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UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
February __, 0000
XxxxxXxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC
Friedman, Billings, Xxxxxx & Co., Inc.
DLJdirect, Inc.
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
INTRODUCTORY. XxxxxxxXxxxx.xxx Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of 4,000,000 shares of its Common
Stock, par value $.0001 per share (the "Common Shares"); and the stockholders of
the Company named in Schedule B (collectively, the "Selling Stockholders")
severally propose to sell to the Underwriters an aggregate of 75,000 Common
Shares. The 4,000,000 Common Shares to be sold by the Company and the 75,000
Common Shares to be sold by the Selling Stockholders are collectively called the
"Firm Shares". In addition, the Company has granted to the Underwriters an
option to purchase up to an additional [___] Common Shares (the "Option
Shares"), as provided in Section 2. The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent
such option is exercised, the Option Shares are collectively called the
"Shares". FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc., Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC,
Friedman, Billings, Xxxxxx & Co., Inc. and DLJdirect, Inc. have agreed to act as
representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity, the
"Representatives") in connection with the offering and sale of the Common
Shares.
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1 (File No.
333-89049), which contains a form of prospectus to be used in connection with
the public offering and sale of the Shares. Such registration statement, as
amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and schedules thereto, in
the form in which it was declared effective by the Commission under the
Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
(collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any information deemed to be a
part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434
under the Securities Act, is called the "Registration
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Statement". Any registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule
462(b) under the Securities Act is called the "Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, and from and after the date and time of filing of the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement the term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule
462(b) Registration Statement. Such prospectus, in the form first used by the
Underwriters to confirm sales of the Shares, is called the "Prospectus";
provided, however, if the Company has, with the consent of FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Inc., elected to rely upon Rule 434 under the Securities Act, the term
"Prospectus" shall mean the Company's prospectus subject to completion (each, a
"preliminary prospectus") dated October 14, 1999 (such preliminary prospectus is
called the "Rule 434 preliminary prospectus"), together with the applicable term
sheet (the "Term Sheet") prepared and filed by the Company with the Commission
under Rules 434 and 424(b) under the Securities Act and all references in this
Agreement to the date of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet.
All references in this Agreement to the Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b)
Registration Statement, a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the Term
Sheet, or any amendments or supplements to any of the foregoing, shall include
any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data
Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System ("XXXXX").
The Company and each of the Selling Stockholders hereby confirm their
respective agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.
A. Representations and Warranties of the Company And the Selling
Stockholders. The Company and the Selling Stockholders hereby represent, warrant
and covenant to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration Statement
and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied to the
Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for additional or
supplemental information. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement is in effect
and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to
the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or threatened by the
Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied in all
material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic
transmission pursuant to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T
under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares. Each
of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at all
subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
Securities Act and did not and 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. The Prospectus, as
amended or supplemented, as of its date and at all subsequent times, did not and
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. The
representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding
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sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective
amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto,
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly
for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to be
described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has
delivered to the Representatives three complete conformed copies of the
Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a
part thereof, and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (without
exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as the Representatives have
reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has not
distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second Closing
Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters' distribution of
the Shares, any offering material in connection with the offering and sale of
the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the
Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification
hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by
general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Company. The Shares to
be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by
the Company pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Selling Stockholders.
The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Selling
Stockholders, when issued, were validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(g) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for such rights as have been
duly waived.
(h) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material
adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result
in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its
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subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change or effect, where the
context so requires, is called a "Material Adverse Change" or a "Material
Adverse Effect"); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct
or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any
material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and
(iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or
made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other
subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or
repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class
of capital stock.
(i) Independent Accountants. Pricewaterhouse Coopers LLP, who have
expressed their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as
used in this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting
schedules filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and
included in the Prospectus, are independent public or certified public
accountants as required by the Securities Act.
(j) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included
in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of
their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting
schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information
required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting
schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved, except
as may be expressly stated in the related notes thereto. No other financial
statements or supporting schedules are required to be included in the
Registration Statement. The financial data set forth in the Prospectus under the
captions "Prospectus Summary--Summary Selected Financial Data", "Selected
Financial Data" and "Capitalization" fairly present the information set forth
therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements
contained in the Registration Statement.
(k) Company's Accounting System. The Company and each of its subsidiaries
maintain a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable
assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with management's
general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary
to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with generally
accepted accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii)
access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or
specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is
compared with existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is
taken with respect to any differences.
(l) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than
the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(m) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized with
full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct
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its business as described in the prospectus, and is duly qualified to do
business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction which requires such qualification.
(n) Capitalization of the Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth
in the Prospectus, all outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries
are owned by the Company either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries
free and clear of any security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
(o) No Prohibition on Subsidiaries from Paying Dividends or Making Other
Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or
indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other
distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the Company
any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring
any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any other
subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(p) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized,
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the
Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the
Prospectus). The Common Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material
respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the
issued and outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with
federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding Common Shares were
issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other
similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are
no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of
first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the
Prospectus. The description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other
stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder,
set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information
required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and
rights.
(q) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares have been approved for inclusion
on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(r) No Consents, Approvals or Authorizations Required. No consent,
approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained or made under the
Securities Act and such as may be required (i) under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters in the manner contemplated here and in the Prospectus, (ii) by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iii) by the federal and
provincial laws of Canada.
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(s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments Agreements. Neither the
issue and sale of the Shares nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage,
deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation,
condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject or
(iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable
to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their
properties.
(t) No Defaults or Violations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is
in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or by-laws, (ii) the
terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note
agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or
instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject
or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or
other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any
of its properties, as applicable, except any such violation or default which
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change
except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus.
(u) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. No action, suit or proceeding by or
before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is
pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of
this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(v) All Necessary Permits, Etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess
such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the
appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to
conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary
has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or
permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(w) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in
the financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above (or elsewhere in
the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests,
mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such
as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not
materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property
by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment
and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held
under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and
do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed
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to be made of such real property, improvements, equipment or personal property
by the Company or such subsidiary.
(x) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all
necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns, or have
properly requested extensions thereof, and have paid all taxes required to be
paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any related or similar assessment,
fine or penalty levied against any of them. The Company has, in all material
respects, made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable
financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above in respect of all
federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to
which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been
finally determined. The Company is not aware of any tax deficiency that has been
or might be asserted or threatened against the Company that could result in a
Material Adverse Change.
