STERLITE INDUSTRIES (INDIA) LIMITED 123,456,790 American Depositary Shares Each Representing
Exhibit 1.1
EXECUTION COPY
STERLITE INDUSTRIES (INDIA) LIMITED
123,456,790 American Depositary Shares
Each Representing
1 Equity Share
par value Rs. 2 per share
July 16, 2009
July 16, 2009
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. International plc
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Ladies and Gentlemen:
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited (the “Company”), a public limited company incorporated
under the laws of the Republic of India (“India”), proposes to issue and sell equity shares, par
value Rs. 2 per share, of the Company (the “Equity Shares”) in connection with an ADS Offering (as
hereinafter defined). The “ADS Offering” consists of an offering and sale of American Depositary
Shares, each representing one Equity Share, in the United States, Canada and certain other selected
jurisdictions in the world other than India.
It is understood that:
The Company and you are entering into this Agreement providing for the purchase by X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc. and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. International plc (the “Underwriters”) of an aggregate of
123,456,790 American Depositary Shares (the “Firm ADSs”) and, at the election of the Underwriters,
up to 12,345,679 additional American Depositary Shares (the “Optional ADSs”). The Firm ADSs and
the Optional ADSs are herein collectively referred to as the “Offered ADSs” and the Equity Shares
represented thereby as the “Shares”. As used herein, “ADSs” means American Depositary Shares
representing the Equity Shares.
All references to “U.S. dollars”, “US$” or “$” are to United States dollars and all references
to “Rs.” are to Indian rupees.
The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “Commission”) an
“automatic shelf registration statement” as defined under Rule 405 under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (the “Securities Act”), on Form F-3 (No. 333-160580), including a related base
prospectus relating to its equity securities (the “Shelf Securities”), including the Shares, to be
issued from time to time by the Company. The registration statement as amended up to the date of
this Agreement, including all exhibits thereto and the information (if any) deemed to be part of
the registration statement at the time of effectiveness pursuant to Rule 430A or Rule 430B under
the Securities Act, is hereinafter referred to as the “Registration Statement,” and the related
base prospectus covering the Shelf Securities dated July 15, 2009 in the form first used to confirm
sales of the Offered ADSs (or in the form first made available to
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
2
the Underwriters by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the
Securities Act) is hereinafter referred to as the “Base Prospectus.” The Base Prospectus, as
supplemented by the prospectus supplement specifically relating to the Shares in the form first
used to confirm sales of the Offered ADSs (or in the form first made available to the Underwriters
by the Company to meet requests of purchasers pursuant to Rule 173 under the Securities Act) is
hereinafter referred to as the “Prospectus,” and the term “preliminary prospectus” means any
preliminary form of the Prospectus. The registration statement on Form F-6 (No. 333-139102)
relating to the ADSs representing Equity Shares, as amended at the time it became effective,
including all exhibits thereto, is hereinafter referred to as the “ADS Registration Statement”.
For purposes of this Agreement, “free writing prospectus” has the meaning set forth in Rule
405 under the Securities Act, “Time of Sale Prospectus” means the preliminary prospectus, together
with the pricing information set forth in Schedule V hereto. As used herein, the terms
“Registration Statement”, “preliminary prospectus”, “Time of Sale Prospectus” and “Prospectus”
shall include the documents, if any, incorporated by reference therein, and, if applicable, any
prospectus wrapper prepared in connection therewith. The terms “supplement,” “amendment” and
“amended” as used herein with respect to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, the Time
of Sale Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus shall include all documents subsequently filed by
the Company with the Commission pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
“Exchange Act”), that are or are deemed to be incorporated by reference therein.
The Offered ADSs are to be issued pursuant to a deposit agreement, dated as of June 18, 2007,
among the Company, Citibank, N.A. as depositary (the “Depositary”), and registered holders and
beneficial owners from time to time of the American Depositary Receipts (the “ADRs”) issued by the
Depositary and evidencing the American Depositary Shares (the “Deposit Agreement”). Pursuant to
the Deposit Agreement, Citibank, N.A., Mumbai Branch has been appointed as the domestic custodian
in India (the “Indian Domestic Custodian”) to hold Equity Shares on behalf of the Depositary. Each
American Depositary Share of the Company will initially represent the right to receive one Equity
Share deposited pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants to and agrees with
each of the Underwriters that:
(a) Effectiveness and No Stop Order. Each of the Registration Statement and the ADS
Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement or the ADS Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such
purpose are pending before or threatened by the Commission. The Registration Statement meets, and
the offering and sale of the Offered ADSs as contemplated hereby complies with, the requirements of
Rule 415 under the Securities Act, including, without limitation, Rule 415(a)(5) under the
Securities Act. The Company is a well-known seasoned issuer (as defined in Rule 405 under the
Securities Act) eligible to use the Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration
statement and the Company has not received notice that the Commission objects to the use of the
Registration Statement as an automatic shelf registration statement.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
3
(b) No Stop Order. No order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary
prospectus has been issued by the Commission and each preliminary prospectus, at the time of filing
thereof, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Securities Act, and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(c) Offering Document Compliance. (i) Each document, if any, filed or to be filed
pursuant to the Exchange Act and incorporated by reference in the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus complied or will comply when so filed in all material respects with the Exchange Act and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (ii) each part of the
Registration Statement, when such part became effective, did not contain, and each such part, as
amended or supplemented, if applicable at the effective date of such amendment or supplement, 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, (iii) the Registration
Statement as of the date hereof does 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, (iv) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, as of its effective date and as of
its issue date, respectively, and in each case at each Time of Delivery, complied or will comply,
and as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the
Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, (v) the Time
of Sale Prospectus does not, and at the time of each sale of the Offered ADSs in connection with
the ADS Offering when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers and at each
Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4), the Time of Sale Prospectus, as then amended or
supplemented by the Company, if applicable, will not, contain any untrue statement of a material
fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading and (vi) the Prospectus, as of its issue
date, does not contain and at each Time of Delivery and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable,
will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading, except that the representations and warranties set forth in this paragraph do not apply
to statements or omissions in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus or the
Prospectus based upon information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
by such Underwriter expressly for use therein.
(d) ADS Registration Statement Compliance. The ADS Registration Statement, as of its
effective date complied, and each amendment or supplement thereto, when it is filed with the
Commission or becomes effective, as the case may be, will comply, in all material respects, with
the Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and did
not, or will not, as of its effective date, 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.
(e) Free Writing Prospectus. Each free writing prospectus identified in Schedule II
hereto, as of its issue date and at all subsequent times through the completion of the ADS Offering
did not, does not and will not include any information that conflicted, conflicts or will conflict
with the information contained in the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the
Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus. Any free writing prospectus that the Company is required
to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act has been, or will be,
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
4
filed with the Commission in accordance with the requirements of the Securities Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Each free writing prospectus that
the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act or
that was prepared by or on behalf of or used or referred to by the Company complies, or will
comply, in all material respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and the applicable
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder. Except for the free writing prospectuses, if
any, identified in Schedule II hereto, furnished to the Underwriters before first use, the Company
has not prepared, used or referred to, and will not, without the prior consent of the Underwriters,
prepare, use or refer to, any free writing prospectus.
(f) Status as Not Ineligible Issuer. The Company is not an “ineligible issuer” in
connection with the offering pursuant to Rules 164, 405 and 433 under the Securities Act.
(g) Foreign Private Issuer. The Company is a “foreign private issuer” within the
meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act.
(h) No Distribution of Other Offering Material. Neither the Company nor any
Significant Subsidiary (each of which is listed in Schedule III hereto and individually referred to
as a “Significant Subsidiary”) or affiliates has distributed, nor will it distribute prior to the
later of the Second Time of Delivery (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters’
distribution of the Offered ADSs, any offering material in connection with the ADS Offering in the
United States other than the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement,
the ADS Registration Statement and any free writing prospectus identified on Schedule II hereto.
(i) No Material Adverse Change. There has not occurred any material adverse change,
or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition, financial or
otherwise, or in the earnings, business, management, operations or prospects of the Company and its
Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, from that set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus.
(j) Due Organization and Good Standing. The Company has been duly incorporated and is
validly existing as a public limited company under the laws of India and has the corporate power
and authority to own or lease its properties and to conduct its business as described in each of
the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; each Significant Subsidiary of the Company has been
duly incorporated and is validly existing as a company under the laws of its jurisdiction of
incorporation, each with corporate power and authority to own or lease its properties and conduct
its respective business as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; and
each of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries is duly qualified to transact business and is
in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership or
leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the failure to be so qualified or be
in good standing would not, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably expected to have a
material adverse effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business,
management, operations or prospects of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a
whole, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business (a “Material Adverse Effect”).
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
5
(k) Real
Properties, Encumbrances and Leases. Each of the Company and its Significant
Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to all real property and good and marketable title to
all personal property owned by it, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances and defects except
such as are described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, or such as would
not have a Material Adverse Effect; and any real property and buildings held under lease by the
Company and its Significant Subsidiaries are held by it under valid, subsisting and enforceable
leases, with such exceptions as are not material to its business or do not materially interfere
with the use made of such property and buildings by the Company, except as described in each of the
Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(l) Capitalization. The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in each
of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; and all of the issued shares of capital stock of
the Company (including the Shares) have been duly and validly authorized and issued, and were not
issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any person or entity against the
Company; all of the Shares when delivered in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be
fully paid and non-assessable; all of the issued and outstanding Equity Shares (including the
Shares) conform to the description of the Equity Shares contained in each of the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus; all of the issued and outstanding Equity Shares have been duly
listed and admitted for trading on the Bombay Stock Exchange Limited and the National Stock
Exchange of India Limited (the “Indian Exchanges”); the holders of outstanding shares of capital
stock of the Company are not entitled to preemptive rights, including, but not limited to, any such
rights under Section 81 of the Indian Companies Act, 1956 (the “Indian Companies Act”) or other
rights to acquire the Shares or the Offered ADSs in connection with the transactions contemplated
hereby or otherwise; except as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus,
there are no outstanding securities convertible into or exchangeable for, or warrants, rights or
options to purchase from the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries, or obligations of the
Company to issue Equity Shares or any other class of capital stock of the Company, in connection
with completion of the transactions contemplated hereby; the Shares may be freely deposited by or
on behalf of the Company with the Indian Domestic Custodian which shall form the underlying shares
for the ADRs to be issued; any restrictions on the future deposit of Equity Shares are fully and
accurately disclosed in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; there are no
restrictions on subsequent transfers of the ADSs under the laws of India and of the United States
except as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; all of the issued
shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and were not issued in violation of any preemptive or similar rights of any person or entity
against such Significant Subsidiary; and the capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary owned by
the Company, directly or through subsidiaries, is owned free and clear of all liens, encumbrances,
equities or claims.
