To the Representatives named in Schedule I hereto of the several Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto Ladies and Gentlemen:
EXHIBIT 1.1
To the Representatives named in
Schedule I hereto of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto
Schedule I hereto of the several
Underwriters named in Schedule II hereto
Ladies and Gentlemen:
V.F. Corporation, a corporation organized under the laws of Pennsylvania (the “Company”),
proposes to sell to the several underwriters named in Schedule II hereto (the “Underwriters”), for
whom you (the “Representatives”) are acting as representatives, the principal amount of its
securities identified in Schedule I hereto (the “Securities”), to be issued under an indenture
(together with any supplemental indenture with respect to the terms of the Securities, the
“Indenture”) dated as of [ ], 20__, between the Company and [ ],
as trustee (the “Trustee”). To the extent there are no additional Underwriters listed on
Schedule I other than you, the term Representatives as used herein shall mean you, as Underwriters,
and the terms Representatives and Underwriters shall mean either the singular or plural as the
context requires. Any reference herein to the Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and include the
documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under
the Exchange Act on or before the Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of
the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be; and
any reference herein to the terms “amend,” “amendment” or “supplement” with respect to the
Registration Statement, the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus
shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the
Effective Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of the Base Prospectus, any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be incorporated
therein by reference. Certain terms used herein are defined in Section 20 hereof.
1. Representations and Warranties. The Company represents and warrants
to, and agrees with, each Underwriter as set forth below in this Section 1.
(a) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the “Act”) and has prepared and filed with the Commission an
automatic shelf registration statement,
as defined in Rule 405 (the file number of which is set forth in Schedule I hereto)
on Form S-3, including a related Base Prospectus, for registration under the Act of the
offering and sale of the Securities. Such Registration Statement, including any amendments
thereto filed prior to the Execution Time, became effective upon filing. The Company may
have filed with the Commission, as part of an amendment to the Registration Statement or
pursuant to Rule 424(b), one or more preliminary prospectus supplements relating to the
Securities, each of which has previously been furnished to you. The Company will file with
the Commission a final prospectus supplement relating to the Securities in accordance with
Rule 424(b). As filed, such final prospectus supplement shall contain all information
required by the Act and the rules thereunder, and, except to the extent the
Representatives shall agree in writing to a modification, shall be in all substantive
respects in the form furnished to you prior to the Execution Time or, to the extent not
completed at the Execution Time, shall contain only such specific additional information
and other changes (beyond that contained in the Base Prospectus and any Preliminary
Prospectus) as the Company has advised you, prior to the Execution Time, will be included
or made therein. The Registration Statement, at the Execution Time, meets the requirements
set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x).
(b) On each Effective Date, the Registration Statement did, and when the Final
Prospectus is first filed in accordance with Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date (as
defined herein), the Final Prospectus (and any supplement thereto) will, comply in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the
Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder; on each Effective Date and at the
Execution Time, the Registration Statement did not and will not contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading; on the
Effective Date and on the Closing Date the Indenture did or will comply in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and the rules
thereunder; and on the date of any filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) and on the Closing Date,
the Final Prospectus (together with any supplement thereto) will not include any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no representations or warranties as
to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the Statement of
Eligibility (Form T-1) under the Trust
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Indenture Act of the Trustee or (ii) the
information contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or the Final
Prospectus (or any supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with information
furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for inclusion in the Registration
Statement or the Final Prospectus (or any supplement thereto), it being understood
and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter
consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.
(c) (i) The Disclosure Package and (ii) each electronic road show, when taken
together as a whole with the Disclosure Package, does not contain any untrue statement of
a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading. The preceding sentence does not apply to statements in or omissions from the
Disclosure Package based upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for use therein, it
being understood and agreed that the only such information furnished by or on behalf of
any Underwriter consists of the information described as such in Section 8 hereof.
(d) (i) At the time of filing the Registration Statement, (ii) at the time of the
most recent amendment thereto for the purposes of complying with Section 10(a)(3) of the
Act (whether such amendment was by post-effective amendment, incorporated report filed
pursuant to Sections 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act or form of prospectus), (iii) at the
time the Company or any person acting on its behalf (within the meaning, for this clause
only, of Rule 163(c)) made any offer relating to the Securities in reliance on the
exemption in Rule 163, and (iv) at the Execution Time (with such date being used as the
determination date for purposes of this clause (iv)), the Company was or is (as the case
may be) a Well-Known Seasoned Issuer. The Company agrees to pay the fees required by the
Commission relating to the Securities within the time required by Rule 456(b)(1) without
regard to the proviso therein and otherwise in accordance with Rules 456(b) and 457(r).
(e) (i) At the earliest time after the filing of the Registration Statement that the
Company or another offering participant made a bona fide offer (within the meaning of Rule
164(h)(2)) of the Act and (ii) as of the Execution Time (with such date being used as the
determination date for purposes of this clause (ii)), the Company was not and is not an
Ineligible Issuer (as defined in Rule 405), without taking account of any
3
determination by the Commission pursuant to Rule 405 that it is not necessary that the Company be
considered an Ineligible Issuer.
(f) Each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and the final term sheet prepared and filed
pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto does not include any information that conflicts with the
information contained in the Registration Statement, including any document incorporated
therein by reference and any prospectus supplement deemed to be a part thereof that
has not been superseded or modified. The foregoing sentence does not apply to
statements in or omissions from any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus based upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through
the Representatives specifically for use therein, it being understood and agreed that the
only such information furnished by or on behalf of any Underwriter consists of the
information described as such in Section 8 hereof.
(g) The Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to the
descriptions thereof contained in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus.
(h) The statements (i) in the Base Prospectus under the captions “Description of Debt
Securities” and (ii) in each of the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under the
caption “Description of Securities”, in each case insofar as such statements constitute a
summary of the legal matters, documents or proceedings referred to therein, fairly present
and summarize, in all material respects, the matters referred to therein.
(i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained since the date of
the latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
Disclosure Package and Final Prospectus any material loss or interference with its
business from fire, explosion, flood or other calamity, whether or not covered by
insurance, or from any labor dispute or court or governmental action, order or decree,
otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and Final
Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Disclosure Package and Final Prospectus, there has not been any material change in the
capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material
adverse change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or
affecting the general affairs, management, financial position, shareholders’ equity or
results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or
contemplated in the Disclosure Package and Final Prospectus.
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(j) The Company is a corporation duly incorporated and is validly subsisting as a
corporation in good standing under the laws of Pennsylvania, with power and authority to
own its properties and conduct its business as described in the Disclosure Package and
Final Prospectus, and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction
of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it
owns or leases properties or conducts any business so as to require such qualification,
except in any jurisdiction where such failure would not have a Material Adverse Effect;
each material domestic subsidiary of the Company is listed on Schedule V hereto, and each
material domestic subsidiary listed on Schedule V hereto has been duly organized and
is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as the
case may be, in good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or
formation; and each subsidiary of the Company not listed on Schedule V is validly existing
as a corporation, partnership or limited liability company, as the case may be, in good
standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or formation, except where
such failure, individually or in the aggregate, could not reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
(k) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the
Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
non-assessable; and all of the issued shares of capital stock, partnership interests and
limited liability company interests, as the case may be, of each material domestic
subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid
and non-assessable (where applicable) and (except for directors’ qualifying shares and
except as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus) are owned directly
or indirectly by the Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or
claims.