(y) Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its
subsidiaries owns or possesses adequate rights to use all patents, patent rights
or licenses, inventions, collaborative research agreements, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which are
necessary to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus; the expiration of any patents, patent rights, trade secrets,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights would not result in a
Material Adverse Change that is not otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus; the
Company has not received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of the Company by others with
respect to any patent, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights; and the Company has not
received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or conflict
with asserted rights of others with respect to any patent, patent rights,
inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or
copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, might have a Material Adverse Change. There is no
claim being made against the Company regarding patents, patent rights or
licenses, inventions, collaborative research, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights. To the Company's
knowledge, the Company and its subsidiaries do not in the conduct of their
business as now or proposed to be conducted as described in the Prospectus
infringe or conflict with any right or patent of any third party, or any
discovery, invention, product or process which is the subject of a patent
application filed by any third party, known to the Company or any of its
subsidiaries, which such infringement or conflict is reasonably likely to result
in a Material Adverse Change.
(z) Year 2000 Preparedness. There are no issues related to the Company's,
or any of its subsidiaries', preparedness for the Year 2000 that (i) are of a
character required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus by the Securities Act which have not been accurately described in
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or (ii) might reasonably be expected to
result in any Material Adverse Change or that might materially affect their
properties, assets or rights. The Company has inquired of material vendors as to
their preparedness for the Year 2000 and has disclosed in the Registration
Statement or Prospectus any issues that might reasonably be expected to result
in any Material Adverse Change.
(aa) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or
other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof,
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required to be paid in connection with the execution and delivery of this
Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company of the shares.
(bb) Company Not an lnvestment Company. The Company has been advised of
the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment
for the Shares will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by
an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment Company Act and
will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become subject to the
Investment Company Act.
(cc) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by
recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such
amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally
deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited
to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company
and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and
earthquakes, general liability and Directors and Officers liability. The Company
has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew
its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to
obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or
appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would
not result in a Material Adverse Change.
(dd) Labor Matters. To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor
disturbance by the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or
is imminent.
(ee) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken
and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might
be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of
the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(ff) Lock-Up Agreements. Each officer and director of the Company, each
Selling Stockholder and each beneficial owner of one or more percent of the
outstanding capital stock of the Company has signed an agreement substantially
in the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Lock-up Agreements"). The Company
has provided to counsel for the Underwriters a complete and accurate list of all
securityholders of the Company and the number and type of securities held by
each securityholder. The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters
the executed Lock-up Agreements presently in effect or effected hereby. The
Company hereby represents and warrants that it will not release any of its
officers, directors or other stockholders from any Lock-up Agreements currently
existing or hereafter effected without the prior written consent of FleetBoston
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
(gg) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or
related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other
person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described
as required.
(hh) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any "employee
benefit plan" (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
(collectively, "ERISA"))
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established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or their
"ERISA Affiliates" (as defined below) are in compliance in all material respects
with ERISA. "ERISA Affiliate" means, with respect to the Company or a
subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations described in Sections
414(b),(c),(m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the
regulations and published interpretations thereunder (the "Code") of which the
Company or such subsidiary is a member. No "reportable event" (as defined under
ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur with respect to any
"employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the Company, its
subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No "employee benefit plan"
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA
Affiliates, if such "employee benefit plan" were terminated, would have any
"amount of unfounded benefit liabilities" (as defined under ERISA). Neither the
Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or
reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with
respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any "employee benefit plan" or
(ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each "employee benefit plan"
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA
Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is
so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act,
which would cause the loss of such qualification.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the
Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters
set forth therein.
B. ADDITIONAL REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS.
Each Selling Stockholder further represents, warrants and covenants to each
Underwriter as follows:
(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder and is a
valid and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be
limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles.
(b) The Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney. Each of the (i) Custody
Agreement signed by such Selling Stockholder and the Company, as custodian (the
"Custodian"), relating to the deposit of the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder (the "Custody Agreement") and (ii) Power of Attorney appointing
certain individuals named therein as such Selling Stockholder's
attorneys-in-fact (each, an "Attorney-in-Fact") to the extent set forth therein
relating to the transactions contemplated hereby and by the Prospectus (the
"Power of Attorney"), of such Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by such Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding
agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable law
and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to or affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors or by general equitable principles. Each
Selling Stockholder agrees that the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder on deposit with the Custodian is subject to the interests of the
Underwriters, that the arrangements made for such custody are to that extent
irrevocable, and
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that the obligations of such Selling Stockholder hereunder shall not be
terminated, except as provided in this Agreement or in the Custody Agreement, by
any act of the Selling Stockholder, by operation of law, by death or incapacity
of such Selling Stockholder or by the occurrence of any other event. If such
Selling Stockholder should die or become incapacitated, or in any other event
should occur, before the delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling
Stockholder hereunder, the documents evidencing the Shares to be sold by such
Selling Stockholder then on deposit with the Custodian shall be delivered by the
Custodian in accordance with the terms and conditions of this Agreement as if
such death, incapacity or other event had not occurred, regardless of whether or
not the Custodian shall have received notice thereof.
(c) Title to Shares to be Sold. Such Selling Stockholder is the lawful
owner of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and upon
sale and delivery of, and payment for, such Shares, as provided herein, such
Selling Stockholder will convey good and marketable title to such Shares, free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims whatsoever.
(d) All Authorizations Obtained. Such Selling Stockholder has, and on the
First Closing Date (as defined below) will have, good and valid title to all of
the Company Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to
this Agreement on such date and the legal right and power, and all
authorizations and approvals required by law to enter into this Agreement and
its Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney, to sell, transfer and deliver all
of the Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this
Agreement and to comply with its other obligations hereunder and thereunder.
(e) No Further Consents, Authorization or Approvals. No consent,
approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body is
required for the consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as may have been obtained under the Securities
Act and such as may be required under the federal and provincial securities laws
of Canada or the blue sky laws or any jurisdiction in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters and such other
approvals as have been obtained.
(f) Non-Contravention. Neither the sale of the Securities being sold by
such Selling Stockholder nor the consummation of any other of the transactions
herein contemplated by such Selling Stockholder or the fulfillment of the terms
hereof by such Selling Stockholder will conflict with, result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under any law or the terms of any
indenture or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is
party or bound, any judgment, order or decree applicable to such Selling
Stockholder or any court or regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental
body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder.
(g) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. Such Selling Stockholder
does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration
Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for
such rights as are described in the Prospectus under "Shares Eligible for Future
Sale".
