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EXHIBIT 1.1
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
September__, 0000
XxxxxXxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
UBS Warburg LLC
Wit Soundview Corporation
As Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, XX 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
INTRODUCTORY. NETGEAR, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell to the several underwriters named in
Schedule A (the "Underwriters") an aggregate of [___] shares of its Common
Stock, par value $0.001 per share (the "Common Shares"); and Nortel Networks
Limited, a ___ corporation, the "Selling Stockholder") severally propose to sell
to the Underwriters an aggregate of [___] Common Shares. The [___] Common Shares
to be sold by the Company and the [___] shares of Common Shares to be sold by
the Selling Stockholder are collectively called the "Firm Shares." In addition,
the Company has granted to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to an
additional [___] Common Shares and the Selling Stockholder has granted to the
Underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional [___] Common Shares, all
as provided in Section 2. The additional [___] Common Shares to be sold by the
Company and the additional [___] Common Shares to be sold by the Selling
Stockholder pursuant to such option are collectively called the "Option Shares".
The Firm Shares and, if and to the extent such option is exercised, the Option
Shares are collectively called the "Shares." FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
("Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx"), UBS Warburg LLC and Wit Soundview Corporation have
agreed to act as representatives of the several Underwriters (in such capacity,
the "Representatives") in connection with the offering and sale of the Common
Shares
The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-1
(File No. 333-[___]), which contains a form of prospectus, subject to
completion, to be used in connection with the public offering and sale of the
Shares. Each such prospectus, subject to completion, used in connection with
such public offering is called a "preliminary prospectus." Such registration
statement, as amended, including the financial statements, exhibits and
schedules thereto, in the form in which it was declared effective by the
Commission under the Securities Act of 1933 and the rules and regulations
promulgated thereunder (collectively, the "Securities Act"), including any
information deemed to be a part thereof at the time of effectiveness pursuant to
Rule 430A under the Securities Act, is called the "Registration Statement." Any
registration statement filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the
Securities Act is called the
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"Rule 462(b) Registration Statement", and from and after the date and time of
filing of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement the term "Registration
Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement. Such
prospectus, in the form first used by the Underwriters to confirm sales of the
Shares, is called the "Prospectus". All references in this Agreement to the
Registration Statement, the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, a preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or any amendments or supplements to any of the
foregoing, shall include any copy thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to
its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval System ("XXXXX").
The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby confirm their
respective agreements with the Underwriters as follows:
SECTION 1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY.
A. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING
STOCKHOLDER. The Company and the Selling Stockholder hereby represent, warrant
and covenant to each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements. The Registration
Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement have been declared
effective by the Commission under the Securities Act. The Company has complied
to the Commission's satisfaction with all requests of the Commission for
additional or supplemental information. No stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement is in effect and no proceedings for such purpose have been instituted
or are pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, are contemplated or
threatened by the Commission.
Each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus when filed complied
in all material respects with the Securities Act and, if filed by electronic
transmission pursuant to XXXXX (except as may be permitted by Regulation S-T
under the Securities Act), was identical to the copy thereof delivered to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offer and sale of the Shares. Each
of the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment thereto, at the time it became effective and at all
subsequent times, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
Securities Act and did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Each preliminary
prospectus, as of its date, and the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, as
of its date and at all subsequent times through the 30th day after the date
hereof, did not and will not contain any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
The representations and warranties set forth in the two immediately preceding
sentences do not apply to statements in or omissions from the Registration
Statement, any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, or any post-effective
amendment thereto, or the Prospectus, or any amendments or supplements thereto,
made in reliance upon and in conformity with information relating to any
Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by the Representatives expressly
for use therein. There are no contracts or other documents required to be
described in the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement which have not been described or filed as required.
(b) Offering Materials Furnished to Underwriters. The Company has
delivered to the Representatives three complete conformed copies of the
Registration Statement and of each consent and certificate of experts filed as a
part thereof, and conformed copies of the
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Registration Statement (without exhibits) and preliminary prospectuses and the
Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, in such quantities and at such places as
the Representatives have reasonably requested for each of the Underwriters.
(c) Distribution of Offering Material By the Company. The Company has
not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the later of the Second
Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the Underwriters'
distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection with the
offering and sale of the Shares other than a preliminary prospectus, the
Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
(d) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by, and is a valid and binding agreement of, the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to indemnification
hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof
may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other
similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by
general equitable principles.
(e) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Company. The Shares to
be purchased by the Underwriters from the Company have been duly authorized for
issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered by
the Company pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
nonassessable.
(f) Authorization of the Shares To Be Sold by the Selling Stockholder.
The Common Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters from the Selling
Stockholder, when issued, were validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
(g) No Applicable Registration or Other Similar Rights. There are no
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any equity or debt
securities registered for sale under the Registration Statement or included in
the offering contemplated by this Agreement [, other than the Selling
Stockholder with respect to the Shares included in the Registration Statement],
except for such rights as have been duly waived.
(h) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the respective dates as of
which information is given in the Prospectus: (i) there has been no material
adverse change, or any development that could reasonably be expected to result
in a material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
the earnings, business, operations or prospects, whether or not arising from
transactions in the ordinary course of business, of the Company and its
subsidiaries, considered as one entity (any such change or effect, where the
context so requires, is called a "Material Adverse Change" or a "Material
Adverse Effect"); (ii) the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
entity, have not incurred any material liability or obligation, indirect, direct
or contingent, not in the ordinary course of business nor entered into any
material transaction or agreement not in the ordinary course of business; and
(iii) there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or
made by the Company or, except for dividends paid to the Company or other
subsidiaries, any of its subsidiaries on any class of capital stock or
repurchase or redemption by the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any class
of capital stock.
(i) Independent Accountants. Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have expressed
their opinion with respect to the financial statements (which term as used in
this Agreement includes the related notes thereto) and supporting schedules
filed with the Commission as a part of the
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Registration Statement and included in the Prospectus, are independent public or
certified public accountants as required by the Securities Act.
(j) Preparation of the Financial Statements. The financial statements
filed with the Commission as a part of the Registration Statement and included
in the Prospectus present fairly the consolidated financial position of the
Company and its subsidiaries as of and at the dates indicated and the results of
their operations and cash flows for the periods specified. The supporting
schedules included in the Registration Statement present fairly the information
required to be stated therein. Such financial statements and supporting
schedules have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting
principles as applied in the United States applied on a consistent basis
throughout the periods involved, except as may be expressly stated in the
related notes thereto. No other financial statements or supporting schedules are
required to be included in the Registration Statement. The financial data set
forth in the Prospectus under the captions "Summary--Summary Selected Financial
Data", "Selected Financial Data" and "Capitalization" fairly present the
information set forth therein on a basis consistent with that of the audited
financial statements contained in the Registration Statement. [The pro forma
[consolidated][condensed] financial statements of the Company and its
subsidiaries and the related notes thereto included under the caption
"Prospectus Summary--Summary Pro Forma [Consolidated] Selected Financial Data",
"Pro Forma [Consolidated] Selected Financial Data" and elsewhere in the
Prospectus and in the Registration Statement present fairly the information
contained therein, have been prepared in accordance with the Commission's rules
and guidelines with respect to pro forma financial statements and have been
properly presented on the bases described therein, and the assumptions used in
the preparation thereof are reasonable and the adjustments used therein are
appropriate to give effect to the transactions and circumstances referred to
therein. No other pro forma financial information is required to be included in
the Registration Statement Pursuant to Regulation S-X.]
(k) Company's Accounting System. The Company and each of its
subsidiaries maintain a system of accounting controls sufficient to provide
reasonable assurances that (i) transactions are executed in accordance with
management's general or specific authorization; (ii) transactions are recorded
as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in conformity with
generally accepted accounting principles as applied in the United States and to
maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in
accordance with management's general or specific authorization; and (iv) the
recorded accountability for assets is compared with existing assets at
reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with respect to any
differences.
(l) Subsidiaries of the Company. The Company does not own or control,
directly or indirectly, any corporation, association or other entity other than
the subsidiaries listed in Exhibit 21 to the Registration Statement.
(m) Incorporation and Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.
Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has been duly organized and is validly
existing as a corporation or limited liability company, as the case may be, in
good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction in which it is organized with
full corporate power and authority to own its properties and conduct its
business as described in the prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as
a foreign corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
jurisdiction which requires such qualification.
(n) Capitalization of the Subsidiaries. All the outstanding shares of
capital stock of each subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and
issued and are fully paid and
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nonassessable, and, except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, all
outstanding shares of capital stock of the subsidiaries are owned by the Company
either directly or through wholly owned subsidiaries free and clear of any
security interests, claims, liens or encumbrances.
(o) No Prohibition on Subsidiaries from Paying Dividends or Making Other
Distributions. No subsidiary of the Company is currently prohibited, directly or
indirectly, from paying any dividends to the Company, from making any other
distribution on such subsidiary's capital stock, from repaying to the Company
any loans or advances to such subsidiary from the Company or from transferring
any of such subsidiary's property or assets to the Company or any other
subsidiary of the Company, except as described in or contemplated by the
Prospectus.
(p) Capitalization and Other Capital Stock Matters. The authorized,
issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the
Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" (other than for subsequent
issuances, if any, pursuant to employee benefit plans described in the
Prospectus or upon exercise of outstanding options or warrants described in the
Prospectus). The Common Shares (including the Shares) conform in all material
respects to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus. All of the
issued and outstanding Common Shares have been duly authorized and validly
issued, are fully paid and nonassessable and have been issued in compliance with
federal and state securities laws. None of the outstanding Common Shares were
issued in violation of any preemptive rights, rights of first refusal or other
similar rights to subscribe for or purchase securities of the Company. There are
no authorized or outstanding options, warrants, preemptive rights, rights of
first refusal or other rights to purchase, or equity or debt securities
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for, any capital stock of the
Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those accurately described in the
Prospectus. The description of the Company's stock option, stock bonus and other
stock plans or arrangements, and the options or other rights granted thereunder,
set forth in the Prospectus accurately and fairly presents the information
required to be shown with respect to such plans, arrangements, options and
rights.
(q) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares have been approved for inclusion
on the Nasdaq National Market, subject only to official notice of issuance.
(r) No Consents, Approvals or Authorizations Required. No consent,
approval, authorization, filing with or order of any court or governmental
agency or regulatory body is required in connection with the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as have been obtained or made under the
Securities Act and such as may be required (i) under the blue sky laws of any
jurisdiction in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters in the manner contemplated here and in the Prospectus, (ii) by
the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iii) by the federal and
provincial laws of Canada.
