Shares of Common Stock, Par Value $2.50 Per Share UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
Exhibit
1.1
Shares
of Common Stock, Par Value $2.50 Per Share
May
26, 2009
Credit
Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (the “Underwriter”)
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Credit
Suisse International (“CSI”)
c/o
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, as its agent (in its role as agent, the
“Agent”)
Eleven Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000-0000
Dear
Sirs:
1. Introductory. The
stockholders listed in Schedule A hereto (the “Selling Stockholders”) propose,
severally and not jointly, to sell an aggregate number of shares of common
stock, par value $2.50 per share (“Common Stock”), of The Dow Chemical Company,
a Delaware corporation (the “Company”), equal to the aggregate Offered Number
(as defined in Section 3 below) for all Selling Stockholders (“Offered
Securities”) on the terms set forth in this underwriting agreement (this
“Agreement”). CSI, an affiliate of the Underwriter, intends to borrow
shares of Common Stock from third parties and sell such shares of Common Stock
(the “Hedge Securities”) through the Underwriter at each Applicable Time (as
defined in Section 4 below), and will close out open borrowings of shares of
Common Stock established in connection with the sales of the Hedge Securities on
or after the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below) with the Offered
Securities. Each Selling Stockholder is the owner of the number of
shares of Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series C (the
“Preferred Securities”), of the Company set forth opposite the name of such
Selling Stockholder in Schedule A hereto (the “Number of Preferred Securities”
for each such Selling Stockholder). The Company and the Selling
Stockholders agree with each other and with the Underwriter and CSI that,
pursuant to Section 7(b) of the certificate of designations establishing the
terms of the Preferred Securities (the “Certificate of Designations”) and the
Purchase Agreement, dated May 5, 2009, among the Company and the investors
identified therein, including the Selling Stockholders (the “Purchase
Agreement”), the Preferred Securities will automatically convert into shares of
Common Stock at the Automatic Conversion
Rate (as
defined in the Certificate of Designations) on the date immediately following
the expiration of the first full Conversion Pricing Period (as defined in the
Certificate of Designations) commencing on the date hereof and ending on the
10th Trading Day (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) hereafter,
subject to the conditions set forth in the Certificate of Designations and the
Purchase Agreement. Capitalized terms used herein and not otherwise
defined shall have the meanings set forth in the Certificate of
Designations. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 15
hereof.
Any
reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by
reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3, which were filed under the
Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or
the issue date of the Base Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may
be; and any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement”
with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document
under the Exchange Act after the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or
the issue date of the Base Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may
be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference.
On April
1, 2009, pursuant to an Agreement and Plan of Merger dated July 10, 2008, among
the Company, Rohm and Xxxx Company, a Delaware corporation (“Rohm and Xxxx”),
and Ramses Acquisition Corp. (“Merger Sub”), a direct, wholly owned subsidiary
of the Company, the Company completed the acquisition of Rohm and Xxxx through
the merger of Merger Sub with and into Rohm and Xxxx, with Xxxx and Xxxx as the
surviving corporation and becoming a wholly owned subsidiary of the Company
(such transaction, the “Acquisition”).
2. Representations and Warranties of
the Company and the Selling Stockholders. (a) The Company
represents and warrants to, and agrees with, the Underwriter, CSI and each
Selling Stockholder at the Execution Time, at each Applicable Time (as defined
in Section 4 below) and on the Closing Date (as defined in Section 3 below)
that:
(i) The
Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Act and has
prepared and filed with the Commission an automatic shelf registration
statement, as defined in Rule 405 on Form S-3 (File No. 333-140859), including a
related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the offering and sale
of the Hedge Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any
amendments thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, became effective upon
filing and no notice of objection of the Commission to the use of such
registration statement or any post-effective amendment thereto pursuant to Rule
40l (g)(2) under the Act has been received by the Company. No order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued by
the Commission
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and no
proceeding for that purpose or pursuant to Section 8A of the Act against the
Company or related to the offering has been initiated or, to the Company’s
knowledge, threatened by the Commission. The Company will file with
the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the Hedge Securities in
accordance with Rule 424(b). The Registration Statement, at the
Execution Time, meets the requirements set forth in Rule
415(a)(1)(x).
(ii) On
each Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Final
Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and at each Applicable
Time and the Closing Date, the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto)
will, comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the
Act and the Exchange Act and the respective rules thereunder. On each
Effective Date, at each Applicable Time and at the Execution Time, the
Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein
or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; provided, however, that the
Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained
in or omitted from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) in
reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of the Underwriter or CSI or by or on behalf of the
Selling Stockholders specifically for inclusion in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such
written information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriter or CSI consists
of the information described as such in Section 7(c) hereof and that the only
such information furnished by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders consists
of the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof. At the
Execution Time and at each Applicable Time, the Final Prospectus did not and
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading; provided, however, that the
Company makes no representations or warranties as to the information contained
in or omitted from the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance
upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by
or on behalf of the Underwriter or CSI or by or on behalf of the Selling
Stockholders specifically for inclusion in the Final Prospectus (or any
supplement thereto), it being understood and agreed that the only such written
information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriter or CSI consists of the
information described as such in Section 7(c) hereof and that the only such
information furnished by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders consists of
the information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(iii) At
each Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact
necessary
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in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply
to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package based upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the Underwriter
or CSI or by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders specifically for use
therein, it being understood and agreed that the only such written information
furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriter or CSI consists of the information
described as such in Section 7(c) hereof and that the only such information
furnished by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders consists of the
information described as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(iv) (A)
At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (B) at the time of the most
recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of
the Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated
report filed pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of
prospectus), (C) at the time the Company or any person acting on its behalf
(within the meaning, for this clause only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer
relating to the Hedge Securities in reliance on the exemption in Rule 163, and
(D) at the Execution Time (with such times being used as the determination dates
for purposes of this clause (D)), the Company was and is (as the case may be) a
“well-known seasoned issuer” as defined in Rule 405. The Company
agrees to pay the fees required by the Commission relating to the Hedge
Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without regard to the
proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and
457(r).
(v) (A) At
the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the
Underwriter made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule 164(h)(2)) of the
Hedge Securities and (B) at the Execution Time, the Company was not and is not
an “ineligible issuer,” as defined in Rule 405, without taking account of any
determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary
that the Company be considered such an “ineligible issuer.”
(vi) Each
Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if any, as of its issue date and at all
subsequent times through the completion of the public offer and sale of the
Hedge Securities, did not, does not and will not include any information that
conflicted, conflicts or will conflict with the information contained in the
Registration Statement, including any document incorporated therein by reference
and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that has not been
superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to
statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon
and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on
behalf of the Underwriter or CSI specifically for use therein, it being
understood and agreed
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that the
only such written information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriter or
CSI consists of the information described as such in Section 7(c)
hereof. If at any time following issuance of an Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus there occurred or occurs an event or development as a result of which
such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus conflicted or would conflict with the
information contained in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus, or
as a result of which such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, if republished
immediately following such event or development, 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 under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing,
not misleading, the Company has promptly notified or will promptly notify the
Underwriter and CSI and has promptly amended or supplemented or will promptly
amend or supplement, at its own expense, such Issuer Free Writing Prospectus to
eliminate or correct such conflict, untrue statement or omission.
(vii) The
documents incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the
case may be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act
or the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder,
and none of such documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or
omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, when such
documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as the case may be,
will conform in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or the
Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder then in effect 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.
(viii) The
Company has been duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with power and authority to
own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; the
Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is
in good standing in each other jurisdiction in which such qualification is
required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the
conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good
standing would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
5
financial
condition or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as a whole (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
(ix) Union
Carbide Corporation (“UCC”) and Rohm and Xxxx Company (“Rohm and Xxxx”) are the
only subsidiaries of the Company that qualify as a “significant subsidiary”
under Section 1-02(w) of Regulation S-X. Each of UCC and Rohm and Xxxx has been
duly organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, with power and authority to
own or lease, as the case may be, and to operate its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; each
of UCC and Rohm and Xxxx is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact
business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
qualification is required, whether by reason of the ownership or leasing of
property or the conduct of business, except where the failure so to qualify or
to be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect; except as
otherwise disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, all of
the issued and outstanding capital stock of each of UCC and Rohm and Xxxx has
been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable and
(except for shares necessary to qualify directors or to maintain any minimum
number of shareholders required by law) is owned by the Company, directly or
through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
lien, encumbrance, or claim.
(x) The
Company has outstanding capital stock as set forth in the Disclosure Package and
the Final Prospectus (except for subsequent issuances as described in the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus pursuant to employee benefit plans
or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options and except for
repurchases in connection with open market or repurchase plans or redemptions of
shares of preferred stock). The Preferred Securities and all other
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the description
thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; the
Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when delivered upon conversion
of the Preferred Securities, will be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable and conform to the description thereof contained in the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus; and the stockholders of the Company
do not have, and will not have at the Closing Date, any preemptive rights with
respect to the Offered Securities.
(xi) The
Offered Securities have been approved for listing on The New York Stock Exchange
(the “NYSE”), subject to notice of issuance.
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(xii) This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company.
(xiii) The
statements in each of the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the
captions “Description of the Financing Transactions," Description of the Common
Stock,” “Certain United States Federal Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,”
“Underwriting” and “Description of Capital Stock,” in each case insofar as such
statements constitute a summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings
referred to therein, fairly present and summarize, in all material respects, the
matters referred to therein.
(xiv) The
issuance of the Offered Securities upon conversion of the Preferred Securities,
the delivery of the Offered Securities by the Company to the Custodian (as
defined below) on behalf of the Selling Stockholders and by the Custodian to CSI
as provided herein and the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions
of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions by the Company herein
contemplated, will not result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or
provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any of the property or assets
of the Company, UCC or Rohm and Xxxx pursuant to the terms of any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to
which the Company, UCC or Rohm and Xxxx is a party or by which the Company, UCC
or Rohm and Xxxx is bound or to which any property or assets of the Company, UCC
or Rohm and Xxxx is subject, which would reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect or affect the validity of the Offered Securities or the
legal authority of the Company to comply with this Agreement; nor will such
action result in any violation of the provisions of the Restated Articles of
Incorporation, as amended, or the Bylaws of the Company; nor will such action
result in a violation of any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any
court or governmental agency or body in the United States having jurisdiction
over the Company, UCC or Rohm and Xxxx or any of their properties, which would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xv) No
consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or
with any court or any such regulatory authority or other governmental body in
the United States having jurisdiction over the Company is required for the
issuance of the Offered Securities upon conversion of the Preferred Securities,
the delivery of the Offered Securities by the Company to the Custodian on behalf
of the Selling Stockholders and by the Custodian to CSI as provided herein or
the consummation by the Company of the other transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, assuming that the Offered Securities shall only be used to close out
open borrowings of shares of Common Stock established in
7
connection
with the sales of the Hedge Securities as contemplated by Section 4 of this
Agreement, except such consents, approvals, authorizations, orders,
registrations or qualifications as have been obtained under the Act and such as
may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states and the
securities laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States in which the Hedge
Securities are offered.