(l) The Securities have been duly authorized and, when issued and delivered pursuant
to this Agreement, will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and
will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against
the Company and entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture under which they are to
be issued, and will be substantially in the form previously delivered to you; on the
Closing Date, the Indenture will have been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company, and on the Closing Date the Indenture will constitute a valid and legally binding
instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement, to
bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance, reorganization and other laws of general
applicability relating to or affecting creditors’ rights and to general equity principles;
and the Securities and the Indenture will
5
conform to the descriptions thereof in the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus and will be in substantially the form
previously delivered to you.
(m) There is no franchise, contract or other document of a character required to be
described in the Registration Statement or Final Prospectus, or to be filed as an exhibit
thereto, which is not described or filed as required (and the Preliminary Prospectus
contains in all material respects the same description of the foregoing matters contained
in the Final Prospectus); and the statements in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final
Prospectus under the heading “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S.
Holders” insofar as such statements
summarize legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings discussed therein, are
accurate and fair summaries of such legal matters, agreements, documents or proceedings.
(n) This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.
(o) The Company has been advised by its counsel, Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, of the
rules and requirements under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
“Investment Company Act”). The Company is not, and after receipt of payment for the
Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as contemplated under the caption
“Use of Proceeds” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus will not be,
required to register as an “investment company” within the meaning of the Investment
Company Act.
(p) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the Company with all
of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture and this Agreement and the consummation
of the transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a
breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to
which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of
its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the Company or any
of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any law, statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or
governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
subsidiaries or any of their properties; and no consent, approval, authorization, order,
registration or qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
required for the issue and sale of the Securities by the Company or the consummation by
the Company of the
6
transactions contemplated by this Agreement or, the Indenture, except
for such consents, approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and
distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters and except for any such consents,
approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications the failure of which to obtain
would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material Adverse Effect.
(q) The consolidated historical financial statements and schedules of the Company and
its consolidated subsidiaries included in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus
and the Registration Statement present fairly the financial condition, results of
operations and cash flows of the Company as of the dates and for the periods indicated,
comply as to form with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
and have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved (except as otherwise noted
therein). The selected financial data set forth under the caption “Selected Financial
Information” in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and Registration
Statement fairly present, on the basis stated in the Preliminary Prospectus, the Final
Prospectus and the Registration Statement, the information included therein.
(r) Other than as set forth in the Disclosure Package and Final Prospectus, there are
no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its subsidiaries
is the subject which would, individually or in the aggregate, be reasonably likely to have
a material adverse effect on the performance of this Agreement or have a Material Adverse
Effect; and, to the best of the Company’s knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others.
(s) [ ], who have certified certain financial statements of the Company
and its subsidiaries, are independent public accountants as required by the Act and the
rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.
(t) The Company and each of its material subsidiaries maintain a system of internal
accounting controls sufficient to provide reasonable assurance that (i) transactions are
executed in accordance with management’s general or specific authorizations; (ii)
transactions are recorded as necessary to permit preparation of financial statements in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles and to maintain asset
accountability; (iii) access to assets is permitted only in accordance with management’s
general or specific authorization; and (iv) the recorded
7
accountability for assets is
compared with the existing assets at reasonable intervals and appropriate action is taken
with respect to any differences. The Company and its subsidiaries’ internal controls over
financial reporting are effective and the Company and its subsidiaries are not aware of
any material weakness in their internal controls over financial reporting.
(u) The Company and its subsidiaries maintain “disclosure controls and procedures”
(as such term is defined in Rule 13a-15(e) under the Exchange Act); such disclosure
controls and procedures are effective.
(v) The Company and its subsidiaries are (i) in compliance with any and all
applicable foreign, federal, state and local laws and regulations relating to the
protection of human health and safety as such relates to exposure to hazardous or toxic
substances, the environment or hazardous or toxic substances or wastes, pollutants or
contaminants (“Environmental Laws”), (ii) have received and are in compliance with all
permits, licenses or other approvals required of them under applicable Environmental
Laws to conduct their respective businesses and (iii) have not received notice of any
actual or potential liability under any Environmental Law, except where such
non-compliance with Environmental Laws, failure to receive required permits, licenses or
other approvals, or liability would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary course of
business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and the Final
Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto). Except as set forth in the Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus, neither the Company nor any of the subsidiaries has been
named as a “potentially responsible party” under the Comprehensive Environmental Response,
Compensation, and Liability Act of 1980, as amended, except as would not reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(w) The Company has reasonably concluded that the costs and liabilities associated
with the effect of Environmental Laws on the business, operations and properties of the
Company and its subsidiaries (including, without limitation, any capital or operating
expenditures required for clean-up, closure of properties or compliance with Environmental
Laws, or any permit, license or approval, any related constraints on operating activities
and any potential liabilities to third parties) would not, singly or in the aggregate,
have a Material Adverse Effect, whether or not arising from transactions in the ordinary
course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure Package and
the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement thereto).
8
(x) None of the following events has occurred or exists with respect to the Company
and its subsidiaries: (i) a failure to fulfill the obligations, if any, under the minimum
funding standards of Xxxxxxx 000 xx xxx Xxxxxx Xxxxxx Employee Retirement Income Security
Act of 1974, as amended (“ERISA”), and the regulations and published interpretations
thereunder with respect to a Plan, determined without regard to any waiver of such
obligations or extension of any amortization period that could reasonably be expected to
have a Material Adverse Effect; (ii) an audit or investigation by the Internal Revenue
Service, the U.S. Department of Labor, the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation or any
other federal or state governmental agency or any foreign regulatory agency with respect
to the employment or compensation of employees by any of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii)
any breach of any contractual obligation, or any violation of law or applicable
qualification standards, with respect to the employment or compensation of employees by
the Company or any of its subsidiaries that could reasonably be expected to have a
Material Adverse Effect. None of the following events has occurred or is
reasonably likely to occur with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries: (i) an
increase in the aggregate amount of contributions required to be made to all Plans in the
current fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such
contributions made in the most recently completed fiscal year of the Company and its
subsidiaries; (ii) an increase in the “accumulated post-retirement benefit obligations”
(within the meaning of Statement of Financial Accounting Standards 106) of the Company and
its subsidiaries compared to the amount of such obligations in the most recently completed
fiscal year of the Company and its subsidiaries; (iii) any event or condition giving rise
to a liability under Title IV of ERISA; or (iv) the filing of a claim by one or more
employees or former employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries related to their
employment, in each case where such events under subclauses (i)-(iv) could reasonably be
expected to have a Material Adverse Effect. For purposes of this paragraph, the term
“Plan” means a plan (within the meaning of Section 3(3) of ERISA) subject to Title IV of
ERISA with respect to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries may have any liability.