(s) Non-Contravention of Existing Instruments Agreements. Neither the
issue and sale of the Shares nor the consummation of any other of the
transactions herein contemplated nor the fulfillment of the terms hereof will
conflict with, result in a breach or violation or imposition of any lien, charge
or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries pursuant to, (i) the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
its subsidiaries, (ii) the terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage,
deed of trust, note agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation,
condition, covenant or instrument to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or bound or to which its or their property is subject or
(iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree applicable
to the Company or any of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory body,
administrative agency,
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governmental body, arbitrator or other authority having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of its or their properties.
(t) No Defaults or Violations. Neither the Company nor any subsidiary is
in violation or default of (i) any provision of its charter or by-laws, (ii) the
terms of any indenture, contract, lease, mortgage, deed of trust, note
agreement, loan agreement or other agreement, obligation, condition, covenant or
instrument to which it is a party or bound or to which its property is subject
or (iii) any statute, law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body, arbitrator or
other authority having jurisdiction over the Company or such subsidiary or any
of its properties, as applicable, except any such violation or default which
would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Change
except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus.
(u) No Actions, Suits or Proceedings. No action, suit or proceeding by
or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator
involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its or their property is
pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened that (i) could
reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect on the performance of
this Agreement or the consummation of any of the transactions contemplated
hereby or (ii) could reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
Effect.
(v) All Necessary Permits, Etc. The Company and each subsidiary possess
such valid and current certificates, authorizations or permits issued by the
appropriate state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies necessary to
conduct their respective businesses, and neither the Company nor any subsidiary
has received any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or
modification of, or non-compliance with, any such certificate, authorization or
permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, could result in a Material Adverse Change.
(w) Title to Properties. The Company and each of its subsidiaries has
good and marketable title to all the properties and assets reflected as owned in
the financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above (or elsewhere in
the Prospectus), in each case free and clear of any security interests,
mortgages, liens, encumbrances, equities, claims and other defects, except such
as do not materially and adversely affect the value of such property and do not
materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such property
by the Company or such subsidiary. The real property, improvements, equipment
and personal property held under lease by the Company or any subsidiary are held
under valid and enforceable leases, with such exceptions as are not material and
do not materially interfere with the use made or proposed to be made of such
real property, improvements, equipment or personal property by the Company or
such subsidiary.
(x) Tax Law Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries have filed all
necessary federal, state and foreign income and franchise tax returns and have
paid all taxes required to be paid by any of them and, if due and payable, any
related or similar assessment, fine or penalty levied against any of them. The
Company has made adequate charges, accruals and reserves in the applicable
financial statements referred to in Section 1(A)(i) above in respect of all
federal, state and foreign income and franchise taxes for all periods as to
which the tax liability of the Company or any of its subsidiaries has not been
finally determined. The Company is not aware of any tax deficiency that has been
or might be asserted or threatened against the Company that could result in a
Material Adverse Change.
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(y) Intellectual Property Rights. Each of the Company and its
subsidiaries owns or possesses adequate rights to use all patents, patent rights
or licenses, inventions, collaborative research agreements, trade secrets,
know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights which are
necessary to conduct its businesses as described in the Registration Statement
and Prospectus; the expiration of any patents, patent rights, trade secrets,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights would not result in a
Material Adverse Change that is not otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus; the
Company has not received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any
infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of the Company by others with
respect to any patent, patent rights, inventions, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights; and the Company has not
received any notice of, and has no knowledge of, any infringement of or conflict
with asserted rights of others with respect to any patent, patent rights,
inventions, trade secrets, know-how, trademarks, service marks, trade names or
copyrights which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding, might have a Material Adverse Change. There is no
claim being made against the Company regarding patents, patent rights or
licenses, inventions, collaborative research, trade secrets, know-how,
trademarks, service marks, trade names or copyrights. The Company and its
subsidiaries do not in the conduct of their business as now or proposed to be
conducted as described in the Prospectus infringe or conflict with any right or
patent of any third party, or any discovery, invention, product or process which
is the subject of a patent application filed by any third party, known to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, which such infringement or conflict is
reasonably likely to result in a Material Adverse Change.
(z) Y2K. There are no Y2K issues related to the Company, or any of its
subsidiaries, that (i) are of a character required to be described or referred
to in the Registration Statement or Prospectus by the Securities Act which have
not been accurately described in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
(ii) might reasonably be expected to result in any Material Adverse Change or
that might materially affect their properties, assets or rights.
(aa) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or
other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the issuance and sale by the Company
of the shares.
(bb) Company Not an "Investment Company." The Company has been advised
of the rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "Investment Company Act"). The Company is not, and after receipt of
payment for the Shares will not be, an "investment company" or an entity
"controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act and will conduct its business in a manner so that it will not become
subject to the Investment Company Act.
(cc) Insurance. Each of the Company and its subsidiaries are insured by
recognized, financially sound and reputable institutions with policies in such
amounts and with such deductibles and covering such risks as are generally
deemed adequate and customary for their businesses including, but not limited
to, policies covering real and personal property owned or leased by the Company
and its subsidiaries against theft, damage, destruction, acts of vandalism and
earthquakes, general liability and Directors and Officers liability. The Company
has no reason to believe that it or any subsidiary will not be able (i) to renew
its existing insurance coverage as and when such policies expire or (ii) to
obtain comparable coverage from similar institutions as may be necessary or
appropriate to conduct its business as now conducted and at a cost that would
not result in a Material Adverse Change. Neither of the
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Company nor any subsidiary has been denied any insurance coverage which it has
sought or for which it has applied.
(dd) Labor Matters. To the best of Company's knowledge, no labor
disturbance by the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists or
is imminent; and the Company is not aware of any existing or imminent labor
disturbance by the employees of any of its principal suppliers, subassemblers,
value added resellers, subcontractors, original equipment manufacturers,
authorized dealers or distributors that might be expected to result in a
Material Adverse Change.
(ee) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Company has not taken
and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that might
be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of
the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale of the Shares.
(ff) Lock-Up Agreements. Each officer and director of the company, the
Selling Stockholder and each beneficial owner of any of the outstanding issued
share capital of the Company has agreed to sign an agreement substantially in
the form attached hereto as Exhibit A (the "Lock-up Agreements"). The Company
has provided to counsel for the Underwriters a complete and accurate list of all
securityholders of the Company and the number and type of securities held by
each securityholder. The Company has provided to counsel for the Underwriters
true, accurate and complete copies of all of the Lock-up Agreements presently in
effect or effected hereby. The Company hereby represents and warrants that it
will not release any of its officers, directors or other stockholders from any
Lock-up Agreements currently existing or hereafter effected without the prior
written consent of Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx.
(gg) Related Party Transactions. There are no business relationships or
related-party transactions involving the Company or any subsidiary or any other
person required to be described in the Prospectus which have not been described
as required.
Any certificate signed by an officer of the Company and delivered to the
Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be deemed to be a
representation and warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters
set forth therein.
(hh) No Unlawful Contributions or Other Payments. Neither the Company
nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the best of the Company's knowledge, any
employee or agent of the Company or any subsidiary, has made any contribution or
other payment to any official of, or candidate for, any federal, state or
foreign office in violation of any law or of the character required to be
disclosed in the Prospectus.
(ii) Environmental Laws. (i) The Company is in compliance with all
rules, laws and regulations relating to the use, treatment, storage and disposal
of toxic substances and protection of health or the environment ("Environmental
Laws") which are applicable to its business, except where the failure to comply
would not result in a Material Adverse Change, (ii) the Company has received no
notice from any governmental authority or third party of an asserted claim under
Environmental Laws, which claim is required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus, (iii) the Company is not currently aware that it
will be required to make future material capital expenditures to comply with
Environmental Laws and (iv) no property which is owned, leased or occupied by
the Company has been designated as a Superfund site pursuant to the
Comprehensive Response, Compensation, and Liability Act
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of 1980, as amended (42 U.S.C. Section 9601, et seq.), or otherwise designated
as a contaminated site under applicable state or local law.
(jj) ERISA Compliance. The Company and its subsidiaries and any
"employee benefit plan" (as defined under the Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, and the regulations and published
interpretations thereunder (collectively, "ERISA")) established or maintained by
the Company, its subsidiaries or their "ERISA Affiliates" (as defined below) are
in compliance in all material respects with ERISA. "ERISA Affiliate" means, with
respect to the Company or a subsidiary, any member of any group of organizations
described in Sections 414(b), (c), (m) or (o) of the Internal Revenue Code of
1986, as amended, and the regulations and published interpretations thereunder
(the "Code") of which the Company or such subsidiary is a member. No "reportable
event" (as defined under ERISA) has occurred or is reasonably expected to occur
with respect to any "employee benefit plan" established or maintained by the
Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA Affiliates. No "employee benefit
plan" established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their
ERISA Affiliates, if such "employee benefit plan" were terminated, would have
any "amount of unfounded benefit liabilities" (as defined under ERISA). Neither
the Company, its subsidiaries nor any of their ERISA Affiliates has incurred or
reasonably expects to incur any liability under (i) Title IV of ERISA with
respect to termination of, or withdrawal from, any "employee benefit plan" or
(ii) Sections 412, 4971, 4975 or 4980B of the Code. Each "employee benefit plan"
established or maintained by the Company, its subsidiaries or any of their ERISA
Affiliates that is intended to be qualified under Section 401(a) of the Code is
so qualified and nothing has occurred, whether by action or failure to act,
which would cause the loss of such qualification.
B. Representations and Warranties of the Selling Stockholder. The
Selling Stockholder represents, warrants and covenants to each Underwriter as
follows:
(a) The Underwriting Agreement. This Agreement has been duly authorized,
executed and delivered by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder and is a valid
and binding agreement of such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as rights to indemnification hereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as the enforcement hereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting the rights and remedies of creditors or by general
equitable principles.
(b) Title to Shares to be Sold. The Selling Stockholder is the lawful
owner of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder hereunder and upon
sale and delivery of, and payment for, such Shares, as provided herein, such
Selling Stockholder will convey good and marketable title to such Shares, free
and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities and claims whatsoever.
(c) All Authorizations Obtained. The Selling Stockholder has, and on the
First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date (as defined below) will have,
good and valid title to all of the Shares which may be sold by such Selling
Stockholder pursuant to this Agreement on such date and the legal right and
power, and all authorizations and approvals required by law and under its
charter or by-laws, to enter into this Agreement, to sell, transfer and deliver
all of the Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to this
Agreement and to comply with its other obligations hereunder and thereunder.
