EXHIBIT 1.1
OH&S DRAFT
3/6/97
[Form of Underwriting Agreement - Subject to Additional Review]
1,400,000 SHARES OF COMMON STOCK
ASD GROUP, INC.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
, 1997
X. X. XXXXXX & CO., INC.
XXXXX SECURITIES CO., INC.
As Representatives of the
Several Underwriters listed on Schedule A hereto
0000 Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
Ladies and Gentlemen:
ASD Group, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), confirms its
agreement with X. X. Xxxxxx & Co., Inc. ("H.J.") and Xxxxx Securities Co., Inc.
("Xxxxx") and each of the underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively,
the "Underwriters," which term shall also include any underwriter substituted as
hereinafter provided in SECTION 11), for whom H. J. and Xxxxx are acting as
representatives (in such capacity, H. J. and Xxxxx shall hereinafter be referred
to as "you" or the "Representatives"), with respect to the sale by the Company
and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the
respective numbers of shares ("Shares") of the Company's common stock, $.01 par
value per share ("Common Stock"), set forth in Schedule A hereto. Such Shares
are hereinafter referred to as the "Firm Securities."
The Company shall issue and sell to the Underwriters, acting severally
and not jointly, up to an additional 210,000 shares of Common Stock for the
purpose of covering over-allotments, if any (the "Option Securities"). The
Company also proposes to issue and sell to you warrants (the "Representatives'
Warrants") pursuant to the Representatives' Warrant Agreement (the
"Representatives' Warrant Agreement") for the purchase of an additional 140,000
shares of Common Stock. The shares of Common Stock issuable upon exercise of the
Representatives' Warrants are hereinafter referred to as the "Representatives'
Securities." The Firm Securities, the Option Securities, the Representatives'
Warrants and the Representatives' Securities (collectively, hereinafter referred
to as the "Securities") are more fully described in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus referred to below.
1. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the Underwriters as of the date
hereof, and as of the Closing Date (hereinafter defined) and the Option Closing
Date (hereinafter defined), if any, as follows:
a. The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement, and an
amendment or amendments thereto, on Form SB-2 (No. 333-7731), including any
related preliminary prospectus ("Preliminary Prospectus"), for the registration
of the Securities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"),
which registration statement and amendment or amendments have been prepared by
the Company in conformity with the requirements of the Act, and the rules and
regulations (the "Regulations") of the Commission under the Act. The Company
will promptly file a further amendment to said registration statement in the
form heretofore delivered to the Underwriters and will not file any other
amendment thereto to which the Underwriters shall have objected in writing after
having been furnished with a copy thereof. Except as the context may otherwise
require, such registration statement, as amended, on file with the Commission at
the time the registration statement becomes effective (including the prospectus,
financial statements, schedules, exhibits and all other documents filed as a
part thereof or incorporated therein (including, but not limited to those
documents or information incorporated by reference therein) and all information
deemed to be a part thereof as of such time pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule
430(A) of the Regulations)), is hereinafter called the "Registration Statement",
and the form of prospectus in the form first filed with the Commission pursuant
to Rule 424(b) of the Regulations is hereinafter called the "Prospectus." For
purposes hereof, "Rules and Regulations" mean the rules and regulations adopted
by the Commission under either the Act or the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended (the "Exchange Act"), as applicable.
b. Neither the Commission nor any state regulatory authority has
issued any order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any part of any thereof and no
proceedings for a stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any of the Company's securities have been instituted or are pending
or threatened. Each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement
and Prospectus at the time of filing thereof conformed with the requirements of
the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and none of the Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus at the time of filing thereof contained
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
required to be stated therein and necessary to make the statements therein, in
light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except
that this representation and warranty does not apply to statements made in
reliance upon
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and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company with respect
to the Underwriters by or on behalf of the Underwriters expressly for use in
such Preliminary Prospectus, Registration Statement or Prospectus.
c. When the Registration Statement becomes effective and at all
times subsequent thereto up to the Closing Date (as defined herein) and each
Option Closing Date (as defined herein), if any, and during such longer period
as the Prospectus may be required to be delivered in connection with sales by
the Underwriters or a dealer, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus will
contain all statements which are required to be stated therein in accordance
with the Act and the Rules and Regulations, and will conform in all material
respects to the requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations; neither
the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, nor any amendment or supplement
thereto, will contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state
any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading, PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that this representation and warranty does
not apply to statements made or statements omitted in reliance upon and in
strict conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by or on
behalf of any Underwriter expressly for use in the Preliminary Prospectus,
Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto.
d. Each of the Company, Automatic Systems Developers, Inc., a New
York corporation ("ASDI"), High Technology Computers, Inc., a New York
corporation ("HTC") and iNetWare, a New York corporation ("iNet") has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the
laws of the state of its incorporation. ASDI, HTC and iNet shall collectively be
referred to herein as the "Subsidiaries." Except as set forth in the Prospectus,
none of the Company nor the Subsidiaries owns an interest in any corporation,
partnership, trust, joint venture or other business entity. Each of the Company
and the Subsidiaries is duly qualified and licensed and in good standing as a
foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or leasing of
any properties or the character of its operations requires such qualification or
licensing. The Company owns, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent (100%)
of the outstanding capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries, and all of such
shares have been validly issued, are fully paid and non-assessable, were not
issued in violation of any preemptive rights, and, except as set forth in the
Prospectus, are owned free and clear of any liens, charges, claims,
encumbrances, pledges, security interests, defects or other restrictions or
equities of any kind whatsoever. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has
all requisite power and authority (corporate and other), and has obtained any
and all necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates,
franchises and permits of and from all governmental or regulatory officials and
bodies (including, without limitation, those having jurisdiction over
environmental or similar matters), to own or lease its properties and conduct
its business as described in the Prospectus; each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries is and has been doing business in compliance with all such
authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises and
permits and all applicable federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and
regulations; and none of the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of any such
authorization, approval, order, license, certificate, franchise, or permit
which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable decision,
ruling or finding, would materially and adversely affect the
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condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, position, prospects, value,
operation, properties, business or results of operations of the Company or the
Subsidiaries. The disclosures in the Registration Statement concerning the
effects of federal, state, local, and foreign laws, rules and regulations on the
Company's and the Subsidiaries' businesses as currently conducted and as
contemplated are correct in all material respects and do not omit to state a
material fact necessary to make the statements contained therein not misleading
in light of the circumstances in which they were made.
e. The Company has a duly authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus under "Capitalization" and
"Description of Securities" and will have the adjusted capitalization set forth
therein on the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, based upon the
assumptions set forth therein, and the Company is not a party to or bound by any
instrument, agreement or other arrangement providing for it to issue any capital
stock, rights, warrants, options or other securities, except for this Agreement,
the Representatives' Warrant Agreement and as described in the Prospectus. The
Securities and all other securities issued or issuable by the Company conform
or, when issued and paid for, will conform, in all respects to all statements
with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized
and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable and the holders thereof
have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not subject to
personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none of such securities
were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of any holders of any security
of the Company or similar contractual rights granted by the Company. The
Securities are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar
rights of any stockholder, have been duly authorized and, when issued, paid for
and delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable and will conform to the description thereof contained in
the Prospectus; the holders thereof will not be subject to any liability solely
as such holders; all corporate action required to be taken for the
authorization, issue and sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken;
and the certificates representing the Securities will be in due and proper form.
Upon the issuance and delivery pursuant to the terms hereof of the Securities to
be sold by the Company hereunder, the Underwriters or the Representatives, as
the case may be, will acquire good and marketable title to such Securities free
and clear of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest,
defect or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever.
f. The consolidated financial statements of the Company together
with the related notes and schedules thereto, included in the Registration
Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus fairly present the
financial position, income, changes in cash flow, changes in stockholders'
equity and the results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries at the
respective dates and for the respective periods to which they apply and such
financial statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and the Rules and Regulations, consistently applied
throughout the periods involved and such financial statements as are audited
have been examined by Deloitte & Touche LLP who are independent public
accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Rules and Regulations, as
indicated in their reports filed therewith. There has been no adverse change or
development involving a material prospective change in the condition, financial
or otherwise, or in the earnings, position, prospects, value, operation,
properties, business, or results of operations of the Company,
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whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, since the date of the
financial statements included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
and the outstanding debt, the property, both tangible and intangible, and the
business of the Company conform in all material respects to the descriptions
thereof contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Financial
information (including, without limitation, any pro forma financial information)
set forth in the Prospectus under the headings "Summary Financial Information,"
"Capitalization," "Selected Financial Data," and "Management's Discussion and
Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations," fairly present, on
the basis stated in the Prospectus, the information set forth therein, and have
been derived from or compiled on a basis consistent with that of the audited
financial statements included in the Prospectus; and, in the case of pro forma
financial information, if any, 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. The amounts shown as
accrued for current and deferred income and other taxes in such financial
statements are sufficient for the payment of all accrued and unpaid federal,
state, local and foreign income taxes, interest, penalties, assessments or
deficiencies applicable to the Company and the Subsidiaries, whether disputed or
not, for the applicable period then ended and periods prior thereto; adequate
allowance for doubtful accounts has been provided for unindemnified losses due
to the operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries; and the statements of
income do not contain any items of special or nonrecurring income not earned in
the ordinary course of business, except as specified in the notes thereto.
g. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) has paid all
federal, state, local, and foreign taxes for which it is liable, including, but
not limited to, withholding taxes and amounts payable under Chapters 21 through
24 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and has
furnished all information returns it is required to furnish pursuant to the
Code, (ii) has established adequate reserves for such taxes which are not due
and payable, and (iii) does not have any tax deficiency or claims outstanding,
proposed or assessed against it.
h. No transfer tax, stamp duty or other similar tax is payable by
or on behalf of the Underwriters in connection with (i) the issuance by the
Company of the Securities, (ii) the purchase by the Underwriters of the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities from the Company and the purchase by the
Representatives of the Representatives' Warrants from the Company, (iii) the
consummation by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, or
(iv) resales of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities in connection with
the distribution contemplated hereby.
i. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries maintains insurance
policies, including, but not limited to, general liability, product and property
insurance, which insures each of the Company and the Subsidiaries, and their
respective employees, against such losses and risks generally insured against by
comparable businesses. None of the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries (A) has
failed to give notice or present any insurance claim with respect to any matter,
including but not limited to the Company's business, property or employees,
under any insurance policy or surety bond in a due and timely manner, (B) has
any disputes or claims against any underwriter of such insurance policies or
surety bonds or has not failed to pay any premiums due and payable thereunder,
or (C) has failed to comply with all conditions contained in such insurance
policies and surety bonds. There are no facts or circumstances under any such
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insurance policy or surety bond which would relieve any insurer of its
obligation to satisfy in full any valid claim of the Company or any Subsidiary.
j. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, arbitration,
investigation, litigation or governmental proceeding (including, without
limitation, those having jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters),
domestic or foreign, pending or threatened against (or circumstances that may
give rise to the same), or involving the properties or business of, the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries which (i) questions the validity of the capital stock
of the Company, this Agreement, the Consulting Agreement (as defined herein) or
the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, or of any action taken or to be taken by
the Company pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement, the Consulting
Agreement or the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, (ii) is required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not so disclosed (and such
proceedings as are summarized in the Registration Statement are accurately
summarized in all material respects), or (iii) might materially and adversely
affect the condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, position,
prospects, stockholders' equity, value, operation, properties, business or
results of operations of the Company and the Subsidiaries.
k. The Company has full legal right, power and authority to
authorize, issue, deliver and sell the Securities, enter into this Agreement,
the Consulting Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement and to
consummate the transactions provided for in this Agreement, the Consulting
Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement; and this Agreement, the
Consulting Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement have each been
duly and properly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. Each of
this Agreement, the Consulting Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant
Agreement constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of the Company
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, and none of the
Company's issue and sale of the Securities, execution or delivery of this
Agreement, the Consulting Agreement or the Representatives' Warrant Agreement,
its performance hereunder and thereunder, its consummation of the transactions
contemplated herein and therein, or the conduct of its business as described in
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements
thereto, conflicts with or will conflict with or results or will result in any
breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitutes or will
constitute a default under, or result in the creation or imposition of any lien,
charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest, defect or other
restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever upon, any property or assets
(tangible or intangible) of any of the Company or the Subsidiaries pursuant to
the terms of, (i) the certificate of incorporation or by-laws of any of the
Company or the Subsidiaries, (ii) any license, contract, collective bargaining
agreement, indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, lease, voting trust agreement,
stockholders agreement, note, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or
instrument to which any of the Company or the Subsidiaries is a party or by
which any of the Company or the Subsidiaries is or may be bound or to which
either of its properties or assets (tangible or intangible) is or may be
subject, or any indebtedness, or (iii) any statute, judgment, decree, order,
rule or regulation applicable to any of the Company or the Subsidiaries of any
arbitrator, court, regulatory body or administrative agency or other
governmental agency or body (including, without limitation, those having
jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), domestic or foreign, having
jurisdiction over any of the Company or the Subsidiaries or any of their
respective activities or properties.
