and deliver to Jefferies lock-up agreement in the form attached hereto as
Exhibit D.
(z) Statistical and Market-Related Data. The statistical, demographic and market-related data
included in the Registration Statement and each Applicable Prospectus are based on or derived
from sources that the Company reasonably believes to be reliable and accurate in all material
respects or represent the Company’s good faith estimates that are made on the basis of data
derived from such sources.
(aa) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s knowledge, any employee or agent of the Company or any
subsidiary, has made any contribution or other payment to any official of, or candidate for,
any federal, state or foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement and each Applicable Prospectus.
(bb) Company’s Accounting System, Internal Control Over Financial Reporting and Disclosure
Controls and Procedures. The Company and each of its subsidiaries make and keep books and
records that are accurate in all material respects and maintain a system of internal accounting
controls that are sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are executed
in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are
recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial
10
statements in conformity with GAAP and
to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance
with management’s general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for
assets is compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals
and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences. The Company and its
subsidiaries maintain disclosure controls and procedures (as such term is defined in Rule
13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); 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, particularly during the periods in which periodic reports required under the
Exchange Act will be prepared; and such disclosure controls and procedures are effective in all
material respects to perform the functions for which they were established.
(cc) Compliance with Environmental Laws. Except as described in each Applicable
Prospectus and except as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change, (i) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation of any
federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or
rule of common law or any judicial or administrative interpretation thereof, including any
judicial or administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or
protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air,
surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife, including, without
limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of chemicals,
pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or
petroleum products (collectively, “Hazardous Materials”) or to the manufacture, processing,
distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials
(collectively, “Environmental Laws”), (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits,
authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in
compliance in all material respects with their requirements, (iii) there are no pending, or to
the Company’s knowledge, or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits,
demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation, investigation or
proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the Company or any of its subsidiaries
and (iv) to the Company’s knowledge, there are no events or circumstances that might reasonably
be expected to form the basis of an order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or
proceeding by any private party or governmental body or agency, against the Company or any of
its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any Environmental Laws.
(dd) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any “employee benefit plan”
(as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the
regulations and published interpretations thereunder (collectively, “ERISA”)) established or
maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their “ERISA Affiliates” (as defined below) are
in compliance in all material respects with ERISA, except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. “ERISA Affiliate” means, with respect to the
Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections 414(b),
(c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and
published interpretations thereunder (the “Code”) of which the Company or such subsidiary is a
member. No “reportable event” (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected
to occur with respect to any “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the Company,
its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, except as would not, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change. No “employee benefit plan” established or
maintained by the Company,
its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates, if such “employee benefit plan” were
11
terminated, would have any “amount of unfunded benefit liabilities” (as defined under ERISA).
Neither the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or
reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with respect to
termination of, or withdrawal from, any “employee benefit plan” or (ii) Sections 412, 4971,
4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each “employee benefit plan” established or maintained by the
Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates that is intended to be qualified
under Section 401(a) of the Code is so qualified, and nothing has occurred, whether by action
or failure to act, which would cause the loss of such qualification.
(ee) Brokers. Except for the underwriting discounts and commissions payable to the
Underwriters as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, there is no
broker, finder or other similar party that is entitled to receive from the Company any
brokerage or finder’s fee or other similar fee or commission as a result of any transactions
contemplated by this Agreement.
(ff) No Outstanding Loans or Other Extensions of Credit. Since the adoption of Section
13(k) of the Exchange Act, neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has extended or
maintained credit, arranged for the extension of credit, or renewed any extension of credit, in
the form of a personal loan, to or for any director or executive officer (or equivalent
thereof) of the Company and/or any such subsidiary except for such extensions of credit as are
expressly permitted by Section 13(k) of the Exchange Act.
(gg) Compliance with Laws. Except as disclosed in the Applicable Prospectus, the Company
has not been advised, and has no reason to believe, that it and each of its subsidiaries are
not conducting business in compliance with all applicable laws, rules and regulations of the
jurisdictions in which it is conducting business, except where failure to be so in compliance
would not result in a Material Adverse Change.
(hh) Directed Share Program. (i) Each Applicable Prospectus complies, and any further
amendments or supplements thereto will comply, with any applicable laws or regulations of
foreign jurisdictions in which such Applicable Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if
applicable, are distributed in connection with the Directed Share Program, and (ii) no
authorization, approval, consent, license, order registration or qualification of or with any
government, governmental instrumentality or court, other than such as have been obtained, is
necessary under the securities laws and regulations of foreign jurisdictions in which the
Directed Shares are offered outside the United States. The Company has not offered, or caused
the Underwriters to offer, any Offered Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share
Program with the intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the Company to
alter the customer’s or supplier’s level or type of business with the Company or (ii) a trade
journalist or publication to write or publish favorable information about the Company or its
products.
(jj) Dividend Restrictions. Except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus, no subsidiary of the Company is prohibited or restricted, directly or indirectly,
from paying dividends to the Company, or from making any other distribution with respect to
such subsidiary’s equity securities or from repaying to the Company or any other subsidiary of
the Company any amounts that may from time to time become due under any loans or advances to
such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring any property or assets to the Company or
to any other subsidiary.
12
(kk) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor,
to the Company’s knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or other person
acting on behalf of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action,
directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in a violation of the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”),
including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of
interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or
authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or
authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is
defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for
foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and the Company and its subsidiaries
and, to the Company’s knowledge, the Company’s affiliates have conducted their respective
businesses in compliance with the FCPA.
(ll) Money Laundering Laws. The operations of the Company and 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 money laundering statutes of all applicable jurisdictions, the rules and
regulations thereunder and any related or similar applicable rules, regulations or guidelines,
issued, administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money
Laundering Laws”), except for any such noncompliance that would not, individually or in the
aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change, 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
Company’s knowledge, threatened.
(mm) OFAC. Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the Company’s
knowledge, any director, officer, agent, employee, affiliate or person acting on behalf 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 this 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.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries and
delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered
thereby.
The Company acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the opinions to be
delivered pursuant to Section 6 hereof, counsel to the Company and counsel to the Underwriters,
will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of each foregoing
representation, but only to the extent of the content of each such representation, and
hereby consents to such reliance.
B. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling Stockholder
represents and warrants, severally and not jointly, to each Underwriter as follows:
13
(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered to the Representatives by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder.
(b) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney. Each of the (i) Custody Agreement signed
by such Selling Stockholder and [___], as custodian (the “Custodian”), relating to the deposit
of the Selling Stockholders Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder (the “Custody
Agreement”) and (ii) Power of Attorney appointing certain individuals named therein as such
Selling Stockholder’s attorneys-in-fact (each, an “Attorney-in-Fact”) to the extent set forth
therein relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (the “Power of
Attorney”), of such Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
such Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be
limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by the
Enforceability Exception.
(c) Title to Selling Stockholders Shares to be Sold. Such Selling Stockholder has, and on
the First Closing Date and each applicable Option Closing Date (as defined below) will have,
good and valid title to all of the Selling Stockholders Shares which may be sold by such
Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement on such date and the legal right and power to
sell, transfer and deliver all of the Selling Stockholders Shares which may be sold by such
Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement and to comply with its other obligations
hereunder and thereunder.
(d) Delivery of the Selling Stockholders Shares to be Sold. Delivery of the Selling
Stockholders Shares which are sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement will
pass good and valid title to such Selling Stockholders Shares, free and clear of any security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance or other adverse claim.