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(d) No Further Consents, Authorization or Approvals. No consent,
approval, authorization or order of any court or governmental agency or body is
required for the consummation by the Selling Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated herein, except such as may have been obtained under the Securities
Act and such as may be required under the federal and provincial securities laws
of Canada or the blue sky laws or any jurisdiction in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Shares by the Underwriters and such other
approvals as have been obtained.
(e) Non-Contravention. Neither the sale of the Securities being sold by
the Selling Stockholder nor the consummation of any other of the transactions
herein contemplated by such Selling Stockholder or the fulfillment of the terms
hereof by such Selling Stockholder will conflict with, result in a breach or
violation of, or constitute a default under any law or the terms of any
indenture or other agreement or instrument to which such Selling Stockholder is
party or bound, any judgment, order or decree applicable to such Selling
Stockholder or any court or regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental
body or arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder.
(f) No Registration or Other Similar Rights. The Selling Stockholder
does not have any registration or other similar rights to have any equity or
debt securities registered for sale by the Company under the Registration
Statement or included in the offering contemplated by this Agreement, except for
such rights as are described in the Prospectus under "Shares Eligible for Future
Sale."
(g) No Preemptive, Co-sale or other Rights. The Selling Stockholder does
not have, or has waived prior to the date hereof, any preemptive right, co-sale
right or right of first refusal or other similar right to purchase any of the
Shares that are to be sold by the Company to the Underwriters pursuant to this
Agreement; and such Selling Stockholder does not own any warrants, options or
similar rights to acquire, and does not have any right or arrangement to
acquire, any capital stock, right, warrants, options or other securities from
the Company, other than those described in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.
(h) Disclosure Made by Such Selling Stockholder in the Prospectus. All
information furnished by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder in writing
expressly for use in the Registration Statement and Prospectus is, and on the
First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date (as defined below) will be, true,
correct, and complete in all material respects, and does not, and on the First
Closing Date and the Second Closing Date will not, contain any untrue statement
of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make such
information not misleading. The Selling Stockholder confirms as accurate the
number of shares of Company Shares set forth opposite such Selling Stockholder's
name in the Prospectus under the caption "Principal and Selling Stockholders"
(both prior to and after giving effect to the sale of the Shares).
(i) No Price Stabilization or Manipulation. The Selling Stockholder has
not taken and will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or
that might be reasonably expected to cause or result in stabilization or
manipulation of the price of the Common Stock to facilitate the sale or resale
of the Shares.
(j) No Transfer Taxes or Other Fees. There are no transfer taxes or
other similar fees or charges under Federal law or the laws of any state, or any
political subdivision thereof, required to be paid in connection with the
execution and delivery of this Agreement or the sale by the Selling Stockholder
of the Shares.
10.
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(k) Distribution of Offering Materials by the Selling Stockholder. The
Selling Stockholder has not distributed and will not distribute, prior to the
later of the Second Closing Date (as defined below) and the completion of the
Underwriters' distribution of the Shares, any offering material in connection
with the offering and sale of the Shares by such Selling Stockholder other than
a preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus or the Registration Statement.
Any certificate signed by or on behalf of the Selling Stockholder
and delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters shall be
deemed to be a representation and warranty by the Selling Stockholder to each
Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.
SECTION 2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SHARES.
(a) The Firm Shares. Upon the terms herein set forth, (i) the Company
agrees to issue and sell to the several Underwriters an aggregate of [___] Firm
Shares and (ii) the Selling Stockholder agrees to sell to the several
Underwriters an aggregate of [___] Firm Shares. On the basis of the
representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and upon the terms
but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Underwriters agree,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company and the Selling
Stockholder the respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite their names
on Schedule A. The purchase price per Firm Share to be paid by the several
Underwriters to the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall be $[___] per
share.
(b) The First Closing Date. Delivery of the Firm Shares to be purchased
by the Underwriters and payment therefor shall be made by the Company and the
Representatives at 6:00 a.m. San Francisco time, at the offices of Wilson,
Sonsini, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C., 000 Xxxx Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxx Xxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
00000 (or at such other place as may be agreed upon among the Representatives
and the Company), (i) on the third (3rd) full business day following the first
day that Shares are traded, (ii) if this Agreement is executed and delivered
after 1:30 P.M., San Francisco time, the fourth (4th) full business day
following the day that this Agreement is executed and delivered or (iii) at such
other time and date not later that seven (7) full business days following the
first day that Shares are traded as the Representatives and the Company may
determine (or at such time and date to which payment and delivery shall have
been postponed pursuant to Section 8 hereof), such time and date of payment and
delivery being herein called the "Closing Date;" provided, however, that if the
Company has not made available to the Representatives copies of the Prospectus
within the time provided in Section 2(g) and 3(e) hereof, the Representatives
may, in their sole discretion, postpone the Closing Date until no later that two
(2) full business days following delivery of copies of the Prospectus to the
Representatives.
(c) The Option Shares; the Second Closing Date. In addition, on the
basis of the representations, warranties and agreements herein contained, and
upon the terms but subject to the conditions herein set forth, the Company and
the Selling Stockholder hereby grant an option to the several Underwriters to
purchase, severally and not jointly, up to an aggregate of [___] Option Shares
from the Company and the Selling Stockholder at the purchase price per share to
be paid by the Underwriters for the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder is
for use by the Underwriters solely in covering any over-allotments in connection
with the sale and distribution of the Firm Shares. The option granted hereunder
may be exercised at any time upon notice by the Representatives to the Company
and the Selling Stockholder, which notice may be given at any time within 30
days from the date of this Agreement. The time and date of delivery of the
Option Shares, if subsequent to the First Closing Date, is called the "Second
Closing Date" and shall be determined by the Representatives and shall not be
earlier than
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three nor later than five full business days after delivery of such notice of
exercise. If any Option Shares are to be purchased, (i) each Underwriter agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase the number of Option Shares (subject to
such adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may
determine) that bears the same proportion to the total number of Option Shares
to be purchased as the number of Firm Shares set forth on Schedule A opposite
the name of such Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Shares and (ii)
the Company and each Selling Stockholder agrees, severally and not jointly, to
sell the number of Option Shares (subject to such adjustments to eliminate
fractional shares as the Representatives may determine) that bears the same
proportion to the total number of Option Shares to be sold as the number of
Option Shares to be sold by the Company and the Selling Stockholder,
respectively, set forth in the paragraph "Introductory" of this Agreement) bears
to the total number of Option Shares. The Representatives may cancel the option
at any time prior to its expiration by giving written notice of such
cancellation to the Company and the Selling Stockholder.
(d) Public Offering of the Shares. The Representatives hereby advise the
Company and the Selling Stockholder that the Underwriters intend to offer for
sale to the public, as described in the Prospectus, their respective portions of
the Shares as soon after this Agreement has been executed and the Registration
Statement has been declared effective as the Representatives, in their sole
judgment, has determined is advisable and practicable.
(e) Payment for the Shares. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the
Company shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the
Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
order of the Company. Payment for the Shares to be sold by the Selling
Stockholder shall be made at the First Closing Date (and, if applicable, at the
Second Closing Date) by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the
order of the Selling Stockholder.
It is understood that the Representatives have been authorized, for
their own account and the accounts of the several Underwriters, to accept
delivery of and receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the
Firm Shares and any Option Shares the Underwriters have agreed to purchase.
Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, individually and not as the Representatives of the
Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment for any Shares to
be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds shall not have been received by the
Representatives by the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the
case may be, for the account of such Underwriter, but any such payment shall not
relieve such Underwriter from any of its obligations under this Agreement.
The Selling Stockholder hereby agrees that (i) it will pay all stock
transfer taxes, stamp duties and other similar taxes, if any, payable upon the
sale or delivery of the Shares to be sold by such Selling Stockholder to the
several Underwriters, or otherwise in connection with the performance of such
Selling Stockholder's obligations hereunder and (ii) the Representatives are
authorized to deduct for such payment any such amounts from the proceeds to such
Selling Stockholder hereunder and to hold such amounts for the account of such
Selling Stockholder.
(f) Delivery of the Shares. The Company and the Selling Stockholder
shall deliver, or cause to be delivered a credit representing the Firm Shares to
an account or accounts at The Depository Trust Company as designated by the
Representatives for the accounts of the Representatives and the several
Underwriters at the First Closing Date, against the irrevocable release of a
wire transfer of immediately available funds for the amount of the purchase
price
12.
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therefor. The Company and the Selling Stockholder shall also deliver, or cause
to be delivered a credit representing the Option Shares to an account or
accounts at The Depository Trust Company as designated by the Representatives
for the accounts of the Representatives and the several Underwriters, at the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, against the
irrevocable release of a wire transfer of immediately available funds for the
amount of the purchase price therefor. Time shall be of the essence, and
delivery at the time and place specified in this Agreement is a further
condition to the obligations of the Underwriters.
(g) Delivery of Prospectus to the Underwriters. Not later than 12:00
noon on the second business day following the date the Shares are released by
the Underwriters for sale to the public, the Company shall deliver or cause to
be delivered copies of the Prospectus in such quantities and at such places as
the Representatives shall request.
SECTION 3. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY AND THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER.
A. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company further covenants and agrees
with each Underwriter as follows:
(a) Registration Statement Matters. The Company will (i) use its best
efforts to cause a registration statement on Form 8-A (the "Form 8-A
Registration Statement") as required by the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the
"Exchange Act") to become effective simultaneously with the Registration
Statement, (ii) use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective or, if the procedure in Rule 430A of the Securities Act is
followed, to prepare and timely file with the Commission under Rule 424(b) under
the Securities Act a Prospectus in a form approved by the Representatives
containing information previously omitted at the time of effectiveness of the
Registration Statement in reliance on Rule 430A of the Securities Act and (iii)
not file any amendment to the Registration Statement or supplement to the
Prospectus of which the Representatives shall not previously have been advised
and furnished with a copy or to which the Representatives shall have reasonably
objected in writing or which is not in compliance with the Securities Act. If
the Company elects to rely on Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, the Company
shall file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in
compliance with Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act prior to the time
confirmations are sent or given, as specified by Rule 462(b)(2) under the
Securities Act, and shall pay the applicable fees in accordance with Rule 111
under the Securities Act.