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l. No consent, approval, authorization or order of, and no filing
with, any court, regulatory body, government agency or other body, domestic or
foreign, is required for the issuance of the Securities pursuant to the
Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the performance of this Agreement,
the Consulting Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement and the
transactions contemplated hereby and thereby, including without limitation, any
waiver of any preemptive, first refusal or other rights that any entity or
person may have for the issue and/or sale of any of the Securities, except such
as have been or may be obtained under the Act or may be required under state
securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the Underwriters' purchase and
distribution of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, and the
Representatives' Warrants to be sold by the Company hereunder.
m. All executed agreements, contracts or other documents or copies
of executed agreements, contracts or other documents filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement to which any of the Company or the Subsidiaries is a
party or by which it may be bound or to which its assets, properties or business
may be subject have been duly and validly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company and constitute the legal, valid and binding agreements of the
Company or the Subsidiaries, as the case may be,, enforceable against each of
them, in accordance with their respective terms. The descriptions in the
Registration Statement of agreements, contracts and other documents are accurate
in all material respects and fairly present the information required to be shown
with respect thereto by Form SB-2, and there are no contracts or other documents
which are required by the Act to be described in the Registration Statement or
filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement which are not described or filed
as required, and the exhibits which have been filed are in all material respects
complete and correct copies of the documents of which they purport to be copies.
n. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus, and except as may
otherwise be indicated or contemplated herein or therein, none of the Company
nor any of the Subsidiaries has (i) issued any securities or incurred any
liability or obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money, (ii) entered
into any transaction other than in the ordinary course of business, or (iii)
declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in respect of
its capital stock of any class, and there has not been any change in the capital
stock, or any change in the debt (long or short term) or liabilities or material
adverse change in or affecting the general affairs, management, financial
operations, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the Company or any
of the Subsidiaries.
o. Except as described in the Prospectus, no default exists in the
due performance and observance of any term, covenant or condition of any
license, contract, collective bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage,
installment sale agreement, lease, deed of trust, voting trust agreement,
stockholders agreement, partnership agreement, note, loan or credit agreement,
purchase order, or any other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation
for borrowed money, or any other material agreement or instrument to which the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
the Subsidiaries may be bound or to which the property or assets (tangible or
intangible) of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries is subject or affected.
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p. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has generally enjoyed
a satisfactory employer-employee relationship with its employees and is in
compliance with all federal, state, local, and foreign laws and regulations
respecting employment and employment practices, terms and conditions of
employment and wages and hours. There are no pending investigations involving
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries by the U.S. Department of Labor, or any
other governmental agency responsible for the enforcement of such federal,
state, local, or foreign laws and regulations. There is no unfair labor practice
charge or complaint against the Company or any of the Subsidiaries pending
before the National Labor Relations Board or any lockout, strike, picketing,
boycott, dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or threatened against or
involving the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, or any predecessor entity, and
none has ever occurred. No representation question exists respecting the
employees of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, and no collective
bargaining agreement or modification thereof is currently being negotiated by
the Company and the Subsidiaries. No grievance or arbitration proceeding is
pending under any expired or existing collective bargaining agreements of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries. No labor dispute with the employees of the
Company or any of the Subsidiaries exists, or, is imminent.
q. Except as described in the Prospectus, none of the Company nor
any of the Subsidiaries maintains, sponsors or contributes to any program or
arrangement that is an "employee pension benefit plan," an "employee welfare
benefit plan," or a "multiemployer plan" as such terms are defined in Sections
3(2), 3(1) and 3(37), respectively, of the Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA") ("ERISA Plans"). None of the Company nor any
of the Subsidiaries maintains or contributes, now or at any time previously, to
a defined benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(35) of ERISA. No ERISA Plan (or
any trust created thereunder) has engaged in a "prohibited transaction" within
the meaning of Section 406 of ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, which could
subject the Company or any of the Subsidiaries to any tax penalty on prohibited
transactions and which has not adequately been corrected. Each ERISA Plan is in
compliance with all reporting, disclosure and other requirements of the Code and
ERISA as they relate to any such ERISA Plan. Determination letters have been
received from the Internal Revenue Service with respect to each ERISA Plan which
is intended to comply with Code Section 401(a), stating that such ERISA Plan and
the attendant trust are qualified thereunder. None of the Company nor any of the
Subsidiaries has ever completely or partially withdrawn from a "multiemployer
plan."
r. None of the Company, the Subsidiaries nor any of their
respective employees, directors, stockholders, partners, or affiliates (within
the meaning of the Rules and Regulations) of any of the foregoing has taken or
will take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which has
constituted or which might be expected to cause or result in, under the Exchange
Act, or otherwise, stabilization or manipulation of the price of any security of
the Company to facilitate the sale or resale of the Securities or otherwise.
s. Except as otherwise disclosed in the Prospectus, none of the
patents, patent applications, trademarks, service marks, trade names and
copyrights, and licenses and rights to the foregoing presently owned or held by
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, are in dispute so far as known by the
Company or are in any conflict with the right of any other person or entity.
Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (i) owns or has the right to use, free
and clear
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of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security interests,
defects or other restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever, all patents,
trademarks, service marks, trade names and copyrights, technology and licenses
and rights with respect to the foregoing, used in the conduct of its business as
now conducted or proposed to be conducted without infringing upon or otherwise
acting adversely to the right or claimed right of any person, corporation or
other entity under or with respect to any of the foregoing and (ii) is not
obligated or under any liability whatsoever to make any payment by way of
royalties, fees or otherwise to any owner or licensee of, or other claimant to,
any patent, trademark, service xxxx, trade name, copyright, know-how, technology
or other intangible asset, with respect to the use thereof or in connection with
the conduct of its business or otherwise.
t. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries owns and has the
unrestricted right to use all trade secrets, know-how (including all other
unpatented and/or unpatentable proprietary or confidential information, systems
or procedures), inventions, designs, processes, works of authorship, computer
programs and technical data and information (collectively, herein "intellectual
property") that are material to the development, manufacture, operation and sale
of all products and services sold or proposed to be sold by the Company or any
of the Subsidiaries, free and clear of and without violating any right, lien, or
claim of others, including without limitation, former employers of its
employees; provided, however, that the possibility exists that other persons or
entities, completely independently of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, or
their respective employees or agents, could have developed trade secrets or
items of technical information similar or identical to those of the Company or
any of the Subsidiaries. None of the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is
aware of any such development of similar or identical trade secrets or technical
information by others.
u. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has taken reasonable
security measures to protect the secrecy, confidentiality and value of its
intellectual property in all material respects.
v. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and
marketable title to, or valid and enforceable leasehold estates in, all items of
real and personal property stated in the Prospectus, to be owned or leased by it
free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances, pledges, security
interests, defects, or other restrictions or equities of any kind whatsoever,
other than those referred to in the Prospectus and liens for taxes not yet due
and payable.
w. Deloitte & Touche LLP, whose report is filed with the
Commission as a part of the Registration Statement, are independent certified
public accountants as required by the Act and the Rules and Regulations.
x. The Company has caused to be duly executed legally binding and
enforceable agreements pursuant to which each of the Company's stockholders and
holders of securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares
of Common Stock, except for the holders of the Bridge Warrants (as defined in
the Prospectus) has agreed for a period of not less than 24 months following the
date of the Prospectus (i) not to, directly or indirectly, issue, offer, agree
or offer to sell, sell, grant any option for the purchase or sale of, assign,
transfer, pledge,
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hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or
securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or evidencing any
right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of Common Stock (either pursuant
to Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations or otherwise) or dispose of any
beneficial interest therein without the prior written consent of the
Representatives and the Company and (ii) to waive all rights to request or
demand the registration pursuant to the Act of any securities of the Company
which are registered in the name of or beneficially owned by any such holder.
The holders of the Bridge Warrants have agreed to such restrictions for a period
of 18 months from the date of the Prospectus. The Company will cause the
Transfer Agent, as defined below, to xxxx an appropriate legend on the face of
stock certificates representing all of such securities and to place "stop
transfer" orders on the Company's stock ledgers.
y. There are no claims, payments, issuances, arrangements or
understandings, whether oral or written, for services in the nature of a
finder's or origination fee with respect to the sale of the Securities hereunder
or any other arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuance with
respect to the Company, the Subsidiaries or any of their respective officers,
directors, stockholders, partners, employees or affiliates that may affect the
Underwriters' compensation, as determined by the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").
z. The Common Stock has been approved for quotation on The Nasdaq
Small Cap Market ("Nasdaq").
aa. Neither the Company, nor any of the Subsidiaries nor any of
their respective officers, employees, agents or any other person acting on
behalf of the Company or the Subsidiaries has, directly or indirectly, given or
agreed to give any money, gift or similar benefit (other than legal price
concessions to customers in the ordinary course of business) to any customer,
supplier, employee or agent of a customer or supplier, or official or employee
of any governmental agency (domestic or foreign) or instrumentality of any
government (domestic or foreign) or any political party or candidate for office
(domestic or foreign) or other person who was, is, or may be in a position to
help or hinder the business of the Company or the Subsidiaries (or assist the
Company or the Subsidiaries in connection with any actual or proposed
transaction) which (a) might subject the Company or the Subsidiaries, or any
other such person to any damage or penalty in any civil, criminal or
governmental litigation or proceeding (domestic or foreign), (b) if not given in
the past, might have had a materially adverse effect on the assets, business or
operations of the Company or any Subsidiary, or (c) if not continued in the
future, might adversely affect the assets, business, operations or prospects of
the Company or any of the Subsidiaries. The Company's and each Subsidiary's
internal accounting controls are sufficient to cause each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries to comply with the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as
amended.