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(h) No Preemptive, Co-sale or Other Rights. Such Selling Stockholder does
not have, or has waived prior to the date hereof, any preemptive right, co-sale
right or right of first refusal or other similar right to purchase any of the
Shares that are to be sold by the Company or any of the other Selling
Stockholders to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement; and such Selling
Stockholder does not own any warrants, options or similar rights to acquire, and
does not have any right or arrangement to acquire, any capital stock, right,
warrants, options or other securities from the Company, other than those
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
(i) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Stockholder in the Prospectus. All
information furnished by or on behalf of such Selling Stockholder in writing
expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is, and on the
First Closing Date will be, true, correct, and complete in all material
respects, and does not, and on the First Closing Date will not, contain any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
to make such information not misleading. Such Selling Stockholder confirms as
accurate the number of shares of Company Shares set forth opposite such Selling
Stockholder's name in the Prospectus under the caption "Principal and Selling
Stockholders" (both prior to and after giving effect to the sale of the Shares).
(j) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. Such Selling Stockholder has
not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or
that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale
of the Shares.
(k) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or other
similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the sale by the Selling Stockholders
of the Shares.
(l) Distribution of Offering Materials by the Selling Stockholders. The
Selling Stockholders have not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the
later of the Second Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the
Underwriters' distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection
with the offering and sale of the Shares by such Selling Stockholder other than
a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of any Selling Stockholder and
delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by such Selling Stockholder to each
Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SHARES.
(a) The Firm Shares. Upon the terms herein set forth, (i) the Company
agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of [____] Firm
Shares and (ii) the Selling Stockholders agree to sell to the several
Underwriters an aggregate of [____] Firm Shares, each Selling Stockholder
selling the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder's
name on Schedule B. On the basis of the representations, warranties and
agreements herein contained, and upon the terms but subject to the conditions
herein set forth, the Underwriters agree, severally and not jointly, to purchase
from the Company and the Selling
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Stockholders the respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their names
on Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the several
Underwriters to the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be $[____] per
share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be purchased
by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made by the Company and the
Representatives at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, at the offices of Xxxx Xxxxxxx,
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx, XxXxxx, Xxxxxxxx 00000 (or at such other place as may
be agreed upon among the Representatives and the Company), (i) on the third (3)
full business day following the first day that Shares are traded, (ii) if this
Agreement is executed and delivered after 1:30 P.M., San Francisco time, the
fourth (4th) full business day following the day that this Agreement is executed
and delivered or (iii) at such other time and date not later that seven (7) full
business days following the first day that Shares are traded as the
Representatives and the Company may determine (or at such time and date to which
payment and delivery shall have been postponed pursuant to Section 8 hereof),
such time and date of payment and delivery being herein called the "First
Closing Date;" provided, however, that if the Company has not made available to
the Representatives copies of the Prospectus within the time provided in Section
4(d) hereof, the Representatives may, in their sole discretion, postpone the
First Closing Date until no later than two (2) full business days following
delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the Representatives.
(c) The Option Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition, on the basis
of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the
terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants
an option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up
to an aggregate of [____] Option Shares from the Company at the purchase price
per share to be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option granted
hereunder is for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments
in connection with the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option
granted hereunder may be exercised at any time upon notice by the
Representatives to the Company, which notice may be given at any time within 30
days from the date of this Agreement. The time and date of delivery of the
Option Shares, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is called the "Second
Closing Date" and shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be
earlier than three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such
notice of exercise. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, (i) each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Option
Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the
Representative may determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number
of Option Shares to be purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth on
Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of
Firm Shares and (ii) the Company agrees to sell the number of Option Shares
(subject to such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the
Representatives may determine) as set forth in the paragraph "Introductory" of
this Agreement. The Representatives may cancel the option at any time prior to
its expiration by giving written notice of such cancellation to the Company.
(d) Public Offering of the Shares. The Representatives hereby advise the
Company and the Selling Stockholders that the Underwriters intend to offer for
sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of
the Shares as soon after this Agreement has been
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executed and the Registration Statement has been declared effective as the
Representatives, in their sole judgment, have determined is advisable and
practicable.
(e) Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the
Company shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the
Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
order of the Custodian. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Stockholders shall be made at the First Closing Date by wire transfer of
immediately available funds to the order of the Company.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for their
own accounts and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept delivery of
and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the Firm Shares and
any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase. FleetBoston
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc., individually and not as the Representatives of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Shares to
be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the
Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the
case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not
relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
Each Selling Stockholder hereby agrees that (i) it will pay all stock
transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable upon the
sale or delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the
several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the performance of such
Selling Stockholder's obligations hereunder and (ii) the Custodian is authorized
to deduct for such payment any such amounts from the proceeds to such Selling
Stockholder hereunder and to hold such amounts for the account of such Selling
Stockholder with the Custodian under the Custody Agreement.
(f) Delivery of the Shares. The Company and the Selling Stockholders
shall deliver, or cause to be delivered a credit representing the Firm Shares to
an account or accounts at The Depository Trust Company as designated by the
Representatives for the accounts of the Representatives and the several
Underwriters at the First Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a
wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase
price therefor. The Company and the Selling Stockholders shall also deliver, or
cause to be delivered a credit representing the Option Shares to an account or
accounts at The Depository Trust Company as designated by the Representatives
for the accounts of the Representatives and the several Underwriters, at the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, against the
irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the
amount of the purchase price therefor. Time shall be of the essence, and
delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further
condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00 noon
on the second business day following the date the Shares are released by the
Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to be
delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as the
Representatives shall request.
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SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS.
A. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company further covenants and agrees
with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Matters. The Company will (i) use its best
efforts to cause a registration statement on Form 8-A (the "Form 8-A
Registration Statement") as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") to become effective simultaneously with the Registration
Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Securities Act is
followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives
containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Securities Act and (iii)
not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act. If
the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act prior to the time
confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2) under the
Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111
under the Securities Act.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. The Company will advise the
Representatives promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (ii) of receipt of
any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request of the Commission for
amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or
for any additional information and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use
of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The
Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as
possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters in endeavoring to qualify the
Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions (both national
and foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the Company
shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general
consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or required to file such a consent. 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 the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities Act
Matters. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange Act,
and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit the
completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this Agreement
and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a
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prospectus is required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any
event shall occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the
reasonable opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, it
becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the
Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary
at any time to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the
Company promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at its
own expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, an appropriate amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as
so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it
is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the
law.
(e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the First Closing Date
or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus
is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery Period"), as many copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may
request.
(f) Insurance. The Company shall (i) obtain Directors and Officers
liability insurance in the minimum amount of $10 million which shall apply to
the offering contemplated hereby and (ii) shall cause FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Inc. to be added as an additional insured to such policy in respect of
the offering contemplated hereby.
(g) Notice of Subsequent Events. If at any time during the ninety (90)
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 of the Company Shares 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.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
(i) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its
expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Company Shares.