(m) No Agreement to File a Registration Statement. No shareholder of the Company or
of any Significant Subsidiary or any other person has any registration or other similar rights to
have any of the Company’s securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or the
ADS Registration Statement or included in the ADS Offering.
(n) Authorization of the Deposit Agreement. The Deposit Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, and, assuming due authorization, execution and
delivery thereof by the Depositary, constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
6
Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms except as the enforceability
thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency (including, without limitation, all laws relating
to fraudulent transfer), reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting enforcement of
creditors’ rights and except as enforcement thereof is subject to general equity principles
(regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law); upon
issuance by the Depositary of ADRs evidencing the Offered ADSs against the deposit of the Shares in
respect thereof in accordance with the provisions of the Deposit Agreement, such ADRs will be duly
and validly issued and the persons in whose names the ADRs are registered will be entitled to the
rights specified therein and in the Deposit Agreement; the Deposit Agreement and the ADRs conform
in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained in each of the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(o) Authorization of this Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by the Company.
(p) Necessary Authorizations for Transactions. No action, consent, authorization,
approval, order, certificate, license or permit of, clearance by, or filing, registration or
qualification with any court or administrative, governmental or regulatory agency or body or stock
exchange authority having jurisdiction over the Company is required for the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, or the transactions contemplated hereby
and thereby, other than such (A) as have been obtained or made prior to the date of this Agreement
and are in full force and effect or (B) as may be required by the securities or Blue Sky laws of
the various U.S. states in connection with the offer and sale of the Offered ADSs. All such
authorizations (including authorizations by and on behalf of the Company) necessary for performance
by the Company of its obligations under this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement, or the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby, have been obtained and are in full force and effect.
(q) No Restrictions or Withholding Taxes on Dividends. There are no restrictions
under Indian law nor any approvals currently required in India (including any foreign exchange or
foreign currency approvals) in order for the Company to pay dividends or other distributions
declared by the Company to holders of Equity Shares, or ADSs, including the Depositary, or for the
conversion by the Depositary of any dividends paid in Indian rupees to U.S. dollars or the
repatriation thereof out of India, except as set forth in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and
the Prospectus. No such dividends and other distributions, including such dividends to persons not
resident in India, are currently subject to withholding or other taxes, levies or charges under the
laws and regulations of the Republic of India, except as set forth in each of the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(r) No Defaults or Legal Conflicts. The sales of the Offered ADSs contemplated herein
and the deposit of the Shares with the Indian Domestic Custodian on behalf of the Depositary
against issuance of the ADRs evidencing the Offered ADSs and the compliance by the Company with all
of the provisions of this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, and the consummation of the
transactions herein and therein contemplated do not and will not (A) result in any violation of the
Company’s or any of its Significant Subsidiaries’ certificate of incorporation, memorandum of
association and articles of association or other organizational document (collectively, the
“Charter Documents”) or (B) contravene or result in a default under
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
7
(1) any provision of applicable law or regulation (including, without limitation, any applicable
Indian law or regulation relating to the offer and sale of the Shares and Offered ADSs), (2) any
agreement binding upon the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or (3) any judgment, order or
decree of any local or other court or public, governmental or regulatory agency or body or stock
exchange authority having jurisdiction over the Company, or any Significant Subsidiary, or any of
their assets, except for such violations or contraventions under clause (B)(2) that would not,
individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(s) No Violation of Existing Agreements or Laws. None of the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary is (A) in violation of its respective Charter Documents, (B) in default (or,
with the giving of notice or lapse of time, would be in default) under any indenture, mortgage,
loan or credit agreement, note, contract, franchise, lease or other instrument to which it is a
party or by which it may be bound, or to which any of its property or assets is or may be subject
(collectively, “Agreements”), except as disclosed in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus, or (C) in violation or default of any provision of applicable law or regulation
(including, without limitation, any applicable law or regulation regarding money laundering or
corruption or economic sanctions), all applicable provisions of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 or
any Indian law or regulation relating to the offer and sale of the Shares and Offered ADSs, or any
judgment, order or decree of any court or governmental, administrative or regulatory agency or body
or stock exchange authority having jurisdiction over it or any of its assets, as applicable, except
where such violation or default under clause (B) would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(t) Stamp Duty and Other Transaction Taxes. Other than as set forth in each of the
Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, no transaction tax, issue tax, stamp duty or other
issuance or transfer tax or duty or withholding tax is or will be payable by or on behalf of the
Underwriters, or otherwise imposed on any payments made to the Underwriters, to the Government of
India or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein in connection with (A)
the deposit of the Shares by the Company with the Indian Domestic Custodian on behalf of the
Depositary against the issuance of ADRs evidencing the Offered ADSs, (B) the sale and delivery on
behalf of the Company of the Offered ADSs to or for the respective accounts of the Underwriters as
set forth in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and pursuant to the terms of
this Agreement, (C) the sale and delivery outside of India by the Underwriters of the Offered ADSs
to the purchasers thereof in the manner contemplated pursuant to the terms of this Agreement or
(D) any other transaction or payment contemplated by this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement.
(u) No Stabilization Action. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary or
any of their respective affiliates has taken, directly or indirectly, any action (excluding any
actions taken by the Underwriters) which was designed to or which has constituted or which might
reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of any
security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares and Offered ADSs.
(v) Statements in Prospectus. The statements set forth or incorporated by reference
in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus under the captions “Description of Share
Capital” and “Description of American Depositary Shares”, insofar as they purport to constitute
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
8
a summary of the terms of the Equity Shares and the ADSs, respectively, and under the fifth risk
factors under the heading “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to our ADSs,” and the captions
“Enforceability of Civil Liabilities,” “Comparison of Shareholders’ Rights,” “Comparison of
Corporate Governance Standards,” “The Indian Securities Market,” “Government of India Approvals,”
and “Exchange Controls,” insofar as they purport to describe the provisions of the laws and
documents referred to therein, are accurate, complete and fair in all material respects.
(w) No Pending Legal Proceedings. There are no legal, arbitral, governmental
proceedings pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened, to which the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary is a party or to which any of the properties of the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary is subject (A) other than proceedings described in all material respects in
the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, and proceedings that would not have a Material
Adverse Effect on the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, taken as a whole, or on the power or
ability of the Company to perform its obligations under this Agreement or to consummate the
transactions contemplated by the Time of Sale Prospectus, or (B) that are required to be described
in the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the Registration Statement and the ADS Registration
Statement and are not so described.
(x) Investment Company Act. The Company is not, and after giving effect to the ADS
Offering and the application of the proceeds thereof, will not be required to register as an
“investment company” under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the “Investment Company
Act”).
(y) Necessary Authorizations to Conduct Businesses. Except as set forth in each of
the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus, each of the Company and its Significant
Subsidiaries has obtained all necessary certificates, authorizations, licenses, concessions,
approvals, orders or permits (collectively, “Governmental Licenses”) issued by, and has made all
declarations and filings with, all local and other governmental authorities, all self-regulatory
organizations, all courts and other tribunals and all appropriate regulatory agencies or bodies, or
governmental agencies, necessary (A) to own, lease or license, as the case may be, and to operate
and use its properties and assets, (B) to conduct the businesses now conducted by it in the manner
described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus and (C) to own all of its
equity interests in a person or entity, amounting to 5% or more, except where the failure so to
possess, declare or file would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to
result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus, all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full force and effect, except where
the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in
full force and effect would not, individually or in the aggregate, reasonably be expected to result
in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary has received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental
Licenses which, individually or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling
or finding, reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
(z) Independent Registered Public Accountants. Deloitte Xxxxxxx & Sells, Mumbai,
India, who have certified the United States generally accepted accounting principles (“U.S. GAAP”)
consolidated financial statements, are registered with the Public Company Accounting Oversight
Board (“PCAOB”) and are independent public or certified public accountants with
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
9
respect to the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries as required by the Securities Act and the
applicable published rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(aa) Financial Statements. The U.S. GAAP audited consolidated financial statements of
the Company included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus,
together with the related schedules and notes, present fairly, in all material respects, the
financial positions of the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries as of the dates indicated and
the statement of operations, stockholders’ equity and cash flows of the Company and its
consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; the said financial statements have been
prepared in conformity with U.S. GAAP applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods
involved. The supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present fairly in accordance with U.S. GAAP the information
required to be stated therein. The selected financial data and the summary financial information
included in the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus present
fairly in all material respects the information shown therein and have been compiled on a basis
consistent with that of the U.S. GAAP audited financial statements included in the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(bb) Intellectual Property Rights. The Company and its Significant Subsidiaries own,
or duly applied for the issuance of, all the patents, trademarks, trade names, if any, and
copyrights (or licenses such rights pursuant to valid and subsisting licenses) necessary for the
conduct of their business as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus,
except where the failure to own or license the same would not, individually or in the aggregate,
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company nor any
Significant Subsidiary has received any notice of infringement by, or conflict with, any other
person of any such patents, trademarks, trade names, if any, or copyrights owned or licensed by the
Company or a Significant Subsidiary the result of which infringement could result in a Material
Adverse Effect.