bb. Except as set forth in the Prospectus, no officer, director,
stockholder or partner of the Company or of any Subsidiary, or any "affiliate"
or "associate" (as these terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the
Rules and Regulations) of any of the foregoing persons or entities has or has
had, either directly or indirectly, (i) an interest in any person or entity
which (A) furnishes or sells services or products which are furnished or sold or
are
- 10 -
proposed to be furnished or sold by the Company or any Subsidiary, or (B)
purchases from or sells or furnishes to the Company or any Subsidiary any goods
or services, or (ii) a beneficiary interest in any contract or agreement to
which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it may be bound or
affected. Except as set forth in the Prospectus under "Certain Transactions,"
there are no existing agreements, arrangements, understandings or transactions,
or proposed agreements, arrangements, understandings or transactions, between or
among the Company, and any officer, director, or 5% or greater securityholder of
the Company or any Subsidiary, or any partner, affiliate or associate of any of
the foregoing persons or entities.
cc. Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company or any
Subsidiary, and delivered to the Underwriters or to Underwriters' Counsel (as
defined herein) shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company to
the Underwriters as to the matters covered thereby.
dd. The minute books of each of the Company and the Subsidiaries
have been made available to the Underwriters and contain a complete summary of
all meetings and actions of the directors and stockholders of each of the
Company and the Subsidiaries, since the time of its incorporation, and reflect
all transactions referred to in such minutes accurately in all material
respects.
ee. Except and to the extent described in the Prospectus, no
holders of any securities of the Company or of any options, warrants or other
convertible or exchangeable securities of the Company have the right to include
any securities issued by the Company in the Registration Statement or any
registration statement to be filed by the Company or to require the Company to
file a registration statement under the Act and no person or entity holds any
anti-dilution rights with respect to any securities of the Company.
ff. (A) Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance
with all federal, state, local or foreign laws, common law, rules, codes,
administrative orders or regulations relating to pollution or protection of
human health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air,
surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife,
including without limitation, laws, common law, rules, codes, administrative
orders and regulations relating to the release or threatened release of
chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous
substances, petroleum or petroleum products (collectively, "Hazardous
Materials") or to the manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment,
storage, disposal, transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively,
"Environmental Laws") and (B) to the best of the Company's knowledge, there are
no events or circumstances that could form the basis of an order for clean-up or
remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any private party or
governmental body or agency, against or affecting the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries relating to any Hazardous Materials or the violation of any
Environmental Laws.
gg. In the ordinary course of its business, the Company conducts a
periodic review of the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations
and properties of the Company and the Subsidiaries, in the course of which it
identifies and evaluates associated costs and liabilities (including, without
limitation, any capital or operating expenditures required for clean-up, closure
of properties or compliance with Environmental Laws or any permit, license or
- 11 -
approval, any related constraints on operating activities and any potential
liabilities to third parties). On the basis of such review, the Company has
reasonably concluded that such associated costs and liabilities would not,
singly or in the aggregate, have a material adverse effect on the Company and
the Subsidiaries.
hh. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries confirms as of the
date hereof that it is in compliance with all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of
Florida, Chapter 92-198, AN ACT RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF DOING BUSINESS WITH
CUBA, and each of the Company and the Subsidiaries further agree that if it or
any affiliate commences engaging in business with the government of Cuba or with
any person or affiliate located in Cuba after the date the Registration
Statement becomes or has become effective with the Commission or with the
Florida Department of Banking and Finance (the "Department"), whichever date is
later, or if the information reported or incorporated by reference in the
Prospectus, if any, concerning the Company's, any Subsidiary's or any
affiliate's business with Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba
changes in any material way, the Company will provide the Department notice of
such business or change, as appropriate, in a form acceptable to the Department.
ii. The Company is not, and upon the issuance and sale of the
Securities as herein contemplated and the application of the net proceeds
therefrom as described in the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds"
will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled" by an "investment
company" as such terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as
amended (the "1940 Act").
jj. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries maintain a system of
internal accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i)
transactions are executed in accordance with management's general and specific
authorizations; (ii) transactions are recorded as necessary to permit
preparations of financial statements in conformity with generally accepted
accounting principles and to maintain accountability for assets; (iii) access to
assets is permitted only in accordance with management's general or specific
authorizations; and (iv) the recorded accountability for assets is compared with
the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken with
respect to any differences.
kk. The Company has entered into a financial advisory and
consulting agreement, substantially in the form filed as Exhibit ___ to the
Registration Statement (the "Consulting Agreement") with the Representatives.
The Consulting Agreement has been duly and validly authorized by the Company
and, assuming due execution by the parties thereto other than the Company,
constitutes a valid and legally binding agreement of the Company, enforceable
against the Company in accordance with its terms (except as such enforceability
may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium
or other laws of general application relating to or affecting the enforcement of
creditors' rights and the application of equitable principles in any action,
legal or equitable, and except as obligations to indemnify or contribute to
losses may be limited by applicable law).
- 12 -
2. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES.
a. On the basis of the representations, warranties, covenants and
agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Company at a price of
$__________ [90% of the public offering price] per Share, that number of Firm
Securities set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter,
subject to such adjustment as the Representatives in their sole discretion shall
make to eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares, plus any
additional number of Firm Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated
to purchase pursuant to the provisions of SECTION 11 hereof.
b. In addition, on the basis of the representations, warranties,
covenants and agreements herein contained, but subject to the terms and
conditions herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an option to the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, to purchase all or any part of an
additional 210,000 shares of Common Stock at a price of $ ____ [90% of the
public offering price] per Share. The option granted hereby will expire 30 days
after (i) the date the Registration Statement becomes effective, if the Company
has elected not to rely on Rule 430A under the Rules and Regulations, or (ii)
the date of this Agreement if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 430A
under the Rules and Regulations, and may be exercised in whole or in part from
time to time only for the purpose of covering over-allotments which may be made
in connection with the offering and distribution of the Firm Securities upon
notice by the Representatives to the Company setting forth the number of Option
Securities as to which the several Underwriters are then exercising the option
and the time and date of payment and delivery for any such Option Securities.
Any such time and date of delivery (an "Option Closing Date") shall be
determined by the Representatives, but shall not be later than five (5) full
business days after the exercise of said option, nor in any event prior to the
Closing Date, as hereinafter defined, unless otherwise agreed upon by the
Representatives and the Company. Nothing herein contained shall obligate the
Underwriters to make any over-allotments. No Option Securities shall be
delivered unless the Firm Securities shall be simultaneously delivered or shall
theretofore have been delivered as herein provided.
c. Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates
for, the Firm Securities shall be made at the offices of H. J. at 0000 Xx. Xxxx
Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, or at such other place as shall be agreed
upon by the Representatives and the Company. Such delivery and payment shall be
made at 10:00 a.m. (New York City time) on ___, 1997 or at such other time and
date as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company, but not
less than three (3) nor more than five (5) full business days after the
effective date of the Registration Statement (such time and date of payment and
delivery being herein called the "Closing Date"). In addition, in the event that
any or all of the Option Securities are purchased by the Underwriters, payment
of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for, such Option
Securities shall be made at the above mentioned office of H.J. or at such other
place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the Company on each
Option Closing Date as specified in the notice from the Representatives to the
Company. Delivery of the certificates for the Firm Securities and the Option
Securities, if any, shall be made to the Underwriters against payment by the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, of the purchase
- 13 -
price for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if any, to the order of
the Company for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities, if any, by New
York Clearing House funds. In the event such option is exercised, each of the
Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, shall purchase that proportion
of the total number of Option Securities then being purchased which the number
of Firm Securities set forth in Schedule A hereto opposite the name of such
Underwriter bears to the total number of Firm Securities, subject in each case
to such adjustments as the Representatives in their discretion shall make to
eliminate any sales or purchases of fractional shares. Certificates for the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be in definitive, fully
registered form, shall bear no restrictive legends and shall be in such
denominations and registered in such names as the Underwriters may request in
writing at least two (2) business days prior to the Closing Date or the relevant
Option Closing Date, as the case may be. The certificates for the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities, if any, shall be made available to the
Representatives at such office or such other place as the Representatives may
designate for inspection, checking and packaging no later than 9:30 a.m. on the
last business day prior to the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date,
as the case may be.
d. On the Closing Date, the Company shall issue and sell to the
Representative Representatives' Warrants at a purchase price of $1.00, which
warrants shall entitle the holders thereof to purchase an aggregate of 140,000
shares of Common Stock. The Representatives' Warrants shall be exercisable for a
period of four (4) years commencing one (1) year from the effective date of the
Registration Statement at a price equaling one hundred forty five percent (145%)
of the initial public offering price of the Shares. The Representatives' Warrant
Agreement and form of Warrant Certificate shall be substantially in the form
filed as Exhibit [___] to the Registration Statement. Payment for the
Representatives' Warrants shall be made on the Closing Date.
3. PUBLIC OFFERING OF THE SHARES. As soon after the Registration
Statement becomes effective as the Representatives deem advisable, the
Underwriters shall make a public offering of the Shares (other than to residents
of or in any jurisdiction in which qualification of the Shares is required and
has not become effective) at the price and upon the other terms set forth in the
Prospectus. The Representatives may from time to time increase or decrease the
public offering price after distribution of the Shares has been completed to
such extent as the Representatives, in their sole discretion deems advisable.
The Underwriters may enter into one of more agreements as the Underwriters, in
each of their sole discretion, deem advisable with one or more broker-dealers
who shall act as dealers in connection with such public offering.
4. COVENANTS AND AGREEMENTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants and
agrees with each of the Underwriters as follows:
a. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause the
Registration Statement and any amendments thereto to become effective as
promptly as practicable and will not at any time, whether before or after the
effective date of the Registration Statement, file any amendment to the
Registration Statement or supplement to the Prospectus or file any document
under the Act or Exchange Act before termination of the offering of the Shares
by the Underwriters of which the Representatives shall not previously have been
advised and furnished with a copy, or to
- 14 -
which the Representatives shall have objected or which is not in compliance with
the Act, the Exchange Act or the Rules and Regulations.
b. As soon as the Company is advised or obtains knowledge thereof,
the Company will advise the Representatives and confirm the notice in writing,
(i) when the Registration Statement, as amended, becomes effective, if the
provisions of Rule 430A promulgated under the Act will be relied upon, when the
Prospectus has been filed in accordance with said Rule 430A and when any
post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii)
of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of the initiation, or the
threatening, of any proceeding, suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any order preventing or suspending the use of the Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or the
institution of proceedings for that purpose, (iii) of the issuance by the
Commission or by any state securities commission of any proceedings for the
suspension of the qualification of any of the Securities for offering or sale in
any jurisdiction or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for
that purpose, (iv) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, and (v)
of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement
or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information.