(y) There is and has been no failure on the part of the Company and any of the
Company’s directors or officers, in their capacities as such, to comply with any provision
of the Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act of 2002 and the rules and regulations promulgated in connection
therewith (the “Xxxxxxxx-Xxxxx Act”), including Section 402 relating to loans and Sections
302 and 906 relating to certifications.
9
(z) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the
Company, any director, officer, agent, employee or affiliate of the Company or any of its
subsidiaries is aware of or has taken any action, directly or indirectly, that would
result in a violation by such persons of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as
amended, and the rules and regulations thereunder (the “FCPA”), including, without
limitation, making use of the mails or any means or instrumentality of interstate commerce
corruptly in furtherance of an offer, payment, promise to pay or authorization of the
payment of any money, or other property, gift, promise to give, or authorization of the
giving of anything of value to any “foreign official” (as such term is defined in the
FCPA) or any foreign political party or official thereof or any candidate for foreign
political office, in contravention of the FCPA; and the Company, its subsidiaries and, to
the knowledge of the Company, its affiliates have conducted their businesses in all
material respects in compliance with the FCPA and have instituted and maintain policies
and procedures designed to ensure, and which are reasonably expected to continue to
ensure, continued compliance therewith.
(aa) The operations of the Company and its subsidiaries are and have been conducted
at all times in all material respects in
compliance with applicable financial recordkeeping and reporting requirements and the
money laundering statutes and the rules and regulations thereunder and any related or
similar rules, regulations or guidelines, issued, administered or enforced by any
governmental agency (collectively, the “Money Laundering Laws”) and no action, suit or
proceeding by or before any court or governmental agency, authority or body or any
arbitrator involving the Company or any of its subsidiaries with respect to the Money
Laundering Laws is pending or, to the best knowledge of the Company, threatened.
(bb) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries nor, to the knowledge of the
Company, any director, officer or affiliate of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
currently the subject of any sanctions administered by the Office of Foreign Assets
Control of the U.S. Treasury Department (“OFAC”) (a “Sanctions Target”), and nothing has
come to the attention of the Company that has caused the Company to believe that any agent
or employee of the Company or of any of its subsidiaries is a Sanctions Target; and the
Company will not directly or indirectly use the proceeds of the offering, or lend,
contribute or otherwise make available such proceeds to any subsidiary, joint venture
partner or other person or entity, for the purpose of financing the activities of any
person currently the subject of any U.S. sanctions administered by OFAC.
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(cc) Except as disclosed in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus or in any
document incorporated by reference therein, since the end of the Company’s most recent
audited fiscal year, there has been (i) no material weakness in the Company’s internal
control over financial reporting (whether or not remediated) and (ii) no change in the
Company’s internal control over financial reporting that has materially affected, or is
reasonably likely to materially affect, the Company’s internal control over financial
reporting.
(dd) The Company and its subsidiaries own, possess, license or have other rights to
use all patents, trademarks and service marks, trade names, copyrights, inventions, trade
secrets, technology, know-how and other intellectual property, and all other registrations
and applications to register any of the foregoing (collectively, the “Intellectual
Property”) material to the conduct of the Company’s business as now conducted or as
proposed in the Final Prospectus to be conducted, except as would not, individually or in
the aggregate, reasonably be expected to have a Material Adverse Effect.
(ee) Except as set forth in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus,
(i) to the Company’s best knowledge, there is no material
infringement by third parties of any such Intellectual Property; (ii) there is no pending
or, to the
Company’s best knowledge, threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by others
challenging the Company’s rights in or to any Intellectual Property owned by the Company
or any of its Subsidiaries (the “Company-Owned Intellectual Property”), and the Company is
unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such claim, except such
as are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; (iii) to the Company’s
best knowledge, there is no pending or threatened action, suit, proceeding or claim by
others challenging the validity or scope of any Company-Owned Intellectual Property, and
the Company is unaware of any facts which would form a reasonable basis for any such
claim, except such as are not reasonably likely to have a Material Adverse Effect; and
(iv) there is no pending or, to the Company’s knowledge, threatened action, suit,
proceeding or claim by others that the Company or any of its subsidiaries infringes or
otherwise violates any patent, trademark, copyright, trade secret or other intellectual
property rights of others, and the Company is unaware of any other fact which would form a
reasonable basis for any such claim, except such as are not reasonably likely to have a
Material Adverse Effect.
Any certificate signed by any officer of the Company and delivered to the Representatives or
counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the offering of
11
the Securities shall be deemed a
representation and warranty by the Company, as to matters covered thereby, to each Underwriter.
2. Purchase and Sale. Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company agrees to sell to each Underwriter,
and each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the
purchase price set forth in Schedule I hereto the principal amount of the Securities set forth
opposite such Underwriter’s name in Schedule II hereto.
3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the Securities shall be made on the date
and at the time specified in Schedule I hereto or at such time on such later date not more than
three Business Days after the foregoing date as the Representatives shall designate, which date and
time may be postponed by agreement between the Representatives and the Company or as provided in
Section 9 hereof (such date and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called
the “Closing Date”). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representatives for the
respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters through
the Representatives of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of the Company by wire
transfer payable in same-day funds to an account specified by the Company. Delivery of the
Securities shall be made through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company unless the
Representatives shall otherwise instruct.
4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several Underwriters propose to offer
the Securities for sale to the public as set forth in the Final Prospectus.
5. Agreements. The Company agrees with the several Underwriters that:
(a) Prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities, the Company will not
file any amendment of the Registration Statement or supplement (including the Final
Prospectus or any Preliminary Prospectus) to the Base Prospectus unless the Company has
furnished you a copy for your review prior to filing and will not file any such proposed
amendment or supplement to which you reasonably object. The Company will cause the Final
Prospectus, properly completed, and any supplement thereto to be filed in a form approved
by the Representatives with the Commission pursuant to the applicable paragraph of Rule
424(b) within the time period prescribed and will provide evidence satisfactory to the
Representatives of such timely filing. The Company will promptly advise the
Representatives (i) when the Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been
filed (if required) with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b), (ii) when, prior to
termination of the offering of the Securities, any amendment to the Registration Statement
shall have been filed or become effective, (iii) of
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any request by the Commission or its
staff for any amendment of the Registration Statement, or any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, or for any supplement to the Final Prospectus or for any additional
information, (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of any notice objecting to its use or the
institution or threatening of any proceeding for that purpose and (v) of the receipt by
the Company of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the
Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the institution or threatening of any
proceeding for such purpose. The Company will use its reasonable best efforts to prevent
the issuance of any such stop order or the occurrence of any such suspension or objection
to the use of the Registration Statement and, upon such issuance, occurrence or notice of
objection, to obtain as soon as possible the withdrawal of such stop order or relief from
such occurrence or objection, including, if necessary, by filing an amendment to the
Registration Statement or a new registration statement and using its best efforts to have
such amendment or new registration statement declared effective as soon as practicable.