(j) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not
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be audited) covering the twelve-month period ending ________________(1) that
satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
(k) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery Period
the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the Nasdaq
National Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the
Exchange Act.
(l) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. The Company
will not, without the prior written consent of FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Inc., for a period of 180 days following the date of the Prospectus, offer, sell
or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or enter into any transaction which
is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the disposition (whether by
actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or
otherwise by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in
privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company) directly or
indirectly, or announce the offering of, any other Common Shares or any
securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, Common Shares; provided,
however, that the Company may (i) issue and sell Common Shares, or grant options
to purchase Common Shares, pursuant to any director or employee stock option
plan, stock ownership plan or dividend reinvestment plan of the Company in
effect at the date of the Prospectus and described in the Prospectus so long as
none of those shares may be transferred on during the period of 180 days from
the date that the Registration Statement is declared effective (the "Lock-Up
Period") and the Company shall enter stop transfer instructions with its
transfer agent and registrar against the transfer of any such Common Shares,
(ii) the Company may issue Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of
securities or the exercise of options or warrants outstanding at the date of the
Prospectus and described in the Prospectus and (iii) issue Common Shares in
connection with any acquisition as long as none of those shares may be
transferred during the Lock-Up Period.
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five
years hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of
the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for
the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the
Company with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC
or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report
or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital
stock.
B. COVENANTS OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS. Each Selling Stockholder
further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:
----------------------
(1)Will be completed with the date of the end of the Company's first quarter
ending after one year following the "effective date of the Registration
Statement" (as defined in Rule 158(c) under the Securities Act).
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(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such Selling
Stockholder will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make a disposition of
Securities (as defined in Exhibit A hereto) now owned or hereafter acquired
directly by such person or with respect to which such person has or hereafter
acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide gift or
gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound by this
restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or shareholders of such person,
provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by the terms
of this restriction, (iii) with respect to dispositions of Common Shares
acquired on the open market or (iv) with the prior written consent of
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc. The foregoing restriction has been expressly
agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in any hedging or
other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to lead to or
result in a disposition of Securities during the Lock-Up Period, even if such
Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such
prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any
short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of
any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect
to any Securities or with respect to any security (other than a broad- based
market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any significant
part of its value from Securities. Furthermore, such person has also agreed and
consented to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer
agent against the transfer of the Securities held by such person except in
compliance with this restriction.
(b) Delivery of Forms W-B and W-9. To deliver to the Representatives
prior to the First Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States
Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Stockholder is a non-United States
person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling Stockholder is a United States Person).
(c) Notification of Untrue Statements, etc. If, at any time prior to the
date on which the distribution of the Common Shares as contemplated herein and
in the Prospectus has been completed, as determined by the Representatives, such
Selling Stockholder has knowledge of the occurrence of any event as a result of
which the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, in each case as then amended
or supplemented, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, such Selling
Stockholder will promptly notify the Company and the Representatives.
SECTION 4. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as
provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling
Stockholders set forth in Sections 1(A) and 1(B) hereof as of the date hereof
and as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the
Option Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely
performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholders of their respective
covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No
Objection from the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC The
Registration Statement shall have become effective prior to the execution of
this Agreement, or at such later date as shall be consented to in
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writing by you; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall
have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated
or, to the knowledge of the Company, any Selling Stockholder or any Underwriter,
threatened by the Commission, and any request of the Commission for additional
information (to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or
otherwise) shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of Underwriters'
Counsel; and the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC shall have
raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the underwriting terms
and arrangements.
(b) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal
matters in connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and
delivery of the Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters'
Counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and
information as they may reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon
the matters referred to in this Section.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be,
(i) there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change in
the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations,
business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise from that set forth in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, which, in your sole
judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your sole
judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public
offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus.
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion
of Xxxx Xxxxxxx, counsel for the Company substantially in the form of Exhibit B
attached hereto, dated the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date,
addressed to the Underwriters and with reproduced copies or signed counterparts
thereof for each of the Underwriters.
Counsel rendering the opinion contained in Exhibit B may rely as to
questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the Commonwealth
of Virginia and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware upon
opinions of local counsel, and as to questions of fact upon representations or
certificates of officers of the Company, the Selling Stockholders or officers of
the Selling Stockholders (when the Selling Stockholder is not a natural person),
and of government officials, in which case their opinion is to state that they
are so relying and that they have no knowledge of any material misstatement or
inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or certificate. Copies of any
opinion, representation or certificate so relied upon shall be delivered to you,
as Representatives of the Underwriters, and to Underwriters' Counsel.
(e) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of Xxxx and Xxxx LLP, substantially in the form of Exhibit C hereto. The
Company shall have furnished to such counsel
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such documents as they may have requested for the purpose of enabling them to
pass upon such matters.
(f) Accountants' Comfort Letter. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, confirming that
they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company
within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations
and based upon the procedures described in such letter delivered to you
concurrently with the execution of this Agreement (herein called the "Original
Letter"), but carried out to a date not more than four (4) business days prior
to the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, (i)
confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and conclusions set forth in
the Original Letter are accurate as of the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing 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 such letter, or to reflect the availability of
more recent financial statements, data or information. The letter shall not
disclose any change in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings,
operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement
or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that
makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus. The
Original Letter from PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP shall be addressed to or for
the use of the Underwriters in form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to the extent true, that they are
independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations, (ii) set
forth their opinion with respect to their examination of the consolidated
balance sheets of the Company as of December 31, 1998, and September 30, 1999,
and related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity, and
cash flows for the twelve (12) months ended December 31, 1998, and the nine (9)
months ended September 30, 1999, (iii) state that PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
has performed the procedures set out in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 71
("SAS 71") for a review of interim financial information and providing the
report of PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP as described in SAS 71 on the financial
statements for the nine (9) months ended September 30, 1998 (the "Nine Month
Statement"), and (iv) state that in the course of such review, nothing came to
their attention that leads them to believe that any material modifications need
to be made to the Nine Month Statement in order for them to be in compliance
with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied across the
periods presented, and address other matters agreed upon by Pricewaterhouse
Coopers LLP and you. In addition, you shall have received from Pricewaterhouse
Coopers LLP a letter addressed to the Company and made available to you for the
use of the Underwriters 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 consolidated
financial statements as of September 30, 1999, did not disclose any weaknesses
in internal controls that they considered to be material weaknesses.
