BLUE RHINO CORPORATION DRAFT 4/20/98
2,700,000 Shares/1/
Common Stock
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
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May __, 0000
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
NationBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
x/x Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Blue Rhino Corporation, a Delaware corporation (herein called the Company),
proposes to issue and sell 2,700,000 shares of its authorized but unissued
Common Stock, $0.001 par value (herein called the Common Stock) (said 2,700,000
shares of Common Stock being herein called the Underwritten Stock). The Company
proposes to grant to the Underwriters (as hereinafter defined) an option to
purchase up to 405,000 additional shares of Common Stock (herein called the
Option Stock and with the Underwritten Stock herein collectively called the
Stock). The Common Stock is more fully described in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus hereinafter mentioned.
The Company hereby confirms the agreements made with respect to the
purchase of the Stock by the several underwriters, for whom you are acting,
named in Schedule I hereto (herein collectively called the Underwriters, which
term shall also include any underwriter purchasing Stock pursuant to Section
3(b) hereof). You represent and warrant that you have been authorized by each
of the other Underwriters to enter into this Agreement on its behalf and to act
for it in the manner herein provided.
1. Registration Statement. The Company has filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (herein called the Commission) a registration statement on
Form S-1 (No. 333-_____), including the related preliminary prospectus, for the
registration under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (herein called the
Securities Act) of the Stock. Copies of such registration statement and of each
amendment thereto, if any, including the related preliminary prospectus (meeting
the requirements of Rule 430A of the rules and regulations of the Commission)
heretofore filed by the Company with the Commission have been delivered to you.
The term Registration Statement as used in this agreement shall mean such
registration statement, including all exhibits and financial statements, all
information omitted therefrom in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in the
Prospectus referred to below, in the form in which it became effective, and any
registration statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the rules and
regulations of the Commission with respect to the Stock (herein called a Rule
462(b) registration statement), and, in the event of any amendment thereto after
the effective date of such registration statement (herein called the Effective
Date), shall also mean (from and after the effectiveness of such amendment) such
registration statement as so amended (including any Rule 462(b) registration
statement). The term Prospectus as used in this Agreement shall mean the
prospectus relating to the Stock first filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A (or if no such filing is required, as included in the
Registration Statement) and, in the event of any supplement or amendment to such
prospectus after the Effective Date, shall also mean (from and after the filing
with the Commission
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/1/ Plus an option to purchase from the Company up to 405,000 additional shares
to cover over-allotments.
of such supplement or the effectiveness of such amendment) such prospectus as so
supplemented or amended. The term Preliminary Prospectus as used in this
Agreement shall mean each preliminary prospectus included in such registration
statement prior to the time it becomes effective.
The Registration Statement has been declared effective under the Securities
Act, and no post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement has been
filed as of the date of this Agreement. The Company has caused to be delivered
to you copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and has consented to the use of
such copies for the purposes permitted by the Securities Act.
2. Representations and Warranties of the Company.
(a) The Company hereby represents and warrants as follows:
(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, has
full corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and as being conducted, and is duly qualified as a foreign
corporation and in good standing in all jurisdictions in which the
character of the property owned or leased or the nature of the business
transacted by it makes qualification necessary (except where the failure to
be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the business,
properties, financial condition or results of operations of the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole).
(ii) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has not been any
materially adverse change in the business, properties, financial condition
or results of operations of the Company, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, other than as set forth in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and since such dates, except
in the ordinary course of business, the Company has not entered into any
material transaction not referred to in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.
(iii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply, and on the
Closing Date (as hereinafter defined) and any later date on which Option
Stock is to be purchased, the Prospectus will comply, in all material
respects, with the provisions of the Securities Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission thereunder; on the Effective Date, the
Registration Statement did not contain any untrue statement of a material
fact and did not omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading; and, on the Effective Date the Prospectus did not and, on the
Closing Date and any later date on which Option Stock is to be purchased,
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, however, that none of the representations and warranties in this
subparagraph (iii) shall apply to statements in, or omissions from, the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
conformity with information herein or otherwise furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of the Underwriters for use in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus.
(iv) The Stock, when issued and sold to the Underwriters as provided
herein, will be duly and validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, free
of preemptive or similar rights, and conforms to the description thereof in
the Prospectus. No further approval or authority of the stockholders or the
Board of Directors of the Company will be required for the issuance and
sale of the Stock as contemplated herein.
(v) Any transaction entered into by the Company prior to the date
hereof with one or more the Company's stockholders, officers, directors or
other related parties (herein called a Related Party) has been consummated
on a basis no less favorable to the Company than which the Company could
have entered into with a non-Related Party.
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(vi) Attached hereto as Schedule II is a capitalization table of the
Company setting forth all holders of securities of the Company, including
the number such securities, the exercise or conversion price (if
applicable), and the respective percentages of ownership of such holders on
a fully diluted basis.
(vii) The Company currently has in effect (a) a "commercial umbrella
insurance policy" with United States Fire Insurance Company which
indemnifies the Company for claims made pursuant to the terms thereof up to
an aggregate of $10 million per year and (b) an "excess liability insurance
policy" with National Union Fire Insurance Company which indemnifies the
Company for claims made pursuant to the terms thereof up to an aggregate of
$25 million per year in addition to and in excess of claims made by the
Company pursuant to the commercial umbrella insurance policy (the
commercial umbrella insurance policy and the excess liability insurance
policy are hereinafter collectively referred to as the Liability Insurance
Policies). Each of the Liability Insurance Policies constitutes a valid and
binding obligation of the parties thereto and is in full force and effect.
The Company has fulfilled and performed its obligations under each of the
Liability Insurance Policies and the Company is not in, nor alleged to be
in, breach or default under either of the Liability Insurance Policies, and
no event has occurred and no condition or state of facts exists which, with
the passage of time or the giving of notice or both, would constitute such
a default or breach by the Company. Complete and correct copies of each of
the Liability Insurance Policies have previously been delivered to the
Underwriters or representatives thereof.