If the Commission or any state securities commission authority shall enter a
stop order or suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make
every effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
c. The Company shall file the Prospectus (in form and substance
satisfactory to the Representatives) or transmit the Prospectus by a means
reasonably calculated to result in filing with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b)(1) (or, if applicable and if consented to by the Representatives,
pursuant to Rule 424(b)(4)) not later than the Commission's close of business on
the earlier of (i) the second business day following the execution and delivery
of this Agreement and (ii) the fifth business day after the effective date of
the Registration Statement.
d. The Company will give the Representatives notice of its
intention to file or prepare any amendment to the Registration Statement
(including any post-effective amendment) or any amendment or supplement to the
Prospectus (including any revised prospectus which the Company proposes for use
by the Underwriters in connection with the offering of the Securities which
differs from the corresponding prospectus on file at the Commission at the time
the Registration Statement becomes effective, whether or not such revised
prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the Rules and
Regulations), and will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such
amendment or supplement a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed
filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file any such prospectus to
which the Representatives or Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxxxxx LLP ("Underwriters'
Counsel") shall object.
e. The Company shall endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with
the Representative, at or prior to the time the Registration Statement becomes
effective, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the securities
laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate to permit the
continuance of sales and dealings therein for as long as may be necessary to
complete the distribution, and shall make such applications, file such documents
and furnish such information as may be required for such purpose; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, the Company shall
- 15 -
not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or file a general or limited
consent to service of process in any such jurisdiction. In each jurisdiction
where such qualification shall be effected, the Company will, unless the
Representatives agree that such action is not at the time necessary or
advisable, use all reasonable efforts to file and make such statements or
reports at such times as are or may reasonably be required by the laws of such
jurisdiction to continue such qualification.
f. During the time when a prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Act, the Company shall use all reasonable efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the Exchange Act, as now and
hereafter amended and by the Rules and Regulations, as from time to time in
force, so far as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in
the Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and the Prospectus, or
any amendments or supplements thereto. If at any time when a prospectus relating
to the Securities is required to be delivered under the Act, any event shall
have occurred as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Company or
Underwriters' Counsel, the Prospectus, as then amended or supplemented, includes
an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state any material fact
required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in
the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or if
it is necessary at any time to amend the Prospectus to comply with the Act, the
Company will notify the Representatives promptly and prepare and file with the
Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement in accordance with Section 10
of the Act, each such amendment or supplement to be satisfactory to
Underwriters' Counsel, and the Company will furnish to the Underwriters copies
of such amendment or supplement as soon as available and in such quantities as
the Underwriters may request.
g. As soon as practicable, but in any event not later than 45 days
after the end of the 12-month period beginning on the day after the end of the
fiscal quarter of the Company during which the effective date of the
Registration Statement occurs (90 days in the event that the end of such fiscal
quarter is the end of the Company's fiscal year), the Company shall make
generally available to its security holders, in the manner specified in Rule
158(b) of the Rules and Regulations, and to the Representatives, an earnings
statement which will be in the detail required by, and will otherwise comply
with, the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule 158(a) of the Rules
and Regulations, which statement need not be audited unless required by the Act,
covering a period of at least 12 consecutive months after the effective date of
the Registration Statement.
h. During a period of five years after the date hereof, the
Company will furnish to its stockholders, as soon as practicable, annual reports
(including financial statements audited by independent public accountants) and
unaudited quarterly reports of earnings, and will deliver to the
Representatives:
i. concurrently with furnishing such quarterly reports to its
stockholders, statements of income of the Company for each quarter in
the form furnished to the Company's stockholders and certified by the
Company's principal financial or accounting officer;
- 16 -
ii. concurrently with furnishing such annual reports to its
stockholders, a balance sheet of the Company as at the end of the
preceding fiscal year, together with statements of operations,
stockholders' equity, and cash flows of the Company for such fiscal
year, accompanied by a copy of the certificate thereon of independent
certified public accountants;
iii. as soon as they are available, copies of all reports
(financial or other) mailed to stockholders;
iv. as soon as they are available, copies of all reports and
financial statements furnished to or filed with the Commission, the NASD
or any securities exchange;
v. every press release and every material news item or article of
interest to the financial community in respect of the Company, or its
affairs which was released or prepared by or on behalf of the Company;
and
vi. any additional information of a public nature concerning the
Company (and any future subsidiary) or its businesses which the
Representatives may request.
During such five-year period, if the Company has an active subsidiary,
the foregoing financial statements will be on a consolidated basis to the extent
that the accounts of the Company and its subsidiary are consolidated, and will
be accompanied by similar financial statements for any significant subsidiary
which is not so consolidated.
i. The Company will maintain a Transfer Agent and, if necessary
under the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company, a Registrar (which may
be the same entity as the Transfer Agent) for its Common Stock.
j. The Company will furnish to the Representatives or on the
Representatives' order, without charge, at such place as the Representatives may
designate, copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement and
any pre-effective or post-effective amendments thereto (two of which copies will
be signed and will include all financial statements and exhibits), the
Prospectus, and all amendments and supplements thereto, including any prospectus
prepared after the effective date of the Registration Statement, in each case as
soon as available and in such quantities as the Representatives may request.
k. On or before the effective date of the Registration Statement,
the Company shall provide the Representatives with true copies of duly executed,
legally binding and enforceable agreements pursuant to which for a period of 24
months from the date of the Prospectus, each of the Company's stockholders and
holders of securities exchangeable or exercisable for or convertible into shares
of Common Stock, except for the holders of the Bridge Warrants, agrees that it
or he or she (i) will not directly or indirectly, issue, offer, offer to sell,
sell, grant an option for the purchase or sale of, assign, transfer, pledge,
hypothecate or otherwise encumber or dispose of any shares of Common Stock or
securities convertible into, exercisable or exchangeable for or evidencing any
right to purchase or subscribe for any shares of Common Stock (either pursuant
to Rule 144 of the Rules and Regulations or otherwise) or dispose of any
- 17 -
beneficial interest therein without the prior consent of H.J. and the Company
(collectively, the "Lock-up Agreements") and (ii) waives, during such 24 month
period, any and all rights to request or demand the registration pursuant to the
Act, of any securities of the Company which are registered in the name of or
beneficially owned by it or he or she, respectively. The holders of the Bridge
Warrants have agreed to such restrictions for a period of 18 months from the
date of the Prospectus. During the 12 month period commencing with the effective
date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall not, without the prior
written consent of H.J., sell, contract or offer to sell, issue, transfer,
assign, pledge, distribute, or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, any
shares of Common Stock or any options, rights or warrants with respect to any
shares of Common Stock, except for (i) any shares issued pursuant to the
exercise of options, warrants or other convertible securities outstanding prior
to the effective date of the Registration Statement or (ii) the grant of options
under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan. During the 24 month period
commencing with the effective date of the Registration Statement, the Company
shall not, without the prior written consent of H.J., sell or issue any
securities pursuant to Regulation S under the Act. On or before the Closing
Date, the Company shall deliver instructions to the Transfer Agent authorizing
it to place appropriate legends on the certificates representing the securities
subject to the Lock-up Agreements and to place appropriate stop transfer orders
on the Company's ledgers.
l. Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries, nor any of
their respective officers, directors, stockholders, nor any of its affiliates
(within the meaning of the Rules and Regulations) will take, directly or
indirectly, any action designed to, or which might in the future reasonably be
expected to cause or result in, stabilization or manipulation of the price of
any securities of the Company.
m. The Company shall apply the net proceeds from the sale of the
Securities in the manner, and subject to the conditions, set forth under "Use of
Proceeds" in the Prospectus. No portion of the net proceeds will be used,
directly or indirectly, to acquire any securities issued by the Company.
n. The Company shall timely file all such reports, forms or other
documents as may be required (including, but not limited to, a Form SR as may be
required pursuant to Rule 463 under the Act) from time to time, under the Act,
the Exchange Act, and the Rules and Regulations, and all such reports, forms and
documents filed will comply as to form and substance with the applicable
requirements under the Act, the Exchange Act, and the Rules and Regulations.
o. The Company shall furnish to the Representatives as early as
practicable prior to each of the date hereof, the Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, if any, but no later than two (2) full business days prior
thereto, a copy of the latest available unaudited interim financial statements
of the Company (which in no event shall be as of a date more than thirty (30)
days prior to the date of the Registration Statement) which have been read by
the Company's independent public accountants, as stated in their letters to be
furnished pursuant to SECTIONS 6(j) and 6(k) hereof.
- 18 -
p. The Company shall cause the Common Stock to be quoted on Nasdaq
and for a period of five (5) years from the date hereof, use its best efforts to
maintain Nasdaq quotation of the Common Stock to the extent outstanding.
q. For a period of five (5) years from the Closing Date, the
Company shall furnish to the Representatives at the Representatives' request and
at the Company's sole expense, (i) daily consolidated transfer sheets relating
to the Common Stock (ii) the list of holders of all of the Company's securities
and (iii) a Blue Sky "Trading Survey" for secondary sales of the Company's
securities prepared by counsel to the Company.
r. As soon as practicable, (i) but in no event more than 5
business days before the effective date of the Registration Statement, file a
Form 8-A with the Commission providing for the registration under the Exchange
Act of the Securities and (ii) but in no event more than 10 days from the
effective date of the Registration Statement, take all necessary and appropriate
actions to be included in Standard and Poor's Corporation Descriptions or
Xxxxx'x OTC Manual and to continue such inclusion for a period of not less than
five (5) years from the effective date of the Registration Statement.
s. The Company hereby agrees that it will not, for a period of
twelve (12) months from the effective date of the Registration Statement, adopt,
propose to adopt or otherwise permit to exist any employee, officer, director,
consultant or compensation plan or similar arrangement permitting (i) the grant,
issue, sale or entry into any agreement to grant, issue or sell any option,
warrant or other contract right covering more than 60,000 (less the number of
options previously granted to employees) shares of Common Stock at an exercise
price that is less than the greater of the market price on the date of grant or
sale or $6.00 per share; (ii) the maximum number of shares of Common Stock or
other securities of the company purchasable at any time pursuant to options or
warrants issued by the Company to exceed the aggregate of 60,000 shares reserved
for future issuance under the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan; (iii) the
payment for such securities with any form of consideration other than cash; and
(iv) the existence of stock appreciation rights, phantom options or similar
arrangements.
t. Until the completion of the distribution of the Securities, the
Company shall not without the prior written consent of the Representatives and
Underwriters' Counsel, issue, directly or indirectly, any press release or other
communication or hold any press conference with respect to the Company or its
activities or the offering contemplated hereby, other than trade releases issued
in the ordinary course of the Company's business consistent with past practices
with respect to the Company's operations.
u. For a period equal to the lesser of (i) five (5) years from the
date hereof, and (ii) the sale to the public of the Representatives' Securities,
the Company will not take any action or actions which may prevent or disqualify
the Company's use of Form S-1 (or other appropriate form) for the registration
under the Act of the Representatives' Securities.
v. For a period of three (3) years after the effective date of the
Registration Statement, H.J. shall have the right to designate one (1)
individual to attend meetings of the Company's Board of Directors (the "Board").
The Company shall notify H.J. of each meeting
- 19 -
of the Board and the Company shall send to such individual all notices and other
correspondence and communications sent by the Company to members of the Board.
Such individual shall be reimbursed for all out-of-pocket expenses incurred in
connection with his attendance of meetings of the Board.
w. On or before the effective date of the Registration Statement,
the Company shall provide the Representatives with true copies of duly executed,
legally binding and enforceable agreements pursuant to which for a period of
five (5) years from the date of the Prospectus, each of the Company's directors,
officers and stockholders who own more than 5% of the Company's outstanding
voting securities agree that he, she or it will allow the Representatives to
purchase for its own account or sell for the account of such stockholder any
securities sold pursuant to Rule 144 under the Act.
x. For a period of twenty-four (24) months after the effective
date of the Registration Statement, the Company shall not issue any shares of
Preferred Stock without the prior written consent of X.X.
x. On or before the effective date of the Registration Statement,
the Company shall engage a public relations firm acceptable to the
Representatives and the Company and shall maintain a relationship with such
public relations firm for a minimum period of twenty-four (24) months from the
effective date of the Registration Statement.
z. Within 90 days after the Closing Date, the Company shall use
its best efforts to elect two independent outside directors to its Board of
Directors.
5. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.
a. The Company hereby agrees to pay on each of the Closing Date and the
Option Closing Date (to the extent not paid at the Closing Date) all expenses
and fees (other than fees of Underwriters' Counsel, except as provided in (iv)
below) incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company under this
Agreement, the Consulting Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement,
including, without limitation, (i) the fees and expenses of accountants and
counsel for the Company, (ii) all costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the preparation, duplication, printing (including mailing and handling charges),
filing, delivery and mailing (including the payment of postage with respect
thereto) of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments and
supplements thereto and the printing, mailing (including the payment of postage
with respect thereto) and delivery of this Agreement, the Agreement Among
Underwriters, the Selected Dealer Agreements, and related documents, including
the cost of all copies thereof and of the Preliminary Prospectuses and of the
Prospectus and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the
Underwriters and such dealers as the Underwriters may request, in quantities as
hereinabove stated, (iii) the printing, engraving, issuance and delivery of the
Securities including, but not limited to, (x) the purchase by the Underwriters
of the Firm Securities and the Option Securities and the purchase by the
Representatives of the Representatives' Warrants from the Company, (y) the
consummation by the Company of any of its obligations under this Agreement, the
Consulting Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, and (z) resale
of the Firm Securities and the Option
- 20 -
Securities by the Underwriters in connection with the distribution contemplated
hereby, (iv) the qualification of the Securities under state or foreign
securities or "Blue Sky" laws and determination of the status of such securities
under legal investment laws, including the costs of printing and mailing the
"Preliminary Blue Sky Memorandum," the "Supplemental Blue Sky Memorandum" and
"Legal Investments Survey," if any, and disbursements and fees of counsel in
connection therewith (such counsel fees not to exceed $35,0000), (v) advertising
costs and expenses, including but not limited to costs and expenses in
connection with the "road show" (excluding solely the travel and lodging
expenses of personnel of the Representative), information meetings and
presentations, bound volumes and prospectus memorabilia and "tombstone"
advertisement expenses (such tomb-stone advertisement expenses not to exceed
$10,000), (vi) fees and expenses of the transfer agent and registrar, (vii)
applications for assignments of a rating of the Securities by qualified rating
agencies, (viii) the fees payable to the Commission and the NASD, and (ix) the
fees and expenses incurred in connection with the quotation of the Securities on
Nasdaq, the Boston Stock Exchange, the Pacific Stock Exchange and any other
exchange.
b. If this Agreement is terminated by the Underwriters in
accordance with the provisions of SECTION 6 or SECTION 12, the Company shall
reimburse and indemnify the Representatives for all of their actual
out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of Underwriters'
Counsel, less any amounts already paid pursuant to SECTION 5(c) hereof.
c. The Company further agrees that, in addition to the expenses
payable pursuant to subsection (a) of this SECTION 5, it will pay to the
Representatives on the Closing Date by certified or bank cashier's check or, at
the election of the Representatives, by deduction from the proceeds of the
offering contemplated herein a non-accountable expense allowance equal to three
percent (3%) of the gross proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the
Firm Securities, $100,000 of which has been paid to date. In the event the
Representatives elect to exercise the over-allotment option described in SECTION
2(b) hereof, the Company agrees to pay to the Representatives on the Option
Closing Date (by certified or bank cashier's check or, at the Representatives'
election, by deduction from the proceeds of the offering) a non-accountable
expense allowance equal to three percent (3%) of the gross proceeds received by
the Company from the sale of the Option Securities.
6. CONDITIONS OF THE UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder shall be subject to the continuing accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Company herein as of the date hereof and
as of the Closing Date with respect to the Company and each Option Closing Date,
if any, with respect to the Company as if it had been made on and as of the
Closing Date or each Option Closing Date, as the case may be; the accuracy on
and as of the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, if any, of the statements of
the officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof; and the
performance by the Company on and as of the Closing Date and each Option Closing
Date, if any, of its covenants and obligations hereunder and to the following
further conditions:
a. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not
later than 12:00 P.M., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such
later date and time as shall be consented
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to in writing by the Representatives, and, at the Closing Date and each Option
Closing Date, if any, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been instituted or shall be pending or contemplated by the
Commission and any request on the part of the Commission for additional
information shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of
Underwriters' Counsel. If the Company has elected to rely upon Rule 430A of the
Rules and Regulations, the price of the Shares and any price-related information
previously omitted from the effective Registration Statement pursuant to such
Rule 430A shall have been transmitted to the Commission for filing pursuant to
Rule 424(b) of the Rules and Regulations within the prescribed time period, and
prior to the Closing Date the Company shall have provided evidence satisfactory
to the Representatives of such timely filing, or a post-effective amendment
providing such information shall have been promptly filed and declared effective
in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations.
b. The Representatives shall not have advised the Company that the
Registration Statement, or any amendment thereto, contains an untrue statement
of fact which, in the Representatives' opinion, is material, or omits to state a
fact which, in the Representatives' opinion, is material and is required to be
stated therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, or that the
Prospectus, or any supplement thereto, contains an untrue statement of fact
which, in the Representatives' opinion, is material, or omits to state a fact
which, in the Representatives' opinion, is material and is required to be stated
therein or is necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
c. On or prior to each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing
Date, if any, the Representatives shall have received from Underwriters' Counsel
such opinion or opinions with respect to the organization of the Company, the
validity of the Securities, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other
related matters as the Representatives may request and Underwriters' Counsel
shall have received such papers and information as they request to enable them
to pass upon such matters.
d. At the Closing Date, the Underwriters shall have received the
favorable opinion of Broad and Xxxxxx, counsel to the Company and the
Subsidiaries, dated the Closing Date, addressed to the Underwriters and in form
and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel, to the effect that:
i. Each of the Company and the Subsidiaries (A) has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
under the laws of its jurisdiction, (B) is duly qualified and licensed
and in good standing as a foreign corporation in each jurisdiction in
which its ownership or leasing of any properties or the character of its
operations requires such qualification or licensing, and (C) has all
requisite corporate power and authority, and has obtained any and all
necessary authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates,
franchises and permits of and from all governmental or regulatory
officials and bodies (including, without limitation, those having
jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), domestic or
foreign, to own or lease its properties and conduct its business as
described in the Prospectus; each of the Company and the
- 22 -
Subsidiaries is and has been doing business in compliance with all such
authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates, franchises
and permits and all federal, state, local and foreign laws, rules and
regulations; and, none of the Company nor the Subsidiaries has received
any notice of proceedings relating to the revocation or modification of
any such authorization, approval, order, license, certificate,
franchise, or permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject
of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially
adversely affect the business, operations, condition, financial or
otherwise, or the earnings, business affairs, position, prospects,
value, operation, properties, business or results of operations of the
Company or the Subsidiaries. The disclosures in the Registration
Statement concerning the effects of federal, state, local and foreign
laws, rules and regulations on the Company's and the Subsidiaries'
businesses as currently conducted and as contemplated are correct in all
material respects and do not omit to state a fact necessary to make the
statements contained therein not misleading in light of the
circumstances in which they were made;
ii. the Company owns, directly or indirectly, one hundred percent
(100%) of the outstanding capital stock of each of the Subsidiaries and
all such shares have been validly issued, are fully paid and
non-assessable, were not in violation of any preemptive rights and are
owned free and clear of any liens, charges, claims, encumbrances,
pledges, security interest, defaults or other restrictions or equities
of any kind whatsoever; except as described in the Prospectus, none of
the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries owns an interest in any other
corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other business entity;
iii. the Company has a duly authorized, issued and outstanding
capitalization as set forth in the Prospectus, and any amendment or
supplement thereto, under "CAPITALIZATION", and the Company is not a
party to or bound by any instrument, agreement or other arrangement
providing for it to issue any capital stock, rights, warrants, options
or other securities, except for this Agreement and the Representatives'
Warrant Agreement and as described in the Prospectus. The Securities and
all other securities issued or issuable by the Company conform in all
material respects to all statements with respect thereto contained in
the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. All issued and
outstanding securities of the Company have been duly authorized and
validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the holders
thereof have no rights of rescission with respect thereto, and are not
subject to personal liability by reason of being such holders; and none
of such securities were issued in violation of the preemptive rights of
any holders of any security of the Company. The Securities to be sold by
the Company hereunder and under the Representatives' Warrant Agreement
are not and will not be subject to any preemptive or other similar
rights of any stockholder, have been duly authorized and, when issued,
paid for and delivered in accordance with the terms hereof, will be
validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable and conform to the
description thereof contained in the Prospectus; the holders thereof
will not be subject to any liability solely as such holders; all
corporate action required to be taken for the authorization, issue and
sale of the Securities has been duly and validly taken; and the
certificates representing the Securities are in due and proper form. The
Representatives' Warrants constitute valid and binding obligations of
the Company to issue and sell, upon exercise thereof and payment
therefor, the number and type of securities of the Company called for
thereby. Upon the
- 23 -
issuance and delivery pursuant to this Agreement of the Firm Securities
and the Option Securities and the Representatives' Warrants to be sold
by the Company, the Underwriters and the Representatives, respectively,
will acquire good and marketable title to the Firm Securities and the
Option Securities and the Representatives' Warrants free and clear of
any pledge, lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security interest,
or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever. No transfer tax
is payable by or on behalf of the Underwriters in connection with (A)
the issuance by the Company of the Securities, (B) the purchase by the
Underwriters and the Representatives of the Firm Securities and the
Option Securities and the Representatives' Securities, respectively,
from the Company, (C) the consummation by the Company of any of its
obligations under this Agreement, the Consulting Agreement or the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement, or (D) resales of the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities in connection with the distribution
contemplated hereby;
iv. the Registration Statement is effective under the Act, and, if
applicable, filing of all pricing information has been timely made in
the appropriate form under Rule 430A, and no stop order suspending the
use of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any part of any thereof or suspending the effectiveness of
the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best of such
counsel's knowledge, threatened or contemplated under the Act;
v. each of the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement,
and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto (other than
the financial statements and other financial and statistical data
included therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) comply as to
form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the
Rules and Regulations;
vi. to the best of such counsel's knowledge, (A) there are no
agreements, contracts or other documents required by the Act to be
described in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement other than those described in the
Registration Statement (or required to be filed under the Exchange Act
if upon such filing they would be incorporated, in whole or in part, by
reference therein) and the Prospectus and filed as exhibits thereto, and
the exhibits which have been filed are correct copies of the documents
of which they purport to be copies; (B) the descriptions in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplement or
amendment thereto of contracts and other documents to which the Company
or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it is bound, including any
document to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which
it is bound, incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and any
supplement or amendment thereto, are accurate in all material respects
and fairly represent the information required to be shown by Form SB-2;
(C) there is not pending or threatened against the Company or any
Subsidiary any action, arbitration, suit, proceeding, inquiry,
investigation, litigation, governmental or other proceeding (including,
without limitation, those having jurisdiction over environmental or
similar matters), domestic or foreign, pending or threatened against (or
circumstances that may give rise to the same), or involving the
properties or business of the Company or any Subsidiary which (x) is
- 24 -
required to be disclosed in the Registration Statement which is not so
disclosed (and such proceedings as are summarized in the Registration
Statement are accurately summarized in all material respects) or (y)
questions the validity of the capital stock of the Company or this
Agreement, the Consulting Agreement or the Representatives' Warrant
Agreement, or of any action taken or to be taken by the Company pursuant
to or in connection with any of the foregoing; (D) no statute or
regulation or legal or governmental proceeding required to be described
in the Prospectus is not described as required; and (E) there is no
action, suit or proceeding pending, or threatened, against or affecting
the Company or any Subsidiary before any court or arbitrator or
governmental body, agency or official (or any basis thereof known to
such counsel) in which there is a reasonable possibility of an adverse
decision which may result in a material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, or the earnings, position, prospects,