(g) Officers' Certificate. You shall have received on the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the
Company, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of the First
Closing Date or the Second
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Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has complied
with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened under
the Act;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective and at all
times subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate,
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments
or supplements thereto, contained all material information
required to be included therein by the Securities Act and in all
material respects conformed to the requirements of the Securities
Act, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, did not and does not include
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; and, since the effective
date of the Registration Statement, there has occurred no event
required to be set forth in an amended or supplemented Prospectus
which has not been so set forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has
not been (a) any material adverse change in the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered
as one enterprise, (b) any transaction that is material to the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, except
transactions entered into in the ordinary course of business, (c)
any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
incurred by the Company or its subsidiaries, except obligations
incurred in the ordinary course of business, (d) any change in the
capital stock or outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries that is material to the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (e) any dividend or
distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on the capital
stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or (f) any loss
or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of the Company
or any of its subsidiaries which has been sustained or will have
been sustained which has a material adverse effect on the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business
or business prospectus of the Company and its subsidiaries
considered as one enterprise.
(h) Lock-Up Agreement from Certain Stockholders of the Company. The
Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto from each officer and director of the
Company, each Selling Stockholder and each beneficial owner of one or more
percent of the outstanding issued capital stock of the Company.
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(i) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholders. You shall have
received on the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, the following opinion of Xxxx Xxxxxxx, counsel for the Selling Stockholders
substantially in the form of Exhibit D attached hereto, dated as of such Closing
Date, addressed to the Underwriters and with reproduced copies or signed
counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to questions of law
not involving the laws of the United States or State of Virginia and the
District of Columbia upon opinions of local counsel and as to questions of fact
upon representations or certificates of the Selling Stockholders or officers of
the Selling Stockholders (when the Selling Stockholder is not a natural person),
and of governmental officials, in which case their opinion is to state that they
are so relying and that they have no knowledge of any material misstatement or
inaccuracy of any material misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion,
representation or certificate so relied upon shall be delivered to you, as
Representatives of the Underwriters, and to Underwriters' Counsel.
(j) Selling Stockholders' Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives shall
received a written certificate executed by the Attorney-in- Fact of each Selling
Stockholder, dated as of such Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of such
Selling Stockholder set forth in Section 1(B) of this Agreement
are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made by such Selling Stockholder on and as of such
Closing Date; and
(ii) such Selling Stockholder has complied with all the
agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to such Closing Date.
(k) Selling Stockholders' Documents. At least three business days prior
to the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall have
furnished for review by the Representatives copies of the Powers of Attorney and
Custody Agreements executed by each of the Selling Stockholders and such further
information, certificates and documents as the Representatives may reasonably
request.
(l) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares shall have been approved for
inclusion on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of
issuance.
(m) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Company shall
have complied with the provisions of Sections 2(g) and 3(e) hereof with respect
to the furnishing of Prospectuses.
(n) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date and
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives and counsel for
the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and opinions as
they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to pass upon the
issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated
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herein, or in order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and
warranties, or the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein
contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied when and as
required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholders at any
time on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, at any time prior to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall be
without liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that
Section 5 (Payment of Expenses), Section 6 (Reimbursement of Underwriters'
Expenses), Section 7 (Indemnification and Contribution) and Section 10
(Representations and Indemnities to Survive Delivery) shall at all times be
effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company and the Selling Stockholders,
jointly and severally, agree to pay in such proportions as they may agree upon
among themselves all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of their obligations hereunder and in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses
incident to the issuance and delivery of the Common Shares (including all
printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and
transfer agent of the Common Stock, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and
other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the
Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company's counsel, independent
public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing, filing, shipping
and distribution of the Registration Statement (including financial statements,
exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), each preliminary
prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, and
this Agreement, (vi) all filing fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by
the Company or the Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or
obtaining exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part
of the Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or
the provincial securities laws of Canada or any other country, and, if requested
by the Representatives, preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey", an
"International Blue Sky Survey" or other memorandum, and any supplements
thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and
exemptions, (vii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, LLC review and approval of the Underwriters'
participation in the offering and distribution of the Common Shares, (viii) the
fees and expenses associated with including the Common Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market, (ix) all costs and expenses incident to the preparation and
undertaking of "road show" preparations to be made to prospective investors,
other than expenses of the Underwriters, and (x) all other fees, costs and
expenses referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration Statement. Except
as provided in this Section 5, Section 6, and Section 7 hereof, the Underwriters
shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and disbursements of their
counsel.
The Selling Stockholders further agree with each Underwriter to pay
(directly or by reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the performance
of their obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise specifically
provided for herein, including but not limited to (i) fees and expenses of
counsel and other advisors for such Selling Stockholders, (ii) fees and expenses
of the Custodian and (iii) expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery
of the
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Common Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholders to the Underwriters
hereunder (which taxes, if any, may be deducted by the Custodian under the
provisions of Section 2 of this Agreement).
This Section 5 shall not affect or modify any separate, valid agreement
relating to the allocation of payment of expenses between the Company, on the
one hand, and the Selling Stockholders, on the other hand.
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If this Agreement is
terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4, Section 7, Section 8,
Section 9 or Section 15, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares on the
First Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or
failure on the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholders to perform any
agreement herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to
reimburse the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters
as have terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon
demand for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred
by the Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed
purchase and the offering and sale of the Shares, including but not limited to
fees and disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel expenses, postage,
facsimile and telephone charges.
SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters.
(1) Each of the Company and each of the Principal Selling Stockholders,
jointly and severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter,
its officers and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange Act
against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which
such Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), insofar as such
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a
part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 434 under the Securities Act, or the
omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon
any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) in whole or
in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company
or the Selling Stockholders contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon
any failure of the Company or the Selling Stockholders to perform their
respective obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any act or failure to act
or any alleged act or failure to act by any Underwriter in connection with, or
relating in any manner to, the Shares or the offering contemplated hereby, and
which is included
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as part of or referred to in any loss, claim, damage, liability or action
arising out of or based upon any matter covered by clause (i), (ii), (iii) or
(iv) above, provided that the Company and the Selling Stockholders shall not be
liable under this clause (v) to the extent that a court of competent
jurisdiction shall have determined by a final judgment that such loss, claim,
damage, liability or action resulted directly from any such acts or failures to
act undertaken or omitted to be taken by such Underwriter through its bad faith
or willful misconduct; and to reimburse each Underwriter and each such
controlling person for any and all expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel chosen by FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.) as such
expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such controlling person
in connection with investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying
any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or action; provided, however,
that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss, claim,
damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only to the extent, arising out
of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or
alleged omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholders by the
Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and
provided, further, that with respect to any preliminary prospectus, the
foregoing indemnity agreement shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter
from whom the person asserting any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense
purchased Shares, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if copies of the
Prospectus were timely delivered to the Underwriter pursuant to Section 2 and 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 loss, claim, damage, liability
or expense; and provided, further, that the liability of each Selling
Stockholder under the foregoing indemnity agreement shall be limited to an
amount equal to the initial public offering price of the Shares sold by such
Selling Stockholder, less the underwriting discount, as set forth on the front
cover page of the Prospectus. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section
7(a) shall be in addition to any liabilities that the Company and the Selling
Stockholders may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors and Officers. Each
Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnity and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement, the Selling Stockholders and each person, if any, who
controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act, against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to
which the Company, or any such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or
controlling person may become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange
Act, or other federal or state statutory law or regulation, or at common law or
otherwise (including in settlement of any litigation, if such settlement is
effected with the written consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such loss,
claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or arises out of or is based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to
the extent, that such untrue statement or
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alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or any
amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholders by the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any
such director, officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person for any legal
and other expense reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director,
officer, Selling Stockholder or controlling person in connection with
investigating, defending, settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim,
damage, liability, expense or action. The indemnity agreement set forth in this
Section 7(b) shall be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may
otherwise have.