(viii) Messrs. Prim and Xxxxxxxxxx, the Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer and Vice Chairman of the Company, respectively, directly or
indirectly own in aggregate approximately 40%, __% and __% of the equity
interests of Platinum Propane Holding, L.L.C., Caribou Cylinder Exchange,
L.L.C. and Javalina Cylinder Exchange, L.L.C., respectively.
(ix) The issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company
as set forth in the Prospectus have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and free of preemptive or similar
rights, and conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus.
(x) The making and performance by the Company of this Agreement has
been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not violate
any provision of the Company's charter or bylaws and will not result in the
breach, or be in contravention, of any provision of any material agreement,
franchise, license, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, or other material
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company or its
property may be bound or affected, or violate or conflict with any order,
rule or regulation applicable to the Company of any court or regulatory
body, administrative agency or other governmental body having jurisdiction
over the Company, or any order of any court or governmental agency or
authority entered in any proceeding to which the Company was or is now a
party or by which it is bound.
(xi) The Shareholders' Agreement filed as Exhibit 10.16 to the
Registration Statement will be terminated as of the Closing Date.
(xii) There are no holders of securities of the Company (i) having
rights to registration thereof, except as disclosed on the Prospectus or
(ii) preemptive or similar rights to purchase Common Stock.
(xiii) There is no material document of a character required to be
described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not described or filed as
required.
(xiv) The Company owns and possesses all right, title and interest in
and to all trademarks, copyrights and other proprietary rights ("Trade
Rights") material to the business of the Company. The Company has not
received any written notice of infringement, misappropriation or conflict
from any third party as to such material Trade Rights and the Company has
not infringed, misappropriated or otherwise conflicted with material Trade
Rights of any third parties.
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(xv) The conduct of the business of the Company and each of its
subsidiaries is in compliance in all respects with applicable federal,
state, local and foreign laws and regulations, except where the failure to
be in compliance would not have a material adverse effect upon the
condition (financial or otherwise) or results of operations of the Company.
(xvi) All offers and sales of the Company's securities by the Company
prior to the date hereof were exempt from the registration requirements of
the Securities Act and were duly registered with or the subject of an
available exemption from the registration requirements of the applicable
state securities or blue sky laws.
(xvii) Neither the Company nor any director, executive officer, agent,
employee or other person associated with or acting on behalf of the Company
has used any corporate funds for any unlawful contribution, gift,
entertainment or other unlawful expense relating to political activity;
made any direct or indirect unlawful payment to any foreign or domestic
government official or employee from corporate funds; violated or is in
violation of any provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1972;
or made any bribe, rebate, payoff, influence payment, kickback or other
unlawful payment.
(xviii) Prior to the Closing Date the Stock to be issued and sold by
the Company will be approved for listing by the Nasdaq National Market upon
official notice of issuance.
3. Purchase of the Stock by the Underwriters.
(a) On the basis of the representations and warranties and subject to the
terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company agrees to issue and sell
2,700,000 shares of the Underwritten Stock to the several Underwriters and each
of the Underwriters agrees to purchase from the Company the respective aggregate
number of shares of Underwritten Stock set forth opposite its name in Schedule
I. The price at which such shares of Underwritten Stock shall be sold by the
Company and purchased by the several Underwriters shall be $___ per share. In
making this Agreement, each Underwriter is contracting severally and not
jointly; except as provided in paragraphs (b) and (c) of this Section 3, the
agreement of each Underwriter is to purchase only the respective number of
shares of the Underwritten Stock specified in Schedule I.
(b) If for any reason one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse
(otherwise than for a reason sufficient to justify the termination of this
Agreement under the provisions of Section 8 or 9 hereof) to purchase and pay for
the number of shares of the Stock agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or
Underwriters, the Company shall immediately give notice thereof to you, and the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall have the right within 24 hours after the
receipt by you of such notice to purchase, or procure one or more other
Underwriters to purchase, in such proportions as may be agreed upon between you
and such purchasing Underwriter or Underwriters and upon the terms herein set
forth, all or any part of the shares of the Stock which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase. If the non-defaulting
Underwriters fail so to make such arrangements with respect to all such shares
and portion, the number of shares of the Stock which each non-defaulting
Underwriter is otherwise obligated to purchase under this Agreement shall be
automatically increased on a pro rata basis to absorb the remaining shares and
portion which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase;
provided, however, that the non-defaulting Underwriters shall not be obligated
to purchase the shares and portion which the defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed to purchase if the aggregate number of such shares of the
Stock exceeds 10% of the total number of shares of the Stock which all
Underwriters agreed to purchase hereunder. If the total number of shares of the
Stock which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase shall
not be purchased or absorbed in accordance with the two preceding sentences, the
Company shall have the right, within 24 hours next succeeding the 24-hour period
above referred to, to make arrangements with other underwriters or purchasers
satisfactory to you for purchase of such shares and portion on the terms herein
set forth. In any such case, either you or the Company shall have the right to
postpone the Closing Date determined as provided in Section 5 hereof for not
more than seven business days after the date originally fixed as the Closing
Date pursuant to said Section 5 in order that any necessary changes in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements
may be made. If neither the non-defaulting Underwriters nor the Company shall
make arrangements within the
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24-hour periods stated above for the purchase of all the shares of the Stock
which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed to purchase hereunder,
this Agreement shall be terminated without further act or deed and without any
liability on the part of the Company to any non-defaulting Underwriter and
without any liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter to the
Company. Nothing in this paragraph (b), and no action taken hereunder, shall
relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of
such Underwriter under this Agreement.