stockholders' equity, value, operation, properties, business or results
of operations of the Company or any Subsidiary, which could adversely
affect the present or prospective ability of the Company to perform its
obligations under this Agreement, the Consulting Agreement or the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement or which in any manner draws into
question the validity or enforceability of this Agreement, the
Consulting Agreement or the Representatives' Warrant Agreement;
vii. the Company has full legal right, power and authority to
enter into each of this Agreement, the Consulting Agreement and the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement, and to consummate the transactions
provided for therein; and each of this Agreement, the Consulting
Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement has been duly
authorized, executed and delivered by the Company. Each of this
Agreement, the Consulting Agreement and the Representatives' Warrant
Agreement, assuming due authorization, execution and delivery by each
other party thereto constitutes a legal, valid and binding agreement of
the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms
(except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general
application relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights
and the application of equitable principles in any action, legal or
equitable, and except as rights to indemnity or contribution may be
limited by applicable law), and none of the Company's execution or
delivery of this Agreement, the Consulting Agreement and the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement, its performance hereunder or
thereunder, its consummation of the transactions contemplated herein or
therein, or the conduct of its business as described in the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, and any amendments or supplements thereto,
conflicts with or will conflict with or results or will result in any
breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitutes
or will constitute a default under, or result in the creation or
imposition of any lien, charge, claim, encumbrance, pledge, security
interest, defect or other restriction or equity of any kind whatsoever
upon, any property or assets (tangible or intangible) of the Company or
any Subsidiary pursuant to the terms of, (A) the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary, (B) any
license, contract, collective bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage,
deed of trust, lease, voting trust agreement, stockholders agreement,
note, loan or credit agreement or any other agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or by which it is or may
be bound or to which any of its properties or assets (tangible or
intangible) is or may be
- 25 -
subject, or any indebtedness, or (C) any statute, judgment, decree,
order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or any Subsidiary of
any arbitrator, court, regulatory body or administrative agency or other
governmental agency or body (including, without limitation, those having
jurisdiction over environmental or similar matters), domestic or
foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or any
of their respective activities or properties;
viii. no consent, approval, authorization or order, and no filing
with, any court, regulatory body, government agency or other body (other
than such as may be required under Blue Sky laws, as to which no opinion
need be rendered) is required in connection with the issuance of the
Firm Securities and the Option Securities pursuant to the Prospectus,
the issuance of the Representatives' Warrants, and the Registration
Statement, the performance of this Agreement, the Consulting Agreement
and the Representatives' Warrant Agreement, and the transactions
contemplated hereby and thereby;
ix. the properties and business of each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries conform in all material respects to the description thereof
contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and each of
the Company and the Subsidiaries has good and marketable title to, or
valid and enforceable leasehold estates in, all items of real and
personal property stated in the Prospectus to be owned or leased by it,
in each case free and clear of all liens, charges, claims, encumbrances,
pledges, security interests, defects or other restrictions or equities
of any kind whatsoever, other than those referred to in the Prospectus
and liens for taxes not yet due and payable;
x. neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in breach
of, or in default under, any term or provision of any license, contract,
collective bargaining agreement, indenture, mortgage, installment sale
agreement, deed of trust, lease, voting trust agreement, stockholders'
agreement, partnership agreement, note, loan or credit agreement or any
other agreement or instrument evidencing an obligation for borrowed
money, or any other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any
Subsidiary is a party or by which the Company or any Subsidiary may be
bound or to which the property or assets (tangible or intangible) of the
Company or any Subsidiary is subject or affected; and neither the
Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of any term or
provision of its Articles of Incorporation or By-Laws or in violation of
any franchise, license, permit, judgment, decree, order, statute, rule
or regulation;
xi. the statements in the Prospectus under "THE COMPANY,"
"BUSINESS," "MANAGEMENT," "PRINCIPAL STOCKHOLDERS," "CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS," "DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES," and "SHARES ELIGIBLE FOR
FUTURE SALE" have been reviewed by such counsel, and insofar as they
refer to statements of law, descriptions of statutes, licenses, rules or
regulations or legal conclusions, are correct in all material respects;
xii. the Securities have been accepted for quotation on Nasdaq;
- 26 -
xiii. the persons listed under the caption "PRINCIPAL
STOCKHOLDERS" in the Prospectus are the respective "beneficial owners"
(as such phrase is defined in regulation 13d-3 under the Exchange Act)
of the securities set forth opposite their respective names thereunder
as and to the extent set forth therein;
xiv. except as described in the Prospectus, no person,
corporation, trust, partnership, association or other entity has the
right to include and/or register any securities of the Company in the
Registration Statement, require the Company to file any registration
statement or, if filed, to include any security in such registration
statement;
xv. except as described in the Prospectus, there are no claims,
payments, issuances, arrangements or understandings for services in the
nature of a finder's or origination fee with respect to the sale of the
Securities hereunder or financial consulting arrangement or any other
arrangements, agreements, understandings, payments or issuances that may
affect the Underwriters' compensation, as determined by the NASD;
xvi. assuming due execution by the parties thereto other than the
Company, the Lockup Agreements are legal, valid and binding obligations
of the parties thereto, enforceable against the party and any subsequent
holder of the securities subject thereto in accordance with its terms
(except as such enforceability may be limited by applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other laws of general
application relating to or affecting enforcement of creditors' rights
and the application of equitable principles in any action, legal or
equitable, and except as rights to indemnity or contribution may be
limited by applicable law);
xvii. except as described in the Prospectus, neither the Company
nor any of the Subsidiaries (A) maintains, sponsors or contributes to
any ERISA Plans, (B) maintains or contributes, now or at any time
previously, to a defined benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(35) of
ERISA, and (C) has ever completely or partially withdrawn from a
"multiemployer plan";
xviii. the minute books of each of the Company and the
Subsidiaries have been made available to the Underwriters and contain a
complete summary of all meetings and actions of the directors and
stockholders of the Company and the Subsidiaries since the time of its
incorporation and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes
accurately in all material respects; and
xix. except as set forth in the Prospectus and to the best
knowledge of such counsel, no officer, director or stockholder of the
Company or any Subsidiary, or any "affiliate" or "associate" (as these
terms are defined in Rule 405 promulgated under the Rules and
Regulations) of any of the foregoing persons or entities has or has had,
either directly or indirectly, (A) an interest in any person or entity
which (x) furnishes or sells services or products which are furnished or
sold or are proposed to be furnished or sold by the Company or any
Subsidiary, or (y) purchases from or sells or furnishes to the Company
or any Subsidiary any goods or services, or (B) a beneficial interest in
any contract or agreement to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a
party or by which it may be
- 27 -
bound or affected. Except as set forth in the Prospectus under "CERTAIN
TRANSACTIONS," there are no existing agreements, arrangements,
understandings or transactions, or proposed agreements, arrangements,
understandings or transactions, between or among the Company, or any
Subsidiary and any officer, director, or 5% or greater securityholder of
the Company or any Subsidiary, or any affiliate or associate of any such
person or entity;
xx. each of the Company and the Subsidiaries is in compliance with
all provisions of Section 1 of Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198, AN ACT
RELATING TO DISCLOSURE OF DOING BUSINESS WITH CUBA;
xxi. to the best of such counsel's knowledge, there is no action,
suit, proceeding, inquiry, investigation, litigation or governmental
proceeding, domestic or foreign, pending or threatened (or circumstances
that may give rise to the same) involving the Company's or any
Subsidiary's production, use, testing, manufacturing or marketing of any
products or services, which (i) questions the authority of the Company
or any Subsidiary to produce, use, test, manufacture or market any
products or services as described in the Prospectus, (ii) questions the
completeness or accuracy of data generated by any trials, tests or
studies being conducted by or on behalf of the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries, (iii) is required to be disclosed in the Prospectus which
is not so disclosed, or (iv) might materially and adversely affect the
condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings, prospects, value,
operations or business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, taken as a
whole.
xxii. none of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries shall be
subject to the requirements of or shall be deemed an "Investment
Company," pursuant to and as defined under the Investment Company Act.
Such counsel shall state that such counsel has participated in
conferences with officers and other representatives of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, and representatives of the independent public accountants for the
Company and the Subsidiaries, at which conferences such counsel made inquiries
of such officers, representatives and accountants and discussed the contents of
the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, and
related matters and, although such counsel is not passing upon and does not
assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
statements contained in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement
and Prospectus, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to the
attention of such counsel which lead them to believe that either the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, at the time such Registration
Statement or amendment became effective or the Preliminary Prospectus or
Prospectus or amendment or supplement thereto as of the date of such opinion
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 (it being understood that such counsel need express no opinion
with respect to the financial statements and schedules and other financial and
statistical data included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus).
- 28 -
In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws other than the laws of the United States and
jurisdictions in which they are admitted, to the extent such counsel deems
proper and to the extent specified in such opinion, if at all, upon an opinion
or opinions (in form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel) of
other counsel acceptable to Underwriters' Counsel, familiar with the applicable
laws; (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent they deem proper, on certificates
and written statements of responsible officers of the Company and the
Subsidiaries and certificates or other written statements of officers of
departments of various jurisdictions having custody of documents respecting the
corporate existence or good standing of the Company and the Subsidiaries,
provided that copies of any such statements or certificates shall be delivered
to Underwriters' Counsel if requested. The opinion of such counsel for the
Company and the Subsidiaries shall state that the opinion of any such other
counsel is in form satisfactory to such counsel and that the Representatives and
they are justified in relying thereon. Any opinion of counsel for the Company
and the Subsidiaries shall not state that it is to be governed or qualified by,
or that it is otherwise subject to, any treatise, written policy or other
document relating to legal opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal
Opinion Accord of the ABA Section of Business Law (1991) or any comparable state
accord.
e. At each Option Closing Date, if any, the Underwriters shall
have received the favorable opinion of Broad and Xxxxxx, counsel to the Company
and the Subsidiaries, dated the Option Closing Date, addressed to the
Underwriters and in form and substance satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel
confirming as of Option Closing Date the statements made by Broad and Xxxxxx in
their opinion delivered on the Closing Date.
f. On or prior to each of the Closing Date and the Option Closing
Date, if any, Underwriters' Counsel shall have been furnished such documents,
certificates and opinions as they may reasonably require for the purpose of
enabling them to review or pass upon the matters referred to in subsection (c)
of this SECTION 6, or in order to evidence the accuracy, completeness or
satisfaction of any of the representations, warranties or conditions of the
Company, or herein contained.
g. Prior to each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date,
if any, (i) there shall have been no adverse change nor development involving a
prospective change in the condition, financial or otherwise, prospects,
stockholders' equity or the business activities of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries, whether or not in the ordinary course of business, from the latest
dates as of which such condition is set forth in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus; (ii) there shall have been no transaction, not in the ordinary
course of business, entered into by the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, from
the latest date as of which the financial condition of the Company and the
Subsidiaries is set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus which is
adverse to the Company or any of the Subsidiaries; (iii) neither the Company nor
any of the Subsidiaries shall be in default under any provision of any
instrument relating to any outstanding indebtedness, except as disclosed in the
Prospectus; (iv) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries shall have
issued any securities (other than the Securities) or declared or paid any
dividend or made any distribution in respect of its capital stock of any class
and there has not been any change in the capital stock or any change in the debt
(long or short term) or liabilities or obligations of the Company or any of the
Subsidiaries (contingent or otherwise);
- 29 -
(v) no material amount of the assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries
shall have been pledged or mortgaged, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; (vi) no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in
equity, shall have been pending or threatened (or circumstances giving rise to
same) against the Company, or any of the Subsidiaries, or affecting any of its
properties or business before or by any court or federal, state or foreign
commission, board or other administrative agency wherein an unfavorable
decision, ruling or finding may adversely affect the business, operations,
prospects or financial condition or income of the Company, or any of the
Subsidiaries, except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus;
and (vii) no stop order shall have been issued under the Act and no proceedings
therefor shall have been initiated, threatened or contemplated by the
Commission.