(b) The Company will prepare a final term sheet, containing solely a description of
final terms of the Securities and the offering thereof, in the form approved by you and
substantially in the form attached as Schedule IV hereto and to file such term sheet
pursuant to Rule 433(d) within the time required by such Rule.
(c) If, at any time prior to the filing of the Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule
424(b), any event occurs as a result of which the
Disclosure Package would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made or the circumstances then prevailing not
misleading, the Company will (i) notify promptly the Representatives so that any use of
the Disclosure Package may cease until it is amended or supplemented; (ii) amend or
supplement the Disclosure Package to correct such statement or omission; and (iii) supply
any amendment or supplement to you in such quantities as you may reasonably request.
(d) If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Securities is required to be
delivered under the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be
satisfied pursuant to Rule 172), any event occurs as a result of which the Final
Prospectus as then supplemented would include any untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of
the circumstances under which they were made at such time not misleading, or if it shall
be necessary to amend the Registration Statement, file a new registration statement or
supplement the Final Prospectus to comply with
13
the Act or the Exchange Act or the
respective rules thereunder, including in connection with use or delivery of the Final
Prospectus, the Company promptly will (i) notify the Representatives of any such event,
(ii) prepare and file with the Commission, subject to the second sentence of paragraph (a)
of this Section 5, an amendment or supplement or new registration statement which will
correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance, (iii) use its best efforts
to have any amendment to the Registration Statement or new registration statement declared
effective as soon as practicable in order to avoid any disruption in use of the Final
Prospectus and (iv) supply any supplemented Final Prospectus to you in such quantities as
you may reasonably request.
(e) As soon as practicable, the Company will make generally available to its security
holders and to the Representatives an earnings statement or statements of the Company and
its subsidiaries which will satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and Rule
158.
(f) The Company will furnish to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters,
without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement (including exhibits thereto)
and to each other Underwriter a copy of the Registration Statement (without exhibits
thereto) and, so long as delivery of a prospectus by an Underwriter or dealer may be
required by the Act (including in circumstances where such requirement may be satisfied
pursuant to Rule 172), as many copies of each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus
and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and any supplement thereto as the Representatives
may reasonably request. The Company will pay the expenses of printing or other production
of all documents relating to the offering.
(g) The Company will arrange, if necessary, for the qualification of the Securities
for sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate and
will maintain such qualifications in effect so long as required for the distribution of
the Securities; provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do
business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified or to take any action that
would subject it to service of process in suits, other than those arising out of the
offering or sale of the Securities, in any jurisdiction where it is not now so subject.
(h) The Company agrees that, unless it has or shall have obtained the prior written
consent of the Representatives, and each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees
with the Company that, unless it has or shall have obtained, as the case may be, the prior
written consent of the Company, it has not made and will not make any offer relating to
the Securities that would constitute an Issuer Free Writing
14
Prospectus or that would
otherwise constitute a “free writing prospectus” (as defined in Rule 405) required to be
filed by the Company with the Commission or retained by the Company under Rule 433, other
than a free writing prospectus containing the information contained in the final term
sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto; provided that the prior written
consent of the parties hereto shall be deemed to have been given in respect of the Free
Writing Prospectuses included in Schedule III hereto and any electronic road show. Any
such free writing prospectus consented to by the Representatives or the Company is
hereinafter referred to as a “Permitted Free Writing Prospectus.” The Company agrees that
(x) it has treated and will treat, as the case may be, each Permitted Free Writing
Prospectus as an Issuer Free Writing Prospectus and (y) it has complied and will comply,
as the case may be, with the requirements of Rules 164 and 433 applicable to any Permitted
Free Writing Prospectus, including in respect of timely filing with the Commission,
legending and record keeping.
(i) The Company will not, without the prior written consent of [ ], offer,
sell, contract to sell, pledge, or otherwise dispose of (or enter into any transaction
which is designed to, or might reasonably be expected to, result in the disposition
(whether by actual disposition or effective economic disposition due to cash settlement or
otherwise) by the Company or any affiliate of the Company or any person in privity with
the Company or any affiliate of the Company), directly or indirectly, including the filing
(or participation in the filing) of a registration statement with the Commission in
respect of, or establish or increase a put equivalent position or liquidate or decrease a
call equivalent position within the meaning of Section 16 of the Exchange Act, any debt
securities issued or guaranteed by the Company (other than the Securities) or
publicly announce an intention to effect any such transaction, until the Business Day
set forth on Schedule I hereto.
(j) The Company will not take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to or that
would constitute or that might 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.
(k) The Company agrees to pay the costs and expenses relating to the following
matters: (i) the preparation, printing or reproduction and filing with the Commission of
the Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits thereto), each
Preliminary Prospectus, the Final Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and
each amendment or supplement to any of them; (ii) the printing (or reproduction) and
delivery (including postage, air freight charges and
15
charges for counting and packaging)
of such copies of the Registration Statement, each Preliminary Prospectus, the Final
Prospectus and each Issuer Free Writing Prospectus, and all amendments or supplements to
any of them, as may, in each case, be reasonably requested for use in connection with the
offering and sale of the Securities; (iii) the preparation, printing, authentication,
issuance and delivery of certificates for the Securities, including any stamp or transfer
taxes in connection with the original issuance and sale of the Securities; (iv) the
printing (or reproduction) and delivery of this Agreement, any blue sky memorandum and all
other agreements or documents printed (or reproduced) and delivered in connection with the
offering of the Securities; (v) the registration of the Securities under the Exchange Act
and the listing of the Securities on any exchange; (vi) the filing fees incident to, and
the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with,
the review, if any, by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc. of the terms of
the sale of the Securities; (vii) any registration or qualification of the Securities for
offer and sale under the securities or blue sky laws of the several states (including
filing fees and the reasonable fees and expenses of counsel for the Underwriters relating
to such registration and qualification); (viii) the transportation and other expenses
incurred by or on behalf of Company representatives in connection with presentations to
prospective purchasers of the Securities; (ix) the fees and expenses of the Company’s
accountants and the fees and expenses of counsel (including local and special counsel) for
the Company; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to the performance by the
Company of its obligations hereunder.
6. Conditions to the Obligations of the Underwriters. The obligations of the Underwriters to
purchase the Securities shall be subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on
the part of the Company contained herein as of the Execution Time and the Closing Date, to the
accuracy of the statements of
the Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by
the Company of its obligations hereunder and to the following additional conditions:
(a) The Final Prospectus, and any supplement thereto, shall have been filed in the
manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); the final term sheet
contemplated by Section 5(b) hereto, and any other material required to be filed by the
Company pursuant to Rule 433(d) under the Act, shall have been filed with the Commission
within the applicable time periods prescribed for such filings by Rule 433; and no stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice objecting
to its use shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall have been
instituted or threatened.