(c) On the basis of the representations, warranties and covenants herein
contained, and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company
grants an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not
jointly, up to 405,000 shares in the aggregate of the Option Stock from the
Company at the same price per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the
Underwritten Stock. Said option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments
in the sale of the Underwritten Stock by the Underwriters and may be exercised
in whole or in part at any time (but not more than once) on or before the
thirtieth day after the date of this Agreement upon written or telegraphic
notice by you to the Company setting forth the aggregate number of shares of the
Option Stock as to which the several Underwriters are exercising the option.
Delivery of certificates for the shares of Option Stock, and payment therefor,
shall be made as provided in Section 5 hereof. The number of shares of the
Option Stock to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same percentage of
the total number of shares of the Option Stock to be purchased by the several
Underwriters as such Underwriter is purchasing of the Underwritten Stock, as
adjusted by you in such manner as you deem advisable to avoid fractional shares.
4. Offering by Underwriters.
(a) The terms of the initial public offering by the Underwriters of the
Stock to be purchased by them shall be as set forth in the Prospectus. The
Underwriters may from time to time change the public offering price after the
closing of the initial public offering and increase or decrease the concessions
and discounts to dealers as they may determine.
(b) The information set forth in the last paragraph on the front cover page
and under "Underwriting" in the Registration Statement, any Preliminary
Prospectus and the Prospectus relating to the Stock filed by the Company
(insofar as such information relates to the Underwriters) constitutes the only
information furnished by the Underwriters to the Company for inclusion in the
Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus, and the Prospectus, and you
on behalf of the respective Underwriters represent and warrant to the Company
that the statements made therein are correct.
5. Delivery of and Payment for the Stock.
(a) Delivery of certificates for the shares of the Underwritten Stock and
the Option Stock (if the option granted by Section 3(c) hereof shall have been
exercised not later than 7:00 A.M., San Francisco time, on the date two business
days preceding the Closing Date), and payment therefor, shall be made at the
office of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, P.C., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, at
7:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the fourth business day after the date of this
Agreement, or at such time on such other day, not later than seven full business
days after such fourth business day, as shall be agreed upon in writing by the
Company and you. The date and hour of such delivery and payment (which may be
postponed as provided in Section 3(b) hereof) are herein called the Closing
Date.
(b) If the option granted by Section 3(c) hereof shall be exercised after
7:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the date two business days preceding the
Closing Date, delivery of certificates for the shares of Option Stock, and
payment therefor, shall be made at the office of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, P.C., 000
Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx, at 7:00 a.m., San Francisco time, on the
third business day after the exercise of such option.
(c) Payment for the Stock purchased from the Company shall be made to the
Company or its order by one or more certified or official bank check or checks
or a wire transfer in same day funds. Such
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payment shall be made upon delivery of certificates for the Stock to you for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters against receipt therefor signed
by you. Certificates for the Stock to be delivered to you shall be registered in
such name or names and shall be in such denominations as you may request at
least one business day before the Closing Date, in the case of Underwritten
Stock, and at least one business day prior to the purchase thereof, in the case
of the Option Stock. Such certificates will be made available to the
Underwriters for inspection, checking and packaging at the offices of Lewco
Securities Corporation, 0 Xxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000 on the business day
prior to the Closing Date or, in the case of the Option Stock, by 3:00 p.m., New
York time, on the business day preceding the date of purchase.
It is understood that you, individually and not on behalf of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment to the Company
for shares to be purchased by any Underwriter whose check shall not have been
received by you on the Closing Date or any later date on which Option Stock is
purchased for the account of such Underwriter. Any such payment by you shall
not relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations hereunder.
6. Further Agreements of the Company. The Company covenants and agrees
as follows:
(a) The Company will (i) prepare and timely file with the Commission under
Rule 424(b) a Prospectus containing information previously omitted at the time
of effectiveness of the Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A and (ii)
not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which you shall not previously have been advised and furnished
with a copy or to which you shall have reasonably objected in writing or which
is not in compliance with the Securities Act or the rules and regulations of the
Commission.
(b) The Company will promptly notify each Underwriter in the event of (i)
the request by the Commission for amendment of the Registration Statement or for
supplement to the Prospectus or for any additional information, (ii) the
issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement, (iii) the institution or notice of intended institution
of any action or proceeding for that purpose, (iv) the receipt by the Company of
any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Stock for sale in any jurisdiction, or (v) the receipt by it of notice of the
initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose. The Company will
make every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of such a stop order and,
if such an order shall at any time be issued, to obtain the withdrawal thereof
at the earliest possible moment.
(c) The Company will (i) on or before the Closing Date, deliver to you a
signed copy of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each
amendment thereto filed prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes
effective and, promptly upon the filing thereof, a signed copy of each post-
effective amendment, if any, to the Registration Statement (together with, in
each case, all exhibits thereto unless previously furnished to you) and will
also deliver to you, for distribution to the Underwriters, a sufficient number
of additional conformed copies of each of the foregoing (but without exhibits)
so that one copy of each may be distributed to each Underwriter, (ii) as
promptly as possible deliver to you and send to the several Underwriters, at
such office or offices as you may designate, as many copies of the Prospectus as
you may reasonably request, and (iii) thereafter from time to time during the
period in which a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an
Underwriter or dealer, likewise send to the Underwriters as many additional
copies of the Prospectus and as many copies of any supplement to the Prospectus
and of any amended prospectus, filed by the Company with the Commission, as you
may reasonably request for the purposes contemplated by the Securities Act.
