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NORDIC EQUITY PARTNERS CORP.
UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
New York, New York
____________, 1997
Xxxxx Xxxx & Co., Inc.
000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, 0xx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
X.X. Xxxxxxx & Co., Inc.
Xxx Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx
Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000
809-5800
Dear Sirs:
The undersigned, Nordic Equity Partners Corp., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), hereby confirms its agreement with Xxxxx Xxxx &
Co., Inc. ("Xxxxx Xxxx" or the "Representative") and X.X. Xxxxxxx & Co., Inc.
("Xxxxxxx;" Xxxxx Xxxx and Xxxxxxx collectively being referred to herein
alternatively as "you" or the "Underwriters"), as follows:
1. INTRODUCTION. The Company and certain Selling Stockholders
propose to issue and sell to the Underwriters, severally and not jointly, in the
respective amounts set forth opposite their names on Schedule I hereto, an
aggregate of 875,000 shares of common stock, $.0001 par value (the "Common
Stock") of the Company (775,000 shares by the Company and 100,000 shares by the
Selling Stockholders), and the Company proposes to issue and sell to the
Underwriters, severally and not jointly, in the respective amounts set forth the
respective amounts set forth opposite their names on Schedule I hereto,
1,750,000 redeemable warrants, each exercisable to purchase one share of Common
Stock (the "Redeemable Warrants"). The shares of Common Stock and
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Redeemable Warrants are hereinafter referred to as the "Firm Securities." Upon
your request, as provided in Section 3 of this Agreement, the Company shall also
issue and sell to you up to an additional 131,250 shares of Common Stock and/or
262,500 Redeemable Warrants for the purpose of covering over-allotments in the
sale of the Firm Securities (the "Over-allotment Option"). Such additional
securities are hereinafter referred to as the "Option Securities." The Firm
Securities and the Option Securities are hereinafter sometimes referred to
collectively as the "Securities." The Company also proposes to issue and sell to
you, pursuant to the terms of the warrant agreement, dated ___________, 1997
between you and the Company (the "Underwriters' Warrant Agreement"), warrants
(the "Underwriters' Warrants") to purchase up to 87,500 shares of Common Stock
and/or 175,000 Redeemable Warrants. The Underwriters' Warrants shall be
exercisable during the four (4) year period commencing one (1) year from the
date of the Prospectus (as defined in Section 2(a) hereof) at a price of $8.40
per Share and $.18 per Redeemable Warrant, subject to adjustment in certain
events to protect against dilution. The Securities issuable upon exercise of the
Underwriters' Warrants are hereinafter sometimes referred to as the
"Underwriters' Securities." The Securities, the Underwriters' Warrants and the
Underwriters' Securities are more fully described in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus referred to below.
2. REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES OF THE COMPANY. The Company
represents and warrants to the Underwriters as of the date hereof that:
a. The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") a registration statement (the "Registration Statement"), and
an amendment or amendments thereto, on Form S-1 (No. 333-12841), including any
related preliminary prospectus (the "Preliminary Prospectus"), for the
registration of the Securities and the Underwriters' 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 promulgated under the Act. Before the Registration Statement
becomes effective, the Company will not file any amendment to such Registration
Statement to which you shall have reasonably objected 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 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
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Rule 424(b) of the Regulations (or included in the Registration Statement, if no
filing under Rule 424 is required), is hereinafter called the "Prospectus."
b. On the date upon which the Registration Statement is declared
effective by the Commission (the "Effective Date") and at all times subsequent
thereto up to Closing Date I and Closing Date II, if any (as such terms are
defined in Section 3(d) hereof), the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
will comply in all material respects with the applicable provisions of the Act
and the 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. The representation and warranty made in
this Section 2(b) does not apply to statements made or statements omitted in
reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by the Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement or
Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto.
c. This Agreement, the Underwriters' Warrant Agreement and the
Financial Advisory and Investment Banking Agreement (as defined in Section 5(s)
hereof), have been duly and validly authorized by the Company, and this
Agreement constitutes, and the Public Warrant Agreement, the Underwriters'
Warrant Agreement and the Financial Advisory and Investment Banking Agreement,
when executed and delivered pursuant to this Agreement, will (assuming due
execution by the Underwriters) each constitute a valid and binding agreement of
the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its respective
terms, except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any
indemnification, contribution or exculpation provision may be limited under
applicable Federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of
specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be
subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before
which any proceeding therefor may be brought. The Securities and the
Underwriters' Warrants to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant to this
Agreement, the Underwriters' Securities issuable upon exercise of the
Underwriters' Warrants and payment therefor, have been duly authorized and, when
issued and paid for, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable; the
holders thereof are not and will not be subject to personal liability by reason
of being such holders; the Securities, the Underwriters' Warrants and the
Underwriters' Securities are not and will not be subject to the preemptive
rights of any holders of any security of the Company or similar contractual
rights granted by the Company; and all corporate action required to be taken for
the authorization,
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issuance and sale of the Securities, the Underwriters' Warrants and the
Underwriters' Securities has been duly and validly taken. The Underwriters'
Warrants constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable
in accordance with its terms, to issue and sell, upon exercise in accordance
with the terms thereof, the number and type of the Company's securities called
for thereby; except (i) as such enforceability may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium, fraudulent conveyance or similar laws
affecting creditors' rights generally, (ii) as enforceability of any
indemnification, contribution or exculpation provision may be limited under
applicable Federal and state securities laws, and (iii) that the remedy of
specific performance and injunctive and other forms of equitable relief may be
subject to the equitable defenses and to the discretion of the court before
which any proceeding therefor may be brought.
d. All issued and outstanding securities of the Company have been
duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable; the
issuances and sales of all such securities complied in all material respects
with applicable Federal and state securities laws; 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.
e. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus, the Company 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, respectively, free and clear of
all liens, encumbrances, claims, security interests, defects and restrictions of
any material nature whatsoever, other than those referred to in the Prospectus
and liens for taxes not yet due and payable.
f. There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry, investigation,
litigation or governmental proceeding pending or to the knowledge of the Company
or the Company's subsidiaries (the "Subsidiaries") threatened against, or
involving the properties or business of the Company which if adversely
determined could reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the
financial position, or prospects, or business of the Company or its
Subsidiaries, except as referred to in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus.
g. All contracts and other documents required to be described in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement have been described in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or filed with the Commission as Exhibits to the Registration
Statement, as required.
h. The financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries,
together with the related notes, included in the
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Registration Statement and Prospectus fairly present the financial position and
the results of operations of the Company, at the dates and for the periods to
which they apply; and such financial statements have been prepared in conformity
with generally accepted accounting principles, consistently applied throughout
the periods involved. There has been no material adverse change in financial
condition or results of operations of the Company, or to the knowledge of the
Company, any development involving a prospective change in the condition or
prospects of the Company, financial or otherwise, since the date of the
financial statements included in the Prospectus, except as disclosed therein.