(xvi) Except
as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), 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 is pending
or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened that (i) would reasonably be expected
to have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of any of the transactions by the Company contemplated hereby or
(ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect.
(xvii) Since
the dates as of which information is given in the Disclosure Package and the
Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the
date hereof), there has not been (i) any material change in the capital stock
(other than changes pursuant to open market or repurchase plans or employee
benefit plans or changes resulting from the conversion or redemption of
outstanding shares of preferred stock or convertible debt) or long-term debt of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries considered as a whole, or (ii) any
material adverse change, in or affecting the business, financial condition or
results of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries
considered as a whole, otherwise than, in the case of (i) or (ii) above, as set
forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus
(exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the date
hereof).
(xviii) Deloitte
& Touche LLP, who has audited certain financial statements of the Company
and its consolidated subsidiaries (which do not include Rohm and Xxxx and its
subsidiaries) and delivered their report with respect to the audited
consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries (which do not include Rohm and Xxxx and its
subsidiaries) included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package
and the Final Prospectus, are independent registered public accountants with
respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable
published rules and regulations thereunder.
(xix) PricewaterhouseCoopers
LLP, who has audited certain financial statements of Rohm and Xxxx and its
consolidated subsidiaries and delivered their report with respect to the audited
consolidated financial statements of Rohm and
8
Xxxx
included or incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus, are independent certified public accountants with respect to Rohm
and Xxxx under Rule 101 of the Code of Professional Conduct of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants, and its rulings and
interpretations.
(xx) The
Company’s consolidated historical financial statements and schedules (which do
not include Rohm and Xxxx and its subsidiaries) incorporated by reference in the
Final Prospectus and the Registration Statement present fairly in all material
respects the financial condition, results of operations and cash flows of the
Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated, comply as to form in all
material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and
have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
in the United States applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved (except as otherwise noted therein). The selected financial
data set forth under the caption “Prospectus Supplement Summary —Summary
Historical Financial and Other Data of Dow” and “Selected Historical Financial
and Other Data of Dow” in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus fairly
present, in all material respects, the information set forth therein on a basis
consistent with that of the Company’s audited financial statements incorporated
by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
(xxi) The
consolidated historical financial statements of Rohm and Xxxx and its
consolidated subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus and
the Registration Statement present fairly in all material respects the financial
condition, results of operations and cash flows of Rohm and Xxxx as of the dates
and for the periods indicated, comply as to form in all material respects with
the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and have been prepared in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles in the United States
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as
otherwise noted therein). The selected financial data set forth under
the caption “Prospectus Supplement Summary —Summary Historical Financial and
Other Data of Rohm and Xxxx” and “Selected Historical Financial and Other Data
of Rohm and Xxxx” in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus fairly
present, in all material respects, the information set forth therein on a basis
consistent with that of the audited financial statements of Rohm and Xxxx and
its consolidated subsidiaries incorporated by reference in the Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus.
(xxii) The
pro forma combined condensed financial statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included in the Disclosure Package
and the Final Prospectus have been prepared in accordance with the Commission’s
rules with respect to pro forma financial information, and the adjustments used
therein are appropriate to give effect to the transactions and
9
circumstances
described therein. The pro forma combined condensed financial
statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus include
assumptions that provide a reasonable basis for presenting the significant
effects directly attributable to the transactions and events described therein,
the related pro forma adjustments give appropriate effect to those assumptions,
and the pro forma adjustments reflect the proper application of those
adjustments to the historical financial statement amounts in the pro forma
combined condensed financial information included in the Disclosure Package and
the Final Prospectus. The pro forma combined condensed financial
statements included in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus comply as
to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of
Regulation S-X under the Act and the pro forma adjustments have been properly
applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
statements.
(xxiii) The
Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and sale of the
Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, will not be an “investment company”
as defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(xxiv) No
material, collective labor dispute with the employees of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries exists or, to the Company’s knowledge, is threatened that would
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxv) Except
as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), the Company and
its subsidiaries are in compliance in all material respects with all applicable
laws (including all applicable laws and regulations relating to the protection
of human health and safety, the environment, or hazardous or toxic substances or
wastes, pollutants or contaminants (collectively “Environmental Laws”)),
ordinances, rules, regulations, and requirements of governmental authorities
except where (i) the necessity of compliance therewith is contested in good
faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) noncompliance therewith would not have
a Material Adverse Effect.
(xxvi) In
the ordinary course of its business, the Company periodically reviews the effect
of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the Company
and its subsidiaries, in the course of which it identifies and evaluates
associated costs and liabilities (including, without limitation, any capital or
operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or
compliance with Environmental Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any
related constraints on operating activities and any potential liabilities to
third parties). To the Company’s knowledge, no such associated costs
and liabilities would, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse
Effect, except as set
10
forth in
or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of
any amendment or supplement thereto).
(xxvii) Except
as would not reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except
as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto), to the Company’s
knowledge, the Company or its subsidiaries own or possess the right to use all
patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, patentable
inventions, trade secrets and know-how used by the Company or its subsidiaries
in, and material to, the conduct of the Company’s and its subsidiaries’
businesses taken as a whole as now conducted or as proposed in the Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus to be conducted (collectively, the
“Intellectual Property”). Except as would not otherwise reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect and except as set forth in or
contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of
any amendment or supplement thereto), there are no legal or governmental
actions, suits, proceedings or claims pending or, to the Company’s knowledge,
threatened, against the Company (i) challenging the Company’s rights in or to
any Intellectual Property, (ii) challenging the validity or scope of any
Intellectual Property owned by the Company, or (iii) alleging that the operation
of the Company’s business as now conducted infringes or otherwise violates any
patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other proprietary rights of a
third party.
(xxviii) There
is and has been no failure in any material respects on the part of the Company
and any of the Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to
comply with any provision of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and
regulations promulgated in connection therewith (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”),
including Section 402 relating to loans and Sections 302 and 906 relating to
certifications.
(xxix) The
Company maintains a system of internal control over financial reporting with
respect to itself and its consolidated subsidiaries sufficient to provide
reasonable assurance that (i) receipts and expenditures of the Company are made
only in accordance with the general or specific authorizations of the management
or directors of the Company; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles in the United States and to maintain asset accountability;
(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 the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action
is taken with respect to any material differences. The management of
the Company concluded that such internal control over financial reporting was
effective as of December 31, 2008 and, other than as may
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result
from the Acquisition, there have been no changes in the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting since such date that have materially affected,
or are reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control
over financial reporting.
(xxx) The
Company maintains “disclosure controls and procedures” (as such term is defined
in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); based on the evaluation of these
disclosure controls and procedures, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer and
Chief Financial Officer concluded that the Company’s disclosure controls and
procedures were effective as of March 31, 2009.
(xxxi) The
Company has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that
would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in,
under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price
of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Hedge
Securities; provided however, that no such representation is made with respect
to any action undertaken by the Underwriter, CSI or the Selling
Stockholders.
(xxxii) The
Common Stock is an “actively-traded security” excepted from the requirements of
Rule 101 of Regulation M under the Exchange Act by subsection (c)(1) of such
rule.
Any
certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the
Underwriter and/or CSI or their respective counsel in connection with the
offering of the Hedge Securities shall be deemed a representation and warranty
by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to the Underwriter and/or CSI, as
the case may be.
(b) Each
Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, represents and warrants to, and
agrees with, the Company, the Underwriter and CSI at the Execution Time, at each
Applicable Time and on the Closing Date that:
(i) As
of each such date prior to the conversion of the Preferred Securities, such
Selling Stockholder was the record and beneficial owner of the number of
Preferred Securities set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder’s name in
Schedule A free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims, other
than any such liens, encumbrances, equities or claims under the Custody
Agreement and has full right, power and authority to enter into this Agreement
and to sell, assign, transfer and deliver the Offered Securities to be delivered
by the Custodian (as defined in Section 3 below) on behalf of such Selling
Stockholder on the Closing Date, and, upon payment for the Offered Securities to
be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement, delivery of such
Offered Securities, as directed by the Underwriter, to The Depository
Trust
12
Company
("DTC") or to such other nominee as may be designated by DTC, registration of
such Offered Securities in the name of DTC or such other nominee and the
crediting of such Offered Securities on the books of DTC to securities accounts
of the Underwriter (assuming that neither DTC nor the Underwriter has notice of
any adverse claim within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the New York Uniform
Commercial Code (the “NYUCC”) to such Securities), (A) under Section 8-501 of
the NYUCC, the Underwriter will acquire a security entitlement in respect of
such Offered Securities and (B) no action based on any “adverse claim” (within
the meaning of Section 8-102 and Section 8-105 of the NYUCC) to such Offered
Securities may be asserted against the Underwriter with respect to such security
entitlement.
(ii) No
consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or qualification of or
with any court or any such regulatory authority or other governmental body in
the United States having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder is required
for the sale by such Selling Stockholder of the Offered Securities or the
consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the other transactions contemplated
by this Agreement or the Custody Agreement, except such consents, approvals,
authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as have been obtained
under the Act, as may be required by the rules of the New York Stock Exchange
and the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. (“FINRA”) and
such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states
and the securities laws of any jurisdiction outside the United States in which
the Hedge Securities are offered.
(iii) The
execution, delivery and performance of the Custody Agreement and this Agreement
by such Selling Stockholder and the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of
the transactions therein and herein contemplated will not result in a breach or
violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute a default under,
or result in the imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property
or assets of such Selling Stockholder pursuant to, any statute, any rule,
regulation or order of any governmental agency or body or any court having
jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder or any of its properties or any
agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which
such Selling Stockholder is bound or to which any of the properties of such
Selling Stockholder is subject, or the constituent documents of such Selling
Stockholder. There are no material agreements or instruments to which
such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which such Selling Stockholder is
bound or to which any of the properties of such Selling Stockholder is subject
other than the constituent documents of such Selling Stockholder.
(iv) The
Custody Agreement relating to the deposit of the Preferred Securities and the
Offered Securities and the Power of Attorney (“Power of
13
Attorney”)
appointing certain individuals and entities as such Selling Stockholder’s
attorneys-in-fact have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such
Selling Stockholder and constitute valid and legally binding obligations of each
such Selling Stockholder enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights
and to general equity principles.