(d) If at any time during the period in which a prospectus is required by
law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer any event relating to or
affecting the Company, or of which the Company shall be advised in writing by
you, shall occur as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel
for the Company or of counsel for the Underwriters, to supplement or amend the
Prospectus in order to make the Prospectus not misleading in the light of the
circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a purchaser of
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the Stock, the Company will forthwith prepare and file with the Commission a
supplement to the Prospectus or an amended prospectus so that the Prospectus as
so supplemented or amended 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 existing at the time such
Prospectus is delivered to such purchaser, not misleading. If, after the initial
public offering of the Stock by the Underwriters and during such period, the
Underwriters shall propose to vary the terms of offering thereof by reason of
changes in general market conditions or otherwise, you will advise the Company
in writing of the proposed variation, and, if in the opinion either of counsel
for the Company or of counsel for the Underwriters such proposed variation
requires that the Prospectus be supplemented or amended, the Company will
forthwith prepare and file with the Commission a supplement to the Prospectus or
an amended prospectus setting forth such variation. The Company authorizes the
Underwriters and all dealers to whom any of the Stock may be sold by the several
Underwriters to use the Prospectus, as from time to time amended or
supplemented, in connection with the sale of the Stock in accordance with the
applicable provisions of the Securities Act and the applicable rules and
regulations thereunder for such period.
(e) Prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, the Company will
submit to you, for your information, a copy of any post-effective amendment to
the Registration Statement and any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended
prospectus proposed to be filed.
(f) The Company will cooperate, when and as requested by you, in the
qualification of the Stock for offer and sale under the securities or blue sky
laws of such jurisdictions as you may designate and, during the period in which
a prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, in
keeping such qualifications in good standing under said securities or blue sky
laws; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to file any
general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation in
any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified. The Company will, from time
to time, prepare and file such statements, reports, and other documents as are
or may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a
period as you may reasonably request for distribution of the Stock.
(g) During a period of five years commencing with the date hereof, the
Company will furnish to you, and to each Underwriter who may so request in
writing, copies of all periodic and special reports furnished to stockholders of
the Company and of all information, documents and reports filed with the
Commission (including the Report on Form SR required by Rule 463 of the
Commission under the Securities Act).
(h) Not later than the 45th day following the end of the fiscal quarter
first occurring after the first anniversary of the Effective Date, the Company
will make generally available to its security holders an earnings statement in
accordance with Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and Rule 158 thereunder.
(i) The Company agrees to pay all costs and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including all costs and
expenses incident to (i) the preparation, printing and filing with the
Commission and the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the NASD)
of the Registration Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus,
(ii) the furnishing to the Underwriters of copies of any Preliminary Prospectus
and of the several documents required by paragraph (c) of this Section 6 to be
so furnished, (iii) the printing of this Agreement and related documents
delivered to the Underwriters, (iv) the preparation, printing and filing of all
supplements and amendments to the Prospectus referred to in paragraph (d) of
this Section 6, (v) the furnishing to you and the Underwriters of the reports
and information referred to in paragraph (g) of this Section 6 and (vi) the
printing and issuance of stock certificates, including the transfer agent's
fees.
(j) The Company agrees to reimburse you, for the account of the several
Underwriters, for blue sky fees and related disbursements (including counsel
fees and disbursements and cost of printing memoranda for the Underwriters) paid
by or for the account of the Underwriters or their counsel in qualifying the
Stock under state securities or blue sky laws and in the review of the offering
by the NASD.
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(k) The Company hereby agrees that, without the prior written consent of
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC on behalf of the Underwriters, the Company will not, for a
period of 180 days following the commencement of the public offering of the
Stock by the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, offer, contract to
sell, make any short sale, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to
purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or any rights to
purchase or acquire Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap or other agreement
that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences or
ownership of 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 Stock to be sold to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, (B) shares
of Common Stock issued by the Company upon the exercise of options outstanding
as of the date hereof granted under the stock option plans of the Company (the
"Option Plans") or upon the exercise of warrants outstanding as of the date
hereof, all as described in footnote (2) to the table under the caption
Capitalization in the Preliminary Prospectus, and (C) options to purchase Common
Stock granted under the Option Plans.
(l) If at any time during the 25-day period after the Registration
Statement becomes effective any rumor, publication or event relating to or
affecting the Company shall occur as a result of which in your opinion the
market price for the Stock has been or is likely to be materially affected
(regardless of whether such rumor, publication or event necessitates a
supplement to or amendment of the Prospectus), the Company will, after written
notice from you advising the Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith
prepare, consult with you concerning the substance of, and disseminate a press
release or other public statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to
or commenting on such rumor, publication or event.
(m) The Company is not, and upon receipt and pending application of the net
proceeds from the sale of the Stock to be sold by the Company in the manner
described in the Prospectus will not be, an "investment company", a company
"controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act of 1940, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder.
(n) The Company agrees to maintain or cause to be maintained, with
financially sound and reputable insurers, insurance with respect to its assets
and business substantially similar (including but not limited to policy amounts
and deductibles) to the Liability Insurance Policies for at least 18 months from
the date hereof, and shall provide to the Underwriters, upon request, copies of
all such insurance policies.
7. Indemnification and Contribution.
(a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and
each person (including each partner or officer thereof) who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to
which such indemnified parties or any of them may become subject under the
Securities Act, the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (herein called
the Exchange Act), or the common law or otherwise, and the Company agrees to
reimburse each such Underwriter and controlling person for any legal or other
expenses (including, except as otherwise hereinafter provided, reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the respective indemnified parties in
connection with defending against any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities or in connection with any investigation or inquiry of, or other
proceeding which may be brought against, the respective indemnified parties, in
each case arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
(including the Prospectus as part thereof and any Rule 462(b) registration
statement) or any post-effective amendment thereto (including any Rule 462(b)
registration statement), or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus (as
amended or as supplemented if the Company shall have filed with the Commission
any amendment thereof or supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact
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necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; provided, however,
that (1) the indemnity agreements of the Company contained in this paragraph (a)
shall not apply to any such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or expenses if
such statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished as herein stated or otherwise furnished in writing to the
Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter for use in any Preliminary Prospectus
or the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or
supplement thereto and (2) the indemnity agreement contained in this paragraph
(a) 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,
liabilities or expenses purchased the Stock which is the subject thereof (or to
the benefit of any person controlling such Underwriter) if at or prior to the
written confirmation of the sale of such Stock a copy of the Prospectus (or the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented) was not sent or delivered to such person
and the untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in such
Preliminary Prospectus was corrected in the Prospectus (or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented) unless the failure is the result of noncompliance by
the Company with paragraph (c) of Section 6 hereof. The indemnity agreements of
the Company contained in this paragraph (a) and the representations and
warranties of the Company contained in Section 2 hereof shall remain operative
and in full force and effect regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive the delivery of and payment
for the Stock.