x. XxXxxxx & Co., P.C., whose reports are filed with the Commission
as a part of the Registration Statement, are independent accountants as required
by the Act and the Regulations.
j. Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, the Company does
not own, directly or indirectly, an interest in any corporation, partnership,
joint venture, trust or other business entity. The Company and each Subsidiary
is duly qualified and licensed and in good standing as a foreign corporation in
each jurisdiction in which its operations require such qualification or
licensing, except where the failure to be so qualified or licensed would not
have a material adverse affect on the Company. The Company and each Subsidiary
has all requisite corporate power and authority, and all necessary material
authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits of and
from all governmental regulatory officials and bodies, to own or lease its
properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus. The Company
and each Subsidiary is and has been doing business in compliance with all such
material authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses, certificates and permits
and with all applicable Federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations,
including but not limited to laws and regulations relating to environmental
matters and employee health and safety matters, except where non-compliance
would not have a material adverse effect on the Company or any Subsidiary, and
none of the aforementioned authorizations, approvals, orders, licenses,
certificates or permits have been suspended or revoked, nor to the knowledge of
the Company are there any proceedings pending or threatened which could result
in a suspension or revocation thereof. The Company has all requisite corporate
power and authority to enter into this Agreement, the Underwriters' Warrant
Agreement and the Financial Advisory and Investment Banking Agreement and to
carry out the provisions and conditions hereof and thereof, and all consents,
authorizations, approvals and orders required in connection therewith have been
obtained. No consent, authorization or order of, and no filing with, any court,
government agency or other body is required for the issuance of the Securities
and the Underwriters' Securities, pursuant to this Agreement and the
Underwriters' Warrant Agreement, and as contemplated by the Prospectus, except
with respect to applicable Federal and state securities laws.
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k. The outstanding debt, the property and the business of the
Company conforms in all material respects to the descriptions thereof contained
in the Registration Statement and Prospectus.
l. The Securities, the Underwriters' Warrants, the Underwriters'
Securities and any other securities issued or to be issued by the Company on or
before the Closing Dates (as defined in Section 3(d) hereof) described herein
conform, or will conform when issued, in all material respects to all statements
with respect thereto contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.
m. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus,
no material default exists in the due performance and observance of any term,
covenant or condition of any license, contract, indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, 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 is a party or by which the Company may be bound
or to which any of the property or assets of the Company are subject which
default would reasonably be expected to have a materially adverse effect on the
financial condition or business of the Company.
n. The Company and the Subsidiaries are not in violation of any term
or provision of their respective Certificates of Incorporation or By-Laws.
Neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement, nor the issuance and sale
of the shares of Common Stock, the Redeemable Warrants, the Underwriters'
Warrants and the Underwriters' Securities, nor the consummation of any of the
transactions contemplated herein, nor the compliance by the Company with the
terms and provisions hereof has materially conflicted with or will materially
conflict with, or has resulted in or will result in a material breach of, any of
the terms and provisions of, or has constituted or will constitute a material
default under, or has resulted in or will result in the creation or imposition
of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon the property or assets of the Company or
its Subsidiaries pursuant to the terms of any indenture, mortgage, deed of
trust, 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 Subsidiary is a party, or by which the
Company is or may be bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the
Company or any Subsidiary is subject; nor will such action result in any
material violation of the provisions of the Certificates of Incorporation or the
By-Laws of the Company or the Subsidiaries or any contract or agreement, or any
statute or any order, rule or regulation applicable to the Company or the
Subsidiaries or any other regulatory authority or other governmental body having
jurisdiction over the Company or the Subsidiaries.
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o. Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and Prospectus,
all taxes which are due and payable from the Company or any Subsidiary have been
paid in full, unless being contested in good faith by the Company or any
Subsidiary, and the Company or any Subsidiary does not have any tax deficiency
or claim outstanding, proposed or assessed against it.
p. Subsequent to the respective dates as of which information is
given in the most recently circulated Preliminary Prospectus included as a part
of the Registration Statement, and except as may otherwise be indicated or
contemplated herein or therein, (i) the Company has not issued any securities,
(ii) declared or paid any dividend or made any other distribution on or in
respect to its capital stock; (iii) incurred any material liability or
obligation, direct or contingent, for borrowed money; or (iv) entered into any
transaction other than in the ordinary course of business.
q. To the Company's knowledge, the Commission has not issued any
order preventing or suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or part
thereof.
r. On the Effective Date, (i) the authorization of capital stock of
the Company is as set forth in the Registration Statement, and (ii) not more
than an aggregate of 2,400,000 shares of Common Stock shall be issued and
outstanding excluding: (A) the 1,750,000 shares of Common Stock issuable upon
the exercise of the Redeemable Warrants; (B) up to an additional 131,250 shares
of Common Stock issuable upon the exercise of the Over-allotment Option or the
262,500 shares issuable upon the exercise of the Redeemable Warrants issuable
upon the exercise of the Over-allotment Option; (C) the 87,500 shares issuable
upon exercise of the Underwriters' Warrants or the 175,000 shares issuable upon
exercise of the Redeemable Warrants issuable upon the exercise of the
Underwriters' Warrant (which warrants are identical to the Redeemable Warrants);
and (D) up to 250,000 shares of Common Stock reserved for issuance pursuant to
the Company's 1996 Stock Option Plan (the "Stock Option Plan"). Other than the
shares of Common Stock already issued (within the meaning of the immediately
preceding sentence), the Securities, the Underwriters' Warrants and the
Underwriters' Securities to be offered in or in connection with the public
offering, no other shares of capital stock or securities convertible into
capital stock shall be outstanding or reserved for issuance at the completion of
the proposed public offering without the consent of the Underwriters.
Notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, the Company shall be
authorized to issue options to purchase up to 250,000 shares of Common Stock
pursuant to the Company's Stock Option Plan.
s. Except for the registration rights granted under the
Underwriters' Warrant Agreement, to the Selling Stockholders named in the
Registration Statement, if any, or as disclosed in the
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Prospectus, no holders of any securities of the Company or of any options,
warrants or convertible or exchangeable securities of the Company exercisable
for or convertible or exchangeable for 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.
t. Assuming that there will be two "market makers" for the Common
Stock, at least 300 beneficial owners of the Common Stock and a sufficient
"public float" of the Shares, and that the Company's registration of the Common
Stock pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act") becomes effective (all as contemplated by the requirements of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.), the Common Stock is eligible for
quotation on the Nasdaq Stock Market ("Nasdaq"). The Company has filed a
registration statement with the Commission pursuant to Section 12(g) of the
Exchange Act, and has used its best efforts to have the same declared effective
by the Commission on an accelerated basis on the Effective Date.
u. Except as described in the Prospectus, to the Company's
knowledge, 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 any other arrangements,
agreements, understandings, commitments, payments or issuances of securities
with respect to the Company that may affect the Underwriters' compensation, as
determined by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD").
v. Neither the Company, nor, to the knowledge of the Company, any of
its employees or officers or directors, agents or any other person acting on
behalf of the Company 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, supplier, or official or governmental agency 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 assist it in
connection with any actual or proposed transaction) which (i) could reasonably
be expected to subject the Company to any material damage or penalty in any
civil, criminal or governmental litigation or proceeding, (ii) if not given in
the past, could reasonably be expected to have had a materially adverse effect
on the assets, business or operations of the Company as reflected in any of the
financial statements contained in the Prospectus, or (iii) if not continued in
the future, could reasonably be expected to materially adversely affect the
assets, business, operations or prospects of the Company.
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w. The Company owns or possesses the requisite licenses or rights to
use all trademarks, service marks, service names, trade names, patents and
patent applications, copyrights, methods, protocols, techniques, technologies,
procedures and other rights (collectively the "Intangibles") described as owned
or used by the Company in the Registration Statement. To the Company's
knowledge, there is no claim, action or proceeding by any person, pending or
threatened, which pertains to or challenges the rights of the Company with
respect to any Intangibles used in the conduct of the business of the Company,
except as described in the Prospectus. To the Company's knowledge, current
products, services and processes of the Company and the Subsidiaries do not
infringe on any Intangibles held by any third party.
x. Except as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Company is
not under any obligation to pay royalties or fees of any kind whatsoever to any
third party with respect to Intangibles it has developed, uses, employs or
intends to use or employ.
y. The Company has generally enjoyed satisfactory employer/employee
relationships with its employees and is in material compliance in all material
respects with all Federal, state and local laws and regulations respecting the
employment of their respective employees and employment practices, terms and
conditions of employment and wages and hours relating thereto. To the Company's
knowledge, there are no material pending or threatened investigations involving
the Company by the U.S. Department of Labor or corresponding foreign agency, or
any other governmental agency responsible for the enforcement of such Federal,
state or local laws and regulations. To the Company's knowledge, there is no
unfair labor practice charge or complaint against the Company pending before the
National Labor Relations Board or corresponding foreign agency or any strike,
picketing, boycott, dispute, slowdown or stoppage pending or threatened against
or involving the Company, or any predecessor entity, and none has occurred. No
representation question exists respecting the employees of the Company. No
collective bargaining agreement or modification thereof is currently in effect
or being negotiated by the Company and its employees. No grievance or
arbitration proceeding is pending under any expired or existing collective
bargaining agreements of the Company.
aa. Neither the Company, nor, to the Company's knowledge, any of its
officers or directors or any of its employees or stockholders, have taken,
directly or indirectly, any action designed to or which has constituted or which
could reasonably 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.
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ab. The Company does not maintain nor has it maintained, sponsored
or contributed 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"), except for the Stock Option Plan described in the Prospectus. The
Company neither presently maintains or contributes or at any time in the past,
maintained or contributed to a defined benefit plan, as defined in Section 3(35)
of ERISA. The Company has never completely or partially withdrawn from a
"multiemployer plan."
ac. Except as set forth in the Prospectus under "MANAGEMENT" or
"CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS," the Company is not a party to any agreement with any
officer, director or stockholder of the Company or any subsidiary or any
affiliate or associate of any such person or entity which is required to be
disclosed in the Prospectus pursuant to Regulation SK. Except as set forth in
the Prospectus, to the Company's knowledge, no officer, director or stockholder
of the Company or any "affiliate" or "associate" (as these terms are defined in
Rule 405 promulgated under the Regulations) of any such person or entity or the
Company or the Subsidiaries, 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 proposed to be furnished or sold by
the Company, or (B) purchases from or sells or furnishes to the Company any
goods or services, or (ii) a beneficial interest in any contract or agreement to
which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound or affected.
ad. The minute books of the Company have been made available to
counsel to the Underwriters and contain all available minutes of meetings and
actions by unanimous consent of directors and stockholders since the time of
incorporation and reflect all transactions referred to in such minutes
accurately in all material respects.
ae. The statements in the Prospectus under "RISK FACTORS,"
"BUSINESS," "CERTAIN TRANSACTIONS," "MANAGEMENT" and "DESCRIPTION OF
SECURITIES," insofar as they refer to statements of law, descriptions of
statutes, licenses, rules or regulations or legal conclusions are correct in all
material aspects.
3. PURCHASE, SALE AND DELIVERY OF THE SECURITIES AND UNDERWRITERS'
WARRANTS.
a. On the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to the Underwriters 775,000 shares of Common Stock and 1,750,000
Redeemable Warrants, and the Selling Shareholders agree to sell to the
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Underwriters 100,000 shares of Common Stock and the Underwriters agree to
purchase from the Company and the Selling Shareholders such Securities on a firm
commitment basis at a purchase price of $6.30 per share of Common Stock and
$.135 per Redeemable Warrant, to be sold by the Underwriters at an initial
public offering price of $7.00 per share and $.15 per Redeemable Warrant.
b. In addition, upon not less than two (2) days' notice from the
Underwriters to the Company, for a period of forty-five (45) days from the date
of the Prospectus, the Company agrees to sell to the Underwriters at a purchase
price of $6.30 per share of Common Stock and $.135 per Redeemable Warrant, all
or any part of the Option Securities, to be sold by the Underwriters hereunder
at an initial public offering price of $7.00 per share of Common Stock and $.15
per Redeemable Warrant. Delivery of the Option Securities shall be made
concurrently with tender of payment therefore. Option Securities may be
purchased by the Underwriters only for the purpose of covering over-allotments
in the sale of the Firm Securities, and the Underwriters shall have no
obligation 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. On Closing Date I (defined below in Section 3(d)), the Company
shall issue and sell to the Underwriters, the Underwriters' Warrants, which
warrants shall entitle the holder thereof to purchase up to 87,500 shares of
Common Stock and/or 175,000 Redeemable Warrants. The total purchase price of the
Underwriters' Warrants shall be $10. The Underwriters' Warrants shall be
exercisable in whole or in part for up to an additional 175,000 shares of Common
Stock and/or 175,000 Redeemable Warrants for a period of four (4) years
commencing one (1) year from the date of the Prospectus at a price of $8.40 per
share and $.18 per Redeemable Warrant (120% of the initial public offering price
of the Securities). The Underwriters' Warrant Agreement and form of
Underwriters' Warrant Certificate shall be substantially in the form filed as
Exhibit ______ to the Registration Statement.
