EXHIBIT 1.01
_______________ SHARES
VERISIGN, INC.
COMMON STOCK, $0.001 PAR VALUE
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
__________, 1998
_____________, 1998
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, L.L.C.
c/o Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co., Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
VeriSign, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "COMPANY"), proposes to
issue and sell to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"UNDERWRITERS") _______________ shares of its common stock, $0.001 par value
(the "FIRM SHARES"). The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several
Underwriters not more than an additional ______________ shares of its common
stock, $0.001 par value (the "ADDITIONAL SHARES"), if and to the extent that
you, as Managers of the offering, shall have determined to exercise, on behalf
of the Underwriters, the right to purchase such shares of common stock granted
to the Underwriters in Section 2 hereof. The Firm Shares and the Additional
Shares are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "SHARES." The shares of
common stock, $0.001 par value, of the Company to be outstanding after giving
effect to the sales contemplated hereby are hereinafter referred to as the
"COMMON STOCK."
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"COMMISSION") a registration statement, including a prospectus, relating to the
Shares. The registration statement as amended at the time it becomes effective,
including the information (if any) deemed to be part of the registration
statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "SECURITIES ACT"), is hereinafter
referred to as the "REGISTRATION STATEMENT"; the prospectus in the form first
used to confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter referred to as the "PROSPECTUS."
If the Company has filed an abbreviated registration statement to register
additional shares of Common Stock pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities
Act (the "RULE 462 REGISTRATION STATEMENT"), then any reference herein to the
term "REGISTRATION STATEMENT" shall be deemed to include such Rule 462
Registration Statement.
As part of the offering contemplated by this Agreement, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx &
Co. Incorporated ("XXXXXX XXXXXXX") has agreed to reserve out of the Shares set
forth opposite its name on Schedule I to this Agreement, up to ________________
shares, for
sale to certain parties with whom the Company has business
relationships (collectively, "PARTICIPANTS"), (the "DIRECTED SHARE PROGRAM").
The Shares to be sold by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx pursuant to the Directed Share Program
(the "DIRECTED SHARES") will be sold by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx pursuant to this
Agreement at the public offering price. Any Directed Shares not orally
confirmed for purchase by any Participants by the end of the first business day
after the date on which this Agreement is executed will be offered to the public
by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx as set forth in the Prospectus.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and
warrants to and agrees with each of the Underwriters that:
(a) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect,
and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the
Commission.
(b) (i) The Registration Statement, when it became effective, did
not contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
comply and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder and (iii) the Prospectus does not
contain and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain
any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, except that the representations
and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply to statements or
omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon
information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
by such Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.
(c) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorpora tion, has the corporate power and corporate authority to own its
property and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is
duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except to the extent that
the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a
material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiary, taken as a
whole.
(d) The Company has only one subsidiary, VeriSign Japan KK, a
corporation incorporated under the laws of Japan (the "SUBSIDIARY"). The
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Subsidiary has been duly incorporated is validly existing as a corporation
in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to
transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the
conduct of its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires
such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect
on the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole. The Subsidiary has
_____ shares of capital stock issued and outstanding, of which the Company
owns _____ shares. All of the issued shares of capital stock of the
Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid
and non-assessable and those that are owned directly by the Company, are
owned free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims. The
Company does not own, directly or indirectly, an interest in any other
corporation, partnership, business, trust or other entity required to be
set forth in Exhibit 21.01 to the Registration Statement.
(e) The Company and the Subsidiary have good and marketable title in
fee simple to all real property and good and marketable title to all
personal property owned by them which is material to the business of the
Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole, in each case free and clear
of all liens, encumbrances and defects except such as are described in the
Prospectus or such as do not materially affect the value of such property
and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be made of such
property by the Company and the Subsidiary; and any real property and
buildings held under lease by the Company and the Subsidiary are held by
them under valid, subsisting and enforceable leases with such exceptions as
are not material and do not interfere with the use made and proposed to be
made of such property and buildings by the Company and the Subsidiary, in
each case except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.
(f) The authorized capital stock of the Company conforms as to legal
matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(g) The shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the issuance of
the Shares have been duly authorized, and are validly issued, fully paid
and non-assessable. Except as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus,
neither the Company nor the Subsidiary has outstanding any options to
purchase, or any preemptive rights or other rights to subscribe for or to
purchase, any securities or obligations convertible into, or any contracts
or commitments to issue or sell, shares of its capital stock or any such
options, rights, convertible securities or obligations. All outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Company and options and other rights to
acquire capital stock have been issued in compliance with the registration
and qualification provisions of all applicable federal and state securities
laws and were not issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of
first refusal or other similar rights.
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(h) The Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued and
delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly
issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will
not be subject to any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or similar
rights.
(i) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company.