(b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its officers who signs the Registration Statement on his own
behalf or pursuant to a power of attorney, each of its directors, each other
Underwriter and each person (including each partner or officer thereof) who
controls the Company or any such other Underwriter within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act, from and against any and all losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, joint or several, to which such indemnified parties or any of
them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or the
common law or otherwise and to reimburse each of them for any legal or other
expenses (including, except as otherwise hereinafter provided, reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel) incurred by the respective indemnified parties in
connection with defending against any such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities or in connection with any investigation or inquiry of, or other
proceeding which may be brought against, the respective indemnified parties, in
each case arising out of or based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
(including the Prospectus as part thereof and any Rule 462(b) registration
statement) or any post-effective amendment thereto (including any Rule 462(b)
registration statement) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading or (ii) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in the Prospectus (as amended or as supplemented if
the Company shall have filed with the Commission any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto) or the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, if such statement
or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished as herein stated or otherwise furnished in writing to the Company by
or on behalf of such indemnifying Underwriter for use in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any such amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
The indemnity agreement of each Underwriter contained in this paragraph (b)
shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of any
investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party and shall survive
the delivery of and payment for the Stock.
(c) Each party indemnified under the provision of paragraphs (a) and (b) of
this Section 7 agrees that, upon the service of a summons or other initial legal
process upon it in any action or suit instituted against it or upon its receipt
of written notification of the commencement of any investigation or inquiry of,
or proceeding against, it in respect of which indemnity may be sought on account
of any indemnity agreement contained in such paragraphs, it will promptly give
written notice (herein called the Notice) of such service or notification to the
party or parties from whom indemnification may be sought hereunder. No
indemnification provided for in such paragraphs shall be available to any party
who shall fail so to give the Notice if the party to whom such Notice was not
given was unaware of the action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding to
which the Notice would have related and was prejudiced by the failure to give
the Notice, but the omission so to notify such indemnifying party or parties of
any such service or notification shall not relieve such
9
indemnifying party or parties from any liability which it or they may have to
the indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than on account of such
indemnity agreement. Any indemnifying party shall be entitled at its own expense
to participate in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding against, or
investigation or inquiry of, an indemnified party. Any indemnifying party shall
be entitled, if it so elects within a reasonable time after receipt of the
Notice by giving written notice (herein called the Notice of Defense) to the
indemnified party, to assume (alone or in conjunction with any other
indemnifying party or parties) the entire defense of such action, suit,
investigation, inquiry or proceeding, in which event such defense shall be
conducted, at the expense of the indemnifying party or parties, by counsel
chosen by such indemnifying party or parties and reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party or parties; provided, however, that (i) if the indemnified
party or parties reasonably determine that there may be a conflict between the
positions of the indemnifying party or parties and of the indemnified party or
parties in conducting the defense of such action, suit, investigation, inquiry
or proceeding or that there may be legal defenses available to such indemnified
party or parties different from or in addition to those available to the
indemnifying party or parties, then counsel for the indemnified party or parties
shall be entitled to conduct the defense to the extent reasonably determined by
such counsel to be necessary to protect the interests of the indemnified party
or parties and (ii) in any event, the indemnified party or parties shall be
entitled to have counsel chosen by such indemnified party or parties participate
in, but not conduct, the defense. If, within a reasonable time after receipt of
the Notice, an indemnifying party gives a Notice of Defense and the counsel
chosen by the indemnifying party or parties is reasonably satisfactory to the
indemnified party or parties, the indemnifying party or parties will not be
liable under paragraphs (a) through (c) of this Section 7 for any legal or other
expenses subsequently incurred by the indemnified party or parties in connection
with the defense of the action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding,
except that (A) the indemnifying party or parties shall bear the legal and other
expenses incurred in connection with the conduct of the defense as referred to
in clause (i) of the proviso to the preceding sentence and (B) the indemnifying
party or parties shall bear such other expenses as it or they have authorized to
be incurred by the indemnified party or parties. If, within a reasonable time
after receipt of the Notice, no Notice of Defense has been given, the
indemnifying party or parties shall be responsible for any legal or other
expenses incurred by the indemnified party or parties in connection with the
defense of the action, suit, investigation, inquiry or proceeding.
(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under paragraph (a) or (b) of
this Section 7, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of indemnifying such
indemnified 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 paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section 7 (i) in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by each indemnifying
party from the offering of the Stock 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 each indemnifying party in connection with
the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities, or actions in respect thereof, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company and the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same respective proportions as the
total net proceeds from the offering of the Stock received by the Company and
the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, as set forth in
the table on the cover page of the Prospectus, bear to the aggregate public
offering price of the Stock. 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 each indemnifying party and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such untrue statement or omission.