d. Payment for the Underwriters' Warrant shall be made on Closing
Date I. Payment for the Firm Securities and the Option Securities shall be made
on each of Closing Date I and Closing Date II, respectively, at the
Underwriters' election by certified or bank cashier's check in New York Clearing
House funds, payable to the order of the Company at the offices of the
Underwriters, or at such other place as agreed upon by the Underwriters and the
Company by wire transfer, upon delivery of certificates (in form and substance
reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters) representing the Securities or by
confirmation of electronic transfer of the Securities to the Underwriters for
the account of the Underwriters. Delivery and payment for the Firm Securities
shall be made at 10:00 A.M. New York time, on or before the fifth business day
following the public offering or at such
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earlier time as the Underwriters shall determine, or at such other time as shall
be agreed upon by the Underwriters and the Company. The hour and date of
delivery and payment for the Firm Securities are called "Closing Date I." The
Firm Securities shall be registered in such name or names and in such authorized
denominations as the Underwriters may request in writing at least two (2) full
business days prior to Closing Date I. The Company will permit the Underwriters
to examine and package any certificates representing the Firm Securities for
delivery, at least one (1) full business day prior to Closing Date I. Delivery
for each of the Option Securities as provided above shall be made within the two
(2) business day period after notice of exercise to the Company, and against
payment therefor, as provided above. The hour and date of such delivery and
payment made subsequent to Closing Date I for Option Securities is referred to
as "Closing Date II." The Option Securities shall be registered in such name or
names and in such denominations as the Underwriter may request in writing at the
time of exercise of the Over-allotment Option.
e. The Company shall not be obligated to sell or deliver any Firm
Securities except upon tender in U.S. Clearing House funds of payment by the
Underwriter for all the Firm Securities.
4. PUBLIC OFFERING. The Underwriters are to make a public offering of
the Firm Securities and such of the Option Securities as it may determine. The
Securities are to be initially offered to the public at the offering price set
forth on the cover page of the Prospectus (such price being hereinafter called
the "Public Offering Price"). The Underwriters may, at their own expense, enter
into one or more agreements as the Underwriters, in their sole discretion, deems
advisable, with one or more broker-dealers who shall act as dealers or
co-underwriters in connection with such public offering.
5. COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY. The Company covenants and agrees that it
will:
a. Use its best efforts to cause the Registration Statement to
become effective and will notify the Underwriters immediately, and confirm the
notice in writing, (i) when the Registration Statement and any post-effective
amendment thereto becomes effective, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of
any stop order or of the initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for
that purpose, (iii) of the issuance by any state securities commission of any
proceedings for the suspension of the qualification of the Securities and the
Underwriters' Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction or of the
initiation, or the threatening, of any proceeding for that purpose, and (iv) of
the receipt of any comments from the Commission. If the Commission or any state
securities commission shall enter a stop order or
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suspend such qualification at any time, the Company will make every reasonable
effort to obtain promptly the lifting of such order.
b. File the Prospectus (in form and substance reasonably
satisfactory to the Underwriters) or transmit the Prospectus by a means
reasonably calculated to result in filing with the Commission in accordance with
Rule 424, if the Prospectus is required to be so filed.
c. During the time when a prospectus is required to be delivered
under the Act, use all its reasonable best efforts to comply with all
requirements imposed upon it by the Act and the Exchange Act, as now and
hereafter amended, and by the Regulations, as from time to time in force, so far
as necessary to permit the continuance of sales of or dealings in the Securities
and the Underwriters' Securities in accordance with the provisions hereof and
the Prospectus. If at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities or
the Underwriters' 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 counsel for the Underwriters, 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 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 Underwriters promptly and
prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment or supplement in
accordance with Section 10 of the Act.
d. Deliver to the Underwriters, without charge, such number of
copies of each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus as the Underwriters may
reasonably request and, as soon as the Registration Statement or any amendment
or supplement thereto becomes effective, deliver to the Underwriters two (2)
signed copies of the Registration Statement, including exhibits, and all
post-effective amendments thereto and copies of all exhibits filed therewith or
incorporated therein by reference and signed copies of all consents of certified
experts.
e. Endeavor in good faith, in cooperation with the Underwriters, and
Xxxxxxx, Savage, Kaplowitz, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP at or prior to the time the
Registration Statement becomes effective, to qualify the Securities and the
Underwriters' Securities for offering and sale under the securities laws of such
jurisdictions as the Underwriters may reasonably designate, provided that no
such qualification shall be required in any jurisdiction where, as a result
thereof, the Company would be subject to service of general process or to
taxation as a foreign corporation doing business in such jurisdiction. In each
jurisdiction where such qualification shall be effected, the Company will,
unless the Underwriters agree that such action is not at the
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time necessary or advisable, use its reasonable best 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.
f. Make generally available to its security holders as soon as
practicable, but not later than the first day of the fifteenth full calendar
month following the Effective Date, an earnings statement (which need not be
certified by independent public or independent certified public accountants
unless required by the Act or the Regulations, but which shall satisfy the
provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act) covering a period of at least twelve
(12) consecutive months beginning after the Effective Date.
g. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date, furnish
to the Underwriters copies of such financial statements and other periodic and
special reports as the Company from time to time furnishes generally to holders
of any class of its securities, and promptly furnish to the Underwriters (i) a
copy of each periodic report the Company shall file with the Commission, (ii) a
copy of every press release and every news item and article with respect to the
Company, any Subsidiary or their respective affairs which was released by the
Company or any Subsidiary, (iii) a copy of each Form 8-K prepared by the
Company, and (iv) such additional documents and information with respect to the
Company, the Subsidiaries and their respective affairs or any future
subsidiaries or affiliates of the Company or the Subsidiaries as the
Underwriters may from time to time reasonably request.
h. Apply the net proceeds from the offering received by it in a
manner consistent in all material respects with the caption "USE OF PROCEEDS" in
the Prospectus.
i. Deliver to the Underwriters, prior to filing, any amendment or
supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus proposed to be filed
after the Effective Date and not file any such amendment or supplement to which
the Underwriters shall reasonably object, after being furnished such copy, in
writing with reasonable specificity as to the nature and extent of any
objection.
j. For a period of three (3) years from Closing Date I, provide the
Underwriters, upon their request, at the Company's sole expense, (i) with access
to daily consolidated financial transfer sheets relating to the Common Stock and
designate Olde Monmouth Stock Transfer Co., Inc. as transfer agent for the
Company's securities or such other transfer agent mutually agreeable by the
Company and the Underwriters and (ii) to cause the Company's depository to fax a
"special security position report" to the Underwriters on a weekly basis.