(e) Non-Contravention; No Further Authorizations or Approvals Required. The execution and
delivery by such Selling Stockholder of, and the performance by such Selling Stockholder of its
obligations under, this Agreement, the Custody Agreement and the Power of Attorney will not
contravene or conflict with, result in a breach of, or constitute a Default under, or require
the consent of any other party to (except for any such consent that has already been obtained),
(i) the charter or by-laws, partnership agreement, trust agreement or other organizational
documents of such Selling Stockholder,
(ii) any other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by
which it is bound or under which it is entitled to any right or benefit, or (iii) any provision
of applicable law or any judgment, order, decree or regulation applicable to such Selling
Stockholder of any court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or
arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder, except in the case of (ii) and
(iii) immediately above as would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a Material
Adverse Change. No consent, approval, authorization or other order of, or registration or
filing with, any court or other governmental authority or agency, is required for the
consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated in this Agreement,
except such as have already been obtained or made and are in full force and effect under the
Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws and from FINRA.
(f) No Registration, Pre-emptive, Co-Sale or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling
Stockholder (i) does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration Statement or included
in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as are
14
described in the
Time of Sale Prospectus under “Shares Eligible for Future Sale,” (ii) does not have any
preemptive right, co-sale right or right of first refusal or other similar right to purchase
any of the Offered Shares that are to be sold by the Company or any of the other Selling
Stockholders to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, except for such rights as such
Selling Stockholder has waived prior to the date hereof and as have been described in the
Registration Statement and Time of Sale Prospectus, and (iii) does not own any warrants,
options or similar rights to acquire, and does not have any right or arrangement to acquire,
any capital stock, right, warrants, options or other securities from the Company, other than
those described in the Registration Statement and the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(g) No Further Consents, etc. Except for such consents, approvals and waivers which have
been obtained by such Selling Stockholder on or prior to the date of this Agreement, no
consent, approval or waiver is required under any instrument or agreement to which such Selling
Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound or under which it is entitled to any right or
benefit, in connection with the offering, sale or purchase by the Underwriters of any of the
Selling Stockholders Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder under this Agreement
or the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of any of the other transactions contemplated
hereby.
(h) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Stockholder in the Prospectus. All information
furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in writing expressly for use in the
Registration Statement and Time of Sale Prospectus is, and on the First Closing Date and the
applicable Option Closing Date will be, true, correct, and complete in all material respects,
and does not, and on the First Closing Date and the applicable Option Closing Date will not,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
make such information not misleading, it being understood and agreed that the only such
information furnished by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder consists of the description of
such Selling Stockholder and the number of Selling Stockholders Shares held by such Selling
Stockholder as described under the caption “Principal and Selling Stockholders” in the Time of
Sale Prospectus. Such Selling
Stockholder confirms as accurate the number of Selling Stockholders Shares set forth
opposite such Selling Stockholder’s name in the Time of Sale Prospectus under the caption
“Principal and Selling Stockholders” (both prior to and after giving effect to the sale of the
Offered Shares).
(i) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. Such Selling
Stockholder has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be
reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the
Selling Stockholders Shares or any other reference security, whether to facilitate the sale or
resale of the Selling Stockholders Shares or otherwise, and has taken no action which would
directly or indirectly violate any provision of Regulation M.
(j) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or other similar fees or
charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any political subdivision thereof,
required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this Agreement or the sale
by the Selling Stockholders of the Selling Stockholder Shares.
(k) Distribution of Offering Materials by the Selling Stockholders. The Selling
Stockholders have not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of (i) the
expiration or termination of the option granted to the several Underwriters under Section 2;
(ii) the completion of the Underwriters’ distribution of the Offered Shares; and (iii) the
expiration of 25 days after the date of the Prospectus, any offering material in connection
with the offering
15
and sale of the Offered Shares other than the Preliminary Prospectus, the
Time of Sale Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(n) Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. None of the Selling Stockholders is aware of or has
taken any action, directly or indirectly, that has resulted or would result in a violation of
the FCPA, including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or
instrumentality of interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise
to pay or authorization of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give,
or authorization of the giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is
defined in the FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for
foreign political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and each of the Selling Stockholders
have conducted their respective businesses in compliance with the FCPA.
(o) Money Laundering Laws. Each of the Selling Stockholders is in compliance with
applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Money Laundering Laws,
except for any such noncompliance that would not, individually or in the aggregate, result in a
Material Adverse Change, and no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or
governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving any Selling Stockholder with
respect to the Money Laundering Laws is pending or, to each Selling Stockholder’s knowledge,
threatened.
(p) OFAC. None of the Selling Stockholders is currently subject to any U.S. sanctions
administered by OFAC; and none of the Selling Stockholders will directly or indirectly use the
proceeds of this 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.
Any
certificate signed by the Selling Stockholder and delivered to the Representatives or
to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Selling
Stockholder to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
Such Selling Stockholder acknowledges that the Underwriters and, for purposes of the
opinion to be delivered pursuant to Section 6 hereof, counsel to the Selling Stockholder and
counsel to the Underwriters, will rely upon the accuracy and truthfulness of each foregoing
representation, but only to the extent of the content of each such representation, and hereby
consents to such reliance.
Section 2. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of the Offered Shares.
(a) The Firm Shares. Upon the terms herein set forth, (i) the Company agrees to issue
and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of [___] Company Shares and (ii) the
Selling Stockholders agree to sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of [___] Selling
Stockholders Firm Shares, with each Selling Stockholder selling the number of Selling
Stockholders Firm Shares set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder’s name on Schedule
B. On the basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and
upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company and the Selling Stockholders the
respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their names on Schedule A and
Schedule B. The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the several Underwriters
to the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be $[___] per share (which represents a price
to the public of $[___] less a discount to the Underwriters of $[___]).
16
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of certificates for the Firm Shares to be purchased
by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made at the offices of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP,
000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx (or such other place as may reasonably be agreed to by
the Company and the Representatives) at 9:00 a.m. New York time, on [___], 2011 or such other
time and date not later than 1:30 p.m. New York time, on
[___], 2011 as the Representatives
shall designate by written notice to the Company (the time and date of such closing are called
the “First Closing Date”). The Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby acknowledge that
circumstances under which the Representatives may provide written notice to postpone the First
Closing Date as originally scheduled include, but are in no way limited to, any determination
by the Company, the Selling Stockholders or the Representatives to recirculate to the public
copies of an amended or supplemented Prospectus or a delay as contemplated by the provisions of
Section 11.
(c) The Optional Shares; Option Closing Date. In addition, on the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to
the conditions herein set forth, the Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby grant an
option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate
of [___] Optional Shares from the Company and the Selling Stockholders at the purchase price
per share to be
paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder is for use by
the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments in connection with the sale and
distribution of the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder may be exercised at any time and
from time to time in whole or in part upon written notice by the
Representatives to the Company
and the Selling Stockholders, which written notice may be given at any time within 30 days from
the date of this Agreement. Such written notice shall set forth (i) the aggregate number of
Optional Shares as to which the Underwriters are exercising the option, (ii) the names and
denominations in which the certificates for the Optional Shares are to be registered and (iii)
the time, date and place at which such certificates will be delivered (which time and date may
be simultaneous with, but not earlier than, the First Closing Date; and in the event that such
time and date are simultaneous with the First Closing Date, the term “First Closing Date” shall
refer to the time and date of delivery of certificates for the Firm Shares and such Optional
Shares). Any such time and date of delivery, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is
called an “Option Closing Date” and shall be
determined by the Representatives and shall not be
earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such written notice
of exercise. If any Optional Shares are to be purchased, (i) each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Optional Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the
same proportion to the total number of Optional Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm
Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total
number of Firm Shares and (ii) the Company and each Selling Stockholder agree, severally and
not jointly, to sell the number of Optional Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate
fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same proportion to the
total number of Optional Shares to be sold as the number of Optional Shares set forth in
Schedule B opposite the name of such Selling Stockholder (or, in the case of the
Company, as the number of Optional Shares to be sold by the Company as set forth in the
paragraph “Introductory” of this Agreement) bears to the total number of Optional Shares. The
Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to its expiration by giving written
notice of such cancellation to the Company and the Selling Stockholders.