The parties agree that it would not be just and equitable if contributions
pursuant to this paragraph (d) were to be determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation which does not take into account the equitable
considerations referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph (d). The
amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages
or liabilities, or actions in respect thereof, referred to in the first sentence
of this paragraph (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigation,
preparing to defend or defending against any action or claim which is
10
the subject of this paragraph (d). Notwithstanding the provisions of this
paragraph (d), no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the underwriting discount applicable to the Stock purchased by such
Underwriter. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. The Underwriters' obligations in this paragraph (d) to
contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
Each party entitled to contribution agrees that upon the service of a
summons or other initial legal process upon it in any action instituted against
it in respect of which contribution may be sought, it will promptly give written
notice of such service to the party or parties from whom contribution may be
sought, but the omission so to notify such party or parties of any such service
shall not relieve the party from whom contribution may be sought from any
obligation it may have hereunder or otherwise (except as specifically provided
in paragraph (c) of this Section 7).
(e) The Company will not without the prior written consent of each
Underwriter settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment in any
pending or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification may be sought hereunder (whether or not such Underwriter or any
person who controls such Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the
Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act is a party to such claim,
action, suit or proceeding) unless such settlement, compromise or consent
includes an unconditional release of such Underwriter and each such controlling
person from all liability arising out of such claim, action, suit or proceeding.
8. Termination. This Agreement may be terminated by you at any time
prior to the Closing Date by giving written notice to the Company if after the
date of this Agreement trading in the Common Stock shall have been suspended, or
if there shall have occurred (i) the engagement in hostilities or an escalation
of major hostilities by the United States or the declaration of war or a
national emergency by the United States on or after the date hereof, (ii) any
outbreak of hostilities or other national or international calamity or crisis or
change in economic or political conditions if the effect of such outbreak,
calamity, crisis or change in economic or political conditions in the financial
markets of the United States would, in the Underwriters' reasonable judgment,
make the offering or delivery of the Stock impracticable, (iii) suspension of
trading in securities generally or a material adverse decline in value of
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock
Exchange, The Nasdaq Stock Market, or limitations on prices (other than
limitations on hours or numbers of days of trading) for securities on either
such exchange or system, (iv) the enactment, publication, decree or other
promulgation of any federal or state statute, regulation, rule or order of, or
commencement of any proceeding or investigation by, any court, legislative body,
agency or other governmental authority which in the Underwriters' reasonable
opinion materially and adversely affects or will materially or adversely affect
the business or operations of the Company, (v) declaration of a banking
moratorium by either federal or New York State authorities or (vi) the taking of
any action by any federal, state or local government or agency in respect of its
monetary or fiscal affairs which in the Underwriters' reasonable opinion has a
material adverse effect on the securities markets in the United States. If this
Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to this Section 8, there shall be no
liability of the Company to the Underwriters and no liability of the
Underwriters to the Company; provided, however, that in the event of any such
termination the Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters
from all costs or expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the
Company under this Agreement, including all costs and expenses referred to in
paragraphs (i) and (j) of Section 6 hereof.
9. Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations. The obligations of the
several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Stock shall be subject to the
performance by the Company of all its obligations to be performed hereunder at
or prior to the Closing Date or any later date on which Option Stock is to be
purchased, as the case may be, and to the following further conditions:
11
(a) The Registration Statement shall have become effective; and no
stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been issued and
no proceedings therefor shall be pending or threatened by the Commission.
(b) The legality and sufficiency of the sale of the Stock hereunder
and the validity and form of the certificates representing the Stock, all
corporate proceedings and other legal matters incident to the foregoing,
and the form of the Registration Statement and of the Prospectus (except as
to the financial statements contained therein), shall have been approved at
or prior to the Closing Date by Sidley & Austin, counsel for the
Underwriters.
(c) You shall have received from Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, P.C., counsel for
the Company, an opinion, addressed to the Underwriters and dated the
Closing Date, covering the matters set forth in Annex A hereto, and if
Option Stock is purchased at any date after the Closing Date, additional
opinions from each such counsel, addressed to the Underwriters and dated
such later date, confirming that the statements expressed as of the Closing
Date in such opinions remain valid as of such later date.
(d) You shall be satisfied that (i) as of the Effective Date, the
statements made in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus were true
and correct and neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus
omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary in order to make the statements therein, respectively, not
misleading, (ii) since the Effective Date, no event has occurred which
should have been set forth in a supplement or amendment to the Prospectus
which has not been set forth in such a supplement or amendment, (iii) since
the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement in the form in which it originally became effective and the
Prospectus contained therein, there has not been any material adverse
change or any development involving a prospective material adverse change
in or affecting the business, properties, financial condition or results of
operations of the Company, whether or not arising from transactions in the
ordinary course of business, and, since such dates, except in the ordinary
course of business, the Company has not entered into any material
transaction not referred to in the Registration Statement in the form in
which it originally became effective and the Prospectus contained therein,
(iv) the Company does not have any material contingent obligations which
are not disclosed in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (v)
there are not any pending or known threatened legal proceedings to which
the Company is a party or of which property of the Company is the subject
which are material and which are not disclosed in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, (vi) there are not any franchises, contracts,
leases or other documents which are required to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement which have not been filed as required, (vii) the
representations and warranties of the Company herein are true and correct
in all material respects as of the Closing Date or any later date on which
Option Stock is to be purchased, as the case may be, and (viii) there has
not been any material change in the market for securities in general or in
political, financial or economic conditions from those reasonably
foreseeable as to render it impracticable in your reasonable judgment to
make a public offering of the Stock, or a material adverse change in market
levels for securities in general (or those of companies in particular) or
financial or economic conditions which render it inadvisable to proceed.
(e) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any later date
on which Option Stock is purchased a certificate, dated the Closing Date or
such later date, as the case may be, and signed by the President and the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, stating that the respective signers
of said certificate have carefully examined the Registration Statement in
the form in which it originally became effective and the Prospectus
contained therein and any supplements or amendments thereto, and that the
statements included in clauses (i) through (vii) of paragraph (d) of this
Section 9 are true and correct.