(cc) Enforcement of Rights in India by Holders of Offered ADSs. Under the laws of
India, each registered holder or beneficial owner of Offered ADSs shall be entitled, subject to the
Deposit Agreement, to seek enforcement of its rights through the Depositary or its nominee
registered as representative of the holders of the Offered ADSs in a direct suit, action or
proceeding against the Company. It is not necessary in order to enable any owner of Offered ADSs to
enforce any of its rights that such owner of Offered ADSs be licensed, qualified or entitled to do
business in India.
(dd) Insurance. The Company and each Significant Subsidiary maintains insurance of
the type and in the amounts which the Company believes to be reasonable and customary for its
business. All such insurance is in full force and effect, except in such cases as the failure to
carry or be covered by insurance would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. The Company has no
reason to believe that it or any Significant Subsidiary will not be able to (A) renew its existing
insurance coverage as and when such coverage expires or (B) 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 Effect.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
10
(ee) No Filing, Stamp Duty or Filing Fees. To ensure the legality, validity,
enforceability or admissibility into evidence in a legal or administrative proceeding in India of
each of this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement, it is not necessary that this Agreement or the
Deposit Agreement be filed or recorded with any court or other authority in India or that any
registration tax, stamp duty or similar tax be paid in India on or in respect of any of this
Agreement, the Deposit Agreement or any other document to be furnished hereunder or thereunder,
other than court costs, including (without limitation) filing fees and deposits to guarantee
judgment required by an Indian court of law and except that this Agreement and the Deposit
Agreement will only be admissible in evidence in India for purposes of enforcement if they are duly
stamped in accordance with the Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxx, 0000 and any certificate representing the Shares
would be required to be stamped with applicable stamp duties in India.
(ff) Taxes. The Company and each Significant Subsidiary has prepared and timely filed
all tax returns, reports and other related information which are required to be filed by or with
respect to it or has properly requested extensions thereof, except where the failure to do so would
not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in each of the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus, all taxes, assessments, fees and other governmental charges due on
such returns or pursuant to any assessment received by the Company and each Significant Subsidiary
or which are imposed upon it or on any of its properties or assets or in respect of any of its
business, income or profits have been fully paid when due, other than taxes or charges that are
being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings and except where the failure to do so
would not result in a Material Adverse Effect. Except as described in each of the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus, the Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in
respect of all such tax liabilities.
(gg) Transactions with Affiliates. All material transactions between the Company and
its related parties are fully and fairly described in all material respects in the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus, and each such transaction is on terms no less favorable to the
Company as could be obtained with an unaffiliated third party.
(hh) Internal Accounting Controls. The Company and each Significant Subsidiary
maintains a system of internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that
(A) transactions are executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorization,
(B) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with U.S. GAAP and Indian GAAP, as applicable, and to maintain accountability for
assets, (C) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s general or specific
authorization and (D) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any differences; and the
Company and each Significant Subsidiary keeps books, records, and accounts, which, in reasonable
detail, accurately and fairly reflect the transactions and dispositions of assets of such entity.
Since the end of the Company’s most recent audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material
weakness in the Company’s internal control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and
(ii) no change in the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting that has materially affected, or is reasonably likely to materially affect, the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
11
(ii) Financial Condition and Critical Accounting Policies. The section entitled
“Operating and Financial Review and Prospects” in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus complies, in all material respects, with the relevant securities laws and the
Commission’s rules and interpretations governing the disclosure of the Company’s financial
condition and results of operations and critical accounting policies.
(jj) Valid Choice of Law, Submission to Jurisdiction and Appointment of Process Agent.
The choice of the laws of the State of New York as the governing law of this Agreement and the
Deposit Agreement is a valid choice of law under the laws of India and courts of India should honor
this choice of law. The Company has the power to submit, and pursuant to this Agreement and the
Deposit Agreement has validly and irrevocably submitted, to the personal jurisdiction of the United
States District Court for the Southern District of New York and the Supreme Court of New York, New
York County (including, in each case, any appellate courts therefrom) in any suit, action or
proceeding against it arising out of or related to this Agreement or the Deposit Agreement or with
respect to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter arising out of or in connection with
the sale of the Offered ADSs to the Underwriters and has validly and irrevocably waived any
objection to the venue of a proceeding in any such court, and the Company has the power to
designate, appoint and empower, and pursuant to this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement, has
validly appointed the Authorized Agent named in Section 14 of this Agreement, and the process agent
named in the Deposit Agreement for the purposes described therein, and service of process effected
in the manner set forth in Section 14 of this Agreement and the Deposit Agreement will be effective
to confer valid personal jurisdiction over the Company.
(kk) Absence of Labor Dispute. To the knowledge of the Company, no labor dispute with
the employees of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary exists or is imminent except as
described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus; and the Company is not aware
of any existing, threatened or imminent labor disturbance by the employees of any of its principal
suppliers, manufacturers or contractors that could have a Material Adverse Effect on the Company
and its Significant Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.
(ll) No Immunity Under Indian Law. The Company is subject to civil and commercial law
and to suit in India with respect to its obligations under this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement,
and the ADRs; the execution and delivery by the Company and the performance by the Company of its
obligations thereunder constitute private and commercial acts rather than governmental or public
acts and neither the Company nor any of its properties, assets or revenues has any right of
immunity under Indian law from any legal action, suit or proceeding, from the giving of any relief
in any such legal action, suit or proceeding, from setoff or counterclaim, from the jurisdiction of
any Indian court, from service of process, attachment upon or prior to judgment, or attachment in
aid of
execution of judgment or from execution of a judgment, or other legal process or proceeding
for the giving of any relief or for the enforcement of a judgment, in any such court, with respect
to its obligations, liabilities or any other matter under or arising out of or in connection with
this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement and the ADRs, and, to the extent that the Company or any of
the Company’s properties, assets or revenues may have or may hereafter become entitled to any such
right of immunity in any such court in which proceedings may at any time be commenced, the Company
has waived or has agreed to waive such right to the extent permitted by law.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
12
(mm) No Subsequent Material Liability or Change. Subsequent to the respective dates
as of which information is given in each of the Registration Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus
and the Prospectus, (A) the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries have not (1) incurred any
material liability or obligation, direct or contingent, (2) entered into any material transaction
or (3) entered into any material agreement, oral or written, including but not limited to any
material letter of intent, memorandum of understanding or memorandum of agreement, in relation to
an acquisition of or investment in any company or entity; (B) the Company has not purchased any of
its outstanding capital stock, nor declared, paid or otherwise made any dividend or distribution of
any kind on its capital stock other than ordinary and customary dividends; and (C) there has not
been any material change in the capital stock, short-term debt or long-term debt of the Company and
its Significant Subsidiaries, except in each case as described in each of the Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(nn) No Prior Equity Share Issuance. The Company has not sold, issued or distributed
any Equity Shares during the six-month period preceding the date hereof, including any sales
pursuant to Rule 144A under, or Regulation D or S of, the Securities Act, other than Equity Shares
issued pursuant to employee benefit plans, qualified stock option plans or other employee
compensation plans or pursuant to outstanding options, rights or warrants.
(oo) Environmental Laws. The Company and each Significant Subsidiary (A) are in
compliance with any and all applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations
relating to the protection of human health and safety, the environment or hazardous or toxic
substances or wastes, pollutants or contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (B) have received all
permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental Laws to
conduct their respective businesses and (C) are in compliance with all terms and conditions of any
such permit, license or approval, except where such noncompliance with Environmental Laws, failure
to receive required permits, licenses or other approvals or failure to comply with the terms and
conditions of such permits, licenses or approvals would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a
Material Adverse Effect, and except in each case as disclosed in each of the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(pp) Costs Related to Environmental Laws. There are no costs or liabilities
associated with Environmental Laws (including, without limitation, any capital or
operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with
Environmental Laws or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating
activities and any potential liabilities to third parties) which would, singly or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect, and except as disclosed in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and
the Prospectus.
(qq) OFAC and Sanctions Laws and Regulations. Neither the Company nor any Significant
Subsidiary nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or
affiliate of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is an entity or individual (“Person”) that
is the subject of any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets Control of the U.S.
Treasury Department (“OFAC”); except as disclosed in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus, neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary engage in any business in any
country or with any Person that is the subject of OFAC sanctions, or with any Person in a country
that is the subject of OFAC sanctions, or perform contracts in support of projects in or for the
benefit of a country or Person that is the subject of OFAC sanctions.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
13
The Company and each Significant Subsidiary will not use the proceeds from the sale of the
ADSs or Equity Shares, directly or indirectly, (A) for any purpose or activity that would violate,
or cause any person associated with the ADS Offering to violate the OFAC sanctions, or (B) to fund
business, operations or contracts in any country or territory, or with any Person, that is, at the
time of such funding, prohibited by the OFAC sanctions, or in connection with contracts in support
of projects in or for the benefit of an country or Person that is, at the time of such funding, the
subject of the OFAC sanctions.
(rr) Anti-Corruption. Neither the Company nor any Significant Subsidiary, director or
officer, nor to the knowledge of the Company, any affiliates, employee, agent or representative of
the Company has taken or will take any action, directly or indirectly, that would result in a
violation by such persons of applicable anti-corruption laws, including the Foreign Corrupt
Practices Act of 1977, as amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”),
including, without limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of
interstate commerce corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization
of the payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the
giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the FCPA) or any
foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign political office, in
contravention of the FCPA and the Company and any Significant Subsidiary and affiliates have
conducted their businesses in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies
and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to ensure,
continued compliance therewith.