(d)
Public Offering of the Offered Shares. The Representatives hereby advises the Company
and the Selling Stockholders that the Underwriters intend to offer for sale to the public,
initially on the terms set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, their
17
respective portions of the Offered Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed and
the Registration Statement has been declared effective as the
Representatives, in its sole
judgment, has determined is advisable and practicable.
(e) Payment for the Offered Shares. Payment for the Company Shares to be sold by the
Company shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at each Option Closing
Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the order of the Company. Payment for
the Selling Stockholders Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders shall be made at the
First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at each Option Closing Date) by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the order of the Custodian.
It
is understood that the Representatives has been authorized, for its own account and the
accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of and receipt for, and make payment
of the purchase price for, the Firm Shares and any Optional Shares the Underwriters
have agreed to purchase. Jefferies, BMO and Xxxxx Fargo, individually
and not as Representatives of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for the Firm Shares and any
Optional Shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by
the Representatives by the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not relieve such
Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
The Company and each Selling Stockholder hereby agrees that (i) each Selling Stockholder
will pay all stock transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable upon
the sale or delivery of the Offered Shares to be sold by the Company and such Selling
Stockholder to the several Underwriters, the initial resales thereof by the Underwriters or
otherwise in connection with the performance of the Company and such Selling Stockholder’s
obligations hereunder and (ii) the Custodian is authorized to deduct for such payment any such
amounts from the proceeds to the Company and such Selling Stockholder hereunder and to hold
such amounts for the account of the Company and such Selling Stockholder with the Custodian
under the Custody Agreement.
(f) Delivery of the Offered Shares. The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall
deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several
Underwriters, through the facilities of DTC and for the account of the Underwriters,
certificates for the Firm Shares to be sold by them at the First Closing Date, against the
irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the
purchase price therefor. The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall also deliver, or cause
to be delivered, to the Representatives for the accounts of the several Underwriters, through
the facilities of the DTC and for the account of the Underwriters, certificates for the
Optional Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase from them at the First Closing Date or
the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, against the irrevocable release of a
wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase price therefor.
The certificates for the Offered Shares shall be in definitive form and registered in such
names and denominations as the Representatives shall have requested at least two full business
days prior to the First Closing Date (or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may
be) and shall be made available for inspection on the business day preceding the First Closing
Date (or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be) at a location in New York City
as the Representatives may designate.
Section 3. Covenants of the Company.
18
A. Covenants of the Company. The Company hereby covenants and agrees with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) Delivery of Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus and Prospectus. The
Company shall furnish to the Representatives, without charge, as many copies of the Registration
Statement, any amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (including
exhibits thereto) as the Representatives shall reasonably
request and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration
Statement, any amendments thereto and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement (without exhibits
thereto) and shall furnish to the Representatives in New York City, without charge, prior to
10:00 a.m. New York City time on the business day next succeeding the date of this Agreement
and during the period mentioned in Section 3(e) or 3(f) below, as many copies of the Time of
Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the
Registration Statement as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(b)
Representatives’ Review of Proposed Amendments and Supplements. Prior to amending or
supplementing the Registration Statement (including any registration statement filed under Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act), any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus or
the Prospectus, the Company shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount
of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of each such proposed
amendment or supplement, and the Company shall not file or use any such proposed amendment or
supplement without the Representatives’ consent which shall not be unreasonably withheld, and
to file with the Commission within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act any prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule 424(b).
(c)
Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall furnish to the Representatives for
review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy
of each proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto to be prepared
by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the Company, and the Company shall not file, use
or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto without
the Representatives’ consent which shall not be unreasonably withheld. The Company shall
furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of any free writing prospectus
prepared by or on behalf of, or used by the Company, as such Underwriter may reasonably
request. If at any time when a prospectus is required by the Securities Act (including,
without limitation, pursuant to Rule 173(d) under the Securities Act) to be delivered in
connection with sales of the Offered Shares (but in any event if at any time through and
including the First Closing Date) there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result
of which any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by
the Company conflicted or would conflict with the information contained in the Registration
Statement or included or would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or
would omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
light of the circumstances prevailing at that subsequent time, not misleading, the Company
shall promptly amend or supplement such free writing prospectus to eliminate or correct such
conflict or so that the statements in such free writing prospectus as so amended or
supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances prevailing at such subsequent time, not misleading, as the case may be; provided,
however, that prior to amending or supplementing any such free writing prospectus, the Company
shall furnish to the Representatives for review, a reasonable amount of time prior to the
proposed time of filing or use thereof, a copy of such proposed amended or
19
supplemented free
writing prospectus and the Company shall not file, use or refer to any such amended or
supplemented free writing prospectus without the Representative’s consent which shall not be
unreasonably withheld.
(d) Filing of Underwriter Free Writing Prospectuses. The Company shall not to take any
action that would result in an Underwriter or the Company being required to file with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared
by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter otherwise would not have been required
to file thereunder.
(e) Amendments and Supplements to Time of Sale Prospectus. If the Time of Sale Prospectus
is being used to solicit offers to buy the Offered Shares at a time when the Prospectus is not
yet available to prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a
result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the
Time of Sale Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, not misleading, or if any event shall
occur or condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the
information contained in the Registration Statement, or if, in the reasonable opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale
Prospectus to comply in all material respects with applicable law, including the Securities
Act, the Company shall (subject to Sections 3(b) and 3(c)) forthwith prepare, file with the
Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request,
either amendments or supplements to the Time of Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the
Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when delivered to a prospective purchaser,
not misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no
longer conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, will comply in all material respects with applicable law including the
Securities Act.
(f) Securities Act Compliance. After the date of this Agreement and until such time as
the Underwriters are no longer required to deliver a Prospectus in order to confirm sale of the
Offered Shares, the Company shall promptly advise the Representatives in writing (i) of the
receipt of any comments of, or requests for additional or supplemental information from, the
Commission, (ii) of the time and date of any filing of any post-effective amendment to the
Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement
to the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the
Prospectus, (iii) of the time and date that any post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement becomes effective and (iv) of the issuance
by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
or any post-effective amendment thereto, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or any
amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, or the
Prospectus or of any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the
Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the Prospectus, or of any proceedings
to remove, suspend or terminate from listing or quotation the Offered Shares from any
securities exchange upon which they are listed for trading or included or designated for
quotation, or of the threatening in writing or initiation of any proceedings for any of such
purposes. If the Commission shall enter any such stop order at any time, the Company will use
its reasonable best efforts to obtain the lifting of such order at
20
the earliest possible time. Additionally, the Company agrees that it shall comply with
the provisions of Rule 424(b), Rule 433 and Rule 430A, as applicable, under the Securities Act
and will use its reasonable efforts to confirm that any filings made by the Company under such
Rule 424(b) or Rule 433 were received in a timely manner by the Commission.
(g) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act Matters. If any
event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or
supplement the Prospectus so that the Prospectus does not include an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not
misleading, or if in the reasonable opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the
Underwriters it is otherwise necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply in all
material respects with applicable law, including the Securities Act, the Company agrees
(subject to Section 3(b) and 3(c)) to promptly prepare, file with the Commission and furnish at
its own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, amendments or supplements to the Prospectus
so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing when the Prospectus is
delivered to a purchaser, not misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented,
will comply with applicable law including the Securities Act. Neither
the Representatives’
consent to, or delivery of, any such amendment or supplement shall constitute a waiver of any
of the Company’s obligations under Sections 3(b) or (c).