16
(b) The Company shall have requested and caused Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel
for the Company, to have furnished to the Representatives their opinion, dated the Closing
Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect that:
(i) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act; any
required filing of the Base Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Final
Prospectus, and any supplements thereto, pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made
in the manner and within the time period required by Rule 424(b); no stop order
suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any notice
objecting to its use has been issued, and to the knowledge of such counsel no
proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened, and the
Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus (other than the financial
statements and other financial and statistical information contained therein, as
to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Exchange Act and the
Trust Indenture Act and the respective rules thereunder;
(ii) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in
accordance with its terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and
similar laws affecting creditors’ rights generally and equitable principles of
general applicability, provided that such counsel need express no opinion as to
the enforceability of any waiver of rights under any usury or stay law.
(iii) The Securities have been duly authorized and, when executed and
authenticated in accordance with the
provisions of the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the
Underwriters pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, will be valid and binding
obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject
to applicable bankruptcy, insolvency and similar laws affecting creditors’
rights generally and equitable principles of general applicability, and will be
entitled to the benefits of the Indenture pursuant to which such Securities are
to be issued, provided that such counsel need express no opinion as to the
enforceability of any waiver of rights under any usury or stay law.
17
(iv) The Underwriting Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by the Company.
(v) The Company is not, and after giving effect to the offering and sale of
the Securities and the application of the proceeds thereof as described in the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus will not be, required to register as
an “investment company” as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act of
1940, as amended.
(vi) The execution and delivery by the Company of, and the performance by
the Company of its obligations under, the Indenture, the Securities and the
Underwriting Agreement (collectively, the “Documents”) will not contravene (i)
any provision of the laws of the State of New York or any federal law of the
United States of America that in such counsel’s experience is normally
applicable to general business corporations in relation to transactions of the
type contemplated by the Documents provided that such counsel need express no
opinion as to federal or state securities laws, (ii) the certificate of
incorporation or by-laws of the Company, or (iii) any agreement that is listed
in an annex to such opinion.
(vii) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of, or qualification
with, any state governmental body or agency under the laws of the State of New
York or any federal law of the United States of America that in such counsel’s
experience is normally applicable to general business corporations in relation
to transactions of the type contemplated by the Documents is required for the
execution, delivery and performance by the Company of its obligations under the
Documents, except such as may be required under federal or state securities or
Blue Sky laws as to which such counsel need express no opinion.
(viii) Such counsel has considered the statements included in the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus under
the captions “Description of the Notes,” “Description of the Debt
Securities” and “Certain U.S. Federal Income Tax Considerations for Non-U.S.
Holders” insofar as they summarize provisions of the Indenture, the Securities
and the federal tax matters referred to therein. In such counsel’s opinion, such
statements fairly summarize these provisions in all material respects.
In addition, Xxxxx Xxxx & Xxxxxxxx LLP, counsel for the Company, shall have furnished to the
Representatives a letter dated the Closing Date, to the effect
18
that, on the basis of the information gained in the course of the performance of certain services rendered but without
independent check or verification (except as stated):
(i) in the opinion of such counsel, the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus appear on their face to be appropriately responsive in all material respects to
the requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder; and
(ii) nothing has come to the attention of such counsel that causes them to believe that:
(1) on the date of the Underwriting Agreement or at the time the
Registration Statement became effective, the Registration Statement 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,
(2) at the Execution Time, the Disclosure Package contained any untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under
which they were made, not misleading, or
(3) the Final Prospectus as of its date, the date of the Underwriting
Agreement or as of the Closing Date contained or contains any untrue statement of
a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary in order
to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
they were made, not misleading.
In providing this letter to you and the other several Underwriters, such counsel may express
no view regarding the financial statements or financial schedules or other financial or accounting
information included in the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus,
or the Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on form T-1. In addition, such counsel may express
no view as to the conveyance of the Disclosure Package or the information contained therein to
investors. Such counsel may rely upon
Pennsylvania counsel or upon the opinion of the Company’s General Counsel as to matters of
Pennsylvania law.
(c) The General Counsel of the Company shall have furnished to the Representatives
her opinion, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the Representatives, to the effect
that:
19
(i) each of the Underwriting Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities
has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;
(ii) the Company is a corporation duly incorporated and validly subsisting
and in good standing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and is
duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction
in which the conduct of its businesses or the ownership or leasing of property
requires such qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
qualified or to be in good standing would not have a material adverse effect on
the business, properties, financial position or results of operations of the
Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates taken as a whole;
(iii) the Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of
capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and are fully
paid and non-assessable;
(iv) each material domestic subsidiary of the Company listed on Schedule V
of the Underwriting Agreement and, to the best of such counsel’s knowledge after
reasonable investigation, each material subsidiary of the Company organized
under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States, has been duly
organized and is validly existing as a corporation, partnership or limited
liability company, as the case may be, in good standing under the laws of its
jurisdiction of incorporation or formation; all of the issued shares of capital
stock, partnership interests or limited liability company interests, as the case
may be, of each such subsidiary (including, to the best of such counsel’s
knowledge after reasonable investigation, material subsidiaries of the Company
organized under the laws of a jurisdiction outside the United States) have been
duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (where
applicable), and (except for directors’ qualifying shares and except as
otherwise set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus) are
owned directly or indirectly by the Company, to the best of such counsel’s
knowledge after reasonable investigation, free and clear of all liens,
encumbrances, equities or claims;
(v) to the best of such counsel’s knowledge after reasonable investigation
and other than as set forth in the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus,
there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or
any
20
of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or
any of its subsidiaries is the subject which would, individually or in the
aggregate, be reasonably likely to have a material adverse effect on the
consolidated financial position, shareholders’ equity or results of operations
of the Company and its subsidiaries (taken as whole); and, to the best of such
counsel’s knowledge after reasonable investigation, no such proceedings are
threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;
(vi) the Registration Statement has become effective under the Act; any
required filing of the Final Prospectus, any Preliminary Prospectus and any
supplements thereto pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and
within the time period required by Rule 424(b); that to the best of such
counsel’s knowledge after reasonable investigation, no stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement, or any notice that would prevent
its use, has been issued, and no proceedings for that purpose have been
instituted or are pending or contemplated under the Act;
(vii) the issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the
Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture and the
Underwriting Agreement and the consummation of the transactions therein
contemplated will not (A) conflict with or result in a violation of any
provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company, (B)
conflict with or violate in any aspect any law, statute or any order, rule or
regulation of any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over
the Company or any of its properties or (C) conflict with or result in a breach
or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement
or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound
or to which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, except, in
the case of clauses (B) and (C) above, as would not have a material adverse
effect on the business, properties, financial position or results of operations
of the Company and its subsidiaries and affiliates taken as a whole;
(viii) the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus, as of the respective
dates of their filing with the SEC, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements of the
Exchange Act, and the rules and regulations of the
21
Commission thereunder, and
after reasonable inquiry, such counsel has no reason to believe that there are
any material exhibits required to be filed to the incorporated documents that
have not been filed therewith, except with respect to the financial statements
and related notes and schedules therein and other financial data included or
incorporated by reference in such financial statements or excluded therefrom or
the exhibits thereto;
(ix) such counsel has no reason to believe that either the Registration
Statement, as of the Effective Date, contained an 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 not misleading or that the Final
Prospectus, as of the date of the Prospectus Supplement and as of the date
hereof, contained or contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading (except as to the financial statements, schedules and other financial
data included or incorporated by reference therein or excluded therefrom or the
exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the Statement of Eligibility
on Form T-1); and that such counsel has no reason to believe that the Disclosure
Package, as of the Execution Time, contained an untrue statement of material
fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made,
not misleading (except as to the financial statements, schedules and other
financial data included or incorporated by reference therein or excluded
therefrom or the exhibits to the Registration Statement, including the Statement
of Eligibility on Form T-1).