(ss) Money Laundering. The operations of the Company and each Significant Subsidiary
are and have been conducted at all times in compliance with applicable
financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements of the Currency and Foreign Transactions
Reporting Act of 1970, as amended, the money laundering statutes of all jurisdictions, the rules
and regulations thereunder and any related or similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued,
administered or enforced by any governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and
no action, suit or proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or
any arbitrator involving the Company or any Significant Subsidiary with respect to the Money
Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(tt) Passive Foreign Investment Company. The Company does not expect to be a Passive
Foreign Investment Company (“PFIC”) within the meaning of Section 1297(a) of the United States
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder for the taxable year ending March 31, 2010 and has no plan or intention to conduct its
business in a manner that would be reasonably expected to result in the Company becoming a PFIC in
the future under current laws and regulations.
(uu) Reserves. All information related to the mineral and ore reserves of the Company
and any Significant Subsidiary contained in (A) each of the Registration Statement, the ADS
Registration Statement, when it became effective; (B) the Time of Sale Prospectus at the time of
each sale of the Offered ADSs in connection with the ADS Offering and at each Time of Delivery (as
defined in Section 4 below) when the Prospectus is not yet available to prospective purchasers, as
then amended or supplemented by the Company; and (C) the Prospectus, (the
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
14
“Reserve Information”),
(1) was and is accurate in all material respects, (2) complied and will comply in all material
respects with the requirements of the Securities Act and (3) when read together with the other
information in the Prospectus, did not and will not contain an 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; all information related to the mineral and ore reserves of the Company and
any Significant Subsidiary provided to SRK Consulting (UK) Ltd (“SRK”) was and is accurate in all
material respects; the Reserve Information has been calculated in accordance with standard mining
engineering procedures used in the mining industry and applicable government reporting requirements
and applicable law; all assumptions used in the calculation of the Reserve Information were and are
reasonable.
(vv) Mining Rights. The Company or a Significant Subsidiary holds freehold title,
mining leases, mining claims or other conventional proprietary interests or rights recognized in
the jurisdiction in which each property described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus is located, in the ore bodies and mineral inventories and the milling, smelting and
refining facilities as described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus (and all
properties respectively relating thereto) under valid, subsisting and enforceable title documents,
contracts, leases, licenses of occupation, mining concessions, permits, or other recognized and
enforceable
instruments and documents, sufficient to permit the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, as
the case may be, to explore for, extract, exploit, remove, process or refine the minerals relating
thereto, except where the failure to so hold such interests or rights would not have a Material
Adverse Effect or as described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus. In addition, the
Company or a Significant Subsidiary has all necessary surface rights, water rights and rights in
water, rights of way, licenses, easements, ingress, egress and access rights, and all other
presently required rights and interests granting the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, as the
case may be, the rights and ability to explore for, mine, extract, remove or process the minerals
derived from the ore bodies and mineral inventories described in the Time of Sale Prospectus and
the Prospectus or to transport for refinement or market or distribute the ore and metals produced
at the milling, smelting and refining facilities described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus
and the Prospectus all as referred to in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus
with only such exceptions as are described in each of the Time of Sale Prospectus and the
Prospectus, or as do not have a Material Adverse Effect. Each of the aforementioned interests and
rights is currently in good standing except for those interests and claims which, if not kept in
good standing, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ww) Purchases of ADSs and Equity Shares. Since June 27, 2009 until the earlier of
the Second Time of Delivery or the expiration of the over-allotment option period, neither the
Company nor any of its affiliates (including without limitation Vedanta Resources plc (“Vedanta”)
or its subsidiaries or affiliates) has, and it will cause such affiliates not to, (1) purchase,
announce the intention to purchase, contract to purchase, obtain or exercise any option, right,
warrant or contract to purchase, borrow or otherwise obtain, directly or indirectly, any ADSs or
Equity Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any ADSs or
Equity Shares, or any similar securities, in the open market or otherwise or (2) enter into any
swap or other agreement that transfers or agrees to transfer, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of ADSs or Equity Shares, whether any such transaction described
in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of ADSs, Equity Shares or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
15
2. Sale and Delivery to the Underwriters.
(a) Firm ADSs. Subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth and set forth in
Section 7 of this Agreement, (i) the Company agrees to sell to each of the Underwriters the number
of Firm ADSs and each of the Underwriters upon the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained, but subject to the conditions hereinafter stated, agrees, severally and not
jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price per ADS of US$12.15 (the “Purchase
Price”) which shall be the price at which the Offered ADSs are sold to the public, the number of
Firm ADSs set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto and (ii) in the
event and to the extent the Underwriters shall exercise the election to purchase Optional ADSs as
provided below, on the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to sell to each of the
Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company, at the purchase price per ADS set forth in this subsection (a), that portion of the number
of Optional ADSs as to which such election shall have been exercised (to be adjusted by the
Underwriters so as to eliminate fractional shares) determined by multiplying such number of
Optional ADSs by a fraction, the numerator of which is the maximum number of Optional ADSs which
such Underwriter is entitled to purchase as set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule I hereto, and the denominator of which is the maximum number of Optional ADSs that the
Underwriters are entitled to purchase hereunder, provided however, that the amount paid by the
Underwriters for any Optional ADSs shall be reduced by an amount per share equal to any dividends
declared by the Company and payable on the Firm ADSs but not payable on such Optional ADSs.
(b) Optional ADSs. The Company hereby grants to the Underwriters the right to
purchase at their election up to 12,345,679 Optional ADSs at the purchase price per ADS set forth
in subsection (a) above. Any such election to purchase Optional ADSs may be exercised only once by
written notice from the Underwriters to the Company, given within a period of 30 calendar days
after the date of this Agreement and setting forth the aggregate number of Optional ADSs to be
purchased and the date on which such Optional ADSs are to be delivered, as determined by the
Underwriters but in no event earlier than the First Time of Delivery or, unless the Underwriters
and the Company otherwise agree in writing, earlier than two or later than ten business days after
the date of such notice.
(c) Underwriting Commission. Subject to the terms and conditions hereof, as
compensation for the Underwriters’ commitments, the Company agrees to pay to each Underwriter an
underwriting commission of 1.25% of the Purchase Price multiplied by the number of Firm ADSs and
Optional ADSs that such Underwriter is purchasing (in each case, excluding Firm ADSs and Optional
ADSs allocated to and purchased by Vedanta, either directly or through its subsidiary), to an
account or accounts designated by the respective Underwriter. In addition to the above, the
Company agrees to pay to each Underwriter a discretionary performance fee of 0.25% of the Purchase
Price multiplied by the number of Firm ADSs and Optional ADSs that such Underwriter is purchasing
(in each case, excluding Firm ADSs and Optional ADSs allocated to and purchased by Vedanta, either
directly or through its subsidiary), the payment of such fee to be determined prior to the First
Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 below) is at the Company’s sole discretion. It is
understood that the Underwriters shall be entitled to deduct such underwriting commission and any
discretionary performance fee
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
16
allowed by the Company from the purchase price for the Firm ADSs or
the Optional ADSs, respectively, payable by the Underwriters to the Company on the First Time of
Delivery or Second Time of Delivery (as defined in Section 4 below), as the case may be.
3. Terms of the Offering. The several Underwriters propose to offer the Firm ADSs for sale
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.
4. Payment and Closing.
(a) Payment and Closing. ADRs evidencing the Offered ADSs to be purchased by each
Underwriter hereunder, in definitive form, and in such authorized denominations and registered in
such names as the Underwriters or their United States selling agents may request upon at least
forty-eight hours’ notice to the Company prior to each Time of Delivery (the “Notification Time”),
shall be delivered on each Time of Delivery by or on behalf of the Company to the Underwriters or
their United States selling agents, through the facilities of the Depositary or The Depository
Trust Company (“DTC”), for the account of each such Underwriter. Against such delivery of ADRs
evidencing the ADSs for the account of each such Underwriter by or on behalf of the Company, each
such Underwriter shall pay the purchase price therefor (net of expenses as set forth in Section 6
hereof) by wire transfer to the account designated by the Company payable to the order of the
Company in Federal (same day) funds. The Company will cause the certificates representing ADRs
evidencing the Offered ADSs to be made available by the Depositary or the Company, as applicable,
for checking at least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery with respect thereto at the
office of the Depositary or DTC, as applicable, or its designated custodian (the “Designated
Office”).
The time and date of such delivery and payment shall be, with respect to the Firm ADSs, 9:00
a.m. New York time, on July 21, 2009 or such other time and date as the Underwriters and the
Company may agree upon in writing, and, with respect to the Optional ADSs, 9:00 a.m. New York time,
on the date specified by the Underwriters in the written notice given by the Underwriters of their
election to purchase such Optional ADSs, or such other time and date as the Underwriters and the
Company may agree upon in writing. Such time and date for delivery of the Firm ADSs is herein
called the “First Time of Delivery”, such time and date for delivery of the Optional ADSs, if not
the First Time of Delivery, is herein called the “Second Time of Delivery”, and each such time and
date for delivery is herein called a “Time of Delivery”.