(h)
Blue Sky Compliance. The Company shall cooperate with the Representatives and counsel
for the Underwriters to qualify or register the Offered Shares for sale under (or obtain
exemptions from the application of) the state securities or blue sky laws or Canadian
provincial securities laws of those jurisdictions designated by the
Representatives, shall
comply with such laws and shall continue such qualifications, registrations and exemptions in
effect so long as required for the distribution of the Offered Shares. The Company shall not
be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to take any action that would subject it to
general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not presently qualified or
where it would be subject to taxation as a foreign corporation. The Company will advise the
Representatives promptly of the suspension of the qualification or registration of (or any such
exemption relating to) the Offered Shares for offering, sale or trading in any jurisdiction or
any initiation or threat of any proceeding for any such purpose, and in the event of the
issuance of any order suspending such qualification, registration or exemption, the Company
shall use its reasonable best efforts to obtain the withdrawal thereof at the earliest possible
time.
(i) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Company Shares in the manner described under the caption “Use of Proceeds” in each Applicable
Prospectus.
(j) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its expense, a registrar and transfer agent
for the Offered Shares.
(k) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, but in any event no later than sixteen
months after the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Company will make generally
available to its security holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement (which need
not be audited) covering a period of at least twelve months beginning with the first fiscal
quarter of the Company occurring after the effective date of the Registration
21
Statement which
shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(l) Periodic Reporting Obligations. Until such time as the Underwriters are no longer
required to deliver a Prospectus in order to confirm sales of the Offered Shares, the Company
shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and The NASDAQ Global Market all reports and
documents required to be filed under the Exchange Act.
(m) Directed Share Program. In connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company
will ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent required by the FINRA or
the FINRA rules from sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation for a period of three
months following the date of the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. The
Representatives will notify the Company as to which Participants will need to be so restricted.
Should the Company release, or seek to release, from such restrictions any of the Directed
Shares, the Company agrees to reimburse the Underwriters for any reasonable expenses
(including, without limitation, legal expenses) they incur in connection with such release.
(n) Listing. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to effect and maintain the
inclusion and quotation of the Offered Shares on The NASDAQ Global Market and to maintain the
inclusion and quotation of the Shares on The NASDAQ Global Market.
(o) Company to Provide Copy of the Prospectus in Form That May be Downloaded from the
Internet. The Company shall cause to be prepared and delivered, at its expense, within one
business day from the effective date of this Agreement, to the
Representatives an “electronic Prospectus”
to be used by the Underwriters in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares.
As used herein, the term “electronic Prospectus” means a form of Time of Sale Prospectus, and
any amendment or supplement thereto, that meets each of the following conditions: (i) it shall
be encoded in an electronic format, satisfactory to the
Representatives, that may be transmitted
electronically by the Representatives and the other Underwriters to offerees and purchasers of the
Offered Shares; (ii) it shall disclose the same information as the paper Time of Sale
Prospectus, except to the extent that graphic and image material cannot be disseminated
electronically, in which case such graphic and image material shall be replaced in the
electronic Prospectus with a fair and accurate narrative description or tabular representation
of such material, as appropriate; and (iii) it shall be in or convertible into a paper
format or an electronic format, satisfactory to the Representatives, that will allow investors to store
and have continuously ready access to the Time of Sale Prospectus at any future time, without
charge to investors (other than any fee charged for subscription to the Internet as a whole and
for on-line time). The Company hereby confirms that it has included or will include in the
Prospectus filed pursuant to XXXXX or otherwise with the Commission and in the Registration
Statement at the time it was declared effective an undertaking that, upon receipt of a request
by an investor or his or her representative, the Company shall transmit or cause to be
transmitted promptly, without charge, a paper copy of the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(p) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional shares of Common Stock. During the period
commencing on and including the date hereof and ending on and including the 180th day following
the date of the Prospectus (as the same may be extended as described below, the “Lock-up
Period”), the Company will not, without the prior written consent of Jefferies (which consent
may be withheld at the sole discretion of Jefferies), directly or indirectly, sell (including,
without limitation, any short sale), offer, contract or grant any option to sell, pledge,
transfer or establish an open “put equivalent position” within the meaning of Rule
22
16a-1(h)
under the Exchange Act, or otherwise dispose of or transfer, or announce the offering of, or
file any registration statement under the Securities Act in respect of, any shares of Common
Stock, options, rights or warrants to acquire shares of Common Stock or securities exchangeable
or exercisable for or convertible into shares of Common Stock or publicly announce the
intention to do any of the foregoing; provided, however, that the preceding sentence shall not
apply to (i) the Offered Shares, (ii) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock or
options to purchase shares of Common Stock, or the issuance by the Company of shares of Common
Stock upon the exercise of options, pursuant to any stock option, stock bonus or other stock
plan or arrangement described in each Applicable Prospectus, (iii) the issuance of shares of
Common Stock in connection with the acquisition of warehouse and/or distribution facilities or
land suitable for development as a warehouse and/or distribution facility and (iv) the issuance
by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the exercise of an option or the conversion of a
security outstanding on the date of this Agreement of which Jefferies has been advised in
writing. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if (i) during the last 17 days of the Lock-up Period,
the Company issues an earnings release or material news or a material event relating to the
Company occurs or (ii) prior to the expiration of the Lock-up Period, the Company announces
that it will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the
Lock-up Period, then in each case the Lock-up Period will be extended until the expiration of
the 18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of the earnings release or the
occurrence of the material news or material event, as applicable, unless Jefferies waives, in
writing, such extension (which waiver may be withheld at the sole discretion of Jefferies). The
Company will provide Jefferies with prior notice of any such announcement that gives
rise to an extension of the Lock-up Period.
(q)
Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of three years hereafter the
Company will furnish to the Representatives: (i) as soon as practicable after the end of each
fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of the Company containing the balance sheet of the
Company as of the close of such fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders’ equity and
cash flows for the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company’s independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing thereof, copies
of each proxy statement,
Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or
other report filed by the Company with the Commission, FINRA or any securities exchange; and
(iii) as soon as available, copies of any report or communication of the Company mailed
generally to holders of its capital stock, provided, however, that the Company may satisfy the
requirements set forth in (i), (ii) and (iii) immediately above by filing copies of such
information on the Company’s website or with the Commission through the XXXXX filing system.
(r) Investment Limitation. The Company shall not invest, or otherwise use the proceeds
received by the Company from its sale of the Company Shares in such a manner as would require
the Company or any of its subsidiaries to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act.
(s) No Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. The Company will not
take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected to
cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the Company Shares or any
other reference security, whether to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered Shares or
otherwise, and the Company will, and shall cause each of its controlled affiliates to, comply
with all applicable provisions of Regulation M. If the limitations of Rule 102 of Regulation M
(“Rule 102”) do not apply with respect to the Offered Shares or any other
23
reference security
pursuant to any exception set forth in Section (d) of Rule 102, then promptly upon notice from
the Representatives (or, if later, at the time stated in the notice), the Company will, and
shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with Rule 102 as though such exception were not
available but the other provisions of Rule 102 (as interpreted by the Commission) did apply.