(j) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance
by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement will not contravene
any provision of applicable law or the certificate of incorporation or by-
laws of the Company or any agreement or other instrument binding upon the
Company or the Subsidiary that is material to the Company and the
Subsidiary, taken as a whole, or any judgment, order or decree of any
governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over the Company or
the Subsidiary, and no consent, approval, authorization or order of, or
qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required for the
performance by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, except
such as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various
states in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares or by the rules
and regulations of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.
(the "NASD").
(k) There has not occurred any material adverse change, or any
development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or
operations of the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole, from that
set forth in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements
thereto subsequent to the date of this Agreement).
(l) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (i) the Company and
the Subsidiary have not incurred any material liability or obligation,
direct or contingent, nor entered into any material transaction not in the
ordinary course of business; (ii) the Company has not purchased any of its
outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any
dividend or distribution of any kind on its capital stock other than
ordinary and customary dividends; and (iii) there has not been any material
change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the
Company and the Subsidiary, except in each case as described in or
contemplated by the Prospectus.
(m) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or
threatened to which the Company or the Subsidiary is a party or to which
any of the properties of the Company or the Subsidiary is subject that are
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
and are not so described
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or any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are
required to be described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement that are not
described or filed as required.
(n) Each of the Company and the Subsidiary has all necessary consents,
authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits of and from,
and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal, state, local,
foreign and other governmental or regulatory authorities, all self-
regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, to own, lease,
license and use its properties and assets and to conduct its business in
the manner described in the Prospectus, except to the extent that the
failure to obtain or file would not have a material adverse effect on the
Company and the Subsidiary taken as a whole. Neither the Company nor the
Subsidiary has received any notice of proceedings related to the revocation
or modification of any such consent, authorization, approval, order,
certificate or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of
any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a material
adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
earnings, business or operations of the Company, and the Subsidiary, taken
as a whole, except as described in or contemplated by the Prospectus.
(o) Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Securities Act, complied when so filed in
all material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder, except for the omission of a
price range and other information derived therefrom.
(p) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as described
in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment company" as such term is
defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.
(q) Except as described in the Prospectus, there are no contracts,
agreements or understandings between the Company and any person granting
such person the right to require the Company to file a registration
statement under the Securities Act with respect to any securities of the
Company or to require the Company to include such securities with the
Shares registered pursuant to the Registration Statement.
(r) The Company and the Subsidiary are insured by insurers of
recognized financial responsibility against such losses and risks and in
such amounts as are prudent and customary in the businesses in which they
are engaged; neither the Company nor the Subsidiary has been refused any
insurance coverage sought or applied for; and neither the Company nor the
Subsidiary has
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any reason to believe that it will not be able to renew its existing
insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or to obtain similar
coverage from similar insurers as may be necessary to continue its business
at a cost that would not materially and adversely affect the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings, business or operations of the
Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole, except as described in or
contemplated by the Prospectus.
(s) The Company and the Subsidiary (i) are in compliance with any and
all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or
hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants
("ENVIRONMENTAL LAWS"), (ii) have received all permits, licenses or other
approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to conduct
their respective businesses and (iii) are in compliance with all terms and
conditions of any such permit, license or approval, except where such
noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits,
licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and
conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in
the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and the
Subsidiary, taken as a whole.
(t) There are no costs or liabilities associated with Environmental
Laws (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) which would, singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
effect on the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole.
(u) Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, (i) the Company and the
Subsidiary own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate
licenses or other rights to use all material patents, copyrights,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, technology and know-how currently
employed by them to conduct their respective businesses in the manner
described in the Prospectus, (ii) neither the Company nor the Subsidiary
has received any notice of infringement or conflict with (and neither the
Company nor the Subsidiary knows of any infringement or conflict with)
asserted rights of others with respect to any patents, copyrights,
trademarks, service marks, trade names, trade secrets, technology or know-
how (including, without limitation, trade secrets and other unpatented
and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems or
procedures) which could reasonably be expected to result in any material
adverse effect upon the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole, and
(iii) the discoveries, inventions, products or processes of the Company and
the Subsidiary referred to in the Prospectus do not, to the knowledge of
the Company or the Subsidiary, infringe or conflict with any right or
patent of any third party, or any
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discovery, invention, product or process which is the subject of a
published patent application filed by any third party, known to the Company
or the Subsidiary which could reasonably be expected to have a material
adverse effect on the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole.
(v) The Company and the Subsidiary maintain a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general or
specific authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to
permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles and to maintain 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 differences.
(w) No material labor dispute with the employees of the Company or the
Subsidiary exists, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus, or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent; and, without
conducting any independent investigation, the Company is not aware of any
existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any
of its principal suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that could
reasonably be expected to have a material adverse effect on the Company and
the Subsidiary, taken as a whole.