(b) Delivery of Closing Documents. The documents to be delivered at each Time of
Delivery by or on behalf of the parties hereto pursuant to Section 7 hereof, including the
cross-receipt for the Offered ADSs and any additional documents requested by the Underwriters
pursuant to Section 7(m) hereof will be delivered at the offices of Shearman & Sterling LLP, 0
Xxxxxxx Xxxx, #00-00, Xxxxxxxxx 000000 (the “Closing Location”), and the Offered ADSs will be
delivered as specified in subsection (a) above, all at such Time of Delivery. A meeting will be
held at the Closing Location at 9:00 a.m., New York time on the Business Day preceding such Time of
Delivery, at which meeting the final drafts of the documents to be delivered pursuant to the
preceding sentence will be available for review by the parties hereto. For the purposes of this
Section 4, “Business Day” shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
17
which is not a day on which banking institutions in New York, India or London are generally authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
5. Covenants. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters as follows:
(a) Filing of Prospectus; Notification and Filing of Amendments. (i) To prepare the
Prospectus in a form approved by the Underwriters and to file such Prospectus in the manner and
within the applicable period specified in Rule 424(b) (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8) under the
Securities Act) under the Securities Act or, if applicable, such earlier time as may be required by
Rule 430A(a)(3) under the Securities Act; (ii) to make no further amendment or any supplement to
the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, Time of Sale Prospectus or Prospectus
prior to the last Time of Delivery which shall be disapproved by the Underwriters promptly after
reasonable notice thereof, provided, however, that the Underwriters shall not unreasonably withhold
approval of the amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement; (iii) to give the
Underwriters notice of its intention to make any such filing from the time of first sale of the
Offered ADSs to any investor to the First Time of Delivery, and will furnish the Underwriters with
copies of any such documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing, as
applicable; (iv) to file promptly all reports required to be filed by the Company with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, subsequent to the date of
the Prospectus and for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in connection with the
ADS Offering; (v) to advise the Underwriters promptly after it receives notice thereof of (1) the
time when any amendment to the Registration Statement or the ADS Registration Statement has been
filed or becomes effective, or any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been
filed, and to furnish the Underwriters with copies thereof and (2) the issuance by the Commission
of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus or
Prospectus, of the suspension of the qualification of the Shares or the Offered ADSs for offering
or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for any such
purposes, or of any request by the Commission for the amending or supplementing of the Registration
Statement, any preliminary prospectus or Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the
event of the issuances of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the use of any
preliminary prospectus or Prospectus or suspending any such qualification, promptly to use its best
efforts to obtain the withdrawal of such order; (vi) to advise the Underwriters promptly at any
time (1) it becomes an “ineligible issuer” as defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act, (2) the
Registration Statement ceases to be an “automatic shelf registration statement” (as defined in Rule
405 under the Securities Act) or the Company receives, from the Commission, a notice, pursuant to
Rule 401(g)(2), of objection to the use of the form on which the Registration Statement was filed
with the Commission or (3) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission.
(b) Qualification of Offered ADSs for Offer and Sale. To take such action as the
Underwriters may reasonably request to qualify the Offered ADSs for offering and sale under the
securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Underwriters may request and to comply with such laws
so as to permit the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as
may be necessary to complete the distribution of the Offered ADSs; provided that in connection
therewith the Company shall not be required
to qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to
file a general consent to service of process in
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
18
any jurisdiction or to subject it to taxation in
respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise subject.
(c) Delivery of Prospectuses. (i) If the Time of Sale Prospectus is being used to
solicit offers to buy the Offered ADSs at a time when the Prospectus is not yet available to
prospective purchasers and any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it is
necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances, not misleading, or if any event shall occur or
condition exist as a result of which the Time of Sale Prospectus conflicts with the information
contained in the Registration Statement then on file, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the
Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Time of Sale Prospectus to comply with
applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to
the Underwriters and to any dealer upon request, either amendments or supplements to the Time of
Sale Prospectus so that the statements in the Time of Sale Prospectus as so amended or supplemented
will not, in the light of the circumstances when delivered to a prospective purchaser, be
misleading or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will no longer
conflict with the Registration Statement, or so that the Time of Sale Prospectus, as amended or
supplemented, will comply with applicable law;
(ii) If, during such period after the first date of the public offering of Offered
ADSs as in the reasonable opinion of counsel for the Underwriters the Prospectus (or in
lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is required by
law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur or condition exist as a result of which it is necessary to amend or supplement the
Prospectus in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when
the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities
Act) is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if, in the reasonable opinion of
counsel for the Underwriters, it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to
comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with the Commission and furnish, at
its own expense, to the Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses the
Underwriters will furnish to the Company) to which Offered ADSs may have been sold by the
Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to the
Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not,
in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus (or in lieu thereof the notice
referred to in Rule 173(a) of the Securities Act) is delivered to a purchaser, be
misleading or so that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, will comply with
applicable law;
(iii) To furnish to the Underwriters, without charge, a signed copy of the
Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto and documents incorporated
by reference therein) and, as soon as practicable but not later than the third
business day succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the
Underwriters with copies of the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, any documents
incorporated by reference therein and any supplements and amendments thereto or to the
Registration Statement in New York City or such other place as the Underwriters may specify
in such quantities as the Underwriters may reasonably request; and
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
19
(d) Earnings Statement. To timely file such reports pursuant to the Exchange Act as
are necessary in order to make generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable
an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last
paragraph of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act.
(e) Lock-Up. The Company will not, during the period commencing on the date hereof
and ending on the day after the date 90 days after the date of the Prospectus (A) offer, pledge,
announce the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase,
purchase any option or contract to sell, grant or exercise any option, right or warrant to
purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file or cause to be
filed a registration statement, or exercise any registration right, in respect of, any ADSs or
Equity Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any ADSs or
Equity Shares, or any similar securities, or (B) enter into any swap or other agreement that
transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of ADSs or Equity
Shares, whether any such transaction described in clause (A) or (B) above is to be settled by
delivery of ADS or such other securities, in cash or otherwise, except (x) pursuant to any employee
stock option plan that has been or may be adopted by the Company, (y) with respect to any Equity
Shares to be issued as an annual dividend or annual bonus issue to directors, supervisors and
employees which is approved by the Company’s shareholders or (z) with respect to any Equity Shares
or ADS sold to one or more of the Company’s promoters in one or more preferential allotments;
provided that if (A) during the last 17 days of the restricted period the Company issues an
earnings release or announces material news or a material event or (B) prior to the expiration of
the restricted period, the Company announces that it will release earnings results during the
16-day period beginning on the last day of the restricted period, the restrictions imposed by this
agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the
issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of the material news or material event, as
applicable; provided further that in the case of clause (B) of the preceding proviso, if no
earnings results are released during the 16-day period, the lock-up will terminate on the last day
of the 16-day period. The Company will not facilitate any conversions or exchanges of Equity
Shares into ADSs during this 90-day period.
(f) Purchases of ADSs and Equity Shares. Until the earlier of the Second Time of
Delivery or the expiration of the over-allotment option period, without the prior written consent
of the Underwriters, the Company will not, and will cause its affiliates
(including without limitation Vedanta or its subsidiaries or affiliates) not to, (1) purchase,
announce the intention to purchase, contract to purchase, obtain or exercise any option, right,
warrant or contract to purchase, borrow or otherwise obtain, directly or indirectly, any ADSs or
Equity Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any ADSs or
Equity Shares, or any similar securities, in the open market or otherwise or (2) enter into any
swap or other agreement that transfers or agrees to transfer, in whole or in part, any of the
economic consequences of ownership of ADSs or Equity Shares, whether any such transaction described
in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of ADSs, Equity Shares or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise.
(g) No Stabilization Action. Not to (and to cause its Significant Subsidiaries and
affiliates not to) take, directly or indirectly, any action which is designed to or which
constitutes
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
20
or which might reasonably be expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of any security of the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the
ADSs.
(h) Listing. To cause (a) the Offered ADSs to be listed on the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc. (“NYSE”) and (b) the Shares underlying the Offered ADSs to be listed on the Indian
Exchanges within 45 days from the date of each Time of Delivery.
(i) Approvals by Governmental Agencies. To make any post-closing filing, notice or
undertaking requested or required by any governmental agencies (including the post closing report
to be filed with the Reserve Bank of India within 30 days of closing of the ADS Offering) with
respect to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement.
(j) New Shelf Registration Statement. If the third anniversary of the initial
effective date of the Registration Statement occurs before all the Offered ADSs have been sold by
the Underwriters, prior to the third anniversary, to file a new shelf registration statement and to
take any other action necessary to permit the public offering of the Offered ADSs to continue
without interruption; references herein to the Registration Statement shall include the new
registration statement declared effective by the Commission.
(k) [Reserved]
(l) Continued Compliance with Applicable Securities Laws. To comply with, or obtain
waivers of all applicable requirements of U.S. and Indian law, including, without limitation, the
Securities Act and the Exchange Act, the rules and regulations of the Commission promulgated
thereunder, the Investment Company Act, any requests of the Commission so as to permit the
completion of the transactions contemplated by each of this Agreement, the Deposit Agreement, the
Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(m) Reporting Requirements. To file, during the period when the Prospectus is
required to be delivered under the Securities Act, on a timely basis, with the Commission all
reports and documents required to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
(n) Payment of Taxes. To indemnify and hold the Underwriters harmless against any
documentary, stamp or similar issuance or registration taxes, duties or fees and any transaction
levies, commissions or brokerage charges, including any interest and penalties, payable in India,
which are or may be required to be paid in connection with the creation, allotment, issuance, offer
and distribution of the Offered ADSs and the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the
Deposit Agreement.
(o) Free Writing Prospectuses. (i) To furnish to the Underwriters a copy of each
proposed free writing prospectus to be prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by the
Company and not to use or refer to any proposed free writing prospectus to which the Underwriters
reasonably object and (ii) not to take any action that would result in an Underwriter or the
Company being required to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Securities Act
a free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of the Underwriter that the Underwriter
otherwise would not have been required to file thereunder.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
21
(p) OFAC and Sanctions Law and Regulations. The Company and each Significant
Subsidiary will not use the proceeds from the sale of the ADSs or Equity Shares, directly or
indirectly, (A) for any purpose or activity that would violate, or cause any person associated with
the ADS Offering to violate the OFAC sanctions, or (B) to fund business, operations or contracts in
any country or territory, or with any Person, that is, at the time of such funding, prohibited by
the OFAC sanctions, or in connection with contracts in support of projects in or for the benefit of
an country or Person that is, at the time of such funding, the subject of the OFAC sanctions.