(t) Existing Lock-Up Agreements. During the Lock-up Period, the Company will enforce all existing agreements between the Company and any of its
security holders that prohibit the sale, transfer, assignment, pledge or hypothecation of any
of the Company’s securities in connection with the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(u) Disclosure Controls and Procedures; Deficiencies in or Changes to Internal Control
Over Financial Reporting. The Company will establish and maintain disclosure controls and
procedures (as defined in Exchange Act Rules 13a-15(e) and 15d-15(e)), which (i) will be
designed to ensure that material information relating to the Company, including its
consolidated subsidiaries, is made known to the Company’s principal executive officer and its
principal financial officer by others within those entities, particularly during the periods in
which the periodic reports required under the Exchange Act are being prepared; (ii) will be
been evaluated by management of the Company for effectiveness as of the end of the Company’s
most recent fiscal quarter; and (iii) will be effective in all material respects to perform the
functions for which they were established.
B. Covenants of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling Stockholder agrees with each
Underwriter:
(a) No Stabilization or Manipulation; Compliance with Regulation M. Such Selling
Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might be
reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the
Selling Stockholders Shares or any other reference security, whether to facilitate the sale or
resale of the Selling Stockholders Shares or otherwise, and such Selling Stockholder will, and
shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with all applicable provisions of Regulation M.
If the limitations of Rule 102 do not apply with respect to the Offered Shares or any other
reference security pursuant to any exception set forth in Section (d) of Rule 102, then
promptly upon notice from the Representatives (or, if later, at the time stated in the notice),
such Selling Stockholder will, and shall cause each of its affiliates to, comply with Rule 102
as though such exception were not available but the other provisions of Rule 102 (as
interpreted by the Commission) did apply.
(b) Delivery of Forms W-8 and W-9. Such Selling Stockholder will deliver to the
Representatives prior to the First Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States
Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Stockholder is a non-United States person) or Form
W-9 (if the Selling Stockholder is a United States person).
C.
The Representatives, on behalf of the several Underwriters, may, in its sole
discretion, waive in writing the performance by the Company or any Selling Stockholder of any
one or more of the foregoing covenants or extend the time for its performance.
Section 4. Payment of Expenses. The Company and the Selling Stockholders, jointly and
severally, agree to pay in such proportions as they may agree upon among themselves all costs,
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of their obligations
24
hereunder
and in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i)
all expenses incident to the issuance and delivery of the Offered Shares (including all
printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and transfer agent
of the Offered Shares, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and other stamp taxes in connection
with the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares to the Underwriters, (iv) all fees and
expenses of the Company’s counsel, independent public or certified public accountants and other
advisors, (v) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing,
filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial
statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), the Time of Sale
Prospectus, the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by,
or referred to by the Company, and each preliminary prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, reasonable and properly
documented attorneys’ fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the Underwriters in
connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining exemptions from the qualification or
registration of) all or any part of the Offered Shares for offer and sale under the state
securities or blue sky laws or the provincial securities laws of Canada, and, if requested by
the Representatives, preparing and printing a “Blue Sky Survey” or memorandum and a “Canadian
wrapper”, and any supplements thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications,
registrations and exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with FINRA’s review, if any, and
approval of the Underwriters’ participation in the offering and distribution of the Offered
Shares, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to investor presentations on any
“road show”
undertaken in connection with the marketing of the offering of the Offered Shares,
including, without limitation, expenses associated with the preparation or dissemination of any
electronic road show, expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics,
reasonable and properly documented travel and lodging expenses of the representatives,
employees and officers of the Company and of the Representatives, and one half (1/2) of the
cost of any aircraft chartered in connection with the road show, provided, however, that the
prior written approval of the Company was obtained prior to the chartering of any such
aircraft, (ix) all other fees, costs and expenses of the nature referred to in Item 13 of Part
II of the Registration Statement; provided, however, that the fees and expenses payable by the
Company to counsel for the Underwriters pursuant to clause (vi) immediately above shall not
exceed $5,000 in the aggregate. Except as provided in this Section 4, Section 7, Section 9 and
Section 10 hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of their counsel.
The Selling Stockholders further agree with each Underwriter to pay (directly or by
reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the performance of their obligations under
this Agreement which are not otherwise specifically provided for herein, including but not
limited to (i) fees and expenses of counsel and other advisors for such Selling Stockholders,
(ii) fees and expenses of the Custodian and (iii) expenses and taxes incident to the sale and
delivery of the Selling Stockholders Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholders to the
Underwriters hereunder (which taxes, if any, may be deducted by the Custodian under the
provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement).
This Section 4 shall not affect or modify any separate, valid agreement relating to the
allocation of payment of expenses between the Company, on the one hand, and the Selling
Stockholders, on the other hand.
Section 5. Covenant of the Underwriters. Each Underwriter severally and not jointly,
covenants with the Company not to take any action that would result in the Company being
25
required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act a free
writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be
required to be filed by the Company thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter
Section 6. Conditions of the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Firm Shares as provided herein on the First Closing
Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, each Option Closing Date, shall be subject to
the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling
Stockholders set forth in Sections 1.A. and 1.B. hereof as of the date hereof and as of the
First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Optional Shares, as of each
Option Closing Date as though then made, to the timely performance by the Company and the
Selling Stockholders of their respective covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each
of the following additional conditions:
(a)
Accountants’ Comfort Letter. On the date hereof, the Representatives shall have
received from BDO USA, LLP, independent public or certified public accountants for the Company,
(i) a letter
dated the date hereof addressed to the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to
the Representatives, containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
accountant’s “comfort letters” to underwriters, delivered according to Statement of Auditing
Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with respect to the audited and unaudited
financial statements and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement
and the Time of Sale Prospectus, and, with respect to each letter dated the date hereof only,
the Prospectus (and the Representatives shall have received an additional [___] conformed copies
of such accountants’ letter for each of the several Underwriters), and (ii) confirming that
they are an independent registered public accounting firm as required by the Securities Act and
by the rules and regulations of the PCAOB.
(b) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order. For the period from and
after effectiveness of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to
the Optional Shares, each Option Closing Date:
(i) the Company shall have filed the Prospectus with the Commission (including the
information required by Rule 430 A under the Securities Act) in the manner and within the
time period required by Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act; or the Company shall have
filed a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement containing the information
required by such Rule 430A, and such post-effective amendment shall have become effective;
and
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, any
Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective amendment to the Registration
Statement, shall be in effect and no proceedings for such purpose shall have been
instituted, or to the Company’s knowledge, threatened by the Commission.
(c) No Material Adverse Change . For the period from and after the date of this Agreement
and through and including the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, each
Option Closing Date, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives there shall not have
occurred any Material Adverse Change.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date the Representatives shall have received the opinion of Bass, Xxxxx & Xxxx PLC,
counsel for the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of which is
26
attached as
Exhibit A (and the Representatives shall have received an additional [___] signed copies
of such counsel’s legal opinion for each of the several Underwriters).
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. On each of the First Closing Date and each
Option Closing Date the Representatives shall have received the opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP,
counsel for the Underwriters, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, dated as
of such Closing Date.
(f)
Officers’ Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing Date the Representatives shall
have received a written certificate executed by the Chief Executive Officer or President of the
Company and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, dated as of such Closing Date, to the
effect set forth in subsection (b)(ii) of this Section 6, and further to the effect that:
(i) for the period from and including the date of this Agreement through and including
such Closing Date, there has not occurred any Material Adverse Change;
(ii) the representations, warranties and covenants of the Company set forth in Section
1(A) of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made on and as of such Closing Date; and
(iii) the Company has complied in all material respects with all the agreements
hereunder and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
hereunder at or prior to such Closing Date.