(x) All outstanding shares of Common Stock, and all securities
convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock, are
subject to valid, binding and enforceable agreements (collectively, the
"LOCK-UP AGREEMENTS") that restrict the holders thereof from selling,
making any short sale of, granting any option for the purchase of, or
otherwise transferring or disposing of, any of such shares of Common Stock,
or any such securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for
Common Stock, for a period of 180 days after the date of the Prospectus
without the prior written consent of the Company or Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
Incorporated.
(y) The Company (i) has notified each holder of a currently
outstanding option issued under the VeriSign, Inc. 1995 Stock Option Plan
and the VeriSign, Inc. 1997 Stock Option Plan (the "OPTION PLANS") and each
person who has acquired shares of Common Stock pursuant to the exercise of
any option granted under the Option Plans that, pursuant to the terms of
the Option Plans and the option agreements pursuant to which options were
granted, none of such options or shares may be sold or otherwise
transferred or disposed of for a period of 180 days after the date of the
initial public offering of the Shares and (ii) has imposed a stop-transfer
instruction with the Company's transfer agent in order to enforce the
foregoing lock-up provision imposed pursuant to the Option Plans and option
agreements.
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(z) As of the date the Registration Statement became effective, the
Common Stock was authorized for listing on the Nasdaq National Market upon
official notice of issuance.
(aa) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section 517.075,
Florida Statutes relating to doing business with the Government of Cuba or
with any person or affiliate located in Cuba.
(bb) The Company has not offered, or caused the Underwriters to
offer, Shares to any person pursuant to the Directed Share Program with the
specific intent to unlawfully influence (i) a customer or supplier of the
Company to alter the customer's or supplier's level or type of business
with the Company, or (ii) a trade journalist or publication to write or
publish favorable information about the Company or its products.
2. Agreements to Sell and Purchase. The Company hereby agrees to
sell to the several Underwriters, and each Underwriter, upon the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions
hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company the respective numbers of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto
opposite its name at $______ a share (the "PURCHASE PRICE").
On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell
to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall have a
one-time right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to _______________
Additional Shares at the Purchase Price. If you, on behalf of the Underwriters,
elect to exercise such option, you shall so notify the Company in writing not
later than 30 days after the date of this Agreement, which notice shall specify
the number of Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters and the date
on which such shares are to be purchased. Such date may be the same as the
Closing Date (as defined below) but not earlier than the Closing Date nor later
than ten business days after the date of such notice. Additional Shares may be
purchased as provided in Section 4 hereof solely for the purpose of covering
over-allotments made in connection with the offering of the Firm Shares. If any
Additional Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase the number of Additional Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as you may determine) that bears the
same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be purchased as the
number of Firm Shares set forth in Schedule I hereto opposite the name of such
Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares.
The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the Underwriters, it will not,
during the period ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, (i) offer,
pledge, sell, contract to
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sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common Stock
or (ii) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in
whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of the Common
Stock, whether any such transaction described in clause (i) or (ii) above is to
be settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (A) the Shares to be sold
hereunder, (B) the issuance by the Company of shares of Common Stock upon the
exercise of stock options or warrants outstanding on the date hereof and
described as such in the Prospectus, or any other issuances of Common Stock
hereafter under the option or equity incentive plans described in the
Prospectus, or (C) the issuance by the Company of Common Stock under the
employee stock purchase plan described in the Prospectus.
3. Terms of Public Offering. The Company is advised by you that the
Underwriters propose to make a public offering of their respective portions of
the Shares as soon after the Registration Statement and this Agreement have
become effective as in your judgment is advisable. The Company is further
advised by you that the Shares are to be offered to the public initially at
$_____________ a share (the "PUBLIC OFFERING PRICE") and to certain dealers
selected by you at a price that represents a concession not in excess of $______
a share under the Public Offering Price, and that any Underwriter may allow, and
such dealers may reallow, a concession, not in excess of $_____ a share, to any
Underwriter or to certain other dealers.
4. Payment and Delivery. Payment for the Firm Shares shall be made
to the Company in Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City
against delivery of such Firm Shares for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on [____________], 1998, or at
such other time on the same or such other date, not later than [_________],
1998, as shall be designated in writing by you. The time and date of such
payment are hereinafter referred to as the "CLOSING DATE".
Payment for any Additional Shares shall be made to the Company in
Federal or other funds immediately available in New York City against delivery
of such Additional Shares for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the date specified in the
notice described in Section 2 or at such other time on the same or on such other
date, in any event not later than [_______], 1998, as shall be designated in
writing by you. The time and date of such payment are hereinafter referred to
as the "OPTION CLOSING DATE".
Certificates for the Firm Shares and Additional Shares shall be in
definitive form and registered in such names and in such denominations as you
shall request in writing not later than one full business day prior to the
Closing Date or the
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Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates evidencing the Firm
Shares and Additional Shares shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date or
the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, for the respective accounts of the
several Underwriters, with any transfer taxes payable in connection with the
transfer of the Shares to the Underwriters duly paid, against payment of the
Purchase Price therefor.