h. At each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if
any, the Underwriters shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by
the principal executive officer and by the chief financial or chief accounting
officer of the Company, dated the Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the
case may be, to the effect that each of such persons has carefully examined the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus and this Agreement, and that:
i. The representations and warranties of the Company in this
Agreement are true and correct, as if made on and as of the Closing Date
or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and the Company has
complied with all agreements and covenants and satisfied all conditions
contained in this Agreement on its part to be performed or satisfied at
or prior to such Closing Date or Option Closing Date, as the case may
be;
ii. No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any part thereof has been issued, and no proceedings for
that purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the best of each
of such person's knowledge, after due inquiry, are contemplated or
threatened under the Act;
iii. The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and, if any,
each amendment and each supplement thereto, contain all statements and
information required to be included therein, and none of the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus nor any amendment or supplement
thereto includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to
state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading and neither the Preliminary Prospectus or
any supplement thereto included any untrue statement of a material fact
or omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; and
iv. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, (a) neither the
Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has incurred up to and including the
Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, other than
in the ordinary course of its business, any material liabilities or
obligations, direct or contingent; (b) neither the Company nor any of
the Subsidiaries has paid or declared any dividends or other
distributions on its capital stock; (c) neither the Company nor any of
the Subsidiaries has entered into any transactions not
- 30 -
in the ordinary course of business; (d) there has not been any change in
the capital stock or long-term debt or any increase in the short-term
borrowings (other than any increase in the short-term borrowings in the
ordinary course of business) of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries;
(e) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries has sustained any
loss or damage to its property or assets, whether or not insured; (f)
there is no litigation which is pending or threatened (or circumstances
giving rise to same) against the Company or any affiliated party of any
of the foregoing which is required to be set forth in an amended or
supplemented Prospectus which has not been set forth; and (g) there has
occurred no event required to be set forth in an amended or supplemented
Prospectus which has not been set forth.
References to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus in this subsection
(j) are to such documents as amended and supplemented at the date of such
certificate.
i. By the Closing Date, the Underwriters will have received
clearance from the NASD as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to
the Underwriters, as described in the Registration Statement.
j. At the time this Agreement is executed, the Underwriters shall
have received a letter, dated such date, addressed to the Underwriters in form
and substance satisfactory (including the non-material nature of the changes or
decreases, if any, referred to in clause (iii) below) in all respects to the
Underwriters and Underwriters' Counsel, from Deloitte & Touche LLP:
i. confirming that they are independent certified public
accountants with respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act
and the applicable Rules and Regulations;
ii. stating that it is their opinion that the financial statements
and supporting schedules of the Company included in the Registration
Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
accounting requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations
thereunder and that the Representatives may rely upon their opinion with
respect to the financial statements and supporting schedules included in
the Registration Statement;
iii. stating that, on the basis of a limited review which included
a reading of the latest available unaudited consolidated interim
financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries, a reading of
the latest available minutes of the stockholders and board of directors
and the various committees of the boards of directors of the Company,
consultations with officers and other employees of the Company and the
Subsidiaries, responsible for financial and accounting matters and other
specified procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention
which would lead them to believe that (A) the unaudited consolidated
financial statements and supporting schedules of the Company and the
Subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement do not comply as to
form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and the Rules and Regulations or are not fairly
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited
- 31 -
consolidated financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries
included in the Registration Statement, or (B) at a specified date not
more than five (5) days prior to the effective date of the Registration
Statement, there has been any change in the capital stock or long-term
debt of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or any decrease in the
stockholders' equity or net current assets or net assets of the Company
or any of the Subsidiaries as compared with amounts shown in the
December 27, 1996 balance sheet included in the Registration Statement,
other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration
Statement, or, if there was any change or decrease, setting forth the
amount of such change or decrease, and (C) during the period from
December 27, 1996 to a specified date not more than five (5) days prior
to the effective date of the Registration Statement, there was any
decrease in net revenues, net earnings or increase in net earnings per
common share of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries, in each case as
compared with the corresponding period beginning December 30, 1995,
other than as set forth in or contemplated by the Registration
Statement, or, if there was any such decrease, setting forth the amount
of such decrease;
iv. setting forth, at a date not later than five (5) days prior to
the date of the Registration Statement, the amount of liabilities of the
Company and the Subsidiaries (including a break-down of commercial paper
and notes payable to banks);
v. stating that they have compared specific dollar amounts,
numbers of shares, percentages of revenues and earnings, statements and
other financial information pertaining to the Company and the
Subsidiaries set forth in the Prospectus in each case to the extent that
such amounts, numbers, percentages, statements and information may be
derived from the general accounting records, including work sheets, of
the Company and the Subsidiaries and excluding any questions requiring
an interpretation by legal counsel, with the results obtained from the
application of specified readings, inquiries and other appropriate
procedures (which procedures do not constitute an examination in
accordance with generally accepted auditing standards) set forth in the
letter and found them to be in agreement; and
vi. statements as to such other matters incident to the
transaction contemplated hereby as the Representatives may request.
k. At the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if any, the
Underwriters shall have received from Deloitte & Touche LLP a letter, dated as
of the Closing Date or the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, to the
effect that they reaffirm that statements made in the letter furnished pursuant
to SUBSECTION (j) of this Section, except that the specified date referred to
shall be a date not more than five days prior to the Closing Date or the Option
Closing Date, as the case may be, and, if the Company has elected to rely on
Rule 430A of the Rules and Regulations, to the further effect that they have
carried out procedures as specified in clause (v) of SUBSECTION (j) of this
Section with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial information
as specified by the Representatives and deemed to be a part of the Registration
Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b) and have found such amounts, percentages and
financial information to be in agreement with the records specified in such
clause (v).
- 32 -
l. On each of the Closing Date and each Option Closing Date, if
any, there shall have been duly tendered to the Representatives for the several
Underwriters' accounts the appropriate number of Firm Securities and Option
Securities.
m. No order suspending the sale of the Firm Securities and Option
Securities in any jurisdiction designated by the Representatives pursuant to
subsection (e) of SECTION 4 hereof shall have been issued on either the Closing
Date or the Option Closing Date, if any, and no proceedings for that purpose
shall have been instituted or shall be contemplated.
n. On or before the Closing Date, the Company shall have executed
and delivered to the Representatives, (i) the Representatives' Warrant Agreement
substantially in the form filed as Exhibit [___] to the Registration Statement
in final form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives, and (ii) the
Representatives' Warrants in such denominations and to such designees as shall
have been provided to the Company.
o. On or before the Closing Date, the Firm Securities and Option
Securities shall have been duly approved for quotation on Nasdaq, subject to
official notice of issuance.
p. On or before the Closing Date, there shall have been delivered
to the Representatives all of the Lock-up Agreements, in form and substance
satisfactory to Underwriters' Counsel.
If any condition to the Underwriters' obligations hereunder to be
fulfilled prior to or at the Closing Date or the relevant Option Closing Date,
as the case may be, is not so fulfilled, the Representatives may terminate this
Agreement or, if the Representatives so elect, they may waive any such
conditions which have not been fulfilled or extend the time for their
fulfillment.
7. INDEMNIFICATION.
a. The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each of the
Underwriters (for purposes of this SECTION 7 "Underwriter" shall include the
officers, directors, partners, employees, agents and counsel of the Underwriter,
including specifically each person who may be substituted for an Underwriter as
provided in SECTION 11 hereof), and each person, if any, who controls the
Underwriter ("controlling person") within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act
or Section 20(a) of the Exchange Act, from and against any and all losses,
claims, damages, expenses or liabilities, joint or several (and actions in
respect thereof), whatsoever (including but not limited to any and all expenses
whatsoever reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against
any litigation, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever), as such are
incurred, to which the Underwriter or such controlling person may become subject
under the Act, the Exchange Act or any other statute or at common law or
otherwise or under the laws of foreign countries, arising out of or based upon
(A) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
contained (i) in any Preliminary Prospectus, the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus (as from time to time amended and supplemented); (ii) in any
post-effective amendment or amendments or any new registration statement and
prospectus in which is included securities of the Company issued or issuable
upon exercise of the Securities; or (iii) in any application or other document
or written communication
- 33 -
(in this SECTION 7 collectively called "application") executed by the Company or
based upon written information furnished by the Company in any jurisdiction in
order to qualify the Securities under the securities laws thereof or filed with
the Commission, any state securities commission or agency, Nasdaq or any other
securities exchange; (B) the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made) or (C) any breach of any
representation, warranty, covenant or agreement of the Company contained herein
or in any certificate by or on behalf of the Company and/or any of its officers
delivered pursuant hereto, unless, in the case of clause (A) or (B) above, such
statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in strict conformity with
written information furnished to the Company with respect to any Underwriter by
or on behalf of such Underwriter expressly for use in any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus, or any amendment thereof
or supplement thereto, or in any application, as the case may be.
The indemnity agreement in this subsection (a) shall be in addition to
any liability which the Company may have at common law or otherwise.
b. Each of the Underwriters agrees severally, but not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, each of its directors, each of its
officers who has signed the Registration Statement, and each other person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act, to the same extent
as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to the Underwriters but only with
respect to statements or omissions, if any, made in any Preliminary Prospectus,
the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement
thereto or in any application made in reliance upon, and in strict conformity
with, written information furnished to the Company with respect to any
Underwriter by such Underwriter expressly for use in such Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus or any amendment thereof or
supplement thereto or in any such application, provided that such written
information or omissions only pertain to disclosures in the Preliminary
Prospectus, the Registration Statement or Prospectus directly relating to the
transactions effected by the Underwriters in connection with this Offering. The
Company acknowledges that the statements with respect to the public offering of
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities set forth under the heading
"Underwriting" and the stabilization legend in the Prospectus have been
furnished by the Underwriters expressly for use therein and constitute the only
information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the Underwriters for
inclusion in the Prospectus.
c. Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
SECTION 7 of notice of the commencement of any action, suit or proceeding, such
indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against one
or more indemnifying parties under this SECTION 7, notify each party against
whom indemnification is to be sought in writing of the commencement thereof (but
the failure so to notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any
liability which it may have under this SECTION 7 except to the extent that it
has been prejudiced in any material respect by such failure or from any
liability which it may have otherwise). In case any such action is brought
against any indemnified party, and it notifies an indemnifying party or parties
of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party or parties will be entitled
to participate therein, and to the extent it may elect by written notice
delivered to the indemnified
- 34 -
party promptly after receiving the aforesaid notice from such indemnified party,
to assume the defense thereof with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such
indemnified party. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the indemnified party or
parties shall have the right to employ its or their own counsel in any such case
but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of such
indemnified party or parties unless (i) the employment of such counsel shall
have been authorized in writing by the indemnifying parties in connection with
the defense of such action at the expense of the indemnifying party, (ii) the
indemnifying parties shall not have employed counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party to have charge of the defense of such action within a
reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action, or (iii) such
indemnified party or parties shall have reasonably concluded that there may be
defenses available to it or them which are different from or additional to those
available to one or all of the indemnifying parties (in which case the
indemnifying parties shall not have the right to direct the defense of such
action on behalf of the indemnified party or parties), in any of which events
such fees and expenses of one additional counsel shall be borne by the
indemnifying parties. In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for
fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel)
separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with
any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the same
jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.