(g) Bring-down Comfort Letter. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option Closing
Date the Representatives shall have received from BDO USA, LLP, independent public or certified
public accountants for the Company, a letter dated such date, in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the
letter furnished by them pursuant to subsection (a) of this Section 6, except that the
specified date referred to therein for the carrying out of procedures shall be no more than
three business days prior to the First Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as
the case may be (and the Representatives shall have received an additional [___] conformed
copies of such accountants’ letter for each of the Underwriters).
(h) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. On each of the First Closing Date
and each Option Closing Date the Representatives shall have received the opinion of Bass, Xxxxx
& Xxxx PLC, counsel for the Selling Stockholders, dated as of such Closing Date, the form of
which is attached as Exhibit B.
(i) Selling Stockholders’ Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date the Representatives shall receive a written certificate executed by each Selling
Stockholder, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of such Selling Stockholder set
forth in Section 1(B) of this Agreement are true and correct with the same force and effect
as though expressly made by such Selling Stockholder on and as of such Closing Date; and
27
(ii) such Selling Stockholder has complied in all material respects with all of the
agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at
or prior to such Closing Date.
(j) Selling Stockholders’ Documents. On the date hereof, the Company and the Selling
Stockholders shall have furnished for review by the Representatives copies of the Powers of
Attorney and Custody Agreements executed by each of the Selling Stockholders and such further
information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(k) Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Securityholders of the Company . On or prior to the
date hereof, the Company shall have furnished to Jefferies an agreement in the form of
Exhibit D hereto from the persons listed on Exhibit C hereto, and such
agreement shall be in full force and effect on each of the First Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date.
(l) Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. In the event that a Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement is filed in connection with the offering contemplated by this Agreement, such Rule
462(b) Registration Statement shall have been filed with the Commission prior to the First
Closing Date and shall have become effective automatically upon such filing.
(m) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters shall have received such
information, documents and opinions as they may reasonably request for the purposes of enabling
them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares as contemplated herein, or in
order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or the
satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained; and all proceedings
taken by the Company in connection with the issuance and sale of the Offered Shares as
contemplated herein and in connection with the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to
the Representatives and
counsel for the Underwriters.
If any condition specified in this Section 6, except for subsection (m) of this Section 6,
is not satisfied when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by written notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders at any time on or
prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Optional Shares, at any time on or
prior to the applicable Option Closing Date, which termination shall be without liability on
the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 4, Section 6, Section 8 and
Section 9 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If this Agreement is terminated by
the Representatives pursuant to Section 6, Section 8, Section 11 or Section 12(a)(iv), or if the
sale to the Underwriters of the Offered Shares on the First Closing Date is not consummated
because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company or the Selling
Stockholders to perform any agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the
Company agrees to reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters
as have terminated this
Agreement with respect to themselves), to the extent that such Underwriters are not
defaulting Underwriters pursuant to Section 11, severally, upon demand for all properly
documented out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been actually and reasonably incurred by the
Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase and the offering
and sale of the Offered Shares and in connection with matters
relating to the QIU and its activities contemplated by this Agreement,
28
including but not limited to reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
Section 8. Effectiveness of this Agreement. This Agreement shall not become effective
until the later of (i) the execution of this Agreement by the parties hereto and (ii)
notification by the Commission to the Company and the Representatives of the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement under the Securities Act. Prior to such effectiveness, this
Agreement may be terminated by any party by written notice to each of the other parties hereto,
and any such termination shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the
Selling Stockholders to any Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling Stockholders
shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters
pursuant to Sections 5 and 7 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company or the Selling
Stockholders, or (c) any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section
9 and Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 9. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter, its officers and employees, the affiliates
of each Underwriter who have, or who are alleged to have,
participated in the distribution of the Offered Shares as
underwriters, and each person, if any, who controls
any Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which such Underwriter or such officer,
employee, affiliate or controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act,
other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or the laws or regulations of foreign
jurisdictions where Offered Shares have been offered or sold or at common law or otherwise
(including in settlement of any litigation), if such settlement is effected in accordance with
Section 9(e)), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect
thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon (i) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, or any
amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A
under the Securities Act, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or
(ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Preliminary Prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus any free writing prospectus, any Road Show,
that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule
433(d) under the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or
the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; or (iii) any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any
Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Offered Shares or the
offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in any loss,
claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause
(i) or (ii) immediately above, provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable under
this clause (iii) to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have
determined in a final, non-appealable judgment, that such loss, claim, damage, liability or
action resulted primarily and directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or
omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its bad faith, gross negligence or willful
misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such officer,
employee, affiliate and controlling
person for any and all properly documented and reasonable expenses (including the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Representatives and
counsel to the QIU and each other indemnified party referred to in
Section 9(f) below) as such expenses are reasonably incurred
by such Underwriter or such officer, employee, affiliate or controlling person in connection with
investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss,
29
claim, damage,
liability, expense or action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall
not apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the
extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement,
any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any Road Show, any such free writing
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), it being understood and
agreed that the only such information furnished by the Representatives to the Company consists
of the information described in subsection (c) of this Section 9 below. The indemnity
agreement set forth in this Section 9(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the
Company and the Selling Stockholders may otherwise have.
(b)
Indemnification of the Selling Stockholders. Each Selling Stockholder agrees,
severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers,
directors, the affiliates of each Underwriter who have, or who are
alleged to have, participated in the distribution of the Offered
Shares as underwriters, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as
incurred, to which any Underwriter, or any such director, officer,
affiliate or controlling person may
become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory
law or regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if
such settlement is effected in accordance with Section 9(e)), insofar as such loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out
of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, or arises out of or is
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in the Registration Statement, such preliminary
prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, such free writing prospectus that the Company has
used, referred to or filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) promulgated under
the Securities Act, the Prospectus (or such amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Selling Stockholder
expressly for use therein; and to reimburse each Underwriter, or any
such director, officer, affiliate or
controlling person for any reasonable and properly documented legal and other expense
reasonably incurred by each Underwriter, or any such director,
officer, affiliate or controlling person
in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss,
claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, that the liability of such Selling
Stockholder under the foregoing indemnity shall be limited to an amount equal to the product of
the number of the Offered Shares sold by such Selling Stockholder and the initial public
offering price of the Offered Shares (less the related underwriting discounts and commissions)
set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 9(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that such Selling Stockholder may
otherwise have under this Agreement.
(c) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers and the Selling
Stockholders. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold
harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration
Statement , the Selling Stockholders (including each of their respective directors, officer,
manager, members and partners, if any) and each person, if any, who controls the Company or any
Selling Stockholder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such
director, officer, Selling Stockholder (including each of their respective directors,
30
officer,
manager, members and partners, if any) or controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at
common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is
effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or is
based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any Road Show,
any free writing prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is required to
file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or such amendment or
supplement thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the
Registration Statement, such preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, such Road
Show, such free writing prospectus that the Company has used, referred to or filed, or is
required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act, the Prospectus (or such
amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholders by the
Representatives expressly for use
therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or
controlling person for any legal and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any
such director, officer , Selling Stockholder (or its directors, officers, managers, members and
partners, if any) or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling,
compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action. Each of the
Company and each of the Selling Stockholders, hereby acknowledges that the only information
that the Representatives and the Underwriters have furnished to the Company and the Selling
Stockholders expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the
Time of Sale Prospectus, any Road Show, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed,
or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set forth in [______]. The indemnity
agreement set forth in this Section 9(c) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each
Underwriter may otherwise have.