(b) Securities Act Compliance. The Company will advise the
Representatives promptly (i) when the Registration Statement or any
post-effective amendment thereto shall have become effective, (ii) of receipt of
any comments from the Commission, (iii) of any request of the Commission for
amendment of the Registration Statement or for supplement to the Prospectus or
for any additional information and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the use
of the Prospectus or of the institution of any proceedings for that purpose. The
Company will use its best efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order
preventing or suspending the use of the Prospectus and to obtain as soon as
possible the lifting thereof, if issued.
(c) Blue Sky Compliance. The Company will cooperate with the
Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters in endeavoring to qualify the
Shares for sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions (both national
and foreign) as the Representatives may reasonably have designated in writing
and will make such applications, file such documents, and furnish such
information as may be reasonably required for that purpose, provided the
13.
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Company shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a
general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now so
qualified or required to file such a consent. The Company will, from time to
time, prepare and file such statements, reports and other documents, as are or
may be required to continue such qualifications in effect for so long a period
as the Representatives may reasonably request for distribution of the Shares.
(d) Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus and Other Securities
Act Matters. The Company will comply with the Securities Act and the Exchange
Act, and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, so as to permit
the completion of the distribution of the Shares as contemplated in this
Agreement and the Prospectus. If during the period in which a prospectus is
required by law to be delivered by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall
occur as a result of which, in the judgment of the Company or in the reasonable
opinion of the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters, it becomes
necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances existing at the time the Prospectus
is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or, if it is necessary at any time
to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law, the Company
promptly will prepare and file with the Commission, and furnish at its own
expense to the Underwriters and to dealers, an appropriate amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus so that the Prospectus as
so amended or supplemented will not, in the light of the circumstances when it
is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will comply with the
law.
(e) Copies of any Amendments and Supplements to the Prospectus. The
Company agrees to furnish the Representatives, without charge, during the period
beginning on the date hereof and ending on the later of the First Closing Date
or such date, as in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, the Prospectus
is no longer required by law to be delivered in connection with sales by an
Underwriter or dealer (the "Prospectus Delivery Period"), as many copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto as the Representatives may
request.
(f) Insurance. The Company shall (i) obtain Directors and Officers
liability insurance in the minimum amount of $10 million which shall apply to
the offering contemplated hereby and (ii) cause Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx to be added
to such policy such that up to $500,000 of its expenses pursuant to section 7(a)
shall be paid directly by such insurer and (iii) shall cause Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx
to be added as an additional insured to such policy in respect of the offering
contemplated hereby.
(g) Notice of Subsequent Events. If at any time during the ninety (90)
day period after the Registration Statement becomes effective, any rumor,
publication or event relating to or affecting the Company shall occur as a
result of which, in your opinion, the market price of the Company Shares has
been or is likely to be materially affected (regardless of whether such rumor,
publication or event necessitates a supplement to or amendment of the
Prospectus), the Company will, after written notice from you advising the
Company to the effect set forth above, forthwith prepare, consult with you
concerning the substance of and disseminate a press release or other public
statement, reasonably satisfactory to you, responding to or commenting on such
rumor, publication or event.
(h) Use of Proceeds. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the
sale of the Shares sold by it in the manner described under the caption "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus.
14.
15
(i) Transfer Agent. The Company shall engage and maintain, at its
expense, a registrar and transfer agent for the Company Shares.
(j) Earnings Statement. As soon as practicable, the Company will make
generally available to its security holders and to the Representatives an
earnings statement (which need not be audited) covering the twelve-month period
ending [___] that satisfies the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities
Act.
(k) Periodic Reporting Obligations. During the Prospectus Delivery
Period, the Company shall file, on a timely basis, with the Commission and the
Nasdaq National Market all reports and documents required to be filed under the
Exchange Act.
(l) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. The Company
will not offer, sell or contract to sell, or otherwise dispose of or enter into
any transaction which is designed to, or could be expected to, result in the
disposition (whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due
to cash settlement or otherwise by the Company or any affiliate of the Company
or any person in privity with the Company or any affiliate of the Company)
directly or indirectly, or announce the offering of, any other Common Shares or
any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, Common Shares; provided,
however, that the Company may (i) issue and sell Common Shares pursuant to any
director or employee stock option plan, stock ownership plan or dividend
reinvestment plan of the Company in effect at the date of the Prospectus and
described in the Prospectus so long as none of those shares may be transferred
and the Company shall enter stop transfer instructions with its transfer agent
and registrar against the transfer of any such Common Shares and (ii) the
Company may issue Common Shares issuable upon the conversion of securities or
the exercise of warrants outstanding at the date of the Prospectus and described
in the Prospectus. These restrictions terminate after the close of trading of
the Shares on the 180th day of (and including) the day the Shares commenced
trading on the Nasdaq National Market (the "Lock-Up Period").
(m) Future Reports to the Representatives. During the period of five
years hereafter the Company will furnish to the Representatives (i) as soon as
practicable after the end of each fiscal year, copies of the Annual Report of
the Company containing the balance sheet of the Company as of the close of such
fiscal year and statements of income, stockholders' equity and cash flows for
the year then ended and the opinion thereon of the Company's independent public
or certified public accountants; (ii) as soon as practicable after the filing
thereof, copies of each proxy statement, Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q, Current Report on Form 8-K or other report filed by the
Company with the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC
or any securities exchange; and (iii) as soon as available, copies of any report
or communication of the Company mailed generally to holders of its capital
stock.
(n) Exchange Act Compliance. During the Prospectus Delivery Period, the
Company will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15 of the Exchange Act in the manner and within
the time periods required by the Exchange Act.
B. COVENANTS OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER. The Selling Stockholder
further covenants and agrees with each Underwriter:
(a) Agreement Not to Offer or Sell Additional Securities. Such Selling
Stockholder will not, during the Lock-Up Period, make a disposition of
Securities (as defined in Exhibit A hereto) now owned or hereafter acquired
directly by such person or with respect to which such
15.
16
person has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than (i) as
a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in writing
to be bound by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or
shareholders of such person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to
dispositions of Common Shares acquired on the open market or (iv) with the prior
written consent of FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc. The foregoing restriction
has been expressly agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging
in any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected
to lead to or result in a disposition of Securities during the Lock-Up Period,
even if such Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder.
Such prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation,
any short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant
of any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with
respect to any Securities or with respect to any security (other than a
broad-based market basket or index) that includes, relates to or derives any
significant part of its value from Securities. Furthermore, such person has also
agreed and consented to the entry of stop transfer instructions with the
Company's transfer agent against the transfer of the Securities held by such
person except in compliance with this restriction.
(b) Delivery of Forms W-8 and W-9. To deliver to the Representatives
prior to the First Closing Date a properly completed and executed United States
Treasury Department Form W-8 (if the Selling Stockholder is a non-United States
person) or Form W-9 (if the Selling Stockholder is a United States Person).
(c) Notification of Untrue Statements, etc. If, at any time prior to the
date on which the distribution of the Common Shares as contemplated herein and
in the Prospectus has been completed, as determined by the Representatives, such
Selling Stockholder has knowledge of the occurrence of any event as a result of
which the Prospectus or the Registration Statement, in each case as then amended
or supplemented, would include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, such Selling
Stockholder will promptly notify the Company and the Representatives.
SECTION 4. CONDITIONS OF THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS. The
obligations of the several Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Shares as
provided herein on the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option
Shares, the Second Closing Date, shall be subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties on the part of the Company and the Selling
Stockholder set forth in Sections 1(A) and 1(B) hereof as of the date hereof and
as of the First Closing Date as though then made and, with respect to the Option
Shares, as of the Second Closing Date as though then made, to the timely
performance by the Company and the Selling Stockholder of their respective
covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to each of the following
additional conditions:
(a) Compliance with Registration Requirements; No Stop Order; No
Objection from the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC. The
Registration Statement shall have become effective prior to the execution of
this Agreement, or at such later date as shall be consented to in writing by
you; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness thereof shall have been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been initiated or, to the
knowledge of the Company, the Selling Stockholder or any Underwriter, threatened
by the Commission, and any request of the Commission for additional information
(to be included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or otherwise)
shall have been complied with to the satisfaction of Underwriters' Counsel; and
the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC
16.
17
shall have raised no objection to the fairness and reasonableness of the
underwriting terms and arrangements.
(b) Corporate Proceedings. All corporate proceedings and other legal
matters in connection with this Agreement, the form of Registration Statement
and the Prospectus, and the registration, authorization, issue, sale and
delivery of the Shares, shall have been reasonably satisfactory to Underwriters'
Counsel, and such counsel shall have been furnished with such papers and
information as they may reasonably have requested to enable them to pass upon
the matters referred to in this Section.
(c) No Material Adverse Change. Subsequent to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date, or the Second Closing
Date, as the case may be, there shall not have been any Material Adverse Change
in the condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or
business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise from that set forth in the Registration Statement or Prospectus,
which, in your sole judgment, is material and adverse and that makes it, in your
sole judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering
of the Shares as contemplated by the Prospectus;
(d) Opinion of Counsel for the Company. You shall have received on the
First Closing Date, or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an opinion
of Wilson, Sonsini, Xxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, P.C., counsel for the Company
substantially in the form of Exhibit B attached hereto, dated the First Closing
Date, or the Second Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and with
reproduced copies or signed counterparts thereof for each of the Underwriters.
Counsel rendering the opinion contained in Exhibit B may rely as
to questions of law not involving the laws of the United States or the States of
California and Delaware upon opinions of local counsel, and as to questions of
fact upon representations or certificates of officers of the Company, the
Selling Stockholder or officers of the Selling Stockholder (when the Selling
Stockholder is not a natural person), and of government officials, in which case
their opinion is to state that they are so relying and that they have no
knowledge of any material misstatement or inaccuracy in any such opinion,
representation or certificate. Copies of any opinion, representation or
certificate so relied upon shall be delivered to you, as Representatives of the
Underwriters, and to Underwriters' Counsel.
(e) [Intentionally Omitted]
(f) Opinion of Counsel for the Underwriters. You shall have received on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, an
opinion of Xxxxxx, Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, substantially in the form of Exhibit C
hereto. The Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they
may have requested for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(g) Accountants' Comfort Letter. You shall have received on the First
Closing Date and on the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a letter from
Deloitte & Touche LLP addressed to the Underwriters, dated the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, confirming that they are
independent certified public accountants with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and Regulations and based
upon the procedures described in such letter delivered to you concurrently with
the execution of this Agreement (herein called the "Original Letter"), but
carried out to a date not more than four (4) business days prior to the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as
17.