Anything in this SECTION 7 to the contrary notwithstanding, an indemnifying
party shall not be liable for any settlement of any claim or action effected
without its written consent; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such consent was not
unreasonably withheld. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written
consent of the indemnified parties, settle, compromise or consent to the entry
of any judgment with respect to any pending or threatened claim, action, suit or
proceeding in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought
hereunder (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential
parties to such claim or action), unless such settlement, compromise or consent
(i) includes an unconditional release of each indemnified party from all
liability arising out of such claim, 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.
d. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution in any
case in which (i) an indemnified party makes claim for indemnification pursuant
to this SECTION 7, but it is judicially determined (by the entry of a final
judgment or decree by a court of competent jurisdiction and the expiration of
time to appeal or the denial of the last right of appeal) that such
indemnification may not be enforced in such case notwithstanding the fact that
the express provisions of this SECTION 7 provide for indemnification in such
case, or (ii) contribution under the Act may be required on the part of any
indemnified party, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount
paid as a result of such losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or
actions in respect thereof) (A) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
the relative benefits received by each of the contributing parties, on the one
hand, and the party to be indemnified on the other hand, from the offering of
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities or (B) if the allocation provided
by clause (A) above is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of each of the contributing parties, on the
one hand, and the party to be indemnified on the other hand in connection with
the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
expenses or liabilities, as well as any other relevant equitable
- 35 -
considerations. In any case where the Company is the contributing party and the
Underwriters are the indemnified party, the relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand, and the Underwriters, on the other, shall be deemed to
be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering of the
Firm Securities and the Option Securities (before deducting expenses) bear to
the total underwriting discounts received by the Underwriters hereunder, in each
case as set forth in the table on the Cover Page of the Prospectus. 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, or by the Underwriters, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue
statement or omission. The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a
result of the losses, claims, damages, expenses or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) referred to above in this subdivision (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subdivision (d) the Underwriters shall
not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the underwriting discount
applicable to the Firm Securities and the Option Securities purchased by the
Underwriters hereunder. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this SECTION 7, each person, if any, who controls the Company within the
meaning of the Act, each officer of the Company who has signed the Registration
Statement, and each director of the Company shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company, subject in each case to this subparagraph (d). Any
party entitled to contribution will, promptly after receipt of notice of
commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against such party in respect to
which a claim for contribution may be made against another party or parties
under this subparagraph (d), notify such party or parties from whom contribution
may be sought, but the omission so to notify such party or parties shall not
relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be sought from any
obligation it or they may have hereunder or otherwise than under this
subparagraph (d), or to the extent that such party or parties were not adversely
affected by such omission. The contribution agreement set forth above shall be
in addition to any liabilities which any indemnifying party may have at common
law or otherwise.
8. REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. All
representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or
contained in certificates of officers of the Company submitted pursuant hereto,
shall be deemed to be representations, warranties and agreements at the Closing
Date and the Option Closing Date, as the case may be, and such representations,
warranties and agreements of the Company and the indemnity agreements contained
in SECTION 7 hereof, shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, the
Company, any controlling person of any Underwriter or the Company, and shall
survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and delivery of the
Securities to the Underwriters and the Representatives, as the case may be.
- 36 -
9. EFFECTIVE DATE.
a. This Agreement shall become effective at 10:00 a.m., New York
City time, on the next full business day following the date hereof, or at such
earlier time after the Registration Statement becomes effective as the
Representatives in their discretion, shall release the Securities for sale to
the public; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the provisions of SECTIONS 5, 7 and 10 of
this Agreement shall at all times be effective. For purposes of this SECTION 9,
the Firm Securities and the Option Securities to be purchased hereunder shall be
deemed to have been so released upon the earlier of dispatch by the
Representatives of telegrams to securities dealers releasing such shares for
offering or the release by the Representatives for publication of the first
newspaper advertisement which is subsequently published relating to the Firm
Securities and the Option Securities.
10. TERMINATION.
a. Subject to SUBSECTION (b) of this SECTION 10, the
Representatives shall have the right to terminate this Agreement, (i) if any
domestic or international event or act or occurrence has materially adversely
disrupted, or in the Representatives' opinion will in the immediate future
materially adversely disrupt, the financial markets; or (ii) if any material
adverse change in the financial markets shall have occurred; or (iii) if trading
generally shall have been suspended or materially limited on or by, as the case
may be, any of the New York Stock Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, the
NASD, the Boston Stock Exchange, the Commission or any other governmental
authority having jurisdiction over such matters; or (iv) if trading of any of
the securities of the Company shall have been suspended, or any of the
securities of the Company shall have been delisted, on any exchange or in any
over-the-counter market; or (v) if the United States shall have become involved
in a war or major hostilities, or if there shall have been an escalation in an
existing war or major hostilities or a national emergency shall have been
declared in the United States; or (vi) if a banking moratorium has been declared
by a state or federal authority; or (vii) if a moratorium in foreign exchange
trading has been declared; or (viii) if the Company shall have sustained a loss
material or substantial to the Company by fire, flood, accident, hurricane,
earthquake, theft, sabotage or other calamity or malicious act which, whether or
not such loss shall have been insured, will, in the Representatives' opinion,
make it inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the
Securities; or (ix) if there shall have been such a material adverse change in
the conditions or prospects of the Company, or such material adverse change in
the general market, political or economic conditions, in the United States or
elsewhere, that, in each case, in the Representatives' judgment, would make it
inadvisable to proceed with the offering, sale and/or delivery of the Securities
or (x) if any of Xxxx X. Xxxxx or Xxxxxxx X. Xxx shall no longer serve the
Company in their present capacity.
b. If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in
accordance with the provisions of SECTION 10(a) the Company shall promptly
reimburse and indemnify the Representatives for all of their actual
out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Underwriters (less amounts previously paid pursuant to SECTION 5(c) above).
Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, if this
Agreement shall not be carried out within the time specified herein, or any
extension thereof
- 37 -
granted to the Representatives, by reason of any failure on the part of the
Company to perform any undertaking or satisfy any condition of this Agreement by
it to be performed or satisfied (including, without limitation, pursuant to
SECTION 6 or SECTION 12) then, the Company shall promptly reimburse and
indemnify the Representatives for all of their actual out-of-pocket expenses,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters (less
amounts previously paid pursuant to SECTION 5(c) above). In addition, the
Company shall remain liable for all Blue Sky counsel fees and disbursements,
expenses and filing fees (such Blue Sky counsel fees not to exceed $35,000).
Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this Agreement, any election
hereunder or any termination of this Agreement (including, without limitation,
pursuant to SECTIONS 6, 10, 11 and 12 hereof), and whether or not this Agreement
is otherwise carried out, the provisions of SECTION 5 and SECTION 7 shall not be
in any way affected by such election or termination or failure to carry out the
terms of this Agreement or any part hereof.
11. SUBSTITUTION OF THE UNDERWRITERS. If one or more of the Underwriters
shall fail (otherwise than for a reason sufficient to justify the termination of
this Agreement under the provisions of SECTION 6, SECTION 10 or SECTION 12
hereof) to purchase the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase on
such date under this Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representatives
shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangement for one or
more of the non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase
all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may
be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the
Representatives shall not have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour
period, then:
(a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of
the total number of Firm Securities to be purchased on such date, the
non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated to purchase the full
amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting
obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all
non-defaulting Underwriters, or
(b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the total
number of Firm Securities, this Agreement shall terminate without
liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriters (or, if such
default shall occur with respect to any Option Securities to be
purchased on an Option Closing Date, the Underwriters may at the
Representatives' option, by notice from the Representatives to the
Company, terminate the Underwriters' obligation to purchase Option
Securities from the Company on such date).
No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default by such Underwriter under
this Agreement.
In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination
of this Agreement, the Representatives shall have the right to postpone the
Closing Date for a period not exceeding seven days in order to effect any
required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements.
- 38 -
12. DEFAULT BY THE COMPANY. If the Company shall fail at the Closing
Date or at any Option Closing Date, as applicable, to sell and deliver the
number of Securities which it is obligated to sell hereunder on such date, then
this Agreement shall terminate (or, if such default shall occur with respect to
any Option Securities to be purchased on an Option Closing Date, the
Underwriters may at the Representatives' option, by notice from the
Representatives to the Company, terminate the Underwriters' obligation to
purchase Option Securities from the Company on such date) without any liability
on the part of any non-defaulting party other than pursuant to SECTION 5,
SECTION 7 and SECTION 10 hereof. No action taken pursuant to this Section shall
relieve the Company from liability, if any, in respect of such default.
13. NOTICES. All notices and communications hereunder, except as
herein otherwise specifically provided, shall be in writing and shall be deemed
to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard form of
telecommunication. Notices to the Underwriters shall be directed to the
Representatives c/o X. X. Xxxxxx & Co., Inc., 0000 Xx. Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxx,
Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx X. Xxxxxxx, with a copy to Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxxxxx LLP, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxxx
X. Xxxxxx, Esq. Notices to the Company shall be directed to the Company at 0
Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxx, Xxxxxxxxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxx X.
Xxxxx, Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer, with a copy to Broad
and Xxxxxx, 000 Xxxxx Xxxxxxxx Xxxxxxxxx, Xxxxx 0000, Xxxxx, Xxxxxxx 00000,
Attention: A. Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx, P.A.
14. PARTIES. This Agreement shall inure solely to the benefit of and
shall be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and the controlling persons,
directors and officers referred to in SECTION 7 hereof, and their respective
successors, legal representatives and assigns, and no other person shall have or
be construed to have any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of or by virtue of this Agreement or any provisions herein contained. No
purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor
by reason merely of such purchase.
15. CONSTRUCTION. This Agreement shall be governed by and construed
and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of New York without giving
effect to the choice of law or conflict of laws principles.
16. COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of
counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which
taken together shall be deemed to be one and the same instrument.
17. ENTIRE AGREEMENT; AMENDMENTS. This Agreement and the
Representatives' Warrant Agreement constitute the entire agreement of the
parties hereto and supersede all prior written or oral agreements,
understandings and negotiations with respect to the subject matter hereof. This
Agreement may not be amended except in a writing, signed by the Representatives
and the Company.
- 39 -
If the foregoing correctly sets forth the understanding between the
Underwriters and the Company, please so indicate in the space provided below for
that purpose, whereupon this letter shall constitute a binding agreement among
us.
Very truly yours,
ASD GROUP, INC.
By:
--------------------------
Xxxx X. Xxxxx
Chairman of the Board and
Chief Executive Officer
Confirmed and accepted as of
the date first above written.
X. X. XXXXXX & CO., INC.
XXXXX SECURITIES CO., INC.
For itself and as Representatives
of the several Underwriters named
in Schedule A hereto.
By: X. X. Xxxxxx & Co., Inc.
By:
------------------------------
Name:
Title:
- 40 -
SCHEDULE A
NUMBER OF SHARES
NAME OF UNDERWRITERS TO BE PURCHASED
-------------------- -----------------
X. X. Xxxxxx & Co., Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Xxxxx Securities Co., Inc.
---------
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1,400,000
=========
- 41 -