(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after receipt by an
indemnified party under this Section 9 of notice of the commencement of any action, such
indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying
party under this Section 9, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
thereof, but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve the indemnifying
party from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or
otherwise than under the indemnity
agreement contained in this Section 9, except to the extent the indemnifying party is
prejudiced as a result of such failure. In case any such action is brought against any
indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or intends to seek indemnity from an
indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate in, and, to the
extent that it shall elect, jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by
written notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice
from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory
to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the defendants in any such action include both
the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have
reasonably concluded based upon the advice of outside counsel that representation of both
parties would be inappropriate due to an actual or potential conflict of interest or that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different from
or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
31
indemnified party or parties
shall have the right to select separate counsel to assume such legal defenses and to otherwise
participate in the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon
receipt of notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying
party’s election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party
of such counsel, not to be unreasonably withheld, the indemnifying party will not be liable to
such indemnified party under this Section 9 for any legal or other expenses subsequently
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the
indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the proviso to the
preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local
counsel), representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), which counsel
(together with any local counsel) for the indemnified parties shall be selected by the
Representatives (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred to in Section 9(a)
and 9(b) above) or by the Company (in the case of counsel for the indemnified parties referred
to in Section 9(c) above)) (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a
reasonable time after written notice of commencement of the action or (iii) the indemnifying
party has authorized in writing the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the
expense of the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel
shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party and shall be paid as they are incurred.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 9 shall not be liable for any
settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent, but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to
indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense by reason
of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by Section 9(d) hereof, the indemnifying party
agrees that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such indemnifying party shall not have
reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the date of such
settlement or have not otherwise notified such indemnified party in good faith that such
indemnifying party is contesting the amount of such reimbursement request. No indemnifying
party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect
any settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or
threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or could
have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified
party, unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit
or proceeding.
(f) Indemnification of the QIU. Without limitation and in addition to its
obligation under the other subsections of this Section 9, each of the Company and each of the
Selling Stockholders agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the QIU,
its officers and employees, the affiliates of the QIU who
have, or who are alleged to have, participated in the distribution of
the Offered Shares as underwriters,
and each person, if any, who controls the QIU within the meaning of the Securities Act or the
Exchange Act from and against any loss, claim, damage, liabilities or expense, as incurred,
arising out of or based upon the QIU’s participation as a “qualified independent underwriter” (within
the meaning of Rule 5121 of FINRA) in connection with the offering contemplated by this
Agreement, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified person for any reasonable
32
and properly
documented legal or other expense reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating,
defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or
action; provided, however, that the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent
that any such loss, claim, damage, liability or expense results from the bad faith, gross
negligence or willful misconduct of the QIU.
Section 10. Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in Section 9 is for any
reason held to be unavailable to or otherwise insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party in respect of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party, as incurred, as a result of any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or
expenses referred to therein (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other hand, from the offering of the Offered Shares pursuant to this
Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable
law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to
in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on
the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses, as well as
any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and
the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other hand, in
connection with the offering of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed
to be in the same respective proportions as the total gross proceeds from the offering of the
Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company
and the Selling Stockholders, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by
the Underwriters, in each case as set forth on the front cover page of the Prospectus bear to
the aggregate initial public offering price of the Offered Shares as set forth on such cover.
The relative fault of the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the one hand, and the
Underwriters, on the other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged
omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company or the Selling
Stockholders, on the one hand, or the Underwriters, on the other
hand, and the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The amount paid or payable by a party as a result of the losses, claims, damages,
liabilities and expenses referred to above shall be deemed to include, subject to the
limitations set forth in Section 9(d), any reasonable and properly documented legal or other
fees or expenses reasonably incurred by such party in connection with investigating or
defending any action or claim. The provisions set forth in Section 9(d) with respect to notice
of commencement of any action shall apply if a claim for contribution is to be made under this
Section 10; provided, however, that no additional notice shall be required with respect to any
action for which notice has been given under Section 9(d) for purposes of indemnification.
The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 10 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to in this Section 10.
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Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions received by such
Underwriter in connection with the Offered Shares underwritten by it and distributed to the
public. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 10, no Selling Stockholder shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the product of the number of Offered Shares sold
by such Selling Stockholder and the initial public offering price of the Offered Shares (less
the related underwriting discounts and commissions) set forth on the front cover page of the
Prospectus. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters’ obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 10 are several, and not joint, in proportion to their respective
underwriting commitments as set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A.
The Selling Stockholders’ obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 10 are several,
and not joint, in proportion to the proceeds of the Offered Shares sold by each such Selling
Stockholder divided by the proceeds of the Offered Shares sold by all of the Selling
Stockholders. For purposes of this Section 10, each officer and
employee of an Underwriter, the affiliates of each Underwriter who have,
or who are alleged to have, participated in the distribution of the Offered Shares as underwriters, and
each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act or
the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, each officer, director, employee, partner, member and agent of the QIU,
the affiliates of the QIU who have, or who are alleged to
have, participated in the distribution of the Offered Shares as underwriters, and each person,
if any, who controls the QIU within the Meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the QIU, and each
director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and
each person, if any, who controls the Company with the meaning of the Securities Act and the
Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company, and each officer and
employee of a Selling Stockholder and each person, if any, who controls a Selling Stockholder
within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as such Selling Stockholder.
The Company, the Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters agree that the QIU will not receive any additional benefits hereunder for serving as the
QIU in connection with the offering and sale of the Offered Shares.
Section 11. Default of One or More of the Underwriters. If, on the First Closing Date or
the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail or refuse to purchase Offered Shares that it or they have agreed to purchase
hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of Offered Shares which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the
aggregate number of the Offered
Shares to be purchased on such date, the Representatives may make arrangements satisfactory
to the Company for the purchase of such Offered Shares by other persons, including any of the
Underwriters, but if no such arrangements are made by such Closing Date, the other Underwriters
shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, in the proportions that the number of Firm
Shares set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting Underwriters, or
in such other proportions as may be specified by the Representatives with the consent of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase the Offered Shares which such defaulting Underwriter
or Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing
Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the
Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Offered Shares and the aggregate number of
Offered Shares with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of
Offered Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the
Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such Offered Shares are not made within 48
hours after such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to any
other party except that the provisions of Section 4, Section 7, Section 9 and Section 10 shall
at all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the
Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or the
applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven days
in order that the
34
required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or
any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term “Underwriter” shall be deemed to include any person
substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section 11. Any action taken under this
Section 11 shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any
default of such Underwriter under this Agreement.
Section 12. Termination of this Agreement. Prior to the purchase of the Firm Shares by
the Underwriters on the First Closing Date this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice given to the Company and the Selling Stockholders if at any time (i)
trading or quotation in any of the Company’s securities shall have been suspended or limited by
the Commission or by The NASDAQ Global Market, or trading in securities generally on either The
NASDAQ Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited, or
minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on any of such stock exchanges
by the Commission or FINRA; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been declared by
federal or New York authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred (A) any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by the United States of a
national emergency or war, or (B) any substantial change in the United States’ or international
political, financial or economic conditions if the effect of any such event described in
subclause (A) or (B) of this clause, in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives, is
material and adverse and makes it impracticable to market the Offered Shares in the manner and
on the terms described in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the Prospectus or to enforce contracts
for the sale of securities; or (iv) in the reasonable judgment of the Representatives there
shall have occurred any Material Adverse Change. Any termination pursuant to this Section 12
shall be without liability on the part of (a) the Company or the Selling Stockholders to any
Underwriter, except that the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be obligated to
reimburse the expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 4 and 7
hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company or the Selling Stockholders,
or (c) of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 9 and
Section 10 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
Section 13. No Advisory or Fiduciary Relationship. The Company acknowledges and agrees
that (a) the purchase and sale of the Offered Shares pursuant to this Agreement, including the
determination of the public offering price of the Offered Shares and any related discounts and
commissions, is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the one hand,
and the Underwriters, on the other hand, (b) in connection with the offering contemplated
hereby and the process leading to such transaction each Underwriter is and has been acting
solely as a principal and is not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, or its stockholders,
creditors, employees or any other party, (c) no Underwriter has assumed or will assume an
advisory or fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering
contemplated hereby or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether such Underwriter
has advised or is currently advising the Company on other matters) and no Underwriter has any
obligation to the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby except the
obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (d) the Underwriters and their respective
affiliates may be engaged in a broad range of transactions that involve interests that differ
from those of the Company, and (e) the Underwriters have not provided any legal, accounting,
regulatory or tax advice with respect to the offering contemplated hereby and the Company has
consulted its own legal, accounting, regulatory and tax advisors to the extent it deemed
appropriate.