5. Conditions to the Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of
the Company to sell the Shares to the Underwriters and the several obligations
of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares on the Closing Date are
subject to the condition that the Registration Statement shall have become
effective not later than 5:30 p.m. (New York City time) on the date hereof.
The several obligations of the Underwriters are subject to the
following further conditions:
(a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
prior to the Closing Date:
(i) there shall not have occurred any downgrading, nor shall
any notice have been given of any intended or potential downgrading or
of any review for a possible change that does not indicate the
direction of the possible change, in the rating accorded any of the
Company's securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
organization," as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2)
under the Securities Act; and
(ii) there shall not have occurred any change, or any
development involving a prospective change, in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business or operations of
the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole, from that set forth
in the Prospectus (exclusive of any amendments or supplements thereto
subsequent to the date of this Agreement) that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse and that makes it, in your judgment,
impracticable to market the Shares on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus.
(b) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date a
certificate, dated the Closing Date and signed by an executive officer of
the Company, to the effect set forth in Section 5(a) above and to the
effect that the representations and warranties of the Company contained in
this Agreement are true and correct as of the Closing Date and that the
Company has complied with all of the agreements and satisfied all of the
conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied hereunder on or before
the Closing Date.
The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely upon his
or her knowledge as to proceedings threatened.
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(c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of Fenwick & West LLP, special securities counsel for the Company,
dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the Company has been duly incorporated, is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and
corporate authority to own its property and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of
its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole;
(ii) the authorized capital stock of the Company conforms in
all material respects as to legal matters to the description thereof
contained in the Prospectus;
(iii) the shares of Common Stock outstanding prior to the
issuance of the Shares have been duly authorized, are validly issued,
and non-assessable, and to such counsel's knowledge, are fully paid;
(iv) the Shares have been duly authorized and, when issued
and delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable, and the issuance of
such Shares will not be subject to any preemptive right or right of
first refusal pursuant to the Company's certificate of incorporation
or bylaws or, to such counsel's knowledge, similar rights;
(v) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(vi) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement
will not contravene any provision of applicable law or the certificate
of incorporation or by-laws of the Company or, to such counsel's
knowledge, any agreement or other instrument binding upon the Company
or the Subsidiary that is material to the Company and the Subsidiary,
taken as a whole, or, to such counsel's knowledge, any judgment, order
or decree of any governmental body, agency or court having
jurisdiction over the Company or the Subsidiary that specifically
refers to or is binding on the Company or the Subsidiary, and no
consent, approval, authorization or order of, or qualification with,
any governmental body or agency is
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required for the performance by the Company of its obligations under
this Agreement, except such as may be required by the securities or
Blue Sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer and
sale of the Shares by the Underwriters or the rules and regulations of
the NASD (as to which such counsel need not express any opinion);
(vii) the statements (A) in the Prospectus under the captions
["RISK FACTORS--SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE," "DIVIDEND POLICY,"
"CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS," "SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR FUTURE SALE"]
"Description of Capital Stock" and "Underwriters" and (B) in the
Registration Statement in Items 14 and 15, in each case insofar as
such statements constitute summaries of the legal matters, documents
or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present the information
called for with respect to such legal matters, documents and
proceedings and fairly summarize the matters referred to therein;
(viii) such counsel does not know of any legal, regulatory or
governmental proceedings pending or threatened to which the Company or
the Subsidiary is a party or to which any of the properties of the
Company or the Subsidiary is subject that are required to be described
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and are not so
described or of any statutes, regulations, contracts or other
documents that are required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement that are not described or filed as required;
(ix) the Company is not and, after giving effect to the
offering and sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds
thereof as described in the Prospectus, will not be an "investment
company" as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended;
(x) to such counsel's knowledge: (1) based solely on oral
advice of the Staff of the Commission, the Registration Statement has
become effective under the Securities Act; (2) no stop order
proceedings with respect to the Registration Statement have been
instituted or are pending or threatened under the Securities Act and
nothing has come to such counsel's attention to lead it to believe
that such proceedings are contemplated; and (3) any required filing of
the Prospectus and any supplement thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b)
under the Securities Act has been made in the manner and within the
time period required by such Rule 424(b);
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(xi) no shares of Common Stock are required to be registered
under the Registration Statement and no person or entity has any right
to cause any shares of Common Stock to be registered under the
Registration Statement, pursuant to the Company's certificate of
incorporation or by-laws or, to such counsel's knowledge, any
agreement or other right, which rights have not been validly waived;
and
(xii) based on a letter from the NASDAQ Stock Market, the
shares to be sold under this Agreement to the Underwriters are duly
authorized for quotation on the NASDAQ National Market; and
(xiii) in addition to the matters set forth above, counsel
rendering the foregoing opinion shall also include a statement to the
effect that nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that
causes it to believe that (i) the Registration Statement (except as to
the financial statements, the notes thereto and the other financial
and statistical data contained therein, as to which such counsel need
not express any opinion or belief) at the date the Registration
Statement became effective contained any untrue statement of a
material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, (2) the Prospectus (except as to the financial statements,
the notes thereto and the other financial and statistical data
contained therein, as to which such counsel need not express any
opinion or belief) as of its date contained or contains any 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 or (3)
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (except as to the
financial statements, the notes thereto and the other financial and
statistical data contained therein, as to which such counsel need not
express any opinion or belief) did not comply as to form in all
material respects with the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations thereunder.