(f) You shall have received on the Closing Date and on any later date
on which Option Stock is purchased a certificate, dated the Closing Date or
such later date, as the case may be, and signed by the President and the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company, verifying the truth and accuracy of
any statistical or financial figure included in the Prospectus which has
not been otherwise verified by the letters referred to
12
in clause (g) below, such verification to include the provision of
documentary evidence supporting any such statistical or financial figure.
(g) You shall have received from each of Coopers & Xxxxxxx L.L.P. and
The Xxxxxx Professional Group, Inc., a letter or letters, addressed to the
Underwriters and dated the Closing Date and any later date on which Option
Stock is purchased, confirming that they are independent public accountants
with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act and
the applicable published rules and regulations thereunder and based upon
the procedures described in their letters delivered to you concurrently
with the execution of this Agreement (each herein called the Original
Letter), but carried out to a date not more than three business days prior
to the Closing Date or such later date on which Option Stock is purchased
(i) confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set
forth in the Original Letter are accurate as of the Closing Date or such
later date, as the case may be, and (ii) setting forth any revisions and
additions to the statements and conclusions set forth in the Original
Letter which are necessary to reflect any changes in the facts described in
the Original Letter since the date of the Original Letter or to reflect the
availability of more recent financial statements, data or information. The
letters shall not disclose any change, or any development involving a
prospective change, in or affecting the business or properties of the
Company which, in your sole judgment, makes it impractical or inadvisable
to proceed with the public offering of the Stock or the purchase of the
Option Stock as contemplated by the Prospectus.
(h) You shall have received from Coopers & Xxxxxxx L.L.P. a letter
stating that their review of the Company's system of internal accounting
controls, to the extent they deemed necessary in establishing the scope of
their examination of the Company's financial statements as at July 31,
1998, did not disclose any weakness in internal controls that they
considered to be material weaknesses.
(i) You shall have been furnished evidence in usual written or
telegraphic form from the appropriate authorities of the several
jurisdictions, or other evidence satisfactory to you, of the qualification
referred to in paragraph (f) of Section 6 hereof.
(j) Prior to the Closing Date, the Stock to be issued and sold by the
Company shall have been duly authorized for listing by the Nasdaq National
Market upon official notice of issuance.
(k) On or prior to the Closing Date, you shall have received from all
directors, officers, and beneficial holders of more than 2% of the
outstanding Common Stock (on a fully diluted basis) agreements, in form
reasonably satisfactory to Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC, stating that without the
prior written consent of Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC on behalf of the
Underwriters, such person or entity will not, for a period of 180 days
following the commencement of the public offering of the Stock by the
Underwriters, directly or indirectly, (i) sell, offer, contract to sell,
make any short sale, pledge, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant
to purchase or otherwise transfer or dispose of any shares of Common Stock
or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or
any rights to purchase or acquire Common Stock or (ii) enter into any swap
or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic
consequences or ownership of 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.
All the agreements, opinions, certificates and letters mentioned above or
elsewhere in this Agreement shall be deemed to be in compliance with the
provisions hereof only if Sidley & Austin, counsel for the Underwriters, shall
be satisfied that they comply in form and scope.
In case any of the conditions specified in this Section 9 shall not be
fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by you by giving notice to the
Company. Any such termination shall be without liability of the Company to the
Underwriters and without liability of the Underwriters to the Company; provided,
however, that (i) in the event of such termination, the Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters from all costs or expenses incident
to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement,
including all costs and expenses referred
13
to in paragraphs (i) and (j) of Section 6 hereof, and (ii) if this Agreement is
terminated by you because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of
the Company to perform any agreement herein, to fulfill any of the conditions
herein, or to comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default
by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally upon demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in
connection with the transactions contemplated hereby.
10. Conditions of the Obligation of the Company. The obligation of the
Company to deliver the Stock shall be subject to the conditions that (a) the
Registration Statement shall have become effective and (b) no stop order
suspending the effectiveness thereof shall be in effect and no proceedings
therefor shall be pending or threatened by the Commission.
In case either of the conditions specified in this Section 10 shall not be
fulfilled, this Agreement may be terminated by the Company by giving notice to
you. Any such termination shall be without liability of the Company to the
Underwriters and without liability of the Underwriters to the Company; provided,
however, that in the event of any such termination the Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless the Underwriters from all costs or expenses incident
to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this Agreement,
including all costs and expenses referred to in paragraphs (i) and (j) of
Section 6 hereof.
11. Reimbursement of Certain Expenses. In addition to its other
obligations under Section 7 of this Agreement, the Company hereby agrees to
reimburse on a quarterly basis the Underwriters for all reasonable legal and
other expenses incurred in connection with investigating or defending any claim,
action, investigation, inquiry or other proceeding arising out of or based upon
any statement or omission, or any alleged statement or omission, described in
paragraph (a) of Section 7 of this Agreement, notwithstanding the absence of a
judicial determination as to the propriety and enforceability of the obligations
under this Section 11 and the possibility that such payments might later be held
to be improper; provided, however, that (i) to the extent any such payment is
ultimately held to be improper, the persons receiving such payments shall
promptly refund them and (ii) such persons shall provide to the Company, upon
request, reasonable assurances of their ability to effect any refund, when and
if due.
12. Persons Entitled to Benefit of Agreement. This Agreement shall inure
to the benefit of the Company and the several Underwriters and, with respect to
the provisions of Section 7 hereof, the several parties (in addition to the
Company and the several Underwriters) indemnified under the provisions of said
Section 7, and their respective personal representatives, successors and
assigns. Nothing in this Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give to
any other person, firm or corporation any legal or equitable remedy or claim
under or in respect of this Agreement or any provision herein contained. The
term "successors and assigns" as herein used shall not include any purchaser, as
such purchaser, of any of the Stock from any of the several Underwriters.