35
Section 14. Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery. The respective
indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other statements of the Company,
Selling Stockholders and the Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors, the affiliates of each Underwriter who have, or who are alleged to have, participated
in the distribution of the Offered Shares as underwriters, or any
controlling person, or the Selling Stockholders, or by or on behalf of the QIU, any officer, director, employee, partner, member or agent of the QIU, its affiliates who have, or who are alleged to have,
participated in the distribution of the Offered Shares as underwriters, or any person controlling the QIU, as the case may be, and, anything herein to
the contrary notwithstanding, will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Shares sold
hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
Section 15. Notices. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and shall be
mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc.
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
000 Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Company
The Chefs’ Warehouse, Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: [___]
Attention: [___]
000 Xxxx Xxxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: [___]
Attention: [___]
If to the Selling Stockholders:
[Custodian]
[address]
Facsimile: [___]
Attention: [___]
[address]
Facsimile: [___]
Attention: [___]
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving written notice
to the other parties hereto.
Section 16. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon
the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters pursuant to Section 11 hereof, and to
the benefit of the employees, officers and directors, the affiliates
of each Underwriter who have, or who are alleged to have, participated in the distribution of the Offered Shares as underwriters, and controlling persons referred to in
Section 9 and Section 10, and in each case their respective successors, and personal
representatives, and no other person will have any right or obligation hereunder. The term
“successors” shall not include any purchaser of the Offered Shares as such from any of the
Underwriters merely by reason of such purchase.
Section 17. Partial Unenforceability. The invalidity or unenforceability of any Section,
paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any
other Section, paragraph or provision hereof. If any Section, paragraph or provision of this
Agreement is for any reason determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to
be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid and
enforceable.
36
Section 18. Governing Law Provisions. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and
to be performed in such state. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising out of or based
upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be instituted in the federal
courts of the United States of America located in the Borough of Manhattan in the City of New
York or the courts of the State of New York in each case located in the Borough of Manhattan in
the City of New York (collectively, the “Specified Courts”), and each party irrevocably submits
to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in regard to the enforcement
of a judgment of any such court as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts
in any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or document by
mail to such party’s address set forth above shall be effective service of process for any
suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such court. The parties irrevocably and
unconditionally waive any objection to the laying of venue of any suit, action or other
proceeding in the Specified Courts and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to
plead or claim in any such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any
such court has been brought in an inconvenient forum.
Section 19. Failure of One or More of the Selling Stockholders to Sell and Deliver Offered
Shares. If one or more of the Selling Stockholders shall fail to sell and deliver to the
Underwriters the Offered Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling Stockholders at the
First Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement, then the Underwriters may at their option, by
written notice from the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, either (i)
terminate this Agreement without any liability on the part of any Underwriter or, except as
provided in Sections 4, 7, 9 and 10 hereof, the Company or the other Selling Stockholders, or
(ii) purchase the shares which the Company and other Selling Stockholders have agreed to sell
and deliver in accordance with the terms hereof. If one or more of the Selling Stockholders
shall fail to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Offered Shares to be sold and delivered
by such Selling Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement at the First Closing Date or the
applicable Option Closing Date, then the Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice
from the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, to postpone the First
Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for
longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
Section 20. General Provisions. This Agreement constitutes the entire agreement of the
parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or oral and all contemporaneous oral
agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original,
with the same effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified except in writing by all of the parties hereto,
and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by each
party whom the condition is meant to benefit. The Table of Contents and the Section headings
herein are for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
Each of the parties hereto acknowledges that it is a sophisticated business person who was
adequately represented by counsel during negotiations regarding the provisions hereof,
including, without limitation, the indemnification provisions of Section 9 and the contribution
provisions of Section 10, and is fully informed regarding said provisions.
37
Each of the parties
hereto further acknowledges that the provisions of Sections 9 and 10 hereto fairly allocate the
risks in light of the ability of the parties to investigate the Company, its affairs and its
business in order to assure that adequate disclosure has been made in the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, each Road Show, each free
writing prospectus and the Prospectus (and any amendments and supplements thereto), as required
by the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
38
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign
and return to the Company and the Custodian the enclosed copies hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a binding agreement in accordance
with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||||||
THE CHEFS’ WAREHOUSE, INC. | ||||||
By: | ||||||
[Title] | ||||||
[SELLING STOCKHOLDERS] | ||||||
By: | ||||||
(Attorney-in-fact) |
39
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by the
Representatives in New York, New York as of the date first above written.
By XXXXXXXXX & COMPANY, INC. | |||||
Name: | |||||
Title: | |||||
By BMO CAPITAL MARKETS CORP. | |||||
Name: | |||||
Title: | |||||
By XXXXX FARGO SECURITIES, LLC | |||||
Name: | |||||
Title: | |||||
Acting as Representatives of the
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
several Underwriters named in
the attached Schedule A.
[Signature Page to the Underwriting Agreement]
40
SCHEDULE A
Number of Firm Shares | ||||
Underwriters | to be Purchased | |||
Xxxxxxxxx & Company, Inc. |
||||
BMO Capital Markets Corp. |
||||
Xxxxx Fargo Securities, LLC |
||||
BB&T Capital Markets, a division of Xxxxx & Xxxxxxxxxxxx, LLC |
||||
Canaccord Genuity Inc. |
||||
Total |
SCHEDULE B
Maximum | ||||||||
Number of | Number of | |||||||
Firm Shares | Optional Shares | |||||||
Selling Stockholder | to be Sold | to be Sold | ||||||
Selling Stockholder #1 |
||||||||
[address] |
||||||||
Attention: [___] |
[___] | [___] | ||||||
Selling Stockholder #2 |
||||||||
[address] |
||||||||
Attention: [___] |
[___] | [___] | ||||||
Total: |
[___] | [___] | ||||||
SCHEDULE C
Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Time of Sale Prospectus
EXHIBIT A
Opinion of Company Counsel
[To be delivered pursuant to Section 6(d) of the Underwriting Agreement.]
A-1
EXHIBIT B
Opinion of Selling Stockholders’ Counsel
[Pursuant to Section 6(h) and to be rendered to the Representative at the request of the
Company.]
Company.]
B-1
EXHIBIT C
LIST OF PERSONS EXECUTING LOCK-UPS
1. | Xxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
|
2. | Xxxx Xxxxxx |
|
3. | Xxxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
|
4. | Xxx Xxxxxxxxxx |
|
5. | Xxxx Xxxxx |
|
6. | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx |
|
7. | Xxxxx Xxxxxx |
|
8. | Xxxxx X’Xxxx |
|
9. | Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx |
|
10. | Xxxxx Xxx |
|
11. | Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
|
12. | Xxxx Xxxxxx |
|
13. | Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx |
C-1
EXHIBIT D
[To be attached]
1