(d) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, counsel for the Underwriters,
dated the Closing Date, covering the matters referred to in Sections
5(c)(iv), 5(c)(v), 5(c)(vi) (but only as to the statements in the
Prospectus under "Description of Capital Stock" and "Underwriters") and
5(c)(xviii) above.
With respect to Section 6(c)(xiii) above, Fenwick & West and Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx may state that their opinion and belief are based
upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement
and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
discussion of the
-13-
contents thereof, but are without independent check or verification, except
as specified.
The opinion of Fenwick & West described in Section 5(c) above shall be
rendered to the Underwriters at the request of the Company and shall so
state therein.
(e) The Underwriters shall have received, on each of the date hereof
and the Closing Date, a letter dated the date hereof or the Closing Date,
as the case may be, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters,
from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent public accountants, containing
statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants'
"comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements
and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus; provided that the letter delivered on the Closing Date
shall use a "cut-off date" not earlier than the date hereof.
(f) The "Lock-up Agreements," each substantially in the form of
Exhibit A hereto, between you and certain shareholders, officers and
directors of the Company relating to sales and certain other dispositions
of shares of Common Stock or certain other securities, delivered to you on
or before the date hereof, shall be in full force and effect on the Closing
Date.
(g) The Shares shall have received approval for listing, upon official
notice of issuance, on the Nasdaq National Market.
(h) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
opinion of counsel to the Subsidiary, dated the Closing Date, to the effect
that:
(i) the Subsidiary has been duly incorporated, is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power and
corporate authority to own its property and to conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business
and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of
its business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
effect on the Company and the Subsidiary, taken as a whole;
(ii) the Subsidiary has _____ shares of capital stock issued
and outstanding, of which the Company owns _____ shares; and all of
the issued shares of capital stock of the Subsidiary have been duly
and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable
and such shares
-14-
which are owned by the Company are owned directly by the Company, free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; and
(iii) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
performance by the Company of its obligations under, this Agreement
will not contravene any provision of the certificate of incorporation
or by-laws of the Subsidiary.
All the agreements, opinions, certificates and letters mentioned above
or elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed in compliance with the provisions
hereof only if Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, counsel for the Underwriters,
shall be reasonably satisfied that they comply in form and scope.
The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase Additional
Shares hereunder are subject to the delivery to you on the Option Closing Date
of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect to the good
standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of the Additional
Shares and other matters related to the issuance of the Additional Shares.
6. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the
agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) To furnish to you, without charge, four (4) signed copies of the
Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto) and for delivery to
each other Underwriter a conformed copy of the Registration Statement
(without exhibits thereto) and to furnish to you in New York City, without
charge, prior to 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the business day next
succeeding the date of this Agreement and during the period mentioned in
Section 6(c) below, as many copies of the Prospectus and any supplements
and amendments thereto or to the Registration Statement as you may
reasonably request.
(b) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment or
supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
which you reasonably object, and to file with the Commission within the
applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act any
prospectus required to be filed pursuant to such Rule.
(c) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering
of the Shares as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the
Prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by
an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a
result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in
the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to
amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith
to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to
the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you will
furnish
-15-
to the Company) to which Shares may have been sold by you on behalf
of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either
amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the statements in the
Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the
circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, be
misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will
comply with law.
(d) To endeavor to qualify the Shares for offer and sale under the
securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as you shall reasonably
request.
(e) To make generally available to the Company's security holders and
to you as soon as practicable an earning statement covering the twelve-
month period ending March 31, 1999 that satisfies the provisions of Section
11(a) of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.
(f) During a period of three years from the effective date of the
Registration Statement, the Company will furnish to you copies of (i) all
reports to its stockholders and (ii) all reports, financial statements and
proxy or information statements filed by the Company with the Commission or
any national securities exchange.
(g) The Company will apply the proceeds from the sale of the Shares as
set forth under "Use of Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(h) The Company will use its best efforts to obtain and maintain in
effect the quotation of the Shares on the Nasdaq National Market and will
take all necessary steps to cause the Shares to be included on the Nasdaq
National Market as promptly as practicable and to maintain such inclusion
for a period of three years after the date hereof or until such earlier
date as the Shares shall be listed for regular trading privileges on
another national securities exchange approved by you.
(i) The Company will comply with all registration, filing and
reporting requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "EXCHANGE ACT"), which may from time to time be applicable to the
Company.