(v) (A)
On each Effective Date, at each Applicable Time and at the Execution Time,, the
Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein not misleading and (B) at the Execution Time and at each
Applicable Time, the Final Prospectus did not and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading; provided that the
representations and warranties contained in this clause (v) shall apply only to
statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or the Final
Prospectus based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of such
Selling Stockholder to the Company specifically for use therein, it being
understood and agreed that the only such written information is that described
as such in Section 7(b) hereof.
(vi) At
each Applicable Time, the Disclosure Package will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading. If, at any time, any event
occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package would include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading, such Selling Stockholder will (i) promptly notify the
Underwriter, CSI and the Company so that any use of the Disclosure Package may
cease until it is amended or supplemented and (ii) provide information necessary
to amend or supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or
omission. The representations and warranties contained in this clause
(vi) shall apply only to statements in or omissions from the Disclosure Package
based upon written information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling
Stockholder to the Company specifically for use therein, it being understood and
agreed that the only such written information is that described as such in
Section 7(b) hereof.
(vii) The
sale of the Offered Securities by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this
Agreement is not prompted by any material information concerning the Company or
any of its subsidiaries that is not set forth in the Disclosure
Package.
14
(viii) This
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by such Selling
Stockholder.
(ix) Except
as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, there are no
contracts, agreements or understandings between such Selling Stockholder and any
person that would give rise to a valid claim against such Selling Stockholder or
the Underwriter or CSI for a brokerage commission, finder’s fee or other like
payment in connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
(x) Such
Selling Stockholder has not taken, directly or indirectly, any action that is
designed to or that has constituted or that would reasonably be expected to
cause or result in the stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Offered
Securities or the Hedge Securities, it being understood and agreed, however,
that such Selling Stockholder makes no such representation with respect to any
action undertaken by the Company, the Underwriter or CSI.
3. Purchase, Sale and Delivery of
Offered Securities. On the basis of the representations,
warranties and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, each Selling Stockholder agrees, severally and not
jointly, to sell to CSI, and CSI agrees to purchase from each Selling
Stockholder, at a purchase price equal to the Purchase Price (as defined below)
for that Selling Stockholder, a number of Offered Securities equal to the
Offered Number (as defined below) for such Selling Stockholder.
“Purchase Price” means, for each
Selling Stockholder, the aggregate sum of the Daily Purchase Prices for such
Selling Stockholder for all Sale Dates.
“Sale Date” means each of the ten
consecutive Good Trading Days commencing on the date hereof and any additional
day specified as a Sale Date pursuant to the provisions set out in the paragraph
below immediately following the definition of “Calculation Agent”; provided that if, immediately
following the date that would otherwise be the last Sale Date hereunder, the
number of Leftover Shares is greater than zero, then the next following Good
Trading Day shall also be a Sale Date to which a Selling Stockholder Direction
(as defined below) shall apply (and this proviso shall be applied successively
until there are either no Leftover Shares or until Xxxxx Xxxx instructs the
Underwriter that no further Sale Dates are to occur).
“Leftover Shares” means, as of any
date, the aggregate sum of the VWAP Conversion Fractions (as defined in the
Certificated of Designations) with respect to all Series C Valuation Days
occurring prior to such date in respect of the Automatic Conversion Pricing
Period that commences on the date hereof as applied to all
outstanding
15
Preferred
Securities, minus the aggregate sum of the Daily Share Number for all Selling
Stockholders for all Sale Dates occurring prior to such date.
“Good Trading Day” means each Series C
Valuation Day on which no Prospectus Unavailability Event or Market Disruption
Event has occurred and is continuing, and any additional day specified as a Good
Trading Day pursuant to the provisions set out in the paragraph below
immediately following the definition of “Calculation Agent”.
“Series C Valuation Day” means each
Trading Day (as defined in the Certificate of Designations) or day for which a
VWAP Conversion Fraction shall be included pursuant to Section 5(g)(i) of the
Purchase Agreement.
“Prospectus Unavailability Event” means
that (i) the Company gives a notice under the Investment Agreement, dated as of
March 9, 2009, among the Company and the investors identified therein, including
the Selling Stockholders (the “Investment Agreement”), that the prospectus with
respect to the resale of the Common Stock contemplated therein has become
unavailable (a “Dow Prospectus Unavailability Event”) or (ii) the Underwriter or
CSI concludes that, in its good faith and commercially reasonable judgment and
after making commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the Company and
Xxxxx Xxxx, (A) the Registration Statement is not effective or is subject to a
stop order or stop order proceedings or (B) an event of the type described in
Section 5(a)(iii) hereof has occurred and not been cured by the filing of an
amendment or supplement as contemplated by such Section 5(a)(iii) or (C) the
Underwriter or CSI has been informed by Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Assistant General
Counsel Corporate and Financial Law of the Company, Shearman & Sterling LLP,
special counsel to the Company, Dechert LLP, counsel for the Selling
Stockholders, Xxxxx Xxxxx LLP, counsel for the Underwriter and CSI, Deloitte
& Touche LLP or PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP that it would not be in a
position to deliver its letters or opinions, as applicable, described in Section
6 hereof if such letters or opinions were dated as of such time, in either case
for all or any part of the trading hours on the Relevant Exchange.
“Market Disruption Event” means that
(i) the Company notifies the other parties hereto that a Market Disruption Event
(as defined in the Certification of Designations) has occurred or (ii) the
Calculation Agent determines that a Market Disruption Event, as defined in the
Certificate of Designations but determined as if “the Calculation Agent” were
substituted for “the Company” in the definition thereof in the Certificate of
Designations, has occurred, in either case for all or any part of the trading
hours on the Relevant Exchange.
“Daily Purchase Price” means, for each
Sale Date for each Selling Stockholder, the product of the Daily Share Number
and the Daily Share Price for such Sale Date and such Selling
Stockholder.
16
“Daily Share Number” means, for each
Selling Stockholder, (A) for each Sale Date that is a Series C Valuation Day in
respect of the Automatic Conversion Pricing Period that commences on the date
hereof, the VWAP Conversion Fraction (as defined in the Certificate of
Designations, subject to the provisions set out in the paragraph below
immediately following the definition of “Calculation Agent”) with respect to
such Sale Date as applied to the Number of Preferred Securities for such Selling
Stockholder, and (B) for each Sale Date occurring after the last Series C
Valuation Day in respect of such Automatic Conversion Pricing Period, a number
equal to the quotient obtained by dividing the number of Remaining Shares for
such Selling Stockholder by the number of Series C Valuation Days that were not
Good Trading Days; provided that Xxxxx Xxxx may
elect on behalf of all (but not less than all) of the Selling Stockholders, by
telephonic and e-mail notice to CSI prior to 9:00 A.M., New York City time, on
any Sale Date, that the sum of the Daily Share Numbers for all Selling
Stockholders for such Sale Date shall be a number (which number may, for the
avoidance of doubt, be determined by a formula) specified in such notice (a
“Selling Stockholder Direction”), in which case the Daily Share Number for each
Selling Stockholder for such Sale Date shall be determined proportionally based
on the Number of Preferred Securities for each Selling Stockholder; provided further that, in the
event of a Selling Stockholder Direction, (i) such aggregate Daily Share Number
shall not exceed the greater of the VWAP Conversion Fraction, as applied to all
outstanding Preferred Securities, with respect to such Sale Date
(determined as if such Sale Date were a Trading Day during a Conversion Pricing
Period) and 5,000,000 shares of Common Stock and (ii) the sum of the Daily Share
Numbers for all Selling Stockholders for all Sale Dates shall not exceed the
aggregate number of shares of Common Stock that Xxxxx Xxxx reasonably believes,
in consultation with CSI, that the Selling Stockholders will receive upon
conversion of all of the outstanding Preferred Securities.
“Remaining Shares” means, for each
Selling Stockholder, the aggregate sum of the VWAP Conversion Fractions (as
defined in the Certificate of Designations) with respect to all Series C
Valuation Days in respect of the Automatic Conversion Pricing Period that
commences on the date hereof, as applied to the Number of Preferred Securities
for such Selling Stockholder, minus the aggregate sum of
the Daily Share Numbers for such Selling Stockholder for all Sale Dates that are
also Series C Valuation Days in respect of such Automatic Conversion Pricing
Period.
“Offered Number” means, for each
Selling Stockholder, the aggregate sum of the Daily Share Numbers for such
Selling Stockholder for all Sale Dates.
“Daily Share Price” means, for each
Sale Date, 99.25% of the VWAP per share of Common Stock on such Sale
Date.
“VWAP” has the meaning provided in the
Certificate of Designations, except as provided below in the paragraph
immediately following the definition of “Calculation
17
Agent”
and except that the Calculation Agent shall be the investment banking firm
referred to in the last line of the definition thereof.
“Calculation Agent” means Credit Suisse
Securities (USA) LLC. The Calculation Agent shall determine each
Purchase Price, and shall perform calculations necessary for such determination
to at least four decimal places. Whenever the Calculation Agent is
required to act or to exercise judgment in any way, it will do so in good faith
and in a commercially reasonable manner. Each party agrees that the
Calculation Agent is not acting as a fiduciary for or as an advisor to such
party in respect of its duties as Calculation Agent hereunder.
If a Market Disruption Event (as
defined herein) or a Prospectus Unavailability Event is continuing for only part
of the trading hours on the Relevant Exchange on any day that would be a Good
Trading Day but for the occurrence of such event (a “Partially Disrupted Sale
Date), (i) such Partially Disrupted Sale Date shall be a Good Trading Day
notwithstanding the occurrence of such event, (ii) unless the number of Leftover
Shares as of the final previously scheduled Sale Date is not greater than zero
or Xxxxx Xxxx has given the instruction specified in the final parenthetical of
the definition of “Sale Date”, the Good Trading Day immediately following the
final previously scheduled Sale Date shall also be a Sale Date (an “Additional
Sale Date”), (iii) the Calculation Agent shall determine the VWAP for the
Partially Disrupted Sale Date based on transactions in the Common Stock on the
New York Stock Exchange before the occurrence or after the cessation of such
event or both, as the case may be, and (iv) subject to any Selling Stockholder
Direction applicable to such Partially Disrupted Sale Date, the Calculation
Agent shall (A) calculate the VWAP Conversion Fraction for such Partially
Disrupted Sale Date as the quotient of (1) the dollar value of the Hedge
Securities sold by the Underwriter on such Partially Disrupted Sale Date prior
to the occurrence (and, if applicable, after the cessation) of such Market
Disruption Event or Prospectus Unavailability Event, as applicable, and (2) the
product of (x) the VWAP on such Partially Disrupted Sale Date and (y) the
aggregate number of outstanding Preferred Securities; and (B) calculate the VWAP
Conversion Fraction for the next Sale Date as: (((Liquidation
Preference/(10*0.95))-(the dollar value of the Hedge Securities sold by the
Underwriter on such Partially Disrupted Sale Date/the aggregate number of
outstanding Preferred Securities))/VWAP for such Sale Date; provided that for
purposes of the foregoing calculations the dollar value of the Hedge Securities
sold by the Underwriter on any Sale Date shall not exceed the aggregate
Liquidation Preference of all outstanding Preferred Securities divided by the
product of (a) 10 and (b) 0.95. In addition, if a Potential
Adjustment Event or an Extraordinary Event (each as defined in the 2002 ISDA
Equity Derivatives Definitions published by the International Swaps and
Derivatives Association, Inc. (the “Equity Definitions”)) occurs with respect to
the Company or Common Stock, the Calculation Agent may make adjustments to the
terms of this Section 3 as appropriate to account for such event.