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the case may be, (i) confirming, to the extent true, that the statements and
conclusions set forth in the Original Letter are accurate as of the First
Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and (ii) setting
forth any revisions and additions to the statements and conclusions set forth in
the Original Letter which are necessary to reflect any changes in the facts
described in the Original Letter since the date of such letter, or to reflect
the availability of more recent financial statements, data or information. The
letter shall not disclose any change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise from that set forth in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus, which, in your sole judgment, is material
and adverse and that makes it, in your sole judgment, impracticable or
inadvisable to proceed with the public offering of the Shares as contemplated by
the Prospectus. The Original Letter from Deloitte & Touche LLP shall be
addressed to or for the use of the Underwriters in form and substance
satisfactory to the Underwriters and shall (i) represent, to the extent true,
that they are independent certified public accountants with respect to the
Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable published Rules and
Regulations, (ii) set forth their opinion with respect to their examination of
the consolidated balance sheet of the Company as of June 30, 2000, [insert other
dates] and related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity,
and cash flows for the six (6) months ended June 30, 2000 [insert other
periods], (iii) state that Deloitte & Touche LLP has performed the procedures
set out in Statement on Auditing Standards No. 71 ("SAS 71") for a review of
interim financial information and providing the report of Deloitte & Touche LLP
as described in SAS 71 on the financial statements for each of the quarters in
the ____-quarter period ended ________________, ___ (the "Quarterly Financial
Statements"), (iv) state that in the course of such review, nothing came to
their attention that leads them to believe that any material modifications need
to be made to any of the Quarterly Financial Statements in order for them to be
in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied
across the periods presented,] and address other matters agreed upon by Deloitte
& Touche LLP and you. In addition, you shall have received from Deloitte &
Touche LLP a letter addressed to the Company and made available to you for the
use of the Underwriters stating that their review of the Company's system of
internal accounting controls, to the extent they deemed necessary in
establishing the scope of their examination of the Company's consolidated
financial statements as of June 30, 2000, did not disclose any weaknesses in
internal controls that they considered to be material weaknesses.
(h) Officers' Certificate. You shall have received on the First Closing
Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, a certificate of the
Company, dated the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case
may be, signed by the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Financial Officer of the
Company, to the effect that, and you shall be satisfied that:
(i) The representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement
are true and correct, as if made on and as of the First Closing Date or
the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has
complied with all the agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its
part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the First Closing Date
or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be;
(ii) No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or threatened under the Act;
(iii) When the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to the delivery of such certificate, the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any amendments or
supplements thereto, contained all material
18.
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information required to be included therein by the Securities Act and
the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder, and
in all material respects conformed to the requirements of the Securities
Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and any
amendments or supplements thereto, did not and does not include any
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading; and, since the effective date of the
Registration Statement, there has occurred no event required to be set
forth in an amended or supplemented Prospectus which has not been so set
forth; and
(iv) Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, there has not been (a) any
material adverse change in the condition (financial or otherwise),
earnings, operations, business or business prospects of the Company and
its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, (b) any transaction that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, except transactions entered into in the ordinary course of
business, (c) any obligation, direct or contingent, that is material to
the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, incurred
by the Company or its subsidiaries, except obligations incurred in the
ordinary course of business, (d) any change in the capital stock or
outstanding indebtedness of the Company or any of its subsidiaries that
is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, (e) any dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid
or made on the capital stock of the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
or (f) any loss or damage (whether or not insured) to the property of
the Company or any of its subsidiaries which has been sustained or will
have been sustained which has a material adverse effect on the condition
(financial or otherwise), earnings, operations, business or business
prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise.
(i) Lock-up Agreement from Certain Stockholders of the Company. The
Company shall have obtained and delivered to you an agreement substantially in
the form of Exhibit A attached hereto from each officer and director of the
Company, the Selling Stockholder and each beneficial owner of one or more
percent of the outstanding issued share capital of the Company.
(j) Opinion of Counsel for the Selling Stockholder. You shall have
received on the First Closing Date and the Second Closing Date, as the case may
be, an opinion of [NAME OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER'S COUNSEL], counsel for the
Selling Stockholder substantially in the form of Exhibit D hereto.
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to questions
of law not involving the laws of the United States or State of [SELLING
STOCKHOLDER'S STATE] and [Delaware] upon opinions of local counsel and as to
questions of fact upon representations or certificates of the Selling
Stockholder or officers of the Selling Stockholder (when the Selling Stockholder
is not a natural person), and of governmental officials, in which case their
opinion is to state that they are so relying and that they have no knowledge of
any material misstatement or inaccuracy of any material misstatement or
inaccuracy in any such opinion, representation or certificate so relied upon
shall be delivered to you, as Representatives of the Underwriters, and to
Underwriters' Counsel.
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(k) Selling Stockholder's Certificate. On each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives shall
received a written certificate executed by the Selling Stockholder, dated as of
such Closing Date, to the effect that:
(i) the representations, warranties and covenants of such Selling
Stockholder set forth in Section 1 of this Agreement are true and
correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made by such
Selling Stockholder on and as of such Closing Date; and
(ii) such Selling Stockholder has complied with all the agreements and
satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at
or prior to such Closing Date.]
(l) Selling Stockholder's Documents. At least three business days prior
to the date hereof, the Company and the Selling Stockholder shall have furnished
for review by the Representatives such further information, certificates and
documents as the Representatives may reasonably request.
(m) Stock Exchange Listing. The Shares shall have been approved for
inclusion on the Nasdaq National Market subject only to official notice of
issuance.
(n) Compliance with Prospectus Delivery Requirements. The Company shall
have complied with the provisions of Sections 2(g) and 3(e) hereof with respect
to the furnishing of Prospectuses.
(o) Additional Documents. On or before each of the First Closing Date
and the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Representatives and counsel
for the Underwriters shall have received such information, documents and
opinions as they may reasonably require for the purposes of enabling them to
pass upon the issuance and sale of the Shares as contemplated herein, or in
order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations and warranties, or
the satisfaction of any of the conditions or agreements, herein contained.
If any condition specified in this Section 4 is not satisfied
when and as required to be satisfied, this Agreement may be terminated by the
Representatives by notice to the Company and the Selling Stockholder at any time
on or prior to the First Closing Date and, with respect to the Option Shares, at
any time prior to the Second Closing Date, which termination shall be without
liability on the part of any party to any other party, except that Section 5
(Payment of Expenses), Section 6 (Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses),
Section 7 (Indemnification and Contribution) and Section 10 (Representations and
Indemnities to Survive Delivery) shall at all times be effective and shall
survive such termination.
SECTION 5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES. The Company and the Selling Stockholder,
jointly and severally, agree to pay in such proportions as they may agree upon
among themselves all costs, fees and expenses incurred in connection with the
performance of their obligations hereunder and in connection with the
transactions contemplated hereby, including without limitation (i) all expenses
incident to the issuance and delivery of the Common Shares (including all
printing and engraving costs), (ii) all fees and expenses of the registrar and
transfer agent of the Common Stock, (iii) all necessary issue, transfer and
other stamp taxes in connection with the issuance and sale of the Shares to the
Underwriters, (iv) all fees and expenses of the Company's counsel, independent
public or certified public accountants and other advisors, (v) all costs and
expenses incurred in connection with the preparation, printing,
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filing, shipping and distribution of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements, exhibits, schedules, consents and certificates of
experts), each preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus, and all amendments and
supplements thereto, and this Agreement, (vi) all costs and expenses incurred by
Underwriters counsel in connection with the Directed Share Program, (vii) all
filing fees, attorneys' fees and expenses incurred by the Company or the
Underwriters in connection with qualifying or registering (or obtaining
exemptions from the qualification or registration of) all or any part of the
Shares for offer and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws or the
provincial securities laws of Canada or any other country, and, if requested by
the Representatives, preparing and printing a "Blue Sky Survey", an
"International Blue Sky Survey" or other memorandum, and any supplements
thereto, advising the Underwriters of such qualifications, registrations and
exemptions, (viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and
expenses of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with, the National
Association of Securities Dealers, LLC review and approval of the Underwriters'
participation in the offering and distribution of the Common Shares, (ix) the
fees and expenses associated with including the Common Shares on the Nasdaq
National Market, (x) all costs and expenses incident to the travel and
accommodation of the Company's employees on the "roadshow", and (xi) all other
fees, costs and expenses referred to in Item 13 of Part II of the Registration
Statement. Except as provided in this Section 5, Section 6, and Section 7
hereof, the Underwriters shall pay their own expenses, including the fees and
disbursements of their counsel.
The Selling Stockholder further agrees with each Underwriter to
pay (directly or by reimbursement) all fees and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations under this Agreement which are not otherwise
specifically provided for herein, including but not limited to (i) fees and
expenses of counsel and other advisors for the Selling Stockholder, (ii)
expenses and taxes incident to the sale and delivery of the Common Shares to be
sold by such Selling Stockholder to the Underwriters hereunder (which taxes, if
any, may be deducted by the Representatives under the provisions of Section 2 of
this Agreement).
This Section 5 shall not affect or modify any separate, valid
agreement relating to the allocation of payment of expenses between the Company,
on the one hand, and the Selling Stockholder, on the other hand.
SECTION 6. REIMBURSEMENT OF UNDERWRITERS' EXPENSES. If this Agreement is
terminated by the Representatives pursuant to Section 4, Section 8, Section 9 or
Section 15, or if the sale to the Underwriters of the Shares on the First
Closing Date is not consummated because of any refusal, inability or failure on
the part of the Company or the Selling Stockholder to perform any agreement
herein or to comply with any provision hereof, the Company agrees to reimburse
the Representatives and the other Underwriters (or such Underwriters as have
terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves), severally, upon demand
for all out-of-pocket expenses that shall have been reasonably incurred by the
Representatives and the Underwriters in connection with the proposed purchase
and the offering and sale of the Shares, including but not limited to fees and
disbursements of counsel, printing expenses, travel and accommodation expenses,
postage, facsimile and telephone charges.
SECTION 7. INDEMNIFICATION AND CONTRIBUTION.
(a) Indemnification of the Underwriters.