(q) Use of Proceeds. The Company will use the net proceeds received by it from the
sale of the Offered ADSs in the manner specified in the Prospectus under “Use of Proceeds”.
(r) In-principle Approvals. The Company will apply for and obtain in-principle
approval of the Indian Exchanges to list the Shares before the First Time of Delivery.
Each Underwriter severally covenants with the Company, unless it obtains the prior written
consent of the Company, not to take any action that would result in the Company being required to
file with the Commission under Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act a free writing prospectus prepared
by or on behalf of such Underwriter that otherwise would not be required to be filed by the Company
thereunder, but for the action of the Underwriter.
Notwithstanding any provision in this Agreement to the contrary, the Underwriters acknowledge
that one or more of the Company’s affiliates, including its parent Vedanta, intends to purchase
Offered ADSs. Such purchases will be made on the same terms and conditions as offered to the
public and may account for 41,152,263 Offered ADSs.
6. Payment of Expenses. Provided that the transactions contemplated in this Agreement are consummated, the Company
covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the Company will pay or cause to be paid
the following: (i) the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel and accountants in
connection with the registration of the Offered ADSs under the Securities Act (including all fees,
disbursements and expenses of the Company’s counsel associated with the review and approval of the
ADS Offering by Indian federal, central, state and local authorities) and all other expenses in
connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of experts), the ADS
Registration Statement (including exhibits), any preliminary prospectus, Time of Sale Prospectus,
the Prospectus, any free writing prospectus prepared by or on behalf of, used by, or referred to by
the Company, and amendments and supplements thereto, including all printing, graphic and document
production and translation costs associated therewith, and the mailing and delivering of copies
thereof to its shareholders or to the Underwriters and dealers, as the case may be; (ii) the cost
of preparing, printing, producing, filing and delivering the Deposit Agreement, any closing
documents (including compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the ADS
Offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Offered ADSs; (iii) all expenses in connection with
the qualification or registration (or of obtaining exemptions from the qualification and
registration) of the Offered ADSs for offering and sale under U.S. state securities laws; (iv) the
filing fees incident to securing any required review by the Financial Industry and Regulatory
Authority (“FINRA”) of the terms of the sale of the Offered ADSs; (v) the fees and expenses
incurred in connection with admitting the Offered ADSs for clearance and settlement on the
facilities of
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
22
DTC; (vi) the cost of printing or producing any non-U.S. legal investment memorandum in connection
with the offer and sale of the Offered ADSs under foreign (non-U.S. federal or state) securities
laws and all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Offered ADSs for offer and sale
under such foreign securities laws; (vii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the ADR
certificates evidencing the Offered ADSs to the Underwriters, including any stamp, transfer or
other taxes payable thereon, and in connection with the sale of the Offered ADSs by the
Underwriters to the initial purchasers thereof in the manner contemplated under this Agreement,
including, in any such case under this Agreement, any Indian withholding or service tax asserted
against an Underwriter by reason of the purchase and sale of an Offered ADS pursuant to this
Agreement; (viii) the fees and expenses (including fees and disbursements of counsel), if any, of
the Depositary and the Indian Domestic Custodian appointed under the Deposit Agreement; (ix) the
fees and expenses of the Authorized Agent (as defined in Section 14 hereof); and (x) all fees and
expenses in connection with listing the Offered ADSs on the NYSE. Each of the Company and the
Underwriters will bear its own costs and expenses relating to investor presentations on any “road
show” and electronic roadshow undertaken in connection with the marketing of the ADS Offering,
including, without limitation, cost of road show venues, within city local conveyance, meals,
lodging expenses, and other related expenses, and the cost of any aircraft chartered in connection
with the road show, if applicable (“Roadshow Expenses”). It is understood that the Underwriters
will pay all of their costs and expenses, including fees, expenses and disbursements of their
counsel.
7. Conditions to the Underwriters’ Obligations. The obligations of the Underwriters hereunder, as to the Offered ADSs to be delivered at each
Time of Delivery shall be subject, in its discretion, to the condition that all representations and
warranties and other statements of the Company herein are, at and as of such Time of Delivery, true
and correct, the condition that the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder
theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:
(a) Filing of Prospectus; No Stop Order. The Prospectus shall have been filed with
the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) in the manner and within the applicable time period
prescribed for such filing by the rules and regulations (without reliance on Rule 424(b)(8)) under
the Securities Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no
proceeding for that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; all requests
for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been complied with to the
Underwriters’ reasonable satisfaction; and no order suspending the effectiveness of such
registration, and no notice of a hearing from which an order suspending such effectiveness may
result, shall have been issued or given on or before the First Time of Delivery.
(b) Opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP. Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, United States counsel for
the Company, shall have furnished to the Underwriters their written opinion, dated such Time of
Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters.
(c) Opinion of S&R Associates. S&R Associates, India counsel for the Company, shall
have furnished to the Underwriters their written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Underwriters.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
23
(d) Opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP. Shearman & Sterling LLP, United States
counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Underwriters such opinion or opinions,
dated such Time of Delivery, with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably
request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably
request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(e) Opinion of Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx Law Offices. Xxxxxx & Xxxxxx Law Offices, India
counsel for the Underwriters, shall have furnished to the Underwriters such opinion or opinions,
dated such Time of Delivery, with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably
request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably
request to enable them to pass upon such matters.
(f) Opinion of Xxxxx Xxxxx York. Xxxxx Xxxxx York, Australia counsel for the Company,
shall have furnished to the Underwriters their written opinion, dated such Time of Delivery, in
form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters.
(g) Good Standing Certificates. Good standing certificates from the jurisdiction of
formation and dated as of a recent date for Monte Cello B.V. and Fujairah Gold FZE shall have been
furnished to the Underwriters.
(h) Opinion of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx LLP. Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxx
LLP, counsel for the Depositary, shall have furnished to the Underwriters their written opinion,
dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, and such other
documents and materials with respect to such matters as the Underwriters may reasonably request.
(i) Comfort Letter of Deloitte Xxxxxxx & Sells, Mumbai, India. On the date hereof, on
the effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement filed subsequent
to the date of this Agreement and also at each Time of Delivery, Deloitte Xxxxxxx & Sells, Mumbai,
India shall have furnished to the Underwriters a letter or letters, dated the respective dates of
delivery thereof, in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountant’s “comfort letters” to underwriters,
delivered according to Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72 (or any successor bulletin), with
respect to the U.S. GAAP audited and unaudited financial statements and certain financial
information contained in the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the Time of
Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus.
(j) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the Time of Delivery, there shall not have occurred any material adverse
change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, management, operations or prospects of the
Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, from that set forth in the Time of Sale
Prospectus and the Prospectus, the effect of which, in any such case is in the judgment of the
Underwriters so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
public offering or the delivery of the Offered ADSs being delivered at such Time of Delivery on the
terms and in the manner set forth in the Time of Sale Prospectus and the Prospectus .
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
24
(k) Listing Approval. (i) The Offered ADSs to be sold by the Company at such Time of
Delivery shall have been approved for listing on the NYSE, subject only to official notice of
issuance and (ii) prior to the date hereof, the Company has received in-principle approval of the
Indian Exchanges to list the Shares underlying the Offered ADSs, and such approvals are in full
force and in effect on the date hereof at each Time of Delivery.
(l) Depositary Certificates. The Depositary shall have furnished or caused to be
furnished to the Underwriters at such Time of Delivery certificates satisfactory to the
Underwriters evidencing the deposit with it of the Shares being so deposited against issuance of
ADRs evidencing the Offered ADSs to be delivered by the Company at such Time of Delivery, and the
execution, countersignature (if applicable), issuance and delivery of ADRs evidencing such Offered
ADSs pursuant to the Deposit Agreement.
(m) Officer’s Certificate. The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished
to the Underwriters at such Time of Delivery certificates of officers of the Company, satisfactory
to the Underwriters as to the accuracy in all material respects, of the representations and
warranties of the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance in all
material respects by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to
such Time of Delivery, and as to such other matters as the Underwriters may reasonably request, and
the Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished certificates as to the matters set forth
in subsections (a) and (j) of this Section, and as to such other matters as the Underwriters may
reasonably request.
(n) Lock-up Agreements. The “lock-up” agreements, each substantially in the form as
set forth as Exhibit A hereto, between the Underwriters and officers and directors of the Company
and certain shareholders named in Schedule IV hereto relating to sales and certain other
dispositions of ADSs or certain other securities, delivered to the Underwriters on or before the
date hereof, shall be in full force and effect as of the Time of Delivery.
The Underwriters may, at their sole discretion, waive compliance with any of the conditions
specified in this Section 7. If any condition specified in this Section 7 shall not have been
fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, and such condition shall not have been waived by
the Underwriters pursuant to this Section, this Agreement, or, in the case of any condition to the
purchase of the Optional ADSs on a Time of Delivery which is after the First Time of Delivery, the
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase the relevant Optional ADSs may be terminated by
the Underwriters by notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the relevant Time of Delivery,
and such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as provided
in Section 6 and except that Sections 1 and 8 shall survive any such termination and remain in full
force and effect.
8. Indemnification.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters by the Company. The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act,
each affiliate of any Underwriter within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act selling
ADSs on behalf of an Underwriter, the directors, officers and employees of
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
25
such Underwriter and any person who controls any affiliate of any Underwriter (collectively, the
“Indemnified Parties”), against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (including, without
limitation, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred in connection with defending or
investigating any such action or claim), joint or several, to which such Indemnified Party may
become subject, under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other United States federal or state
statutory law or regulation, or Indian common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) (i) arise out of or are based in whole or in
part upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the ADS Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus identified in Schedule II or
that the Company has filed, or is required to file, pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act
or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or (ii) arise out of or are based in
whole or in part upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities arise out of or are based upon any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue
statement or omission made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
Company in writing by any Underwriter expressly for use therein.