18
If at any
time the Company determines that a Market Disruption Event (as defined in the
Certificate of Designations) has occurred or ceased under the Certificate of
Designations or gives a notice under the Investment Agreement that a Dow
Prospectus Unavailability Event has occurred or ceased, the Company shall notify
the other parties hereto of such occurrence or cessation (and the time thereof)
as promptly as commercially reasonably practicable. If the
Calculation Agent determines that a Market Disruption Event has occurred or
ceased pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition of Market Disruption Event
herein, it shall notify the parties hereto of such occurrence or cessation (and
the time thereof) as promptly as commercially reasonably practicable, and the
Company shall make commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other
parties hereto regarding such determination of the Calculation Agent prior to
8:00 a.m., New York City time on the Exchange Business Day following the date of
such notice. If CSI or the Underwriter determines that a Prospectus
Unavailability Event has occurred or ceased pursuant to clause (ii) of the
definition of Prospectus Unavailability Event herein, it shall notify the other
parties hereto of such occurrence or cessation (and the time thereof) as
promptly as commercially reasonably practicable, and the Company shall make
commercially reasonable efforts to consult with the other parties hereto
regarding such determination of CSI or the Underwriter prior to 8:00 a.m., New
York City time on the Exchange Business Day following the date of such
notice.
The
parties hereto agree that, for the avoidance of doubt, (i) a Disrupted Day as
used in Section 5(g)(i) of the Purchase Agreement is a day on which a Dow
Prospectus Unavailability Event or a Market Disruption Event (as defined in the
Certificate of Designations) is continuing for part, but not all, of the regular
trading hours on the Relevant Exchange and (ii) a day on which a Dow Prospectus
Unavailability Event is continuing for all of the regular trading hours on the
Relevant Exchange shall not be a Trading Day for all purposes under the
Certificate of Designations.
Certificates for the Number of
Preferred Securities (together with stock powers executed in the name of the
Custodian and all documents required to be delivered upon conversion of the
Preferred Securities pursuant to the Certificate of Designations) for each
Selling Stockholder have been placed in custody, for conversion and delivery of
the underlying Offered Securities under this Agreement, under Custody Agreements
made with the Underwriter and CSI, as custodian (“Custodian”). Each
Selling Stockholder agrees that the shares of Preferred Securities represented
by the certificates held in custody for the Selling Stockholders under such
Custody Agreements and the shares of Common Stock issuable upon conversion
thereof are subject to the interests of the Underwriter and CSI hereunder, that
the arrangements made by the Selling Stockholders for such custody are to that
extent irrevocable, and that the obligations of the Selling Stockholders
hereunder shall not be terminated by operation of law, whether by the death of
any individual Selling Stockholder or the occurrence of any other event, or in
the case of a trust, by the death of any trustee or trustees or the termination
of such trust. If any individual Selling Stockholder or any such trustee
or trustees should die, or if any other such event should
19
occur, or
if any of such trusts should terminate, before the delivery of the Offered
Securities hereunder, book-entry credits representing the Offered Securities
shall be made by the Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of
this Agreement as if such death or other event or termination had not occurred,
regardless of whether or not the Custodian shall have received notice of such
death or other event or termination.
The Custodian will deliver to CSI
book-entry credits representing the Offered Securities, against payment of the
purchase price in Federal (same day) funds by official bank check or checks or
wire transfer to an account at a bank acceptable to CSI drawn to the order of
the Custodian at the office of Xxxxx Xxxxx LLP, 1675 Broadway, New York, New
York, at 9:00 A.M., New York time, on the Scheduled Closing Date, or at such
other date, place or time as the Selling Stockholders, the Underwriter and CSI
may agree in writing, such time being herein referred to as the “Closing
Date.” The Custodian will, as and to the extent provided in the
Custody Agreement, remit to the Selling Stockholders the Purchase Price in
Federal (same-day) funds by transfer to an account or accounts at a bank
designated by the Selling Stockholder. “Scheduled Closing Date” means
the first Exchange Business Day immediately following the last Sale
Date. The Company agrees that the Selling Stockholders have satisfied
all applicable conditions to the conversion of the Preferred Securities owned by
them into shares of Common Stock, and agrees to deliver book-entry credits
representing the Offered Securities to the Custodian on the first Settlement
Business Day immediately following the last Trading Day in the Conversion
Pricing Period commencing on the date hereof. “Exchange Business Day”
means any day on which the New York Stock Exchange is open for trading during
its regular trading session. “Settlement Business Day” means any
Exchange Business Day on which the relevant clearance system for settlement of
transactions in shares of Common Stock is open for the acceptance and execution
of settlement instructions.
For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in
this Section 3 shall constitute an amendment of any of the provisions in, or
waiver by the Company or the Selling Stockholders of any of their respective
rights under, the Certificate of Designations or the Purchase
Agreement.
4. Offering by the
Underwriter. It is understood that CSI intends to borrow Hedge
Securities from third parties and sell such Hedge Securities through the
Underwriter at each Applicable Time, and will close such share borrowing
positions on or after the Closing Date with the Offered Securities delivered to
the Custodian as provided in Section 3. The Underwriter, CSI and the
Selling Stockholders hereby agree that the number of Hedge Securities shall not
be greater than the number of Offered Securities and that they shall use the
Offered Securities only to close out open borrowings of shares of Common Stock
established in connection with the sales of the Hedge Securities or otherwise
effect sales of Offered Securities pursuant to an effective registration
statement. The Underwriter shall provide written confirmation (which
may be by electronic mail) to the Company following the close of trading on each
Sale Date on which the Hedge Securities are sold setting forth the amount of
Hedge Securities sold
20
on such
day. For the purposes of this Agreement, the “Applicable Time” means,
with respect to any Hedge Securities, the time of sale of such Hedge
Securities.
5. Certain Agreements of the Company
and the Selling Stockholders. (a) The Company agrees with the
Underwriter, CSI and the Selling Stockholders that:
(i) The
Company has filed or will file the Final Prospectus pursuant to and in
accordance with the applicable subparagraph of Rule 424(b) within the time
period prescribed. The Company has complied and will comply with
Rule 433.
(ii) The
Company will promptly advise the Underwriter and CSI of any proposal to amend or
supplement the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus at any time and
will offer the Underwriter and CSI a reasonable opportunity to comment on any
such amendment or supplement; and the Company will also advise the Underwriter
and CSI promptly of (i) the filing of any such amendment or supplement,
(ii) any request by the Commission or its staff for any amendment to the
Registration Statement, for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any
additional information, (iii) the institution by the Commission of any stop
order proceedings in respect of the Registration Statement or the threatening of
any proceeding for that purpose, and (iv) the receipt by the Company of any
notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Hedge
Securities in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any
proceedings for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable
best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or the suspension of
any such qualification and, if issued, to obtain as soon as possible the
withdrawal thereof.
(iii) If,
at any time when a prospectus relating to the Hedge Securities is required to be
delivered under the Act in connection with sales by the Underwriter, CSI or any
dealer, any event occurs as a result of which the Disclosure Package or Final
Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
made, not misleading, or if it is necessary at any time to amend the
Registration Statement or supplement the Disclosure Package or the Final
Prospectus to comply with the Act, the Company will promptly notify the
Underwriter and CSI of such event and will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriter, CSI and the
dealers and any other dealers upon request of the Underwriter, an amendment or
supplement which will correct such statement or omission or an amendment which
will effect such compliance. Neither the consent of the Underwriter
or CSI to, nor the delivery by the Underwriter or CSI of, any such amendment
or
21
supplement
shall constitute a waiver of any of the conditions set forth in Section 6
hereof.
(iv) As
soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its
securityholders an earnings statement that will satisfy the provisions of
Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158.
(v) The
Company will furnish to the Underwriter copies of the Registration Statement,
including all exhibits, the Final Prospectus and all amendments and supplements
to such documents, in each case as soon as available and in such quantities as
the Underwriter reasonably requests. The Company will pay the
expenses of printing and distributing to the Underwriter all such
documents.
(vi) The
Company will arrange for the qualification of the Hedge Securities for sale
under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter designates and will
continue such qualifications in effect so long as required for the
distribution.
(vii) During
the period of two years hereafter, the Company will furnish to the Underwriter
and CSI as soon as practicable after the end of each fiscal year, a copy of its
annual report to stockholders for such year; and the Company will furnish to the
Underwriter and CSI (A) as soon as available, a copy of each report and any
definitive proxy statement of the Company filed with the Commission under the
Exchange Act or mailed to stockholders, and (B) from time to time, such
other information concerning the Company as the Underwriter or CSI may
reasonably request. However, so long as the Company is subject to the
reporting requirements of either Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act
and is timely filing reports with the Commission on its Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval system (“XXXXX”), it is not required to
furnish such reports or statements to the Underwriter or CSI.
(viii) The
Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its obligations
under this Agreement, including but not limited to any filing fees and other
expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriter and CSI
incurred in connection with qualification of the Hedge Securities for sale under
the laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriter designates and the preparation
and printing of memoranda relating thereto, costs and expenses related to the
review by FINRA of the Hedge Securities (including filing fees and the
reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriter and CSI relating to
such review), fees and expenses incident to listing the Offered Securities on
the NYSE, fees and expenses in connection with the registration of the Hedge
Securities under the Exchange Act, and expenses incurred in
22
distributing
the Final Prospectus (including any amendments and supplements thereto) to the
Underwriter and for expenses incurred for preparing, printing and distributing
any Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses to investors or prospective investors. For
the avoidance of doubt, the Selling Stockholders will pay any underwriting
discounts and commissions payable to the Underwriter hereunder and any expenses
that the Selling Stockholders may incur for brokerage, accounting or tax
services or any other expenses they may incur in disposing of the Offered
Securities. For the avoidance of doubt, nothing in this
paragraph 5(a)(viii) shall affect or modify any separate, valid agreement
relating to the allocation of payment of expenses between the Company, on the
one hand, and any Selling Stockholder, on the other hand.