Each of the Company and the Selling Stockholder, jointly and
severally, agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, its officers
and employees, and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of the Securities Act and the Exchange
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Act against any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense, as incurred, to which
such Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act or other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written consent of the
Company, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), insofar as such
loss, claim, damage, liability or expense (or actions in respect thereof as
contemplated below) arises out of or is based (i) upon any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration
Statement, or any amendment thereto, including any information deemed to be a
part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A under the Securities Act, or the omission or
alleged omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or (ii) upon any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; or (iii) in whole or
in part upon any inaccuracy in the representations and warranties of the Company
or the Selling Stockholder contained herein; or (iv) in whole or in part upon
any failure of the Company or the Selling Stockholder to perform their
respective obligations hereunder or under law; or (v) any untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained in any audio or visual
materials provided by the Company or based upon written information furnished by
or on behalf of the Company including, without limitation, slides, videos, films
or tape recordings, used in connection with the marketing of the Shares or (vi)
any act or failure to act or any alleged act or failure to act by any
Underwriter in connection with, or relating in any manner to, the Shares or the
offering contemplated hereby, and which is included as part of or referred to in
any loss, claim, damage, liability or action arising out of or based upon any
matter covered by clause (i), (ii), (iii), (iv) or (v) above, provided that the
Company and the Selling Stockholder shall not be liable under this clause (vi)
to the extent that a court of competent jurisdiction shall have determined by a
final judgment that such loss, claim, damage, liability or action resulted
directly from any such acts or failures to act undertaken or omitted to be taken
by such Underwriter through its bad faith or willful misconduct; and to
reimburse each Underwriter and each such controlling person for any and all
expenses (including the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Xxxxxxxxx
Xxxxxxxx) as such expenses are reasonably incurred by such Underwriter or such
controlling person in connection with investigating, defending, settling,
compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability, expense or
action; provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity agreement shall not
apply to any loss, claim, damage, liability or expense to the extent, but only
to the extent, arising out of or based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Representatives expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto). The
indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(a) shall be in addition to any
liabilities that the Company and the Selling Stockholder may otherwise have.
(b) Indemnification of the Company, its Directors, Officers and Selling
Stockholder. Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify
and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who
signed the Registration Statement, the Selling Stockholder and each person, if
any, who controls the Company or the Selling Stockholder within the meaning of
the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense, as incurred, to which the Company, or any such director,
officer Selling Stockholder or controlling person may become subject, under the
Securities Act, the Exchange Act, or other federal or state statutory law or
regulation, or at common law or otherwise (including in settlement of any
litigation, if such settlement is effected with the written
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consent of such Underwriter), insofar as such loss, claim, damage, liability or
expense (or actions in respect thereof as contemplated below) arises out of or
is based upon any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or arises out of or is
based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission was made
in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus, the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto), in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by the Representatives expressly
for use therein; and to reimburse the Company, or any such director, officer
Selling Stockholder or controlling person for any legal and other expense
reasonably incurred by the Company, or any such director, officer Selling
Stockholder or controlling person in connection with investigating, defending,
settling, compromising or paying any such loss, claim, damage, liability,
expense or action. The indemnity agreement set forth in this Section 7(b) shall
be in addition to any liabilities that each Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Information Provided by the Underwriters. Each of the Company and of
the Selling Stockholder and each person, if any, who controls the Company or the
Selling Stockholder within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange
Act, hereby acknowledges that the only information that the Underwriters have
furnished to the Company expressly for use in the Registration Statement, any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) are the statements set forth in the table in the first paragraph and
the fourth paragraph under the caption "Underwriting" in the Prospectus; and the
Underwriters confirm that such statements are correct.
(d) Notifications and Other Indemnification Procedures. Promptly after
receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 7 of notice of the
commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect
thereof is to be made against an indemnifying party under this Section 7, notify
the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof, but the omission
so to notify the indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which
it may have to any indemnified party for contribution or otherwise under the
indemnity agreement contained in this Section 7 or to the extent it is not
prejudiced as a proximate result of such failure. In case any such action is
brought against any indemnified party and such indemnified party seeks or
intends to seek indemnity from an indemnifying party, the indemnifying party
will be entitled to participate in, and, to the extent that it shall elect,
jointly with all other indemnifying parties similarly notified, by written
notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the aforesaid
notice from such indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof with counsel
reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party; provided, however, if the
defendants in any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that a conflict may arise between the positions of the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party in conducting the defense of any such action or that there
may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are
different from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to
assume such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties. Upon receipt of notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of such indemnifying
party's election so to assume the defense of such action and approval by the
indemnified party of counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such
indemnified party under this Section 7 for any legal or other expenses
subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense
thereof unless (i) the
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indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in accordance with the
proviso to the next preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the
indemnifying party shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one
separate counsel (together with local counsel), approved by the indemnifying
party (Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx in the case of Section 7(b) and Section 8),
representing the indemnified parties who are parties to such action), (ii) the
indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel satisfactory to the
indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a reasonable time
after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) the indemnifying party has
authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified party at the expense of
the indemnifying party, in each of which cases the fees and expenses of counsel
shall be at the expense of the indemnifying party.
(e) Settlements. The indemnifying party under this Section 7 shall not
be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without its written
consent, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld, but if settled with
such consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party against any loss, claim, damage,
liability or expense by reason of such settlement or judgment. Notwithstanding
the foregoing sentence, if at any time an indemnified party shall have requested
an indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses
of counsel as contemplated by Section 7(d) hereof, the indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of any proceeding effected without
its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more than 60 days
after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request and (ii) such
indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed the indemnified party in accordance
with such request prior to the date of such settlement. No indemnifying party
shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any
settlement, compromise or consent to the entry of judgment in any pending or
threatened action, suit or proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party
is or could have been a party and indemnity was or could have been sought
hereunder by such indemnified party, unless such settlement, compromise or
consent includes (i) an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all
liability on claims that are the subject matter of such action, suit or
proceeding and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission of fault,
culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.
(f) Contribution. If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under
Section 7(a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions or proceedings in respect thereof) then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the
relative benefits received by such party on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other from the offering of the Shares. If, however, the allocation provided
by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by applicable law then
each indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the such party on the one hand
and the Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, (or actions or
proceedings in respect thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations. The relative 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 and the Selling Stockholder 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.
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The Company, the Selling Stockholder and Underwriters agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this Section
7(f) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were
treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in
this Section 7(f). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions or proceedings
in respect thereof) referred to above in this Section 7(f) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (f), (i) no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discounts and
commissions applicable to the Shares purchased by such Underwriter and (ii) no
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. The Underwriters'
obligations in this Section 7(f) to contribute are several in proportion to
their respective underwriting obligations and not joint.
(g) Timing of Any Payments of Indemnification. Any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or expenses for which an indemnified party is entitled to
indemnification or contribution under this Section 7 shall be paid by the
indemnifying party to the indemnified party as such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or expenses are incurred, but in all cases, no later than forty-five
(45) days of invoice to the indemnifying party.
(h) Survival. The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in
this Section 7 and the representation and warranties set forth in this Agreement
shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless of (i) any
investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling
any Underwriter, the Company, its directors or officers or any persons
controlling the Company, (ii) acceptance of any Shares and payment therefor
hereunder, and (iii) any termination of this Agreement. A successor to any
Underwriter, or to the Company, its directors or officers, the Selling
Stockholder or any person controlling the Company or the Selling Stockholder,
shall be entitled to the benefits of the indemnity, contribution and
reimbursement agreements contained in this Section 7.
(i) Acknowledgements of Parties. The parties to this Agreement hereby
acknowledge that they are sophisticated business persons who were represented by
counsel during the negotiations regarding the provisions hereof including,
without limitation, the provisions of this Section 7, and are fully informed
regarding said provisions. They further acknowledge that the provisions of this
Section 7 fairly allocate the risks in light of the ability of the parties to
investigate the Company and its business in order to assure that adequate
disclosure is made in the Registration Statement and Prospectus as required by
the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.
SECTION 8. DEFAULT OF ONE OR MORE OF THE SEVERAL UNDERWRITERS. If, on
the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one
or more of the several Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares that
it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on such date, and the aggregate
number of Common Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed
but failed or refused to purchase does not exceed 10% of the aggregate number of
the Shares to be purchased on such date, the other Underwriters shall be
obligated, severally, in the proportions that the number of Firm Common Shares
set forth opposite their respective names on Schedule A bears to the aggregate
number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the names of all such non-defaulting
Underwriters, or in such other proportions as may be specified by the
Representatives with the consent of the non-defaulting
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Underwriters, to purchase the Shares which such defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters agreed but failed or refused to purchase on such date. If, on the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, any one or
more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Shares and the
aggregate number of Shares with respect to which such default occurs exceeds 10%
of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased on such date, and arrangements
satisfactory to the Representatives and the Company for the purchase of such
Shares are not made within 48 hours after such default, this Agreement shall
terminate without liability of any party to any other party except that the
provisions of Section 5, Section 6 and Section 7 shall at all times be effective
and shall survive such termination. In any such case either the Representatives
or the Company shall have the right to postpone the First Closing Date or the
Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no event for longer than seven
days in order that the required changes, if any, to the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus or any other documents or arrangements may be effected.
As used in this Agreement, the term "Underwriter" shall be deemed
to include any person substituted for a defaulting Underwriter under this
Section 8. Any action taken under this Section 8 shall not relieve any
defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such
Underwriter under this Agreement.
SECTION 9. TERMINATION OF THIS AGREEMENT. This Agreement may be
terminated by the Representatives by notice given to the Company and the Selling
Stockholder if (a) at any time after the execution and delivery of this
Agreement and prior to the First Closing Date (i) trading or quotation in any of
the Company's securities shall have been suspended or limited by the Commission
or by the Nasdaq Stock Market, or trading in securities generally on either the
Nasdaq Stock Market or the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
limited, or minimum or maximum prices shall have been generally established on
any of such stock exchanges by the Commission or the National Association of
Securities Dealers, LLC; (ii) a general banking moratorium shall have been
declared by any of federal, New York, Delaware or California authorities; (iii)
there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of national or
international hostilities or any crisis or calamity, or any change in the United
States or international financial markets, or any substantial change or
development involving a prospective change in United States' or international
political, financial or economic conditions, as in the judgment of the
Representatives is material and adverse and makes it impracticable or
inadvisable to market the Common Shares in the manner and on the terms
contemplated in the Prospectus or to enforce contracts for the sale of
securities; (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives there shall have
occurred any Material Adverse Change; or (v) the Company shall have sustained a
loss by strike, fire, flood, earthquake, accident or other calamity of such
character as in the judgment of the Representatives may interfere materially
with the conduct of the business and operations of the Company regardless of
whether or not such loss shall have been insured or (b) in the case of any of
the events specified 9(a)(i)-(v), such event singly or together with any other
event, makes it, in your judgment, impracticable or inadvisable to market the
Common Shares in the manner and on the terms contemplated in the Prospectus. Any
termination pursuant to this Section 9 shall be without liability on the part of
(x) the Company or the Selling Stockholder to any Underwriter, except that the
Company and the Selling Stockholder shall be obligated to reimburse the expenses
of the Representatives and the Underwriters pursuant to Sections 5 and 6 hereof,
(y) any Underwriter to the Company or any person controlling the Company or the
Selling Stockholder, or (z) of any party hereto to any other party except that
the provisions of Section 7 shall at all times be effective and shall survive
such termination.