(b) Indemnification of Company, Directors and Officers. Each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each
of its officers, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either
Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act against any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities to which the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of either Section 15 of the Securities
Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the
Company to such Underwriter, but only to the extent that such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with
information furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), the ADS Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, any free writing prospectus that the Company has filed or
is required to file pursuant to Rule 433(d) of the Securities Act, the Prospectus, or any amendment
or supplement thereto.
(c) Actions Against Parties; Notification. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified
party under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party
under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but
the omission to so notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action
shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the
extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to such indemnified party (which shall not, except
with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election to so assume the defense
thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified party under
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
26
such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel (in addition to any local counsel) or any
other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party, in connection with
the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of investigation. No indemnifying party shall,
without a written consent of the indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or
consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim in
respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such action or claim) unless such settlement,
compromise or judgment: (i) includes an unconditional release of the indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such action or claim 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.
(d) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is
unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a)
or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) 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 ADS Offering. 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 in respect thereof), as well as any
other relevant equitable considerations. The relative benefits received by the Company
on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the same
proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Offered ADSs purchased
under this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the
total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the Underwriters with respect
to the Offered ADSs purchased under this Agreement, 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 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 the Underwriters agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection (d)
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 subsection (d). The
amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this
subsection (d) 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 (d), no
Underwriter shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which
the total price at which the Offered ADSs underwritten by it and distributed to the
public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f)
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
27
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 subsection (d) to contribute
are several in proportion to their respective underwriting obligations and not joint. The remedies
provided for in this Section 8 are not exclusive and shall not limit any rights or remedies which
may otherwise be available to any indemnified party at law or in equity.
(e) No Prejudice to Other Liability. The obligations of the Company under this
Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability that the Company may otherwise have; and the
obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have.
(f) Indemnity and Contribution Provisions to Survive. The indemnity and contribution
provisions contained in this Section 8 and the agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company and the other parties to this Agreement that are contained in this
Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of (i) any termination of
this Agreement, (ii) any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, any person
controlling any Underwriter or any affiliate of any Underwriter, or the Company, its officers or
directors or any person controlling the Company and (iii) acceptance of and payment for any of the
Shares or the Offered ADSs.
9. Default by an Underwriter.
(a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the Offered ADSs which it
has agreed to purchase hereunder at a Time of Delivery (the “Defaulted ADSs”), the defaulting
Underwriter may in its discretion arrange for another party or other parties to purchase the
Defaulted ADSs on the terms contained herein. If within thirty-six hours after such default by the
defaulting Underwriter it does not arrange for the purchase of the Defaulted ADSs, then the Company
shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to procure another party or
other parties satisfactory to the non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the Defaulted ADSs on such
terms. In the event that, within the respective prescribed periods, the non-defaulting Underwriter
notifies the Company that the non-defaulting Underwriter has so arranged for the purchase of the
Defaulted ADSs, or the Company notifies the non-defaulting Underwriter that it has so arranged for
the purchase of the Defaulted ADSs, the Company shall have the right to postpone such Time of
Delivery for a period of not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby
be made necessary in the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration Statement, the Time of Sale
Prospectus, the Prospectus, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees to
prepare and file promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement, the ADS Registration
Statement, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, which in the opinion of the non-defaulting
Underwriter may thereby be made necessary. The term “Underwriter” as used in this Agreement shall
include any person substituted under this Section 9 with like effect as if such person had
originally been a party to this Agreement with respect to the Defaulted ADSs.
(b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of Defaulted ADSs by the
non-defaulting Underwriter and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the aggregate
number of the Defaulted ADSs which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate number
of all of the Offered ADSs to be purchased at such Time of Delivery, then
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
28
this Agreement (or, with respect to the Second Time of Delivery, the obligations of the
Underwriters to purchase and of the Company to sell the Optional ADSs) shall thereupon terminate,
without liability on the part of the non-defaulting Underwriter or the Company, except for the
expenses to be borne by the Company and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the
indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve the
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.
10. Liability of Company in the event of a Default by any Underwriter. If this Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9 hereof, the Company shall not
then be under any liability to any Underwriter, except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but
if for any other reason any Offered ADSs are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as
provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters for all out-of pocket expenses
reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery
of the Offered ADSs not so delivered (other than fees, disbursements and expenses of the
Underwriters’ counsel and the Underwriters’ own Roadshow Expenses which shall be borne by the
Underwriters), but the Company shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter in
respect of the Offered ADSs not so delivered except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.
11. Termination. The Underwriters may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, and, after
consultation with the Company, at any time at or prior to the First Time of Delivery (a) if there
has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Prospectus or the Time of Sale Prospectus, any material adverse change
in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business, management, operations or
prospects of the Company and its Significant Subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising
in the ordinary course of business, or (b) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the
financial markets in the United States, London, India or the international financial markets, any
outbreak of hostilities or terrorism or escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any
change or development involving a prospective change in the United States, Indian or international
political, financial or economic conditions (including a declaration by the United States or India
of a national emergency or war) or currency exchange rates or exchange controls, in each case the
effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the Underwriters, impracticable or
inadvisable to market the Offered ADSs or to enforce contracts for the purchase or sale of the
Offered ADSs, or (c) if trading in any securities of the Company (including the Equity Shares or
the ADSs) has been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the Indian Exchanges or the
NYSE, or if trading generally on the Indian Exchanges, the American Stock Exchange, Nasdaq National
Market or the NYSE has been suspended or materially limited, or minimum or maximum prices for
trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges
or by such system or by order of the Commission, FINRA or any other governmental authority, or (d)
if a material disruption has occurred in commercial banking or securities settlement or clearance
services in the United States or India or with respect to Clearstream or Euroclear systems in
Europe, or (e) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Indian, United States Federal,
United Kingdom or New York authorities. Any termination pursuant to this Section shall be without
liability on the part of (i) the Company to any Underwriter, except that the Company shall be
obligated to reimburse the expenses of the Underwriters pursuant to Section 6 hereof (other than
the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Underwriters’ counsel and the Underwriters’ own
Roadshow Expenses which shall be borne by the Underwriters),
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
29
(ii) any Underwriter to the Company, or (iii) of any party hereto to any other party except that
the provisions of Sections 6 and 8 shall at all times be effective and shall survive such
termination.
12. Notices. All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the
Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to each of the
Underwriters at X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc., 00 Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx,
Attention: JPM Syndicate Desk, fax (0) 000-000-0000 and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. International plc, 00
Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX, Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx, and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Asia
Limited, 46/F International Commerce Centre, 1 Austin Road West,
Kowloon, Hong Kong, Attention: Head of Global Capital Markets,
fax (000) 0000-0000; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention:
Chief Financial Officer; with a copy to Xxxxxx & Xxxxxxx LLP, 0
Xxxxxxx Xxxxx, #00-00 Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx 000000, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxx, fax (00) 0000-0000. Any such statements,
requests, notices or agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.
13. Benefits of Agreement. This Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters and
the Company, and, to the extent provided in Section 8 hereof, the officers and directors of the
Company, the directors, officers, employees and agents of any Underwriter, and each person who
controls the Company, or any Underwriter, and their respective heirs, executors, administrators,
successors and assigns, and no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of
this Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Offered ADSs from any Underwriter shall be deemed a
successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.
14. Jurisdiction; Consent to Service. Each of the parties hereto irrevocably (a) agrees that any legal suit, action or proceeding
against the Company brought by any Underwriter or by any person who controls any Underwriter
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby may be
instituted in any federal or state court in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York (a “New
York Court”), (b) waives, to the fullest extent it may effectively do so, any objection which it
may now or hereafter have to the laying of venue of any such proceeding and (c) submits to the
non-exclusive jurisdiction of such courts in any such suit, action or proceeding. The Company has
appointed CT Corporation Systems, 000 Xxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, U.S.A., as its
authorized agent (the “Authorized Agent”) upon whom process may be served in any such action
arising out of or based on this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby which may be
instituted in any New York Court by any Underwriter or by any person who controls any Underwriter.
Such appointment shall be irrevocable. The Company represents and warrants that the Authorized
Agent has agreed to act as such agent for service of process and agrees to take any and all action,
including the filing of any and all documents and instruments, that may be necessary to continue
such appointment in full force and effect as aforesaid. Service of process upon the Authorized
Agent and written notice of such service to the party that has appointed it shall be deemed, in
every respect, effective service of process upon the Company.
15. Judgment Currency. In respect of any judgment or order given or made for any amount due hereunder that is
expressed and paid in a currency (the “judgment currency”) other
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
30
than United States dollars, the Company will indemnify each Underwriter and the Underwriters will
indemnify the Company against any loss incurred by such Underwriter as a result of any variation as
between (a) the rate of exchange at which the United States dollar amount is converted into the
judgment currency for the purpose of such judgment or order and (b) the rate of exchange at which
an Underwriter or the Company, as applicable, are able to purchase United States dollars with the
amount of the judgment currency actually received by such Underwriter or the Company, as
applicable. The foregoing indemnity shall constitute a separate and independent obligation of each
of the Underwriters or the Company and shall continue in full force and effect notwithstanding any
such judgment or order as aforesaid. The term “rate of exchange” shall include any premiums and
costs of exchange payable in connection with the purchase of or conversion into United States
dollars.
16. Time. Time shall be of the essence of this Agreement.
17. Applicable Law. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of
New York.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute one and the same instrument.
19. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not
affect the construction of this Agreement.