(ix) The
Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that
would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or result in,
stabilization or manipulation of the price of any securities of the Company to
facilitate the sale or resale of the Hedge Securities.
(x) The
Company will not, without the prior written consent of the Underwriter, offer,
sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any
transaction which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in
the disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition
due to cash settlement or otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the
Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the
filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in respect of, or
establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a call
equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act,
any other shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into, or
exercisable, or exchangeable for, shares of Common Stock; or publicly announce
an intention to effect any such transaction, until 30 days after the date
hereof, provided, however, that the Company may (A) issue and sell Common Stock
pursuant to any employee or director stock option plan, stock ownership plan,
restricted, deferred and performance stock plans, or dividend reinvestment plan
of the Company in effect at the Execution Time, (B) issue Common Stock issuable
upon the conversion of securities, including upon conversion of the Preferred
Securities, or the exercise of options or warrants outstanding at the Execution
Time and (C) issue Common Stock as dividends on the Convertible Preferred Stock,
Series A, pursuant to the certificate of designations establishing the
terms of such Convertible Preferred Stock, Series A.
(xi) The
Company represents and agrees that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the
Underwriter and CSI, and the Underwriter and CSI each represents and agrees
that, unless it obtains the prior consent of the Company, it has not made and
will not make any offer relating to the Hedge Securities that would
23
constitute
an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or that would otherwise constitute a “free
writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 405, required to be filed with the
Commission. Any such free writing prospectus consented to by the
Company, the Underwriter and CSI is hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free
Writing Prospectus.” The Company represents that it has treated and
agrees that it will treat each Permitted Free Writing Prospectus as an “issuer
free writing prospectus,” as defined in Rule 433, and has complied and will
comply with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any
Permitted Free Writing Prospectus, including timely Commission filing where
required, legending and record keeping.
(xii) The
Company will afford the Underwriter and CSI and any of their respective
affiliates, on reasonable notice, a reasonable opportunity to conduct a due
diligence investigation with respect to the Company customary in scope for
transactions pursuant to which the Underwriter or any of its affiliates acts as
an underwriter of equity securities (including, without limitation, the
availability of the chief financial officer to respond to questions regarding
the business and financial condition of the Company and the right to have made
available to them for inspection such records and other information as they may
reasonably request).
(xiii) During
the period from the date hereof until the Closing Date, (A) on the date of
termination of any Prospectus Unavailability Event, (B) each time that the
Registration Statement, any applicable Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the
Final Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than a prospectus
supplement relating solely to the offering of securities other than the Hedge
Securities) and (C) each time there is filed with the Commission any document
incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement, any applicable Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (other than a Current Report on
Form 8-K, unless the Underwriter or CSI shall otherwise reasonably request)
(each of (A), (B) and (C), a “Bringdown Date”), the Company shall furnish or
cause to be furnished to the Underwriter and CSI forthwith a certificate dated
and delivered on such Bringdown Date, in form reasonably satisfactory to the
Underwriter and CSI to the effect that the statements contained in the
certificate referred to in Section 6(j) of this Agreement that were last
furnished to the Underwriter and CSI are true and correct at such time as though
made at and as of such time (except that such statements shall be deemed to
relate to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus as amended and supplemented as of such time) or, in lieu of such
certificate, a certificate of the same tenor as the certificate referred to in
said Section 6(j), modified as necessary to relate to the Registration
Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as amended and
supplemented as of the time of delivery of such certificate.
24
(xiv) At
each Bringdown Date, the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Underwriter
and CSI or their counsel written opinions of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxxx, Assistant General
Counsel—Corporate and Financial Law of the Company, and Shearman & Sterling
LLP (collectively, “Company Counsel”), dated as of such Bringdown Date, in form
satisfactory to the Underwriter and CSI in their reasonable judgment, to the
effect set forth in Sections 6(f) and (g) of this Agreement, but modified as
necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and
the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented as of the time of delivery of
such opinion; provided,
however, that in lieu of such opinions for any subsequent Bringdown Dates,
Company Counsel may furnish the Underwriter and CSI with a letter to the effect
that the Underwriter and CSI may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this
Section 5(a)(xiv) to the same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter
(except that statements in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the
Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as
amended or supplemented as of such Bringdown Date).
(xv) At
each Bringdown Date, the Underwriter and CSI shall have received a written
opinion of Xxxxx Xxxxx LLP, counsel to the Underwriter and CSI, dated as of such
Bringdown Date, in form satisfactory to the Underwriter and CSI in their
reasonable judgment, to the effect set forth in Sections 6(i) of this Agreement,
but modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented as of
the time of delivery of such opinion; provided, however, that in
lieu of such opinions for any subsequent Bringdown Dates, Xxxxx Xxxxx LLP may
furnish the Underwriter and CSI with a letter to the effect that the Underwriter
and CSI may rely on a prior opinion delivered under this Section 5(a)(xv) to the
same extent as if it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements
in such prior opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement,
the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented as of
such Bringdown Date).
(xvi) During
the period from the date hereof until the Closing Date, (A) on the date of
termination of any Prospectus Unavailability Event (if the Company has filed a
Current Report on Form 8-K containing amended financial information with the
Commission in connection with the termination of such Prospectus Unavailability
Event), (B) each time that the Registration Statement, any applicable Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented
to include additional or amended financial information, (C) each time the
Company shall file an Annual Report on Form 10-K and (D) each time there is
filed with the Commission any document incorporated by reference into the
Registration Statement, any applicable Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the
Final Prospectus to include additional or amended financial
25
information
(each of (A), (B), (C) and (D), a “Financial Bringdown Date”), the Company shall
cause Deloitte & Touche LLP and PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP (the
“Accountants”) to furnish the Underwriter and CSI with letters, dated such
Financial Bringdown Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriter
and CSI, of the type referred to in Sections 6(a) and (b) of this Agreement, but
modified as necessary to relate to the Registration Statement, the Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented as of the time of
delivery of such letters.
(xvii) The
Company consents to the Underwriter and CSI trading in Common Stock for their
own respective account and for the account of their respective clients at the
same time as sales of the Hedge Securities occur pursuant to this
Agreement.
(xviii) Solely
in connection with the consummation of the transactions contemplated by this
Agreement, the Company hereby irrevocably waives, and agrees not to exercise,
any rights of first offer to the Offered Securities that the Company may
have.
(b) Each
Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, agrees with the Company, the
Underwriter and CSI that:
(i) Such
Selling Stockholder will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed
to or that would constitute or that might reasonably be expected to cause or
result in, under the Exchange Act or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of
the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
Hedge Securities.
(ii) Such
Selling Stockholder will advise the Underwriter and CSI promptly, and if
requested by the Underwriter or CSI, will confirm such advice in writing, so
long as delivery of a prospectus relating to the Hedge Securities by an
underwriter or dealer may be required under the Act, of any change in the name
of such Selling Stockholder and the number of Preferred Securities owned by such
Selling Stockholder included under the caption “Selling Stockholders” in the
Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement
thereto.
(iii) Such
Selling Stockholder represents that it has not prepared or had prepared on its
behalf or used or referred to, and agrees that it will not prepare or have
prepared on its behalf or use or refer to, any Free Writing Prospectus, and has
not distributed and will not distribute any written materials in connection with
the offer or sale of the Hedge Securities.
26
(iv)
Such Selling Stockholder will pay all expenses incident to the performance of
the obligations of such Selling Stockholder under this Agreement; provided, that nothing herein
shall affect or modify any separate, valid agreement relating to the allocation
of payment of expenses between the Company, on the one hand, and any Selling
Stockholder, on the other hand
(c) The
Selling Stockholders, severally and not jointly, agree with the Underwriter and
CSI that they shall reimburse the Underwriter and CSI for the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel (documented in accordance with CSI’s and the
Underwriter’s standard policy for outside counsel) for CSI and the Underwriter
in excess of $300,000.
6. Conditions to the Obligations of CSI
and the Underwriter. The obligations of CSI to purchase and pay for the
Offered Securities on the Closing Date pursuant to Section 3 of this Agreement
and the obligations of the Underwriter pursuant to Section 4 of this Agreement
will be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the
part of the Company and the Selling Stockholders herein at each Applicable Time,
to the accuracy of the statements of Company officers made in any certificate
pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Company and the
Selling Stockholders of their respective obligations hereunder and to the
following additional conditions precedent:
(a) On
the date hereof and on the Closing Date, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have
furnished to the Underwriter and CSI, at the request of the Company, letters,
dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriter
and CSI, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter and
CSI, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in
accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial information contained or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus; provided
that the letter delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off’ date
no more than three business days prior to the Closing Date.
(b) On
the date hereof and on the Closing Date, PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall have
furnished to the Underwriter and CSI, at the request of the Company, letters,
dated the respective dates of delivery thereof and addressed to the Underwriter
and CSI, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriter and
CSI, containing statements and information of the type customarily included in
accountants’ “comfort letters” to underwriters with respect to the financial
statements and certain financial information of Rohm and Xxxx contained or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package
and the Final Prospectus; provided that the letter
delivered on the Closing Date shall use a “cut-off’ date no more than three
business days prior to the Closing Date.
27
(c) The
Final Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission in accordance with
the Act and the rules and regulations thereunder and Section 5(a) of this
Agreement. Prior to the Closing Date, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement or of any part thereof shall have been issued and
no proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge
of any Selling Stockholder, the Company, the Underwriter or CSI, shall be
contemplated by the Commission.