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k. For a period of three (3) years after Closing Date I, nominate
and use its best efforts to engage a designee of the Representative, as a
nonvoting advisor to the Company's Board of Directors (the "Advisor") or in lieu
thereof, at the Representative's option, to designate an individual for election
as a director, in which case the Company shall use its best efforts to have such
individual elected as a director. The designee may be a director, officer,
partner, employee or affiliate of the Underwriters and the Representative shall
designate such person in writing to the Board. In the event the Underwriters
shall not have designated such individual at the time of any meeting of the
Board or such person is unavailable to serve, the Company shall notify the
Representative of each meeting of the Board. An individual, if any, designated
by the Representative shall receive all notices and other correspondence and
communications sent by the Company to members of the Board. Such Advisor or
director, as the case may be, shall be entitled to receive reimbursement for all
reasonable costs incurred in attending such meetings including, but not limited
to, food, lodging, and transportation. In addition, such Advisor or Director
shall be entitled to the same compensation as the Company gives to other
non-employee directors for acting in such capacity. The Company further agrees
that, during said three (3) year period, it shall give the Advisor or Director,
as the case may be, the same notice of any meeting of the Company's Board of
Directors as it affords its other directors.
The Company agrees to indemnify and hold the Underwriters and such
Advisor harmless against any and all claims, actions, damages, costs and
expenses, and judgments arising solely out of the attendance and participation
of the Advisor at any such meeting described herein. In the event the Company
maintains a liability insurance policy affording coverage for the acts of its
officers and directors, it agrees, if possible to include the Advisor as an
insured under such policy.
l. Until the sooner of (i) seven (7) years from the date hereof, or
(ii) the sale to the public of the Underwriters' Securities, the Company shall
not take any action or actions which are in the Company's direct control which
may prevent or disqualify the Company's use of Form S-1 (or another appropriate
form) for the registration under the Act of the Underwriters' Securities and the
shares of Common Stock underlying the Redeemable Warrants.
m. For a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date, use its
best efforts to maintain the quotation by Nasdaq of the Securities.
n. Supply the Underwriter with two (2), and Xxxxxxx, Savage,
Kaplowitz, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP, counsel to the Underwriters, with three (3)
bound volumes of the underwriting materials within a reasonable time after the
latest Closing Date.
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o. For a period of two (2) years from the Effective Date, not issue
any other shares of Common Stock or Preferred Stock or securities convertible
into or exercisable for Common Stock or Preferred Stock without the prior
written consent of the Representative, which consent shall not be unreasonably
withheld. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company may issue securities (A)
upon (i) the exercise of any warrants or options outstanding on the date hereof
pursuant to the terms thereof, and (ii) the exercise of the Underwriters'
Warrant, (B) pursuant to the Stock Option Plan described in the Prospectus or
subsequently adopted or (C) in connection with any merger or acquisition of
another entity by the Company.
p. So long as the Securities or the Underwriters' Securities are
registered under the Exchange Act, hold an annual meeting of stockholders for
the election of directors within 180 days after the end of each of the Company's
fiscal years and, within 150 days after the end of each of the Company's fiscal
years, provide the Company's stockholders with the audited financial statements
of the Company as of the end of the fiscal year just completed prior thereto.
Such financial statements shall be those required by Rule 14a-3 under the
Exchange Act and shall be included in an annual report pursuant to the
requirements of such Rule.
q. Engage a financial public relations firm reasonably satisfactory
to the Representative as soon as possible after Closing Date I, and continuously
engage such firm, or an acceptable substitute firm for at least the period
ending twelve (12) months after Closing Date I.
r. Enter into the Underwriters' Warrant Agreement and the Financial
Advisory and Investment Banking Agreement (the "Consulting Agreement") in
substantially the form filed as Exhibits to the Registration Statement.
s. As soon as possible after Closing Date I, but in no event later
than 10 trading days after the Effective Date, take all necessary and
appropriate actions to be included in Standard and Poor's Corporation
Descriptions or other equivalent securities manual and to maintain its listing
therein for a period of five (5) years from the Effective Date.
t. Cause all of the Company's stockholders, to enter into written
agreements (the "Lock-up Agreements") that, for a period of two years from the
Effective Date, they will not, without the consent of the Underwriters, (i)
publicly sell any securities of the Company owned directly or beneficially by
them (as defined in the Exchange Act); or (ii) otherwise sell, or transfer such
securities unless the transferee agrees in writing to be bound by an identical
lock-up.
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u. Use its best efforts to obtain key-man life insurance in the
amount of $1,000,000 on the life of Xxxxxx X. Xxxxx with the Company as
beneficiary of such policy.
v. Use its best efforts to qualify its Common Stock and Redeemable
Warrants for listing on the NASDAQ National Market System ("NMS") or in the
alternative the Boston Stock Exchange (the "BSE").
w. For a period of two years from the Effective Date, the Company
shall not issue any of its securities in any offering pursuant to Regulation S
under the 1933 Act, without the prior written consent of the Representative,
which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
x. Designate the Representative as the Company's exclusive Warrant
Solicitation Agents in the event of any third-party solicitation of the exercise
of the Redeemable Warrants, in connection with a redemption of the Redeemable
Warrants or otherwise, and shall pay to the Representative a Warrant
Solicitation fee of five (5%) percent of the exercise price of all such
solicited Redeemable Warrants, subject to the rules and regulations of the NASD
with regard to such fees.
y. Neither the Company nor any representative of the Company has
made or shall make any written or oral representation in connection with the
Offering and sale of the Securities or the Underwriters' Warrant which is not
contained in the Prospectus, which is otherwise inconsistent with or in
contravention of anything contained in the Prospectus, or which shall constitute
a violation of the Act, the Rules and Regulations, the Exchange Act or the rules
and regulations promulgated under the Exchange Act.
z. For so long as any Redeemable Warrant is outstanding, the Company
shall, at its own expense: (i) use its reasonable best efforts to cause
post-effective amendments to the Registration Statement, or new registration
statements relating to the Redeemable Warrants and the Common Stock underlying
the Redeemable Warrants to become effective in compliance with the Act and
without any lapse of time between the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement and of any such post-effective amendment or new registration
statement; provided, however, that the Company shall have no obligation to
maintain the effectiveness of such Registration Statement or file a new
Registration Statement, or to keep available a prospectus at any time at which
such registration or prospectus is not then required; (ii) cause a copy of each
Prospectus, as then amended, to be delivered to each holder of record of a
Redeemable Warrant; (iii) furnish to the Underwriters and dealers as many copies
of each such Prospectus as the Underwriters or dealers may reasonably request;
and (iv) maintain the "blue sky" qualification or registration of the Redeemable
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Warrants and the Common Stock underlying the Redeemable Warrants, or have a
currently available exemption therefrom, in each jurisdiction in which the
Securities were so qualified or registered for purposes of the Offering.
ab. The Company shall engage Xxxxxxx, Savage, Kaplowitz, Xxxxxxxxxx
& Xxxxxx, LLP to provide the Underwriters, at the Closing and quarterly
thereafter, until the sooner of (i) three years from the Effective Date; or (ii)
such time as the Common Stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market, with an
opinion setting forth those states in which the Common Stock may be traded in
non-issuer transactions under the blue sky laws of the 50 states. The Company
shall pay such counsel a one-time fee of $12,500 at the Closing for such
opinions.
6. PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.
a. The Company hereby agrees to pay all expenses (other than fees of
counsel to the Underwriters) in connection with the Offering, including but not
limited to, (i) the preparation, printing, filing and mailing (including the
payment of postage and overnight delivery with respect to such mailing) of the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus and related documents, including the
cost of all copies thereof and of the Preliminary Prospectus and of the
Prospectus and any amendments thereof or supplements thereto supplied to the
Underwriters in quantities as hereinabove stated, (ii) the printing, engraving,
issuance and delivery of the shares of Common Stock, the Redeemable Warrants,
and the Underwriters' Warrants, (iii) the qualification of the Securities, the
Underwriters' Warrants and the Underwriters' 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," and "Supplemental Blue Sky Memorandum" and
"Legal Investments Survey," if any, and the fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Underwriters relating to Blue Sky matters (all of which fees under this
item (iii) shall be payable by the Company in the sum of $35,000 of which
$10,000 has previously been paid), (iv) advertising costs and expenses including
but not limited to the reasonable costs and expenses in connection with the
"road show," information meetings and presentations, bound volumes, cubes and
"tombstones" in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, and Washington Post and
prospectus memorabilia, altogether in an amount not to exceed $15,000, (v) fees
and expenses of the transfer agent and warrant agent, (vi) application and
listing fees for inclusion in Xxxxx'x OTC Manual or Standard and Poor's
Corporation Descriptions or other equivalent securities manuals, and (vii) the
fees payable to the NASD and Nasdaq. The $35,000 payment to counsel for the
Underwriters shall not include fees of special counsel if same is required to be
incurred in a merit review state which may require local counsel. In this
connection, Blue Sky applications shall be
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made in such states and jurisdictions as shall be requested by the Underwriters.
Payments due shall be made on Closing Date I.
b. The Company shall pay to the Underwriters an aggregate
non-accountable expense allowance, in addition to the expenses payable pursuant
to Section 6(a), equal to three (3%) percent of the gross proceeds received by
the Company from the sale of the Securities. In the event that the Underwriters
terminate the Offering or is unable to consummate the Offering within nine (9)
months of the date hereof, the advances toward the non-accountable expense
allowance shall become accountable and shall be returnable to the Company to the
extent the Underwriters' out-of-pocket expenses are less than the amount
advanced to the Underwriter, so that the Underwriters is reimbursed only for its
actual accountable out-of-pocket expenses.
7. CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS. The obligations of the
Underwriter to purchase and pay for the Securities, as provided herein, shall be
subject to the continuing accuracy in all material aspects of the
representations and warranties of the Company as of the date hereof and as of
each of the Closing Dates, to the accuracy in all material respects of the
statements of officers of the Company made pursuant to the provisions hereof and
to the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder in all material
respects and to the following conditions:
a. The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later
than 5:00 p.m., New York time, on the date of this Agreement or such later date
and time as shall be consented to in writing by you, and, at each of the Closing
Dates, 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 Gersten, Savage, Xxxxxxxxx &
Xxxxxx, LLP, counsel to the Underwriters.
b. At Closing Date I, the Underwriters shall have received the
favorable opinion of Gusrae, Xxxxxx & Bruno, counsel to the Company, dated
Closing Date I, addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance mutually
satisfactory to Xxxxxxx, Savage, Kaplowitz, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP, counsel to
the Underwriters, and Gusrae, Xxxxxx & Bruno.
c. On or prior to each of Closing Date I and Closing Date II,
counsel for the Underwriters shall have been furnished such documents,
certificates and opinions as it may reasonably require for the purpose of
enabling it to review or pass upon the matters referred to in Section 7(b), or
in order to
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evidence the accuracy, completeness or satisfaction of any of the
representations, warranties or conditions herein contained.
d. Prior to each of Closing Date I and Closing Date II, (i) there
shall have been no material adverse change, or development involving a material
adverse prospective change, in the condition or prospects of the business
activities, financial or otherwise, of the Company and its Subsidiaries taken as
a whole 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 the Subsidiaries from the latest date as of which their respective financial
conditions are set forth in the Registration Statement and Prospectus which is
materially adverse to the Company; (iii) the Company or the Subsidiaries shall
not be in default under any provision of any instrument relating to any
outstanding indebtedness which default would have a material adverse effect on
the Company; (iv) no amount of the assets of the Company or the Subsidiaries
shall have been pledged or mortgaged, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; (v) no action, suit or proceeding, at law or in
equity, shall be pending or threatened against the Company or the Subsidiaries
before or by any court or Federal or state commission, board or other
administrative agency wherein an unfavorable result, decision, ruling or finding
would adversely affect the business, prospects, operations, or financial
condition or income of the Company, except as set forth in the Registration
Statement and Prospectus; (vi) no stop order shall have been issued under the
Act and no proceedings with respect thereto shall have been initiated or
threatened by the Commission; (vii) the market for securities in general or
political, financial or economic conditions shall not have materially adversely
changed from those reasonably foreseeable as of the date hereof as to render it
impracticable in the Underwriter's reasonable judgment to make a public offering
of the Securities, and there has not been a material adverse change in market
levels for securities in general or financial or economic conditions which
render it inadvisable in the Underwriters' judgment to proceed; and (viii) there
shall not have commenced or occurred any war or Act of God or other calamity
which would have a material adverse effect on, or result in a material loss to,
the Company.