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SECTION 10. REPRESENTATIONS AND INDEMNITIES TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. The
respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and other
statements of the Company or any person controlling the company, of its
officers, of the Selling Stockholder and of the several Underwriters set forth
in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the
Company or any of its or their partners, officers or directors or any
controlling person, or the Selling Stockholder, as the case may be, and will
survive delivery of and payment for the Shares sold hereunder and any
termination of this Agreement.
SECTION 11. NOTICES. All communications hereunder shall be in writing
and shall be mailed, hand delivered or telecopied and confirmed to the parties
hereto as follows:
If to the Representatives:
FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
Facsimile: (000) 000-0000
Attention: General Counsel
If to the Company:
NetGear, Inc.
0000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxx
Xxxxx Xxxxx, XX 00000
Facsimile: [___]
Attention: [___]
If to the Selling Stockholder:
Nortel Networks Limited]
[address]
Facsimile: [___]
Attention: [___]
Any party hereto may change the address for receipt of communications by giving
written notice to the others.
SECTION 12. SUCCESSORS. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and
be binding upon the parties hereto, including any substitute Underwriters
pursuant to Section 8 hereof, and to the benefit of the employees, officers and
directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 7, and to their
respective successors, and personal representatives, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder. The term "successors" shall not include
any purchaser of the Shares as such from any of the Underwriters merely by
reason of such purchase.
SECTION 13. PARTIAL UNENFORCEABILITY. The invalidity or unenforceability
of any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement shall not affect the
validity or enforceability of any other Section, paragraph or provision hereof.
If any Section, paragraph or provision of this Agreement is for any reason
determined to be invalid or unenforceable, there shall be deemed
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to be made such minor changes (and only such minor changes) as are necessary to
make it valid and enforceable.
SECTION 14. GOVERNING LAW PROVISIONS.
(a) Governing Law. This agreement shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the state of New York applicable to
agreements made and to be performed in such state.
(b) Consent to Jurisdiction. Any legal suit, action or proceeding
arising out of or based upon this Agreement or the transactions contemplated
hereby ("Related Proceedings") may be instituted in the federal courts of the
United States of America located in the City and County of San Francisco or the
courts of the State of California in each case located in the City and County of
San Francisco (collectively, the "Specified Courts"), and each party irrevocably
submits to the personal jurisdiction (except for proceedings instituted in
regard to the enforcement of a judgment of any such court (a "Related
Judgment"), as to which such jurisdiction is non-exclusive) of such courts in
any such suit, action or proceeding. Service of any process, summons, notice or
document by mail to such party's address set forth above shall be effective
service of process for any suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court. The parties irrevocably and unconditionally waive any objection to the
laying of venue of any suit, action or other proceeding in the Specified Courts
and irrevocably and unconditionally waive and agree not to plead or claim in any
such court that any such suit, action or other proceeding brought in any such
court has been brought in an inconvenient forum. Each party not located in the
United States irrevocably appoints CT Corporation System, which currently
maintains a San Francisco office at 00 Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxxxxxxxxx 00000, Xxxxxx Xxxxxx of America, as its agent to receive service of
process or other legal summons for purposes of any such suit, action or
proceeding that may be instituted in any state or federal court in the City and
County of San Francisco.
SECTION 15. FAILURE OF THE SELLING STOCKHOLDER TO SELL AND DELIVER
COMMON SHARES. If the Selling Stockholder shall fail to sell and deliver to the
Underwriters the Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling Stockholder at
the First Closing Date pursuant to this Agreement, then the Underwriters may at
their option, by written notice from the Representatives to the Company and the
Selling Stockholder, either (i) terminate this Agreement without any liability
on the part of any Underwriter or, except as provided in Sections 5, 6, and 7
hereof, the Company or the Selling Stockholder, or (ii) purchase the shares
which the Company has agreed to sell and deliver in accordance with the terms
hereof.(31) If the Selling Stockholder shall fail to sell and deliver to the
Underwriters the Shares to be sold and delivered by such Selling Stockholder
pursuant to this Agreement at the First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date,
then the Underwriters shall have the right, by written notice from the
Representatives to the Company and the Selling Stockholder, to postpone the
First Closing Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, but in no
event for longer than seven days in order that the required changes, if any, to
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other documents or
arrangements may be effected.
SECTION 16. GENERAL PROVISIONS. This Agreement constitutes the entire
agreement of the parties to this Agreement and supersedes all prior written or
oral and all contemporaneous
28.
29
oral agreements, understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject
matter hereof. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts, each
one of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures
thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument. This Agreement may not be
amended or modified unless in writing by all of the parties hereto, and no
condition herein (express or implied) may be waived unless waived in writing by
each party whom the condition is meant to benefit. Section headings herein are
for the convenience of the parties only and shall not affect the construction or
interpretation of this Agreement.
[The remainder of this page has been intentionally left blank.]
29.
30
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Company the enclosed copies hereof,
whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts hereof, shall become a
binding agreement in accordance with its terms.
Very truly yours,
NETGEAR, INC.
By:
---------------------------------------
[Title]
NORTEL NETWORKS LIMITED
By:
---------------------------------------
[Title hereto]
["CONTROL" PERSONS]
By:
---------------------------------------
The foregoing Underwriting Agreement is hereby confirmed and
accepted by the Representatives as of the date first above written.
FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC. [AND FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED]
UBS WARBURG LLC
WIT SOUNDVIEW CORPORATION
On their behalf and on behalf of each of the several underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.
30.
31
[BY FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.]
[AND FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX
INTERNATIONAL LIMITED]
By:
-----------------------------------
Xxxxx Xxxxxxxxx
31.
32
SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF FIRM COMMON
UNDERWRITERS SHARES TO BE PURCHASED
------------------------------------------------------ ----------------------
FLEETBOSTON XXXXXXXXX XXXXXXXX INC.(32) .............. [___]
UBS WARBURG LLC ...................................... [___]
WIT SOUNDVIEW CORPORATION ............................ [___]
Total......................................... [___]
X-X
00
XXXXXXXX X
MAXIMUM NUMBER OF
NUMBER OF FIRM OPTION SHARES
SELLING STOCKHOLDER SHARES TO BE SOLD TO BE SOLD
--------------------------------------- ----------------- -----------------
Nortel Networks Limited
[address]
Attention: [___]....................... [___] [___]
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EXHIBIT A
LOCK-UP AGREEMENT
FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
UBS Warburg LLC
Wit Soundview Corporation
As Representatives of the Several Underwriters
c/o FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc.
000 Xxxxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000
Xxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx 00000
RE: NetGear, Inc. (the "Company")
Ladies & Gentlemen:
The undersigned is an owner of record or beneficially of certain
shares of Common Stock of the Company ("Common Stock") or securities convertible
into or exchangeable or exercisable for Common Stock. The Company proposes to
carry out a public offering of Common Stock (the "Offering") for which you will
act as the representatives (the "Representatives") of the underwriters. The
undersigned recognizes that the Offering will be of benefit to the undersigned
and will benefit the Company by, among other things, raising additional capital
for its operations. The undersigned acknowledges that you and the other
underwriters are relying on the representations and agreements of the
undersigned contained in this letter in carrying out the Offering and in
entering into underwriting arrangements with the Company with respect to the
Offering.
In consideration of the foregoing, the undersigned hereby agrees
that the undersigned will not offer to sell, contract to sell, or otherwise
sell, dispose of, loan, pledge or grant any rights with respect to
(collectively, a "Disposition") any shares of Common Stock, any options or
warrants to purchase any shares of Common Stock or any securities convertible
into or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock (collectively, "Securities") now
owned or hereafter acquired directly by such person or with respect to which
such person has or hereafter acquires the power of disposition, otherwise than
(i) as a bona fide gift or gifts, provided the donee or donees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by this restriction, (ii) as a distribution to partners or
shareholders of such person, provided that the distributees thereof agree in
writing to be bound by the terms of this restriction, (iii) with respect to
sales or purchases of Common Stock acquired on the open market or (iv) with the
prior written consent of FleetBoston Xxxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx Inc. The foregoing
restrictions will terminate after the close of trading of the Common Stock on
the 180th day of (and including) the day the Common Stock commenced trading on
the Nasdaq National Market (the "Lock-Up" Period). The foregoing restriction has
been expressly agreed to preclude the holder of the Securities from engaging in
any hedging or other transaction which is designed to or reasonably expected to
lead to or result in a Disposition of Securities during the Lock-up Period, even
if such Securities would be disposed of by someone other than such holder. Such
prohibited hedging or other transactions would include, without limitation, any
short sale (whether or not against the box) or any purchase, sale or grant of
any right (including, without limitation, any put or call option) with respect
to any Securities or with respect to any security (other than a broad-based
market basket or index) that included, relates to or derives any significant
part of its value from Securities. The undersigned also agrees and consents to
the entry of stop transfer instructions with the Company's transfer agent and
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registrar against the transfer of shares of Common Stock or Securities held by
the undersigned except in compliance with the foregoing restrictions.
This agreement is irrevocable and will be binding on the
undersigned and the respective successors, heirs, personal representatives, and
assigns of the undersigned. In the event the Offering has not occurred on or
before ____________, this Lock-Up Agreement shall be of no further force or
effect.