(d) Subsequent
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement or, if earlier, the dates as of
which information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any
amendment thereof) and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or
supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or decrease
specified in the letters referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b) of this Section 6
or (ii) any change, or any development involving an impending prospective
change, in or affecting the business, prospects, financial condition or results
of operations of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries taken as a whole,
whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business,
except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the effect of
which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the
reasonable judgment of the Underwriter or CSI, so material and adverse as to
make it impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of
the Hedge Securities as contemplated by the Registration Statement (exclusive of
any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus
(exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(e) Subsequent
to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, (i) trading in the Company’s
Common Stock shall not have been suspended by the Commission or the New York
Stock Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange
shall not have been suspended or limited or minimum prices shall not have been
established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall not have been
declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or (iii) there
shall not have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities, declaration
by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis
the effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the judgment
of the Underwriter or CSI, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the
offering or delivery of the Hedge Securities as contemplated by the Final
Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(f) The
Underwriter and CSI shall have received opinions, dated, respectively, the date
hereof and the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriter and CSI, of Xxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Assistant General Counsel—Corporate and Financial Law of the Company,
to the effect that:
28
(i) the
Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in
good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with full corporate power
and authority to own, lease, and/or operate its properties and conduct its
business as described in the Final Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction which requires such qualification wherein it owns or leases
material properties or conducts material business, except where the failure to
so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
(ii) each
of UCC and Rohm and Xxxx has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is
chartered or organized, with full corporate power and authority to own, lease,
and/or operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the Final
Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign corporation and is
in good standing under the laws of each jurisdiction which requires such
qualification wherein it owns or leases material properties or conducts material
business, except where the failure to so qualify would not have a Material
Adverse Effect;
(iii) except
as otherwise set forth in the Final Prospectus, all the outstanding shares of
capital stock of UCC and Rohm and Xxxx have been duly authorized and validly
issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and, except as otherwise set forth
in the Final Prospectus, and except for shares necessary to qualify directors or
to maintain any minimum number of shareholders required by law, all outstanding
shares of capital stock of UCC and Rohm and Xxxx are owned by the Company either
directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any perfected
security interest and, to the knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry, any
other security interest, claim, lien or encumbrance;
(iv) the
Preferred Securities and all other outstanding shares of capital stock of the
Company have been duly authorized and validly issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable and conform to the description thereof contained in the Final
Prospectus; the Offered Securities have been duly authorized and, when delivered
upon conversion of the Preferred Securities, will be validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable and conform to the description thereof contained in the Final
Prospectus; the Company’s authorized equity capitalization is as set forth in
the Final Prospectus (except for subsequent issuances pursuant to employee
benefit plans or pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options
and except for repurchases in connection with open market or repurchase plans or
redemptions of shares of preferred stock); and, except as set forth in the Final
Prospectus, no options, warrants or other rights to purchase, agreements or
other obligations to issue, or rights to convert any obligations into or
exchange any
29
securities
for, shares of capital stock of or ownership interests in the Company are
outstanding;
(v) to
the knowledge of such counsel, except as disclosed in the Final Prospectus,
there is no pending or threatened action, suit or proceeding by or before any
court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator involving the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, that (i) would reasonably be expected to
have a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or the
consummation of any of the transactions by the Company contemplated hereby or
(ii) would reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(vi) none
of the issuance of the Offered Securities upon conversion of the Preferred
Securities, the delivery of the Offered Securities by the Company to the
Custodian on behalf of the Selling Stockholders and by the Custodian to CSI as
provided herein, the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of
this Agreement or the consummation of the transactions by the Company herein
contemplated will conflict with, result in a breach or violation of, or
imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
Company or its subsidiaries pursuant to, (A) the charter or by-laws of the
Company, UCC or Rohm and Xxxx, (B) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease,
mortgage, deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement,
obligation, condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or its
subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject,
or (C) any statute, law, rule, regulation, other than of the State of New York,
judgment, order or decree applicable to the Company or its subsidiaries of any
court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or
other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or its subsidiaries or any
of its or their properties, which conflict, breach, violation, lien, charge or
encumbrance, in the case of (B) and (C), would, individually or in the
aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse
Effect;
(vii) the
Company is not required to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended; and
(viii) the
documents incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus (other than the
financial statements and other financial and statistical information contained
therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion), when they became
effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may be, complied as to
form in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act or the
Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and
nothing has come to his attention that caused him to believe that any of such
documents contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the
30
statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.
In
addition, such counsel shall state that any required filing of the Final
Prospectus, and any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made
in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b).
Such
counsel shall also state that no facts came to such counsel’s attention that
caused such counsel to believe that (i) the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto (other than the financial statements and other financial or
statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such
counsel has not been requested to comment), as of the date of the Underwriting
Agreement, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Final Prospectus (other than
the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained
therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel has not been requested to
comment), as of its date and as of the date of such counsel’s opinion, contained
or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits 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.
In
rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters involving the
application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Michigan, the
corporate law of the State of Delaware or the Federal laws of the United States,
to the extent he deems proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of
other counsel of good standing whom he believes to be reliable and who are
satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriter and CSI and (B) as to matters of
fact, to the extent he deems proper, on certificates of responsible officers of
the Company and public officials. References to the Final Prospectus
in this paragraph (g) shall also include any supplements thereto as of the date
it is used to confirm sales.
(g) The
Underwriter and CSI shall have received opinions, dated, respectively, the date
hereof and the Closing Date and addressed to the Underwriter and CSI, of
Shearman & Sterling LLP, special counsel to the Company, to the effect
that:
(i) this
Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company.
(ii) assuming
that the Offered Securities shall only be used to close out open borrowings of
shares of Common Stock established in connection with the sales of the Hedge
Securities as contemplated by Section 4 of this Agreement, no authorization,
approval or other action by, and no notice to or filing with, any United States
federal or New York governmental authority or regulatory body, is
31
required
for the due execution, delivery or performance by the Company of this Agreement,
except as have been obtained and are in full force and effect under the Act or
as may be required under the securities or blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in
the United States in connection with the offer and sale of the Hedge
Securities;
(iii) the
Offered Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and when issued and
delivered upon conversion of the Preferred Securities, the Offered Securities
will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; and the issuance of the
Offered Securities will not be subject to preemptive rights pursuant to the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company;
(iv) the
execution and delivery by the Company of the Underwriting Agreement do not, and
the performance by the Company of its obligations thereunder and the
consummation of the transactions by the Company contemplated thereby will not
result in a violation of the law of the State of New York (including the rules
or regulations promulgated thereunder or pursuant thereto), that a New York
lawyer exercising customary professional diligence would reasonably be expected
to recognize as being applicable to the Company, the Underwriting Agreement or
the transactions governed thereby;
(v) the
statements in the Final Prospectus under the captions “Description of the
Financing Transactions" and “Description of the Common Stock,” in each case,
insofar as such statements constitute summaries of documents referred to
therein, fairly summarize in all material respects the documents referred to
therein; and;
(vi) the
statements in the Final Prospectus under the caption “Certain United States
Federal Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Holders,” insofar as such statements
constitute summaries of legal matters referred to therein and subject to the
limitations set forth therein, fairly summarize in all material respects the
legal matters referred to therein.
In
addition, such counsel shall state that (a) to the best of such counsel’s
knowledge based on the telephonic request to the staff of the Commission, the
Registration Statement is effective and no proceedings for a stop order with
respect thereto are pending or are threatened and (b) each of the Registration
Statement and the Final Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by
reference therein (other than the financial statements and other financial or
statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such
counsel expresses no opinion), appears on its face to be appropriately
responsive in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
32
Such
counsel shall also state that no facts came to such counsel’s attention that
caused such counsel to believe that (i) the Registration Statement or any
amendment thereto (other than the financial statements and other financial or
statistical data contained therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such
counsel has not been requested to comment), as of the date of the Underwriting
Agreement, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state
a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, or (ii) the Final Prospectus (other than
the financial statements and other financial or statistical data contained
therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel has not been requested to
comment) , as of its date and as of the date of such counsel’s opinion,
contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits
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.
(h) The
Underwriter, CSI and the Custodian shall have received opinions, dated,
respectively, on the date hereof and on the Closing Date, of Dechert LLP,
counsel to the individual trustees of the Selling Stockholders, substantially to
the effect set forth in Exhibit B hereto.
(i) The
Underwriter and CSI shall have received from Xxxxx Xxxxx LLP, counsel for the
Underwriter and CSI, such opinions, dated, respectively, on the date hereof and
on the Closing Date, with respect to such matters as the Underwriter or CSI may
require, and the Selling Stockholders and the Company shall have furnished to
such counsel such documents as they may reasonably request for the purpose of
enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(j) The
Company shall have furnished to the Underwriter and CSI a certificate of the
Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief Financial
Officer or the Treasurer of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect
that the signer of such certificate has carefully examined (or caused to be
examined) the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final
Prospectus and any supplements or amendments thereto and this Agreement and
that:
(i) the
representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement were true and
correct at each Applicable Time with the same effect as if made at such
Applicable Time, the representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same
effect as if made on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any
notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings
33
for that
purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened;
and
(iii) since
the date of the most recent financial statements of the Company included or
incorporated by reference in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus
(exclusive of any supplement thereto), there has been no material adverse change
in or affecting the business, financial condition or results of operations of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries considered as a whole, whether or
not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of business, except as set
forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus
(exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto after the date
hereof).
(k) Each
Selling Stockholder shall have furnished to the Underwriter and CSI on the
Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing Date, signed by, or on behalf of,
the Selling Stockholder stating that the representations and warranties of such
Selling Stockholder in this Agreement were true and correct at each Applicable
Time with the same effect as if made at such Applicable Time, the
representations and warranties of such Selling Stockholder in this Agreement are
true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made
on the Closing Date and such Selling Stockholder has complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or
satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date.
(l) The
“lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form of Exhibit A hereto,
between the Underwriter and CSI, on the one hand, and certain executive officers
and directors of the Company, on the other hand, relating to sales and certain
other dispositions of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to the
Underwriter and CSI on or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and
effect on the Closing Date.
(m) The
Custodian will deliver to the Underwriter and CSI a letter stating that they
will deliver to each Selling Stockholder a United States Treasury Department
Form 1099 (or other applicable form or statement specified by the United States
Treasury Department regulations in lieu thereof) on or before January 31 of the
year following the date of this Agreement.
(n) The
Selling Stockholders and the Company will furnish the Underwriter and CSI with
such conformed copies of such opinions, certificates, letters and documents as
the Underwriter or CSI reasonably requests for the purpose of enabling them to
pass upon the offering of the Hedge Securities as herein contemplated, or in
order to evidence the accuracy of any of representations or warranties, or the
fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained. The
Underwriter or CSI may in its sole discretion waive compliance with any
conditions to its obligations.
34
7. Indemnification and
Contribution. (a) The Company will indemnify and
hold harmless the Underwriter and CSI, their respective partners, members,
directors, officers, employees, agents, affiliates and each person, if any, who
controls the Underwriter or CSI within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act (each, an “Indemnified Party”), against any and
all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such
Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other
Federal or state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any
material fact contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time,
the Base Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as of any time or any Issuer Free
Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged
omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, and will reimburse
each Indemnified Party for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by
such Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against any
loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding
whatsoever (whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether
threatened or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this
provision with respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement in or omission or alleged omission from any of such
documents in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders or by or on behalf of
the Underwriter or CSI specifically for use therein, it being understood and
agreed that the only such written information furnished by or on behalf of the
Underwriter or CSI consists of the information described as such in subsection
(c) below.