(d) The Representatives shall have received from [ ], counsel for
the Underwriters, such opinion or opinions, dated the Closing Date and addressed to the
Representatives, with respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, the Indenture,
the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus (together with
any supplement thereto) and other related matters as the Representatives may reasonably
require, and the Company shall have furnished to such counsel such documents as they
request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon such matters.
(e) The Company shall have furnished to the Representatives a certificate of the
Company, signed by the Chief Executive Officer, the Chief Operating Officer or a Senior
Vice President of the Company and the principal financial or accounting officer of the
Company, dated the
22
Closing Date, to the effect that the signers of such certificate have carefully
examined the Registration Statement, the Disclosure Package, the Final Prospectus and any
supplements or amendments thereto, as well as each electronic road show used in connection
with the offering of the Securities, and this Agreement and that:
(i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this Agreement are
true and correct on and as of the Closing Date with the same effect as if made
on the Closing Date and the Company has complied with all the agreements and
satisfied all the conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
prior to the Closing Date;
(ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any notice objecting to its use has been issued and no proceedings
for that purpose have been instituted or, to the Company’s knowledge,
threatened; and
(iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements included in
the Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
thereto), there has been no material adverse effect on the condition (financial
or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and
its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in
the ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the
Disclosure Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any supplement
thereto).
(f) The Company shall have requested and caused [ ] to have
furnished to the Representatives, at the Execution Time and at the Closing Date, letters
(which may refer to letters previously delivered to one or more of the Representatives),
dated respectively as of the Execution Time and as of the Closing Date, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming that they are independent
accountants within the meaning of the Act and the Exchange Act and the respective
applicable rules and regulations adopted by the Commission thereunder and that they have
performed a review of the unaudited interim financial information of the Company for the [ ]-month
period ended [ ], and as at [ ],
in accordance with the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (“PCAOB”) AU
722, and stating in effect that:
(i) in their opinion the audited financial statements and financial
statement schedules and any pro forma financial statements included or
incorporated by reference in the
23
Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and reported on by them comply as to form
with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the Exchange Act and the
related rules and regulations adopted by the Commission;
(ii) on the basis of a reading of the latest unaudited financial statements
made available by the Company and its subsidiaries; their limited review, in
accordance with standards established under PCAOB AU 722, of the unaudited
interim financial information for the [ ]-month period ended
[ ] and as at [ ]; carrying out certain
specified procedures (but not an examination in accordance with generally
accepted auditing standards) which would not necessarily reveal matters of
significance with respect to the comments set forth in such letter; a reading of
the minutes of the meetings of the stockholders, directors and audit and finance
committees of the Company and the Subsidiaries; and inquiries of certain
officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial and accounting
matters of the Company and its subsidiaries as to transactions and events
subsequent to [ ], nothing came to their attention which
caused them to believe that:
(1) any unaudited financial statements included or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and
the Final Prospectus do not comply as to form with applicable accounting
requirements of the Act and with the related rules and regulations
adopted by the Commission with respect to financial statements included
or incorporated by reference in quarterly reports on Form 10-Q under the
Exchange Act; and said unaudited financial statements are not in
conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
basis substantially consistent with that of the audited financial
statements included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus; or
(2) with respect to the period subsequent to [
], there were any changes, at a specified date not more than five days
prior to the date of the letter, in the long-term debt of the Company
and its subsidiaries or capital stock of the Company or decreases in the
stockholders’ equity of the Company as compared with the
24
amounts shown on the [ ] consolidated balance sheet included or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, or for the period from [
] to such specified date there were any decreases, as compared with the
corresponding period in the preceding year in net revenues or income
before income taxes or in total or per share amounts of net income of
the Company and its subsidiaries, except in all instances for changes or
decreases set forth in such letter, in which case the letter shall be
accompanied by an explanation by the Company as to the significance
thereof unless said explanation is not deemed necessary by the
Representatives; and
(iii) they have performed certain other specified procedures as a result of
which they determined that certain information of an accounting, financial or
statistical nature (which is limited to accounting, financial or statistical
information derived from the general accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries) set forth in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary
Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and in Exhibit 12 to the Registration
Statement, including the information set forth under the captions “[
]” in the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, the
information included or incorporated by reference in Items 1, 6, 7 and 8 of the
Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K, incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the Final Prospectus, and
the information included in the “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of
Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included or incorporated by
reference in the Company’s Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, the Preliminary Prospectus and the
Final Prospectus, agrees with the accounting records of the Company and its
subsidiaries, excluding any questions of legal interpretation.
25
References to the Final Prospectus in this paragraph (f) include any supplement thereto at the
date of the letter.
(g) Subsequent to the Execution Time or, if earlier, the dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof)
and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendment or supplement thereto), there shall not have been (i) any change or
decrease specified in the letter or letters referred to in paragraph (f) of this Section 6
or (ii) any change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the
condition (financial or otherwise), earnings, business or properties of the Company and
its subsidiaries taken as a whole, whether or not arising from transactions in the
ordinary course of business, except as set forth in or contemplated in the Disclosure
Package and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto) the
effect of which, in any case referred to in clause (i) or (ii) above, is, in the sole
judgment of the Representatives, so material and adverse as to make it impractical or
inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the Securities as contemplated by
the Registration Statement (exclusive of any amendment thereof), the Disclosure Package
and the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any amendment or supplement thereto).
(h) Subsequent to the Execution Time, there shall not have been any decrease in the
rating of any of the Company’s debt securities by any “nationally recognized statistical
rating organization” (as such term is defined in Section 3(a)(62) of the Exchange Act) or
any notice given of any intended or potential decrease in any such rating or of a possible
change in any such rating that does not indicate the direction of the possible change.
(i) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to the
Representatives such further information, certificates and documents as the
Representatives may reasonably request.