The Company agrees and acknowledges that the Underwriters shall be
the sole determining parties as to the presence of any such conditions, events,
occurrences and provisions set forth in this Section 7(d).
e. At each of Closing Date I and Closing Date II, the Underwriters
shall have received a certificate of the Company signed by the President and the
Secretary of the Company, dated Closing Date I and Closing Date II,
respectively, to the effect that the conditions set forth in section 7(d)(i)
through (vi) above
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have been satisfied and that, as of Closing Date I and Closing Date II,
respectively, the representations and warranties of the Company set forth in
Section 2 hereof are true and correct.
f. By the Effective Date, the Underwriters shall have received
clearance from the NASD as to the amount of compensation allowable or payable to
the Underwriters, as described in the Registration Statement.
g. At the time this Agreement is executed, and at each of Closing
Date I and Closing Date II, the Underwriters shall have received a letter,
addressed to the Underwriters and in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
in all respects (including the nonmaterial nature of the changes or decreases,
if any, referred to in clause (3) below) to the Underwriters and to Xxxxxxx,
Savage, Kaplowitz, Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP, counsel for the Underwriters, from
XxXxxxx & Co., P.C., dated, as of the date of this Agreement and as of each of
Closing Date I and Closing Date II:
(1) confirming that they are independent accountants with
respect to the Company within the meaning of the Act and the applicable
Regulations;
(2) stating that in their respective opinions the financial
statements of the Company included in the Registration Statement and
Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the
applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the published
Regulations thereunder;
(3) stating that, on the basis of a reading of the latest
available minutes of the stockholders and boards of directors and the
various committees of the boards of directors of the Company and any
current or former subsidiaries of the Company, consultations with
officers and other employees of the Company and the Subsidiaries
responsible for financial and accounting matters, a reading of the
latest interim financial statements of the Company and the Subsidiaries
(which, with respect to the Company, shall be as of a date not later
than thirty (30) days prior to the Effective Date) and other specified
procedures and inquiries, nothing has come to their attention which
would lead them to believe that (A) either the audited consolidated
financial statements for the years ended December 31, 1993, 1994 and
1995 of the Company in the Registration Statement do not comply as to
form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
requirements of the Act, and the Regulations or are not fairly
presented in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a basis substantially consistent with that of the audited
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financial statements of the Company included in the Registration
Statement, (B) at a date not more than five (5) days prior to the
Effective Date, there was any change in the capital stock or long-term
debt of the Company, or any decrease in the stockholders' equity of the
Company as compared with amounts shown in the December 31, 1995 balance
sheet included in the Registration Statement, other than as set forth
in or contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any
decrease, setting forth the amount of such decrease, and (C) during the
period from December 31, 1995 to a specified date not more than five
(5) days prior to the Effective Date there was any decrease in net
revenues, increase in net losses or increases in net losses per common
share of the Company, in each case as compared with the corresponding
period beginning December 31, 1995 other than as set forth in or
contemplated by the Registration Statement, or, if there was any such
increase or decrease, setting forth the amount of such increase or
decrease;
(4) 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 worksheets,
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
(5) statements as to such other matters incident to the
transaction contemplated hereby as the Underwriter may reasonably
request.
h. All proceedings taken in connection with the authorization,
issuance or sale of the Securities, the Underwriters' Warrants and the
Underwriters' Securities as herein contemplated shall be reasonably satisfactory
in form and substance to the Underwriters and to Xxxxxxx, Savage, Kaplowitz,
Xxxxxxxxxx & Xxxxxx, LLP counsel to the Underwriters.
i. On each of Closing Date I and Closing Date II, there shall have
been duly tendered to you for your account the
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appropriate number of Securities and individually for each Underwriter's own
account the Underwriters' Warrants.
j. No order suspending the sale of the Securities in any
jurisdiction designated by you pursuant to Section 5(e) hereof shall have been
issued on either Closing Date I or Closing Date II, and no proceedings for that
purpose shall have been instituted or, to the knowledge of the Underwriters or
the Company, shall be contemplated.
k. Prior to each of the Closing Date I and Closing Date II there
shall not have been received or provided by the Company's independent public
accountants or attorneys, qualifications to the effect of either difficulties in
furnishing certifications as to material items including, without limitation,
information contained within the footnotes to the financial statements, or as
affecting matters incident to the issuance and sale of the Securities or as to
corporate proceedings or other matters.
l. On or prior to Closing Date I, the Underwriters' Warrant
Agreement and the Financial Advisory and Investment Banking Agreement shall have
been executed and delivered by the Company, and the Lock-Up Agreements shall
have been executed and delivered by all of the Company's existing stockholders.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to
the Underwriters or to counsel to the Underwriters shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company to the Underwriters as to the
statements made therein. If any condition to the Underwriters' obligations
hereunder to be fulfilled prior to or at any Closing Date is not so fulfilled,
the Underwriters may terminate this Agreement or, if the Underwriters so elect,
may waive any such conditions which have not been fulfilled or extend the time
for their fulfillment.
8. INDEMNIFICATION.
a. The Company shall indemnify and hold each of the Underwriters,
and each controlling person, if any, who controls each of the Underwriters
(within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange
Act), harmless against any and all liabilities, claims, lawsuits, including any
and all awards and/or judgments to which it may become subject under the Act,
the Exchange Act or any other Federal or state statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as said liabilities, claims and lawsuits (including awards
and/or judgments) arise out of or are in connection with the Registration
Statement, Prospectus and related Exhibits filed under the Act, except for any
liabilities, claims and lawsuits (including awards and/or judgments), arising
out of acts or omissions of the Underwriters. In addition, the Company shall
also indemnify and hold each of the Underwriters harmless
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against any and all costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel fees,
incurred or relating to the foregoing liabilities, claims and lawsuits to which
the indemnity applies.
The Underwriters shall give the Company within two (2) business days
of the time that the Underwriters first become aware thereof notice of any such
liability, claim or lawsuit which the Underwriters contend is the subject matter
of the Company's indemnification, and the Company thereupon shall be granted the
right to take any and all necessary and proper action, at its sole cost and
expense, with respect to such liability, claim and lawsuit, including the right
to settle, compromise and dispose of such liability, claim or lawsuit.
The Underwriters, severally and not jointly, shall indemnify and
hold the Company, and each controlling person, if any, who controls the Company
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20(a) of the Exchange
Act, harmless against any and all liabilities, claims, lawsuits, including any
and all awards and/or judgments to which it may become subject under the Act,
the Exchange Act or any other Federal or state statute, at common law or
otherwise, insofar as said liabilities, claims and lawsuits (including awards
and/or judgments) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact required to be stated or necessary to make
the statement therein, not misleading, which statement or omission was made in
reliance upon information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of
the Underwriters for inclusion in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
any amendment or supplement thereto. In addition, the Underwriters, severally
and not jointly, shall also indemnify and hold the Company harmless against any
and all costs and expenses, including reasonable counsel fees, incurred or
relating to the foregoing.