20. Tax Disclosure. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Agreement, immediately upon commencement of
discussions with respect to the transactions contemplated hereby, the Company (and each employee,
representative or other agent of the Company) may disclose to any and all persons, without
limitation of any kind, the tax treatment and tax structure of the transactions contemplated by
this Agreement and all materials of any kind (including opinions or other tax analyses) that are
provided to the Company relating to such tax treatment and tax structure. For purposes of the
foregoing, the term “tax treatment” is the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the
transactions contemplated hereby, and the term “tax structure” includes any fact that may be
relevant to understanding the purported or claimed federal income tax treatment of the transactions
contemplated hereby.
21. Entire Agreement.
(a) This Agreement, together with any contemporaneous written agreements and any prior written
agreements (to the extent not superseded by this Agreement) that relate to the offering of the
Offered ADSs, represents the entire agreement between the Company and the Underwriters with respect
to the preparation of any preliminary prospectus, the Time of Sale Prospectus, the Prospectus, the
conduct of the offering, and the purchase and sale of the Offered ADSs.
(b) The Company acknowledges and agrees that (A) the purchase and sale of the Offered ADSs
pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the Company, on the
one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, (B) in connection therewith and
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
31
with the process leading to such transaction the Underwriters are acting solely as a principal and
not the agent or fiduciary of the Company, (C) the Underwriters have not assumed an advisory or
fiduciary responsibility in favor of the Company with respect to the offering contemplated hereby
or the process leading thereto (irrespective of whether the Underwriters have advised or is
currently advising the Company on other matters) or any other obligation to the Company except the
obligations expressly set forth in this Agreement, (D) the Underwriters owe the Company only those
duties and obligations set forth in this Agreement and prior written agreements (to the extent not
superseded by this Agreement), if any, (E) the Underwriters may have interests that differ from
those of the Company and (F) the Company has consulted its own legal and financial advisors to the
extent it deemed appropriate. The Company waives to the full extent permitted by applicable law
any claims it may have against the Underwriters arising from an alleged breach of fiduciary duty in
connection with the ADS Offering.
Sterlite Industries (India) Limited
Underwriting Agreement
Underwriting Agreement
If the foregoing is in accordance with the Underwriters’ understanding, please sign and return
to us one original or counterpart hereof for the Company and each Underwriter plus one for each
counsel and the Depositary, and upon the acceptance hereof by the Underwriters, this letter and
such acceptance hereof shall constitute a binding agreement among each of the Underwriters and the
Company.
Very truly yours, STERLITE INDUSTRIES (INDIA) LIMITED |
||||
By: | /s/ Xxxxx Xxxx | |||
Name: | Xxxxx Xxxx | |||
Title: | Director of Finance | |||
SIGNATURE PAGE TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED | ||
as of the date first above written | ||
X.X. XXXXXX SECURITIES INC. | ||
By: |
/s/ Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxx Xxxxxxxxx | ||
Title: Executive Director | ||
XXXXXX XXXXXXX & CO. INTERNATIONAL PLC | ||
By: |
/s/ Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | |
Name: Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx | ||
Title: Managing Director |
SIGNATURE PAGE TO UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
SCHEDULE I
Number of Optional ADSs to | ||||||||
Total Number of Firm | be Purchased if Maximum | |||||||
Name of Underwriter | ADSs to be Purchased | Option Exercised | ||||||
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc. |
61,728,395 | 6,172,839 | ||||||
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co.
International plc |
61,728,395 | 6,172,839 | ||||||
Total |
123,456,790 | 12,345,679 | ||||||
Schedule I
SCHEDULE II
Free Writing Prospectus
1. Investor update presentation dated June 30, 2009
Schedule II
SCHEDULE III
List of Significant Subsidiaries
Copper Mines of Tasmania Pty Ltd
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited
Fujairah Gold FZE
Hindustan Zinc Limited
Monte Cello BV
Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures Limited
Sterlite Energy Limited
Thalanga Copper Mines Pty Ltd
Vedanta Aluminium Limited
Bharat Aluminium Company Limited
Fujairah Gold FZE
Hindustan Zinc Limited
Monte Cello BV
Sterlite Opportunities and Ventures Limited
Sterlite Energy Limited
Thalanga Copper Mines Pty Ltd
Vedanta Aluminium Limited
Schedule III
SCHEDULE IV
LIST OF PERSONS AND ENTITIES SUBJECT TO LOCK-UP
Directors and Executive Officers:
Xxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Jalan
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Jalan
Xxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxx
X. Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Principal Shareholders:
Vedanta Resources plc
Twin Star Holdings Limited
The Madras Aluminium Company Limited
Twin Star Holdings Limited
The Madras Aluminium Company Limited
Schedule IV
SCHEDULE V
Pricing information:
Price per ADS: $12.15
Total number of Firm ADSs: 123,456,790 (including 41,152,263 ADSs to be purchased by Vedanta)
Total number of Firm ADSs: 123,456,790 (including 41,152,263 ADSs to be purchased by Vedanta)
Schedule V
EXHIBIT A
[FORM OF LOCK-UP LETTER]
[DATE], 2009
X.X. Xxxxxx Securities Inc.
00 Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxxxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxx XX0X 0XX,
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. International plc
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
00 Xxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxx Xxxxx, Xxxxxx X00 0XX
Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:
The undersigned understands that you propose to enter into an Underwriting Agreement (the
“Underwriting Agreement”) with Sterlite Industries (India) Limited, incorporated in the Republic of
India (the “Company”), providing for the public offering (the “Public Offering”) by X.X. Xxxxxx
Securities Inc. and Xxxxxx Xxxxxxx & Co. International plc (the “Underwriters”), of 123,456,790
American depositary shares (the “ADSs”), each representing one equity share, par value Rs. 2 per
share, of the Company (the “Equity Shares”).
To induce the continuation of your efforts in connection with the Public Offering, the
undersigned hereby agrees that, without your prior written consent, it will not, during the period
commencing on the date hereof and ending on the day after the date 90 days after the date of the
final prospectus relating to the Public Offering (the “Prospectus”), (1) offer, pledge, announce
the intention to sell, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase
any option or contract to sell, grant or exercise any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend,
or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, or file or cause to be filed a
registration statement, or exercise any registration right, in respect of, any ADSs or Equity
Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any ADSs or Equity
Shares, or any similar securities, held by the undersigned on the date hereof, or (2) enter into
any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences
of ownership of ADSs or Equity Shares held by the undersigned on the date hereof, whether any such
transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of ADS or such other
securities, in cash or otherwise. The foregoing sentence shall not apply to (a) transactions
relating to shares of ADS or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the
completion of the Public Offering, provided that no filing under Section 16(a) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the “Exchange Act”) shall be required or shall be voluntarily
made in connection with subsequent sales of ADS or other securities acquired in such open market
transactions, (b) transfers of shares of ADS or any security convertible into ADS as a bona fide
Exhibit A - 1
gift, (c) distributions of shares of ADS or any security convertible into ADS to limited
partners or stockholders of the undersigned, or (d) transfers (whether for consideration or
otherwise) or distributions of ADSs or Equity Shares or any security convertible into ADSs or
Equity Shares to Vedanta Resources plc (“Vedanta”) or any of Vedanta’s subsidiaries or affiliates;
provided that in the case of any transfer or distribution pursuant to clause (b), (c) or (d), (i)
each donee, distributee or transferee shall sign and deliver a lock-up letter substantially in the
form of this letter and (ii) no filing under Section 16(a) of the Exchange Act, reporting a
reduction in beneficial ownership of shares of ADS, shall be required or shall be voluntarily made
during the restricted period referred to in the foregoing sentence. In addition, the undersigned
agrees that, without your prior written consent, it will not, during the period commencing on the
date hereof and ending on the day after the date 90 days after the date of the Prospectus, make any
demand for or exercise any right with respect to, the registration of any shares of ADS or any
security convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for ADS. 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 the undersigned’s shares of ADS except in compliance with the foregoing
restrictions.
If:
(1) during the last 17 days of the restricted period the Company issues an earnings release or
announces material news or a material event; or
(2) prior to the expiration of the restricted period, the Company announces that it will
release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the restricted
period;
the restrictions imposed by this agreement shall continue to apply until the expiration of the
18-day period beginning on the issuance of the earnings release or the announcement of material
news or material event, as applicable; provided that in the case of clause (2) above, if no
earnings results are released during the 16-day period, the lock-up will terminate on the last day
of the 16-day period. [The following sentence may be added to the lock-up letter provided by
Vedanta Resources plc: This paragraph does not apply in connection with quarterly production
releases by Vedanta Resources plc.]
The undersigned shall not engage in any transaction that may be restricted by this agreement
during the 34-day period beginning on the last day of the initial restricted period unless the
undersigned requests and receives prior written confirmation from the Company or yourselves that
the restrictions imposed by this agreement have expired.
The undersigned further agrees that, until the earlier of the Second Time of Delivery or the
expiration of the over-allotment option period, as defined in the Underwriting Agreement, without
the prior written consent of the Underwriters, it will not, and will cause its affiliates not to,
(1) purchase, announce the intention to purchase, contract to purchase, obtain or exercise any
option, right, warrant or contract to purchase, borrow or otherwise obtain, directly or indirectly,
any ADSs or Equity Shares or any securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for any
ADSs or Equity Shares, or any similar securities, in the open market or otherwise or (2) enter into
any swap or other agreement that transfers or agrees to transfer, in whole or in part,
Exhibit A - 2
any of the economic consequences of ownership of ADSs or Equity Shares, whether any such
transaction described in clause (1) or (2) above is to be settled by delivery of ADSs, Equity
Shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
The undersigned understands that the Company and yourselves are relying upon this agreement in
proceeding toward consummation of the Public Offering. The undersigned further understands that
this agreement is irrevocable and shall be binding upon the undersigned’s heirs, legal
representatives, successors and assigns.
Whether or not the Public Offering actually occurs depends on a number of factors, including
market conditions. Any Public Offering will only be made pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement,
the terms of which are subject to negotiation between the Company and yourselves.
Very truly yours, | ||
(Name) | ||
(Address) |
Exhibit A - 3