(c) Information Provided by the Underwriters. Each of the Company and
each of the Selling Stockholders, hereby acknowledges that the only information
that the Underwriters have furnished to the Company and the Selling Stockholders
expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or
the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) are the statements set
forth in the table in the first paragraph, the second paragraph and the
eighth paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus; and the
Underwriters confirm that such statements are correct.
(d) Notifications and other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise than under
the indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 or to the extent it is not
prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or
intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect,
jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written
notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid
notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to
assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying
party's election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the
indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof unless (i) the indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in
accordance with the proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood,
however, that the indemnifying party shall not be
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liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel (together with local
counsel), approved by the indemnifying party (FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
Inc. in the case of Section 7(b) and Section 8), representing the indemnified
parties who are parties to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not
have employed counsel satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the
indemnified party within a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the
action, or (iii) the indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel
for the indemnified party at the expense of the indemnifying party, in each of
which cases the fees and expenses of counsel shall be at the expense of the
indemnifying party.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not be
liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with
such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by Section 7(d) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 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, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or
threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party 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 from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation
provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable
law then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable
by such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not
only such relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or
omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or
actions or proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company on the
one hand and the Underwriter on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting
expenses) received by the Company bears to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table
on the cover page of the Prospectus. The relative fault shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material
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fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the
other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.
The Company and Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section 7(f) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7(f). The amount paid
or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) referred to above in
this Section 7(f) shall be deemed to include 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
subsection (f), (i) no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the underwriting discounts and commissions applicable to the Shares
purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) 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 Section 7(f)
to contribute are several in proportion to their respective underwriting
obligations and not joint.
(g) Timing of Any Payments of Indemnification. Any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are incurred, but in all cases, no later than thirty
(30) days of invoice to the indemnifying party.
(h) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Section 7 and the representation and warranties of the Company and the Selling
Stockholders set forth in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full
force and effect, regardless of (i) any investigation made by or on behalf of
any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter, the Company, its
directors or officers or any persons controlling the Company, or the Selling
Stockholders, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor hereunder, and
(iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any Underwriter, or to
the Company, its directors or officers, or any person controlling the Company,
shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and
reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 7.
(i) Acknowledgements of Parties. The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by
counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to
investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure is made in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
SECTION 8. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS. If, on the
First
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Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of
the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that it or they
have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate number of
Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but
failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% 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 Common Shares set forth
opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate number of
Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the
Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting Underwriters, to purchase
the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed
or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail
or refuse to purchase Shares and the aggregate number of Shares with respect to
which such default occurs exceeds 10% of the aggregate number of Shares to be
purchased on such date, and arrangements satisfactory to the Representatives and
the Company for the purchase of such Shares are not made within 48 hours after
such default, this Agreement shall terminate without liability of any party to
any other party except that the provisions of Section 4, and Section 7 shall at
all times be effective and shall survive such termination. In any such case
either the Representatives or the Company shall have the right to postpone the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no
event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be deemed to
include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this Section
8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. Prior to the First Closing
Date, this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice given to
the Company and the Selling Stockholders if at any time (i) trading or quotation
in any of the Company's securities shall have been suspended or limited by the
Commission or by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading in securities generally on
either the Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been
suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally
established on any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the National
Association of Securities Dealers, LLC; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall
have been declared by any of federal, New York, Delaware or California
authorities; (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of
national or international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change
in the United States or international financial markets, or any substantial
change or development involving a prospective change in United States' or
international political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of
the Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on the terms described
in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of securities; (iv) in
the judgment of the Representatives there shall have occurred any Material
Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a loss by strike, fire,
flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such character as in the
judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially with the conduct of the
business and operations of the
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Company regardless of whether or not such loss shall -have been insured. Any
termination pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of
(a) the Company or the Selling Stockholders to any Underwriter, except that the
Company and the Selling Stockholders shall be obligated to reimburse the
expenses of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 5 and
6 hereof, (b) any Underwriter to the Company or the Selling Stockholders, or (c)
of any party hereto to any other party except that the provisions of Section 7
shall at all times be effective and shall survive such termination.
SECTION 10. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company, of its officers, of the Selling Stockholders and of
the several Underwriters set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will
remain in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of its or their partners,
officers or directors or any controlling person, or the Selling Stockholders, as
the case may be, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold
hereunder and any termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 11. NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
With a copy to:
Xxxx and Xxxx LLP
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxxx X. Xxxxx, Esq.
If to the Company:
XxxxxxxXxxxx.xxx Inc.
0000 X Xxxxxx, X.X.
0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: Xxxx X. Xxxx
With a copy to:
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Xxxx Xxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XxXxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attn: Xxxx Xxxxxx
If to the Selling Stockholders:
Xxxx Xxxxx, Secretary of XxxxxxxXxxxx.xxx Inc.
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
0000 Xxxxxxxxxxxxx Xxxxx
XxXxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
With a copy to:
Xxxx Xxxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxx
c/o XxxxxxxXxxxx.xxx Inc.
0000 X Xxxxxx, X.X.
0xx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
SECTION 12. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters
pursuant to Section 9 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and to their
respective successors, and personal representatives, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include
any purchaser of the Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by
reason of such purchase.
SECTION 13. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability
of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.
If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed to be made such
minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to make it valid
and enforceable.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS.
(a) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in such state.
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(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding arising
out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby
("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the United
States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the courts
of the State of California in each case located in the City and County of San
Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably
submits to the exclusive jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in
regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related
Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts
and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in the
United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System, which currently
maintains a San Francisco office at 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America, as its agent to receive service of
process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or
proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City and
County of San Francisco.