(b) Each
Selling Stockholder, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless
each Indemnified Party against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint
or several, to which such Indemnified Party may become subject, under the Act,
the Exchange Act, other Federal or state statutory law or regulation or
otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of any material fact contained in any part of the Registration
Statement at any time, the Base Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as of any
time or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon
the omission or alleged omission of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of a
prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made) not
misleading, and will reimburse each Indemnified Party for any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating or defending against any loss,
35
claim,
damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or proceeding whatsoever
(whether or not such Indemnified Party is a party thereto), whether threatened
or commenced, and in connection with the enforcement of this provision with
respect to any of the above as such expenses are incurred; provided, that the foregoing
shall be limited to the extent and only to the extent that such untrue statement
or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company, the
Underwriter or CSI by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders specifically for
use therein. The parties hereto understand and agree that the information
furnished by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholders to the Company
specifically for use in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the
Final Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, consists only of the
information with respect to such Selling Stockholder that appears in the table
and the corresponding footnotes thereto, excluding any percentages, under the
caption “Selling Stockholders” in the Final Prospectus and the Disclosure
Package.
(c) The
Underwriter and CSI, severally and not jointly, will respectively indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, each of its directors and each of its officers who
signs the Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, each Selling Stockholder and each person, if any, who controls a
Selling Stockholder within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act (each, a “Credit Suisse Indemnified Party”), against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which such Credit Suisse Indemnified
Party may become subject, under the Act, the Exchange Act, other Federal or
state statutory law or regulation or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based
upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact
contained in any part of the Registration Statement at any time, the Base
Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as of any time or any Issuer Free Writing
Prospectus, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or the alleged
omission of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein (in the case of a prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) not misleading, in each case to the
extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
the Underwriter or CSI, as the case may be, specifically for use therein, and
will reimburse any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Credit
Suisse Indemnified Party in connection with investigating or defending against
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, action, litigation, investigation or
proceeding whatsoever (whether or not such Credit Suisse Indemnified Party is a
party thereto), whether threatened or commenced, based upon any such untrue
statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission as such
expenses are incurred, it being understood and agreed that the only such written
information furnished by or on behalf of the Underwriter and CSI consists of the
second
36
paragraph
on the cover page of the Final Prospectus and the second paragraph under the
caption “Underwriting” in the Final Prospectus.
(d) Promptly
after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under subsection (a), (b)
or (c) above, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
that it may have under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above except to the extent
that it has been materially prejudiced (through the forfeiture of substantive
rights or defenses) by such failure; and provided further that the
failure to notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability
that it may have to an indemnified party otherwise than under subsection (a),
(b) or (c) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to
participate in any such action and appoint counsel of the indemnifying party’s
choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in
any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying
party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any
separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties except as set
forth below); provided, however, that such
counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified
party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party’s election to appoint
counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the indemnified party
shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including local counsel), and
the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and expenses of
such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying
party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel with a
conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or
targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party
shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (other
than local counsel), approved by the Underwriters in the case of paragraph (a)
of this Section 7, representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a)
who are parties to such action), (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have
employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of the institution of
such action or (iv) the indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party
to employ separate counsel at the expense of the indemnifying
party. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent
of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened
action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party
and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless
such settlement (i) includes an unconditional release of such indemnified
party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such
action and (ii) does not include a statement as to, or an admission of,
fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of an indemnified
party.
37
(e) If
the indemnification provided for in this Section is unavailable or insufficient
to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a), (b) or (c) above,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in subsection (a), (b) or (c) above (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 Underwriter and CSI, on the
other, from the sale of the Offered Securities 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 Underwriter and CSI, on the
other, in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities 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 Underwriter and CSI, on the other, shall
be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Selling Stockholders bear
to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriter.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company, the Selling Stockholders, the Underwriter or CSI and
the parties’ relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The amount paid by an
indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities
referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (e) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is
the subject of this subsection (e). Notwithstanding the provisions of this
subsection (e), the Underwriter and CSI, respectively, shall not be required to
contribute collectively any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Hedge Securities were offered to the public exceeds the
amount of any damages which the Underwriter or CSI, respectively, has otherwise
been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.
(f) The
liability of each Selling Stockholder under such Selling Stockholder’s
representations and warranties contained in Section 2(b) hereof and under
the indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this Section 7 shall
be limited to an amount equal to the aggregate Purchase Price for the Offered
Securities sold hereunder by such Selling Stockholder. The Company
and the Selling Stockholders may agree, as among themselves and without limiting
the rights of the Underwriter or CSI under this
38
Agreement,
as to the respective amounts of such liability for which they each shall be
responsible.
(g) The
obligations of the Company and the Selling Stockholders under this Section shall
be in addition to any liability which the Company and the Selling Stockholders
may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each
person, if any, who controls the Underwriter or CSI within the meaning of the
Act; and the respective obligations of the Underwriter and CSI under this
Section shall be in addition to any liability which the Underwriter or CSI may
otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each
director of the Company, to each officer of the Company who has signed the
Registration Statement and to each person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of the Act.
8. Survival of Certain Representations
and Obligations. The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and other statements of the Selling Stockholders, of
the Company or its officers, of the Underwriter and of CSI set forth in or made
pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation, or statement as to the results thereof, made by or on behalf
of the Underwriter, CSI, any Selling Stockholder, the Company or any of their
respective representatives, officers or directors or any controlling person, and
will survive delivery of and payment for the Offered Securities. If the sale of
the Offered Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any
condition to the obligations of the Underwriter or CSI set forth in
Section 6 hereof is not satisfied or because of any refusal, inability or
failure on the part of the Company or any Selling Stockholder to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a
default by the Underwriter or CSI, the Company will reimburse the Underwriter
and CSI on demand for all reasonable and properly documented out-of-pocket
expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that shall
have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of
the Hedge Securities. If the Company is required to make any payments
to the Underwriter or CSI under this Section 8 because of any Selling
Stockholder’s refusal, inability or failure to satisfy any condition to the
obligations of the Underwriter and CSI set forth in Section 6 (except to the
extent caused by the Company’s failure to deliver the Offered Securities on the
Closing Date), the Company shall be reimbursed on demand for all amounts so paid
by such breaching Selling Stockholder.
9. Notices. All communications
hereunder will be in writing and, if sent to the Underwriter or CSI, will be
mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to the Underwriter or CSI at Eleven
Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010-3629, Attention: LCD-IBD, fax no.:
(000) 000-0000 or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or
telefaxed and confirmed to it at The Dow Chemical Company, Attention:
Treasurer, 0000 Xxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000, fax no.: (000)
000-0000 or, if sent to the Selling Stockholders or any of them, will be mailed,
delivered or telefaxed and
39
confirmed
to at the address specified for such communications on Schedule A attached
hereto.
10. Successors. This Agreement
will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their
respective successors and the officers and directors and controlling persons
referred to in Section 7 hereof, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder.
11. Counterparts. This
Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute
one and the same Agreement.
12. No Fiduciary
Duty. The Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby
acknowledge that (a) the purchase and sale of the Offered Securities and the
offering of the Hedge Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length
commercial transaction between the Company and the Selling Stockholders, on the
one hand, and the Underwriter and CSI and any of their respective affiliates
through which either of them may be acting, on the other, (b) each of the
Underwriter and CSI is acting as principal and not as an agent or a fiduciary of
the Company or any of the Selling Stockholders and (c) the Company’s and the
Selling Stockholders’ engagement of the Underwriter and CSI in connection with
the offering and the process leading up to the offering is as independent
contractors and not in any other capacity. Furthermore, the Company
and the Selling Stockholders agree that they are solely responsible for making
their own judgments in connection with the offering (irrespective of whether the
Underwriter or CSI has advised or is currently advising the Company or any of
the Selling Stockholders on related or other matters). The Company
and the Selling Stockholders agree that they will not claim that the Underwriter
or CSI has rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an
agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company or any of the Selling
Stockholders, in connection with such transaction or the process leading
thereto.
13. Role of
Agent. Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC, in its capacity as
agent for CSI, will be responsible for (i) effecting the transaction
contemplated under this Agreement to the extent of CSI’s involvement (the
“Transaction”), (ii) issuing all required statements, if any, to Selling
Stockholders, (iii) maintaining books and records relating to the Transaction in
accordance with its standard practices and procedures and in accordance with
applicable law and (iv) unless otherwise requested by Selling Stockholders,
receiving, delivering, and safeguarding Selling Stockholders’ funds and any
securities in connection with the Transaction, in accordance with its standard
practices and procedures and in accordance with applicable law.
|
(1)
|
Agent
is acting in connection with the Transaction solely in its capacity as
Agent for CSI pursuant to instructions from CSI. Agent shall
have no responsibility or personal liability to CSI arising from any
failure by CSI
|
40
to pay or perform any obligations hereunder, or to monitor or
enforce compliance by CSI with any obligation hereunder. CSI and each
Selling Stockholder agree to proceed solely against the other to collect or
recover any securities or monies owing to it in connection with or as a result
of the Transaction. Agent shall otherwise have no liability in
respect of the Transaction, except for its gross negligence or willful
misconduct in performing its duties as Agent.
|
(2)
|
Any
and all notices, demands or communications of any kind relating to the
Transaction between CSI and each Selling Stockholder shall be transmitted
exclusively through Agent at the address specified under Section 9 of this
Agreement.
|
|
(3)
|
The
date and time of the Transaction evidenced hereby will be furnished by the
Agent to CSI and each Selling Stockholder upon written
request.
|
|
(4)
|
The
Agent will furnish to each Selling Stockholder upon written request a
statement as to the source and amount of any remuneration received or to
be received by the Agent in connection with the Transaction evidenced
hereby.
|
|
(5)
|
CSI
and each Selling Stockholder represents and agrees (A) that the
Transaction is not unsuitable for it in the light of such party’s
financial situation, investment objectives and needs and (B) that it is
entering into the Transaction in reliance upon such tax, accounting,
regulatory, legal and financial advice as it deems necessary and not upon
any view expressed by the other or the
Agent.
|
|
(6)
|
CSI
is regulated by The Securities and Futures Authority and has entered into
the Transaction as principal. The time at which the Transaction was
executed will be notified to each Selling Stockholder (through the Agent)
on request.
|
14. Applicable
Law. This Agreement
shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York, without regard to principles of conflicts of laws.
15. Integration. This Agreement
supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether written or oral)
between the Company, the Underwriter and CSI, or any of them, with respect to
the subject matter hereof.
16. Waiver of Jury Trial. The
Company, the Selling Stockholders, the Underwriter and CSI hereby irrevocably
waive, to the fullest extent permitted by
41
applicable
law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out of
or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby.