(j) The Company will comply with all provisions of all undertakings
contained in the Registration Statement.
(k) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company will not, directly or
indirectly, issue any press release or other communication and will not
hold any press conference with respect to the Company, or its financial
condition, results of operations, business, properties, assets, or
prospects or this offering, without your prior written consent.
-16-
(l) The Company agrees: (i) to enforce the terms of each Lock-up
Agreement and (ii) issue stop-transfer instructions to the transfer agent
for the Common Stock with respect to any transaction or contemplated
transaction that would constitute a breach of or default under the
applicable Lock-up Agreement. In addition, except with the prior written
consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, the Company agrees (i) not to amend or
terminate, or waive any right under, any Lock-up Agreement, or take any
other action that would directly or indirectly have the same effect as an
amendment or termination, or waiver of any right under, any Lock-up
Agreement, that would permit any holder of shares of Common Stock, or
securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for Common
Stock, to sell, make any short sale of, grant any option for the purchase
of, or otherwise transfer or dispose of, any of such shares of Common Stock
or other securities prior to the expiration of 180 days after the date of
the Prospectus, and (ii) not to consent to any sale, short sale, grant of
an option for the purchase of, or other disposition or transfer of shares
of Common Stock, or securities convertible into or exercisable or
exchangeable for Common Stock, subject to a Lock-up Agreement.
(m) The Company will place a restrictive legend on any shares of
Common Stock acquired pursuant to the exercise, after the date hereof and
prior to the expiration of the 180-day period after the date of the
Prospectus, of any option granted under the Option Plan, which legend shall
restrict the transfer of such shares prior to the expiration of such 180-
day period. In addition, the Company agrees that, without the prior
written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, it will not release any stockholder or
option holder from the market standoff provision imposed by the Company
pursuant to the terms of the Option Plan earlier than 180 days after the
date of the initial public offering of the Shares.
(n) Whether or not the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are
consummated or this Agreement is terminated, to pay or cause to be paid all
expenses incident to the performance of its obligations under this
Agreement, including: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the
Company's counsel and the Company's accountants in connection with the
registration and delivery of the Shares under the Securities Act and all
other fees or expenses in connection with the preparation and filing of the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus and
amendments and supplements to any of the foregoing, including all printing
costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to the Underwriters and dealers, in the quantities hereinabove
specified, (ii) all costs and expenses related to the transfer and delivery
of the Shares to the Underwriters, including any transfer or other taxes
payable thereon, (iii) the cost of printing or producing any Blue Sky or
Legal Investment memorandum in connection with the offer and sale of the
Shares under state securities laws and all expenses in connection with the
qualification of the Shares for offer and sale under state securities laws
as provided in Section 6(d)
-17-
hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such qualification and in
connection with the Blue Sky or Legal Investment memorandum, (iv) all
filing fees and the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the
Underwriters incurred in connection with the review and qualification of
the offering of the Shares by the National Association of Securities
Dealers, Inc., (v) all fees and expenses in connection with the preparation
and filing of the registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the Common
Stock and all costs and expenses incident to listing the Shares on the
Nasdaq National Market, (vi) the cost of printing certificates representing
the Shares, (vii) the costs and charges of any transfer agent, registrar or
depositary, (viii) the costs and expenses of the Company relating to
investor presentations on any "road show" undertaken in connection with the
marketing of the offering of the Shares, including, without limitation,
expenses associated with the production of road show slides and graphics,
fees and expenses of any consultants engaged in connection with the road
show presentations with the prior approval of the Company, travel and
lodging expenses of the representatives and officers of the Company and any
such consultants, and one half the cost of any aircraft chartered or
limousines hired in connection with the road show, and (ix) all other costs
and expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company
hereunder for which provision is not otherwise made in this Section. It is
understood, however, that except as provided in this Section, Section 7
entitled "Indemnity and Contribution", and the last paragraph of Section 9
below, the Underwriters will pay all of their costs and expenses, including
fees and disbursements of their counsel, travel, meals and lodging expenses
of the representatives and officers of the Underwriters, the costs of
conference rooms and meals for "road show" meetings, one half the cost of
any aircraft chartered or limosines hired in connection with the "road
show" stock transfer taxes payable on resale of any of the Shares by them
and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.
(o) That in connection with the Directed Share Program, the Company
will ensure that the Directed Shares will be restricted to the extent
required by the NASD or the NASD rules from sale, transfer, assignment,
pledge or hypothecation for a period of three months following the date of
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement. Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx will
notify the Company as to which Participants will need to be so restricted.
The Company will direct the transfer agent to place stop transfer
restrictions upon such securities for such period of time.
(p) To pay all fees and disbursements of counsel incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program and stamp
duties, similar taxes or duties or other taxes, if any, incurred by the
Underwriters in connection with the Directed Share Program.