The Company shall give to the Underwriter within two (2) business
days of the time that the Company first becomes aware thereof prompt notice of
any such liability, claim or lawsuit which the Company contends is the subject
matter of the Underwriters' indemnification and the Underwriters thereupon shall
be granted the right to take any and all necessary and proper action, at its
sole cost and expense, with respect to such liability, claim and lawsuit,
including the right to settle, compromise or dispose of such liability, claim or
lawsuit.
b. In order to provide for just and equitable contribution under the
Act in any case in which (i) any person entitled to indemnification under this
Section 8 makes claim for indemnification pursuant hereto 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 this Section 8
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provides for indemnification in such case, or (ii) contribution under the Act
may be required on the part of any such person in circumstances for which
indemnification is provided under this Section 8, then, and in each such case,
the Company and each of the Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate
losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which they may be subject (after any
contribution from others) in such proportion taking into consideration the
relative benefits received by each party from the offering covered by the
Prospectus (taking into account the portion of the proceeds of the offering
realized by each), the parties' relative knowledge and access to information
concerning the matter with respect to which the claim was assessed, the
opportunity to correct and prevent any statement or omission and other equitable
considerations appropriate under the circumstances; provided, however, that
notwithstanding the above in no event shall the Underwriters, in the aggregate,
be required to contribute any amount in excess of 10% of the initial public
offering price of the Securities; and provided, that, in any such case, no
person guilty of a 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.
Within fifteen (15) days after receipt by any party to this
Agreement (or its representative) of notice of the commencement of any action,
suit or proceeding, such party will, if a claim for contribution in respect
thereof is to be made against another party (the "contributing party"), notify
the contributing party of the commencement thereof, but the omission so to
notify the contributing party will not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to any other party other than for contribution hereunder. In case any
such action, suit or proceeding is brought against any party, and such party
notifies a contributing party or his or its representative of the commencement
thereof within the aforesaid fifteen (15) days, the contributing party will be
entitled to participate therein with the notifying party and any other
contributing party similarly notified. Any such contributing party shall not be
liable to any party seeking contribution on account of any settlement of any
claim, action or proceeding effected by such party seeking contribution without
the written consent of such contributing party. The indemnification provisions
contained in this Section 8 are in addition to any other rights or remedies
which either party hereto may have with respect to the other or hereunder.
9. REPRESENTATIONS AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY. Except as the
context otherwise requires, all representations, warranties and agreements
contained in this Agreement shall be deemed to be representations, warranties
and agreements at the Closing Dates, and such representations, warranties and
agreements of the Underwriters and the Company, including the indemnity
agreements contained in Section 8 hereof, shall remain operative and in full
force and effect regardless of any investigation made
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by or on behalf of any of the Underwriters, the Company or any controlling
person, and shall survive termination of this Agreement or the issuance and
delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters until the earlier of the
expiration of any applicable statute of limitations or the third anniversary of
Closing Date II, at which time the representations, warranties and agreements
shall terminate and be of no further force and effect.
10. EFFECTIVE DATE OF THIS AGREEMENT AND TERMINATION HEREOF.
a. This Agreement shall become effective at 9:30 a.m., New York
time, on the first full business day following the day on which the Registration
Statement becomes effective or at the time of the initial public offering by the
Underwriters of the Securities, whichever is earlier. The time of the initial
public offering, for the purpose of this Section 10, shall mean the time, after
the Registration Statement becomes effective, of the release by the Underwriters
for publication of the first newspaper advertisement which is subsequently
published relating to the Securities or the time, after the Registration
Statement becomes effective, when the Securities are first released by the
Underwriters for offering by the Underwriters or dealers by letter or telegram,
whichever shall first occur. The Underwriters may prevent this Agreement from
becoming effective without liability to any other party, except as noted below,
by giving the notice indicated below in this Section 10 before the time this
Agreement becomes effective. The Underwriters agree to give the undersigned
notice of the commencement of the offering described herein.
b. The Underwriters shall have the right, in their sole discretion,
to terminate this Agreement, including without limitation, the obligation to
purchase the Firm Securities and the obligation to purchase the Option
Securities after the exercise of the Over-Allotment Option, by notice given to
the Company prior to delivery and payment for all the Firm Securities or the
Option Securities, as the case may be, only if any of the conditions enumerated
in Section 7 are not either fulfilled or waived by the Underwriters on or before
any Closing Date.
c. If the Underwriters elect to prevent this Agreement from becoming
effective or to terminate this Agreement as provided in this Section 10, the
Company shall be notified on the same day as such election is made by the
Underwriters by telephone or telegram, confirmed by letter.
d. Notwithstanding any contrary provision contained in this
Agreement, any election hereunder or termination of this Agreement, and whether
or not this Agreement is otherwise carried out, the provisions of Section 8
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.
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11. NOTICES. All communications hereunder, except as herein otherwise
specifically provided, shall be in writing and, if sent to Xxxxx Xxxx, shall be
mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to Xxxxx Xxxx & Co., Inc., 000
Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: President, if to Xxxxxxx,
shall be mailed, delivered or telegraphed and confirmed to X.X. Xxxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxxxxx Xxxx Xxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: President, if to either
of or both Underwriters, with a copy to Xxxxxxx, Savage, Kaplowitz, Xxxxxxxxxx &
Xxxxxx, LLP, 000 Xxxx 00xx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxx
Xxxxxxxxx, Esq., and if to the Company, shall be mailed, delivered or
telegraphed and confirmed to Nordic Equity Partners Corp., 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx
Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxx Xxxxxx, with a copy to Gusrae, Xxxxxx &
Bruno, 000 Xxxx Xxxxxx, Xxx Xxxx, Xxx Xxxx 00000, Attention: Xxxxxxx Xxxxxxxx,
Esq.
12. 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 8 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.
13. 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 conflict of laws. The parties agree to submit themselves to the
jurisdiction of the courts of the State of New York or of the United States of
America for the Southern District of New York, which shall be the sole tribunals
in which any parties may institute and maintain a legal proceeding against the
other party arising from any dispute in this Agreement. In the event either
party initiates a legal proceeding in a jurisdiction other than in the courts of
the State of New York or of the United States of America for the Southern
District of New York, the other party may assert as a complete defense and as a
basis for dismissal of such legal proceeding that the legal proceeding was not
initiated and maintained in the courts of the State of New York or of the United
States of America for the Southern District of New York, in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 13.
14. ENTIRE AGREEMENT. This Agreement, the Underwriters' Warrant
Agreement and the Financial Advisory and Investment Banking Agreement contain
the entire agreement between the parties hereto in connection with the subject
matter hereof and thereof.
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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 between
us.
Very truly yours,
NORDIC EQUITY PARTNERS CORP.
By: __________________________________________
Name:
Title
NORDIC EQUITY PARTNERS CORP., pursuant to its
power of attorney as granted to it by the
Selling Stockholders.
______________________________________________
Accepted as of the date first above written.
New York, New York
XXXXX XXXX & CO., INC., Acting on behalf of itself and as the Representative of
the other Underwriter named in Schedule I hereof
By: ________________________________
Name:
Title:
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SCHEDULE I
Number of Number of
Name of Underwriters Shares Warrants
-------------------- ------ --------
Xxxxx Xxxx & Co., Inc.
------- ---------
X.X. Xxxxxxx & Co., Inc.
------- ---------
TOTAL 875,000 1,750,000
======= =========
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