17. Counterparts. This Agreement
may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which shall constitute an
original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same
agreement.
18. Headings. The section
headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.
19. Definitions. The
terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings
indicated.
“Act”
shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the rules and regulations
of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Base
Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above
contained in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.
“Business
Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a
day on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated
by law to close in New York City.
“Commission”
shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Disclosure
Package” shall mean as of any Applicable Time (i) the Final Prospectus, (ii) any
applicable Issuer Free Writing Prospectus issued prior to such Applicable Time
and (iii) with respect to any shares of Common Stock, the public offering price
of such shares of Common Stock and the number of shares of Common Stock to be
sold.
“Effective
Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective on or
after the date hereof and on or prior to the last day of the Conversion Pricing
Period.
“Exchange
Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Execution
Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered
by the parties hereto.
42
“Final
Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Hedge
Securities that was first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) on or after the
Execution Time, together with the Base Prospectus.
“Free
Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule
405.
“Issuer
Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as
defined in Rule 433.
“Registration
Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a)
above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement
relating to the Hedge Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such registration statement pursuant to Rule
430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event any post-effective
amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean
such registration statement as so amended.
Unless
otherwise specified, a reference to a “rule” is to the indicated rule under the
Act.
[Signatures
appear on next page]
43
If the
foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, kindly sign
and return to the Company one of the counterparts hereof, whereupon it will
become a binding agreement among the Selling Stockholders, the Company, the
Underwriter and CSI in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours, | ||||
The Dow Chemical Company | ||||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | Corporate Vice President & Treasurer | |||
Signature
page to Underwriting Agreement
44
THE FIRST 1945 TRUST | |||
THE SECOND 1945 TRUST | |||
THE 1955 TRUST | |||
THE 1956 TRUST | |||
by | |||
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx
|
|||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee |
WACHOVIA BANK, N.A., | ||||
as Trustee | ||||
|
By:
|
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | ||
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxxxx | |||
Title: | Senior Vice President |
Signature
page to Underwriting Agreement
45
1961
TRUST A
|
|||
by | |||
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxx Gravagno | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxxxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
1961 TRUST B | |||
by | |||
/s/ Xxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee | ||
/s/ Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxxxxxx X. Xxxx | ||
Title: | Trustee |
Signature
page to Underwriting Agreement
46
The
foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written.
|
||||||
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC | ||||||
By:
|
/s/
Xxxx Xxxx
|
|
||||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Vice President |
Credit Suisse International | ||||||
By: |
/s/
Xxxx Xxxx
|
|
||||
Name: | Xxxx Xxxx | |||||
Title: | Authorized Signatory | |||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxx | |||||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxx | |||||
Title: | Authorized Signatory |
Signature
page to Underwriting Agreement
47
SCHEDULE A
SELLING
STOCKHOLDERS
Name
of Seller Stockholder
|
Number
of
Preferred
Securities
|
|
THE FIRST 1945 TRUST |
17,950
|
|
Address for Communications: | ||
Xxxx Trust Xxxxxx | ||
0000 Xxxx Xx., 00xx Xxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
Attn: |
Xx. Xxxxx
Xxxx,
|
|
Executive Trust Advisor | ||
Tel: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Fax: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Trustee | ||
Calibre | ||
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 0000 | ||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
||
Attn: | Xxxxx Xxxxx and | |
Xxxx Xxxxxx | ||
Tel: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Fax: | (000) 000-0000 | |
THE SECOND 1945 TRUST |
211,350
|
|
Address for Communications: | ||
Xxxx Trust Xxxxxx | ||
0000 Xxxx Xx., 00xx Xxxxx | ||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx, XX 00000 | ||
Attn: | Xx. Xxxxx Xxxx, | |
Executive Trust Advisor | ||
Tel: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Fax: | (000) 000-0000 | |
Wachovia Bank, N.A., as Trustee | ||
Calibre |
Sch.
A-1
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 4394
|
||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
||
Attn:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxx and
|
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
|
||
Tel:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Fax:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
(000)
000-0000
|
||
THE
1955 TRUST
|
45,700
|
|
Address
for Communications:
|
||
Xxxx
Trust Xxxxxx
|
||
0000
Xxxx Xx., 00xx Xxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
||
Attn:
|
Xx.
Xxxxx Xxxx,
|
|
Executive
Trust Advisor
|
||
Tel:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Fax:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Wachovia
Bank, N.A., as Trustee
|
||
Calibre
|
||
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 0000
|
||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
||
Attn:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxx and
|
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
|
||
Tel:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Fax:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
(000)
000-0000
|
||
THE
1956 TRUST
|
170,200
|
|
Address
for Communications:
|
||
Xxxx
Trust Xxxxxx
|
||
0000
Xxxx Xx., 00xx Xxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
||
Attn:
|
Xx.
Xxxxx Xxxx,
|
|
Executive
Trust Advisor
|
||
Tel:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Fax:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Wachovia
Bank, N.A., as Trustee
|
Sch.
A-2
Calibre
|
||
0000
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, XX 4394
|
||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
||
Attn:
|
Xxxxx
Xxxxx and
|
|
Xxxx
Xxxxxx
|
||
Tel:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Fax:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
(000)
000-0000
|
||
1961
TRUST A
|
27,400
|
|
Address
for Communications:
|
||
Xxxx
Trust Xxxxxx
|
||
0000
Xxxx Xx., 00xx Xxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
||
Attn:
|
Xx.
Xxxxx Xxxx,
|
|
Executive
Trust Advisor
|
||
Tel:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Fax:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
1961
TRUST B
|
27,400
|
|
Address
for Communications:
|
||
Xxxx
Trust Xxxxxx
|
||
0000
Xxxx Xx., 00xx Xxxxx
|
||
Xxxxxxxxxxxx,
XX 00000
|
||
Attn:
|
Xx.
Xxxxx Xxxx,
|
|
Executive
Trust Advisor
|
||
Tel:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Fax:
|
(000)
000-0000
|
|
Total
|
500,000
|
Sch.
A-3
Exhibit
A
Form
of Lock-Up Agreement
,
2009
The Dow
Chemical Company
0000 Xxx
Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxx 00000
Credit
Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Credit
Suisse International
c/o
Credit Suisse Securities (USA) LLC
Eleven
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx,
XX 00000-0000
Dear
Sirs:
This
letter is being delivered to you in connection with the proposed Underwriting
Agreement (the “Underwriting Agreement”), between The Dow Chemical Company, a
Delaware corporation (the “Company”), certain selling stockholders and Credit
Suisse Securities (USA) LLC (the “Underwriter”) and Credit Suisse International,
relating to a public offering of Common Stock, $2.50 par value (the “Common
Stock”), of the Company by the selling stockholders that is intended to result
in an orderly market for the Common Stock.
In order
to induce you to enter into the Underwriting Agreement, the undersigned will
not, without your prior written consent, offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge
or otherwise dispose of, (or enter into any transaction which is designed to, or
might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by actual
disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or
otherwise) by the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned or any person
in privity with the undersigned or any affiliate of the undersigned), directly
or indirectly, including the filing (or participation in the filing) of a
registration statement with the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect
of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease
a call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations of
the Securities and Exchange Commission promulgated thereunder with respect to,
any shares of capital stock of the Company or any securities convertible into or
exercisable or exchangeable for such capital stock, or publicly announce an
intention to effect any such transaction, for a period of 30 days after the date
of the Underwriting Agreement, other than shares of Common Stock disposed of or
transferred as bona fide gifts, to any trust for the direct or indirect benefit
of the undersigned or the immediate family of the undersigned, or by operation
of law, pursuant to the “cashless” exercise of any stock option granted as a
direct or indirect result of any
Ex.
A-1
employee
stock option program of the Company, in each case approved by you; provided that
any transferee shall agree to be bound by the terms of this letter
agreement.
If for
any reason the Underwriting Agreement shall be terminated prior to the Closing
Date (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement), the agreement set forth above
shall likewise be terminated.
This agreement shall be binding on the
undersigned and the successors, heirs, personal representatives and assigns of
the undersigned. This agreement shall be governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York.
Very truly yours, | |||
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Name: | |||
Ex.
A-2
Exhibit
B
Form of
Opinion of Dechert LLP on behalf of The First 1945 Trust, The Second 1945 Trust,
The 1955 Trust, The 1956 Trust, 1961 Trust A and 1961 Trust B
1.
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The
Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
each Trust. Each Trust has full legal right and authority to
sell, transfer and deliver the Offered Securities being sold by such Trust
under the Underwriting Agreement in the manner provided in the
Underwriting Agreement.
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2.
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The
Power of Attorney and the Custody Agreement have each been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by each Trust and constitute valid and
legally binding obligations of each Trust enforceable in accordance with
their terms, subject to the Enforceability
Exception.
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3.
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Upon
payment for the Offered Securities to be sold by each Trust pursuant to
the Underwriting Agreement, delivery of such Offered Securities, as
directed by the Underwriter, to The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or to
such other nominee as may be designated by DTC, registration of such
Offered Securities in the name of DTC or such other nominee and the
crediting of such Offered Securities on the books of DTC to securities
accounts of the Underwriter (assuming that neither DTC nor the Underwriter
has notice of any adverse claim within the meaning of Section 8-105 of the
New York Uniform Commercial Code (the “UCC”) to such Offered Securities),
(i) under Section 8-501 of the UCC, the Underwriter will acquire a
security entitlement in respect of such Offered Securities and (ii) no
action based on any “adverse claim” (within the meaning of Section 8-102
and Section 8-105 of the UCC) to such Offered Securities may be asserted
against the Underwriter with respect to such security
entitlement.
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4.
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To
our knowledge, no consent, approval, authorization or order of any U.S.
federal, New York or Pennsylvania state court or other governmental agency
or body is required for the consummation by any Trust of the transactions
contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement, except such as have been
obtained and made under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the
rules and regulations promulgated thereunder and such as may be required
under state securities or “blue sky” laws in connection with the purchase
and distribution of the Hedge Securities by the
Underwriter.
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5.
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To
our knowledge, none of the sale of the Offered Securities by any Trust,
the consummation by any Trust of any of the other transactions
contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement or the fulfillment of the
applicable terms of the Underwriting Agreement by any Trust will result in
a breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or constitute
a default under, (i) any statute, rule, regulation, judgment, decree or
order known to us to be applicable to any Trust of any U.S. federal, New
York or Pennsylvania governmental agency or body or
any
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Ex.
B-1
U.S. federal or Pennsylvania state court having jurisdiction over any
Trust or (ii) the constituent documents of any Trust.
Ex.
B-2