-18-
Furthermore, the Company covenants with Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx that the Company
will comply with all applicable securities and other applicable laws, rules and
regulations in each foreign jurisdiction in which the Directed Shares are
offered in connection with the Directed Share Program.
7. Indemnity and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the "Exchange Act," from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement or any amendment
thereof, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged
untrue statement or omission based upon information relating to any Underwriter
furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you expressly
for use therein; and provided further that the foregoing indemnity agreement
with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities purchased Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if a
copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if the Company shall
have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by
or on behalf of such Underwriter to such person, if required by law so to have
been delivered, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of the
Shares to such person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented)
would have cured the defect giving rise to such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, unless such failure is the result of noncompliance by the Company
with Section 6(a) hereof.
(b) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange
Act ("UNDERWRITER ENTITIES"), from and against any and all losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including, without limitation, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or investigating any
such action or claim) (i) caused by any untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the prospectus wrapper material
prepared by or with the consent of the Company for distribution in foreign
jurisdictions in connection with the Directed Share Program attached to the
Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus, or caused by any omission or alleged
omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statement therein, when considered in conjunction with the
Prospectus or any applicable
-19-
preliminary prospectus, not misleading; (ii) caused by the failure of any
Participant to pay for and accept delivery of the shares which, immediately
following the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, were subject to a
properly confirmed agreement to purchase; or (iii) related to, arising out of,
or in connection with the Directed Share Program, provided that, the Company
shall not be responsible under this subparagraph (iii) for any losses, claim,
damages or liabilities (or expenses relating thereto) that are finally
judicially determined to have resulted from the bad faith or gross negligence of
Underwriter Entities.
(c) Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the
Registration Statement and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
such Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter through you
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus or any amendments or supplements thereto.
(d) In case any proceeding (including any governmental investigation)
shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which indemnity may be
sought pursuant to Section 7(a), 7(b) or 7(c), such person (the "INDEMNIFIED
PARTY") shall promptly notify the person against whom such indemnity may be
sought (the "INDEMNIFYING PARTY") in writing and the Indemnifying Party, upon
request of the Indemnified Party, shall retain counsel reasonably satisfactory
to the Indemnified Party to represent the Indemnified Party and any others the
Indemnifying Party may designate in such proceeding and shall pay the fees and
disbursements of such counsel related to such proceeding. In any such
proceeding, any Indemnified Party shall have the right to retain its own
counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such Indemnified Party unless (i) the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified
Party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such counsel or (ii) the
named parties to any such proceeding (including any impleaded parties) include
both the Indemnifying Party and the Indemnified Party and representation of both
parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due to actual or potential
differing interests between them. It is understood that the Indemnifying Party
shall not, in respect of the legal expenses of any Indemnified Party in
connection with any proceeding or related proceedings in the same jurisdiction,
be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition
to any local counsel) for all such Indemnified Parties and that all such fees
and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred. Such firm shall be
designated in writing by Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated, in the case of
parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(a) or 7(b), and by the Company, in the
case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 7(c). The Indemnifying Party
shall not be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its
written consent, but if settled with such consent or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the Indemnifying Party agrees to indemnify the
Indemnified Party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such
settlement or judgment.
-20-
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, if at any time an Indemnified Party
shall have requested an Indemnifying Party to reimburse the Indemnified Party
for fees and expenses of counsel as contemplated by the second and third
sentences of this paragraph, the Indemnifying Party agrees that it shall be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written consent
if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 30 days after receipt by such
Indemnifying Party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such Indemnifying Party
shall not have reimbursed the Indemnified Party in accordance with such request
prior to the date of such settlement. No Indemnifying Party shall, without the
prior written consent of the Indemnified Party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding 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 includes an unconditional release of
such Indemnified Party from all liability on claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary,
if indemnity may be sought pursuant to Section 7(b) hereof in respect of such
action or proceeding, then in addition to such separate firm for the Indemnified
Parties, the Indemnifying Party shall be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of not more than one separate firm (in addition to any local counsel)
for Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx for the defense of any losses, claims, damages and
liabilities arising out of the Directed Share Program, and all persons, if any,
who control Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act.
(e) To the extent the indemnification provided for in Section 7(a),
7(b) or 7(c) is unavailable to an Indemnified Party or insufficient in respect
of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to therein, then each
Indemnifying Party under such paragraph, in lieu of indemnifying such
Indemnified Party thereunder, shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such Indemnified Party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the allocation provided by
clause 7(e)(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
7(e)(i) above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of
the Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or
omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand in
connection with the offering of the Shares shall be deemed to be in the same
respective proportions as the net proceeds from the offering of the Shares
(before deducting expenses) received by the Company and the total underwriting
discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set
forth in the table on the cover of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate Public
Offering Price of the Shares. The relative fault of the Company on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other hand shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties'
-21-
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission. The Underwriters' respective obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion to the
respective number of Shares they have purchased hereunder, and not joint.