If any of the conditions specified in this Section 6 shall not have been fulfilled when and as
provided in this Agreement, or if any of the opinions and certificates mentioned above or elsewhere
in this Agreement shall not be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Representatives
and counsel for the Underwriters, this Agreement and all obligations of the Underwriters hereunder
may be canceled at, or at any time prior to, the Closing Date by the Representatives. Notice of
such cancellation shall be given to the Company in writing or by telephone or facsimile confirmed
in writing.
26
The documents required to be delivered by this Section 6 shall be delivered at the office of [
], counsel for the Underwriters, at [ ], on the Closing
Date.
7. Reimbursement of Underwriters’ Expenses. If the sale of the Securities provided for herein
is not consummated because any condition to the obligations of the Underwriters set forth in
Section 6 hereof is not satisfied, because of any termination pursuant to Section 10 hereof or
because of any refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any agreement
herein or comply with any provision hereof other than by reason of a default by
any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters severally through [ ] on
demand for all out-of-pocket expenses (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel) that
shall have been incurred by them in connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the
Securities.
8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
each Underwriter, the directors, officers, employees, affiliates and agents of each Underwriter and
each person who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act
against any and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any
of them may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state statutory law
or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities
(or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged
untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of
the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the Base Prospectus, any
Preliminary Prospectus or any other preliminary prospectus supplement relating to the Securities,
the Final Prospectus, any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus or the information contained in the final
term sheet required to be prepared and filed pursuant to Section 5(b) hereto, or in any amendment
thereof or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission
to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any
legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending
any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be
liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of
or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission made therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representatives specifically for inclusion
therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may
otherwise have.
(b) Each Underwriter severally and not jointly agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of
27
its officers who signs the Registration
Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either the Act
or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing indemnity from the Company to
each Underwriter, but only with reference to written information relating to such
Underwriter furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the
Representatives specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing
indemnity; provided, that the Company acknowledges that the only information furnished in
writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for inclusion in any Preliminary
Prospectus, the Final Prospectus or any Issuer Free Writing Prospectus consists of the
statements set forth (i) in the
[ ] and [ ] paragraphs of text under the
caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus Supplement, concerning the terms of the offering
by the Underwriters, and (ii) under the [ ] paragraph of text under
the caption “Underwriting” in the Prospectus Supplement, concerning possible stabilizing
transactions, syndicate covering transactions and overall allotment activities by the
Underwriters with respect to the Securities. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which any Underwriter may otherwise have.
(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 8 of notice of
the commencement of any action, such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof
is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 8, notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the failure so to notify the
indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above
unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure
results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and
(ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any
indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or
(b) above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the indemnifying
party’s choice at the indemnifying party’s expense to represent the indemnified party in
any action for which indemnification is sought (in which case the indemnifying party shall
not thereafter be responsible for the fees and expenses of any separate counsel retained
by the indemnified party or parties except as set forth below); provided, however, that
such counsel shall be satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the
indemnifying party’s election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an
action, the indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including
local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs and
expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the indemnifying
party to represent the indemnified party would present such
28
counsel with a conflict of
interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or targets of, any such action
include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the indemnified party
shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or
other indemnified parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within a
reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the indemnifying
party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate counsel at the expense of
the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will not, without the prior written consent
of the indemnified parties, settle or 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 includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such
claim, action, suit or proceeding and does not include any findings of fact or admissions
of fault or culpability as to the indemnified party.
(d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a), (b) or (c) of this
Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any
reason, the Company and the Underwriters severally agree to contribute to the aggregate
losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred in connection with investigating or defending the same) (collectively “Losses”)
to which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such proportion
as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand
and by the Underwriters on the other from the offering of the Securities; provided,
however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any agreement
among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be responsible for any
amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission applicable to the Securities
purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Underwriters
severally shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such Losses as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. Benefits received by
the Company shall be deemed to be equal to the total net proceeds from the offering
(before deducting expenses) received by it, and benefits
29
received by the Underwriters
shall be deemed to be equal to the total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each
case as set forth on the cover page of the Final Prospectus. Relative fault shall be
determined by reference to, among other things, whether any untrue or any alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information provided by the Company on the one hand or the Underwriters on the
other, the intent of the parties and their relative knowledge, access to information and
opportunity to correct or prevent such untrue statement or omission. The Company and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined
by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of
the equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
paragraph (d), 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 8, each
person who controls an Underwriter within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange
Act and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the same
rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls the Company
within the meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who
shall have 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 the applicable
terms and conditions of this paragraph (d).
9. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall fail to purchase and pay
for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and
such failure to purchase shall constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations
under this Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up and pay
for (in the respective proportions which the principal amount of Securities set forth opposite
their names in Schedule II hereto bears to the aggregate principal amount of Securities set forth
opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the Securities which the defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to purchase; provided, however, that in the event
that the aggregate principal amount of Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters
agreed but failed to purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities set
forth in Schedule II hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase all, but
shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities, and if such nondefaulting
Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this Agreement will terminate without liability to
any nondefaulting Underwriter or the Company. In the event of a default by any Underwriter as set
forth in this Section 9, the Closing Date
30
shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding five
Business Days, as the Representatives shall determine in order that the required changes in the
Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements may be
effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve any defaulting Underwriter of its
liability, if any, to the Company and any nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its
default hereunder.
10. Termination. This Agreement shall be subject to termination in the absolute discretion of
the Representatives, by notice given to the Company prior to delivery of and payment for the
Securities, if at any time prior to such delivery and payment (i) trading in the Company’s Common
Stock shall have been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock Exchange or trading in
securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or limited or minimum
prices shall have been established on such exchange, (ii) a banking moratorium shall have been
declared either by Federal or New York State authorities or there shall have occurred any material
disruption in commercial banking, securities settlement or clearance services in the United
States or (iii) there shall have occurred any outbreak or escalation of hostilities,
declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, or other calamity or crisis the
effect of which on financial markets is such as to make it, in the sole judgment of the
Representatives, impractical or inadvisable to proceed with the offering or delivery of the
Securities as contemplated by any Preliminary Prospectus or the Final Prospectus (exclusive of any
amendment or supplement thereto).
11. Representations and Indemnities to Survive. The respective agreements, representations,
warranties, indemnities and other statements of the Company or its officers and of the Underwriters
set forth in or made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect, regardless of
any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or the Company or any of the officers,
directors, employees, agents or controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and will
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities. The provisions of Sections 7 and 8 hereof shall
survive the termination or cancellation of this Agreement.
12. Notices. All communications hereunder will be in writing and effective only on receipt,
and, if sent to the Representatives, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to (fax no.: [ ])
and confirmed to [ ], at [ ], Attention: [
]; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed, delivered or telefaxed to the
address of the Company set forth in the Registration Statement, Attention: Corporate Secretary (fax
no. (000) 000-0000).