(c) Waiver of Immunity. With respect to any Related Proceeding, each
party irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, all
immunity (whether on the basis of sovereignty or otherwise) from jurisdiction,
service of process, attachment (both before and after judgment) and execution to
which it might otherwise be entitled in the Specified Courts, and with respect
to any Related Judgment, each party waives any such immunity in the Specified
Courts or any other court of competent jurisdiction, and will not raise or claim
or cause to be pleaded any such immunity at or in respect of any such Related
Proceeding or Related Judgment, including, without limitation, any immunity
pursuant to the United States Foreign Sovereign Immunities Act of 1976, as
amended.
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00
XXXXXXX 00. FAILURE OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDERS TO SELL
AND DELIVER COMMON SHARES. If one or more of the Selling Stockholders shall fail
to sell and deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to be sold and delivered by
such Selling Stockholders at the First Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement,
then the Underwriters may at their option, by written notice from the
Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, either (i)
terminate this Agreement without any liability on the part of any Underwriter
or, except as provided in Sections 5, 6, and 7 hereof, the Company or the
Selling Stockholders, or (ii) purchase the shares which the Company and other
Selling Stockholders have agreed to sell and deliver in accordance with the
terms hereof. If one or more of the Selling Stockholders shall fail to sell and
deliver to the Underwriters the Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling
Stockholders pursuant to this Agreement at the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, then the Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice from
the Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholders, to postpone the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no
event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
SECTION 16. GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous oral agreements, understandings and negotiations
with respect to the subject matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two
or more counterparts, each one of which shall be an original, with the same
effect as if the signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.
This Agreement may not be amended or modified unless in writing by all of the
parties hereto, and no condition herein (express or implied) may be waived
unless waived in writing by each party' whom the condition is meant to benefit.
The Table of Contents and the Section headings herein are for the convenience of
the parties only and shall not affect the construction or interpretation of this
Agreement.
[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company and the Custodian the enclosed
copies hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof,
shall become a binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
XXXXXXXXXXXX.XXX INC.
By:
------------------------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxx
President and Chief Executive Officer
SELLING STOCKHOLDERS
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By:
------------------------------------------
Attorney-in-fact for the Selling Stockholders
named in Schedule B hereto
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted by
the Representatives as of the date first above written.
FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.
XXXXXX XXXXXX PARTNERS LLC
FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, XXXXXX & CO., INC.
DLJDIRECT, INC.
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the several underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
BY FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.
By:
-----------------------------------
Authorized Signatory
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SCHEDULE A
Underwriters Number of Firm
Common Shares To be
Purchased
FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.(2) [ ]
-----
XXXXXX XXXXXX PARTNERS LLC [ ]
-----
FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, XXXXXX & CO., INC. [ ]
-----
DLJDIRECT, INC. [ ]
-----
[ ] [ ]
----- -----
[ ] [ ]
----- -----
------------------------
(2)Add FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx International Limited as follows in any
transaction where there will be a European road show and/or where a European
Prospectus will be prepared and disseminated in Europe:
"FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC. AND FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED"
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SCHEDULE B
Selling Stockholder Number of Firm Maximum of Number
Shares to be Option to be Shares
Sold Sold
Xxxx X. Xxxx [_____] [_____] [_____]
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxx 0000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxx [_____] [_____] [_____]
0000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, X.X.
Xxxxxxxxx 000
Xxxxxxxxxx, X.X. 00000
Total [_____] [_____] [_____]
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EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
Friedman, Billings, Xxxxxx &Co., Inc.
Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Partners LLC
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
RE: XXXXXXXXXXXX.XXX INC. (the "Company")
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain shares
of Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities convertible into
or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to carry
out a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for which you will act as
the representatives (the "Representatives") of the underwriters. The undersigned
recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned and will
benefit the Company by, among other things, raising additional capital for its
operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other underwriters are
relying on the representations and agreements of the undersigned contained in
this letter in carrying out the Offering and in entering into underwriting
arrangements with the Company with respect to the Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees that the
undersigned will not offer to sell, contract to sell, or otherwise sell, dispose
of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to (collectively, a
"Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or warrants to purchase
any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible into or exchangeable
for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now owned or hereafter
acquired directly by such person or with respect to which such person has or
hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as a bona fide
gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing to be bound
by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or shareholders of such
person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in writing to be bound by
the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to dispositions of Common
Shares acquired on the open market or (iv) with the prior written consent of
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc., for a period commencing on the date hereof
and continuing to a date 180 days after the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Lock-up Period". The
foregoing restriction has been expressly agreed to preclude the holder of the
Securities from engaging in any hedging or other transaction which is designed
to or reasonably expected to lead to or result in a Disposition of Securities
during the Lock-up Period, even if such Securities would be disposed of by
someone other than such holder. Such prohibited hedging or other transactions
would include, without limitation, any short sale
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(whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of any right
(including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect to any
Securities or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based market
basket or index) that included, relates to or derives any significant part of
its value from Securities. The undersigned also agrees and consents to the entry
of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent and registrar
against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or Securities held by the
undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions. FleetBoston
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc., acting alone and in its sole discretion, may waive any
provisions of this Lock-Up Agreement without notice to any third party.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the undersigned and
the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and assigns of the
undersigned. In the event that the Registration Statement shall not have been
declared effective on or before _____________,this Lock-Up Agreement shall be of
no further force or effect.
Dated:
--------------------------------------
-------------------------------------------
Printed Name of Holder
By:
----------------------------------------
Signature
-------------------------------------------
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing if
signing as custodian, trustee, or on behalf
of an entity)
X-0
00
00
EXHIBIT B
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL
(i) Each Significant Subsidiary (as that term is defined in
Regulation S-X of the Act) has been duly incorporated and the Company
and each Significant Subsidiary is validly existing as a corporation or
partnership, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its organization;
(ii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary has the corporate
power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;
(iii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to
do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction, if any, in which the ownership or leasing of its properties
or the conduct of its business requires such qualification, except where
the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would not have a
Material Adverse Effect. To such counsel's knowledge, the Company does
not own or control, directly or indirectly, any corporation, association
or other entity other than the Significant Subsidiaries;
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the
Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption
"Capitalization" as of the dates stated therein, the issued and
outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company (including the Shares
to be sold by the Selling Stockholders) have been duly and validly issued
and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such counsel's knowledge,
will not have been issued in violation of or subject to any preemptive
right, co-sale right, registration right, right of first refusal or other
similar right;
(v) All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such
counsel's knowledge, have not been issued in violation of or subject to
any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right, right of first
refusal or other similar right and are owned by the Company free and
clear of any pledge, lien, security interest, encumbrance, claim or
equitable interest;
(vi) The Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be, to be
issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement have been
duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor
in accordance with the terms hereof, will be duly and validly issued and
fully paid and nonassessable, and will not have been issued in violation
of or subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, registration right,
right of first refusal or other similar right.