(f) The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just
or equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation that does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in Section 7(e). The amount paid or
payable by an Indemnified Party as a result of the losses, claims, damages and
liabilities referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such Indemnified Party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages that such Underwriter 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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The remedies provided for in this Section 7 are not
exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which may otherwise be
available to any Indemnified Party at law or in equity.
(g) The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in this
Section 7 and the representations, warranties and other statements of the
Company contained in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and
effect regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or
any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any
of the Shares.
8. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination by
notice given by you to the Company, if (a) after the execution and delivery of
this Agreement and prior to the Closing Date (i) trading generally shall have
been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case may be, any of the
New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc., the Chicago Board of Options Exchange, the Chicago
Mercantile Exchange or the Chicago Board of Trade, (ii) trading of any
securities of the Company shall have been suspended on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market, (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking
activities in New York shall have been declared by either Federal or New York
State authorities or (iv) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation
of hostilities or any change in financial markets or any calamity or crisis
that, in your
-22-
judgment, is material and adverse and (b) in the case of any of the events
specified in clauses 8(a)(i) through 8(a)(iv), such event, singly or together
with any other such event, makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market
the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.
9. Effectiveness; Defaulting Underwriters. This Agreement shall
become effective upon the execution and delivery hereof by the parties hereto.
If, on the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares
that it has or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the
aggregate number of Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth of the
aggregate number of the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other
Underwriters shall be obligated severally in the proportions that the number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite their respective names in Schedule I bears to the
aggregate number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-
defaulting Underwriters, or in such other proportions as you may specify, to
purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the
number of Shares that any Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to this
Agreement be increased pursuant to this Section 9 by an amount in excess of one-
ninth of such number of Shares without the written consent of such Underwriter.
If, on the Closing Date, any Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to
purchase Firm Shares and the aggregate number of Firm Shares with respect to
which such default occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Firm
Shares to be purchased, and arrangements satisfactory to you and the Company for
the purchase of such Firm Shares are not made within 36 hours after such
default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company. In any such case either you or the
Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date, but in no event for
longer than seven days, in order that the required changes, if any, in the
Registration Statement and in the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected. If, on the Option Closing Date, any Underwriter
or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Additional Shares and the
aggregate number of Additional Shares with respect to which such default occurs
is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Additional Shares to be
purchased, the non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the option to (i)
terminate their obligation hereunder to purchase Additional Shares or (ii)
purchase not less than the number of Additional Shares that such non-defaulting
Underwriters would have been obligated to purchase in the absence of such
default. Any action taken under this paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or any of
them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply
with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, or if for
any reason the Company shall
-23-
be unable to perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Company will
reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so terminated this
Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all out-of-pocket expenses
(including the fees and dis bursements of their counsel) reasonably incurred by
such Underwriters in connection with this Agreement or the offering contemplated
hereunder.
10. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
11. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
-24-
12. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have
been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part
of this Agreement.
Very truly yours,
VERISIGN, INC.
By:
---------------------------------------
Name:
Title:
Accepted as of the date hereof
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, L.L.C.
Acting severally on behalf
of themselves and the
several Underwriters named
in Schedule I hereto.
By: Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
-25-
SCHEDULE I
NUMBER OF
FIRM SHARES
UNDERWRITER TO BE PURCHASED
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, L.L.C.
[NAMES OF OTHER UNDERWRITERS]
______________
Total...........
==============
EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
November 6, 1997
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx, L.L.C.
c/o Morgan Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated
0000 Xxxxxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, XX 00000
Dear Sirs and Mesdames:
The undersigned understands that Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. Incorporated ("Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxx") proposes to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the "Underwriting
Agreement") with VeriSign, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
providing for the public offering (the "Public Offering") by the several
Underwriters, including Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx (the "Underwriters"), of shares (the
"Shares") of the Common Stock, one-tenth of one cent ($0.001) par value per
share, of the Company (the "Common Stock").
To induce the Underwriters that may participate in the Public Offering to
continue their efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the undersigned
hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on
behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the final prospectus relating
to the Public Offering (the "Prospectus"), (1) offer, pledge, sell, contract to
sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract
to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend, or otherwise
transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any shares of Common Stock or
any securities convertible into or excisable or exchangeable for Common Stock or
(2) enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another, in whole
or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of Common Stock,
whether any such transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be
settled by delivery of Common Stock or such other securities, in cash or
otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) the sale of any Shares
to the Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement or (b) transactions
relating to shares of Common Stock or other securities acquired in open market
transactions after the completion of the Public Offering. In addition, the
undersigned agrees that, without the prior written consent of Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx on
behalf of the Underwriters, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending 180 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any
demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares
of Common Stock or any security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable
for Common Stock.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of
factors, including market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made
pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement, the terms of which are subject to
negotiation between the Company and the Underwriters.
Very truly yours,
(Name)
(Address)