13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the parties
hereto and their respective successors and the officers,
31
directors, employees, agents and
controlling persons referred to in Section 8 hereof, and no other person will have any right or
obligation hereunder.
14. No Fiduciary Duty. The Company hereby acknowledges that (a) the purchase and sale of the
Securities pursuant to this Agreement is an arm’s-length commercial transaction between the
Company, on the one hand, and the Underwriters and any affiliate through which it may be acting, on
the other, (b) the Underwriters are acting as principal and not as an agent or fiduciary of the
Company and (c) the Company’s engagement of the Underwriters in connection with the offering and
the process leading up to the offering is as independent contractors and not in any other capacity.
Furthermore, the Company agrees that it is solely responsible for making its own judgments in
connection with the offering (irrespective of whether any of the Underwriters has advised or is
currently advising the Company on related or other matters). The Company agrees that it will not
claim that the Underwriters have rendered advisory services of any nature or respect, or owe an
agency, fiduciary or similar duty to the Company, in connection with such transaction or the
process leading thereto.
15. Integration. This Agreement supersedes all prior agreements and understandings (whether
written or oral) between the Company and the Underwriters, or any of them, with respect to the
subject matter hereof.
16. Applicable Law. This Agreement will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York applicable to contracts made and to be performed within the State of
New York.
17. Waiver of Jury Trial. The Company hereby irrevocably waives, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law, any and all right to trial by jury in any legal proceeding arising out
of or relating to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby.
18. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in one or more counterparts, each of which
shall constitute an original and all of which together shall constitute one and the same agreement.
19. Headings. The section headings used herein are for convenience only and shall not affect
the construction hereof.
20. Definitions. The terms that follow, when used in this Agreement, shall have the meanings
indicated.
“Act” shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and the rules and regulations of the
Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Agreement” shall mean this Underwriting Agreement.
32
“Base Prospectus” shall mean the base prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above contained
in the Registration Statement at the Execution Time.
“Business Day” shall mean any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a legal holiday or a day
on which banking institutions or trust companies are authorized or obligated by law to close in New
York City.
“Commission” shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.
“Disclosure Package” shall mean (i) the Base Prospectus, (ii) the Preliminary Prospectus used
most recently prior to the Execution Time, (iii) the Issuer Free Writing Prospectuses, if any,
identified in Schedule III hereto, (iv) the final term sheet prepared and filed pursuant to Section
5(b) hereto, if any, and (v) any other Free Writing Prospectus that the parties hereto shall
hereafter expressly agree in writing to treat as part of the Disclosure Package.
“Effective Date” shall mean each date and time that the Registration Statement and any
post-effective amendment or amendments thereto became or becomes effective.
“Exchange Act” shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and
regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Execution Time” shall mean the date and time that this Agreement is executed and delivered by
the parties hereto.
“Final Prospectus” shall mean the prospectus supplement relating to the Securities that was
first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) after the Execution Time, together with the Base Prospectus.
“Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean a free writing prospectus, as defined in Rule 405.
“Issuer Free Writing Prospectus” shall mean an issuer free writing prospectus, as defined in
Rule 433.
“Material Adverse Effect” shall mean any material adverse effect on the condition (financial
or otherwise), prospects, earnings, business or properties of the Company and its subsidiaries,
taken as a whole.
“Preliminary Prospectus” shall mean any preliminary prospectus supplement to the Base
Prospectus referred to in paragraph 1(a) above which is used prior to the filing of the Final
Prospectus, together with the Base Prospectus.
33
“Registration Statement” shall mean the registration statement referred to in paragraph 1(a)
above, including exhibits and financial statements and any prospectus supplement relating to the
Securities that is filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) and deemed part of such
registration statement pursuant to Rule 430B, as amended on each Effective Date and, in the event
any post-effective amendment thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date, shall also mean
such registration statement as so amended.
“Rule 158”, “Rule 163”, “Rule 164”, “Rule 172”, “Rule 405”, “Rule 415”, “Rule 424”, “Rule
430B” and “Rule 433” refer to such rules under the Act.
“Trust Indenture Act” shall mean the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, and the rules
and regulations of the Commission promulgated thereunder.
“Well-Known Seasoned Issuer” shall mean a well-known seasoned issuer, as defined in Rule 405.
If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and
return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof, whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall
represent a binding agreement among the Company and the several Underwriters.
Very truly yours, V.F. Corporation |
||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: |
34
The foregoing Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date specified in Schedule
I hereto.
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
By: | ||||
Name: | ||||
Title: | ||||
For themselves and the other several Underwriters, if any, named in Schedule II to the
foregoing Agreement.
35
SCHEDULE I
Underwriting Agreement dated [ ], 20__
Registration Statement No.
Representative(s):
Title, Purchase Price and Description of Securities:
Title:
Principal amount:
Purchase price (include accrued interest or amortization, if any):
Sinking fund provisions:
Redemption provisions:
Other provisions:
Closing Date, Time and Location: [ ], 20__ at [ ] a.m. at [ ], [ ].
Type of Offering:
Date referred to in Section 5(i) after which the Company may offer or sell debt securities issued
or guaranteed by the Company without the consent of the Representative(s):
Modification of items to be covered by the letter from [ ] delivered pursuant
to Section 6(e) at the Execution Time:
SCHEDULE II
Principal Amount | ||||
of Securities to be | ||||
Underwriters | Purchased | |||
$ | ||||
$ | ||||
Total |
$ | |||
SCHEDULE III
Schedule of Free Writing Prospectuses included in the Disclosure Package
SCHEDULE IV
Filed Pursuant to Rule 433
Registration No. 333-
•, 20•
Registration No. 333-
•, 20•
PRICING TERM SHEET
•% Notes due___
Issuer:
|
V.F. Corporation | |
Security:
|
•% Notes due ___ | |
Size:
|
$• | |
Maturity Date:
|
•, ___ | |
Coupon:
|
•% | |
Interest Payment Dates:
|
• and •, commencing •, | |
Price to Public:
|
•% | |
Benchmark Treasury:
|
• | |
Benchmark Treasury Yield:
|
•% | |
Spread to Benchmark Treasury:
|
+ • bp | |
Yield:
|
•% | |
Make-Whole Call:
|
• | |
Trade Date:
|
•, 20 | |
Expected Settlement Date:
|
•, 20 | |
Denominations:
|
$• | |
CUSIP:
|
• | |
Joint Book-Running Managers: |
||
Co-Managers: |
The issuer has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the
offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in
that registration statement and other documents the issuer has filed with the SEC for more complete
information about the issuer and this offering.
You may get these documents for free by visiting XXXXX on the SEC Web site at xxx.xxx.xxx.
Alternatively, the issuer, any underwriter or any dealer participating in the offering will arrange
to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling [ ] toll free at [
] or e-mailing a request to [ ].
SCHEDULE V
Schedule of Material Domestic Subsidiaries of the Company