Dated
---------------------------------------------
---------------------------------------------------
Printed Name of Holder
By:
-----------------------------------------------
Signature
---------------------------------------------------
Printed Name of Person Signing
(and indicate capacity of person signing if signing
as custodian, trustee, or on behalf of an entity)
A-2
36
EXHIBIT B
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF COMPANY COUNSEL
(i) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary (as that term is defined
in Regulation S-X of the Act) has been duly incorporated and is validly
existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the
jurisdiction of its incorporation;
(ii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary has the corporate power
and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus;
(iii) The Company and each Significant Subsidiary is duly qualified to
do business as a foreign corporation and is in good standing in each
jurisdiction, if any, in which the ownership or leasing of its
properties or the conduct of its business requires such qualification,
except where the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing would
not have a Material Adverse Effect. To such counsel's knowledge, the
Company does not own or control, directly or indirectly, any
corporation, association or other entity other than [list subsidiaries];
(iv) The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the Company
is as set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "Capitalization" as
of the dates stated therein, the issued and outstanding shares of
capital stock of the Company (including the Selling Stockholder Shares)
outstanding prior to the issuance of the Shares have been duly and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such
counsel's knowledge, will not have been issued in violation of or
subject to any preemptive right arising under the certificate of
incorporation or Delaware General Corporation Law, co-sale right, right
of first refusal or other similar right, other than any registration
rights described in Opinion (xix) hereof;
(v) All issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of each
Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and nonassessable, and, to such
counsel's knowledge, have not been issued in violation of or subject to
any preemptive right arising under the certificate of incorporation or
[jurisdiction of incorporation] General Corporation Law, co-sale right,
right of first refusal or other similar right, other than any
registration rights described in Opinion (xix) hereof and are owned by
the Company free and clear of any pledge, lien, security interest,
encumbrance, claim or equitable interest;
(vi) The Firm Shares or the Option Shares, as the case may be, to be
issued by the Company pursuant to the terms of this Agreement have been
duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery against payment therefor
in accordance with the terms hereof, will be duly and validly issued and
fully paid and nonassessable, and will not have been issued in violation
of or subject to any preemptive right, co-sale right, right of first
refusal or other similar right, other than any registration rights
described in Opinion (xix) hereof.
(vii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to enter into
this Agreement and to issue, sell and deliver to the Underwriters the
Shares to be issued and sold by it hereunder;
C-1
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(viii) This Agreement has been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Company and has been duly executed
and delivered by the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery by you, is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
enforceable in accordance with its terms, except as rights to
indemnification hereunder may be limited by applicable law and except as
enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
generally or by general equitable principles (whether relief is sought
in a proceeding at law or in equity;
(ix) The Registration Statement has become effective under the Act and,
to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the effectiveness
of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for
that purpose have been instituted or are pending or threatened under the
Securities Act;
(x) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A Registration
Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and the Firm
Shares or the Option Shares have been validly registered under the
Securities Act and the Rules and Regulations of the Exchange Act and the
applicable rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;
(xi) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus, and each amendment
or supplement thereto (other than the financial statements (including
supporting schedules) and financial data derived therefrom as to which
such counsel need express no opinion), as of the effective date of the
Registration Statement, complied as to form in all material respects
with the requirements of the Act and the applicable Rules and
Regulations;
(xii) The information in the Prospectus under the caption "Description
of Capital Stock," to the extent that it constitutes matters of law or
legal conclusions, has been reviewed by such counsel and is a fair
summary of such matters and conclusions; and the forms of certificates
evidencing the Common Stock and filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement comply with Delaware law;
(xiii) The description in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
of the charter and bylaws of the Company and of statutes are accurate
and fairly present the information required to be presented by the
Securities Act;
(xiv) To such counsel's knowledge, there are no agreements, contracts,
leases or documents to which the Company is a party of a character
required to be described or referred to in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
which are not described or referred to therein or filed as required;
(xv) The performance of this Agreement and the consummation of the
transactions herein contemplated (other than performance of the
Company's indemnification obligations hereunder, concerning which no
opinion need be expressed) will not (a) result in any violation of the
Company's charter or bylaws or (b) to such counsel's knowledge, result
in a material breach or violation of any of the terms and provisions of,
or constitute a default under, any bond, debenture, note or other
evidence of indebtedness, or any lease, contract, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, loan agreement, joint venture or other agreement or
instrument known to such counsel to which the Company is a party or by
which its properties are bound, or any applicable statute, rule or
regulation known to such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge, any
C-2
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order, writ or decree of any court, government or governmental agency or
body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or
over any of their properties or operations;
(xvi) No consent, approval, authorization or order of or qualification
with any court, government or governmental agency or body having
jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or over any of
their properties or operations is necessary in connection with the
consummation by the Company of the transactions herein contemplated,
except (i) such as have been obtained under the Securities Act, (ii)
such as may be required under state or other securities or Blue Sky laws
in connection with the purchase and the distribution of the Shares by
the Underwriters, (iii) such as may be required by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, LLC and (iv) such as may be required
under the federal or provincial laws of Canada;
(xvii) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending or, to
such counsel's knowledge, threatened against the Company or any of its
subsidiaries of a character required to be disclosed in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus by the Securities Act, other than those
described therein;
(xviii) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is presently (a)
in material violation of its respective charter or bylaws, or (b) in
material breach of any applicable statute, rule or regulation known to
such counsel or, to such counsel's knowledge, any order, writ or decree
of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, or over any of their properties or
operations;
(xix) To such counsel's knowledge, except as set forth in the
Registration Statement and Prospectus, no holders of Company Shares or
other securities of the Company have registration rights with respect to
securities of the Company and, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, all holders of securities of the Company
having rights known to such counsel to registration of such shares of
Company Shares or other securities, because of the filing of the
Registration Statement by the Company have, with respect to the offering
contemplated thereby, waived such rights or such rights have expired by
reason of lapse of time following notification of the Company's intent
to file the Registration Statement or have included securities in the
Registration Statement pursuant to the exercise of and in full
satisfaction of such rights;
(xx) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and the
sale of the Shares and the application of the proceeds thereof as
described in the Prospectus, will not be, an "investment company" as
such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;
and
(xxi) To such counsel's knowledge, the Company owns or possesses
sufficient trademarks, trade names, patent rights, copyrights, licenses,
approvals, trade secrets and other similar rights (collectively,
"Intellectual Property Rights") reasonably necessary to conduct their
business as now conducted; and the expected expiration of any such
Intellectual Property Rights would not result in a Material Adverse
Effect. The Company has not received any notice of infringement or
conflict with asserted Intellectual Property Rights of others, which
infringement or conflict, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
would result in a Material Adverse Effect. To such counsel's knowledge,
the Company's discoveries, inventions, products, or processes referred
to in the Registration Statement
C-3
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or Prospectus do not infringe or conflict with any right or patent which
is the subject of a patent application known to the Company.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto (other than the financial statements including supporting schedules and
other financial and statistical information derived therefrom, as to which such
counsel need express no comment) contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or at the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid)
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
C-4
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EXHIBIT C
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF UNDERWRITERS' COUNSEL
(i) The [Firm Shares] [Shares to be issued by the Company] [Option
Shares] have been duly authorized and, upon issuance and delivery and
payment therefor in accordance with the terms of the Underwriting
Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable.
(ii) The Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Act; the Registration Statement
has become effective under the Act and, to such counsel's knowledge, no
stop order proceedings with respect thereto have been instituted or
threatened or are pending under the Securities Act.
(iii) The 8-A Registration Statement complied as to form in all material
respects with the requirements of the Exchange Act; the 8-A Registration
Statement has become effective under the Exchange Act; and the Shares
have been validly registered under the Securities Act and the Rules and
Regulations of the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and regulations
of the Commission thereunder;
(iv) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(v) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Selling Stockholder.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has reviewed the
opinions addressed to the Representatives from Wilson, Sonsini, Xxxxxxxx &
Xxxxxx, P.C., and _________, each dated the date hereof, and furnished to you in
accordance with the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement. Such opinions
appear on their face to be appropriately responsive to the requirements of the
Underwriting Agreement.
In addition, such counsel shall state that such counsel has
participated in conferences with officials and other representatives of the
Company, the Representatives, Underwriters' Counsel and the independent
certified public accountants of the Company, at which such conferences the
contents of the Registration Statement and Prospectus and related matters were
discussed, and although they have not verified the accuracy or completeness of
the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
nothing has come to the attention of such counsel which leads them to believe
that, at the time the Registration Statement became effective and at all times
subsequent thereto up to and on the First Closing Date or Second Closing Date,
as the case may be, the Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement
thereto (other than the financial statements including supporting schedules and
other financial and statistical information derived therefrom, as to which such
counsel need express no comment) contained any untrue statement of a material
fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or at the First Closing
Date or the Second Closing Date, as the case may be, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto (except as aforesaid)
contained any untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading.
X-0
00
XXXXXXX X
MATTERS TO BE COVERED IN THE OPINION OF SELLING STOCKHOLDER COUNSEL
(i) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by or on behalf of, and is a valid and binding agreement of,
such Selling Stockholder, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
except as rights to indemnification thereunder may be limited by
applicable law and except as the enforcement thereof may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally or by general
equitable principles.
(ii) The execution and delivery by such Selling Stockholder of, and the
performance by such Selling Stockholder of its obligations under, the
Underwriting Agreement will not contravene or conflict with, result in a
breach of, or constitute a default under, the charter or by-laws,
partnership agreement, trust agreement or other organization documents,
as the case may be, of such Selling Stockholder, or, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, violate, result in a breach of or constitute a
default under the terms of any other agreement or instrument to which
such Selling Stockholder is a party or by which it is bound, or any
judgement, order or decree applicable to such Selling Stockholder of any
court, regulatory body, administrative agency, governmental body or
arbitrator having jurisdiction over such Selling Stockholder.
(iii) Such Selling Stockholder has good and valid title to all of the
Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder under the
Underwriting Agreement and has the legal right and power, and all
authorization and approvals required under its charter and by-laws, to
enter into the Underwriting Agreement to sell, transfer and deliver all
of the Common Shares which may be sold by such Selling Stockholder under
the Underwriting Agreement and to comply with its other obligations
under the Underwriting Agreement.
(iv) Assuming that the Underwriters purchase the Shares which are sold
by such Selling Stockholder pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement for
value, in good faith and without notice of any adverse claims, the
delivery of such Shares pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement will pass
good and valid title to such Shares, free and clear of any security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lieu encumbrance or other claim.
(v) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, no consent, approval,
authorization or other order of, or registration or filing with, any
court or governmental authority or agency, is required for the
consummation by such Selling Stockholder of the transactions
contemplated in the Underwriting Agreement, except as required under the
Securities Act, applicable state securities or blue sky laws, and from
the National Association of Securities Dealers, LLC.