(vii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver to the Underwriters the
Shares to be issued and sold by it hereunder;
(viii) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate
action on the
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part of the Company and has been duly executed and delivered by the
Company and, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by the
Representatives, is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to
indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally or by general equitable principles;
(ix) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and,
to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the
Securities Act;
(x) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A Registration
Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and the Firm
Shares or the Option Shares have been validly registered under the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
(xi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment
or supplement thereto (other than the financial statements (including
supporting schedules) and financial data derived therefrom as to which
such counsel need express no opinion), as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement, complied as to form in all material respects with
the requirements of the Act and the applicable Rules and Regulations;
(xii) The information in the Prospectus under the caption "Description
of Capital Stock," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law or
legal conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is a fair
summary of such matters and conclusions; and the forms of certificates
evidencing the Common Stock and filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement comply with Delaware law;
(xiii) The description in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
of the charter and bylaws of the Company and of statutes are accurate and
fairly present the information required to be presented by the Securities
Act;
(xiv) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no agreements, contracts,
leases or documents to which the Company is a party of a character
required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
which are not described or referred to therein or filed as required;
(xv) The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated (other than performance of the Company's
indemnification obligations hereunder, concerning which no opinion need
be expressed) will not (a) result in any violation of the Company's
charter or bylaws or (b) to such counsel's knowledge, result in a
material breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of, or
constitute a default under, any bond, debenture, note or other evidence
of indebtedness, or any lease, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other
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agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a
party or by which its properties are bound, or any applicable statute,
rule or regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge,
any order, writ or decree of any court, government or governmental agency
or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
or over any of their properties or operations;
(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of or qualification
with any court, government or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or over any of
their properties or operations is necessary in connection with the
consummation by the Company of the transactions herein contemplated,
except (i) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act, such as
may be required under state or other securities or Blue Sky laws in
connection with the purchase and the distribution of the Shares by the
Underwriters, (iii) such as may be required by the National Association
of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iv) such as may be required under the
federal or provincial laws of Canada;
(xvii) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or governmental
proceedings pending or threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus by the Securities Act, other than those
described therein;
(xviii) To such counsel's knowledge, neither the Company nor any of its
subsidiaries is presently (a) in material violation of its respective
charter or bylaws, or (b) in material breach of any applicable statute,
rule or regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge,
any order, writ or decree of any court or governmental agency or body
having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or over
any of their properties or operations; and
(xix) To such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, no holders of Common Shares or
other securities of the Company have registration rights with respect to
securities of the Company and, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, all holders of securities of the Company having
rights known to such counsel to registration of such shares of Common
Shares or other securities, because of the filing of the Registration
Statement by the Company have, with respect to the offering contemplated
thereby, 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 or have included securities in the Registration
Statement pursuant to the exercise of and in full satisfaction of such
rights.
(xx) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and the
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.
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In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has participated
in conferences with officials and other representatives of the Company, the
Representatives, Underwriters' counsel and the independent certified public
accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the contents of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and
although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, nothing has come to
the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe that, at the time the
Registration Statement became effective and at all times subsequent thereto up
to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto (other than the
financial statements including supporting schedules and other financial and
statistical information derived therefrom, as to which such counsel need express
no comment) 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 at the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and
any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid) contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
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EXHIBIT C
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF UNDERWRITERS' COUNSEL
(i) The Shares to be issued by the Company have been duly authorized
and, upon issuance and delivery and payment therefor in accordance with
the terms of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable.
(ii) The Registration Statement (other than the financial statements
(including supporting schedules) and financial data derived therefrom as
to which such counsel need express no opinion) complied as to form in all
material respects with the requirements of the Act; the Registration
Statement has become effective under the Act and, to such counsel's
knowledge, no stop order proceedings with respect thereto have been
instituted or threatened or are pending under the Act.
(iii) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A Registration
Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and the Firm
Shares or the Option Shares have been validly registered under the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
(iv) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(v) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Selling Stockholders.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has reviewed the opinions
addressed to the Representatives from Xxxx Xxxxxxx, each dated the date hereof,
and furnished to you in accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting
Agreement. Such opinions appear on their face to be appropriately responsive to
the requirements of the Underwriting Agreement.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has participated
in conferences with officials and other representatives of the Company, the
Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent certified public
accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the contents of the
Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and
although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of the statements
contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, nothing has come to
the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe that, at the time the
Registration Statement became effective and at all times subsequent thereto up
to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the
Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto (other than the
financial statements including supporting schedules and other financial and
statistical information derived therefrom, as to which such counsel need express
no comment) 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 at the First Closing Date or the Second
Closing Date, as the case may be, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and
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any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid) contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to
make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
were made, not misleading.
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EXHIBIT SEPTEMBER 8, 1999
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER COUNSEL
(i) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by or on behalf of, and is a valid and binding agreement of,
such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles.
(ii) The execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of, and the
performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, the
Underwriting Agreement and its Custody Agreement and its Power of
Attorney will not, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, violate,
result in a breach of or constitute a default under the terms of any
other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is a
party or by which it is bound, or any judgement, order or decree
applicable to such Selling Stockholder of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having
jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder.
(iii) Such Selling Stockholder has good and valid title to all of the
Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder under the
Underwriting Agreement and has the legal right and power, and all
authorization and approvals required to enter into the Underwriting
Agreement and its Custody Agreement and its Power of Attorney, to sell,
transfer and deliver all of the Common Shares which may be sold by such
Selling Stockholder under the Underwriting Agreement and to comply with
its other obligations under the Underwriting Agreement, its Custody
Agreement and its Power of Attorney.
(iv) Each of the Custody Agreement and Power of Attorney of such
Selling Stockholder has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
such Selling Stockholder and is a valid and binding agreement of such
Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as
rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by applicable law and
except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws relating to
or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general equitable
principles.
(vi) Assuming that the Underwriters purchase the Shares which are sold
by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement for
value, in good faith and without notice of any adverse claims, the
delivery of such Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement will pass
good and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of any security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lieu encumbrance or other claim.
(vii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any
court or governmental authority or agency, is required for the
consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions contemplated
in the Underwriting Agreement, except as required under the Securities
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Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and from the National
Association of Securities Dealers, LLC.
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