13. Notices. Except as otherwise provided herein, all communications
hereunder shall be in writing or by telegraph and, if to the Underwriters, shall
be mailed, telecopied or delivered to Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC, Xxx Xxxx Xxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000; and if to the Company, shall be mailed,
telecopied or delivered to it at its office, 000 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx-
Xxxxx, Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxx with a copy to Xxxxx X.
Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, P.C., 000 Xxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxx
00000. All notices given by telegraph shall be promptly confirmed by letter.
14. Miscellaneous. The reimbursement, indemnification and contribution
agreements contained in this Agreement and the representations, warranties and
covenants in this Agreement shall remain in full force and effect regardless of
(a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person thereof, or by or on behalf of
the Company or their respective directors or officers, and (c) delivery and
payment for the Stock under this Agreement; provided, however, that if this
Agreement is terminated prior to the Closing Date, the provisions of paragraphs
(k), (l), (m) and (n) of Section 6 hereof shall be of no further force or
effect.
This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each of which
shall be deemed an original, but all of which together shall constitute one and
the same instrument.
14
This Agreement shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the
laws of the State of California.
15
Please sign and return to the Company the enclosed duplicates of this
letter, whereupon this letter will become a binding agreement between the
Company and the several Underwriters in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
BLUE RHINO CORPORATION
By __________________________
Xxxxx X. Xxxx
President and Chairman of the Board
The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed
and accepted as of the date first above written.
XXXXXXXXX & XXXXX LLC
NATIONSBANC XXXXXXXXXX SECURITIES LLC
XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXXXXX
By Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC
By __________________________
Managing Director
Acting on behalf of the several Underwriters,
including themselves, named in Schedule I hereto.
16
SCHEDULE I
UNDERWRITERS
Number of
Shares
to be
Underwriters Purchased
------------ ----------
Xxxxxxxxx & Xxxxx LLC.........................................
NationsBanc Xxxxxxxxxx Securities LLC.........................
Xxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx.........................................
---------
Total......................................................... 2,700,000
SCHEDULE II
CAPITALIZATION TABLE
ANNEX A
Matters to be Covered in the Opinion of Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxx, P.C.
Counsel for the Company
(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, is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation and in good standing in each state of the
United States of America in which its ownership or leasing of property requires
such qualification, and has full corporate power and authority to own or lease
its properties and conduct its business as described in the Registration
Statement;
(ii) the authorized capital stock of the Company consists of (a) 60,000,000
shares of Common Stock, par value $0.001, of which there are [7,222,550] shares
issued and outstanding (including the Underwritten Stock plus the number of
shares of Option Stock issued on the date hereof) and (b) 20,000,000 shares of
Preferred Stock, par value $0.001, of which no shares are issued and
outstanding; proper corporate proceedings have been taken validly to authorize
such authorized capital stock; all of the outstanding shares of such capital
stock (including the Underwritten Stock and the shares of Option Stock issued,
if any) have been duly and validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable;
any Option Stock purchased after the Closing Date, when issued and delivered to
and paid for by the Underwriters as provided in the Underwriting Agreement, will
have been duly and validly issued and be fully paid and nonassessable; and no
preemptive rights of, or rights of refusal in favor of, stockholders exist with
respect to the Stock, or the issue and sale thereof, pursuant to the Second
Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company and,
to the knowledge of such counsel, there are no contractual preemptive rights,
rights of first refusal or restrictions of transfer which exist with respect to
the issue and sale of the Stock;
(iii) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Securities
Act and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or suspending or preventing the use
of the Prospectus is in effect and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or contemplated by the Commission;
(iv) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (except as to the
financial statements and schedules and other financial data contained therein,
as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and with the rules
and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
(v) such counsel has no reason to believe that the Registration Statement
(except as to the financial statements and schedules and other financial data
contained therein, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion or
belief) at the Effective Date 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, or that the Prospectus (except as
to the financial statements and schedules and other financial data contained
therein, as to which such counsel need not express any opinion or belief) as of
its date and at the Closing Date (or any later date on which Option Stock is
purchased), 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 light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading;
(vi) the information required to be set forth in the Registration Statement
in answer to Items 9, 10 (insofar as it relates to such counsel) and 11(c) of
Form S-1 is to the best of such counsel's knowledge accurately and adequately
set forth therein in all material respects or no response is required with
respect to such Items, and the description of the Company's stock incentive
plan, director option plan, and distributor option plan, and the options which
have been previously granted and which may be granted thereunder, set forth in
the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information required to be
shown with respect to said plans and options to the extent required by the
Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
(vii) the capitalization table attached as Schedule II to this Agreement
is true and accurate;
(viii) such counsel does not know of any franchises, contracts, leases,
documents or legal proceedings, pending or threatened, which in the opinion of
such counsel are of a character required to be described in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement, which are not described and filed as required;
(ix) the Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company;
(x) the issue and sale by the Company of the shares of Stock sold by the
Company as contemplated by the Underwriting Agreement will not conflict with, or
result in a breach of, the Second Amended and Restated Certificate of
Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any agreement or instrument known to
such counsel to which the Company is a party or any applicable law or
regulation, or so far as is known to such counsel, any order, writ, injunction
or decree, of any jurisdiction, court or governmental instrumentality;
(xi) all holders of securities of the Company having rights to the
registration of shares of Common Stock, or other securities, because of the
filing of the Registration Statement by the Company have waived such rights or
such rights have expired by reason of lapse of time following notification of
the Company's intent to file the Registration Statement;
(xii) no consent, approval, authorization or order of any court or
governmental agency or body is required for the consummation of the transactions
contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement, except such as have been obtained
under the Securities Act and such as may be required under state securities or
blue sky laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Stock by
the Underwriters;
(xiii) the Stock issued and sold by the Company has been duly authorized
for listing on the Nasdaq Stock Market upon official notice of issuance.
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